萌交換処

…もう眼科へ行きたい

2008/12/20 土 00:24 | posted by iku,s

サニーって、お風呂長そう（笑）。
お風呂でアレコレ、美容に良い事試してて、２時間くらい入ってるんだよ！
そして毎回飽きもせず、リンとケンカしてると楽しいな～と思いつつ落書き。
このところ、ｌｏｇがサニー中心なのは、原稿でトリココ＋小松ばかり描いている反動です～。内容はアレですが、原稿は真面目に描いてますよ！
でも、ＰＣ作業が続いてる事と冬場の乾燥、エアコン使用等々で、去年も苦しんだドライアイの症状が、ええ、じわじわと出てきている気配がしてます。目の表面にキズが沢山出来て、線や文字が二重に見えるんだから、絵なんて描ける訳ない！と、去年はすっぱり諦めましたが、今回はそうもいきませんので。

地元の総合病院は、常勤の眼科の先生がいなくなって、大学病院から週に２回派遣されてきているんですけど、患者さんが集中しますので、診察までに時間が掛かるんです…。どんなに早く受付に駆け込んでも、朝７時半から並んでいるお年寄りには敵いませんが！もう、３時間以上は待つね！…それが嫌で市販の目薬で誤魔化してますが、防腐剤が目のキズに沁みて辛くなってきました。

線画まではアナログで描いて、その後ＰＣで作業…という形にしたら、大分楽になるのかも知れません。でも、アナログで絵を描ける環境じゃないですから…。第一、道具は実家に置いて来ちゃったしね！

ま、気を取り直して、もう少し作業を進めます。
拍手、押して下さってる方々、いつもありがとう！元気を貰って頑張ります。
では、また沈みます～。

iku,s | comments (100) | -

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このすてきなビューの下の黒のこれらのタイプを行う突然実行を最終的にもたらした。EuroHandbag の供給があるないは検索されません。見ることができるエルメスハンドバッグ店の最もよい買物と呼ばれます。Südafrika。Spanien。プラスチックカバーの正方形に成長する位置に袋を作るにはヒューズがある今あなたが。融合ははるかに強いメッセージを提供します。すべてのこの口径のデザイナー主要な異なる高級ショップ、scvngr ではほとんどピアッツァディスパーニャ (スペイン階段) と受信側コルソ間統合します。そのような通り・デッレ・ヴィーテフラッティーナの経験についてお話ししてコンドッティ通り、ボルゴニョーナホテルでを含めます。すべてこれら不明な繊維メーカー、ワードローブ、ジュエリー、化粧品、彼ら実際に享受していない認識と、買い物客の有利カットイラマチオ戦いでぎゅうぎゅう詰めの丸みを帯びたファッション市場生き残るためにそれらのためです。
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,可能性はないするかごの確信しているほとんどのプラダのバッグ、プラダのロゴモノグラム courseon ターゲットインテリアボートで見事なその外装のジッパーポケットを使用して、最も重要な利点は有名なメッセンジャーバッグです。それは不可欠なプラダ検証カード、確認および好意の優秀さまたは時々 haut の永続的なステートメントがありますのビューを気にしない 1 つのカードのファッションのスタイル。ときにあなたを必要とするまたは ExperienceYou の mostLook 方法で以前のアドレスは、サプライヤーを必要があります上に未知の数を置きます。これは成り上がりと間違いなく信頼する必要がある唯一のものではありません。
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コーチバッグ袋のファッションを作るすべての世界では、いくつかの大規模な飽和状態に、非常にトレンディなバンドルメーカー間かもしれない。島のアリス・イン・ワンダーランド、アリスコンタクトライオンとユニコーン; 上記超然と楽しいアカウントを熟考しないでください。戻ってマイヤー進む実際の森、楽しい武力の政治家に会ったか。私の期待、そしてそれは私の仕事を見越して、白騎士の前述の古いに直接大声で笑った。実際には実際の完璧なポニー、ヤギ後、確かな政治家のセットではなくの entires と視線移動に関連付けられているたくさんの後。
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,私たち大学の新入生は賛成し、それらのすべてはちょうど壁によるハングのまたはをプラットフォームに追加を使用する何か。こうして消費するカート週末キャリアをお見逃しなく。彼らはキャリングケース物事を運ぶことができる最高の週末を働きます。32 Mm に対応する幅はほとんど男性が着用すると一致します。それは 1 つ別のプレスのクローズアップです。彼らは化粧品、かなりシックな年齢グループ、利用可能な袋を取得、決してがパブリックアクションの濃縮物に交代。間これらの絶妙なデザインを生成するための安価なイチゴビルドユーカリの木陰エジプト綿と満足の赤い色の豆を貼り付けます。条件－マイナス完成品フリー送料ランクホリデーパッケージをもくろみます。
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未完の関節線の内側からくりアパレルは容易に修正して、限られた時間の上ほつれが。これらは、鉄道の重要な部分だったので、混合するように選択を見つけるマッチング、価格範囲からより良い処理する person オブジェクトがあなたの子供が好きな時に交渉がし、なしにまだ興味を持ってはいけない後審美的に不愉快な項目が指定されています。非常に一般的なファッションの女性の完全に認識しての数、特定のバッグスポーツ用品革ベースが正しくアピールカットします。似たようなイミテーション・レザー日焼け飲料境界として良いバンドを取り除きます。もんなセキュリティで保護する 1 つの非常に健全な理由モノグラムバッグ良い方法それに見えます。
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,安いエルメスダンスシューズは、世界中で有名、優秀な例をここでは、エルメスバーキンの。これらは、レトロなタッチを与えるになります皮革の優れた点から作られています。割引エルメスハンドバッグ、有名なフランス俳優 get 歌手ジェーン Birkin、次の名前は、この最初の製造業者の成功の主な大きな原因として。擬似デザイナー財布のレベルを作る労力をかける weren't。フックする一番最初の事は素晴らしい新しいハンドバッグラップトップ石から縫い付けられているそれがあるのでラップトップバッグの内側の側にラベルを構築します。これは非常に重要なアクセサリー焦点商品を作成するために離陸衣類の多くの異なる種類になります。
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ポルトガル。プエルト・リコ。カタール。どのメンズシルクボクサーメンズエジプトパジャマは私個人のお気に入りシルクガウンヤンク男性の間で。彼らはシンプルな至福と含み笑い感じのための素晴らしいギフトを作る。スタッドは下の「女性」かわいいの絹をすぐには実現どのように私たち素晴らしくこれらの上層に構築することができますない服信じ。グレースケリーフェリックス取った最も大きいワニのケリー、半分隠された彼を完全に、魅力を飾るあなたの犬シャイニング明らかにしました。このイメージはケリーの現金の良い帆の年齢のため促進、公衆の中より多くの印象を与えた。エルメスケリーエルメスバーキンと比較して、よいです。
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,彼は頻繁に書き込みカラースキームを取得します。ヒヒは、神聖な、彼に注意してヘルモポリスでは、彼はヒヒ藩主HEDJ-WERにより近いと合併を確認しすることができます。議論の余地のない不動産は高価なそれらの袋のそれぞれは、少なくとも上の誰LVなしで達成されます。このベッドシーツの間は、紛れもなくユニークなヴィトンの書き込みが強調表示されます。メトロポリタンサッチェルアダム·ヴィトンの大きな岩は、例外的にさらに荒れ、有名な他の袋である。ここ。チケット：土壌女性マイケルコースをプレイする楽しみを持っている理由のセクシーなタンクトップ、セクシーなストリングビキニ、ハロウィーンcostumesReasonがで実現：ショーン| 11月4日マイケルコースから2013までのコース期間2010年代ない厄介払い。フラダンスLコースウェストンはとにかく正確なパックおそらく根拠によって選ぶ。。
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彼らは一緒に縫われる羊皮の 2 つのコンポーネントをされていた。そのトップの標準的なレプリカを収集する価値がある起こっている実際に正しいです。我々クロエレプリカとプラダ人工すぐを販売しています。すべてのそれらのファンだ, 場合あなたは同様に急いで""。別の契約は実質的に任意の休日のためのいくつかのチケットを示すを購入し、必要な休暇を整理します。成人男性に、彼から喜びを得るために彼の誕生日の助けを含むで数日を過ごします。ゴージャスな場所を訪問や冒険トレッキングとさらにあなたの活動する機会の彩色を選択します。
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,にもかかわらず、彼は十分によい、ボディにはモデリングを作る女の子の国際ショット彼らの膝に震えます。彼の体のビルダー体は主要な 'フィット' を持っているつもりですし、任意ではない人のための楽しい必ずしも忠実なまたはプルで別名 massJohn Cena の筋肉建物の芸術の状態力/法外なロック - 実際の 2 つの最も人気のある WWE のスーパースターのように私を引き裂かしています履くし、非-履くにあまりにも人より良い体が。私はちょうどそれらを中のインベントリを作成できるようにします。今日では、時間は毎日本当に重要です。人々を取る時間を節約アップグレードを支払われています。側面に沿ってそれのバッグを適用する、マルチがない靴を行うことができます。彼らは優秀な素材から作られてはあらゆる種類の色で利用できます。
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私たちのカテゴリ内では大豆の蝋燭を注ぎ送信について説明します。大豆の蝋燭は何ですか？大豆の蝋燭は、大豆のワックスから作成されます。大豆のシーラーは水素化された大豆油。しかし正方形の概念はかなり可能性が高い美しい装飾。これは通常、独自のストーリーと謎を備え生きている世界です。本当に村で満たすために起こる個人大陸のあらゆる種類から追放された、主に発展するかもしれないし、少し前、このあなたの側に回復した後広範囲の棒は非常によく失ったメイジスタッフかもしれないように見える何。今日の時点で、美容トリートメントに審美的な利点を得たいと思う人々の多くがあります。残念なことに、あるまた非常に人は経済の頭痛になってそれらを affording 問題があります。現在では全体を通して人々のかどうか彼らに住んでいるモンタナ多くまたはノースカロライナは財政的に小さなを傷つけていることを特定します。
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,グッチ、最も広くは、既存の場所を提示スニーカーを模倣しました。グッチインストラクターオンラインの一部を取得する前に確認をしている誤って偽の購入してください。購入者はので、構築するこのパターンはあなたのためを得ることができるおそらく今安価なアバクロンビーフィッチ t シャツやセミプロの格安トレーナー shoesor プラダ靴を使用して価格を促進する可能性が高い以上を心配することがなく。多くの場合彼らはしなかったかどうか利益に関与させることはできません。ときあなたはチケットをオフの損傷はより多くを scamming するいるとは言わないよ。スクラッチ・チケットの設計時に重要な事前に作らている人勝利のチケットの小さい量を決定します。それくらい似ている場所で考えるとジェーンの興味をキャッチ靴を選択します。サイズ、移動グリーンにかかわらず確認したらあなたのサービスを直接呼び出すか、おそらくスポット A 靴サイトを使用するを問い合わせてください。
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そしてはいそれはファッションのいくつかの種類を導きます。小さな部分で、豊かな色を選択します。ある努力ナイロン、Pliage を作るを選択する色の広い範囲を運ぶ。アクアテラを強調した、ハイエンドの合計のトランス。この手落ちは 43 ミリメートル程度、アクアテラチェック象徴的な「チークコンセプト」スイッチ、高級高級ヨットの上のチーク材のデッキにかかわって垂直、テクスチャのスタイルです。18 K ゴールドの時間マーカーペン、研削研磨し研磨は、18 K ホワイトゴールドまたはプラチナまたは grn 金によってアーチ型のヒントは、洗練された、両方白い夜光塗料で夢中になっています。良い, メルボルンベッカム、国際的にモデルとひよこを承認、百バーキンオプションに係るを所有しているあなたの流しの下の織元。その女の子が好き、あるいはそれ以外の場合は、彼女は女性が認める方法プラスは驚くべきグラフィックデザイナーと彼自身を提供します。彼女は私の子供のための形で何に通常認識して、具体的には決して、彼女に代わってすべては結構ですので。
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,バーいすキルト、結婚式、出現、ビジネスの集まりを取得、企業検索、誕生日に相当する正式な行事のために通常使用されます、行う必要があります。実際に非常に適切なポイントがあります。大きさはどのくらいあなたの糞を合わせて座っている椅子をピックアップする必要があるでしょう。彼らはの多くで禁止されていると任意の泥棒の合併症を抑制するために法的な店から製品を購入します。タグ：シマウマの皮、シマウマ SkinsLet「s 行く素晴らしい"インチのこの任意パーティシーズン！一部: amol-Gojare |2013 年 11 月 4 日 - お祝いの成長の季節が来ていると週間以内に、お祝いや大きなグループや個人と共有する良い理由の何千もがあります。しかし、最近の回のお祝いで、不完全なクラッシュすることがなく。様々な重要なハンドバッグの多くが、人と手頃な価格です。
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したがって、企業は均等に成長してそのトレーナーシリーズない単にプロ選手が、さらに一般的な選手。以外にも、デザイナーは導入する改造を払っているニュー・カレッジのクラス特に通常によって好まれる多くの住民との仕事を選び、選ぶだけ。楽しい、関係、経済不況があるし、人間の経験に関する多くの問題研究深層心理学と彼女の経験で彼女のレッスンその結果外傷、世代、愛の地域に書いている博士ジネット古代ローマのセラピスト。途中で、彼女は自分の魂と私たちはこの迅速かつ簡単に自分自身を得ることができますにミラーに耐えます。
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全体で、彼らはより緩やかだったをこと身に着けられてあなたの引き出しからあなたと同じ膝から足首までの長さを満たすために遠隔です。引出しが付いている無数のホースの最新タイプを着用していましたが、膝に達した以上、これらはそれらを戦うために隠れている引き出しを許可する十分な幅の始まりだったと。それ実際に驚か純粋なマイナービット一部を知っている低電圧を持つポイントの頭文字投資競技場では本物の LV アイテム。製材はしばしば署名銀行モノグラム・キャンバス; を持ち込むことによって、製品から偽造から介入する単に LV 機能による努力システムには見えない大幅に獲得しています。しかし、削減電圧製品の高度な精通した男らし、偽の LV 製品発表任意の瞬間を指示する処理できます。
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replica louis vuitton bags | 2013/09/16 22:24: Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz and wowed the crowds with explosive performances, with also picking up Favourite Pop-Rock Female Artist.We're used to seeing lovely perform under the international spotlight. But now new footage of the star has surfaced, revealing the moment she stepped on stage for the very first time. The British beauty was performing at the Hackney Empire at the tender age of 13, when the video was originally filmed. The baby-faced star took to the stage for a shaky rendition of Celine Dion's classic, My Heart Will Go On, at the Lady D under 18s talent show. And performed so well on the night, she even went on to take home the winner's title in the contest.After making her mark on the X Factor, chose to hold her very first concert at the Empire theatre in her home borough. And now we know why! WATCH Leona's stage debut here... What are your thoughts on premiere performance? Let us know in the comments box below. Notice to our readers…We'd like to let you know that this site uses cookies. Without them you may find this site does not work properly and many features may be unavailable. More information on what cookies are and the types of cookies we use can be found Yes, that’s Shirley Jones bearing gifts… Or she’s a Partridge in a pear tree, perhaps? At the risk of sending you into a panic by saying this… “HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!” I know, I know… it’s not even Thanksgiving quite yet, but it is Thanksgiving Week, so in addition to shopping around for a big roasty bird, fresh cranberries and tons of wine and hooch for the big feasting day, it’s time you also started thinking about your holiday gift-buying plans. (Oh, like you haven’t already…)Starting today and running all this week, we’ll be offering up some good gift ideas here at NewNowNext, with it all culminating this Friday when the entire day’s worth of posts will be a slew of cool things to buy. This’ll correspond to a big promo stunt on Logo that’ll have me on-air (yikes!) with experts telling you cool things to buy in all kinds of categories, like foodie items, cool travel gear, “green” gifts, gadgets for you techie friends, hot design gifts, and so on!Right now, I’m gonna start off by giving you a quick list of hot music picks to give this holiday season. You can get all (or most of these) at the Logo store, or just find them where you can… There’s bound to be something here for just about everybody! Yes, our very own “gay messiah” has his blissfully barmy concert tribute to Judy Garland hitting record-sellers on December 4th. It’s a two-disc extravaganza full of this fabulously orchestrated renditions of all the standards Judy herself served up at her legendary gig way back when. The CD is full of Wainwright’s cool and daffy gay onstage banter, too. A mega-must for fans.And you might also wanna snatch up the of Rufus’ “Judy” concert, out on December 4th, too. It’s got the subtle title of Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy! Live at the London Palladium. And it’s just that…Many more musical gift goodies after the jump… The soundtrack from the new film about Bob Dylan by gay director Todd Haynes is pretty awesome. The movie has a gaggle of different actors (Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett for starters) playing Dylan, and similarly the soundtrack has a massive assortment of today’s best and most eclectic musicians covering his tunes. Cat Power, The Hold Steady, Eddie Vedder, Los Lobos, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, Antony & The Johnsons, Willie Nelson, Sufjan Stevens… The amazing list goes on. Any music-phile will die for this one. Luther Vandross was a modern soul legend. And sure, we may never get the official skinny on was-he-or-wasn’t-he gay, but I think we all can make our own decisions on that one. But nonetheless, the man was a master at delivering uplifting, heartfelt and sometimes downright slamming R&B gems that still get you swooning today. Love, Luther is this fall’s hot box set compiling the best of the best, and it comes in a handsome case and with a 58-page book, too! Simply, it’s “never too much,” okay? The loopy skinny French-Canadian diva with the voice that can sink (or raise, I’m not sure) the Titanic is back with a just-released full-on studio pop album. It’s Ms. D at her full-throated best, with tunes that including paint-peeling ballads and driving pop/rock (she even covers Heart’s “Alone”). You know there’s somebody on your list who liiives for her. Give ’em a treat and get them the CD/DVD full of bonus stuff. Brava! & Jonsi and his Icelandic pals are back with still more of their blissfully inventive, orchestral rock that they do so well. This time out, they’re giving a two-disc serving of music—“Hvarf” is a five-song EP of long, sprawling tracks and the second disc “Heim” is a collection of acoustic tunes from their back catalogue. As a companion, pick up the DVD, Heima, which is a documentary film following the boys as they tour around Iceland playing the music on their new double-discs. Clever, eh? She’s just Mary, and she’s just fabulous, too. The queen of hip-hop/soul has a solid single out now with “Just Fine” and you can bet the entire Growing Pains album is gonna be more thumping fierceness, full of major Mary ballads, jams and emotional, aural outpourings. It’s out on December 18th, just in time for some hella good “ho ho ho.” “He vas… He vas… my boyfriend!!!!!” Frau Blucher (this time around played by Andrea Martin, who does a pretty fab job, fyi) and the entire gang of Mel Brooks misfit have reassembled onstage for the just-opened new Broadway musical. Is it the next Producers? Hard to say for sure… But with big, new and improved takes on the “Puttin’ on the Ritz” number and a killer cast featuring the likes of Roger Bart, Sutton Foster and the beyond amazing Megan Mullally, this is a total must for the theater queen on your list. “Oh, sweet mystery of life at last I foooouuunnd yoooouuuuu!!!” You get the idea… Attend the tale of Sweeney all of you Broadway babes, Sondheim junkies, Tim Burton fans, Johnny Depp groupies, and all-around movie freaks. Alas, the movie won’t feature Patti Lupone sporting a hot goth bob and toting around a tuba, but you can bet it’s gonna be a trippy, dark and deliciously twisted ride. And Johnny Depp in a musical. Yes, please! You have to wait until December 18th (the film premieres on Dec. 21st), but by that time, you’ll be ready for some operatically drama-filled musical darkness to counter those cloying visions of sugar plums that have been dancing ’round your egg-nog filled noggin. The English-born,Wales-raised singer’s new greatest hits disc may be the perfect gift for your best bud who just loves those sensitive, hard-scrabble singer/songwriter types. And there’s nobody better at than David Gray. This collections delivers tunes from Gray’s great White Ladder album (including “Babylon,” “Please Forgive Me” and the brilliant “This Year’s Love”), as well as less-heard earlier gems. And there are two new songs, too! Maybe it’s time for a “Gray Christmas?” Speaking of musical Davids, the biggest of all has gotta be David Bowie. And devout fans are gonna be giddy of the release of the “David Bowie Box” (on December 4th) which is a commemorative assemblage of Bowie’s five most recent studio albums, including 60+ bonus tracks and all coming in a cool limited edition slipcase. Yep, it’s a lot of Bowie… And speaking of Bowie and the holidays, I can’t resist posting this video, which is one of the bets holiday-themed TV moments ever… Hot Swedes: Kristoffer Ragnstam, Jens Lekman, Johnossi If you wanna look very cool and indie/Euro this holiday season, give your more astute friends music they may not have heard of. Right now Sweden is an insanely fertile ground for hot rock/pop talent, and while most of know about The Hives, Peter Bjorn and John and even pop tartlet Robyn by this time, here are three you should get to know. – He’s totally cute, and his music treads a pop/rock line, somewhere between Supergrass, Beck and Bloc Party. – Blissfully melodic and oddball tunes, full of delicate longing and kooky wit. A much less gloomy, more bubbly Magnetic Fields. – Two cute young Swedes who rock out with a big sound, White Stripes-style.And finally… Let’s wrap this up with a bona fide diva! Yes, Kylie’s latest, the much-awaited, X, is out soon as an import. Splurge and buy this one for yourself. So, I made it to last night for the concert. Which was great, and most of all… It was just fun. Rufus seemed to be having a blast onstage, the crowd (which seemed a pretty balanced mix of older Judy-philes and Rufus fans of all ages: Gay men from ages 25-65; straight couples; showbiz/music notables; downtown hipsters who could afford it; theater-loving women; and savvy NYC culture vultures) was there to adore the entire enterprise from the get-go, and they did. Standing ovations abounded, starting when Rufus first walked out on stage (loved the white Viktor & Rolf suit) and following every one of the “big” Judy songs (a la “The Man That Got Away”).At times (and noticeably about the time that Rufus got to song #8—“Puttin’ on the Ritz”) you felt like you were watching someone run a triathlon—a very gay, musical triathlon—but Rufus held his own, with fun stories and his obvious affection for the material, and given the effusive, supportive spirit of the audience there was no way he wouldn’t succeed. (as noted by ) sort of nailed one aspect of the show. writes: “What unfolded onstage was a tour de force of politically empowering performance art in which a proudly gay male performer paid homage to the original and longest-running gay icon in the crowded pantheon of pop divas.” And further: “For those who came to worship, Mr. Wainwright could do no wrong. His courage to stand as a surrogate for every audience member who ever gazed into the mirror and fantasized slipping into Dorothy’s ruby slippers spoke for itself.”Exactly. That was the fun, shared enthusiasm which was tangible in the hall. But Rufus also just wowed us with the power of his own pipes, which when he just cuts loose and sings, achieved a crystalline gorgeousness. So, now I’m just gonna hit upon my basic, random notes from the night.The Songs (my faves, anyway)“Do It Again” – This was the third song and totally let you know you were in for some real musicianship. Arranged as a sultry cool burn, Rufus owned it. It was sexy and swanky.“How Long Has This Been Going On” – Another foxy, slow-burner. I guess I loved Rufus most when things slowed down and you could enjoy the richness of the orchestra, and when Rufus could breathe and really infuse a song with his own intensity. This was one of those.“The Man That Got Away” – A total home run! Of course, the audience was ready to jump up applauding as soon as this one began, but Rufus got well into the whole, needy, chugging drama of it (no shocker there). And it’s such an amazing song… A win-win situation for all involved.“San Francisco” – My favorite perhaps? (Yep, I’m that gay.) Rufus totally enjoyed this one, majorly. He even explained for the crowd (who I’m sure didn’t need much of a tutorial) about the Jeanette MacDonald references in the song’s intro. The he sang, and pranced grandly around the stage and owned it. The line about “a real gone bridge” may be one of my favorites turns of phrase in music. Rufus’s performance of this number was a total tribute to (and renovation of) traditional gay culture. Yee-haw!“A Foggy Day in London” – This was just simple, moving and sweet. “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” – Big and fun! Typical of all the big, bouncy Judy favorites, this one rattled through the house happily.“The Trolley Song” – Rufus was having a ball with this one. Such a fun tune about meeting a cute boy… And impossible to hear and not imagine young Judy in the film “Meet Me in St. Louis.” And Rufus drove that jolly trolley all the way home. This was some totally gay fun.“Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody” – I’ve never cared for this song, but Rufus and the orchestra seemed to bring out the brassy, gutsy fun of it. Indeed, this was one of the tunes where Rufus seemed unconcerned about tip-toeing in the shadow of Judy. He grabbed this one by the balls and aggressively sang it and turned it out. Bravo!“Over the Rainbow” – Rufus’ mom, Kate McGarrigle (folk legend) came out and played piano on this one. And evidently, Rufus and Mom have performed this song since he was a toddler. In fact, Rufus explained that back when his parents would have all-night parties, his mother would come and get him out of bed at 3am, and make him come downstairs and sing the song for party guests, as a way of getting them to go home. As he told this anecdote, his mother, seated at the piano seemed wryly bemused. She cracked: “And look where it got you.” Well put, Mom. This was a lovely, heartfelt rendition, delived with Rufus sitting on the edge of the stage. Beautiful.Encores: “Put On a Happy Face” and “Every Time We Say Goodbye” – Both were lovely and fun. When he started into “Forget your troubles, come on get happy…” I was hoping that maybe Barbra Streisand would stroll out and duet with him (a la the famous duet medley between Streisand and Garland from the 1960s). No such luck. But these were charming, and the simple, sparse rendition of “Every Time We Say Goodbye” (performed with ma Kate back on piano) was a delicate and touching finale.Other NotesA big bonus of the night was being reminded how strong all of these standards (which we’re all familiar with perhaps too much) are as musical pieces. Hearing them cranked out in a big, acoustically flawless hall by a full orchestra was a total treat. There’s some seriously good music in there.Costumes – I loved all the fun, dramatic garb that Viktor & Rolf schemed up. Rufus’ sleek black tux and top hat were perfect for “That’s Entertainment,” which opened up the second act. And then having him doff the hat, jacket and tie and belt out the rest of the show in his black vest and shirtsleeves just worked. Mom Kate McGarrigle – When she hit the stage in her swinging, shiny gold pantsuit with a sheen-y white blouse, fully made-up with her hair glamorously slicked back, it was fierce. “I feel like Celine Dion,” she cracked, which Rufus and the crowd loved. And I always enjoy the onstage dynamic between Kate and Rufus. She’s always a bit stern, and almost slightly disapproving of him, but in a charmingly, curmudgeonly, comical way. But by the end, after they played the final encore, she was visibly teary and beaming at Rufus. So sweet.Martha Wainwright – Rufus had his sister come out and sing the tune “Stormy Weather.” Whoa! She tore the roof off, and the crowd freakin’ loved it. First, where did she get all that big, long blonde hair? And that champagne-colored, shiny dress? I loved it. The whole look was very Claudia at La Mirage on Dynasty. But Martha’s wildly loopy and unabashedly histrionic and dramatic delivery of “Stormy Weather” was a fun, guttural contrast to Rufus’ more conscious, effete delivery of much of the material. She was a blast of primal and hormonally fueled fresh air.Lorna Luft – Fun to see her pop out and duet with Rufus. She certainly seemed happy to be there. But is it shady for me to have wished it had been Liza?Celeb-spotting: Tons of fancy and fun New York gays, of course. Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman (of Kiki & Herb); cabaret crooner Jack Donahue; NY State Attorney General hopeful Sean Patrick Maloney; Sarah Jessica Parker; Talking Head David Byrne; Laurie Anderson; playwrights Jeff Whitty and Tony Kushner: John Waters; B-52 Fred Schneider; Kristin Johnston; Joel Grey; Patricia Field; Antony; Norah Jones (I think); actor John Benjamin Hickey. Stories and Chatter: Rufus, as always, was totally engaging in his story-telling on stage. From the beginning with his “We’re not in Kansas anymore…” quip, he related tales of his own Judy devotion and the ordeal of preparing for this concert. The audience learned that as a kid, Rufus used to love to play Wizard of Oz. On good days, he’d put on mom’s apron and be Dorothy, with his little stuffed lamb toy as Toto. On bad days, he’d be the Wicked Witch of the West, and line up his mothers high heels, slip into her dresses and practice “melting” repeatedly. He also told tales of Judy fanatics (including a former drummer from her 1961 Carnegie Hall gig) who’ve approached him, and he gave frequent props to the orchestra and musical director Stephen Oremus, who supported him.Again, my final analysis was that the night was a big, musical love-in. But it wasn’t a cornball evening of kitsch or self-congratulatory camp at all. More than anything, it was a celebration of two artists. Judy Garland was recognized as a performer with a huge heart, amazing precision, stamina and exuberance—and also of an indestructible cultural relevance and worthiness. Her rather encouraging presence loomed large and benignly over the entire evening. And for Rufus Wainwright, the concert was a triumph whereby he moves up a notch in the cultural radar, buoyed by his own talents and ambition and courage for undertaking such a task. Here’s a gay man who’s up for renovating our perceived notions of corny, traditional queer culture. By an artist of Rufus’ caliber tackling the Garland songbook, the idea of this being done for kitsch’s sake evaporates in a second, and the enterprise soars due to the raw talents of all of its elements. And in so doing, Rufus demonstrates how we can celebrate the strengths and merits and loopy theatrics of our past, while simultaneously taking it all a step forward. Sure, the cult of Judy and showtunes are a gay cultural touchstone, but the music and its power and the unadulterated wealth of talent backing it up is indisputable and much bigger than any rainbow-tinted cliché.Gorgeous! Will there be any surprises at this year’s ? Not so sure – I feel like it would be hard to top this year’s VMAs in pure-entertainment value. But, of course I’ll be watching – look who’s going to be there: The show already confirmed that Daughtry, Celine Dion, Fergie and Rihanna as performers for the night. Amazing!The committee announced its yesterday as well; Beyonce, J.T., Daughtry and Linkin Park all earned the most (three nominations each).Jimmy Kimmel will host the ceremony, which will air November 18…and I actually didn’t know this: The AMAs get their nominees based on record sales, and then they narrow thise down based on national sampling. Hmm…Check the for the full-list of nominees…after the jump!Pop/Rock: Male artist:Akon, Timbaland, Justin TimberlakeFemale artist: Beyonce, Fergie, Avril LavigneBand, duo or group:Linkin Park, Maroon 5, NicklebackAlbum: “Daughtry” (Daughtry), “Minutes To Midnight” (Linkin Park), “FutureSex/LoveSounds” (Justin Timberlake)Country:Male artist:Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Brad PaisleyFemale artist:Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Carrie UnderwoodBand, duo or group:Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal FlattsAlbum:“Let It Go” (Tim McGraw), “Me And My Gang” (Rascal Flatts), “Some Hearts” (Carrie Underwood) Soul/Rhythm & Blues:Male artist:Akon, Ne-Yo, T-PainFemale artist:Beyonce, Fantasia, RihannaAlbum:“B’Day” (Beyonce), “Double Up” (R. Kelly), “FutureSex/Love Sounds” (Justin Timberlake)Rap/Hip Hop:Male artist:Fabolous, T.I., Young JeezyBand, duo or group:Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Pretty Ricky, Shop BoyzAlbum:“Strength & Loyalty” (Bones Thugs-N-Harmony), “T.I. vs. T.I.P.” (T.I.), “The Inspiration” (Young Jeezy)Adult Contemporary:Artist:Daughtry, Norah Jones, John MayerAlternative:Artist:Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, the White StripesLatin:Artist:Daddy Yankee, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, Jennifer LopezContemporary Inspirational:Artist:Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, tobyMacSoundtracks:Album: “Dreamgirls,” “Hairspray,” “High School Musical 2”Breakthrough: New artist:Daughtry, Plain White T’s, Robin Thicke Annie Lennox’s album won’t be out until October 2, but you can listen to the new single right here: "."Songs of Mass Destruction will mark Annie’s fourth solo album; one of the 12 tracks, a feminist anthem called "Sing," will feature contributions from 23 different female musicians, including Celine Dion, Melissa Etheridge, Madonna, Fergie, Shakira, Beth Gibbons, Faith Hill, Angelique Kidjo, Beverley Knight, Gladys Knight, KD lang, Sarah McLachlan, Pink, Joss Stone and KT Tunstall…just to name a few.That’s so nuts! I am more than impressed, Annie. The black suit Rachel has on in this scene, is a perfect example of “Broadcast Journalism Lady Fierceness”™Whether they’re trying to balance love and career, reporting and sensationalism, or a stack of papers and a venti coffee (extra black), broadcast journalism movie ladies have brought us fast-paced entertainment for years. These women know what’s important. They’re willing to risk it all for a big story. When that camera is rolling and America is watching, they know it’s go big or pack up those shoulder pads, and go home.With the DVD release of today, it only seemed appropriate to take a look back at the memorable movie characters who have SERVED us the news honey over the last 30 years or so. So finish up that chapter in , resolve that lingering tension with your co-anchor, and give your cab driver directions to get home extra fast, because we’ve got a show to do. [CUE THEME MUSIC]This James L. Brooks film may be the standard bearer by which all broadcast journalism lady films can be measured. Holly Hunter plays Jane Craig, a network news producer based in Washington who LOVES the news. I’m talking, power-walking-every-morning-to-buy-seven-newspapers loves the news. She eventually becomes caught in a love triangle between William Hurt and Albert Brooks, two male reporters on her newscast. The best things about this movie is Joan Cusack’s hair while she’s running, a cameo by Jack Nicholson, and Holly Hunter constantly bursting into tears. Oh, and it’s one of the best romantic comedies ever. I BURIED THE LEDE.QUESTION: What would you do if you were an upstart news reporter and your first boss was Robert Redford? ANSWER: You would use him to further your serious news career while simultaneously falling in love with him. That’s basically what Michelle Pfeiffer’s character, Tally Atwater, does in Up Close and Personal. This movie is basically A Star Is Born in a news room. Way too much of the movie is set in a prison during an inmate riot, but other than that it’s pretty good. Up Close and Personal also has the added plus of including that Celine Dion song “Because You Loved Me.” Broadcast Journalism ladies + easy listening soft rock = a match made in pantsuit heaven. Now whenever you hear this song you can think of Robert Redford singing it to you while you’re sporting an early ‘90s bob.Wow. Is this Nicole Kidman’s best film or is it? In broadcast journalism lady movies, if you desperately want to break into the industry it either means you are “inspirational” or a “ruthless, conniving slut.” Nicole Kidman’s Suzanne Stone in this film, is definitely the latter. Suzanne DESPERATELY wants to be a world famous news anchor. When her husband asks her to take some time off from a local weather girl job to focus on their family, she does what any career-minded girl would do, she gets rid of him. Suzanne eventually gets what’s coming to her in the end, but not before that chasing her broadcast television dreams until the very last frame. THAT’S dedication.The on-the-scene reporting continues after the break. How’s my hair holding up?Bridget Jones is undeniably one of the best movie characters of all time. From her self-deprecating humor to her constant uphill battles with life, she constantly inspires. Who hasn’t had one of those nights where all you can do is smoke a couple fags, drink an entire bottle of wine, and listen to a Celine Dion album. (Fact: Broadcast journalism ladies love Celine Dion almost as much as they love shoulder length haircuts.) When Bridget quits her job after a messy break-up with her boss, she finds redemption (well, kind of) as a television journalist. With the help of Colin Firth, she scores a big interview and climbs her way to the top. I think I need to start keeping a diary.Sarah Jessica Parker plays unlucky talk show host Natalie Lake in this darkly comedic parody of science fiction B movies directed by Tim Burton. After Martians arrive on Earth promising they come in peace, they start pretty much murdering everything in sight. This is much more entertaining than the prison riot scene in Up Close and Personal. Unfortunately, poor Natalie gets stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time while reporting at one of the alien landings. She gets abducted, and her head is switched with her pet Chihuahua. Hey, no one said broadcast journalism was easy, did they? [See Above: No. They Didn’t.] Uploaded by . – Is Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers the best character in the entire Scream franchise? If not, she definitely ranks pretty high. Gale is a tabloid reporter who has a long history with the protagonist of the films, Sidney Prescott, after accusing her of lying about her mother’s death. Throughout the horror series, she manages to both report on the murders while also saving others and avoiding being killed herself. Multitasking is very important for a career in broadcast journalism. Also, who could forget Parker Posey playing an actress playing Gale in Scream 3. “What are you doing?? BEING GALE WEATHERS” and “My agent liked that” are lines that anyone can easily, and should, work into every day conversation. We’ll have to stay tuned to see what happens to Gale in . Uploaded by . – The 1976 film Network is a biting satire of network news, and its never-ending quest for higher ratings. When news anchor Howard Beale has a breakdown on air, the television channel’s executives decide to keep him in front of the camera and the station’s ratings soar. One of the executives who make this decision is Diana Christensen played by Faye Dunaway. The only thing more cutthroat then Faye Dunaway in this movie, are Faye Dunaway’s blouses in this movie. This is a Programming Executive who knows how to fit some 1970s tailoring into her busy decision-making news days, ok? Dunaway won an Academy Award for her performance in this film, and you definitely don’t want to miss it. “Is That Clear?” One of the funniest movies of the last 20 years, Drop Dead Gorgeous is about a beauty pageant in the small town of Mount Rose, Minnesota, and the lengths that one of the contestants’ mother (played by Kirstie Alley) and her daughter will go to win. The innocent counterpoint to their ruthlessness is Amber Atkins, a beautician at the local funeral home who just wants to follow the example of her role model, Diane Sawyer. Through a series of events, Amber is able finally land a job on a local Minneapolis-St. Paul television station, and the loveable Kirsten Dunst gets the happy ending she deserves. You betcha. Uploaded by . – This “film that launched a thousand catch phrases” stars Will Ferrell as a news anchor in the 1970s threatened by a new female colleague. That colleague is Christina Applegate, who knows how to WORK some bell-bottoms. In addition, she has one of the best broadcast journalism lady names ever: Veronica Corningstone. Per usual, Veronica gets a bit carried away by her unquenchable thirst to read a teleprompter while being filmed, but luckily it all works out in the end. Uploaded by . – Which bring us to Morning Glory. This adorable film was released last year, and features Rachel McAdams as Becky Fuller, a television news producer who just really loves producing. Like, it gives her as much fulfillment as her crackberry addiction and running in heels. Meanwhile, Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton play a pair of anchors who struggle to get along on the air and off. In fact, this movie incorporates themes from many past Broadcast Journalism Lady Movies. Becky has Holly Hunter’s love of news in Broadcast News, goes through a career rebound similar to Bridget Jones, and oversees a newscast makeover like in Network. However, Morning Glory has something none of these movies have. That thing is Patrick Wilson. Remember them? Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda might actually make it to the multiplex. Word has it that “substantial negotiations” have begun between to finally get their sh*t together and ! Of course, I’m still waiting for the big-screen smash, “The Golden Girls Movie: Shady Pines or Bust!” A poster at the opening of Prince’s new 3121 club in Vegas last night. Wear your diamonds and pearls, yo! isn’t just a nebulously named, hard-to-pin-down musical genius. He’s also a clubowner and restaurateur. Turns out the purple powerhouse has at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Vegas. And, Prince himself will at the club on Friday and Saturday nights. And… There’s a restaurant, too. Take that Celine! Shakira and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters: Strange hotel bedfellows?Perhaps not to be outdone, (how those two got together, I’ll never know) have formed a joint business venture, in the Bahamas for $16 million, and are and selling off prime seaside property. Okaaayyy… Sing out, Kate! Pete Doherty—he’ll take a pass on. The late Johnny Cash: Still crankin’ out videos!Speaking of Kate Moss, she and just about (mostly music biz stars, like Kanye, Justin Timberlake, Iggy Pop, Sharon Stone, Bono, Dixie Chicks, Johnny Depp and on and on) , “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.” Young Love: You’re gonna hear from him!And thanks to an early nod from (from a week or so back, actually), here’s a head’s up about , whose tune “Discotech” is ripping up the NYC club kingdom. YL is basically the musical moniker for Dan Keyes, who serves up zingy, rocking dancey music that (to quote Arjan, who put it pretty aptly) suggests Franz Ferdinand meets Justin Timberlake. You’ll also hear echoes of The Killers, which is no big surprise as the same record honchos at Island are guiding YL’s release, due in January 2007. (In fact, check the pic of Dan and Brandon below. They’re like, BFF’s!) Listen to YL’s tune and dig up more dish and . And watch Logos’ and catch the “Discotech” video. Flowers & Love: They go so nicely together… Yes, this did happen – and yes, Canadian kooky makes it everything you could possibly imagine; she even tries to beat box! On her CBS special, "That’s Just The Woman in Me," Celine brought Will.i.am. on stage to perform his remixed version of her track "Eyes On Me."The remix is actually really good; I kind of wish Celine would stop lip-synching, though. And I can’t decide which moment is more wondrously awkward: Celine shaking her skeleton hips while telling Will.i.am. to keep "his eyes on her" or Celine escorting Will.i.am. off stage because he has a broken foot!Watch the video after the jump… Beyonce as Aida? It’s as "Easy as Life." Hillary gets some female fan action. And Mariah’s next movie is, like, totally good. Hurrah! might star in ! Are theater folks fussy that Heather Headley might get dissed? Whattya think?Yay! A Why wasn’t this voted as Hill’s official song? Celine who?Evidently, ’s next flick Tennessee is, like, totally . Which would be amaaaaazing. I thought she should have won for that catfight with herself in the ladies room in the “Heartbreaker” video. Bitch was robbed!AND…Ummm, there’s a lot going on with . MTV will help you sort it out.Poor just keeps getting . It’s enough to drive a gal to drink. Er, wait a minute…Remember that from a few weeks back? So does queer porn company Dark Alley Media. They’re planning . Har! oft-nipped-and-tucked lead singer today in Britain. Awwww… How can that not be nice news? Congrats!. No, not the movie, sillies. Time to play "Where’s Wintour?" courtesy of Radar’s Fashion Week Anna Wintour stalkers.- After three years of retirement, Cher is snatching up Celine Dion’s Las Vegas throne.- Amy Winehouse won’t be performing – or attempting to perform – at the Grammies ‘cause we Americans rejected her app for a visa.- Charlize Theron sat between two Harvard students in drag for their ‘Hasty Pudding’ Parade. They just gave her some dumb, brass pot!– The sultry Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley is hard at work on her second solo album.- Gawker posted a very gay (and booty-baring) ad; they also want your “modern gay lover” stories!- The new Get Smart trailer is online! Lovin’ 99’s hair! – A 16-year-old boy planned to crash a plane into a Hannah Montana concert. – Lo Bosworth – a.k.a. the best thing about Laguna Beach – will move in with L.C. and Audrina for The Hills’ new season! Let’s hope she flashes "her Britney" again! – Queen Latifah, Jake Gyllenhaal and Celine Dion are among a few celebrities to wish Ellen a Happy 50 with “I Will Survive” karaoke. – Peter Pan-ified Tina Fey, Gisele Bundchen and Mikhail Baryshnikov are the latest subjects in Annie Leibowitz’s weird Disney photo shoots. - Courtney Love, all cleaned up and arriving at the Oscars in 1997.Today’s highlighted diva in the running for is… Just mentioning her name can send people into gushy odes of rock goddess worship, or vitriolic diatribes about what a malevolent, destructive force she’s been. She’s been called “the second-most famous rock widow of all-time (after Yoko Ono)”—that nugget appears in an awesome cover story in just out now—and along the way, the former Mrs. Kurt Cobain has been a movie star, a red-carpet tornado, an alleged drug-addled mess, and a constant media fascination. Not to mention a mom. And even today we have in the press that “the girl with the most cake” has just for the latest issue of the British magazine, . Hey… Once a diva, always a diva. The “Queen of Rock ‘N’ Roll?”Frankly, I think Love’s a rock survivor. And I’d say that ’s album stands up as one of the best rock records of the 1990s (and that’s given some formidable company). Say what you will about Ms. Love, she’s nothing if not direct, candid, fearless (even if sometimes a bit of hesitancy might serve her well) and outspoken. The current story in reveals that she’s also funny, smart and back in the game with some big new projects coming your way. Courtney on the cover of the current issue of V Magazine. And inside the current issue of V.She’s just released a scrapbook/diary tome, , which the U.K.Guardian newspaper called “a hugely pictorial collection of personal artefacts – school reports, scribbled notes, bits of actual diary, letters, photographs (many of them featuring Courtney in various stages of casual disrobement), song lyrics and tons of other ephemera – that she has, apparently, stuffed into what must be a particularly roomy handbag.” Love, with Woody Harrelson, as Althea and Larry Flynt in 1996′s The People Vs. Larry Flynt. Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain, earlier this year. And with Josh Groban and Celine Dion (say what?) backstage at the World Music Awards in 2004. They’re watching Whitney Houston perform. Whoa!Love’s next record is due on the spring, and it comes with songwriting and producing work courtesy of Billy Corgan and Linda Perry. Perry herself recently hailed the virtues and talents of Love when she pronounced publicly: Perry told . “Damn it all to hell. She is the last one.” Love, as her Hole iconic self in the “Doll Parts” video.Feeling Courtney? Go her classic Hole track, and see if she’s worth your . If you don’t, I may just send Courtney over herself, and you’ll have to deal with her.To check out other to watch and upon, go I chose as today’s diva (whom you can vote for in ), because it’s Thanksgiving, and I’m thankful that she’s splitting up with her husband Bobby Brown. Not that I even know truly what the dynamic might be between those two, but I welcome anything that might help put Whitney back on course to reclaiming (if that’s even possible) her place as one of the world’s best voices and most sparkling pop divas.I mean, it was a long time ago, but I remember Whitney back during her and days. She was so elegant and squeaky clean, she made Celine Dion look street. I don’t know where along the way she got derailed, with all the rumors about her drug abuse, and her bizarre behavior, and jittery interviews where she crows “Crack is whack!” It’s rather hard to reconcile that early, seemingly innocent Whitney with the older, broken figure that we’ve seen in recent years. Whitney serves up “The Greatest Love of All.” Shiny! Whitney wants to dance with somebody. Hopefully, somebody who likes BIG hair.But like I said, I’m thankful that she seems to be taking her life in a new direction. Because she does have (if it’s still there) one of the best singing instruments around. And when she’s on it, Whitney nails “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl in 1991.The video showing as part of the is her And it’s nuts! That crazy jewelry, that intense choker necklace thing, the jagged hair, and that crowd of sisters who are over dealing with their no-count men—it’s brilliant. (As is the infamous Thunderpuss remix of that song, which will forever be a gay dance floor anthem.)So forget about the awful, base spectacle of Being Bobby Brown. Think clean and shiny from The Preacher’s Wife. Think Think of the Whitney who scored 7 consecutive #1 hits (matching records by The Beatles and the Bee Gees). If you must, think of the Whitney how had a record-breaking stint in the #1 spot with her cover of Dolly Parton’s That song is a pop cliche now, but she nailed it. Whitney, with Bobby visiting Israel. (Okaayyyyy…) And last month with Clive Davis, looking good again. Things can only get better.Vote for , and if you’re feeling it. And Happy Thanksgiving! See you Monday! And I am telling you, I am soooo going to see the minute it gets released this December. In the meantime, the lucky suckers in Cannes got a chance to peek at the film today. There was a special “preview” of the movie, with the stars in attendance, including , , director , and our fave American Idol veteran (pictured above), who gets to play big, beautiful, bodacious Effie—and who gets to sing the musical’s mega-song “And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going)” made famous by the .Sure, Beyonce showed up looking all skinny and cute, but we’re f-ing lovin’ Effie!Meanwhile, in Vegas, met the press to announce plans for her . Watch out Celine! Scooch over Elton! Toni’s gonna get And gay super-director ’s latest, —which stars two of his regulars, and — today, too. It’s a comedy/ghost story/serious drama—of sorts. And it’s all about powerful women. Hurrah! And it was met with at film’s end. Bravo and stuff!Um, and somewhere in Berlin, Famke Janssen, Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry posed in front of a wall covered with logos in German. And yep, that’s kind of the entire news story there… Can anyone tell me which X-Men the little dog on the left is? Is there an X-Man called Poochy, perhaps?Speaking of drama queens, former New Jersey Governor and “Gay American” is going . Ya think she’s gonna read him to filth? Rejoice! It’s time for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, one of the strangest, most amusing and campiest European traditions around. Begun in 1956, Eurovision was meant to broker peace, unity and uh, joy among members of the European Broadcasting Union. Over the years, the contest has helped discover some major musical talent — like Abba! and Celine Dion! — but it’s also just an amazing over-the-top show, filled with spectacle and showmanship and amazingly bad pop songs. And absolutely no irony.How It Works: Each country submits one musical act to represent it. Fans then vote for their favorites over a series of rounds. Right now, we’re in the semifinals. The Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Russia. Russia’s entry is Buranoskiye Babushki, a team of six grandmas who sang “Party for Everybody.”Yes, there is no rhyme or reason to who or what gets submitted to Eurovision — or who wins. A few years ago, Finnish rock band Lordi took home top honors. This is what they look like:Some of it is earnest. A lot of it is not. Making a return trip to Eurovision this year, representing Ireland, are creepy, plucky twins Jedward. Here they are in their semi-final alien silver suits. These guys are the living, breathing embodiment of annoying.Then there’s these spunky kids from Moldova, Pasha Parfeny. I always associated Moldova with crushing poverty and human trafficking but that’s all changing now!Sadly, one contestant who’s already out of the semifinals is Austria’s terribly named Trackshittaz, whose track Woki Mit Deim Pop was apparently about shaking your ass. Here they are. Auf Wiedersehn!All photos courtesy Getty Images. Lindsey isn’t a very good singer. Nor is she a particularly bad singer. That, and a typical weakness for attention from strangers, is what makes her at her happiest while performing karaoke. Ever since she discovered that belting Tammy Wynette and 4 Non Blondes in front of crowds substituted perfectly for therapy, she’s been pressuring her friends to listen to her sing weekly at a plethora of karaoke bars across NYC. Meanwhile, while not singing, she’s developed very strong opinions about what constitutes the proper etiquette of karaoke–everything from song choice to mic-handling technique. Her opinions (while regarded trustworthy by some of the greatest karaoke’ers in town) are her own, so feel free to disregard. After all, if you’re just dying to sing “Don’t Stop Believin’” you’ll probably just go ahead and sing it. Send your karaoke questions for Lindsey to karaokeconfessional AT gmail.com.What’s the modest and appropriate response when someone compliments you on your ABSOLUTELY PERFECT PERFORMANCE of a song you have been performing at karaoke for 10 years? –AmyYour grinning “thank you” will suffice, and so will the suggestion that the complimenter buy you a drink (or another song). Congrats on your perfection, Amy.Speaking of…I love karaoke, but I feel dumb doing it because… I have a pretty good singing voice? And I feel dumb suggesting it as a group activity because I feel like people are thinking “oh, of COURSE she wants to do karaoke because she is good at singing.” You may be wondering, how good actually is this letter writer’s singing voice? Does she just think she’s really good but really no one else does or gives a hoot? So, for the purposes of this letter, I will tell you that one time I won amateur night at the Apollo. –AlisonYou guys are really good singers, apparently, because I got three (3) versions of this exact question. Well Alison, (also: Amy (above) and Sadia, who both asked similar questions) first of all: congratulations on your beautiful singing voice. No sarcasm intended, as I am truly jealous of your naturally graceful vocal cords. Secondly, when I karaoke and a good singer steps up to the plate, for me it is truly a magical experience. Not only can they redeem the night, but they also can redeem karaoke ITSELF for those dragged to the bar by friends. Who knows, your performance might turn a karaoke-hater into a karaoke-lover (or even a karaoke-doer!) Trust me, it’s your own egotistical (sorry!) self-consciousness that’s making you worried about others’ perceptions. All you’ll receive are compliments.Again, a good karaoke singer is likely to get cheers, which makes them feel great and feeling great doing karaoke is the bottom line. Stage presence makes up for a less-than-perfect singers, and you’ve already got the voice. You won’t even have to work as hard as the rest of us.One thing I will request of you gifted singers: please choose songs that are challenging to you and stay away from the ones I sing to properly disguise my less-than-gifted voice. Hey man, I need them! Belt yourself some and step awayyyyy from my Fleetwood Mac. And on that thought, good singers: ABSOLUTELY NO MUSICALS. I don’t care how good of a singer you are. Ace the vocal runs in “Halo” like I know you can. Again: No musicals.I need to work up a new song in honor of my friend’s bachelor party. Thinking No Mercy’s “Where Do You Go”? Literally my only other karaoke is Roy Orbison’s “I Drove All Night”, which often leads to me trying to guess how far to transpose the Celine version so I don’t have to scream (Spoiler: I have a 20% success rate in this matter). If you have any good ideas for fail-proof songs that I can awkwardly sing to my friend, I would appreciate it! P.S. I am male, and can sing medium-well. –TimAh, karaoke bachelor(ette) parties. The only kind, in my opinion. Unless you can get strippers to sing karaoke OR karaoke singers to strip while they sing. (Please call me if you can provide either of those services.) Since you’ve opened this door wide open for me, can I suggest a strategy that works (almost) every time? If you’re a dude, sing a song originally sung by a woman. It’s that simple. When a dude sings a song originally sung by a woman, in my past experiences, it brings the house down. My friend Steven does a version of ’s “I Kissed A Girl” that brings tears to my eyes.And now that you have double the options (and a medium-well singing voice!), I have some suggestions for you. Songs of adoration that will go over so well with your flawless gender switcheroo, I promise: Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” (listen to Lyle!), Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know”, Spice Girls’ “Say You’ll Be There”, Madonna’s “Like A Virgin”, Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”, Shania Twain’s “From This Moment On.” All beautiful love songs for your BFF groom-to-be.And if all else fails, go with Billy Idol’s “White Wedding.”Last Week: is a writer living in Brooklyn. Her karaoke bar of choice is Montero’s Bar & Grill and she limits herself to singing “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes only once a month. You can . Send your karaoke questions for Lindsey to karaokeconfessional AT gmail.com. The NY Times called , a.k.a. music project Final Fantasy, "The World’s Most Popular Gay Postmodern Harpsichord Nerd." Mmm – dreamy. Well, Owen certainly up-ed the gay factor when he ‘s "The Power of Love" at a release party for an anti-Celine book called, Celine Dion’s Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste. Ouch. No comment on the Celine-hatred; I know he loved it, and the video’s totally adorable. Before singing, Owen even admits he considered performing an a capella "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" in a dress. Aw!More on Final Fantasy after the jump – and a fellow gay, indie musician! Owen posing with fellow gay music-y, Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear. Who knew they hung out? I can’t embed the clip of Owen doing his violin , but follow that link to watch the video. And check out his video for the single "He Poos Clouds" below, if he’s caught your interest.He is intriguing; I’ll have to revisit him soon. But how about a little background on the gay singer from Ontario? Well, first off, he got the name for his act from the Japanese video game series, comparing his musical stylings to the whole concept. He’s said… "I like the idea of it, this big gay thing. … The games are ridiculously overwrought and convoluted emotionally."Very true, Owen. I love that he’s a gay-mer. As far as music, Owen has toured with and arranged for Arcade Fire and later, along with his friend, Leon Taheny, released his debut album, Has A Good Home. He followed up with an EP called Young Canadian Mothers. Owen has said Canadian, German and French music journalists – not surprisingly – love his music, but added the "impatient ears" of the U.S. and U.K. aren’t as enthusiastic. Fair enough; but I’m really feeling "." I guess he does know his Final Fantasy. Having gone solo, Owen released the LP in 2006. Check out the video for the album’s title track below; there are some cool animated, fantasy sequences – along with the cute, violin-playing Owen himself. These sequences actually remind me more of Shadow of the Colossus than of Final Fantasy – but OK, nobody played that… Mariah Carey rubs it on thick this week. Insiders commonly remark that pop superstar is among the most down to earth of that perpetually otherworldly creature, the celebrity. True to her reputation, Mimi will continue to exude a pleasant aroma tomorrow, when she debuts her sweet new fragrance, , with a daylong spritz of prime media opportunities. On Tuesday, October 23, Carey is scheduled to flaunt her scent of a woman with morning appearances on NBC’s The Today Show and ABC’s The View, and in the afternoon at in New York City, where she will officially launch M by Mariah Carey. There, despite her benevolent reputation, only customers who signed on early to purchase the fragrance sets at varying levels of VIP (make that “very important perfume”) status will be treated to meetings, autographs and photos with the diva. Based on its own description, Carey’s eau de parfum, designed by Carlos Benaim and Loc Dong, sounds like a better than average first date:“M by Mariah Carey opens with an indulgent, creamy accord and blooms into an opulent floral heart as a rich base reveals darker, sensual facets.”Fans also spray generally positive comments in this . Carey joins the seemingly who have released fragrances, including musical heavyweights like Kylie Minogue, Celine Dion. Christine Aguilera, and Gwen Stefani. However, if it seems like her mild perfume is taking a concentrated step on Madonna’s turf by using the initial, M, just wait until February. has it that both Mimi and Madge could be releasing competitive new albums around that time. Smells like trouble. Looooove the yellow Bardot hair, and the retro light fixture accessory. Madness and joy! Gaga! were the usual bonkers parade of uninspired awardees and kooky/WTF onstage moments, like any good award show should be. opened the show (see below), Taylor Swift duetted with Stevie Nicks (and Ms. Swift’s vocals were very train wrecky; Stevie should have given her a booty bump pre-show), , mashed up with “If I Were a Boy” and proved to be a flawless machine (as always), and Celine Dion’s knobby knees came at you in 3D. Sort of like Roberta Flack’s face.Taylor Swift won a buttload of trophies, and Beyonce and Gaga scored some too. Just read the to get schooled. I’m just gonna post a lot of pics and offer comments. But nothing’s better than . That’s really all you need to see. also served up . Bless!After the jump see freaky pics, and watch a bit of Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks and Beyonce performing. Here’s a snippet of Beyonkers raging with “You Oughtta Know”: And now some pics… Yikes! Adam Lambert is serving us red-carpet Oompah-Loompah skin tones with Liberace realness. Tone it down, gurl! Oh, HELL no! Who is this bossy backstage power-bottom PR handler-woman all up in Beyonce’s bizness? That pointy finger is shrieking “To the left, TO THE LEFT” at Sasha Fierce. Maybe she thinks she’s talking to Solange??? Aaahhhhh, look at Brit-Brit sitting all demurely in the audience. It’s kinda sweet. And sad. She looks nice and sane, but I miss crazy Britney. I practically exploded when I realized that Taylor Swift (who I sort of really like) and Stevie Nicks (who I utterly worship) were going to do a duet. Then Miss Taylor sort of barfed her way through “Rhiannon” totally off-key. Tragic. The gals sounded better (and Stevie rocked her tambourine) on “You Belong With Me” but I fear it was too late for redemption. Oy.Watch a teensy bit of this mess below. My best friend Leslie says she’s just being Gaga… Gaga, clearly NOT “Speechless” cuz I can hear her crotch from here! I’m guessing this isn’t the first time Elton John has had big, black, gloved hands jutting upwards in his general vicinity. Gaga is clearly amused. P!nk is leaking all over the stage. Er… ewwwwww. I don’t care who knows it: Joe Jonas, boring as he may be, is totally doing it for me in those glasses. Grrrrroooowwwwlllllll!!!!! Even overrated Ke$ha is all like, “WTF??? Who is this little elfin girl-child onstage next to me?” This is some kind of weird baby-sitting gig gone very wrong. Glee’s Lea Michele is looking so hot even Ricky Martin is turned on. Except that he’s not. Because… Well, you know why. Ahem. Okay, I know Roberta Flack is a total legend. But I’m sorry… She’s looking like Mrs. Garrett meets that big orange stone-man creature from the Fantastic Four. She is killing me, and she is NOT doing it softly. Say what you want about batty, bonkers, skinny Celine Dion, but bless her heart, she always commits to whatever she’s doing. She is truly FEELING this lame 3D Michael Jackson tribute number. Attagirl, CeCe. And then there’s Beyonce, who’s gorgeous even when you can’t see her. Annnnnndd… We’re out. – Grace Chu from American Idol is getting a fourth judge — the smart, capable and sexy songwriter, artist and business owner Kara DioGuardi."Kara who?" you ask. Her name may not ring a bell, but unless you have been living in a cave or are one of those people who proclaim themselves to be too "enlightened" for Top 40 music, you have definitely heard her work on the radio. Her work includes Kelly Clarkston‘s "Walk Away," Christina Aguilera‘s "Ain’t No Other Man," Gwen Stefani‘s "Rich Girl," The Pussycat Dolls‘ "Beep," Ashlee Simpson‘s "Pieces of Me," Nick Lachey‘s "What’s Left of Me" and many others.In fact, it looks like an artist cannot be considered part of pop music royalty unless he or she has collaborated with Kara DioGuardi. From her :Kara’s songs have been recorded by Grammy award-winning artists such as … Santana, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Marc Anthony and Pink. Scores of major recording artists including Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Jewel, Jonas Brothers… Hannah Montana, Natasha Bedingfield, Puddle of Mudd, Theory of a Deadman, Daddy Yankee, Ashley Tisdale, Katharine McPhee, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Jesse McCartney, Backstreet Boys… Hilary Duff, Cheetah Girls 3, Camp Rock, Jessica Simpson… have recorded and released Kara’s songs. DioGuardi has achieved equal success internationally with hit singles for artists such as Enrique Iglesias, Anastacia, Ricky Martin, Kylie Minogue, Diego, Belinda, RBD, Eros Ramazzotti, Delta Goodrem, Darius, Thalia and Martine McCutcheon.DioGuardi also co-owns the music publishing powerhouse Arthouse Entertainment."We are turning the heat up on Idol this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges’ table," said creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. "She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America’s most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show."Turning up the heat indeed. In addition to being creative and business-savvy, she is a looker.Meanwhile, Paula Abdul, a mere few hours after the announcement, gave an uncharacteristically lukewarm about the new judge: "I am concerned about the audience and acceptance," said Abdul. Usually, Paula is forthcoming with mostly incoherent compliments, but compliments nonetheless. Don’t worry, Paula. You still have a niche carved out for yourself. For example, I doubt DioGuardi will ever come up with crazy gems like this:Paula, you will always be special. And don’t you forget it!The new season of Idol begins in January. You like them, Canadians! You really like them! The Canadian Academy announced their music picks yesterday, and took the lead with six nominations – two of which were for her albums D’Elles and Taking Chances.Avril Lavigne and Michael Buble came in second with five nominations each; and of course, Feist is in there somewhere. Not sure what Fergie Ferg’s doing, though! The show will air in April.Check out the full list of nominees after the jump…JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD Avril Lavigne Celine Dion Claude Dubois Michael Buble Nelly FurtadoSINGLE OF THE YEAR "Girlfriend," Avril Lavigne "1234," Feist "Paralyzer," Finger Eleven "Seven Day Fool," Jully Black "Everything," Michael BubleINTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR Lost Highway, Bon Jovi The Dutchess, Fergie Noel, Josh Groban Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna Timbaland Presents Shock Value, TimbalandALBUM OF THE YEAR The Best Damn Thing, Avril Lavigne D’Elles, Celine Dion Taking Chances, Celine Dion The Reminder, Feist Call Me Irresponsible, Michael BubleARTIST OF THE YEAR Avril Lavigne Celine Dion Feist Michael Buble Pascale PicardGROUP OF THE YEAR Arcade Fire Blue Rodeo Finger Eleven Hedley KainNEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR Belly Jeremy Fisher Justin Nozuka Serena Ryder Suzie McNeilNEW GROUP OF THE YEAR Dragonette Faber Drive illScarlet State of Shock WintersleepALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR Neon Bible, Arcade Fire LP, Holy Fuck Close to Paradise, Patrick Watson The Con, Tegan and Sara Welcome to the Night Sky, Wintersleep For the moment, I can tentatively—tentatively— forgive Ke$ha’s new single.It’s called “Die Yong,” and it was just released today. If you haven’t heard it, it sounds like this…And… um… it’s okay. It sounds exactly like a Ke$ha song (except for the opening few seconds, which sound exactly like the opening of “Good Feeling” by Flo Rida. .)And that’s fine. Ke$ha songs are good. They mix club beats and a shitty attitude with rap-singing and a whole mess of AutoTune. They’re a little rebellious, a little robotic, and catchy as hell.I can’t be mad at “Die Young” for being all of those things.But here’s the thing: For months and months, we’ve been promised that Ke$ha’s new album is going to sound different than her previous material. Apparently, , which suggests a transition to straight-up rock music. That could be interesting, and more importantly, it could suggest that Ke$ha has a real artistic personality and isn’t just a slave to the sound that made her famous.She needs to break away from that sound pretty quickly, since it’s already getting stale. When One Direction’s new song—the similarly titled ““—sounds like a Ke$ha track, with its thumping party chorus and snotty posturing, and when Jessie J and Cher Lloyd are both making careers as Ke$ha 2, then it’s time to change or become irrelevant. If Ke$ha stays in her current lane, she’ll get trapped in her moment, and when pop music inevitably takes a new path, she’ll get left behind. Everyone will just associate her with 2011 and assume she has no future. (Celine Dion and Boyz II Men couldn’t stop making power ballads, and look what happened to them when the 90s went away.)That’s why it’s a bummer that “Die Young” sounds like a typical Ke$ha song. Why does anyone need to listen to it, if they’ve already got “Tik Tok” or “We R Who We R” on their iPods? Why buy the third version of a song you’ve already bought twice?However, maybe Ke$ha’s label thinks her fans want a gentle intro to the new sound. Maybe “Die Young” is just the comforting appetizer before the surprising main course. If it is, then I can forgive it. But if it’s just the first wave in an ocean of “same old Ke$ha,” then I’ll know it was the song that started the end of her career.—Previously:Mark Blankenship didn’t realize how much he was looking forward to this song until he was disappointed by it. He tweets as @IAmBlankenship Not only did the NRJs (the French Grammies, kind of) award gay icon their "NRJ Award of Honor" – presented it to her! I’m not implying anything, but I’m almost overloaded. … and guess which CD won "Best International Album of the Year." … Britney’s Blackout. Seriously! I love it!The award show – in Cannes, France – had some standout performances as well: Kylie rocked "In My Arms;" Mika performed "Relax;" Rihanna did "Don’t Stop the Music;" and Celine sang "Taking Chances." Gay, gay and more gay!You know I’ve got them all for you … including Mika presenting to Kylie … after the jump! So you’ve got to watch Kylie perform "In My Arms" in her futuristic, collared mini-dress; but almost more importantly, watch Mika give her the award at the end of the clip. It’s in French … "Kee-lee Minooogue!"I don’t speak French very well anymore, but if you’re curious, I’m pretty sure Mika just asks Kylie if she can understand him, to which she replies, ‘almost everything;’ he then lists her achievements in music for the past 20 years, praising her record sales and her ability to reinvent herself. But how funny is Kylie? She’s more excited to meet Mika than he is to meet her; she totally wants him to be her BF!And this one is Mika performing "Relax;" his booty-shaking is pretty damn awkward, but I still like him. That song must not be easy to sing, either; he’s so talented!And here’s Rihanna performing "Don’t Stop the Music" – my favorite track. Rihanna’s new hair looks totally hot, but no comment on her outfit. OK, a little one: It manages to be both heinous and boring. What happened?And finally: the wonders of Celine. … But, is she lip-synching? It can’t be… Kylie, after landing in Tokyo yesterday; and onstage in London for her last Aphrodite UK gig. After two months of nonstop shows, just wrapped the UK & European legs of her glamapaloozaAphrodite/Les Folies tour last week. But there’s no rest for the lovely diva, as she just yesterday to prep for her Japan dates this weekend. (Nope, no fearful Japan cancellations for Kylie. This showgirl must go on!) And while in Tokyo, Ms. Minogue added her celebrity oomph to fundraising efforts for.Then, after shows in Japan Sat-Mon, she heads to North America for her (sponsored by Logo), with a gig in Montreal on Thurs (4/28) and then she’ll roll in to Boston next Friday (4/29) for the first of 13 U.S. shows.Get a teaser of the Kylie glamour heading our way… If , maybe Kylie could have more U.S. dates in her future. Celine was gabbing to the press this week, encouraging younger pop divas like Kylie and to follow the examples of Celine, Cher and Bette Midler and sign on for long-term . Could be cute, right?But first, Minogue is all about spreading her love. Starting next week. Stateside!!! It’s ‘s world; we just live in it. In the last weeks, she’s claimed to be a hermaphrodite, and and delighted audiences in (talking fondly of Israeli men’s endowments — and hummus!), and — move over Kanye — she’s making headlines thanks to yet another high-profile collaboration.Turns out, Yep, the gravelly-voice power ballad champ from the 90s is the latest artist to get some help from the Lady Gaga school of musical madness. Evidently with some music on his forthcoming album, One World One Love, collaborating on the tune Word has it that Gaga helped pen the song, and may be heard singing backup on the track. The new Bolton album is due Sept 21st.Hotness. Now I all need to hear is some genius-ness about a Gaga/Celine Dion duet. Please. Pretty please!??? This has been a good week for Celine! She took home a peeps, and her new album (her 35th in total!) Taking Chances comes out November 13! AOL is right now, though, so Whaddya saaaay to giving New Celine a listen?At the very least, check out the first two tracks, the second of which is Celine’s cover of the fantastic Heart song, "Alone." She definitely does it justice, as Celine has the voice to tackle that kind of number. But I don’t know…I’m kind of sick of Celine’s trademark youuu, and she’s a little harsh. I also just kept thinking she did a better job covering Cyndi Lauper’s "."Not to distract you or anything…although we could just talk about Celine’s crazy drag queen hair… Whoa! Celine’s hair looks like it weighs more than her body.We all know Celine just does something to the gays…and lookin’ kinda drag-tastic for her cover doesn’t hurt (makes me think Dr. Boogie from Shear Genius did it). Taking Chances is due out November 9.Check here to listen to her recording, well, "recording," the lead single, "." There’s also plenty of awkward interactions with her band and dancing around the studio and Renee looking on. But at least you’ll hear the single, right?The lyrics are a little cheesy, but I’m glad to see Celine is still doing something other than her Vegas show. Apparently it’s a cover of Platinum Weird. I’m actually more excited for her cover of Heart’s "Alone!" Manila Luzon is an all-time RuPaul’s Drag Race fan favorite, a style icon for those not afraid of color, and a well-known queen about town in New York. Here she gives Trip Out Travel her favorite destinations around town you’ll want to check out – whether it’s romance, lust or drunkenness you’re after — as well as her dream vacations.What’s your very favorite restaurant in New York? in Hells Kitchen! They have any food you’d ever need to eat: from meatloaf to sweet & sour chicken! It’s just so damned cute in there! The record album cover menus are a trip. Maybe you’ll be seated below a shadow box displaying the New Kids on the Block Barbie dolls. Oh, and you must use the bathrooms! I like the Dolly Parton bathroom, but you may prefer the Cher bathroom.And when you’d rather drink than eat? ! It’s got a piano bar upstairs to belt out show tunes, and a little club downstairs to dance. And every once in a while I’ll show up to do a number or two. And they make the strongest drinks in the city. Two drinks and you’re drunk for three days!Best place to score killer fashions? in SoHo! They have affordable fashion and a sickening shoe section!Your best secret store (that you’d only share with friends)? The … it’s not a secret by any means, but it’s one of the most inspirational places to shop.Best daytime sight to enjoy in your city? The ! You can pretend you’re one of the voguing Pier Kids in the documentary “Paris Is Burning.” You can also look across the river and point and laugh at Carmen Carrera’s home!!! just kidding … I’m sure New Jersey is a lovely place … although I’ve never been.Best place to be at 2am? Right between tipsy and WASTED at any party in the city!Best romantic date spot? The because it’s so giant and filled with beautiful art.And when you’re getting straight to the making out? Anywhere in this city. It’s so romantic to stop in the middle of all the hustle and bustle for an intimate make out session … and Charlie, the homeless crackhead, will really enjoy watching.Your favorite vacation destination? Barcelona, Spain (or as they say, ESPAÑA) The architecture is wacky! The beach there is amazing! And the Spanish boys are super sexy!Sexiest place you’ve ever been? Brazil. Brazilians are the sexiest people on Earth. Even the old ladies exude sex! It’s crazy!!!Dream destination you’re dying to visit? Tokyo, Japan: I wanna be the tallest thing there. The 6 foot Drag Queen vs. Mothra!!!Best place you’ve ever performed & why? Las Vegas. I was sitting at my vanity putting on my make up when I realized that I was technically headlining in Vegas! How Celine of me!Finally, where would you want your dream wedding to be? I am so proud that gay New Yorkers are finally allowed to marry, so I’ll gladly get married at home here in NYC!Keep up with Manila here: “Rock With You” – Michael Jackson remembrances are all over the media today (his autopsy is due today, too) and the tributes have surely only just begun. The man, who died yesterday, was an iconic pop superstar who influenced just about every musician working in the pop and R&B milieu today. His , especially from the Thriller, Bad and Dangerous eras were cultural touchstones. Nobody else had his moves, his style, his way of singing — he was a singular performer. As years passed, we all watched Michael evolve into a strange, mysterious figure that become hard to comprehend and relate to. His face and body changed dramatically, he faced charges of molestation (being acquitted in on instance, settling out of court on another), and he seemed to devolve into a caricature of a reclusive pop star and an oddity, and we’ll probably never quite know all that went on behind the gates of his Neverland ranch.For the next week, we can expect to endure all manner of and freaked-out media-circus moments; I’m already morbidly intrigued to see what kind of funeral shenanigans will unfold. Bring on Latoya and Debbie Rowe! Will Macaulay Culkin offer a statement? Has Madonna stopped crying? It’s all gonna be bizarre, no doubt.But regardless of all the craziness and speculation that came to surround his persona, Michael Jackson did create some fiercely memorable, legendary music, revolutionary videos and his influence on style, dance, MTV, the 80s, and even how African-Americans impact culture is undeniable. So, in tribute, here’s a random mix of his videos to enjoy.“Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson Here’s a CNN clip of Celine Dion talking to Larry King about Michael Jackson’s influence upon her.Embedded video from Celine Dion remembers Michael Jackson, on CNN. And more videos…“Beat It” – Michael Jackson “Scream” – Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson “The Way You Make Me Feel” – Michael Jackson “Man in the Mirror” – Michael Jackson “Black or White” – Michael Jackson “Thriller: The Long Version” – Michael Jackson And finally, Michael’s video tribute to AIDS activist Ryan White, “Gone Too Soon.”“Gone Too Soon” – Michael Jackson Who counts as a Diva nowadays? While there have been who is the very best, there’s no denying that VH1 made themselves the authority on anointing the title with the Divas Live series. This year Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, Florence and the Machine and Jessie J all take the title when the long running concert series returns December 19th at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, where the ladies will pay tribute to the birthplaces of soul music with a mix of original tracks and classic ones. Plus the boys of the Roots are joining the celebration as house band.The lineup this year is a mix of longstanding Divas, with Mary J holding the title for the longest (since 2001) and the most number of appearances (four including this year), plus newer veteran divas like Kelly Clarkson, Jill Scott and Jennifer Hudson (all appearing for a second time), and finally the addition of the new class of Florence and Jessie J. This year VH1 is skipping tween Divas altogether, a welcome change because Divahood takes time to earn. Even Celine and Whitney weren’t true Divas from day one. The only startlingly absent Diva from the list is Adele, who last appeared in 2009 but is having a banner year. We hope it was just a scheduling conflict and not an oversight. ‘s been performing "Cirque de Celine" (as Kathy Griffin calls it) in Las Vegas for four years now, so I’m guessing she’s pretty happy to have some new material. This video, "," the lead single and title track for the new album, seems to involve Celine as a Kill Bill-esque spy, oddly enough. (The new CD is due November 13.) I’ll always have a soft spot for Celine, though, and her voice sounds great toward the end of the track. I am giving a big "no" to the air-guitar, however. Kelly Sweet: 18, sings nicely, and not trashy. We like!There are no shortage of eager, earnest young vocalists out there. But it’s rare that one kind of busts out in front of the crowd to make an impression. Or, at least an impression that’s not snared by screechy American Idol antics, or just skeezy behavior on reality TV. So arriving to add a bit of class to the music world is newcomer . Yes, she’s 18 years old, but she’s got a worldly wise vibe to her. And while the Cape Cod native is poised to become the next adult-contemporary darling (her debut disc, , due in March 2007, is produced by folks who’ve cranked out hits for Josh Groban and Celine Dion), she’s got a sense of oomph to her work that lends it a bit more impact. She’s already gotten props in pubs like USA Today and Teen People; and she’s had her tunes played on the soaps “Passions” and “One Life to Live”—so yes, she’s starting to make the media rounds. Right now, she’s got a version “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” out which you can , too.Sweet writes much of her own music, although she also turns out a pretty too. Basically, her stuff is smart and sensitive singer/songwriter pop music. Think of it as very Gilmore Girls-y. Whoa. It looks windy out there in sensitive, wispy pop-music land!The first single from Sweet is called which will hit radio stations in early January. And the titular ballad “We Are One” is going to have dance remixes, too.Sweet’s even got nice, inspirational quotes posted on her blog section of . Here’s a part of one that she likes; it’s a quote from Martha Graham, writing to Agnes DeMille (wurk!):“You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than others.”Yep, ya gotta love that queer, divine dissatisfaction. Avril Lavigne is a , an occasional actress, a and a horrible applier of eyeliner and mascara — but did you know she loves to bake?Watch above as Avril turn some plain sugar cookies into beautiful holiday delights with some frosting and imagination. Not so complicated after all…Watch Avril Lavigne Make Christmas Cookies While Being Certifiably Adorable [] It’s that time again! We’ve got another fantastic edition of our weekly video blog, , for you! This week John Polly and myself discuss object of worldwide gay affection, Celine Dion’s, new album, ! We do love her, but how can we not have a little fun with this French-Canadian nutter? And the second half is after the jump! We have our picks for happy and sad moments in pop culture this week…They involve Amy Winehouse, The Spice Girls, Project Runway and "White Oprah." Don’t miss! Now that you’ve watched…feeling curious? NewNowNext (of course) has coverage of the and of to get you in the know! The , which honors musicians based on their worldwide sales, gave out its 2007 statues November 4 in Monaco…and guess who cleaned up?That high-pitched, I’m-too-good-to-talk-about-whether-or-not-I’m-gay British pop-ster, Mika! The singer’s awards included World’s Best Selling Pop Male Artist, World’s Best Selling Pop/Rock Male Artist (never thought I’d hear "rock" and "Mika" in the same sentence) and World’s Best Selling New Artist .And the lovely Canadian gay icon Celine Dion (whose new album, , is due November 13) took home the ‘Legend’ award. Damn right. – Dennis Ayers from There’s a veritable smorgasboard of campy DVD titles out today that might be of interest to you, or the perfect stocking stuffer for a friend or pet.The FX series returns for its sophomore season in January and just in time for new viewers to catch up is this . The show itself was a bit uneven last year, but it did offer a few delights. Among them is Grant Show as a closeted movie star getting down and dirty with Leo Spiller (Will McCormack). The boy certainly has come a long way from Melrose Place.Also out, you can finally get R. Kelly‘s R&B opera — all 22 chapters of it — on one . Collectively the chapters tell the story of a one-night stand that sets off a chain of events "revealing a web of lies and deceit." Some of those lies involve certain characters "on the down low."The front of the box says, "it’s the big package," but that may not in fact be true. Kelly claims to have another 20 chapters written and yet to be released. Oh for goodness sake, come out of the closet already!Are you a Zac Efron fan? Oh come on admit it. You know you are. Well you can see him gamely returning to the franchise that made him a teen heartthrob and breakout star in . And no doubt in a few months Disney will be releasing the "director’s cut" of this cash cow franchise.Of keener interest to me is the DVD release of a 1996 Lifetime original movie, …Ann-Margret, Peter Coyote, Tobey Maguire and Christian Campbell star in this true crime story of a Wisconsin teacher’s aide who hired teenaged students to murder her estranged husband. (This one sounds a lot like To Die For.) Not exactly gay interest, but certainly high camp as Margret vamps it up in her shoulder pads an pearls – drawing her mesmerized students into her murderous plot.For all you Celine Dion fans, her Vegas show, is now out on DVD. And for you David Hyde Pierce fans, is now available. Ironically, they released the eleventh (and final) season on DVD way back in 2004. So with the release of this 10th season boxed set you can finally complete your Frasier collection. Last on our list of DVDs out today — the perfect stocking stuffer for your pooch. (I just wish we’d included in our over on the main page.) is described as a video companion for your pet while you are away. The DVD autoplays on a loop and includes footage of dogs barking, playing, running. My only concern? My dog might feel like a couch potato watching it.Still, sounds like a great idea for single dogs who are stuck at home alone while their owners are at work. Anyway, sure beats subjecting them to regular daytime TV — ATWT‘s Luke & Noah notwithstanding! Episode 9: Let's Put on a Show  —by Eric WalterIt's sort of a designer's dream come true on this week. Dressmaker-to-the-stars Bob Mackie stops by to task the designers with creating an extravagant stage look for pop diva Christina Aguilera.This is not fashion, he says. This is the stage. It's almost as if he's daring them to create a monstrosity.At first everyone's kind of excited, but then they start to feel the pressure — there are so few left — and they all get a little nutty. Shirin seems totally lost, and Tim does not mince words with her. More feathers! Not slutty enough!Even Gordana freaks out and spends most of the challenge in a foul mood. Relax, lady; you've got immunity this week. (And it's a good thing too, Heidi tells her, out she would have been *this close* to being auffed.) The only one who keeps her cool is Irina, who seems to especially enjoy sitting in her corner watching Shirin squirm and trash-talking Carol Hannah. Bad form!So it's all the more sweet that the judges love Carol Hannah's dress. Snap! She wins. Shirin never finds her way, and predictably she gets sent home. So Carol Hannah is free to liberally crush on Logan. Christopher has a narrow escape, but the  gay boys are safe once again. And Irina is free to outbitch her opponents. What WorkedFrom left to right:Nicolas gives us a cute feathered mini-dress. I could see a mic in this model's hand.Irina's reveal is a little unnecessary. The dress underneath is lovely, but the top layer could get lost in the coat-check with nary a tear shed.Hail to the victor! Carol Hannah's vampish black dress is sleek and classy. I thought the abrupt shifts in texture were a little odd at first, but then they grew on me. Althea's silver gown looks more Celine Dion than Christina Aguilera, but there's no denying it's a beaut.What Didn'tFrom left to right:Logan's model looks like a lounge singer in a live-action "Flintstones" film. It's too understated. And why is the pink underlayer totally hidden?Shirin has a little trouble this week. All that's missing is the pointed hat.Christopher's another one who went for a reveal, but what's revealed is not interesting enough. He lands on the bottom again this week. I wouldn't put this on a chorus girl in the background, screams Bob Mackie.Gordana almost pulls it off, but this looks unfinished. Thank goodness she had immunity. But those days are over now!Best Gay As much as Nicolas can annoy me, he's keeping it together pretty well. He looked like a one-trick pony this week, but he stayed out of the bottom of the pack. Christopher'd better step up is game. Next Week Now that there are so few designers left, we can really dig into some cattiness, and by the looks of it, we're getting an hour-long bitch fest next week. That reality show mantra rears its ugly head: . Time for Broadway and stage-related news, ladies & gents…’s taking over when Celine Dion wraps up her show in . Yep, the Divine Miss M will start tearing up in her own flamboyant way in February 2008.Nice gay performer and nice straight showboy are heading on Broadway. It’s a nice way to commemorate the show’s anniversary.Speaking of , Anthony and Adam are gonna be joined by American Idol-fave . Yep, she’s as Mimi on May 29th. Whoa… Broadway’s just getting crammed full of ex-Idol kids, eh? (whoa!) is . Tonight! I’m guessing he’s not playing Roxie. Or Velma. Blossom must be proud.After the jump, news about "Saved! The Musical," Cherry Jones, Young Frankenstein, Hedwig and more! Show People: Real-love couple Sarah Paulson & Cherry Jones may team up onstage; Chris Sieber returns to "Spamalot!"; and Hedwig’s coming back, too!Tony-winning stage superstar and her real-life girflriend (of Studio 60 fame) may . Word has it they’re gonna star in a stage adaptation of the . Sounds hot!The movie with Mandy Moore and Jena Malone that you, like, totally loved? It’s Which sounds kind of awesome and really fun, if ya ask me. Remember when Mandy shrieked “I am filled with the holy spirit!” then chucked the Bible at Jena? Praise!Handsome gay actor on Broadway. He was in the original cast. Did I mention he’s handsome?And speaking of gay, this sounds really gay. The musical is heading Off-Broadway. It’s about legendary gay Trojan, , who comes back in present-day NYC to star in a about himself, and then falls in love with his male costars. Mercy!Meanwhile, will begin a in in ! and her are this fall. No cast lined up yet. It’s already a holiday weekend here in TV & online work-land. Our offices are a ghost-town today with the long, hot red-white-and-blue weekend looming. Today’s a half-day and everyone’s off tomorrow so… Might as well head home and get that grill fired up, eh?If you are looking at this, here are some hot party videos to sass up your all-American holiday weekend, for better for worse. We’ve got some cheesy Americana, and some fun tunes you’ll be hearing all summer. Cheers! Cook it up! Wear sunscreen! Go America!!!Oh, say can you see the classic Whitney fierceness? More videos and a nice classic American butt after the jump! In the mood for some completely bizarre animated video action from Euro-disco survivors Boney M.? This one’s called “Felicidad America (Obama, Obama)” and well… It’s insane!And what’s more American than a nice manly rump in jeans… And to go with that nice butt shot above, some classic Bruce… How about a nice British girl to show us how to properly appreciate our Yankee men…The Killers are nice boys from Las Vegas. “Dustland Fairytale” is all about a slick-chrome American prince” and his girl… It’s retro Americana overload! Sooo nice… Green Day is more than happy to burst any delusional gung-ho nationalism bubbles, in case things get carried away.I thought about posting Madonna’s “American Pie” or “American Life” but they’re both so dreadful, I just went with a under-rated classic instead.Aimee Allen’s got the spirit. She’s “On Vacation.” We like! Back to patriotic matters at hand, here’s Celine Dion’s post-9/11 tribute to the good old U.S. of A.David Archuleta singing Neil Diamond’s “America”? Egads? How can I resist?Passion Pit is the indie/pop band to be reckoned with this summer. Feeling “The Reeling?” Chances are you may be drinking some this holiday weekend. Cheers! Let’s hope you don’t exactly follow the Paradiso Girls’ instructions on imbibing to excess and hurling and all that. Take it easy, ladies!And to end things on a fully demented note, how about some corny America-loving French disco? Yes, you say??? Then here’s Patrick Juvet. Nice overalls, dude. <emBang, y'all! Always the princess of peace. If ever there was an occasion tailor made for Madge to sing this sounds like it!As reported today by , a non-profit group is in talks with major artists like Madonna, Led Zeppelin, Justin Timberlake and U2 to present a series of concerts in different locations this spring focused on bringing world peace. Um, what took them so long?“Put your troubles down, turn this world around, and bring back all of those happy days” … after the jump!Organized by , a group that includes some veteran Live Earth and Woodstock executives, the concerts are scheduled to begin on May 17. Performances would take place in Beijing, Istanbul, London, Johannesburg, Miami, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and India. What, has New York lost that much clout? Or even with the dollar in a port-a-potty, is the place still that damned expensive as a concert destination?Shows aside, World Peace One reportedly also plans to launch education and government initiatives as part of a 10-year-campaign to bring peace. Other acts in talks with the organization include Timbaland, adult-compatible Celine Dion and Lionel Richie, and oldies but goodies, INXS and ZZ Top. Britain’s Got Talent champ is expected to on the big finale of America’s Got Talent. AND, she’s expected to I know, I know… Wha? This frumpy old maid getting rock ‘n’ roll on us? But yes, she does. The tune was leaked online a few days ago. And it’s pretty fabulous. Fabulous in that righteous Celine Dion/adult-contemporary vibe, but why not??? I’m loving it. Give it a listen, above.“Wild Horses” has been covered many times before. I also love ‘ classic take on it. Check that one out after the jump!Anyway, go Susan!!! The Sundays – “Wild Horses” Ola Salo (and his Ark-mates): “Worrying” his way to Eurovision gold?The amazingly flouncy and glam-rocking Swedish pop-stars of (led by bisexual superstar Ola Salo) are likely headed to Finland this May to represent their homeland in the . The official Swedish entry will be decided at the . The Ark’s tune is a chatty, bouncy, rockin’ tune – typical of their brand of buoyant, super-melodic pop. And yes, you can bet that Ola will be strutting and preening onstage like a madwoman come showtime. Here’s a of him at the recent semifinals. (Love his diso-ball bedazzled chest!)More Swedish Eurovision madness (and lingonberries) after the jump… Watch Ola and The Ark sing about “The Worrying Kind” .That said, I’m kind of partial to two other of the entrants in the Swedish finals. (It’s all so dizzyingly Europop-tastic it makes my teeth hurt!) Check out ’s entry He’s kind of an aging pop lothario with a Neil Diamond-esque flavor. , daffy balloons float around the audience, and he’s backed up by girls twirling guitars. Yay! It’s blissfully doo-wop cornball. Andreas Johnson needs your The other Swedish entry I’m feeling is the amazingly kitschy , who must be the most “Swedish” of all the entries. She’s a pie-faced bleachy blonde pop diva who comes off like . And better yet, she sings her tune (entitled ) in Swedish, so you won’t understand a single word (which is usually best when it comes to enjoying pre-fab, cotton-candy Europop). Think of a discount, Scandinavian Celine Dion and you’re almost there. I’m worshipping her. Mamma mia!Anyway, for , LogoOnline has a , like, . If you can’t view that, you can read an interview with Ola here.Then go eat some lingonberries, potatoes and meatballs. “Smaklig måltid!” Women on Top: Jennifer Hudson and Melissa Etheridge both scored Oscars last night, resulting in gay rejoicing all over the place. last night seemed fantastically lesbian to me… for Best Song and planted one on her wife, Tammy Lynn Michaels and excitedly once onstage. And I don’t know the story behind that costume designer, , who won the , but she was very cool (and channelling Judy Davis as George Sand, in that froofy costume drama-comedy about 16 years ago). Loved that… Love this shot! Oscar winning costume designer Milena Canonero (for Marie Antoinette) seems quite taken with her presenters, Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway. Who can blame her, eh?I was happy to see … And I was sorry Eddie Murphy didn’t win, but there ya go.But in other major gay movie news, the results from all of are in. AND… Gay America (and elsewhere, I’m thinking…) totally voted for Helen Mirren, Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker to all win Oscars! Yay! But us gays also voted for Eddie Murphy to win for Best Supporting Actor, and for Little Miss Sunshine to win Best Picture, so… Urf.But even more fun might just be the non-Oscar-related categories that the gays voted for. The full list (and I mean full… it’s long) is after the jump. Check ‘em out. Turns out the gays love a sexy James Bond, and an even sexier (given the enthusiastic vote) Lost-star turned Bloodrayne warrior (meaning the women are liiiiving for Michelle Rodriguez). And you voted The Devil Wears Prada for Best Comedy and Children of Men as Best Drama, and Shortbus as Sexiest Movie, and Borat’s rump-smooching won for Best Kiss and…Awww, just check out all the gabby details, already…And, go online to watch of our about . (Full disclosure: I’m in the videos. Ack!) Women We Love: Your sexy favorite, Michelle Rodriguez, hit last night’s Vanity Fair Oscar Party. And so did Portia and Ellen, natch.The Short List of LogoOnline’s Queer Year in Film Poll winners:Favorite Comedy – The Devil Wears Prada Favorite Action Movie – Casino Royale Favorite Serious Drama – Children of Men Favorite Scary Movie/Thriller – Saw III Sexiest Movie – Shortbus Best Gay Indie Film – Adam & Steve Best Socially Aware Documentary – An Inconvenient Truth Favorite Animated Animal Movie – Happy Feet Favorite Guilty Pleasure – Another Gay Movie Favorite Gay Filmmaker – Bill Condon, Dreamgirls Sexiest Male Movie Star – Daniel Craig, Casino Royale Sexiest Female Movie Star – Michelle Rodriguez, Bloodrayne – by a BIG margin Favorite Gay Movie Couple – Rachel & Luce, Imagine Me & You – also by a BIG margin Least Favorite Gay Movie Character – Sharon Stone’s bi killer, Basic Instinct 2 Biggest Oscar Snub – Dreamgirls, not nominated for Best Picture Fiercest Female Character – Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), The Devil Wears Prada Best Kiss – Borat and his friend’s rear end Character Most Likely to Inspire Drag Queens – Any of the women from Dreamgirls Most Lesbianish Non-Lesbian Film – The Descent Biggest Disappointment – The DaVinci Code Best Action Movie with a Coincidentally Gay Storyline – V for Vendetta Character You Most Want to Get Drinks With – James Bond (Daniel Craig) Film Most Looking Forward to in 2007 – Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixAnd that’s just for starters! Below is THE ENTIRE LIST of how the gay universe chimed in on the (as of results at 8am this morning):The OscarsWho do you think deserves the Best Actress Oscar? Penelope Cruz, Volver – 10% Judi Dench, Notes On A Scandal – 12% Helen Mirren, The Queen – 36% Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada -34% Kate Winslet, Little Children – 7%Who do you think deserves the Best Actor Oscar? Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond – 16% Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson – 15% Peter O’Toole, Venus – 7% Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness – 17% Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland – 45%Who do you think deserves the Best Supporting Actress Oscar? Adriana Barraza, Babel – 4% Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal – 14% Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine – 21% Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls – 54% Rinko Kikuchi, Babel – 7%Who do you think deserves the Best Supporting Actor Oscar? Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine – 18% Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls – 32% Mark Wahlberg, The Departed – 28% Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond – 15% Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children – 7%Which film deserves to win Best Picture? Babel – 15% The Departed – 26% Letters from Iwo Jima – 5% Little Miss Sunshine – 31% The Queen – 23%Who deserves to win Best Director? Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima – 12% Stephen Frears, The Queen – 18% Paul Greengrass, United 93 – 5% Martin Scorsese, The Departed – 51% Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu, Babel – 14%What deserves to win Best Original Song? “I Need to Wake Up” from An Inconvenient Truth [Music and lyric by Melissa Etheridge] – 23% “Listen” from Dreamgirls [Music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler; lyric by Anne Preven] – 32% “Love You I Do” from Dreamgirls [Music by Henry Krieger; lyric by Siedah Garrett] – 25% “Our Town” from Cars [Music and Lyric by Randy Newman] – 13% “Patience” from Dreamgirls [Music by Henry Krieger; lyric by Willie Reale] – 7%What deserves to win for Best Original Screenplay? Guillermo Arriaga, Babel – 13% Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine – 39% Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis, Letters From Iwo Jima – 4% Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth – 23% Peter Morgan, The Queen – 21%What should win for Best Adapted Screenplay? Patrick Marber , Notes on a Scandal – 20% William Monahan, The Departed – 37% Sacha Baron Cohen & others, Borat – 21% Todd Field & Tom Perrotta, Little Children – 10% Alfonso Cuarón & others, Children of Men – 12%What should win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film? After the Wedding (Denmark) – 10% Days of Glory (Indigènes)” (Algeria) – 6% Lives of Others (Germany) – 9% Pan’s Labyrinth (Mexico) – 67% Water (Canada) – 8%What should win for Best Animated Film? Cars – 35% Happy Feet – 50% Monster House -15%What should win the Oscar for Best Art Direction? Dreamgirls – 32% The Good Shepherd – 2% Pan’s Labyrinth – 39% Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – 22% The Prestige – 5%Which film should win for Best Cinematography? The Black Dahlia – 18% Children of Men – 14% The Illusionist – 18% Pan’s Labyrinth – 45% The Prestige – 5%Which film should win for Best Costume Design? Curse of the Golden Flower, Yee Chung Man – 7% The Devil Wears Prada, Patricia Field – 33% Dreamgirls, Sharen Davis – 31% Marie Antoinette, Milena Canonero – 21% The Queen, Consolata Boyle – 8%Which film deserves to win for Best Documentary Feature? Deliver Us from Evil – 8% An Inconvenient Truth – 72% Iraq in Fragments – 6% Jesus Camp – 12% My Country, My Country – 2%What film deserves to win for Best Film Editing? Babel – 28% Blood Diamond – 11% Children of Men – 11% The Departed – 30% United 93 – 20%What deserves the Oscar for Best Makeup? Apocalypto – 20% Click – 9% Pan’s Labyrinth – 71%What deserves to win for Best Original Score? Babel, Gustavo Santaolalla – 19% The Good German, Thomas Newman – 5% Notes on a Scandal, Philip Glass – 13% Pan’s Labyrinth, Javier Navarrete – 33% The Queen, Alexandre Desplat – 30%What was the biggest Oscar snub this year? Dreamgirls, not nominated for Best Picture – 40% Volver, not nominated for Best Foreign Film – 27% Bill Condon, not nominated for Best Director – 6% Steve Carell, not nominated for Best Supporting Actor – 16% Sasha Baren Cohen, not nominated for Best Actor for Borat – 11%Fess up. Which highly regarded film are you most unlikely to see? Babel – 11% An Inconvenient Truth – 12% The Last King of Scotland – 20% Letters from Iwo Jima – 44% Little Children -13%Who gave the most memorable Oscar acceptance speech ever? Sally Field, when she exclaimed “You like me!” – 35% Halle Berry, sobbing – 31% Gwyneth Paltrow, sobbing – 2% Jack Palance, doing push-ups – 12% Roberto Benigni, after climbing on chairs – 20%The Best of 2006What’s your favorite comedy of 2006? Borat – 12% The Devil Wears Prada – 44% For Your Consideration – 4% Jackass Number Two – 6% Little Miss Sunshine – 31% Talladega Nights – 3%What’s your favorite action movie of 2006? Blood Diamond – 9% Casino Royale – 33% The Departed – 32% Inside Man – 7% Miami Vice – 2% Superman Returns – 17%Your favorite serious drama of 2006? 3 Needles – 8% Children of Men – 23% Flags of our Fathers – 13% Little Children – 16% The Good Shepherd – 20% United 93 – 20%What was your favorite scary movie/thriller of 2006? The Covenant – 17% The Descent – 25% The Hills Have Eyes – 11% Saw III – 33% See No Evil – 6% The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning – 8%And what was the sexiest movie of 2006? The Black Dahlia – 8% Casino Royale – 28% Imagine Me & You – 18% Perfume: The Story of a Murderer – 2% Shortbus – 31% Tristan & Isolde – 13%What was the best gay indie film of the year? Adam & Steve – 27% Another Gay Movie – 24% Imagine Me & You – 17% Quinceanera – 10% Shortbus – 22%Best socially aware documentary of the year? An Inconvenient Truth – 63% Iraq in Fragments – 3% Jesus Camp – 11% Last Letters Home – 4% Shut Up and Sing – 19%Your favorite animated animal movie of the year? The Ant Bully – 2% Barnyard – 5% Charlotte’s Web – 16% Flushed Away – 7% Happy Feet – 52% Over the Hedge – 18%Your favorite guilty pleasure movie of 2006? Another Gay Movie – 42% The Descent – 9% Jackass Number Two – 13% Madea’s Family Reunion – 18% Rocky Balboa – 7% Snakes on a Plane – 11%Your favorite gay filmmaker of the year? Pedro Almodovar, Volver – 16% Jamie Babbit, The Quiet – 5% Bill Condon, Dreamgirls – 25% John Cameron Mitchell, Shortbus – 18% Bryan Singer, Superman Returns – 11% Nicholas Hytner, The History Boys – 3%The StarsWho’s the Sexiest Male Movie Star of 2006? Daniel Craig, Casino Royale – 38% Andre 3000, Idlewild – 6% Jesse Garcia, Quinceanera – 13% Johnny Knoxville, Jackass Number Two – 11% Matthew McConaughy, Failure to Launch – 19% Patrick Wilson, Little Children – 13%Who’s the sexiest female movie star of 2006? Beyonce, Dreamgirls – 8% Penelope Cruz, Volver – 10% Famke Janssen, X-Men: The Last Stand – 4% Kristanna Loken, Bloodrayne – 2% Michelle Rodriguez, Bloodrayne – 73% Hilary Swank, The Black Dahlia – 3%Favorite Gay Movie Couple of 2006? Adam & Steve, Adam & Steve – 13% Rachel & Luce, Imagine Me & You – 75% Annabelle & Simone, Loving Annabelle – 2% James & Jamie & Ceth, Shortbus – 6% Mr. Jellineck & Mr. Noblet, Strangers With Candy – 4%Who was your least favorite gay character of 2006? Bad lesbian mom Annette Bening, Running with Scissors – 8% Suicidal gay Steve Carell, Little Miss Sunshine – 11% Psycho closeted lesbian Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal – 15% Pedophile Joseph Fiennes, Running with Scissors – 18% Trashy bi killer Sharon Stone, Basic Instinct 2 – 48%Fiercest female character onscreen this year? Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), The Devil Wears Prada – 56% Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), Dreamgirls – 29% Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris), Strangers With Candy – 6% Jazmin Biltmore, (Mo’Nique), Phat Girlz – 4% That final surviving woman from The Descent – 5%The Red CarpetWho worked the best signature pose this year? Beyonce’s armpit pose – 26% Lindsay Lohan’s peace sign pose – 10% Borat’s thumbs up pose – 33% Jamie Foxx’s pointing pose -11% Renee Zellweger’s perennial pucker – 20%Which actress dressed to impress best at the Golden Globes? Drew Barrymore – 17% Penelope Cruz – 20% Jennifer Hudson – 21% Helen Mirren – 17% Reese Witherspoon – 25%Which actor brought sexy back at the Golden Globes? Sacha Baron Cohen – 14% Leonardo DiCaprio – 27% Aaron Eckhart – 13% Jamie Foxx – 15% Mark Wahlberg – 31%Which actress should have fired her stylist after the Golden Globes? Vanessa Williams – 31% Jennifer Love Hewitt – 9% Cameron Diaz – 20% Rinko Kikuchi – 23% Chloe Sevigny – 17%Who wore the best worst Oscar dress ever? Bjork’s swan dress – 32% Barbra Streisand’s see-through pants – 2% Gwyneth’s see-through dress, 2001 – 31% Uma Thurman’s milkmaid look – 5% Celine Dion’s backwards white tux thing – 22% Cher, just about any year – 8%Movie MomentsBest Movie Kiss of 2006? Annette Bening & Kristen Chenowith, Running With Scissors – 17% Jerri Blank and her football jock, Strangers With Candy – 9% Hugh Jackman and Famke Janssen, X-Men: The Last Stand – 23% Patrick Wilson and Kate Winslet, Little Children – 13% Brandon Routh & Kate Bosworth, Superman Returns – 11% Borat and his friend’s ass, Borat – 27%Best Dance Number/Choreography? Adam & Steve – 18% Dreamgirls – 53% Little Miss Sunshine – 27% Borat – 2%Overall, which movie had the most amazing costumes, hair and makeup? Dreamgirls – 24% The Devil Wears Prada – 31% Kinky Boots – 5% Marie Antoinette – 19% Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man’s Chest – 19% Running with Scissors – 2%Best Action Scene? The boat turns over, Poseidon – 10% Opening parkour/jumping/chase scene, Casino Royale – 36% The non-stop snake action, Snakes on a Plane – 5% Effie sings “And I Am Telling You…” Dreamgirls – 24% Steve’s explosive “messy” scene, Adam & Steve – 8% Any of the orgy scenes, Shortbus – 17%Best Use of a Prop? The nonstop cell-phone usage, The Departed – 6% Naked James Bond’s seatless chair, Casino Royale – 24% The beer bong, Jackass 2 – 5% Flying fur coats and bags, The Devil Wears Prada – 32% Graham Norton’s appendages, Another Gay Movie – 23% That chick who replaced Effie, Dreamgirls – 10%Other QuestionsCharacter most likely to inspire drag queens? Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), The Devil Wears Prada – 30% Any of the women from Dreamgirls – 46% Marie Antoinette, Marie Antoinette – 9% Peneope Cruz’s hot housewife, Volver – 3% Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Carribean – 12%Most lesbian-ish non-lesbian film of the year? Bloodrayne – 21% The Descent – 26% Stick It – 15% Underworld: Evolution – 14% John Tucker Must Die – 24%Biggest large-scale disappointment of the year? All the King’s Men – 9% The DaVinci Code – 32% Lady in the Water – 27% Snakes on a Plane – 14% The Pink Panther – 18%Best action movie with a coincidentally gay storyline? Poseidon – 7% See No Evil – 3% V for Vendetta – 47% X-Men: The Last Stand – 43%Which character would you most wanna get drinks with? James Bond (Daniel Craig), Casino Royale – 37% Emily (Emily Blunt), The Devil Wears Prada – 29% Queen Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), The Queen – 8% Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), Dreamgirls – 14% The dudes of Beerfest – 12%Best Film in which to catch a Noah’s Arc star? Darryl Stephens in Another Gay Movie – 49% Darryl Stephens in Boy Culture – 14% Wilson Cruz in Coffee Date – 17% Wilson Cruz in Bam Bam & Celeste – 8% Rockmond Dunbar in Dirty Laundry – 12%Movie you’re most looking forward to in 2007? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 34% Ocean’s 13 – 6% The Simpsons Movie – 15% Spider-Man 3 – 20% Transformers – 8% Zodiac – 17%Whew! Thanks for voting! Don’t agree with the results? You can still chime in and change who won! No, seriously… this video is the reason I love the internet. Before I explain way, just watch actor and filmmaker arguing with a recording he made of himself when he was 12 years old.All done? Still thinking about how sad and cute it is for a 12 year old to believe his dog will be alive in 20 years? Right.Anyway… here are the reasons this video makes me love the internet:(1) It’s funny to imagine a kid in 1992 recording a series of questions for his older self, but it’s even funnier to actually see that kid. It reminds me of my own awkward youth, which is endearing, and it lets me laugh at how dorky someone else used to be, which is awesome. If it weren’t for the internet, I’d never get to experience that. (Or voguing in 1991.)(2) Without the internet—and the easy-to-use filmmaking technology is supports—this film might never have been made. Sure, McDonald is funny, and he does an excellent job editing this piece to tell a funny/moving story about how we do and don’t live up to our childhood expectations of ourselves. But let’s be real: No television network or major film studio would ever distribute something like this. Only the internet will make room for this kind of art. Or maybe, like, an art gallery in an alleyway or a theatre in an abandoned billiard hall, but screw that. Only the internet can get something this weird and brilliant to the masses.(3) That thing about the old cartoon characters he used to draw, and now he doesn’t draw them? It’s hilarious and heartbreaking. I’m not actually sure what that has to do with the internet, but there you go.(4) This guy’s cute, but he’s cuter in motion than he is in still photos. It takes the power of online video to appreciate his make-out potential.Previously: —Mark Blankenship tweets as @. Somewhere in his parents’ house, there’s a video of him doing a slow dance to the Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson version of “Beauty and the Beast.” I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know… This big just seems cheesy as hell to me!Yes, it’s awesome to raise more money for Haitian relief. And I’ll be fascinated to watch its big sprawling, charitable train-wreck unfurl when the 3D (Gaaaaah!!!!) spectacle hits TVs on Feb. 12th as part of the Olympics hysteria. But somehow a recording studio full of the likes of Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, Barbra Streisand, Brandy, the Jonas Brothers and a zillion other random music folks just seems like a masturbatory PR stunt, rather than an effective way to help folks. But what the hell do I know?And, c’mon! The original song isn’t even really very good!!!! (They could have at least brought Cyndi Lauper back for her big solo!!) But that’s it. I’m done. Just watch the videos and check the pics… And read the bits on , , and the .Bless!!!!Pics of Miley Cyrus, Joe Jonas, TPain, Snoop, Babs and more after the jump! Lordy. Pink gets a solo moment. Miley Honey, I know, I know… I’m feeling you. Yes, the parking lot is the place to be. Do y’all smell some funny smoke? This bitch is gonna show ‘em how it’s done. Get ‘em, Babs. Whoa. This is genius, and ought to be the basis for a new Nickelodeon/MTV co-production reality show: “Life with Uncle Smokey!” I’m pretty sure lil’ Justin Bieber just experienced his first contact high.Get more (and lots of behind-the-scenes video) on the whole madness at . is ‘s resident gay expert on what’s hot and sassy across queer Montréal 24/7. He’s also an avid video blogger and maestro who’s witty, cute and very fun to follow. This week, he’s served up his for what’s fun in . Check it out! will be decking its halls with a troop of body and sex positive performers that would make jolly ol’ Saint Nick himself turn a whole new shade of red. The night will feature a variety of naughty performances that will flip tradition on its head. Take a seat on Santa’s dirty lap for a snapshot, sneak a few kisses under the mistletoe and be sure not to miss a merry evening of classic burlesque, comic reinterpretation and just plain debauchery. Tits the season… to be naughty! December 11 & 12. 10pm. 1230 Blvd Saint Laurent. $10.For three December days, one of Montréal’s hottest art spaces (Society for Arts and Technology) will host a bazaar featuring local up-and-coming artisans and designers called ‘SOUK.’ You’ll find one-of-a-kind threads, funky accessories and decorative objects, basically something for all tastes and budgets. DJs will provide a sultry retail atmosphere. This is NOT your mother’s Christmas craft fair. December 11-13. Free Admission. 1195 Blvd Saint Laurent.If the true spirit of the holiday season is that of ‘giving,’ then Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) is a perfect place to let that seasonal spirit soar. Considered an ‘epicurean community centre,’ the classy Plateau bistro engages volunteers to serve tables and do basic kitchen work. Profits are then donated to local women’s shelters and youth groups. The concept is simple – you get a great meal and you support community-driven initiatives. Brilliant! And if you need some cheap therapy, for $5 you can throw your plate against the wall in their ‘release room.’ 4653 Blvd Saint Laurent.Many nations have a queen, and every gay village has several, but in , there are no queens that can even compare with the iconoclastic Mado. Known for her wickedly sharp tongue and over-the-top costuming, Mado will make fun of you, and then throw you a wink. She is the city’s queen of the night… a “must-see” on anyone’s Montréal itinerary. For guaranteed fun, check out “War of the Bitches” on December 17 – featuring Kylie, Madonna, GaGa, Céline, Britney and more! For a taste of the action, watch my own ridiculously awesome at Cabaret Mado. 1115 Saint Catherine Street East.As a world renown nightlife destination, Montréal will certainly be buzzing as we head into a new decade. In the gay village, internationally acclaimed DJ Hector Fonseca will be spinning house music at . One of the trendiest clubs in the heart of Old Montréal, , will host DJ Eddie Lewis (Montréal’s best R&B and Hip Hop DJ). If you prefer a slower pace, there is always the to waltz your way into 2010. Finally, to keep the party going on the evening of January 1, check out featuring German trance DJ Paul Van Dyk.Have a safe and happy holiday season!xoxo Daniel Welcome back to another fun week here at NewNowNext. Here’s what you missed on this miserable Monday. Me’shell Ndegeocello is gonna rock Brooklyn as part of a Fela Kuti tribute concert for World AIDS Day.For starters…In Brooklyn, you can head to (Brooklyn Academy of Music) for a , whose life was cut short by AIDS. The show will feature performances by the likes of and the amazing . Sisters Helene and Celine — aka Les Nubians — are gonna bring some gorgeous beats to Brooklyn, too.And furthermore…The folks behind the massive campaign to fight AIDS have today. You can shop, go to concerts, buy a new phone, or just donate to help in the fight against AIDS.For instance in London, Motorola’s sponsoring a special concert with cool (and queer!) artists and the hot band (the lead singer Dan Gillespie Sells is gay) for a big fundraiser. And at stores, from London to Dubai to New York to Tokyo to L.A., the store windows will feature World AIDS Day-relevant displays and boasts a variety of celebrity appearances, DJs, parties and awareness-raising events.On , there’s an entire day’s worth of . From powerful movies like And the Band Played On and the network TV premiere of In the Gloaming (starring Glenn Close and Robert Sean Leonard), to the documentary series The Ride, to the Oscar-winning doc Common Threads: Stories Behind the Quilt. And of course, there are candlelight vigils and rallies in cities all across the U.S. Check your local paper or gay publications for details! This is why you’re hot: The 2010 “Cause You’re Hot” nomineesShazam! This should be the easiest category to talk about yet. The “” Award is all about the sexiest among us, and you guys, the six hotties up for this year’s award are already burning up this html coding. for who you think is the hottest (as if they need anymore reassurance) then cool down with, I don’t know, perhaps a refreshing (FYI – they’re totally sponsoring this award, so drink up!).When it comes to serial SEXINESS these six contenders are all repeat offenders. From actors to athletes to models, let’s review this year’s batch. Feel free to write your own slash fiction in the comments, but the only medium though which I’m comfortable approaching these gods among men is that of some adoring love letters.MEET THE 2010 “CAUSE YOU’RE HOT” NOMINEESMATTHEW BOMER “White Collar”- USA NetworkSomebody, Somebody, Somebody’s eyes, are REALLY BLUEDear Matt, your stunning blue eyes pierce love wounds into my lonely soul. Ever since you stumbled into my life on the tattered posters for “” scattered across midtown, I’ve known that we were meant to be together. With your dark, wavy locks and killer style, you sashay’d away with my heart over the first season of your flashy, sexy basic cable show. And remember that one time you played Bryce on ? I do.MORE HOTNESS AFTER THE JUMP…SCOTT FUJITA “Linebacker, Cleveland Browns”Scott Fujita, OVER HERE!!! I’m Open!! I’m Open!!Dear Scott, I don’t really follow football, but I’d follow you anywhere. You’ve played football for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Cleveland Browns. That shows real versatility. I think it’s so cool that you were given your Japanese last name by your adoptive parents, and that you consider yourself “culturally Japanese.” I also think it’s awesome that you are a supporter of .P.S. I was doing some research on you, and saw on your page says you’ve had 19 sacks in your career. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD THING.I got 55 problems, but Scott Fujita’s goatee ain’t oneKELLAN LUTZ “The Twilight Saga”A body any person as shallow as that water could appreciate…Dear Kellan, Wow. What a journey. Your portrayal of the vampire, Emmett Cullen, has got to be one of the hottest depictions of an undead entity to hit the big screen since Elvira. I would start a mall riot in Long Island for you any day. Speaking of malls, remember when you were a smoking ? Hot. My skanky friend Jenny disagrees with me, but I think your recent Calvin Klein X underwear ads are even hotter. Call me!JESUS LUZ “DJ/Model”Jesus Luz, you is finer than the pinstripes on yo suitDear Jesus, writing the first two sentences in this paragraph, kind of felt like I was about to start praying. But how else am I supposed to talk to a SEX GOD?? Your hot Brazilian abs haunt my waking dreams like that one Celine Dion music video with . Would you ever consider DJing a party of 2? What if we split a ? But . This photo of you in Interview Magazine is something that would convince me to give away my first-born.Who needs a kid anyway?ZOE SALDANA “Avatar”A body I’m sure a lot of people wouldn’t mind having as their Avatar. Cute dress!!Dear Zoe, Girl. Not that many people could pull off looking hot as a blue CGI alien, but I’ll be damned if you didn’t pull if off with flying colors. Flying colors mainly in the blue spectrum. But seriously, you’re out of this world, and often, quite literally. You were my favorite actress in after Winona Ryder! BETTY WHITE “Legendary TV Star”“And this is where the magic happens” – BettyDear Betty, Let’s talk. If there’s anyone who’s been able to maintain their hotness over the years it’s you. You were a man-hungry homemaker on the Mary Tyler Moore show, a surprisingly sassy Golden Girl, and now, you’re . I’m sure you’re receiving a lot more attention lately, now that your career is as hot as your dimples, but if you’d ever like to hang out with someone who knows his way around a Prince Orloff, let me know. I will be your friend AND your confidant.So. Don’t forget to cool down a second with a nice , and for who you think deserves this year’s “Cause You’re Hot” award. But really, when you look this good, you’ve pretty much already won. French-inspired swimwear collection Éclairée mixes elegant, sophisticated silhouettes with contemporary details and sexy sheer paneling. The emerging swimwear line has been featured everywhere from Harper’s Bazaar to Nylon, gaining praise for their covered up approach to sensuality. For Éclairée’s latest collection, the brand looked to classic beauty Grace Kelly for inspiration, mixing boy-cut shorts with plunging tops. The result is pure retro-fied sex appeal.A timeless, chic silhouette. The Céline, Sheer and sexy in all the right places. The Noémi, .Fashion-forward and sophisticated. The Kiki, .Sporty and modern. The Adele, When I Revenge I secretly hoped it would be like a Lifetime movie that never ended. I got my wish. Let’s look at where the characters stand after last night’s dramatic turn of events.Nolan vs. The Internet Whoever is in charge of creating the computer images should be fired. They have Nolan, the fey version of Mark Zuckerberg, writing on a chat platform that looks like something people used when Prodigy internet service was still a thing. Loser: Web designers and engineers everywhere. They are going to have nightmares full of modem noises tonight.Declan vs. Charlotte I forgot Ashley was a person who existed until last week and now that woman just won’t. shut. up. She’s claimed her place as the mouthpiece for the Graysons, and she is ripping right into Declan for dragging Charlotte’s druggie secret into the press. Charlotte is still angry, mostly because she loses her dignity… hard.Victoria is trying to pin Tyler’s murder on Jack (I mean, if she saw the poo hoodie she might back off) and she won’t give up until Daniel is acquitted. She’s even willing to pimp out her own daughter to Declan in order to get him to turn on Jack. Charlotte shows up and tries to seduce Lil’ D and I give her credit. I was watching this scene, looking at Declan and everything was okay until OH MY GOD WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HIS CHEST HAIR? It’s not just patchy. It’s not just long. It’s weird. And Charlotte had to look at it while wearing last year’s Herve Leger and try to keep a straight face.Declan doesn’t take the bait, probably because his vision was obstructed by his chest hair, and he ends up telling the truth about Charlotte on the stand. He calls her out for being a pillhead and a drunk. But then he follows it up by saying that she’s a really good person. He might as well have started his whole testimony with “No offense but…” because he basically just stuck all of Charlotte’s dirty laundry on a clothesline.However, the worst part comes when Victoria bitches out Charlotte for not being sexy enough to sway Declan and the bonsai tree on his torso. So who does she turn to? Her old boyfriend, who she sleeps with to get some pills. And that my friends, is what we call rock bottom. Loser: Sadly, it’s Charlotte. I’ve seen Requiem for a Dream and I am scared of where this is going. Victoria vs. The Jury Ol’ Mama Grayson has been reading her legal books and apparently plenty of John Grisham. She’s trying to rig the jury to help Daniel… but not if Emily has anything to do with it. Victoria thinks she can conquer the whole judicial system because she’s been busy sexing with Dominik and being painted like one of his French girls to even notice that Emily is totally setting her up for a grand failure. But, damn, that woman can rock a man’s button down and post-coital cheek flush like nobody’s business. Emily manages to grab Victoria’s attempt at jury tampering on her little whale cam (seriously, they should sell those), which ends up helping Jack and Daniel. Loser: Victoria. Is she losing her mind or is Emily just making it look that way? Discuss.Jack vs. Declan I am forcing myself to write about Jack because he is on this show. He’s still looking for the cheek-chewing Aman-duh and holding on to that damn bloody hoodie. Doesn’t he know stains settle? And that blood stains turn brown? And that even if that article of clothing can save his love, it will always look like he got pooped on by giant if he ever wears it again? These are things I think about that are more interesting than his character.Declan has ruined his relationship all because Jack won’t get rid of the poo hoodie. Pretty sure that’s enough reason to submit Jack to be on Hoarders. Lucky for Jack, Emily still likes him, so she manages to help get rid of the sh$#ty sweatshirt and plant it on Victoria’s hired thug. Loser: Jack. Because not only is he boring, but I think a bag of rocks would have figured things out better than he has.Emily vs. Daniel With the setup that Emily’s been trying to help out Jack, it was obvious that dim-witted Daniel was bound to get jealous. I mean, he should have been for a long time but I’m proud of his brain for finally connecting some dots. He’s so ticked off that he ends his sobriety and turns into Bridget Jones. He’s staring out the window, sitting outside in the snow and making desperate phone calls. And instead of having whimsical mishap involving Colin Firth, Daniel breaks the terms of his house arrest and gets real pushy with Emily. Luckily, before he can send her his really pathetic note, Victoria’s thug ends up dead, conveniently leaving behind a note confessing to Tyler’s murder. Daniel is off the hook, but it remains to be seen if he can forgive himself for firing the first shot. Loser: Emily. Daniel’s off-the-wagon persona probably drinks wine and listens to Celine Dion.Dominik vs. Conrad Boy fight! Conrad confronts Dominik, who seems to know everything about what the Graysons did to David Clark, and puts the not-so-starving artist in his place. But how much does Dominik really know? And how much Conrad really know? Not much, apparently, because he had no idea his wife has been hiring a goon squad to do her dirty work. Loser: Conrad. He may have gotten rid of Victoria’s lover but his loose lips have found him a new enemy. Emily knows the Graysons has her dad killed. Things are not looking good for Conrad.Weekly winners: Razors (somebody please buy one for Declan), Jack & Daniel (they are both off the hook), Ashley (for having a few lines that I actually remembered).Weekly losers: Pretty much major player has something to be sad about, but I think we can all agree that hoodies are having the worst week ever.Episode Bitch Scale Score: Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted. Because nothing can make a woman look crazy like being around another crazy woman. ABBA's Agnetha Faltskog prepares comeback Originally published: October 4, 2012 9:09 AM Updated: October 4, 2012 10:39 AM By The Associated Press STOCKHOLM - (AP) -- Agnetha Faltskog, one of the former members of Swedish pop band ABBA, is preparing for a comeback and has returned to the recording studio after more than eight years of musical silence. The singer's spokesman, Staffan Linde, told The Associated Press Thursday that the 62-year-old Faltskog is working alongside Swedish songwriter Jorgen Elofsson, who has previously penned and produced tunes for megastars including , and boy band Westlife. He could not say when the new album will be released. After ABBA split in the early 1980s, Faltskog pursued a solo career for a few years, but then went into a music hiatus for most of the 1990s. Her last album, "My Colouring Book," contained cover songs and was released in 2004. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Adele gives voice to restraint Originally published: May 20, 2011 3:47 PM Updated: May 20, 2011 4:31 PM By GLENN GAMBOA Adele is a different kind of diva.Sure, she has the voice to compete with anyone around -- the power and control to match anything from Whitney and Mariah in their prime, the effortless range and clarity of Celine. What sets her apart also may be what makes her so emblematic of these times -- restraint.You won't catch Adele singing 10 notes when one will do, and you won't find her...All hail Oprah, the Queen of Daytime Originally published: May 19, 2011 5:55 PM Updated: May 20, 2011 11:53 AM By VERNE GAY Photo credit: AP talk-show host announces during a live broadcast of "The " in that her daytime television show, the foundation of a multibillion-dollar media empire with legions of fans, will end its run in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air. Well, that was quite a ride. Twenty-five years ago, many expected "The " would be big. No one anticipated Planet Oprah. Over a quarter century, "Oprah" -- which airs its final episode Wednesday -- and Oprah became worldwide phenomena that breached lives, cultures and -- most unexpectedly -- whole industries. But there have been other talk shows and other hosts. What made this one so outrageously different? Where to begin? With Winfrey herself, of course. The show and Winfrey were one, as if a moving, talking image on someone's TV could somehow be turned into flesh and blood. She was all there, right there, fully present on the screen every day for 25 years, and absolutely relentless in conveying the sheer force of her humanness: the appetites, fears, insecurities, joys and triumphs, often refracted even further through the battles with body weight or dress size. Her past became present, and a bandage ripped from a still-raw wound, with stories about childhood poverty and abuse, adolescent promiscuity and an unplanned pregnancy. Winfrey's life was her material, and the subject she knew best. While she pored obsessively over this life, the lessons became apparent to fans who embraced them as well. The universe was not indifferent but had a plan for her, and for them. No one had ever heard talk about the universe's plan. But Johnny was detached, cool and ironic. Oprah -- and "Oprah" -- were not. As a blend of inspiration and aspiration, her show was something that had never been seen on daytime TV. Here was an African-American woman from the Jim Crow South who had been raised in poverty and became one of the world's wealthiest people. Winfrey's singular "aha" moment -- repeated mantra-like through the years -- was that life was about redemption, salvation and (most of all) personal fulfillment. But if "Oprah" occasionally took on the aura of an old-time revival meeting, it also was yoked to a distinctly secular and even consumerist worldview. "Thin" was usually better than "fat." Fashion mattered, really mattered. And things, especially nice, expensive things, were good. "EVERYBODY GETS A CAR," she bellowed repeatedly over the hysterical din of an adoring studio audience in one of the most famous moments in TV history. In another time or place, she could have just as easily been saying, "Everybody gets to heaven," but in that wild, ecstatic, made-for-TV moment, a free new car seemed much better. In fact, had been just another Elmer Gantry in pumps, her show would have disappeared years ago. Other TV preachers had come and gone. She was not a preacher, but a BFF, who cared deeply -- boy, did she care. No one on TV -- maybe with the exception of Mr. Rogers -- had ever seemed to care so much. When she cried hot tears, then looked deep into the camera, it was like she was looking right into viewers' souls. Then Winfrey would invariably say something absolutely perfect to the moment, such as these Oprahisms from various shows: "If there is one message, it is that you are not alone. . . . To be embraced, and feel part of other people's lives . . . I don't know of another human being who has appreciated [this] more than I have. . . . I preach gratitude . . . it changes the way you see the world . . . the great lesson I have learned in all these years is that every person matters." That's right. You matter. You, sitting there in the solitude of your living room trying to navigate life. You are hearing from your Best Friend Forever that you matter. And you believed her. What's more, she truly seemed to believe what she was saying, too. It was quite a performance over 25 years, one that changed millions of lives, altered the culture, made her a billionaire and even landed her a cable network cast in her own image. 10 ways Oprah changed pop culture Books have been written about how Planet Oprah managed to do all of this. But we don't have time for a book, so here are 10 ways Oprah Winfrey changed American popular culture: 1. BIRTH OF THE TV CONFESSIONAL Other broadcasters, from Jack Paar to , had, of course, deployed some aspect of their life story for their TV act, but no one had ever elevated it to the level that Winfrey did. This was almost like TV emerging from the confession booth, with Winfrey setting a new standard for intimacy (she out-"Donahued" ) on the tube. In 2011, the TV personality as your pal and confidant is standard fare, from "Live! With Regis and Kelly" to "." In 1986, when "Oprah" began, it was revolutionary. 2. SELF-HELP TV "Oprah" evolved from the often lurid so-called "schlock talk" of the late '80s to TV that was all about uplifting lives and personal fulfillment through the '90s. "Change Your Life" was even a popular segment that was a road map to said fulfillment and occasionally a punching bag for critics who deemed the star "Deepak Oprah" or a New Age quack talking about "The Secret" (a book that literally espoused good vibrations) or the psychic efficacy of bubble baths. But self-help is also now a standard feature on the talk-show landscape, and it came into full force with this show. 3. OPRAH INC. More than any other personality in history, Winfrey would turn the trappings of great fame into the trappings of a media empire. Harpo, her production company, branched into TV movies ("Their Eyes Were Watching God"), specials and miniseries ("The Women of Brewster Place"), alongside a range of retail and specialty brands -- Oprah Boutique, Expert Minutes, Oprah's Favorite Things, Oprah's Book Club, Oprah.com, Oprah Radio and so on. Winfrey became omnipresent throughout the world, and the show was only the most visible facet. 4. OPRAH AND O Much has been said about Winfrey's impact on the book-publishing industry (see story on C18), but her effect on magazines was almost as electrifying. The launch of O in April 2000 was the most successful magazine takeoff in history, and if the show was a refraction of All That Was Oprah, the magazine was a high-gloss distillate. There was the "O List" of all the stuff she loved (Fendi sunglasses); favorite recipes; interviews with extraordinary people and personal heroes (); and life strategies for success, health and happiness ("9 things weight loss winners know -- and you don't"). 5. OPRAH AND RACE That Oprah's an African American woman from Kosciusko, Miss., is the bedrock fact of her entire life, and a core part of her message. But she was, and is, also a so-called "crossover" personality who appealed to white viewers almost more than to black ones. There have been many theories about Oprah's impact on race relations, such as a 1989 essay by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison that even claimed that "in a racist society, the majority needs and seeks from time to time proof that they are loved by the minority" they've oppressed. Oprah, "a one-person demilitarized zone, has served that purpose." 6. OPRAH AS A SELLING MACHINE Winfrey's ability to sell products was as great as her ability to sell ideas. Everything and anything mentioned on her show, from diet fads to soap, was sprinkled with marketing magic dust, while to be one of "Oprah's Favorite Things" was to be conferred a status that no amount of advertising or paid publicity could hope to replicate. 7. OPRAH AND THE TALK BOOM "The Oprah Winfrey Show," later shortened to "Oprah," arrived in a crush of daytime talk; there were to be dozens of shows over the years jostling for attention, influence and fortune, and they are mostly all gone now -- except for the ones she developed. She used her considerable influence and fortune to launch some of the most successful daytime talkers now on TV -- "," "," "Nate Berkus" and "Dr. Oz." 8. OPRAH AND POLITICS For the first 15 (or so) years of "Oprah," she kept the show a politics-free zone, on the assumption -- certainly reasonable -- that politics tended to be divisive, while she had carefully crafted a vision of unity and fulfillment of life goals. That would change because Oprah came to obvious realization that her show tapped into the national dialogue on any number of subjects. Oprah left her show for a brief period to help 's candidacy, but some believed her sabbatical hurt the show as well by alienating or Republican supporters. Nevertheless, her role as a political power broker -- when she chose to wield her power -- was undeniable. 9. OPRAH AND HOLLYWOOD Stars beat a path to "Oprah," believing that not only would an appearance sell tickets, but that the approval of the show's host could almost beatify a career. Dozens of stars appeared over the years, and the show became a force unlike no other. ", and really became friends of mine" through the interviews, she said. would appear nine times. They became friends, too -- couch-jumping and all. 10. OPRAH AND GIVING Central to "Oprah" was charity, and its star gave. In 1997, she launched the Angel Network, saying she was inspired by the "little girl" who collected 400,000 pennies. The Angel Network collected millions of dollars in change that went to student scholarships over the years, and giving has likewise become a part of many other stars' personas. Oprah moments we'll never forget BY FRANK LOVECE, Special to Newsday Many Oprah moments got people talking. And a few got people, the press, the Internet and maybe even aliens monitoring our broadcasts talking. Here are five of Oprah Winfrey's most widely discussed moments. CRUISE COUCH-JUMPING On the May 23, 2005, show, Tom Cruise couldn't seem to control his ardor for actress , whose relationship with him had recently become public. Maniacally grinning, laughing, restless, he twice jumped up on the sofa, and into TV history. FAT ON A WAGON In Nov. 15, 1988's "Diet Dreams Do Come True" -- the highest-rated episode to that time -- a skinny Winfrey in size 10 jeans pulled behind her a wagon with 67 pounds of animal fat, representing her four-month weight loss from 212 to 145 on an all-liquid diet. CAR GIVEAWAY For 276 audience members hand-picked because each needed a car, Winfrey gave each a GM-donated on the Sept. 13, 2004, season premiere. Her excited announcement, "You get a car! And you get a car!" became a catchphrase. OPRAH'S HALF-SISTER On Jan. 24, 2011, Winfrey revealed that unbeknown to her, she has a younger half-sister, Patricia, born while Winfrey was living with her father and unaware her mother was pregnant by another man. Patricia had discovered the relationship in 2007, and just before 2010 finally reached out to Winfrey to tell her. -TRIP GIVEAWAY On the Sept. 13, 2010, premiere of her 25th and final season, Winfrey told her delighted audience she was giving them a free, eight-day trip to Australia, where she was taping a series of shows. Their pilot? Well, John Travolta was supposed to fly one of the two 747s that arrived in on Dec. 7, but that didn't happen. 'American Idol:' Top 12 ladies review Thursday March 3, 2011 7:52 AM By Here we go-- another two second capsule review that will take you exactly two seconds to read. First, my quick overview of last night-- the women are definitely better than the men, overall, but many seemed a bit too anxious to channel their inner-Alicia Keys (or Celine Dion), giving the whole affair a sense of sameness, which equals dullness. Here goes . . . - Ta-Tynisa Wilson: Trying to channel Rihanna. A pitchy mess. Not gonna happen. -Naima Adedapo: Nice vocals, but the whole lounge act was over the top and distracting. - Kendra Chantelle: Top notes thinned out, and were drained of power or impact. Not a memorable performer. - Rachel Zevita: A slinky Fiona Apple rendition.Not good. - Karen Rodriguez: Best of the night. Terrific vocals, very clean phrasing (and in Spanish) along with crystal-clear tones. Only setback is that her stage presence is unremarkable. - Ashthon Jones: Speaking of stage presence, she's got it, plus solid professional pipes. Wonder if voters will like her as much as I did though? Doubtful . . . - Julie Zorilla: Head-on collision with pitch problems. A "Breakaway" mess. - Haley Reinhart: Fallin' . . . fallin' . . . out of the competition. - Lauren Turner: Belts out some Etta James with real force and conviction. Another favorite. - Thia Megia: Everyone loved this . . . but me. Boring song and presentation (from "Fame."). Great vocals of course, and she's one of those budding stars-- 15!-- that will connect with the audience. Should be interesting to see what she does next. She'll go far -- this season's David Archuleta, and could win the whole thing. - Lauren Alaina: Country rocker and a very competent one ("Turn on the Radio.") She gave a real lift to the night; my second favorite to go far. - Pia Toscano: Just didn't get it; huge vocal close was gale- force. But I'm way in the minority on this one. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , American Idol 10: Handicapping the Top 13 Wednesday March 9, 2011 11:08 AM By Photo credit: Handout The “American Idol” season begins in earnest tonight and we'll get to see how well the show's wholesale changes will actually play out. So far, most of them have worked out pretty well. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler have proven to be good additions, though sometimes they really are too nice to the contestants. (Anyone who saw them praise Ta-Tynisa's unfortunate “Only Girl in the World” last week had to be wondering if they heard the same thing the rest of us did.) Last week's sudden-death cut of 11 semifinalists made for great TV, even if was robbed of a slot in the finals. And now, we'll get to see how well all these music industry mentors will do their jobs, helping the Top 13 with song choice, arrangements and overall packaging. That help removes the advantage that previous contestants, including David Cook and Adam Lambert, who had arranging and strong musical backgrounds used to have, but it should make for a better-sounding TV show. Here's a look at how the Top 13 stack up coming into the finals: 1. Jacob Lusk: He has a stunning R&B voice and a great way of connecting with a song emotionally, as he has shown with “God Bless the Child” and “A House Is Not a Home.” He looks like the one to beat, but, no matter what Randy Jackson likes to say, when it comes down to it “Idol” is a popularity contest, not a singing contest. Will he become yet another more-talented runner-up? Time will tell. 2. Casey Abrams: The 20-year-old has a great voice, mad musical skills and a winning personality. He seems to have gotten past his little health scare and his “I Put a Spell on You” was wildly entertaining last week. If I was a betting man, my money would be on him to win. 3. Scotty McCreery: I'd also put some down on young Scotty. He has the clearest run to a major-label contract of the entire field. Country labels must be salivating already to get their hands on the poised 17-year-old. Does that make him a winner too? Maybe. 4. Paul McDonald: His indie-rock-meets-R&B vibe is an attractive combo. He has overcome a lack of early screen time by coming on strong and showing he knows how to use his distinctive voice and work the crowd. If others stumble, his experience could pull him through. The dark horse, Blake Lewis-like pick. 5. Pia Toscano: The Howard Beach native is a Celine Dion-esque powerhouse, the kind of singer that would have been dominant 15 years ago. Her masterful “I'll Stand by You” showed that she can be crafty and hold her own. If all the other girls fall away, she could stick around Crystal Bowersox-style until the end as the only female in the field. 6. Thia Megia: Will tweens embrace this delightful 15-year-old the way they did Jordin Sparks? They probably should. Thia has a sweet, powerful voice that she uses skillfully, but she doesn't oversell. Her “Out Here on My Own” was clear and potent, letting the song shine through. The “Idol” marketing teams could build her into something very, very bankable. 7. Naima Adedapo: OK, Naima could go one of two ways – she could gain some confidence and use her great voice and musical instincts to become a contender or she could let the nerves get to her and bow out early. I'm hoping for the former, especially considering her great back story, but I'm not completely sold just yet. 8. Lauren Alaina: An early front-runner and clearly beloved by “Idol” producers, she has a nice voice and a memorable personality. However, Scotty has kind of stolen her country thunder and Thia is younger and sweeter. She seems like she could easily right herself, but she seems currently on a bid of a fade. 9. James Durbin: As the only rocker in the field, he could hang around for a long time. He has a chance of winning if he figures out how to sing without relying on that big scream every week and if he can distinguish himself as not Adam Lambert II. “You've Got Another Thing Comin'” was certainly an unexpected start. 10. Ashthon Jones: The diva is entertaining, but she does kind of have to pay more attention to the singing and the song choice. She could clearly be molded into some sort of current chart-topper and could be quite the surprise once the mentors get a hold of her. 11. Stefano Langone: He seems like a nice guy with a nice voice – not sure there's much more than that there. 12. Karen Rodriguez: Gotta give it up to the pride of the Boogie-Down Bronx. She's working the angles. She's playing up her J.Lo love, but K.Ro needs a bit more oomph and a bit less pandering. Also, in the end, aggressively pursuing the Latin vote is not going to help her gain a widespread vote. Just sayin'. 13. Haley Reinhart: Her version of “Fallin'” was annoying and ill-conceived, so I have no idea how she landed among America's Top 5 vote-getters. I don't think she'll be around long enough for us to find out what her voters saw in her. MORE: Our pal Verne Gay ranks the Top 13 . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , American Idol 10: Top 12 Gals power rankings Wednesday March 2, 2011 11:03 PM By Photo credit: Fox The women may not have the bench strength that the guys have this season, but their best will give Jacob and Casey a run for their money. Pia Toscano transformed The Pretenders' gorgeous “I'll Stand By You” into a full-blown Celine Dionesque ballad, ending on huge notes that lifted her straight to the top. Thia Megia's pretty, elegant take on Irene Cara's “Out Here on My Own” showed a maturity that many of the semifinalists could lack. She understood that less can definitely be more and stood out by tapping into the song's simplicity. Lauren Alaina brought the fun out of Reba's “Turn on the Radio,” while Lauren Turner smartly updated Etta James' “Seven Day Fool” into something Amy Winehouse-current. And Ashthon Jones played every bit the diva to make Monica's “Love All Over Me” interesting. After that, though, it started going awry. The fact that Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez's comments didn't reflect that – especially on Ta-Tynisa's off-key “Only Girl in the World” and Haley Reinhart's dismal “Fallin'” – was kind of scary. At least they did catch onto Julie Zorrilla getting swallowed up by Kelly Clarkson's “Breakaway.” There were enough good performances, though, to justify at least two, if not three, wild card choices from the gals' side to create a better chance of yielding a female “Idol” this season. THE RANKINGS Pia Toscano, “I'll Stand by You” Thia Megia, “Out Here On My Own” Lauren Alaina, “Turn on the Radio” Lauren Turner, “Seven Day Fool” Ashthon Jones, “Love All Over Me” Naima Adedapo, “Summertime” Karen Rodriguez, “Hero” Kendra Chantelle, “Impossible” Haley Reinhart, “Fallin'” Rachel Zevita, “Criminal” Julie Zorrilla, “Breakaway” Ta-Tynisa Wilson, “Only Girl in the World” TOP 5: Pia, Thia, Lauren A., Lauren T., Ashthon WILL BE ELIMINATED: Naima, Karen, Kendra, Haley, Rachel, Julie, Ta-Tynisa (Judges will save Kendra and Julie and maybe even Haley) SHOULD BE ELIMINATED: Naima, Karen, Kendra, Haley, Rachel, Julie, Ta-Tynisa ACTUALLYELIMINATED:Naima, Kendra, Rachel, Julie, Ta-Tynisa, Ashthon, Lauren T. FINALISTS: Pia, Thia, Lauren A., Karen, Haley and wild cards Ashthon and Naima. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Artists behind Oscar-nominated songs won't perform Published: February 17, 2010 8:42 PM By The Associated Press SANDY COHEN (AP Entertainment Writer) (AP) — Some of Oscar's most memorable moments have come during performances of nominated songs.Among them: rap group Three 6 Mafia surrounded by streetwalkers as they performed "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow" in 2006, and Celine Dion's resplendent performance of the "Titanic" hit, "My Heart Will Go On," in 1998.Don't expect such musical moments at the 82nd Academy...At Studio K, teens record tunes from past, present Originally published: February 15, 2010 6:04 PM Updated: February 20, 2010 11:04 AM By JENNA KERN-RUGILE Special to Newsday Photo credit: Joe Epstein Karen Van Houten, upper left, leads teens from Studio K in a recording at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove. From left are Joe Ball, Lauren Doherty, Zak Thompson, Adara Mifsud, Olivia Buonsante, Zoe Black, Ashlyn Libert and Michael Recchia. (Feb. 7, 2010) Many Long Islanders spent Super Bowl Sunday glued to the game, but for eight talented teens the action took place in the main room at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove.The teens, part of a new group called Studio K, are hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of the other singers who've recorded at Cove City. Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, Jennifer Lopez, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion all...Avon Products rejects Coty's $10B offer Originally published: April 2, 2012 9:20 AM Updated: April 2, 2012 8:28 PM By Mae Anderson and Michelle Chapman. The Associated Press Photo credit: AP Struggling is rejecting a buyout offer worth about $10 billion from beauty company Coty Inc., as Coty went public with the bid Monday, April 2, 2012. (July 28, 2010) Coty came calling, but Avon slammed the door. Struggling direct cosmetics seller Avon Products Inc. Monday rejected a $10-billion buyout offer from Coty Inc., a smaller beauty products maker looking to capitalize on Avon's business woes. It is the largest takeover offer by far from Manhattan-based Coty Inc., which has snapped up smaller beauty brands like OPI nail polish and Philosophy...BIG 10: Lutheran boys stay on top Published: December 20, 2010 9:09 PM By GREGG SARRA MSG Varsity Photo credit: Pat Orr Photography Achraf Yacoubou of Long Island Lutheran boys basketball. 1. LONG ISLAND LUTHERAN BOYS BASKETBALL Achraf Yacoubou is surrounded by talent, including Bay Shore transfer Jordan Allen. The Crusaders lost starter Anthony Brutus, who transferred from the school this week.2. HALF HOLLOW HILLS WEST BOYS BASKETBALL Half Hollow Hills West is the team to beat in Suffolk’s Class AA, with Tavon Sledge and Emile Blackman leading the way. The Colts earned the...Blind restaurant dining is coming to NYC Published: August 27, 2010 12:03 PM By The Associated Press Photo credit: AP Patrons enter the Dans le Noir (In the Black) restaurant in . (Sept. 21, 2004) A French restaurant group that offers pitch-dark dining is preparing to open New York City’s first blind eatery.Eat with your eyes? Not at Dans le Noir?, French for “In the Dark?” At the existing restaurants in Paris, London, Barcelona and Moscow, diners are guided to a table where they can’t see their hands in front of their faces and are served by blind waiters.“It’s an experience...Bob Seger, Jim Steinman inducted to Songwriters Hall Tuesday February 21, 2012 12:27 PM By Photo credit: Capitol Records Classic rock standard-bearers Bob Seger and Jim Steinman lead this year's class of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The “Old Time Rock 'n' Roll” star and the songwriter behind Meat Loaf's “Bat Out of Hell” will be inducted on June 14 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, along with “Sundown” singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, “The Gambler” songwriter Don Schlitz, and the composing team Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, who wrote the Broadway musical “The Fantasticks.” Seger, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, has had an impressive string of hits since the '60s, including “Against the Wind” and “Like a Rock.” His “Greatest Hits” album was the best-selling catalog album from 2000-2010. Steinman has written hits for himself (“Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through”) as well as Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler (), Celine Dion () and Air Supply () Tickets for the induction are $1,000 and are on sale now through Buckley Hall Events, 212-573-6933, with proceeds going to the Songwriters Hall's programs. Brown leads Freeport in playoff opener Originally published: February 16, 2012 10:05 PM Updated: February 16, 2012 10:10 PM Jere Brown scored 13 points, including a free throw with 18 seconds left, as No. 8 Freeport held off ninth-seeded MacArthur, 48-46, in a Nassau Class AA first-round boys basketball playoff game Thursday.MacArthur went a 10-0 run late in the fourth and cut a 12-point deficit to 48-46 with under a minute left.Isaiah Barnes added 12 points and eight rebounds and Leondre Simmon had 10...Buckner '86 World Series ball for sale Published: October 4, 2011 5:30 PM By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo credit: Newsday File OCT. 25, 1986: BILL BUCKNER'S WORLD SERIES GAFFE Trailing 5-3 in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series and behind 3-2 in the series, the Mets rallied for three runs in the 10th inning against Boston to produce one of baseball's most miraculous finishes. Down to their final out, with champagne waiting in the visitors' clubhouse at Shea Stadium, the Mets managed three singles, a wild pitch and an unforgettable E3 to win the game. That E3 was courtesy of Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, who allowed Mookie Wilson's "little roller" up the first base line to trickle between his legs as Ray Knight came around to score the winning run. The ball is back in play. The prize souvenir from the 1986 World Series will go on this month with a $1 million price tag, put up for auction by the Grammy-nominated songwriter who once bought it from actor Charlie . Seth Swirsky owns the ball, along with a bevy of bats, gloves and other mementos tied to the likes of , and Eddie . He celebrates the game's lore, and has written three books based on his letters to and from ballplayers. "I love my collection. I don't think I've ever sold anything from it," Swirsky told The Associated Press from his home in Los Angeles. "But that ball, it's time to pass it along, to let someone else enjoy it." Swirsky plans to begin the online auction on Oct. 15, and it won't last long. He intends to close the bidding late on the night of Oct. 25 -- at the exact minute of the 25th anniversary of Buckner's famous error. Swirsky said he decided to part with a favorite piece while driving around last week, a day after watching Boston collapse on the final night of the regular season. "The myth of Buckner continues. There he was on '' last month. Everybody knows where they were when that play happened," he said. "I wasn't in a gloating mood. This isn't about, 'ha, ha, the Red Sox lost.' I'm not a Red Sox hater, I'm a baseball history lover. "If anything, I want people to know how good Buckner was. You really wanted Billy Buck on your team. He got 2,715 hits -- almost as many as ," Swirsky said. Buckner, however, is more noted for what happened in Game 6 of the '86 Series. Playing first base for Boston, he let 's grounder roll through his legs, allowing the to cap an incredible rally in the 10th inning. The went on to win the title. The ball was picked up by right field umpire , who put a tiny "x" near a seam to mark the real thing. Montague gave it to executive Richman, who in turn presented it to Wilson. Then Wilson signed it to Richman -- "The ball won it for us," he wrote -- and the souvenir made its way around the clubhouse. Someone left a tobacco stain where he kissed it. Sheen bought the ball for more than $93,000 in 1992 and Swirsky purchased it for nearly $64,000 in 2000. Auction houses handled those transactions, but Swirsky said he's going online because the anniversary date is fast approaching. To Swirsky, the Buckner ball captures the heart of the sport. "People ask, 'Why would you have a ball about sorrow?' To me, it's encompasses the two emotions of the game. The highs and lows, all encapsulated in one ball." Raised in Long Island, the 51-year-old Swirsky gave the ball to the Hall of Fame last year for display. He's also shown it to both Wilson and Buckner at different times. Buckner thought it was "cool" and Wilson's eyes "got real big," Swirsky said. Swirsky's extensive collection is a combination of historical and hysterical. He's got a ticket stub from 's last game, the ball hit for his third straight home run in the 1977 World Series and a letter Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis wrote to Shoeless Joe after getting banned in the Black Sox scandal. Swirsky also owns the cap that was wearing when a ball bounced off his head for a home run, a bottle of champagne the Red Sox had in their clubhouse in anticipation of winning the '86 Series and a rare autograph from Gaedel, the dwarf who batted in a 1951 publicity stunt. Baseball memorabilia is only a part of Swirsky's life. He co-wrote the hit "Tell It To My Heart" by , and has multiple hits with , and . Swirsky also performs with The Red Button, his Beatles-oriented retro band that recently released a new album. Swirsky thinks $1 million is a good starting point, based on previous ball sales. 's 70th homer went for over $3 million and 's homer from the 1933 All-Star game went for $850,000, as did 's last home run. Swirsky plans to donate part of the proceeds to the Baseball Assistance Team, which helps those in the baseball family having financial hardship. He previously donated from his book sales to B.A.T. "We should share this with the people who created these memories for us," he said. Swirsky would sell the Buckner ball for a certain person in an instant. Outspoken political commentator Keith -- an excellent baseball storyteller, too -- came in second to Sheen when the ball initially went to auction. Olbermann then was second to Swirsky. "If I got a call from Keith and he wanted it for a million, I'd do it. He deserves it," Swirsky said. "I'd rather have someone who really wants it to have it, y'know?" Cardinal Timothy Dolan honors Hartsdale principal Originally published: May 24, 2012 5:57 PM Updated: May 24, 2012 6:18 PM By LESLIE BARBARO May 24, 2012 2:26 PM For Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, a Thursday visit to Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale was anything but typical.But then the private, all-girls school's principal, Sister Danielle Marie Baran, C.R. (Congregation of the Resurrection), is not your typical nun."I'm a principal that does not stay in my office. I can sink a basketball and hit a softball," said Baran, who is retiring for...Celine Dion camp: No early C-section scheduled Published: October 14, 2010 8:50 PM By FRANK LOVECE. Special to Newsday Celine Dion's husband and manager, René Angélil, has denied a report that the singer has scheduled an early C-section to deliver her twin boys, or that she made diva demands of the Florida hospital where she's to give birth - prompting an angry reply from the Palm Beach Post columnist who reported that story."There is nothing scheduled. We do not have a date," Angélil, 68, told People magazine...Celine Dion coming back to Vegas for 3-year stint Published: February 11, 2010 6:18 AM By The Associated Press OSKAR GARCIA (Associated Press Writer) (AP) — Celine Dion is returning to the Las Vegas Strip in 2011 to begin a three-year run at Caesars Palace.The Grammy award-winning singer announced Wednesday she'll return to the 4,300-seat Colosseum, home of her previous show, "A New Day." It grossed more than $400 million and was seen by nearly 3 million fans over five years before closing in December 2007.The new show begins March...Celine Dion gives birth to twin boys Published: October 23, 2010 9:11 PM Celine Dion has given birth to twin boys, finally realizing her dream of being a mother again at 42 years old after a long struggle to become pregnant, The Associated Press reports.A statement released by St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., said the singer delivered the boys yesterday afternoon. One weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces, the other, 5 pounds, 4 ounces. No names have...Celine Dion pregnant with twins, magazine says Published: May 30, 2010 8:00 PM Photo credit: AFP / Getty Images Canadian singer gave birth to twin boys. Céline Dion is pregnant with twins, reports. The singer, 42, is expecting after a sixth attempt, her rep Kim Jakwerth, confirmed to the magazine. Dion also turned to acupuncture this time to improve her chances of a pregnancy, she said. Dion, who has a son René-Charles, 9, with husband and manager René Angelil, is 14 weeks along. She will find out the gender of the twins next month. "We're ecstatic," Angelil said. "Celine is just hoping for a healthy pregnancy. She was hoping for one baby and the news that we are having two is a double blessing!" Dion announced a pregnancy last August, but months later, revealed that the fertilization attempt had not taken. She opened up about the miscarriage on "The " in February, telling Winfrey, "It's life. You know? A lot of people go through this." She told Winfrey she waited before announcing the miscarriage because the news had come so soon after the initial reports of her pregnancy. "They said that I was pregnant, and a couple of days after, we were not pregnant again. We didn't want to feel like we were playing yo-yo. 'I'm pregnant. I'm not pregnant. I'm pregnant. I'm not pregnant.' " Celine Dion says new movie a 'VIP' pass for fans Published: February 14, 2010 8:43 PM By The Associated Press NEKESA MUMBI MOODY (AP Music Writer) (AP) — Celine Dion's new movie, "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World," does more than highlight her performances during her last world tour; it also allows fans rare glimpses of her offstage life.The documentary shows Dion as a goofy jokester, a doting mother, a tender wife, a wide-eyed tourist, a devoted daughter and more. The cameras tag along for intimate moments the superstar is happy...Celine Dion, husband to try for baby again Published: March 10, 2010 6:57 PM Céline Dion and her husband René Angélil will go to New York this weekend for a third try at conceiving a child through in vitro fertilization now that news is out that the Canadian singer isn't pregnant after all."Céline and I didn't get discouraged . . . we put our faith in life and in the stars," Angélil told the Canadian newspaper the Journal de Montréal. Dion's U.S.-based publicist,...Cool pools at Atlantic City hotels Originally published: July 30, 2009 2:12 PM Updated: April 29, 2010 3:31 PM By JOSEPH V. AMODIO Special to Newsday Photo credit: Photo by Michael Nagle The pool at Harrah's casino in Atlantic City is encased by a UV-absorbent glass dome. A big win at Atlantic City always appeals. But in economic crunch times, who's got the cold hard cash to throw at slot machines, roulette wheels and blackjack tables? No worries. It's still possible to make a splash in AC - literally. Hoping to entice visitors looking for gambling alternatives, hotel owners have been jazzing up their pool bars and beach joints, creating a tranquil - at some, almost spalike - respite from the tobacco-jonesing hordes on the neon gaming floors. Getting patrons out into the sun is an intriguing shift for casinos, given that most don't even have windows. We've surveyed some of the best pool bars in town. In most cases, they're open to hotel guests only . . . but anyone can walk in and check 'em out. THE CHELSEA: CABANA CLUB, FIFTH FLOOR 800-548-3030, Rooms: From $209 a night Friday and Saturday; from $80 a night Sunday-Thursday Pool hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; nightclub 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday The scene: This is where the pretty people go - hip and hot singles and couples in their 20s to early 40s - for a luxe, boutique hotel experience right on the boardwalk that has, get this, no casino. What it lacks in dice it more than makes up for in jazzy amenities: a Stephen Starr restaurant, spa, and - new this season - a South Beach-worthy rooftop pool bar landscaped with Brazilian ipe wood planters, white-cushioned chaises, a massive tent-covered bar and eight cabanas stocked with plasma TVs, mini bars, PlayStation 3s and a DVD and game library ($150 food/drink minimum weekdays; $500 weekends). The pool makes for a soft and soothing dip, which you've gotta follow up with a refreshing cocktail (try the Boardwalk Lemonade, $10, with citrus vodka and rosemary; or the Chelsea, $12, with vodka, mint, lemon, and cucumber garnish). Peckish? Try the grilled mahi wrap or Caprese sandwich with prosciutto de Parma and mozzarella, or crab cake-style fries ($6-$12) served up by a staff of young hotties. While the pool is officially only open to hotel guests, management says if there's room, nonguests can join in the fun after 2 p.m. After dark: By 10 p.m., the pool turns nightclub. Beams of purple light shoot up the side of the hotel tower, a DJ spins tunes and the place is packed with a cool club crowd (actor recently stopped by, and, look, that guy from ""). A line typically forms by 10:30 or 11, and hotel guests must queue like the locals. The party goes till 3 a.m. Two hours later, a phalanx of fixers is switching out messy cushions and sprucing things up for the morning pool crowd. Good to know: Before you head to breakfast, place something on a chaise (by 9:30 a.m. to be safe) to make sure you've scored one for later; they fill up quickly. Luxe accommodations at The Chelsea are in "The Tower" - the hotel's cheaper "Annex" rooms have yet to be renovated. Fine if you're desperate to save a buck - but otherwise steer clear. CAESARS: ROOFTOP POOL AND HOT TUB 2100 Pacific Ave., 800-443-0104, Rooms: From $269 a night Friday-Sunday; $219 a night Monday-Friday Pool hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (adults-only after 1 p.m.) The scene: This sybaritic getaway offers two levels, a canopied bar, plenty of sleek, modern chaises and a few luxe cabanas ($50 for five hours, $100 a day; deluxe "cabs" including two drinks and a fruit basket are $75 and $150, respectively). Go ahead - you went all in at poker last night and won, so why not indulge in a spa treatment right in your cabana ($100 for marine oil Swedish massage; $140 reflexology)? Speaking of which, you've gotta try a strawberry mojito ($10.50) and maybe a plate of those tangy chopped Jersey tomatoes, a Kobe beef burger or veggie lavosh with hummus and flatbread ($9-$16.50). A quibble: The roof deck offers stunning ocean views, but the music from Caesars' nearby beach bar wafts up in the summer breeze, clashing with the pool bar sound system (imagine 's "The Wanderer" from below and the Pointer Sisters' "He's So Shy" from above). Good to know: The food comes from room service, which gets backed up on weekends by midafternoon, so order earlier if you're famished. TROPICANA: BLUE PARROT POOL BAR Sixth Floor of North Tower, 800-345-8767, Rooms $229-$349 a night Friday and Saturday; $109-$149 a night Sunday-Thursday Pool hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Friday; open until 7 p.m. Saturday The scene: The resort's Web site dubs it a "secluded outdoor oasis," but it needs more decor (would it kill 'em to throw a few more flower boxes around?) and a bigger pool. This is a big ol' hotel-casino, which means the pool swarms with kids (splash, squeal, scream) as sweaty adults sit thigh to thigh on the pool's edge. A large, drab deck with old plastic chaises dominates the space. To be fair, it's spacious, a DJ spins tunes and there's a nifty view of the ocean beyond for those at patio tables, front row chaises and a few bare-bones cabanas ($65-$85 a day) placed smack in the middle of the space. A basic menu covers snacks, sandwiches and salads. For cocktails, the Frosty Sunbather, with frozen cappuccino and Patron XO Café, will perk up weary gamblers, and Capt. Morgan's Iced Tea is dubbed "very refreshing" - but we knew that. Good to know: If you want to swim, use the indoor pool at the hotel's health club, for a fee - $10 a day a room. HARRAH'S: THE POOL 800-645-6774, Rooms: From $219 a night Friday and Saturday; $109 a night Sunday-Thursday Pool hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; nightclub 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday The scene: Harrah's went liquid, "Logan's Run" style, two years ago, erecting a dramatic glass dome to house an aquatic wonderland awash in 86,000 gallons of water. Talk about oasis: They've got trees, tropical flowers, large curvaceous pool, plus hot tubs and cabanas (with TV, docking station and gift bags) sprinkled about. A poolside massage ($71 reflexology; $160 Swedish) is a must. This place sizzles . . . but you won't burn, thanks to the UV-absorbent glass. You'll also never tan, so sun worshipers must take their bronze bods up to the stylish outside tanning sundeck. Love the complimentary chips and salsa. Or order from the bar everything from bottle service to smoothies, rumrunners to Philly cheesesteaks and "Mac Daddy" shrimp cocktail (from $9). After dark: For more wicked watery delights, three nights a week the space turns into a club open to the public. Patrons come dressed for clubbing, but can change in a locker room into bathing attire for a late-night dip. Good to know: On Mondays, Harrah's hosts a 7 p.m. Resort Island Luau that includes dinner and an Aloha hula show. Tickets are $49.99. David Leathers steals the show as Shannan MacGrane, Jessica Phillips also advance on 'American Idol' Wednesday February 8, 2012 8:51 PM By Shannan MacGrane, whose dad is a former baseball star, next up on "American Idol" singing Alicia Key's "Fallen" -- throaty and well-performed. 17-year-old David Leathers, the "ladies man" to quote Ryan Seacrest who looks like he's 12, comes out with a fantastic, on-pitch rendition of Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" -- audience applauds, he's totally got charisma. Jessica Phillips, whose boyfriend recently had a stroke, doing Whitney Houston's "All the Man That I Need." I mean, it's so hard to do Whitney on this show, but she's got an interesting voice that keeps us listening, and gets a "beautiful!" from Steven Tyler. PHOTOS: They're all through. Leathers gets some kisses from a bevy of women gathered around him at the end. Agree? Disagree? Tell us in the comments below, or on Twitter using #ndidol. Tags: , , , Destinee Hooker and Olympic women's volleyball Saturday July 28, 2012 4:26 PM By Watching the women’s indoor volleyball, USA vs. Korea, and I think I have a new hero: Destinee Hooker. Sure, there’s the fabulous name, which will surely inspire a new generation of drag queens. But look at this woman -- she’s killing out there. (And “kill,” I’ve just learned, is an actual volleyball term, not just hyperbole.) The 24-year-old Texan has got the longest legs you can imagine and she can JUMP. And those arms look skinny but she can WHACK that ball. The match is being played in Earls Court, where many musical acts have played over the years, including the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Celine Dion -- but apparently the NBC announcer doesn’t care for Dion. Thanks for sharing, dude. OK, things got rough for the American team, but they managed to win the match. Go, Destinee -- we want to see more of you. Tags: , , , Dion cancels shows until June Published: March 1, 2012 9:03 PM Dion cancels shows until JuneCeline Dion has canceled more shows at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace, citing a virus causing an inflammation of her vocal cords, The Associated Press reports. Christi Nelson, an official with show producer AEG Live, said the singer has been ordered to rest her voice for six to eight weeks and will resume performances June 9. "I tried to sing at my sound check last week,...Drops: Lopez's 'Love' looks like a smash Originally published: April 29, 2011 1:24 PM Updated: May 2, 2011 12:12 PM By GLENN GAMBOA Photo credit: Handout The cover of Jennifer Lopez's "Love?" Nothing breeds success like success. Only a year ago, looked like she was on the outs. Her movie "The Back-Up Plan" flopped. So did "Louboutins," the lead single off the previous incarnation of "Love?" And her longtime label, Epic Records, decided that "Love?" wasn't even worth putting out. Now, look at Miss Jenny From the Block. The Brookville resident is "'s" breakout star and 's "Most Beautiful Woman in the World." And "Love?" (Island ) looks like a smash. It's hard to go wrong when people pour resources this extravagant into a project. La Lopez already has a hit with her pal Pitbull on the Latin-tinged club-banger "On the Floor" and she will likely land another with the island-tinged, groove-driven "I'm Into You," which features delivering sharp lines, including "I'm falling for ya, baby, I need a parachute." But the high-profile help, which does outshine her at times, doesn't stop there. and producer Red One step in for two sure winners -- the thumping, AutoTuned, -esque "Invading My Mind" and the thrilling, Eurodisco-themed "Hypnotico," which sounds like "Poker Face" crossed with "Waiting for Tonight." There are still holdovers from "Love? 1.0," notably the odd, -ish ballads "Until It Beats No More" and "Starting Over," but there isn't a "Louboutins"-styled clunker in sight. Lopez hasn't sounded this good since the "J.Lo" days, and with "Love?" there's no question she can still be queen of the block. Jennifer Lopez "Love?" GRADE B+ BOTTOM LINE This "Love?" does cost a bunch Fighting to find a friend in 'War Horse' Published: December 21, 2011 4:51 PM By RAFER GUZMÁN Photo credit: Andrew Cooper Photo/ Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine) joyfully rides atop his beloved horse, Joey in Pictures' "War Horse" director 's epic adventure set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the . Though based partly on a children's novel, 's "War Horse" is not entirely a children's movie. It does star a boy and a horse, and it has many moments of warmth, humor and reassuring corn. But "War Horse" is also a film about the human animal and its capacity for violence and cruelty. You can always depend on to land on the side of optimism, of course, just as you know he'll put you through the wringer to get there. The story is simple: In rural Devon, England, a young farm boy, Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine, a suitably fresh-faced newcomer), makes fast friends with a spirited horse named Joey. But when England enters the Great War in 1914, Albert's drunken father, Ted (), sells the animal to the cavalry. Ted and his wife () soon lose their son, as well: Albert enlists, determined to find his friend. What follows is a series of vignettes in which Joey sees the war from nearly every angle: He'll gallop under the noble Captain Nicholls (a deeply moving Tom Hiddleston), haul artillery for the Germans, brighten the days of an orphaned French girl (Celine Buckens) and end up stranded between sides in No Man's Land -- the story's most resonant and symbolic chapter. For better and sometimes for worse, Joey ultimately reflects the humanity around him. "War Horse" is also based on the still-running, Tony-winning stage play, rightly acclaimed for its life-size horse puppets and stark, harrowing visuals. goes more for a classic Western, with dramatic lighting and russet-colored skies (the cinematographer is his longtime collaborator Janusz Kaminski). The material sometimes feels oversugared, though it's also guaranteed to raise a lump in your throat. PLOT A young British boy signs up for WWI to search for his beloved horse. RATING PG-13 (intense scenes and violence) CAST Jeremy Irvine, Emily , , Toby Kebbell LENGTH 2:26 PLAYING AT Area theaters, starting Sunday BOTTOM LINE Equal parts profound and corny, but always emotionally powerful and beautiful to look at. Parents should take the PG-13 rating seriously. Filipino sensation Charice wants to conquer America Published: May 6, 2010 4:02 PM By GLENN GAMBOA Photo credit: Getty Images CHARICE HIT: “Pyramid” WHY: The Filipina teenage sensation backed by knows her way around a big ballad, but it’s the American dance scene that’s embraced her first. Charice shakes her head. "No," she says, giggling, as she sits with her younger brother, Carl, who shakes his head as well before returning his attention to a video game. "I can't even think about it. I can't." "Really," she continues, fidgeting a bit with her blinged-out "LOVE" necklace, and readjusting herself in the plush chairs of her publicist's conference room. "I can't think about it." But as she breaks into a broad smile, it's clear that Charice, who recently dropped her last name Pempengco, does think about "it," about joining the ranks of divas so famous they need only one name, about becoming the next Whitney or Mariah or , about becoming the first female singer from the to break into the American mainstream. It's clear that she's thought about it, dreamed about it, for years. It's just that now - as her single "Pyramid" seems poised to take over the top spot on the dance charts and her debut album "Charice" (Reprise) is set to hit stores Tuesday with an unusually large marketing push for a new artist - the dream is close enough to come true, yet still far enough away that it could evaporate before she reaches it. Having already tasted success and then disappointment, Charice, who turns 18 Monday, seems determined not to get ahead of herself. "I'm ready for my album to not be a hit," she says. "I just want to help my mom and my family. I'm just happy to be singing my own songs for people. ... I want it to be a hit. But it's fine if it's not huge like Mariah or Whitney. It's all good for me." However, considering the all-star team behind Charice, expectations may be a bit higher than just "good." Superstar-producer , who launched the careers of and Michael Bublé, produced her debut. Superstar-songwriter wrote songs for her. Her publicity is being handled by the same team as . Launch with '' And then there's Oprah . Having already taken Charice under her star-making wing, introducing the singer to her idol, , and relaying her story on the powerful talk show, Winfrey is taking the unusual step of bringing Charice back to the show on the day of her album release. "That's the kind of launch people dream of," says a competing music industry exec. "I would give anything to be on 'Oprah' on release day." Of course, many consider Charice to be a special circumstance. "Charice is, for sure, the next global superstar," Foster said recently. "And I'm thrilled that we have a new great female vocalist!" At her showcase at the Canal Room last month, Tommy Page, Warner Bros.' vice president of Top 40 radio promotion, took the unusual step of introducing Charice by saying how watching her sing in a conference room still manages to make him choke up. "This is history in the making," Page says, before she takes the stage. "What she has is so rare." Then, she set out to prove it, with songs from "Charice" that show off the big, booming voice housed in her petite, 5-foot-1 frame and her ability to win fans over to her side quickly. That's a talent Charice has always had, from her early days of entering talent shows near her home in the Laguna province of the to her stints on the Filipino and Korean versions of "." It also translated well to YouTube, where her performances of Houston and songs made her a sensation and attracted the attention of and Winfrey, who flew her to America for her first visits, to be on their talk shows. Because loved her It was the "Oprah" appearance that stuck with her most, especially after Winfrey surprised her by introducing her to via satellite. "I was so confused," Charice recalls, adding that she had prepared to sing the Beyoncé song "Listen," but Winfrey's staff kept telling her that she should sing a Dion song instead. After Charice sang "My Heart Will Go On," she turned around to see that Dion had been watching her performance. "I was about to faint," she says. "I cried, and my mom cried, and Oprah cried, too; and she says, 'I knew this was going to happen, but I'm still crying.'" That introduction led to Charice's Madison Square Garden debut, performing "Because You Loved Me" with Dion during her concert last year. "That night, I thought I was going to die," she says, laughing. " was really, really nice that time." Those appearances have given Charice a considerable advantage over most new artists. However, she recognizes she has some hurdles to face, as well. "My mom always tells me, 'It's only the beginning, there are challenges coming your way,'" Charice says. Christine Bacareza Balance, assistant professor of Asian-American Studies at the , Irvine, who has followed Charice's rise to fame, agrees. "The recording industry is a very black and white sort of place," Balance says. "It's difficult to see where she would fit in as an icon because there hasn't been somebody who looks like her. There's been no precedent." That said, Balance says Charice can make a compelling case. "She has the range, and she has the talent," she says. "She can also show that she's trying to live 'The American Dream.'" Charice says she's ready to work hard to make that dream come true. "That's my life: work, Internet, talk to my friends, school, sleep," she says. "I'm enjoying it. For me, that's my teenage life." And she lets herself indulge in a bit of that dream for a moment as she talks about the video for her single "Pyramid." "The concept of the video is my past," she says. "I get cut in an audition. I'm so depressed, and then I'm transformed into. ..." She catches herself quickly before continuing, "I don't want to say 'superstar,' because I'm not that, but in the video, I become a singer, a real singer," she says, laughing. "I guess I can call myself that now." More thrillers, and not just from Though Charice is on her way to becoming the most famous singer to come from the , she has some big stars to surpass. Here's a look: apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda) Originally from Pampanga Best known as Co-founder of The with will.i.am, making mainstream hip-hop music that has been among the most successful in history. He also has made the most successful Tagalog songs in American pop music, as part of albums. Biggest hit "I Gotta Feeling" (No. 1 for 14 weeks, 2009) Originally from Best known as Guitarist for The , the pioneering band that helped establish the alternative rock sound with classic albums "Surfer Rosa" and "Doolittle." Biggest hit "Here Comes Your Man" (No. 3 Modern Rock, 1989) Originally from South Cotabato Best known as The WBO welterweight champion, though the international boxing star is also an actor, politician and, yes, a singer. Biggest hit No American music hits yet, but that may change if his on-again, off-again fight with ever happens. Freshman Fay leads Lynbrook in Nassau 'A' Published: March 1, 2011 5:53 PM Freshman Jen Fay had career highs of 31 points and 16 rebounds as visiting No. 5 Lynbrook overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to edge fourth-seeded North Shore, 69-68, in a Nassau girls Class A quarterfinal game Tuesday. Fay scored 17 points during a 40-25 second half for Lynbrook, which trailed, 43-29, at the break. Brooke Gerstman had 21 points and Danielle Amaya added 12 rebounds...Garden City's Mahon, Bruno score in shutout Originally published: October 17, 2010 8:50 PM Updated: October 17, 2010 9:46 PM Tara Mahon scored off an assist by Alex Bruno in the first half and added an assist for Garden City in a 5-0 win over John Jay Cross River in non-league field hockey Sunday. Bruno had a goal and an assist, and Laura Fanning had a save as Garden City (11-0-1) posted its 10th shutout of the season. John Jay Cross River goalkeeper Dayna Mercer had 13 saves in the loss.Patchogue-Medford 3, North...Girls Hoops 3 Stars of the Night (1/6) Friday January 6, 2012 10:19 PM By James Crepea The 3 Stars for Friday 1/6:Celine Jolicoeur had 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Sewanhaka in an 80-56 win over Hewlett in Conference A-II.Senior Jenn Doppelt scored 25 points, including the 1,000th point of her career, and added 16 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Great Neck North past Valley Stream South 63-42 in Conference A-III.Senior Meagan Doherty scored 25 points... Girls Hoops 3 Stars of the Night (2/8) Thursday February 9, 2012 2:48 AM By James Crepea Photo credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke The 3 Stars for Wednesday 2/8:Danielle Brusca had 22 points and four assists as Bethpage upset Sewanhaka 67-63 in Conference A-II.Caitlyn Garger (above) had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Hicksville in a 39-30 win over East Meadow in Conference AA-II.Celine Jolicoeur had 32 points for Sewanhaka which lost to Bethpage.... High school basketball roundup Originally published: February 22, 2011 9:30 PM Updated: February 22, 2011 9:44 PM Girls basketballDivision 56, Mineola 34: Julie Ballantyne scored 16 points and went eight-for-eight from the free throw line and Brianne Connolly added 14 to lead No. 1 Division (19-1).Garden City 44, Seaford 20: Barbara Sullivan scored eight of her 22 points in a 14-5 first quarter and Christina Mangels had 11 rebounds for No. 2 Garden City (16-3) against No. 7 Seaford in a Nassau...Hollie Cavanagh belts out Celine Dion on 'American Idol' Wednesday March 14, 2012 9:54 PM By Hollie Cavanagh is singing Celine Dion's "The Power of Love" next on "American Idol." As guest mentor will.i.am put it, "All that power in that little Tinkerbell Hollie!" Very dramatic start, in a gold-bedazzled gown, and she just gets right into it. She has a huge voice and doesn't seem to be straining at all. Totally at ease up there; it's not really building toward anything though. She just seems to be at 10 the whole time, so there's no emotional connection. Was expecting more, impressed but a bit disappointed. Jennifer Lopez thought it was strong, Steven Tyler calls it "a little pitchy," but beautiful overall, Randy Jackson says, "You blew it out of the box." PHOTOS: Agree? Disagree? Tell us in the comments below, or on Twitter using #ndidol. Tags: , , Hot song: Adam Lambert's new single Published: January 6, 2012 2:43 PM By GLENN GAMBOA Is trying to send out secret messages through his singles? His new single, "Better Than I Know Myself" (19/), sounds like a ballad filtered through and . In other words, it doesn't sound like Lambert, but perhaps what record company moguls would like him to sound like. Hopefully Lambert gets to shake off the blandness on the rest of the forthcoming "Trespassing" album. It's now or 'Never' for Justin Bieber's movie Originally published: February 3, 2011 4:18 PM Updated: February 4, 2011 11:23 AM By GLENN GAMBOA Photo credit: Paramount Pictures Screengrab from the Justin Bieber 3-D movie, "Never Say Never." 's "Never Say Never" 3-D movie opens with a bunch of videos that went viral the way his did. Sneezing pandas, surprised kittens and little Bieb singing, "With You." Director Jon M. Chu says he wanted to start the documentary the way he, like most people, learned about the 16-year-old sensation. "I remember exactly where I was when I saw him sing that song," Chu says. "I remember saying, 'Who is this kid?' and I remember forwarding it to my friends." More than almost any other artist - aside from maybe , who gives him a run for his cyber-money - is a product of today's brave new, incredibly wired world, where stars seemingly maintain one-to-one contact with fans through a barrage of tweets, pictures and videos. When dubbed his debut, "My World," he could just as easily have been staking his claim to his considerable corner of the Internet. But "Never Say Never" - part documentary, part concert film - shows that 's new- millennium success is based on old-school hard work and talent. "That's the vision I wanted," says Scott "Scooter" Braun, Bieber's 29-year-old manager and one of the movie's producers. "We didn't make this for his core audience. This wasn't just a kiss to the fans. We wanted to make a great movie. In this recession, when kids aren't hearing any stories of inspiration, this is a success story and it's for real. It shows hard work and determination can lead to something extraordinary." When discussions began for a " Bieber" movie, Braun says they were planning a more limited project, filming Bieber's sold-out Madison Square Garden show in August and releasing it on DVD. But, Braun says, Team Bieber took inspiration from , whom they had gotten to know from working with his son, Jaden, on the movie's title track. "One thing he says a lot is 'Do not be realistic,' " Braun says. "What we're hoping the film shows is that it might seem impossible. It might never have been done before. But we did it. It's like the Wright Brothers were told, 'You can't fly.' Well, now we're flying all over the place." The Bieber success story that "Never Say Never" chronicles may be familiar to fans, but that doesn't make it less amazing. In 2007, when he was 12, Bieber entered a singing contest in his hometown of Stratford, . His mom, Pattie Mallette, filmed it and uploaded it to so their relatives could watch it, but soon strangers were finding Bieber's version of "Respect" and forwarding it to their friends. By the end of 2009, Braun, who also manages rapper Asher Roth and worked with at So So Def Recordings in , had seen the videos, signed Bieber, and helped him create his major-label debut. Now, even though Bieber is still new enough to be up for a best new artist Grammy next week, he's already sold out Madison Square Garden. "It's a fairy tale," Chu says. "I love fairy tales. ... This is the origin story of a hero." However, real-life fairy tales have struggles, too. "Never Say Never" shows Bieber and his team working hard, traveling from city to city to meet radio personalities and building an audience a handful of excited teenagers at a time. The sign that this strategy was working comes when those excited teens band together in ever-growing groups, as they did at Roosevelt Field mall, where police had to shut down a Bieber appearance out of public safety concerns in November 2009. (Braun faces misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and criminal nuisance for not helping disperse the crowd, according to prosecutors. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and says he could not discuss the ongoing case.) And in real life, fairy tales also have consequences. "Never Say Never" gets some extra drama when Bieber gets sick and starts losing his voice only days before the star-studded Madison Square Garden concert that forms the heart of the movie. "It's just one of God's jokes," Braun says, adding that they were already making plans to film another show on the tour. Though the illness made the movie more exciting, it also created some serious production issues. "I did not want to cheer this drama on," Chu says. "It may have added another layer to the movie, but we had a lot riding on that one show. We already had 11 3-D cameras coming in. We were thinking ... 'this movie could double in price.'" (Spoiler alert: Bieber performs at the Garden and sounds just fine.) Chu says that in watching hundreds of hours of footage of Bieber, he found another unexpected consequence of fame. "We got to see how we were just one of 300 people he would talk to in a day," Chu says. "For him, he has to start seeing people as a sea of people. Everywhere he goes people are staring at him. Everyone has a weird fascination with him. I don't know how he copes with it. ... He has to grow a thick skin." Though Bieber says in "Never Say Never" that he wants to make sure he doesn't miss out on his childhood, he also wants to keep moving forward. "He keeps telling me he wants people to hear the new songs he's written," says Braun, adding that they hope to release a new album in November. Bieber wants to keep acting, after good reviews for his guest arc on "CSI," which continues Thursday. Braun says Bieber will look at small movie roles this year, with hopes of larger roles next year. "This is his moment," Braun says. "He's not going away." 's got talent: 4 more discoveries BY GLENN GAMBOA, glenn.gamboa@newsday.com Bieber is the biggest star to be discovered on so far, but he isn't the only one. Here's a look at some other musicians who have built their careers on the video site: SUSAN BOYLE WHO The 49-year-old Scottish singer with the remarkable voice who had two No. 1 albums last year and sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. YOUTUBE MOMENT Her audition for "" stunned judges and viewers with her stirring version of "I Dreamed a Dream," showing how deceiving appearances can be. VIEW COUNT 70 million OK GO WHO rockers who released their eponymous debut in 2002, but became sensations after their videos went viral. YOUTUBE MOMENT Their "Here It Goes Again" video, the one where they dance on treadmills, went viral in 2006 and has been their biggest success, though several other videos, including the machine for "This Too Shall Pass," have been big hits. VIEW COUNT 52 million for "Here It Goes Again" GREYSON CHANCE WHO The 13-year-old from Edmond, Okla., is currently working on his major-label debut, signed to ' eleveneleven label, and is on his first tour supporting his debut single "Waiting Outside the Lines." He also opens for at NYCB Theatre at Westbury next Sunday. YOUTUBE MOMENT His piano-driven version of 's "Paparazzi," taped at his sixth-grade festival, garnered lots of attention, including an appearance on ' talk show. VIEW COUNT 47 million CHARICE WHO The 18-year-old from the was discovered on YouTube singing on talent shows. She has since released a CD and is set to return to "Glee." YOUTUBE MOMENT She wowed , who booked her on the show and introduced her to , who signed her to Warner Bros. Records, and , who had her perform with her at Madison Square Garden. VIEW COUNT 30 million for her song "Pyramid." Jackson lifts Longwood to track title Published: May 5, 2012 10:09 PM Mark Jackson won the 100 meters in 10.8 seconds, the long jump in 21 feet, 4 inches and took second in the high jump (6-6) Saturday as Longwood won the Monroe-Woodbury Track and Field Invitational team title with 50 points.Mike Engesser won the 800 (1:58.4) and Jamal Sally finished first in the triple jump (43-7) for the Lions. Jackson and Engesser also were part of Longwood's sprint medley...Jennifer Lopez's 'SNL' struggles Sunday February 28, 2010 5:49 PM By Photo credit: Getty Images Jennifer Lopez’s “Saturday Night Live” appearance wasn’t bad exactly. It was just, well, messy. Her monologue was just OK. Her musical performances were iffy. This is not the Jenny from the Block we’ve come to know. Even more unusual, none of it served a point. The “SNL” gig was supposed to drum up support for her singles “Louboutins” and “Fresh Out the Oven” from her upcoming album “Love,” which was scheduled for an April release on Epic, in conjunction with her new movie “The Back Up Plan.” It’s a combo that she has used before to much success, when “J.Lo” and “The Wedding Planner” in 2001 made her the first to have an album and a movie debut at No. 1 in the same week. It’s not working out that way this time. Instead, Lopez, who is on the comeback trail after taking time off to raise her twins in Old Brookville with husband Marc Anthony, performed two new songs, a midtempo ballad “Pieces,” that seems built for Celine Dion, and an acoustic ballad “Starting Over” that doesn’t play to any of Lopez’s strengths. So what’s going on? Well, in the warm-up to her appearance, it came out that Lopez and Epic had split and that her album “Love” was going to come out on another label this summer – perhaps Island Def Jam, according to . “I have belonged to the Sony family since the beginning of my career as a singer and together we've had great success,” Lopez said in a statement. “I have fulfilled my contractual responsibilities with Sony/Epic up to this point, and we have both reached friendly terms about my departure from the label. I'm also happy to say that we've found a new home for my album, 'Love,' and that it is slated for release in the summer of 2010.” So instead of promoting “Fresh Out the Oven,” which hit No. 1 on the dance charts in January, or “Louboutins,” which is currently climbing the dance chart, Lopez did the new songs. And it seems she could have used some extra rehearsal time. (Check out the struggle to hit notes at 2:10 and 2:50 below in case there’s a doubt.) In other words, an uncharacteristic mess. PHOTO:Jennifer Lopez by Getty Images. Tags: Jessica Sanchez channels Celine Dion on 'American Idol' Tuesday May 22, 2012 8:33 PM By Jessica Sanchez's second "American Idol" finale song -- her self-chosen favorite performance of the season -- is Celine Dion's version of "The Prayer." It's sung perfectly, with just the right touch of emotion and pace -- slow, deliberate and compelling. Can't take your eyes away; she performs it like a pro, one of those songs she was just born to sing. Easily nails the high notes, gets a big reaction from the audience. PHOTOS: Agree? Disagree? Tell us in the comments below, or on Twitter using #ndidol. Tags: , , , Josh Groban sings praises of comedy Published: November 2, 2011 1:56 PM By STEVE KNOPPER. Special to Newsday Photo credit: None/ 's "Straight To You" world tour in New York at will be held on November 4, 2011. In addition to his heavenly voice, which helped his "Noel" album sell 5 million copies, 30-year-old "popera" singer Josh has a surprising reserve of comedy talent. He memorably portrayed 's controlling not-quite-fiance in last summer's "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and continues the shlumpy deadpan as ' brother on "." 's acting gigs happen between music projects, such as last year's Rick -produced "Illuminations," which played up the dramatic tension in 's falsetto. Here are five other things you might not know about the man who once dated . He plays the Friday night. 1. He snagged his acting gig on "" through Twitter. "When "Office" actress] asked me about doing the show, she said -- she actually kind of direct-message tweeted me, and I was shocked to hear from her and I said, 'Yeah, no, I would love to do the show. When are you thinking?' " he told BuzzSugar. "It was 100 percent just serendipity that I happened to be in town when they were taping this episode." 2. He once installed a bowling alley in his tour bus. "My band can turn that bus into many things," Groban told Entertainment Weekly. "The bowling alley is just one of them." 3. His acting career didn't come out of nowhere. Groban was in a improv troupe in 8th or 9th grade, studied theater at County High School for the Arts and did one year as a musical-theater student at Carnegie Mellon. Then he signed to a record label as a singer and delayed the comedy. 4. He met super-producer Rubin while lunching with 's manager. Groban asked Guy Oseary to set up a meeting, which led to the -- producer to sign on for "Illuminations." 5. His breakout performance, as far as show business was concerned, was at a 1999 rehearsal, when he pinch-hit for pop-classical predecessor as Celine 's duet partner on "The Prayer." Dion later said: "He was almost going backwards, he was so scared . . . and you couldn't be any more powerful than that -- this kid was incredible." Immediately afterward, , who happened to be in the auditorium, booked Groban on her , as "opera boy." WHO Josh Groban WHEN WHERE Friday night at 8, INFO $40-$93.50; 800-745- 3000, .com Karaoke battle takes it to a higher level Originally published: August 10, 2011 2:20 PM Updated: August 11, 2011 11:44 AM By JACQUELINE CUTLER. Zap2it Photo credit: ABC/Donna Svennevik KARAOKE BATTLE USA - Who will be the next singer to leap from the karaoke circuit to superstardom? "Karaoke Battle USA" shines the spotlight on the best karaoke singers across the country in six one-hour episodes, hosted by Joey Fatone (*NSYNC, "Dancing with the Stars") and premiering FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Some amazing talent, including , has come out of the karaoke circuit. And that struck a chord with Muriel Pearson, executive producer of 's "Karaoke Battle USA," which launches with a two-hour premiere tonight at 9. "I have discovered that the karaoke community is a community, and they frequent bars and create social networks through this experience," Pearson says. "It is a social networking experience to do karaoke. It brings people together. The best karaoke singers in America all know each other from competing in these competitions." The six-episode show picks up the Karaoke World Championship trials after people have been competing for months. The judges, singer Carnie , karaoke champion and journalist Joe Levy, pick one man and one woman. Viewers don't vote. 's hosts. (The judges listened to singers in regional contests in Houston, Las Vegas, New York and Chicago.) TAKING IT UP A NOTCHThis contest chronicles how people take it to the next level with the judges advising them. "I am looking for a man and a woman that can end up on the stage, and first and foremost sing their tail off," Wilson says. "I am not looking for someone that can mimic the singer of the song they chose. I don't expect someone to get up there and sing exactly like or . Singers are judged on voice quality, rhythm and tempo, vocal expression, stage presence and entertainment value, Pearson says. KEEPING IT REAL The show partners with the Karaoke World Championship, which, Pearson says, keeps the "experience very authentic." In addition to representing the United States at the international contest in this year, the winner receives a recording contract for a single. "This whole competition is about real people, not wannabe stars," Pearson says. "It's people who just love to sing. We want to use it as a prism of looking out in America. People come from every walk of life. There is a physicist, a burlesque dancer, a lot of moms and dads, just normal family folk." Kelly Killoren Bensimon says she loves Long Island Sunday September 9, 2012 1:46 PM By Kelly Killoren Bensimon may be a former member of the "Real Housewives of New York City," but the author, model and mom of two says Long Island is where her heart is. "New York is where I work, but the Hamptons is where I live," she said Sunday at the presentation of the Catherine Malandrino line during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, adding that she will continue to spend weekends on the Island even now that Labor Day has passed. "I really, really love the Island," she said. "I love the North Shore; I love the South Shore. I have a lot of fun there. I've been going to the Hamptons since I was 16, so it's a big part of my life." MORE: PHOTOS: When she's not paddle boarding in Montauk or hitting the beach in East Hampton, Bensimon said she loves to shop at Target off Exit 60, Ronkonkoma Avenue, on the Long Island Expressway. Bensimon said she chooses Target because she can find anything she needs for her daughters, and she especially loves the beauty products and sheets. "My bed is my sanctuary, so I always have to have a beautiful bed," she said. Surprised this staple on the Manhattan fashion scene shops at such a practical store? Wait until you hear what's in her closet. "I have, like, so many Converse sneakers, and I have high-tops," she said. "I don't think anyone would ever imagine me in high-tops, but I love them." Bensimon's must-have item for fall, however, is a bit more high-end. "The Phantom Celine bag in blue suede is probably the most gorgeous bag on the planet," she said, "but only in a fun color. You can't just get it in black." Photo: Kelly Killoren Bensimon attends the Jill Stuart spring 2013 show Saturday at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. (Sept. 8, 2012) Tags: Kidsday review and interview:'Let It Shine' Published: June 5, 2012 2:17 PM By JAMES WOOLEY, ELISHA CHARLES, LAUREN POLIDORI. AND KAYLA MARTINELLI. Kidsday Reporters, 9 and 10, North Babylon Recently, we went to the ABC Studios in Manhattan to see a screening of the movie "Let It Shine," starring Tyler James Williams as Cyrus. The movie is about a young man who wants to become a rapper. However, his father is a preacher, and he thinks rap music is the "devil's music." Cyrus has to convince his dad it really isn't. The movie was interesting, entertaining and kept us guessing....Kidsday talks with singer Charice Published: May 25, 2010 3:43 PM By Matthew Agoursalidis, Leila Burbar, Jarren Carelus and Katherine Medrano Kidsday reporters, Age 12, West Hempstead We recently met and interviewed the wonderful singer, Charice, in Manhattan. She just released her self-titled debut album. It was very exciting to meet her!Her full name is Charice Pempengco and she is from the Philippines. Charice was discovered a few years ago after her friend posted her “Filipino Idol” audition video on YouTube.com. She has appeared twice on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” during...LI Caroling: Billy Joel and Cass Dillon Tuesday December 21, 2010 5:03 AM By Photo credit: Bruce Gilbert, 2010 For one of the few pop songs he has written in the past decade, Billy Joel certainly picked a hard-hitting topic with "Christmas in Fallujah" and enlisting newcomer Cass Dillon to deliver it. Joel will likely spend this holiday season testing out and working out of his 20th Century Cycles, though he told me that he's looking forward to getting back onstage in 2011 after spending this year off the road. PREVIOUSLY Tags: , , LI Caroling: Brian Setzer Wednesday December 22, 2010 5:17 AM By Christmas is big this year for Massapequa native Brian Setzer, with his new live album "Christmas Comes Alive," recorded last year in Knoxville, Tenn., which includes "Stray Cat Strut" combined with "You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch," as well as this rocking version of "Run Rudolph Run." PREVIOUSLY Tags: , LI Caroling: Rosie O'Donnell and Celine Dion Monday December 20, 2010 5:28 AM By Rosie O'Donnell and Celine Dion tackle the lovely "The Magic of Christmas Day" on one of the Commack native's variety specials. (Um, isn't it about time for another one of those? Please?)Though Rosie has been out of the headlines recently, happily doing her show on Sirius, and spending more time at home with her kids, she will be on the next season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" on NBC in February, where they will trace her ancestry. PREVIOUSLY Tags: , , LI Caroling: Taking Back Sunday Friday December 24, 2010 4:44 AM By Photo credit: Warner Bros., 2010 We wind up LICaroling with a new song from Taking Back Sunday, "Merry Christmas I Missed You So Much." A lot changed for the Rockville Centre-based band this year now that the "Tell All Your Friends"-era lineup is back together and working on a new album. (The band even announced a holiday surprise last week, as they headline ever along with Lil Wayne and Dashboard Confessional.) You can download "Merry Christmas IMissed You So Much" as part of a free EPof new songs at the band's . PREVIOUSLY Tags: , , , LI Challenge: Farmingdale Reaction Monday May 7, 2012 2:53 PM By Stephen Haynes Photo credit: James Escher Farmingdale was a gracious (and victorious) host for Saturday’s Long Island Challenge. The event featured four games, Suffolk vs. Nassau, with Farmingdale’s 8:30 p.m. matchup with Eastport-South Manor being the nightcap.The event went smoothly (‘least as far as I know) and it was a festive atmosphere. Props to Barbara Brescia (Samantha’s mother) and Laurie Kolodny (Kim’s mother), who helped... LI Marathon's family fun events Published: April 30, 2011 7:58 PM By KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN Photo credit: Joseph D. Sullivan Tyler Glenn, 7, of Levittown outpaces the field in his age catagory in the Fun Run. The first day of the included a 1-mile and 5K race for children and adults, at the Mitchel Athletic Complex track. (April 30, 2011) Tyler Glenn fidgeted in his seat, unable to contain his excitement. "I'm going to win the race," he said, earnestly, as he and his family waited for the rest of the participants to register. The Kids Fun Run was just one of three events, including the 1-Mile run and the 5K, held Saturday at Mitchel Athletic Complex as an introduction to today's : Festival of Races. With Ronald McDonald leading the pre-race stretching and mascot, "Sparky The Dragon," doling out hugs and high-fives, the boisterous bunch was impervious to the cool breeze that whipped around the track. Thomas Glenn tried to explain the goal was simply to have fun, but his 7-year-old son could think of nothing else but crossing the finish line, paces ahead of the others. After just a few minutes with the family from , it became obvious just how deep those competitive genes run. Thomas, a two-time Ironman finisher, is preparing for Sunday's 8 a.m. marathon, which begins on Blvd. in and ends inside Eisenhower Park. His brother plans to run in the half-marathon and their father will run in the 10K. Thomas' racing interest piqued in 2006 after, "on a whim," he competed in the half-marathon. And after six years of marathons, the 34-year-old physical education teacher is planning to race from to the Light House -- a 102.3-mile journey -- in June to raise money for The John Theissen Children's Foundation. And his kids already share his enthusiasm. "I could run it again," said a winded Tyler, after crossing the finish line first in his age group. His younger sister, 2 ½-year-old Kylie, won the "Diaper Dash" last year -- "She was determined," Thomas' pregnant wife, Kelly, said -- and, with the help of a sizable head-start Saturday, charged through the finish line well ahead of the friendly competition. Other Kids Fun Run participants included 3-year-old Jacob Lukose and his 10-month-old sister, Celine, who, along with their cousins, Alissa Cyriac, 4, and Alina Chacko, 3, wore white and purple "Team Joy" shirts, in honor of their grandfather Joy who passed away in December. "We're doing this for him," Tommy Lukose said of his late father, hours after completing the 5K. He was just one of 15 or 20 family members and friends honoring Joy, a resident. Tommy said his brother, Mathew, plans to run today's half-marathon and his friend Luke Tharathattel, of , will compete in the 10K. Hours earlier, 6-year-old Hana Lima and her father, Louis, 39, shared a touching moment, completing their first 1-Mile Run together in 10:05. Sunday will mark the father's fifth straight -- but he hopes, in the next decade, to have some company on the 26.2-mile course. "She likes to go see me run, so we've been training together," Louis said with a smile. Long Island Top 10 rankings Monday February 21, 2011 7:54 AM By Adam Ronis 1. St. Anthony's (21-2): The Friars defeated St. Dominic, 59-29 as Kerrin Maurer had 12 points and five assists and Shannon White added 10 points and seven assists. Maurer scored 13 points and Micki Impellizeri had nine points and seven rebounds in a 50-40 win over Sacred Heart. The Friars capped the week with a 65-28 win over St. Mary’s. Maurer scored 16 points. The Friars can finish off... Long Island Top 10 Monday December 20, 2010 5:55 PM By Adam Ronis 1. St. Anthony's (5-1): The Friars opened the week with a dominant win over preseason favorite St. John the Baptist. The Friars won 52-39 and held a 38-15 lead at the half. Symone Kelly had 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Friars then beat Holy Trinity 65-52 behind 18 points from Lauren Williams. They capped the week with a 58-38 win over JFK, which is one of the top teams in the PSAL. Kerrin Maurer... From Male Diners Tip Better When Waitress Wears Red: Study Published: August 9, 2012 4:45 PM -- Mary Elizabeth Dallas Waitresses who wear red receive bigger tips from their male customers, researchers have found, noting that the color red has been shown to increase women's physical and sexual attractiveness to men.In conducting the study, researchers Nicolas Gueguen and Celine Jacob of the University of Southern Brittany, in France, instructed 11 waitresses in five restaurants to wear the same tee shirt...Nassau girls basketball preview 2011-12 Published: December 23, 2011 12:16 PM By JAMES CREPEA Photo credit: Christopher Pasatieri Baldwin junior Alex Hampton controls the ball during the first half of the Class AA final against Farmingdale. (Mar. 5, 2011) Reigning Long Island champion Baldwin is the favorite in Class AA. Seniors Alex Hampton (point guard) and Janae DeGraff (center) are returning starters for the Bruins and senior guards Amber Harrison and Ayanna Hudson will also play big roles. Sophomore Mariyah Butler will be an important new comer to Tom Catapano's squad, which is aiming for its third straight county title.Massapequa returns...Nassau Top 10 girls hoops rankings Monday February 13, 2012 11:23 AM By James Crepea Photo credit: James Escher 1. Long Island Lutheran (15-5)2. Holy Trinity (15-6)3. Baldwin (15-1)4. Massapequa (15-2)5. North Shore (16-1)6. Sacred Heart (14-8)7. MacArthur (13-2)8. Kellenberg (11-7)9. Uniondale (11-5)10. Lynbrook (12-4)Top 10 Public Schools:1. Baldwin (15-1) the Bruins eased past Plainview JFK, resting all of their starters and then... New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State musicians Published: June 18, 2012 1:49 PM Instrumental JazzLast NameFirst NameSchoolBallereauAndrewHalf Hollow Hills HS EastBomzerRichardSyosset HSChiarelloGlennWantagh HSEntwistleBrianFarmingdale HSHochlerAndrewEast Meadow HSMohanDaveerCentral Islip HSPetersonShawnGreenport HSRatnerEricW. Tresper Clarke HSMixed ChorusLast NameFirst NameSchoolAgoliaJames PaulChaminade HSAlbaneseLouisMassapequa HSBakerBreaFreeport HSBenkhoukhaAmarWest...No Jerry Lewis, but MDA telethon raises $61.5M Originally published: September 5, 2011 8:50 AM Updated: September 6, 2011 9:44 AM By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo credit: AP This photo provided by Muscular Dystrophy Association shows the 46th annual MDA telethon co-hosts, from left to right, , , and Alison Sweeney, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, in Las Vegas. Even without , the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon posted its best gain since the started, though the program's longtime host was on the minds of many during the 46th annual fundraiser. "" executive producer said after co-hosting Sunday's program that he's sorry the famed comedian didn't participate, but the organization needs to move on to ensure the fundraiser continues. The telethon raised nearly $61.5 million Sunday, an increase of about $2.6 million over last year, MDA officials said. told The Associated Press minutes after the six-hour live broadcast ended on the east coast that he thought the 85-year-old actor would show up either during the telecast or earlier to film a taped segment of his signature song "You'll Never Walk Alone." "I was fully expecting him to turn up at any point and join that six hours — and I'm sorry he didn't," told the AP. "And hopefully another year he might. I mean, he knows that he is always welcome on the telethon. It's his baby." An orchestra was ready to film Lewis, but he didn't come to the Las Vegas casino where the telethon was filmed, said. Lewis publicist Candi Cazau declined comment when reached by the AP. Earlier, she said Lewis never agreed to any appearance — recorded or live — after the MDA announced in August he wouldn't take part in the show or be its chairman. and co-host said during the show that Lewis "retired." Lewis has not publicly said why he is no longer chairman of the MDA, or why he didn't personally appear in this year's telethon. The co-hosts' remarks during the show were the first time the MDA has addressed Lewis' departure since it was announced, and telethon spokesman Jim Brown declined further comment about the split. Lewis' absence ended a 45-year run in which he raised $1.66 billion. The fundraiser raised $58.9 million last year, but was shortened this year from 21½ hours. Brown said early Monday that this year's donations increased to nearly $61.5 million, the MDA's best showing since 2008 when the started. "The tremendous success of the telethon, even in a tough economy where some communities are also being challenged by natural disasters, shows that America understands and appreciates the truly rapid progress being made by MDA-funded researchers worldwide," R. Rodney Howell, M.D., chairman of the MDA Board of Directors, said in a statement. said he and other telethon hosts knew Lewis — a man inextricably bonded to the telethon — would be a presence even in a show that never included his voice. "There appeared to be an elephant in the room, and it's one that you go talk about," said. "This guy is someone who's put this whole thing together." Buy Lythgoe said the telethon and cause can't center around one man — even Lewis. "It has to continue without him and we are going to need a lot of help from everybody to ensure that it does continue," Lythgoe said. "Because Jerry, bless him, is 85 and isn't going to be around forever anyway. And the MDA and this telethon has to continue." The Lewis-less telethon began airing live on the east coast Sunday night with an opening number featuring young dancers performing to 's "Titanium," with an introduction from Abbey Umali, the organization's tween goodwill ambassador. Lythgoe, and co-hosts and Alison Sweeney then spent five minutes after being introduced talking about Lewis and his lifelong legacy felt by the telethon, the MDA and everyone who participates in the charity's pushes for neuromuscular research, clinics and summer camps for youngsters known as "Jerry's Kids." Lythgoe said during his opening comments that Lewis, 85, seemed to be passing the torch last year when the comedian offered Lythgoe his seat as Lewis took a break and Lythgoe was coming on the air "And Jerry, and I know you're watching, when you gave me that chair I know it's possible to sit on it, but it's isn't possible, Jerry, to replace you, sir," he said. Later in the show's first hour, superstar singer mentioned Lewis again during a taped segment, referring to him as a friend as she introduced a cover performance of Journey's "Open ." Other celebrities briefly mentioned Lewis throughout the show during cameos sprinkled between a variety of performances, interviews with people touched by muscular diseases and suit-clad corporate representatives touting company philanthropy and partnerships with the MDA. Just before the show's closing, a two-minute montage over piano music showed Lewis dancing, singing, mingling with famous faces and interviewing children — though he was never heard. It was a stark contrast from previous years, when the show was as much about Lewis at center stage as the donations themselves. As the program aired, many viewers openly wondered on Twitter and other social networks about how the show would be affected by the split. Randy Duncan, a 45-year-old pastor from Westland, Mich., said he tuned in for about two minutes, but stopped watching and instead switched between baseball and an airing of "." He said the show had lost the nostalgic touches that reminded him of raising money for the MDA with neighbors through backyard carnivals when he was a kid. "The way they handled it just gave me no interest," Duncan said. "At least give him one more shot, let him go out with style." Instead, the telethon was an unceremonious end to a six-decade association that forged one of the world's most famous annual TV moments. Lewis, who's appeared in scores of films and TV shows as well as produced, directed and taught film, had been chairman of the MDA since the early 1950s, before the famed telethon began. In 1977, Lewis was nominated for a for his work with the telethon and the MDA. In May, when the MDA first announced Lewis was retiring as host, the organization said he would stay on as chairman and still appear on the show. It released a statement from Lewis in which the comedian said he would sing the song that has become an annual tradition. But the statement said Lewis wouldn't step down as chairman. "I'll never desert MDA and my kids," he said. The was a medley of patriotic songs featuring , and , among others, singing along with 70 children from a Las Vegas choir. In the show's final moments, Lythgoe said; "We missed you, Jerry." Lythgoe said he didn't know the details of Lewis' split with the MDA. But he said he knew Lewis was watching. "As far as I'm aware, this was all with Jerry's blessing," he said. Penteck's point gives FP girls win Originally published: January 6, 2012 10:37 PM Updated: January 7, 2012 12:00 AM Jocelyn Penteck's only point of the game, a free throw with 2.3 seconds left, gave Floral Park a 38-37 win over Lynbrook on Friday in a Nassau Conference A-III girls basketball game.Penteck was fouled while attempting a putback off a missed free throw. Kaela Hilaire had 13 points, six steals and six assists and hit a layup with 30 seconds left to tie the score at 37 for Floral Park (3-0 Conference...Pia Toscano: No regrets, bright future Friday April 8, 2011 2:36 PM By No regrets. No anger. No blame. PHOTOS: But...interestingly enough...a premonition: That Thursday would be her last night on "American Idol," and there was nothing she could do about it. Pia Toscano just got off the phone with a press gaggle that pretty much wanted to know two things - how do you feel and how could this travesty happen? And if they expected fire, brimstone, or a raging (Charlie) Sheen machine, then the disappointment belonged to them alone. After one of the most unexpected "Idol" eliminations in the show's ten seasons, Pia Toscano sounded happy, calm, and full of a sense that she was at the beginning of a glorious career, and maybe she is. Was she surprised last night? "It's funny because the night before [Wednesday] I had a weird feeling in my stomach...I felt strange the night before and it happens to me a lot, these premonitions, and usually when I feel it, it happens." Someone asked her about the judges' visceral response - what a huge mistake the whole thing was - and whether Stefano Langone shoulda been the one to go. Said she: "Stefano's a very good friend of mine and I was sitting down with him, and he was saying to me, 'I'm the one that's going.' I said, 'no you're not....' He was so upset with the outcome but he deserves to be in the top 8. He's an incredible talent and everything happens because it's supposed to happen." But of course, that doesn't make it any easier. Toscano broke into sobs last night - maybe one of the most emotional moments ever witnessed on such a carefully cablibrated and calculated artifice such as "Idol." She was then helped off stage by a medic. A medic! "It was a tough moment for me. While I was singing ['I'll Stand by You'] it was very very hard for me to get through that song. I was trying to take deep breaths but it wasn't working out so well. I was getting lightheaded and it was a bit much, a little overwhelming, So I did have the medic walk me off-stage. But I'm fine now." "What a lot of people don't know about me is that I do get kind of shy, and get a little bit of stage fright right before I go onto the stage, which I feel everyone can relate to...but I want to make sure that during the tour I really own that stage." OK, what happened? Great contestant, gone too soon. Did people forget to vote? What? "You can't really say why I got voted off. It could have been people assumed I was safe, maybe they didn't. Maybe a lack of connection. You don't know for sure why things happen but it was my time to go. I'm excited to see what the future holds. I really am." But Pia! Where's the fury! The injustice of it all! Why are you not foaming at the mouth at all those stupid voters, and teen girls who don't vote for balladeers who kinda look like Celine Dion! Give us your inner Charlie Sheen! Go warlock on "Idol!" Ummm.No. "Definitely a woman can win again. I feel like every singer, ever contestant is extremely strong...they all deserve to be there....there are a lot of young girls that watch and vote, but I don't have an answer to that question." The future? "I'm gonna go back to New York for a little while. [But] I want to be close to my management out here. I think I may come out here after the tour.We'll see what happens. I love it out here. I'll travel back and forth. I'm very very close to my family, but I really love it out here as well." "I'm not upset. I'm positive right now." [Some readers may be wondering at this point - did "Idol," which is effectively her employer, tell her to put the best foot forward and to not trash the show which clearly screwed this up to an almost monumental degree - but don't ask me how, I'm just feeling warlockish right now? Did it tell her to go all smiley for the press and pretend that everything is peachy keen while inside she is that raging torrent? Maybe, but I can also say she sounded pretty sincere on this call, and in a funny way, almost relieved - that the ordeal is over, and now she can get on with the rest of her life, which undoubtedly will include record contracts and who knows-what-else. In other words, she very much sounds happy and positive, and maybe because she has a premonition about her future.] Tags: , Pia Toscano had 'premonition' about 'American Idol' cut Friday April 8, 2011 2:51 PM By Photo credit: Fox What's Pia Toscano like on the day after she was shockingly cut from "American Idol"? No regrets.No anger.No blame. But . . . interestingly enough . . . a premonition: That Thursday would be her last night on "American Idol," and there was nothing she could do about it. Toscano just got off the phone with a press gaggle that pretty much wanted to know two things-- how do you feel and how could this travesty happen? And if they expected fire, brimstone, or a raging (Charlie) Sheen machine, then the disappointment belonged to them alone. After one of the most unexpected "Idol" eliminations in the show's 10 seasons, Pia Toscano sounded happy, calm, and full of a sense that she was at the beginning of a glorious career, and maybe she is. Was she surprised last night? "It's funny because the night before [Wednesday] I had a weird feeling in my stomach . . . I felt strange the night before and it happens to me a lot, these premonitions, and usually when I feel it, it happens." What went through her the minute - gulp - the unthinkable - gulp again - happened? "I was just trying to stay composed. I was really emotional. It's scary being up there. You lose years off your life. It's terrifying but I feel like everything happens for a reason." Someone asked her about the judges' visceral response-- what a huge mistake the whole thing was-- and whether Stefano Langone should havebeen the one to go. Said she: "Stefano's a very good friend of mine and I was sitting down with him, and he was saying to me, 'I'm the one that's going.' I said, 'No you're not . . . ' He was so upset with the outcome but he deserves to be in the top 8. He's an incredible talent and everything happens because it's supposed to happen." But of course, that doesn't make it any easier. Toscano broke into sobs last night -- maybe one of the most emotional moments ever witnessed on such a carefully calibrated and calculated artifice such as "Idol." She was then helped offstage by a medic. A medic! "It was a tough moment for me. While I was singing ['I'll Stand by You'] it was very, very hard for me to get through that song. I was trying to take deep breaths but it wasn't working out so well. I was getting lightheaded and it was a bit much, a little overwhelming. So I did have the medic walk me offstage. But I'm fine now." "What a lot of people don't know about me is that I do get kind of shy, and get a little bit of stage fright right before I go onto the stage, which I feel everyone can relate to . . . but I want to make sure that during the tour I really own that stage." OK, what happened? Great contestant, gone too soon. Did people forget to vote? What? "You can't really say why I got voted off. It could have been people assumed I was safe, maybe they didn't. Maybe a lack of connection. You don't know for sure why things happen but it was my time to go. I'm excited to see what the future holds. I really am." But Pia! Where's the fury! The injustice of it all! Why are you not foaming at the mouth at all those stupid voters, and teen girls who don't vote for balladeers who kinda look like Celine Dion! Give us your inner Charlie Sheen! Go warlock on "Idol!" Ummm. No. "Definitely a woman can win again. I feel like every singer, ever contestant is extremely strong . . . they all deserve to be there . . . there are a lot of young girls that watch and vote, but I don't have an answer to that question." The future? "I'm gonna go back to New York for a little while. [But] I want to be close to my management out here. I think I may come out here after the tour. We'll see what happens. I love it out here. I'll travel back and forth. I'm very very close to my family, but I really love it out here as well." "I'm not upset. I'm positive right now." Some readers may be wondering at this point-- did "Idol," which is effectively her employer, tell her to put the best foot forward and to not trash the show which clearly screwed this up to an almost monumental degree-- but don't ask me how, I'm just feeling warlockish right now? Did it tell her to go all smiley for the press and pretend that everything is peachy keen while inside she is that raging torrent? Maybe, but I can also say she sounded pretty sincere on this call, and in a funny way, almost relieved-- that the ordeal is over, and now she can get on with the rest of her life, which undoubtedly will include record contracts and who knows-what-else. In other words, she very much sounds happy and positive.Maybe because she has a premonition about her future. Tags: Playoff roundup Published: February 18, 2011 10:17 PM Monique Roberge hit three free throws in overtime as No. 11 Sewanhaka scored a 58-55 upset of sixth-seeded New Hyde Park in a first-round Nassau Class A girls basketball playoff game Friday night.Roberge's first free throw with 3:18 left in the extra session gave Sewanhaka (10-8) a 56-55 lead. Roberge's free throws were the only points Sewanhaka scored in overtime. She finished with 10 points,...Police: Break-in at Celine Dion's home Published: September 7, 2011 8:43 PM Police: Break-in at Dion's homeA 36-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly broke into singer Celine Dion's home near Montreal, raided the refrigerator and even took the time to draw himself a bath, police said Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. He was nabbed by police in the Montreal suburb of Laval on Monday afternoon after the alarm system went off. The pop superstar and her...Review: Adele @ Beacon Theatre, 5.19.11 Friday May 20, 2011 8:36 AM By Photo credit: Getty Images Adele is a different kind of diva. Sure, she has the voice to compete with anyone around – the power and control to match anything from Whitney and Mariah in their prime, the effortless range and clarity of Celine. What sets her apart may also be what makes her so emblematic of these times – restraint. You won't catch Adele singing 10 notes when one will do and you won't find her holding a note to show that she can. On her “21” (XL/Columbia) album, which has already logged eight weeks at the top of the charts this year, Adele takes the directness of the blues and '60s soul and adds some British refinement and contemporary gloss to suit her, but there isn't anything extravagant aside from her luxurious voice. She extended that potent austerity to her sterling, 90-minute performance at the Beacon Theatre last night, belting out her tightly wound tales of love gone bad next to warmhearted covers of Bob Dylan's “Make You Feel My Love” and The Cure's “Lovesong.” It's telling that Adele has to turn to other songwriters to express love well, while she crafts songs of her own pain so beautifully, but why mess with multiplatinum, Grammy-winning success, right? Given the elegant restraint of Adele's music, the 23-year-old does need some outlet for release, which comes in her endearingly chatty stage discussions. If her songs like the stunningly simple lament “Take It All” are surgical strikes on the heart, her audience interaction is a dizzyingly scattershot approach that is marvelously unscripted. After the ballad, she explains how singing it still makes her sad and how the breakup still affects her, which drew screams of support, as well as commentary that Adele walked over to a fan to hear more clearly and then repeated for the crowd. “You're right,” she said, laughing. “He is a [expletive] loser!” She then revealed that the ex, who inspired the bulk of “21” has now contacted her. “I wonder why,” the year's biggest star on both sides of the Atlantic, says coyly, before letting loose another curse word. Of course, we should probably thank that guy, even if Adele can't. He inspired some extraordinary songs, which Adele made even more special during her encore, showing range. She started the tender ballad “Someone Like You” with only her acoustic guitar for accompaniment. “I heard that you're settled down, that you found a girl and you're married now,” she sang, letting the stark words hang in the air with her pained delivery. “I heard that your dreams came true. Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.” Adele followed that with the musical flipside, her No. 1 smash “Rolling in the Deep,” where her five-piece backing band and two backup singers get a chance to flex their soul-revue muscles. As her most recognizable line so far, the simple lament “We could've had it all,” resonates over the fiery groove, it seems only fair that it will be the key to her superstar success. Adele's gonna get it all back and more. Adele plays United Palace on Saturday. SETLIST: Hometown Glory / I'll Be Waiting / Don't You Remember / Turning Tables / Set Fire to the Rain / If It Hadn't Been for Love / My Same / Take It All / Rumour Has It / Right As Rain / One And Only / Lovesong / Chasing Pavements / Make You Feel My Love // ENCORE: Someone Like You / Rolling in the Deep Tags: , , Richie, Jones honor Jackson in 'We Are the World' Published: February 11, 2010 7:56 PM By The Associated Press (AP) — The late Michael Jackson has a prominent role in the revamped version of "We Are the World."Lionel Richie, who wrote the original charity anthem with Jackson, says the King of Pop can be seen in the new video for the track, singing with his sister Janet."We left the original footage of that part, but now he is singing with his sister," Richie said."It's something we wanted...Ringen has record 40 in Harborfields' win Published: February 21, 2012 10:04 PM Justin Ringen scored a school-record 40 points, leading top-seeded Harborfields to a 95-52 win over No. 4 Shoreham-Wading River Tuesday in a Suffolk Class A boys basketball semifinal.The senior, whose previous career high was 36 points, surpassed Bret Bearup's record of 38, set in 1980. Ringen shot 16-for-25 from the field, including 7-for-14 from three-point range. Senior Lucas Woodhouse...Sherwin rolls 300 for Middle Country Originally published: January 11, 2012 9:31 PM Updated: January 11, 2012 10:05 PM Middle Country junior Melissa Sherwin bowled a 300 in the Suffolk girls singles/doubles tournament at East Islip Wednesday. Sherwin, who had a two-game 558 series and became the second girl this season to have a 300, won the "A'' division singles title. Teammate Kelly Skalacki took second with a 514 series. Angelina Macaluso and Melanie Mayer (Islip) combined for a 933 to win the "A'' doubles...Soaps win major Daytime Emmys Originally published: June 19, 2011 10:14 PM Updated: June 20, 2011 12:58 AM "The Bold and the Beautiful" won drama series honors for the third consecutive year at the Daytime Emmys Sunday night in a bittersweet ceremony that marked the impending daytime departures of two veteran soap operas along with and talk show queen Oprah , The Associated Press reports. Executive producer Bradley accepted the trophy, saying, "It's over the top. We're so grateful." Bell saluted his late father , who created "The Young and the Restless" and gave the younger Bell his start in the business. "Dad, we did it," he said. "Happy ." Laura , who plays Carly Corinthos on "General Hospital," won her first Emmy in her first nomination. Thrusting the trophy in the air, Wright said, "This has been 20 years of the best career ever." Michael Park, who plays Jack Snyder on CBS' "," earned lead actor honors. of "General Hospital" and of "The Bold and the Beautiful" earned trophies as supporting actor and actress at the Daytime Emmys. Jackson, Lucky Spencer on the soap opera, brought his young son and daughter onstage with him to accept the first award presented live on CBS. "It's Father's Day. I couldn't resist," he said at the Las Vegas show hosted by . Tom, a veteran soap star who plays Katie Logan Spencer on the CBS show, won for the first time after five nominations in the supporting category. "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" tied for best game show. "The Show" earned best talk show-entertainment honors for the second straight year, although she skipped the ceremony. In a tribute to Winfrey, sang "That's What Friends Are For" as a montage of the talk queen's shows played behind her. Frequent Oprah guest sang "Because You Loved Me" from the stage at Caesar's Palace. Winfrey appeared on tape with her staff while holding the Crystal Pillar award she was given for changing the face of daytime TV. Special-needs playground opens on Long Island Published: May 1, 2012 1:29 PM By Beth Whitehouse Photo credit: Linda Rosier Disabled children get a preview of the " Let All The Kids Play" playground, especially designed for disabled kids, in Eisenhower Park which is scheduled to have its official opening in early May 2012. Danielle Marino, left, and Grace Darcy, enjoy the harness swings. (April 23, 2012) Grace Darcy claps her hands gleefully as the merry-go-round at the new Let All the Children Play playground in Eisenhower Park spins and spins. It's the first time the Merrick 9-year-old has been on one -- and she can ride this one only because it's adapted to accommodate wheelchairs.Grace would never be safe on a regular playground merry-go-round. "She wouldn't know to hold on," says Grace's...Spoiler alert! 'American Idol' Top 13 set list Wednesday March 9, 2011 1:26 PM By Photo credit: Getty Images Here's the "American Idol"Top 13 set list for the show which was taped Tuesday and airs tonight at 8 on Fox as reported by . This will be the last taped show before it's all live. Tonight's theme is "your personal idol," and contestants are paired with producers and expected to perform songs in the styles of selected performers. PHOTOS: Don't read any further if you want to be surprised! 1. Lauren Alaina -- "Any Man of Mine" (Shania Twain) 2. Casey Abrams -- "With A Little Help From My Friends" (Joe Cocker) 3. Ashthon Jones -- "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (Diana Ross) 4. Paul McDonald -- "Come Pick Me Up" (Ryan Adams) 5. Pia Toscano -- "All By Myself" (Celine Dion) 6. James Durbin -- "Maybe I'm Amazed" (Paul McCartney) 7. Haley Reinhart -- "Blue" (LeAnn Rimes) 8. Jacob Lusk -- "I Believe I Can Fly" (R. Kelly) 9. Thia Megia -- "Smile" (Michael Jackson) 10. Stefano Langone -- "Lately" (Stevie Wonder) 11. Karen Rodriguez -- "I Could Fall In Love" (Selena) 12. Scotty McCreery -- "The River" (Garth Brooks) 13. Naima Adedapo -- "Umbrella" (Rihanna) Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Suffolk OTB refiles for bankruptcy Tuesday May 15, 2012 9:46 AM By Yancey Roy Photo credit: Ed Betz Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. posted operating losses of about $24 million over the last five years and has more than $10 million in outstanding liabilities, according to documents it filed to reapply for bankruptcy protection.The troubled gambling enterprise entity said it owes money to more than 200 creditors, including $3.3 million to the state retirement fund, $3 million to... Survey: Nassau Coliseum food's OK, but worries at arenas Originally published: July 26, 2010 9:13 PM Updated: July 26, 2010 11:00 PM By LAURA ALBANESE AND THOMAS MAIER. ,, Photo credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas (June 30, 2010) A nationwide survey of America's sports arenas and stadiums that serve hot dogs, burgers and a smorgasbord of other food and beverages shows some troublesome health violations - including at some of 's own sports palaces, according to . But 's biggest venue, the Nassau Coliseum, home the , had a perfect record. The Coliseum had no reported health food violations among its vendors, according to . Overall, 28 percent of the sports venues surveyed had serious health violations at more than half their concessions, ranging from mouse droppings in food areas to hot dogs not kept hot enough. The sports network reviewed reports for food and beverage outlets at all 107 North American arenas and stadiums that were home to , , and teams in 2009. The survey was based on government health inspection reports. Private firms responsible Most of the sports centers rely on private, outside food service companies. Government officials say the food cart owners and other concessionaires are held responsible for any health problems. While didn't name the specific concession stands cited by the City and Mental Hygiene's restaurant inspection records, the report documented various violations. At , 61 percent of the vendors had critical violations, according to the records reviewed by . Inspectors there found 53 mouse droppings underneath the cash registers in the front food-preparation/service area and on top of a soft-drink dispensing unit. At Yankee Stadium, where 48 percent of the vendors had critical violations, inspectors said they found five hot dogs that registered 91 degrees in a hot-holding unit when they were supposed to be no cooler than 140 degrees. also said inspectors had a vendor dump a bottle of Chivas Regal whiskey containing dead fruit flies. And at , where 45 percent of its vendors had critical violations, inspectors found a handful selling "spoiled, adulterated, contaminated or cross-contaminated" food, the report said. Spokesmen for all three facilities said they have already addressed the problems. The individual sports teams and stadium owners are not charged with keeping up the health quality of the food and beverages served to fans, said Celine De Leon, a spokeswoman for the city and Mental Hygiene. "We do inspections at least once a year and it's the vendor who is responsible," De Leon said. She said vendors must have both a permit to operate and a health department license showing that the vendor has passed a food safety course. Scores based on severity De Leon said the inspection scores depend on the severity of the problem and the ability of the vendor to correct it. Violations can result in fines as determined by the Department's Administrative Tribunal, according to the health department. officials said they would clean up violations there. "We are aware of the report and have worked to correct all of the issues," a spokesman said. "Violations of any kind, no matter how minor some may be, are unacceptable." , senior vice president of Legends Hospitality Management, which holds the food contract for Yankee Stadium, said that, "When the issues around food and beverage were pointed out last year, they were immediately remedied." A spokesman for , which holds the vendor contract for , said that the "issues in past reports have been addressed." But no violations needed to be addressed at Nassau Coliseum. "It's exciting that we have one of the better food associations going on here," said Kimber Auerbach, an spokesman. "When you're trying to put a contender on the ice, it's nice to have the supporting factors keeping up the pace as well." Howard Saffan, senior vice president for operations for the company that runs the Coliseum's more than 50 concessions, said Nassau County health officials conduct at least four inspections every year. The two worst venues in the country, according to ESPN's survey, were the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., and in St. Petersburg, Fla. At each, 100 percent of vendors had at least one violation. The Dolan family owns controlling interests in MSG and . owns Newsday. Talking With Darin Strauss: Facing a fatal accident Published: September 2, 2010 3:42 PM By SAM THIELMAN. Special to Newsday In 1988, North Shore High School senior Darin Strauss accidentally killed a classmate when her bicycle swerved in front of his car. No charges were brought against Strauss, but he was sued by her parents for millions of dollars. Strauss, who went on to publish three novels, including 2008's "More Than It Hurts You," has now written "Half a Life" (McSweeney's, $22), partly to honor the dead girl...VIDEO: "We Are The World 25" Friday February 12, 2010 9:06 PM By Though the three-minute version of "We Are The World 25" just debuted on NBC's Olympics coverage, the full 8-minute version is now available . You can purchase it at iTunes or donate at . The full version will be shown tomorrow night around the world. Like its predecessor, “We Are The World 25" is a snapshot of a moment in time, not a commentary on the whole of music history. There’s already a lot of carping about who’s in and who’s out in this version and how they stack up to the original, which is pretty much a waste of time. Does Lil Wayne equal Bob Dylan? Of course not. (No matter what Nick Jonas .) Does his contribution to the song work? Yeah, it does. So does Wyclef Jean’s traditional Haitian singing and the hip-hop verses, especially the ones delivered by Kanye West and will.i.am. Times change and so does music. Comparing one era’s stars to another really only guarantees pointless fights since there’s no way of knowing how any careers are going to turn out until they’re completed. That said, here’s some random thoughts about the new version, in chronological order: Picking newcomer Justin Bieber to open this song is kind of shocking, but maybe that’s the point. He handles himself well, at least. Jennifer Hudson serves as one of the song’s MVPs. Jennifer Nettles is a nice change of pace and her voice blends well with Josh Groban. Tony Bennett is always a class act. And Mary J. Blige is always a thrilling one. Putting the late Michael Jackson, who co-wrote the song, in the song was a nice touch. Having his sister Janet Jackson sing harmony with him was also fitting, though the mix of her vocals is too low to hear, even on the finalized version, Barbra Streisand sounds gorgeous. Putting her next to Miley Cyrus didn’t do the youngster any favors, though. Same goes for Enrique Iglesias. There’s a whole lot of Jamie Foxx in this video – the first pass is good, the Ray Charles impersonation at the end, not so much. Wyclef Jean really feels this song. So does Adam Levine, apparently. Pink is truly a can’t-miss singer. So is Celine Dion, who somehow brings the same emotional punctuation to the song as Cyndi Lauper did in the original. Having Fergie finish that phrasing does not offer a good comparison, though. Nick Jonas should probably have gotten more lines – maybe one of Nicole Scherzinger’s? AutoTuned Lil Wayne was actually kind of sweet. AutoTuned Akon, not as much. AutoTuned T-Pain, um, no. The gang vocal from rappers LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg and others really updates the song far more than all the AutoTune. Go J. Hud! Kanye West’s verse is characteristically excellent, while will.i.am brings home the “One Tribe” vibe. Wyclef fittingly closes out the song for his homeland. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 'We Are the World' debuts, worldwide airing set Published: February 12, 2010 9:27 PM By The Associated Press (AP) — The revamped "We Are the World" made its world premiere Friday during NBC's coverage of the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, and a simultaneous worldwide screening of the full, seven-minute version of the music video is planned for Saturday.The worldwide simulcast on 53 domestic and international channels is planned for 2 p.m. (1900 GMT) Eastern time.A three-minute...'America's Got Talent': We have a winner! Thursday September 15, 2011 10:09 AM By Photo credit: NBC Who called it? Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., above, the dreadlocked, car-washing crooner who channeled the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin like a sworn member of the Rat Pack, took the top prize in last night's "America's Got Talent" finale. And it was well-deserved. I'd rather see him perform in Vegas than another headliner like Celine Dion (yawn). And what really makes this an all-around, feel-good victory is that the guy seems genuinely nice. He took the youngest performers under his wing during the season-long competition, and he befriended everyone in the contest. The kids, he said, call him "Uncle Doonie" (though it's not clear to me where "Doonie" came from). The Logan, W.Va., native who works at a car dealership will be changing careers soon: He'll be headlining at Caesars Palace Las Vegas in October, and in an odd development, the other three finalists will be appearing with him. No explanation was offered last night for the quadruple-billing. "Thank you so much for just believing in me," Landau said, choking back tears after his name was announced. "It's been a long, hard journey ... and it's finally paying off." After Lys Agnes blew it in the semifinals, Landau (we're on a first-name basis) became the obvious choice, though I'd certainly lay down money to see Team iLuminate and Silhouettes. I hope they get a gig on or off Broadway after their Vegas appearances. I'll be first in line. Poplyfe is talented and likable, but after trashing Queen in the finals, there wasn't a chance they'd be chosen. Still, I think we'll be hearing more from those kids, too.Williams' putback wins it for SJB Published: December 29, 2011 9:44 PM Anastasia Williams' putback with time expiring gave St. John the Baptist a 48-47 girls basketball win over Ursuline (Del.) Thursday in the semifinal round of the Diamond State Classic in Wilmington, Del.Williams had 19 points and 21 rebounds and Brianna Thomas had 14 points and 17 rebounds.SJB (7-4) will play the Mary Lewis-South Shore winner in the final Thursday night at 7 p.m.Sewanhaka...'X Factor': Week 3 power rankings Thursday November 17, 2011 7:38 AM By Photo credit: Fox Nothing says “Rock Week” like hair bows. Or Celine Dion. Or dance routines straight outta “Solid Gold.” Or bickering. (Man, there was a lot of bickering.) The first theme week just brings out why “X Factor” hasn't connected the way it was expected to. It's out of touch with how much of America is feeling right now. While much of America may not be able to handle the truth, they certainly don't want lies. They certainly don't want to hear about bending rules and technicalities on their singing competition. They see enough of that in real life. So go ahead and nod and wink your way through explaining how Bob Marley is rock, L.A. Reid. People know you're just defending what Chris Rene wanted to do, which was subpar reggae without an ounce of the rebellion that made Marley rock. What Astro did with “I'll Be Missing You” was exponentially more “rock” than Rene, without changing his hip-hop style one bit. Josh Krajcik was the only one who actually rocked out, with Foo Fighters' “The Pretender,” even after he wasted some time with a too-slow opening again. (Doesn't Nicole Scherzinger understand how to start songs in the middle?) Lakoda Rayne was sort of rock (hair bow and all) with their mashup of The Outfield's “Your Love” and Fleetwood Mac's “Go Your Own Way.” And LeRoy Bell was faithful to Bob Seger's “We've Got Tonight” – except for, you know, the lyrics, changing “No one will care girl” to “No one will tellllbluhhhh” and “I know you're weary” to “It's really feeling.” Once again, no one said a word about the messed-up lyrics. Of course, that was far from the worst of the night. At least he remained in key, something Stacy Francis didn't manage on “It's All Coming Back to Me Now.” And while Marcus Canty's “Piece of My Heart” was slightly wobbly vocally, it was an embarrassing performance-wise as he slid on the floor through female dancers' legs after promising to be true to his preacher's kid roots. “You said you were going to be a good boy and I saw you look up 10 girls' skirts,” said Simon Cowell, calling him out. Truth! THE RANKINGS Astro, “I'll Be Missing You” Josh Krajcik, “The Pretender” Rachel Crow, “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction” Drew, “With or Without You” Lakoda Rayne, “Your Love/Go Your Own Way” Melanie Amaro, “Everybody Hurts” LeRoy Bell, “We've Got Tonight” Marcus Canty, “Piece of My Heart” Chris Rene, “No Woman, No Cry” Stacy Francis, “It's All Coming Back to Me Now” BOTTOM TWO: Lakoda Rayne, LeRoy Bell SHOULD BE ELIMINATED: LeRoy Bell WILL BE ELIMINATED: LeRoy Bell ACTUALLY ELIMINATED: Stacy Francis (!) Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Xu's layup wins it for Great Neck South Published: February 8, 2012 9:40 PM Daisy Xu hit the go-ahead layup with six seconds left as Great Neck South (3-10) defeated Westbury, 39-36, Wednesday in Nassau Conference AA-III girls basketball. Xu finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Betsy Tannenbaum had four steals to lead a defense that limited Westbury to 16 points in the second half.Mepham 49, Bellmore JFK 24: Nicole Castaldo had 17 points, 12 rebounds and four...State Attorney General Dennis Vacco slapped lawsuits yesterday on two ticket brokers who allegedly gouged Spice Girls and Celine Dion fans by selling tickets at markups as high as 405%. Vacco said he acted after his investigators posed as ordinary fans and ordered tickets over the telephone from All Events Tickets of Queens and Taramack Tickets of Valley Stream, L.I., and Connecticut. In the worst example, All Events allegedly charged investigators $150 each for two $37 tickets to the Spice Girls concert at Madison Square Garden on July 1. The 405% markup was for so-called nosebleed seats in the Garden's third tier. "These ticket brokers targeted consumers who had Spice Girls fever on their minds," Vacco said. The lawsuits accuse the brokers of violating state laws against reselling tickets for more than $5 or 10% above face value. Vacco will seek court-ordered refunds for customers charged more than the law allows. The lawsuit against Taramack accused it of selling two $25 tickets to the June 29 Spice Girls concert at Jones Beach for $95 each and of selling, for $175 each, two $52 tickets to the upcoming Celine Dion concert at the Garden. The owners of All Events and Taramack declined to comment. All Events advertised in the New York Post, Taramack in The Village Voice. Vacco launched the undercover sting in April after fans loudly complained about the almost instantaneous sellout of Spice Girls concerts. At the time, Vacco was already investigating ticket diversions at city box offices. "Box-office diversions remains the ground zero of our investigation, but as events like the phenomenally fast Spice Girls' sellout arise, we will expand it," said Vacco spokesman David Corvette. Corvette said it is not clear how the brokers accused yesterday obtained their tickets. Many in the business say they get them simply by hiring nominees to stand in line.Thousands of spectators will gather in downtown for the opening ceremony Friday, as anticipation builds to see which athletes will take home Olympic gold. But many viewers at home may be almost as excited to see which stars will perform at the Winter Olympics' grand kick-off.Thanks to a few spies at the event's dress rehearsal, and a commercial for the Vancouver games that aired during an episode of , the names of likely opening ceremony performers have been leaked, reports . Canadians , and are all likely bets for Friday's performance, although program details for the opening ceremonies have yet to be disclosed by Vancouver Olympic organizers. According to a report, the above-named singers were spotted arriving at the dress rehearsal this week. predicts that rockers Rush and jazz singer , also Canadians, are sure bets as well. There is no yet word on whether other Canadian A-listers, like , and , will perform at any time during the games. One part of the opening ceremony lineup had been confirmed. The new star-studded "We are the World" video for earthquake relief is slated to make its debut during tonight's coverage. The XXI Olympic Winter Games will be held Feb. 12 to Feb. 18 in Vanouver, . The opening ceremony can be seen starting at 9 p.m. Eastern on .Thanksgiving means family entertainment ? for better or worse.True to form, this week brings three ubiquitous, family-friendly music stars to the small screen. Celine Dion, Shania Twain and Ricky Martin all will host specials on CBS, promising everything from guilty pleasure (Twain, Martin) to bloated schmaltz (Dion).Though Dion has been threatening to take some time off from her career for centuries now, you can see her for what may actually, finally, be the last time ? for a while, at least ? on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The program, titled ?These Are Special Times,? features a guest duet between Gloria Estefan and ?N Sync on their hit ?Music of My Heart? (from the movie of the same name). Estefan also performs a medley with Dion, while the main attraction contributes her usual array of hugely oversung ballads.Shania Twain?s special, ?Come on Over,? has a more athletic spin, appropriate to the well-toned star. Twain taped her show at Texas Stadium at the end of a Dallas Cowboys game. In the one-hour show (airing Thanksgiving night at 9), the star performs all the hits that made her the biggest-selling female star ever launched from Nashville. While her songs could hardly be called roots country, they?ve got the snap of great bubblegum pop.Martin?s special airs Friday at 8 p.m., and emphasizes the star?s Latino heritage. He?ll perform with fellow Puerto Rican Jose Feliciano and the Tijuana-born Carlos Santana (who?s enjoying his own fresh success this year). Martin taped the show at Liberty State Park last month, where he performed hits including ?The Cup of Life,? ?She?s All I Ever Had? and the inevitable ?Livin? La Vida Loca,? along with his first international smash, ?Maria.? Look for plenty of hip action along the way.Cher turns 60 Saturday, but has no reason to wish she "could turn back time." With an album in the works and a deal to replace Celine Dion as resident performer at a Las Vegas hotel, Cher is heading a pack of seasoned stars refusing to settle down and take up sewing. Celebrities in their 60s like Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda and Sherry Lansing all have projects lined up that would tire a 20-year-old, and are proving that 60 is the new 40. Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys New York, believes they have plenty of company. "We baby boomers - me, Cher, Diane Keaton - we're the 'me' generation, so we had no problem lavishing all this time on our own exercise regimens and whatever," he says. "I think 60 is the new 40 for this generation that's about to hit 60." In other words, whippersnappers, don't trade in your twin sets for leather pants. "The baby boomers are more experimental with their clothes than, say, the Gen X people who reembrace the conservative dressing of their grand-parents," adds Doonan. "Cher thinks nothing of walking around in chaps by Chrome Heart." Fad or not, sixtysomething stars are making sure they don't dim out. Cher will reportedly get $60 million to put on a flashy show at Caesars Palace in 2008, after Dion's contract is up. Word is the hotel is building a concert hall for her. Though she's sold impressive numbers of tickets throughout her four-decade career, her three-year "Farewell Tour," which ended last year, was the highest-grossing ever for a female performer: She made more than $250 million playing to more than 3 million people. Will Cher slow down in other areas now that she'll officially be 60? Nope. She's supposedly hard at work on a rock album. Keaton, who recently turned 60, and Fonda, 68, aren't too old to be the faces of beauty. They've both just signed contracts to be spokeswomen for L'Oréal Paris' anti-aging products. Keaton's ads will be seen in the U.S.; Fonda's, in Europe. Singers Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner continued to achieve greatness into their 60s. Franklin has snagged her 16th and 17th Grammy Awards since turning 60, while Turner's 2000 world tour was the highest-grossing act of the year. And her 2004 greatest-hits compilation, "All the Best," entered the Billboard 200 chart at No. 2, the highest debut of her career. Lansing, 61, stepped down as CEO of Paramount Studios in 2004, but set up the Sherry Lansing Foundation a year later to promote cancer research and education. Doonan says that at this point, keeping track of most women's ages is irrelevant, and in any case impossible, thanks to time-reversing beauty procedures. He points to the five Southern California women featured in "The Real Housewives of Orange County," a reality series. "All these chicks are all pumped up and Botoxed and they have fake hair and fake tans - you can't tell how old they are," he says. "It's more like 20 is the new 80.THE QUIET ROOM. Chloe Ferguson, Celine O'Leary. Directed by Rolf De Heer. At the 68th St. Playhouse. Running time: 91 mins. Rated PG. 3 1/2 STARS A 7-YEAR-OLD CHILD WATCHES, IN silence, as her parents' marriage dissolves. Her wordlessness may be a way of compelling attention from her battling parents, or it may be a more profound disorder possibly autism. In "The Quiet Room," Australian director Rolf De Heer limits himself entirely to the girl's point of view, restricting the action to the bedroom she never leaves (with occasional flashbacks to her early childhood) and reproducing her unhappy and confused interior monologue on the soundtrack. When she thinks back to happier days, her 3-year-old self materializes "Me, when I was then," she says. In De Heer's original and unsentimental vision, childhood looks a lot like a theatrical performance, taking place on a brightly colored, three-sided set that has the jarring vividness of first experience. The children, played by sisters Chloe and Phoebe Ferguson, are refreshingly uncute, and De Heer directs them with unusual patience and respect, never forcing them into obvious effects. A fascinating attempt to re-experience childhood from the inside out, this unique film is concentrated and solemn rather than conventionally beguiling. (PG: May be upsetting to younger children.)Two accused robbers were charged Wednesday with killing a beloved nun - even the teen cops arrested minutes before his partner plowed their getaway car into her., 20, and , 18, are accused of felony murder in the death of , 84, following a string of robberies.Robbins was detained by police June 22, right before Williams jumped into the driver's seat and fled, plowing into the Catholic nun about 20 blocks away.Prosecutors argued the speeding that killed Graham was connected to the robbery, making Robbins responsible.But his lawyer, , claimed that Williams' flight from police constituted a new crime and that his client cooperated with the arresting officers."This case will no doubt become a landmark case defining the parameters of felony murder," Heller said.Williams was also charged with depraved indifference murder, and both were hit with a slew of other counts.SONG OF THE YEAR"My Heart Will Go On" NEW ARTIST Lauryn Hill BEST POP ALBUM Madonna, "Ray of Light" FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On" MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE Eric Clapton, "My Father's Eyes" ROCK ALBUM Sheryl Crow, "The Globe Sessions" MALE ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE Lenny Kravitz, "Fly Away" FEMALE ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE Alanis Morissette, "Uninvited" ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL Aerosmith, "Pink" HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, "Most High" METAL PERFORMANCE Metallica, "Better Than You" ROCK SONG Alanis Morissette, "Uninvited" ALTERNATIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE Beastie Boys, "Hello Nasty" FEMALE R & B VOCAL PERFORMANCE Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" MALE R & B PERFORMANCE Stevie Wonder, "St. Louis Blues" R & B PERFORMANCE BY DUO OR GROUP Brandy and Monica, "The Boy is Mine" R & B SONG Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" R & B ALBUM Lauryn Hill, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP The Beastie Boys, "Intergalactic" RAP ALBUM Jay-Z, "Vol. 2 . . . Hard Knock Life" COUNTRY ALBUM Dixie Chicks, "Wide Open Spaces" FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE Shania Twain, "You're Still the One" MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE Vince Gill, "If You Ever Have Forever in Mind" COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL The Dixie Chicks COUNTRY SONG "You're Still the One" CONTEMPORARY JAZZ PERFORMANCE Pat Metheny Group, "Imaginary Day" POP/CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM Deniece Williams, "This is My Song" TRADITIONAL SOUL GOSPEL ALBUM Cissy Houston, "He Leadeth Me" CONTEMPORARY SOUL GOSPEL ALBUM Kirk Franklin, "The Nu Nation Project" LATIN POP PERFORMANCE Ricky Martin, "Vuelva" TROPICAL LATIN PERFORMANCE Marc Anthony, "Contra La Corriente" REGGAE ALBUM Sly and Robbie, "Friends" REMIXER OF THE YEAR, NONCLASSICAL David MoralesAretha Franklin goes by many names, most associated with royalty. She answers to Lady (Soul) and Queen (of Soul), but given Franklin's new association with VH1, she may soon be known as the Diva's Diva. Franklin, after all, managed to out-diva Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan and Shania Twain on the network's first "Divas Live" broadcast in 1998. (Footage later emerged illustrating how Franklin stole lines from other singers and refused to surrender center stage, "zooming" the others into submission.) Now the network has surrendered, celebrating Franklin on tomorrow's "Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin" at 9 p.m. from Radio City Music Hall. Paying tribute are Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Celia Cruz, Nelly Furtado, Marc Anthony and, in what could only be an homage to Franklin's Detroit roots, Kid Rock - plus a few surprise guests. Presenters will include Janet Jackson (who will absolutely not be singing, according to VH1), members of the Backstreet Boys and, with no apparent connection, several actors from "The Sopranos." Franklin proved that she is a diva in the traditional sense when, substituting for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti at the 1998 Grammy Awards, she made her famed last-minute performance of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma." But Franklin says the title "diva" is all about art, not attitude. "Customarily and in the past, it has been associated with opera singers, but 'diva' can cross the board and is indicative of anyone who can reach that level of the principal singer," Franklin says in a phone call from her tour bus. "Today, [pop] singers sell a lot more records than classical singers do, but that is not the note upon which a diva becomes a diva," she adds. "It's more of reaching a level of artistry." As if to prove a diva's life is not all glitter and Champagne, her bus hits some turbulence and suddenly Franklin is all wet. "Aaaargh!" she cries out. "A whole glass of orange soda fell in my lap." But Franklin says that she still thrives on the idea of being honored. An inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she has also won 17 Grammys. At "Divas," she looks forward to singing with a new generation of artists. "Sometimes they get starstruck, but I think that's okay," she says. "I think I was probably a little starstruck around Sarah [Vaughan] and Ella [Fitzgerald]." But Franklin gets most excited by the idea of jamming with an all-star jazz band also on the program. "And there's no telling where it will wind up," she says.Back in April, Celine Dion was primed and ready to play Caesars when her manager-husband, Renee Angelil, was diagnosed with skin cancer and had to undergo surgery. The chanteuse put her titanic career on hold while hubby recuperated. Apparently, his recovery is going well, allowing Dion to fulfill her commitment to Caesars this weekend. But if you intend to catch her show, bring money. Lots of it. Tickets if you can get 'em are selling for $200 a pop for tonight's and Sunday night's shows. Elswehere, Robert Palmer is another high-priced ticket at the Sands, as is LeAnn Rimes at the Trop. ATLANTIC CITY HILTON. Boardwalk & Providence Ave., (609) 340-7200. The Theater: Louie Anderson. Shows: Fri. at 9 p.m., Sat. at 8 p.m. Tix: $35-$40. Restaurants: Caruso's (G), Oaks (G), Cornucopia (M), Cornucopia Buffet (E), Peregrines (G), Sterling Brunch (G). BALLY'S PARK PLACE & Wild Wild West Casino. Boardwalk & Park Place, (609) 340-2709. Main Ballroom: Dark. Park Cabaret: "Legends in Concert." Call for times. Tix: $20-$25. Restaurants: Sidewalk Buffet (E), Sbarro Pizza (E), Animations (E), Spa Cafe (E), Pickles (E), Snack Bar (E), Prime Brunch (G), Arturo's (G), Mr. Ming's (M). CAESARS. Boardwalk & Missouri Ave., (609) 348-4411. Circus Maximus: Celine Dion. Shows: Fri. at 10 p.m., no show Sat., Sun. at 8 p.m. Tix: $200. Restaurants: Primavera (G), Hyakumi (G), Nero's (G), Cafe Roma (M), Imperial Garden (G), Pompeii Pasta Pavilion (M), Rotunda (M), La Piazza (M), Bacchanal (G), Planet Hollywood (M). CLARIDGE. Boardwalk & Indiana Ave., 1-800-752-7469. Palace Theater: Lou Rawls. Shows: Fri. at 10 p.m., Sat. at 7:30 & 10:30 p.m., Sun. at 7 p.m. Tix: $25. At other times: "Viva La Diva," a musical revue. Through Dec. 4. Tix: $15-$19. Restaurants: Martino's (G), Twenties (G), Garden Cafe (M), Wok & Roll (E). HARRAH'S ATLANTIC CITY. Brigantine Blvd. (northwest Marina area), (609) 441-5165. Broadway-by-the-Bay: Dark. Restaurants: Andreotti's (G), Reflections (M), Steak House (G), William Fisk (G), Rum Pointe (E), The Deli (M), Fantasea Reef (M). RESORTS. Boardwalk & North Carolina Ave., (609) 344-6000. Superstar Theater: Jimmy Sturr Orchestra. Shows: Now through Tuesday. Call for showtimes. Tix: $25. Eleven33 Club: Tonight Dane Anthony and the Sons of Thunder, Sunday Joe Sample. Free. Restaurants: Capriccio (G), Camelot (G), Ginza (G), Le Palais (G), Beverly Hills Buffet (M), Asian Spice Restaurant (G), Noodle Bar at Asian Spice (M), Beachball Deli (E), Breadsticks (E), Starbucks (E). SANDS. Boardwalk & Illinois Ave., (609) 441-4444. Copa Room: Robert Palmer. Shows: Fri. at 10 p. At (609-348-7000) Sept. 20: brings her celebrated "Taking Chances World Tour" to the venerable hall at 8, $55, $95, $150, $225. At (609-677-1000) Sept. 19-21: plays the Music Box at 9, sold out. At (1-800-2-HARRAH) Ongoing: runs through Sept. 27. Showtimes: Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday at 8, Friday and Saturday at 9, $25. At (609-340-7160) Through Sept. 20: are in the Grand Theater on Friday at 9 and Saturday at 8, $45. At Tropicana (609-340-4020) Showroom Ongoing: The Piano Men, a tribute show honoring the great singing pianists, runs through Oct. 19. At various times and dates; call for schedule, $25. Sept. 19-21: are back for a weekend stay on Friday and Saturday at 9 and next Sunday at 7, $20-$55. Cabaret Ongoing: "Yesterday - A Tribute to the ." Showtimes are Wed., Thurs., Fri. at 8:30; Sat. at 3:30 & 8:30, and Sun. at 8:30, $23. At (609-441-6000) Sept. 20: Comic headlines in the Trump Theater at 9, $40.50. At (609-449-5150) Sept. 20: is the main event in the Etess Arena at 8, $35-$45. At : (860-312-3000) Fox Theater Ongoing: "" every night at 7 (and 2 on Wednesdays as well), through Oct. 30, $25 with Wampum Card, $30 with credit card. at Foxwoods Sept. 19: Sugarland plays the Grand Theater at 9, sold out. At (1-888-226-7711) Cabaret Tonight: goes on at 7:30, $50. Sept. 19: offers his unique brand of comedy and music at 7 & 10, $45. To anyone with a GPS system, a singer opening at a cabaret next week may sound familiar., who will be belting out ballads at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on 42nd St., is the soothing voice that tells owners when to make a turn.She began lending her sound to global positioning systems a decade ago - but hopes to make the leap from the road to road shows."As a little girl, I dreamed of hearing my voice in the car radio," Jacobsen said. "I never dreamed that my voice would end up in cars, but in a GPS."Jacobsen, who describes her style as meets , always thought she would be a singer - but casting directors seemed more interested in the Australian native's speaking voice.She landed her first gig with Garmin when she moved to in 2000."They were looking for an Australian female voice living in the Northeast U.S.," she said. "I said to myself 'That's my job!'"Other GPS calls and commercials followed, including a voiceover for an Aussie shampoo ad.While it wasn't the singing stardom she dreamed of, her GPS work did win her fans. She still gets emails from drivers she steered in the right direction."You helped me find my cousin's wedding in ," one wrote."You helped me find my way through the Black Forest in ," read another.She's even been thanked for improving the mood in the car."Our relationship is so much better. We yell at you and not at each other in the car anymore," someone told her.There have even been a few apologies, like the one from the woman who confessed, "I once strangled you."Now Jacobsen is making the transition from four-seat sedan to 100-seat theater. At shows next Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, she'll sing covers and some of her own tunes."It's a little strange hearing your voice on a GPS. I want people to see I have a good singing voice too," she said.IF THE new Barbra Streisand/ Celine Dion duet was designed to take over the radio world, it's partway there. But in this age of niche marketing, there are some places it looks like it may not penetrate. The duet, "Tell Him," was fed to radio in a blaze of mega-hype as an advance tease for Dion's new album, coming next month. It is designed to be an event music available only on radio and in adult contemporary radio, the strategy is working. "Our phones have been ringing off the hook," says Jim Ryan, program director of WLTW (106.7 FM). By popular demand, he adds, Lite has stretched its own guidelines by playing the song four times a day. WPLJ (95.5 FM) jumped on the song and took phone calls about it on yesterday's Scott and Todd morning show. Most were favorable, though Scott Shannon himself admitted the song doesn't blow him away. "Barbra sounds a little too '70s," he said, diplomatically explaining to callers he feels bad "that I can't appreciate Streisand more." Top-40 WHTZ (100.3 FM) is playing "Tell Him" less than Lite and 'PLJ are playing it. Z-100 says it's too early to gauge listener response. But WKTU (103.5 FM), a rhythm-based top-40 that plays some pop ballads, is holding off on this one. "We're not ruling it out," says music director Andy Shane. "But we're not playing it now. It's a great song, but a little down-tempo for us. It's aimed at adult contemporary." Lite's Ryan agrees with Shane's market analysis. "It's perfect for us," he says. "But it may be a little slow for top-40."BEFORE SUNRISE. Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy. Directed by Richard Linklater. At area theaters. Time: 100 mins. Rated R. 3 Stars. 'IT SOUNDS TOO MUCH LIKE the perfect travel story," says Celine (Julie Delpy), and so it does. She's a beautiful French student, with long blond hair and big blue eyes, who's just been picked up by a handsome young American, Jesse (Ethan Hawke), on a train passing through Austria. He's persuaded her to get off with him in Vienna to spend a night with him, walking and talking before he takes off for home in the morning. Celine is reluctant to sleep with Jesse, if only because that would give his travel story too pat an ending. Yet "Before Sunrise," the gentle, beguilingly talky new comedy by Richard Linklater ("Slacker," "Dazed and Confused"), remains a strong if subtle erotic experience. Linklater did not personally coin the term "slacker" to describe the proudly unmotivated twentysomething generation, yet he's probably done the most to define it. Though Jesse and Celine are still in school, and seem distinctly more energized than the usual Linklater protagonists, they are passing through one of life's parentheses. Their flirtation takes the form of an extended interchange of experiences and philosophies, on topics ranging from the giggly and trivial (first sexual feelings) to the achingly profound (thoughts on death and fate), as they explore the wonders of Vienna. Celine, a bit too predictably, tends toward a romantic view of life. Jesse can't resist bursting her bubbles. He points out the mercenary motives of a palm reader who envisions a radiant future for Celine, and claims he finds solace in work rather than love. One suspects that Celine represents what Linklater wants to believe, and Jesse what he really believes. And yet, the film is firmly on Celine's side. Slowly and unobtrusively, Linklater allows a number of spiritual references to accumulate a visit to a cemetery, a stop at an old church, a feverish poet who steps from the shadows to offer the couple a consecrating verse in exchange for a small donation. Hawke relinquishes his usual preening self-regard in favor of a bashful charm, and Delpy though her English dialogue is too confidently slangy for a non-native speaker has a warmth and softness she's never had onscreen before.Thanks, but no thanks. has turned down a $100 mil offer that'd have her crooning in for three years. "After left Vegas, no one has been able to replace her," says a Sin City insider. " failed, is trying - only Barbra is guaranteed to succeed." But a source close to Babs says cash is hardly an incentive: "Money has never been a deciding factor in her career."HOLY MOLY: 's latest getup is by far her most outrageous: The troubled starlet emulates on the upcoming cover of French fashion glossy Purple. But LiLo can't even take credit for her latest cry for attention: Famed fashion photog produced the sure-to-be-controversial spread, which features La Lohan decked out in a long white robe and crown. WATCH OUT, : and her gang are coming to town. Reports surfaced yesterday that the kids of MTV's will be trading for South Beach next summer. So what's ? Apparently producers are setting up a house off Lincoln Road and putting in requests to film at some of SoBe's hottest venues, like the Mynt Lounge. DESTINY'S NEWEST CHILD? A woman who claims to be ' former mistress has given birth to a boy - and says Beyoncé's father is her baby-daddy. According to reports, Alexsandra Wright is even heading to court next week to obtain support money from Knowles. But the music exec/manager isn't owning up. Says Knowles' rep: "We are not aware of the birth of a child. Mr. Knowles has never had a DNA test. These rumors are untrue."‘’ producers aren't happy that has packed on some pounds. “Ed has been gaining a lot of weight — not just around the waist, but through the whole body,” an on-set source says. “First, the costume department had to buy him new, bigger pants. Then, his shirts and jackets got way too snug. The costumers even requested that producers talk to Ed — they don’t want [his character] Chuck to be fat!” Prince has a royal crush on . The singer adores the actress so much, he named his hit, “Valentina,” after her baby daughter. “Hey Valentina, tell your mama she should give me a call,” the song goes. But Prince isn’t a one-woman man. Another line from the tune: “If Penelope wants to Cruz, there ain’t no way that we ain’t gon’ dance.” is available for a lunch date. “” star is auctioning off the chance for one lucky person to enjoy a get-together with him in ; the auction will benefit the . Bidding ends April 16 — so ladies, get ready to fire up those laptops! is being a good sport about her latest business venture. The “My Heart Will Go On” hitmaker has placed a bid to purchase the team, but she has some fierce competition. founder and cable giant are also in the running, meaning Celine may be on thin ice! Wednesday night in , 's favorite brassy diva, , launched her newest extravaganza, "The Showgirl Must Go On," with boas, bawdiness and one loco burro, which she rode in on. Midler's 90-minute production fills the massive stage of the Colosseum in - built for - with shimmering scenic effects, a chorus line of 20 tail-flipping mermaids and Midler’s own one-of-a-kind voice and star power. The show begins with a "Wizard of Oz"-like tornado that tears through the desert and down the to Caesar's. On Wednesday night the place was packed with nearly 4,300 people - die-hard fans, friends and celebs like and , , , and . "Showgirl" follows the formula of the Divine Miss M’s previous productions: A mix of naughty jokes, big dance numbers and her signature songs and characters (wheelchair-bound mermaid and the salty joke-teller Soph). What makes this Midler show special is that it supposedly cost $10 million and is scheduled to run for two years. I'm not much of a gambler, but this show looks pretty much like a sure Bette. In Friday's Daily News, I'll tell you all about it.BEST OF THE RESTFat chance! "" trainer is being sued in a class-action lawsuit - for pushing an allegedly "worthless" dietary supplement. According to court papers, Michaels is "promoting a weight loss supplement that purportedly will cause weight loss by itself." But , the attorney who filed the suit, says, "Telling people you take two magic pills and then eat chocolate cake all day is a deception." isn't giving up her dreams of another child, despite four failed attempts at in vitro fertilization. "I'm going to try until it works," says the 41-year-old, who already has a 9-year-old son with husband . Dion is still giving herself daily hormone shots - and her hopes are high. Says the singer: "Five's my lucky number, so this is the time." Just trippin'. once indulged in a foreign substance at a Hollywood bash - but thought he was just being hygienic. "I didn't know what was happening," recalls the star of "," who believed he was just accepting a breath strip from a fellow partygoer. "My friend said, 'Are you okay?' and I said 'No, I think I'm fine, but I can touch colors. Should I get naked?'" is on a mission ... "Mission: Impossible 4," that is. The Hollywood heavyweight has signed on to reprise his role as in the latest installment of the "MI" series. There's no director for the flick just yet - but screenwriters and are ready to write the script, and Cruise will serve as producer along with "MI: III" director . As I was telling my butler, Armando, when I returned from the spa - having passed Celine Dion on the way and spotted Leonardo DiCaprio and his girlfriend Gisele Bundchen down by the infinity pool - life is good. Maybe not all the time, unless you're in the same income bracket as Celine and Leo, or Hugh Jackman, who was at the table next to mine at dinner that night. But for however many days you can afford to live like them at a place like this - the One&Only Palmilla Resort in Baja California's Los Cabos - it's really, really good. You can ask John Travolta, whose wife arranged a surprise 50th birthday party for him here in February, or Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey or any of the dozens of other A-list stars who showed up to toast him and wander the seaside oasis. Palmilla es primero. The red-tiled, white-washed resort, built as an isolated Mexican getaway for wealthy sport fishermen in the 1950s, has just undergone a $90 million renovation and - like a big movie whose budget you can see on the screen - the money is in the experience. Palmilla's list of amenities is the norm for luxury resorts. There's a golf course, a spa, three restaurants, tennis courts, two pools, a fitness room, glorious grounds, and a staff dedicated to discreet pampering. But the 27-hole golf course is a distinct, perfectly manicured Jack Nicklaus layout following the contours of the saguaro cactus-covered hills right down to where the red desert meets the aqua blue Sea of Cortez. The new spa has six buildings and 13 additional villas where you can indulge yourself with more than a dozen Mexican/Asian treatments, most of which begin with a rose-water foot bath and don't end until the last knot in your most stubborn muscle has surrendered. C, the most formal restaurant, and Breeze, a poolside café, feature changing menus prepared by famed four-star Chicago chef Charlie Trotter. Agua, which opens to the new infinity pool and the surf just beyond, features Moroccan-born chef Larbi Dahrouch's unique "Mexiterranean" fare. In the 2,000-square foot fitness room, you can do your stairmaster workout while watching waves crash over volcanic rocks below or counting the variety of palm trees that gave the place its name (there are five). And that staff? Well, it's big. Palmilla has three employees for each of its 172 rooms. And they demonstrate their warmth and training by saluting guests with a hand over their hearts every time you pass them. It's a gesture borrowed from native Mexican culture. Did I mention my butler? I actually shared Armando and his night replacement, Oscar, with the guests in five other rooms in our three-story villa. But the butlers are there 24 hours a day, in case you spill some of that $60 half-bottle of Chateau Castera Medoc from the mini-bar on your white shirt. Armando will run the shirt down to the laundry and pick up another bottle of Medoc on the way back if you like - and can afford. The mini-bars in Palmilla would be maxi-bars anywhere else, in both selections and price. If you want to venture out of the 250- acre compound, there's sport fishing, snorkeling, and two towns to visit: Cabo San Lucas, a dockside tourist trap at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula, and San Juan del Cabo, a tranquil, mostly unspoiled provincial village north of the resort. Edward Steiner, the managing director of Palmilla, is doing everything he can to keep people busy. There are Hummers to take guests on desert tours, a 54-foot yacht for sea-going excursions, and the original chapel, where couples can start their holiday with a wedding. Still, Steiner's not through. Gesturing toward the surf from our table in Aqua, he said he envisions future diners watching dancing fountains in the sea, and has been talking to the people who put in the fountains at Las Vegas' Bellagio Hotel. "I want people who stay here to be able to say they had an experience," he says. So, what's the entry price for all this luxury, plus possible celebrity sightings? Rates for the ocean-view and ocean-front rooms range from $325 to $1,450 a night. Through Sept. 30, those who book a seven-night stay receive the last two nights' accommodations for free. Also included is one dinner at Agua, and children under 12 eat free in all restaurants throughout their stay. For more information and reservations, visit www.palmillaresort.com or call 1-866-829-2977. has been admitted to a hospital in order to prevent the early delivery of her twins. The 42-year-old singer was admitted to in , Fla. for observation on the recommendation of her doctors, reports. According to her rep, Dion's hospitalization is a standard preventive measure "for any patient with twin pregnancy in this clinical setting." The rep told the magazine that the precautionary move is "done to ensure the patient can be in close contact with their doctors and clinical resources, leading up to their birth," according to . Last week, Dion's husband, René Angélil, shot down reports that the singer made diva demands surrounding the delivery and had scheduled a C-section for Oct. 22. "[Doctors] want Celine's pregnancy to go as long as possible, at least until the first week of November," Dion's rep told at the time. "She would never intentionally endanger her unborn children by scheduling a birth early like this." "Celine and her doctors are hopeful that she can continue her pregnancy as long as possible, and hope to get her to at least 37 weeks gestation to ensure the healthiest outcome for her children," the rep added. Dion announced in July that she is expecting twin boys. After multiple failed attempts to get pregnant, the singer successfully conceived earlier this year after undergoing her sixth in-vitro fertilization attempt. She also said she turned to acupuncture to improve her chances of pregnancy. Dion and Angelil, 68, are also parents to a 9-year-old son, .Although is only 14 weeks pregnant, she has already gone through great struggles to carry her twins. "I feel like I've been pregnant more than a year," the singer, 42, tells French paper , according to . Dion and husband finally conceived their twins after five failed in-vitro fertilization attempts. Dion admitted to last year that one of those attempts resulted in a miscarriage. "I never gave up," Dion says. "But I can tell you that it was physically and mentally exhausting." Angelil, 58, adds, "Everyone knows that Celine has guts and is determined. These treatments were truly hard on my wife's body. It wasn't simple at all." For her sixth IVF attempt, the singer spent a month and a half in and also tried acupuncture, Dion's rep told . The singer says it was incredibly stressful to wait to see if the pregnancy would stick this time."My doctors had to constantly reassure me. I [wanted] to see the babies," she says. "Each week I had sonograms. I heard their heartbeats." When the couple finally got the news that twins were on the way, "There were truly great emotions," says the singer. Now, Dion will do whatever it takes to keep the babies healthy."It's stressful but I'm relaxing. I look at my little belly. I do almost nothing," she says. "If you tell me I have to stay in bed, I will stay in bed until November, when the babies are born. To bring them into the world, there's nothing more important than that. It's incredible." The twins are due to join brother Rene-Charles, 9, in November."We will have a beautiful family nest full of love," says Dion. Although the singer has had an extremely successful career, she adds, "There are no accomplishments bigger than" motherhood."The trophies and money, that doesn't give meaning to life and that doesn't give you true happiness...a baby -- yes."Six weeks after giving birth to twins, is sharing her baby boys with the world. The singer and her new sons, Nelson and Eddy, appear on the covers of both and magazine this week. Dion, 42, gave birth Oct. 23, adding to a family that already included 9-year-old son, Rene-Charles, and husband , 68. The music icon and her growing family posed for the cameras inside and outside their sprawling mansion in , The fraternal twins are already showing personality at younger than two months old, their famous mom said. "Nelson is Angelil," she told Hello! "Eddy is Dion!" And while Dion finds her life "extraordinary," she also said she doesn't "know how women do it." "Every day René asks, 'Did you sleep well?'" she said. "I'm like, 'You must be kidding! There is no sleep!'" But, as she told People, "The love and what I feel inside, what we have accomplished – I don't know how to put it into words. It's bigger than life itself."A new day has come! It's double-boy joy for Céline and husband René Angélil, reports. The singer, 42, welcomed twin boys (who are still unnamed) at a hospital Saturday afternoon, just one minute apart from each other, at 11:11 a.m. and 11:12 a.m. "Celine is resting now and they plan to discuss what to name the boys when she wakes up," Dion's rep told People. The happy news comes less than a week after the singer checked into in , Fla. for observation. Doctors said Dion, who was more at-risk for premature labor due to her age, was simply undergoing a standard precautionary measure "for any patient with twin pregnancy in this clinical setting." Already mother to son René-Charles, 9, the crooner is "thrilled" with the new additions to her family. The twins, who were born premature, will now spend a few days in an incubator. "René-Charles has been to the hospital to visit his brothers and is just so excited they are here," the rep added.If you're making plans to head for Atlantic City on the coming weekend, you're going to need a truckload not for gambling, but to catch any of the big shows that are playing on Friday, Saturday and next Sunday. Topping the list of expensive headliners is Celine Dion, who is singing at Caesars on Friday and Sunday. The price of a ticket to see the heady chanteuse is a titanic $200. (Call 609-348-4411.) At the Sands, meanwhile, Robert Palmer is commanding a $60 price-tag for his shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. (Call 609-441-4444.) Elvis Crespo is getting as much as $75 a ticket for his one-and-only show Saturday at the Taj Mahal. But at least his ducats scale down to $35 (609-449-1000). Likewise LeAnn Rimes at the Tropicana on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights (609-340-4000). By comparison, Louie Anderson at the Hilton on Friday and Saturday ($35-$40 609-340-7200) and Lou Rawls at the Claridge Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights ($25 1-800-752-7469) are bargains.Celine Dion is determined to go on. The Canadian diva shares her painful struggle to get pregnant again via in-vitro fertilization in a revealing cover story. "I'm going to try until it works," says Dion, 41. "Five is my lucky number, so this is the time it's got to [work]." The "My Heart Will Go On" singer has undergone daily hormone injections and painful tests in her attempts to conceive, but the biggest blow was when she briefly became pregnant with the help of IVF last August. Tragically, she lost the pregnancy. "We were [pregnant], it was positive," she told “Access Hollywood” at the time. "And yes it was, so for about four or five days later, then with the blood test, they found out that it was going down a little bit and it was not staying." "We are living the reality of the majority of couples who have to use [IVF]. The process can be long and arduous," husband René Angelil, 67, told the Canadian paper Journal de Montreal. "But today, we are full of confidence. Celine is more determined than ever." "Celine and I didn't get discouraged," he added. "We put our faith in life and in the stars." The couple has one son, Rene Charles, now 9, who was conceived through the help of their doctor, Zev Rosenwaks, the director of the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Center Medical. Dion plans to continue consulting with the same doctors. "It's a big process," she told “” about her IVF treatments. "I'm sure people that go through in-vitro (fertilization) know how much it takes and it demands, but I'm good." For now, Dion is staying positive by focusing on her career. Her new concert film and family documentary, "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World," will be released on Feb. 17. She will also return to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to begin a three-year, multimillion-dollar residency next year. Celine Dion has got it bad for Adele.The stunning Canadian songstress calls the Grammy-winning singer "a total package" in an interview for "I think that her whole image is very good!" the 44-year-old star said. "The way that she is will definitely help the new generation of girls accept themselves."Dion sang the British chart-topper's praises during a chic black and white photoshoot at her Florida home - her first non-promotional magazine shoot in nearly six years.The "My Heart Will Go On" singer said that Adele has the potential to bring change to an industry that she's always been wary of - a feeling that's increased in the wake of fellow pop legend Whitney Houston's death."I have always been scared of the industry," Dion said. "I was just in shock when Whitney's life had been taken because of drugs. It's a big loss for all of us."But the star says she won't let her concerns stop her from taking the stage."I was brought into this world to do this, no doubt," she said, though acknowledging that she's taken on a much more important endeavor in recent years - motherhood."I thought I had a life before, but until I was a mom, I had no idea. I'm more grounded now than ever before," she said.The confidence she's gained from being a mother shows."I've been an open book all my life, and I think that's why people like me," Dion said. "I've been criticized for it, but I'm not forcing myself to be the person that you see."V Magazine’s Travel issue hits stands on Aug. 30.Pop queen Céline Dion is pregnant with twins after a long struggle to conceive and less than a year after having a tragic miscarriage.The 42-year-old Canadian super star, who has a 9-year-old son, is 14 weeks' pregnant, her husband said Sunday."She was hoping for one baby and the news that we are having two is a double blessing," Dion's husband, René Angelil, told .The singer and her 68-year-old husband are toasting their success after undergoing six in-vitro fertilization attempts.In addition to in-vitro treatments, Dion underwent acupuncture to bolster her chances of having a baby.The couple will not learn the gender of their twins until next month, Angelil said."We're ecstatic," Angelil said. "Celine is just hoping for a healthy pregnancy."Dion and Angelil, who doubles as her manager, have a 9-year-old son, René-Charles, also the result of in-vitro fertilization.The five-time entertainer - whose hit songs include "My Heart Will Go On" and "Because You Love Me" - spoke in February on the "" show of having a miscarriage last year."It's life. You know? A lot of people go through this, but it's not being told because it's not in the newspaper," Dion told .News of her miscarriage came six months after she publicly announced in August 2009 that she was pregnant."I will be the happiest one to tell you when I'm pregnant," she told Winfry. "And if not, I'm the luckiest artist, especially wife and mother of a wonderful son. So I'm glad."Earlier this month, Dion told the Web site that she would not announce she was pregnant until she was far along."I don't want to talk about it so much because I'm superstitious, but I know people have been very wonderful for us and praying for us," she said at the time."Once you live in show business and everything spreads out so quick and every pregnancy you have to wait three months to make sure it's all okay and it's nerve racking," she added."We're not getting any younger and you always think it's your last chance, you're last try." LAS VEGAS — Celine Dion called it a wrap at Caesars Palace, acknowledging in her final show that pregnancy and poor early reviews almost sank her titanic five-year engagement.As adoring fans cheered, stood and clapped through Saturday night's performance, Dion interspersed her usual numbers with emotion-filled monologues."At one point, it was like feeling like the Titanic was about to sink again,"she said. "But we believed and we went on with it. Even though the vibe was not that positive for us."While the show was still in development in 2000, Dion, 39, became pregnant and told husband-manager Rene Angelil she did not want to continue."I had a life for the first time,"the French-Canadian chanteuse said in a video before her 717th show. "I knew then that I wanted to have more success as a mother than a singer."But Angelil told her that too much money and too many people were involved. Not only would the Colosseum cost $95 million to build, her initial three-year, $100 million contract broke records for a live entertainer.So she pushed on, fighting through initial bad reviews to make it five years of filling a 4,100-seat arena.After her last number, Dion invited husband Angelil and her son, Rene-Charles, now 7, on stage with her. Rene-Charles repeatedly reached down to grab rose petals that rained down on the final bow, giving them to her."Most of us have left our families behind to give ourselves every night,"she said. "I can assure you it was worth it."Since opening in March 2003, Dion's show, "A New Day ... " grossed more than $400 million and was seen by nearly 3 million fans. Dion said one fan had seen her Las Vegas show more than 100 times. Tickets for the final show were for sale on EBay for as much as $1,899.Last month, Dion released "Taking Chances"her first English-language album in four years, and she sang the title song on the album during the extra-long finale. The album was most recently the 12th best-selling in the U.S., according to Billboard magazine.Dion starts touring with a first concert date set for Valentine's Day in Johannesburg, South Africa.Taking Dion's place at Caesars Palace will be Bette Midler's "The Showgirl Must Go On,"which is set to open Feb. 20."Tomorrow morning, it will be back to reality and back to (being) mommy,"Dion told reporters after the show. will keep trying to have a second child through in vitro fertilization, she told in a new interview. The singer was widely reported to be pregnant in November with another child with husband , but it proved to be short lived. Dion explained, "We were [pregnant], it was positive. And yes it was, so for about four or five days later, then with the blood test, they found out that it was going down a little bit and it was not staying."So it happens you know, in life in general, people who are not on TV, and newspapers, they go through this all the time and most of the time would not even know that they were pregnant for three or four days, because it was just delayed a little bit," she told Access Hollywood."Because of the treatments I have, I have blood tests a lot and so we found out I was [pregnant] and then it didn't stay and that is why we are trying again."Dion and her husband have a son, Rene-Charles, age 8, whom she says would be thrilled to have a little brother or sister. He recently began attending a new school after being home schooled for his early years. "We have a wonderful child, we're extremely happy. It's not like, 'Oh my god, she's not pregnant and she's depressed.' You know how it works. We are great. We hope for the best, we hope to get pregnant. If it happens, it happens."She will continue seeing the same doctors in . "It's a big process," she said of the in-vitro treatments. "I'm sure people that go through in-vitro (fertilization) know how much it takes and it demands, but I'm good." gave a hair-raising performance over the weekend - literally.One couldn't help but notice on the well-lit stage in a furry outline to the singer's thighs. With her sexy short dress, primped hair, and flawless make up, it seems the nearly 40-year-old powerhouse forgot to shave her legs.Despite the fuzz, Dion gave a fierce performance for her fans, one of many on her extensive world tour following the November release of her newest album "Taking Chances."The French Canadian singer moves on to next, with her family, husband and 7-year-old son , by her side.Her tour comes as she ended her five-year engagement at in , which raked in an estimated $400 million. CHICAGO - Celine Dion says her 6-year-old son has started to realize not everyone's parents appear on TV - or are recognized by the public. "He's got to share his mom and dad most of the time when we go out," the 39-year-old singer said of little Rene-Charles. "So right away, it is different," she told Oprah Winfrey yesterday. "And that's why he doesn't want to go out a lot. I notice that he always wants to stay home." Dion's splashy "A New Day" show, which opened in March 2003 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, will close Dec. 15. She said the nearly five years she has spent performing in Vegas have been exciting, demanding and - despite her initial fears - never boring. "You know, the crowd and the people there is different every night, to start with," Dion said on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." "Nights you don't feel so good, you go on, they give you the energy you need," she added. Her new album, "Taking Chances," is due in stores today.She may have hit platinum with the theme for "Titanic," but a new poll has named a cover of an as an epic disaster in its own right.Dion's interpretation of Aussie rockers AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" has obviously shaken voters, who named it the world's worst cover song in the latest issue of Total Guitar, a European rock magazine. "Celine Dion covering AC/DC is sacrilege," Total Guitar editor told .Though never recorded on an album, the song had been performed during one of the singer's concerts in six years ago. Thanks to , however, the song's infamy has grown. British pop tarts and combined to produce a version of "Walk This Way" - barely recognizable from the original - that was bad enough for second place. 's 1999 cover of Extreme's ballad, "More Than Words" finished third.As far as the best covers go, the magazine's readers said 's cover of 's "All Along the Watchtower" hit the highest note. In second was ' twist on the Top Notes' "Twist and Shout." Guns 'N' Roses finished third, with the band's version of the Wings' "Live and Let Die," the theme to the movie of the same name.Celine Dion is expected to be the first major act to play the revamped Radio City Music Hall. The mega-selling pop songstress would inaugurate the glittering new hall upon the completion of its multimilliondollar facelift. The event, expected for early October, will be a benefit concert broadcast as a holiday special on CBS, I?m told. And get this, it will occur even before Radio City is officially reopened to the public. ?We?re planning on somewhere between Oct. 6-13,? said Pierre Cossette, the show?s producer. ?We haven?t decided on the charity yet, but I?m certain we?ll fill the hall.?Dion put her career on hold recently to be by the side of her husband and manager, Rene Angelil, who is undergoing treatment for squamous-cell cancer. And while I hear everything down the road depends on how he is doing, Dion?s Radio City show would no doubt be a blast.Dion put her career on hold recently to be by the side of her husband and manager, Rene Angelli, who is undergoing treatment for squamous-cell cancer. And while I hear everything down the road depends on how he is doing, Dion?s Radio City show would no doubt be a blast.By the way, it?s going to be quite a fall for the famed venue.Aside from the Dion concert, Radio City is planning a splashy star-studded musical extravaganza afterward to officially open the venue. The talent for the event has not been booked yet, but it will be big.A ?CIVIL? DISAGREEMENT?No mikes!? That?s what Kathleen Turner and Zoe Caldwell said in unison as they high-fived each other during intermission at the Broadway opening of ?The Civil War.?The performers in the Frank Wildhorn musical all wear flesh-colored face microphones, which ? to these actresses, at least ? seem more reminiscent of a Madonna concert than a Broadway show.?I?m arcane, I know it,? Turner told me. ?But I wish they would just sing and not have to rely on the big sound that comes from this type of microphone. Stage mikes strategically placed, okay. But not these face mikes.?Cossette, who?s also producer of ?The Civil War,? says the production switched to the microphones when the show was in Houston last fall ?because we found that it technically worked better ? certainly better than no mikes.?Gone are the days,? Cossette said, ?when singers like Al Jolson, John Raitt and Ethel Merman would come in and belt out a song with no mike. We have 27 musicians in the pit, playing loud, brassy arrangements. If the performers weren?t miked, either the arrangements would have to be quieter, or there would be a shouting contest on stage each night. We certainly can?t have that.?Other ?Civil War? first-nighters included Donald Trump, George Steinbrenner and a very glum-looking Howard Safir.WHO?S THAT GIRL?Call it a case of mistaken identity ? to the max.Rupert Everett walked into the Los Angeles hotspot 360 the other night accompanied by a woman whose face was somewhat obscured by a floppy hat.Gawkers at the John Schlesinger-hosted event automatically assumed the woman to be Madonna, because she?s co-starring with Everett in ?The Next Best Thing,? which Schlesinger is directing.Weren?t they surprised when the woman removed her hat and turned out to be none other than Joan Collins.OPENING ACTSThe Lawrence Wein Studios downtown looked like a Broadway musical factory the other day with producers on two separate floors trying to raise money for shows.On one floor, Jim Belushi led a workshop presentation of a musical that will either be called ?Lonestar Love? or ?The Merry Wives of Windsor, Texas.? The music is by the Red Clay Ramblers, who recently did the tunes for ?Fool Moon.?Also there was producer Allan Carr, hosting a backer?s audition for his next musical, ?The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.? Ken Ludwig, of ?Moon Over Buffalo? fame, conceived the show and wrote it. Music is by Don Schlitz. And helping out with the reading were Broadway veterans Dee Hoty, Jonathan Freeman, Kevin Gray and Ron Holegate.QUICK HITSn Producers Ken Kragen, Harvey Goldsmith, Don Mischer and Jeff Pollack have scheduled a press conference tomorrow at the United Nations to announce a concert tour to help eradicate poverty. Along the lines of Live Aid, the effort will involve Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte and Muhammad Ali, among others.n Even though designer and socialite Carolyn Roehm has been out on the town with political guru Ed Rollins, I?m told romance is not in the air.n Not so for Angelina Jolie and Timothy Hutton, who are indeed a couple. ?Meet my girl,? Hutton told his friend Neil Young at the musician?s post-concert party at Madison Square Garden. Jolie and Hutton held hands and smooched throughout the evening.Is Celine Dion a big fan of waffles and Tintin? The bouncing-back belter is moving to Belgium for several months, Dion told a Belgian TV interviewer Wednesday. Come September, the singer and husband Rene Angelil will set up camp 30 miles south of Brussels. The couple, along with son Rene-Charles, won't be living in the style to which they've become accustomed in their Palm Beach and Las Vegas mansions. "We found a small house there," Dion said, "and that will be our home for three months." What's more, the pair's love shack is in La Louvière, a steel town. A curious draw, until you realize it's the home of Franco Dragone, the brilliant director of Cirque du Soleil and Las Vegas' "O" aquatic acrobatic show. Dragone is set to create a megaproduction for Dion at Caesars Palace in Vegas, which, come next March, she'll do five nights a week for three years at a salary of $100 million. With a rape accusation recently leveled against Angelil by L.A. minister Yun Kyeong Sung Kwon, moving to Europe might seem like an effort to escape media attention here. But Dion's spokeswoman tells us, "They're putting together the concepts for the show there. Then they'll rehearse it until about December." Besides, the news is good for Dion this week. Her album "A New Day Has Come" has sold 2 million copies. And US Weekly reports that Kwon, Angelil's accuser, has twice been found guilty of shoplifting and owes Harrah's casino $500,000. Kwon is seeking money in a lawsuit against Angelil, who has not been charged by police. Angelil has admitted to his own gambling issues, but Dion apparently has solved them. Worth $160 million, the 33-year-old gives her husband an allowance of about $100 a day, the mag reports. Pay to play? You would think having a hit show on MTV would be enough for Ozzy Osbourne. But the outrageous rocker wants more money, too. For his upcoming Ozzfest summer tour, the 53-year-old former Black Sabbath frontman and his wife and manager, Sharon, are charging bands $75,000 to participate. Word is, the hefty admission charge is irking performers - like P.O.D., System of a Down and Rob Zombie (who just replaced Rage Against the Machine) - who have been lining up for the tour. Some industry insiders even speculate that the unprecedented fee proves that Ozzy's MTV show, "The Osbournes," has gone to his head. But Sharon Osbourne tells us that "in the past, some tours have requested cash payments and points on new bands' CDs. No one has complained to me, and we don't force anyone to pay."American Idol" (Fox) Oh my goodness. Somebody tell us that was not Celine Dion singing with an old video of Elvis from 1968 as though the two were onstage together - and with a straight face. At some point, you always expect Celine to admit it's all a big joke, but then she doesn't. That was only one highlight from the epic extravaganza, which spanned two hours, two continents and countless cheesy performances. Other special moments: Ryan doing another take at the opening of the show, as though it wasn't on live. Annie Lennox knocking "Bridge Over Troubled Water" out of the park, and Kelly Clarkson, our favorite "Idol" ever, singing basically anything she wants. Madonna, Ben Stiller and even the Simpsons making compelling entreaties for cash. But who did Teri Hatcher's makeup Wednesday night? Her attempts at impressing ex-paramour Seacrest couldn't have worked. In the end, in a colossal cop-out, no contestants went home. The night, we learned, was devoted to charity, and that charity extended to Jordin and Chris, who appeared to hit the bottom two. They were spared, but not before Jordin, believing she had lost, sobbed. Nice.NOW THAT'S GOOD TV: Don't think the whole thing was worth watching? They brought back the crying girl and put her in the audience again. That's right, retrieve that sucker from your DVR right now."The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman" (ABC) This week, Andy caught on - as all Bachelors do, eventually - to the cattiness rampant in the house. It's always a great moment: One girl tells him the other women are jerks, he starts asking around until he finds out who the main culprits are. He asks the singled-out mean girl what the deal is, and she says she's misunderstood, that she has had this problem with women her whole life, and that everyone is probably just jealous. What's dating like outside of one of these shows, with no panel of women readily available to rat on one another? Poor guys.NOW THAT'S GOOD TV: Oh, Stephanie South Carolina. All that confidence was just so misdirected. "It's situations like this when the pressure's on that I perform the best and rise to the top, and tonight is no different," she squawked on the elimination evening. If only she hadn't given Andy a list of all the girls she thought should go home. Because in the end, she wound up on that list anyway.CELINE DION CAME TO DANCE. HER fans came to weep. In the end, everyone got what they wanted Sunday at Continental Airlines Arena, where Dion opened the three-night New York leg of her victory tour. Dion, who hit Nassau Coliseum last night and finishes Thursday at Madison Square Garden, took the stage in the Meadowlands primed to boogie. Each time the band struck up a beat, she prowled the perimeter of the in-the-round stage exhorting people to get up and join her. This took some effort, because much of the sellout crowd seemed less eager to shake it than to sit back and nod like proud grandparents watching Celine astonish her relatives with high notes at the family Christmas party. Even more to the point, the crowd's primary musical thirst was for the lush, soaring and often heartbreakingly bittersweet love ballads that have made Dion a star: "Because You Loved Me," "All By Myself," "It's All Coming Back to Me" and, of course, "My Heart Will Go On," the omnipresent theme song from the omnipresent "Titanic." For crying out loud Dion faithfully performed them all, with "My Heart" saved for the encore. Music swelled in the darkened arena, clips from the movie flashed on the giant video screens and then there was Dion at a ship's bow, waving her arm, closing her eyes and clenching her fist as she smashed through each musical wave. There was scarcely a dry eye in the house. The earlier part of the two-hour show featured lavish production. Musicians popped up and down on hydraulic lifts and the basic stage outline was a heart that glowed in different colors. After surrounding herself with small children during the first number, a scene straight from either "The Sound of Music" or a Michael Jackson video, Dion spent most of the night in motion. She wore a John Travolta suit for "Stayin' Alive," and she later was joined by the Bee Gees in a stiff-looking video for "Immortality." Her other video partner was Barbra Streisand, and together they sang "Tell Him" like two people scrambling up a mountain of notes, reaching wildly over each other to grab the next one. There's a trace of awkwardness in Dion's stage patter, but most of the audience found it charming okay, maybe except for one joke whose punchline was dead children. Mainly and wisely, she stayed with the music: no surprises, no disappointments. Trip down Abbey Road Perhaps the passage that best summarized the evening, musically, was a tribute in which Dion sang Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," the Beatles' "Because," Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" and Frank Sinatra's "All the Way." After being tucked into lush, swelling Dion arrangements, they all sounded like pretty much the same song. We'll know things have changed when she keeps going with the Beatles' medley and does "Polythene Pam" and "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window."Celine Dion is corrupting the youth of Broadway. The fresh-faced cast of "Spring Awakening" has become obsessed with an affectionate parody tribute to the singer, available online, called "Celine Dion is F***ing Amazing." "They watch the video every night before they go on, to get ready," laughs an insider. "And they try to crack each other up onstage by whispering lines from the video to each other that the audience can't hear." One young star, when addressing the audience to take up a charity collection after the performance, quoted banter from Dion's Las Vegas show verbatim: "Everybody's feeling good tonight? Well, I'm glad you're feeling good, because we're feeling awesome." As commentary on the video points out: "Got that? You are good. She is awesome. She wins." LAS VEGAS - Cher is picking up where Celine Dion left off.The longtime pop icon announced Thursday she'll be one of the headline acts at Caesars Palace. "I started in Vegas at Caesars, so I've come full circle," Cher said. "I'm back, and I plan to give my fans the best experience yet. I think everybody knows I only do things in a big way." The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy Award winner said she will begin a three-year, 200-show engagement May 6. "Cher at The Colosseum" is scheduled to include hit songs from her career of more than 40 years, with choreography, costumes and special effects. She will alternate performances at the 4,300-seat Colosseum with headliners Elton John and Bette Midler. In December, Dion ended a five-year run at the theater. Cher's show will run four nights a week, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices range from $95 to $250.April 13, 2008, Cherone Slater's best friend told her boyfriend's gregarious cousin, , she had "someone to calm and quiet him down." In April 2003, the pair got in touch. "We've been talking every day since," says Cherone. "We went on our first date about a week later. George mentioned to his cousin that when he saw me, he wasn't going anywhere." After a wedding they attended last July, the pair decided to get serious. "We were just saying what a beautiful, wonderful time we had and he just started emoting and expressed a desire to be together for the rest of our lives," Cherone recalls. Cherone, 42, an administrator at , wore a strapless gown for her "very DIY" wedding at Seventh Day Adventist Beth Church. She carried white roses, peonies and hydrangeas down the aisle to "The Prayer," by and . The couple's respective daughters were junior bridesmaids. At Glen Terrace, 120 guests enjoyed a three-tiered vanilla cake with chocolate filling and a traditional black fruitcake a friend made. The pair danced to "Spend My Life With You," by and Tamia. They honeymooned in . Eric Clapton and his recording "Change the World" dominated the music world at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards last night. Clapton walked away with Top Male Vocalist for his version of the song, which was named Song of the Year as well as Record of the Year. Other top winners included singer Celine Dion, who won Album of the Year honors with "Falling Into You;" the Beatles, who won their first Grammy since 1967, and 14-year-old country crooner LeAnn Rimes, who was dubbed the Best New Artist. Rimes became the first country singer and the youngest performer ever to in a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. The teenager, who launched her career at age 11, was honored by the music industry for her hit album, "Blue," which flew to the top of both the country and Top 10 charts. "I never expected this at all," said Rimes, who was close to tears as she accepted the award. She also won a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocalist. Rimes led a host of newcomers picking up multiple Grammys, including Smashing Pumpkins and double winner Beck, along with relative newcomers compared with the 51-year-old Clapton Sheryl Crow and Celine Dion. But the music industry does not easily let go of its veterans. In addition to Clapton, winners included veterans like Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, Bob Marley, Bill Monroe and multiple statuettes for Miles Davis. The Beatles won for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for "Free As a Bird" a song manufactured by the three surviving members from a tape left behind by the late John Lennon. The Beatles won their last Grammy in 1967 for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." R&B diva Toni Braxton took two Grammys, one for her hit song "Un-break My Heart" and another as Best Female R&B Vocalist for "You're Makin' Me High." Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds, who earned a record-tying 12 Grammy nominations, won the songwriter's award for Best R&B Composition, "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," sung by Whitney Houston. LL Cool J was ecstatic upon finding out he won an award for Best Rap Solo Performance and added some welcome honesty to the occasion. "My head was exploding over there because I didn't want to have to smile if someone else won," he said. Veteran folk artist Pete Seeger received a standing ovation when he won an award for Best Traditional Folk Album. Lyle Lovett and Billy Williams' "The Road to Ensenada" took the award for Best Country Album. Music's top awards ceremony was moved to the Garden this year, and, for the first time, members of the public were admitted to see the televised portion of the show. The lavish stage for the ceremony weighed in at 185,000 pounds just 20,000 pounds under the maximum allowed at the Garden. Winners were chosen by the 9,000 voting members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a group of music business professionals.MUSIC MAJORSRecord of the Year: "Change the World."Album of the Year: "Falling Into You," Celine Dion.Song of the Year: "Change the World."Best New Artist: LeAnn Rimes, 14-year-old country crooner whose album, "Blue," flew to the top of country and Top 10 charts.William Cabeza took up singing two years ago, just to emulate his father, who once sang in his own salsa group. But 11-year-old William, a student at Community Elementary School 73 in Bronx District 9, never dreamed that he would one day share a stage with singer Celine Dion. "I'm really curious about meeting her," William said. "I want to see what she looks like." William and nearly 300 other students from eight Bronx public schools and one Catholic school are part of the Highbridge Voices, a Bronx choir that is starting to get as much notoriety as the stars it is accompanying. "When we first started this group, we went around to every school in the neighborhood, auditioning kids," said Bruno Casolari, 32, director of the group, which was formed in February of last year. "A lot of these kids didn't even know what a choir was. We knew we had our work cut out for us." But soon the kids were performing everything from Bach to "The Lion King." And last week, the fledgling group helped open the refurbished Radio City Music Hall, singing backup for Dion. "I can learn a lot about singing from her," said Angela Santos, 11, a student at Community Intermediate School 303. "Everybody has always told me that I have a beautiful singing voice, but I think that I can train it better." Sponsored by the Highbridge Unity Center, a nonprofit housing and community organization formed in 1991 to revitalize the neighborhood, the choir is the first of its kind in the Bronx, according to Casolari. More than 3,000 young people between the ages of 9 and 13 auditioned for the 120 spots in the original choir. Highbridge Voices has added a 120-member training choir for kids ages 5 to 8, and a chamber group comprised mainly of graduates of the main choir, and ranging from ages 11 to 16. The choirs are drawn from several local schools, including Sacred Heart, PS 26 and 11, CES 73, 104, and 204, Intermediate School 145, and Community Intermediate Schools 303 and 22. Singing in the choir has helped teach discipline and good behavior, said Casolari, who also is convinced that the group helps kids improve their grades. His young singers agree. "It teaches me how to read quarter notes and eighth notes," said Jonathan Cruz, 9, from Sacred Heart. Johnathan Lopez, another Sacred Heart student, said his grades have gone up since he joined the choir. "I have so much more to keep in my mind now, it makes school easier." The Daily News wants to showcase the achievements of pupils in Manhattan and Bronx public and private schools. Items for the Class Report Card column can be sent to: Daily News Bronx Bureau, 1892 Eastchester Road, Bronx, N.Y., 10461. Or fax the notice to the Bronx Bureau at (718) 822-1562. Photos may be sent for consideration, but cannot be returned.Cops nabbed a robbery suspect Wednesday after they say he bolted from the scene of a wild smashup that killed a beloved 84-year-old nun. is accused of causing a chain-reaction crash that killed .Williams was the passenger in a when it was pulled over by police Tuesday. The driver, 18-year-old , stepped out of the car - but Williams, 20, got behind the wheel and sped away, cops said.He slammed into a Honda at the corner of Lenox Ave. and W. 122nd St. As Graham lay in the street, Williams fled, cops said. confirmed that an car was following the Pacifica but denied that it played a role in the crash.Williams was charged with second-degree murder and robbery; Robbins was charged with robbery, cops said. They are expected to be arraigned today.The 's driver, 55-year-old , suffered bleeding on the brain but said she is expected to make a full recovery."You and I" by Celine Dion will certainly carry Clinton supporters all the way to the voting booths on a bed of warm fuzzies, but how would the other campaign-song contenders have affected Hillary's path to the White House?Shania Twain's "Rock This Country" surely would have had some country-lovin' U.S.-of-A-ers kicking up their cowboy boots. "We're pluggin' in the power/Crankin' up the sound/It's comin' your direction/It's headin' to your town," go the lyrics, but that kind of in-your-face patriotism sometimes scares New Yorkers, Clinton's hometown crew."Look out baby, 'cause here I come/And I'm bringing you a love that's true," sing The Temptations on their hit "Get Ready," but as we all know, any promise of truth/trueness by a politician is never a good idea. The second Clinton brings a love that's only kind of true; her detractors would crucify her. With humiliating musical accompaniment.KT Tunstall's "Suddenly I See" goes "Suddenly I see/This is what I wanna be/Suddenly I see/Why the hell it means so much to me." It's a sweet sentiment, but it doesn't really work for a woman the country must trust to make rational, informed decisions. There's nothing sudden about becoming or being the President of the United States.Lastly, Smashmouth's "I'm a Believer" was just an out-and-out wrong suggestion. Clinton's campaign will never be as exciting as a "Shrek" movie, where we last heard the song, and the opportunity to be compared to a fat green ogre is way too risky. Use of this website signifies your agreement to the and . © Copyright 2012 NYDailyNews.com. All rights reserved.CELINE DION: All The WayCBS, tonight at 8 2 Stars Say this for Celine Dion: Here she is doing her first network TV special and she has the will power not to build it around "My Heart Will Go On," the "Titanic" song that for a long time threatened to become inescapable. Rather, this special filmed at Radio City mostly serves as the latest hand wave in what has become the music world's longest goodbye. As Dion has said many times, many ways, she will soon be taking a several-year break from public performance to concentrate on starting a family with her husband, Rene Angelli. And this is fine. She has been working for the last 10 years to turn herself into one of the major pop stars of the world, and she's entitled to a break. But at some point, her long day's journey into this break became an event unto itself, and it's not over yet: There's still a New Year's Eve concert, after which she will perhaps be borne off into the clouds on wings of angels. In other words, she's taking longer than Billy Joel to get from Plan A to Plan B, and frankly, some arms are getting tired from all the waving. "All The Way" is a show for those arms that haven't for those fans who are heartbroken to see Dion go, but also only want her to be happy. Partway through the show, Dion lays out the story again, including the part about how Angelli was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. The cancer is now said to be in remission, but its specter heightens the urgency of their family quest, and when the camera cuts to Angelli sitting in the audience as she talks, it's a four-handkerchief moment for Dion fans. It's also a bit melodramatic, and Dion sustains the emotional pitch of either reaction by immediately segueing into a duet of "All the Way" with the video image and audio track of Frank Sinatra. Since Dion has a legitimate voice, the performance is musically interesting tasteful, even classy. But in this context it also feels like part of a calculated package, which in fact is the general concern about Dion's music: It's all wrapped up just a little too neatly. Needless to say, "All The Way" isn't where she's going to break away from that, since the whole point of a TV special is slick wrapping and given that premise, this one presents the Dion her fans want to see. It starts with Dion boogieing atop Radio City's outdoor marquee and then moves her inside and onstage for several solos ("The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face") plus duets with Gloria Estefan and 'N Sync. The 'N Sync numbers are smooth and clean, the Estefan medley a little funkier. There is also a short throwaway segment of black-and-white footage that shows Dion and Estefan backstage before rehearsals, bantering about what they will sing. It adds up to a nice lightweight keepsake, something Dion fans can watch while she's gone. By that time, we may all need a break.After three months of lackluster chart debuts, the music business is expecting to report its first halfmillion-plus opening week for Celine Dion's "A New Day Has Come." According to Hits Magazine, which surveys the nation's largest music retailers, Dion's album moved roughly 550,000 copies in its initial seven-day sales period. That would give it by far the biggest debut of 2002. The official SoundScan numbers will be released today. The closest opening-week figure was racked up by Alan Jackson's "Drive," which started at 423,000 copies in late January. The compilation album "Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 9" topped the Billboard charts last week with the second-biggest yearly figure so far: 419,000. As impressive as those sales may seem, the two predecessors in the "Now" series each topped the halfmillion mark. The first months of every year traditionally set a snail-like pace in music sales. But this year's figures have proven especially slothful. Purchases of recorded music for the first three months of 2002 lagged 12.2% behind the same period last year. Dion's salvo will not only perk up the music business, it outperforms her own recent debuts. The big-lunged singer's last studio effort, 1997's "Let's Talk About Love," started out with 334,000 copies banked. Her greatest-hits compilation, "All the Way ... A Decade of Song," registered a 302,000 first spurt in November 2000. The music business has several upcoming releases that it hopes will provide a spring thaw for its chilly winter. The R&B singers Tweet and Ashanti should vie for the No. 1 spot on next week's Billboard, while later April will see the debut of an anticipated new work from Sheryl Crow, "C'mon, C'mon."Fahion house Christian Dior is in no hurry to replace disgraced designer John Galliano as it relies on existing teams for new collections, its head said on Thursday. Dior, one of the biggest brands within luxury goods group LVMH, sacked Galliano earlier this month following publicity over a video of him shouting abuse in a Paris bar and saying he loved Hitler. Dior Chairman and Chief Executive Sidney Toledano said the company was studying possible replacements and the brand's creative development had not been interrupted. Fashion magazine Elle reported this week that Dior might not announce Galliano's replacement before the autumn. "(The announcement) could come at any time, after (the autumn) or before," Toledano told Reuters after LVMH's annual shareholder meeting in Paris. "It requires a period of study of various projects. As our internal teams are working perfectly well, we have time." Toledano said the brand's teams were working on a new cruise collection and that there would be a Dior haute couture show in early July as planned. "There is no interruption at all," he said. "No blanks in the calendar of creations." It is not clear, however, what will happen to the John Galliano brand of which Dior owns 92 percent. Toledano said it was for Dior to decide its future but he declined to elaborate. Fashion critics said Galliano, known for his theatrical and dramatic styles, had grown out of touch with minimalist, sober and conservative designs favored after the financial crisis. Possible contenders to replace Galliano include Peter Copping at Nina Ricci and, within the LVMH group, Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy and Phoebe Philo at Celine. Oscar-winning actress Nathalie Portman, now promoting Miss Dior Cherie perfume, publicly condemned Galliano for his comments and said she no longer wanted anything to do with him. LVMH, the world's biggest luxury group, this month agreed to buy Roman jeweller Bulgari for 3.7 billion euros, its biggest acquisition in a decade. The group, which makes 9 percent of its sales in Japan, on Thursday said the nuclear crisis in the country had only affected trading in the east and north of the country. But overall, LVMH Chief Executive Bernard Arnault said: "The impact should be quite limited, despite everything." Arnault said the group had made a donation of 500 million yen ($6.03 million) to help rebuild Japan.A vicious thug who killed a nun during his frantic flight from cops in upper Manhattan pleaded guilty Tuesday to robbery, murder and assault., 22, admitted to speeding down Lenox Ave. in a blue Chrysler Pacifica, desperately trying to evade capture, when his minivan struck a Honda Odyssey and sent it spinning into . The accident killed the 84-year-old nun and injured five others at W. 122nd St.The June 2010 incident started when Wilson and his co-defendant, , 20, were stopped by cops at W. 142nd St. and Lenox Ave. on suspicion they were involved in a spree of armed robberies.When Robbins was ordered out of the car, Wilson, who was in the passenger seat, slid behind the wheel and took off.“Murder was not committed with a gun or a knife in this case, but a car,” said “Dyson showed an utter disregard for human life and his actions had tragic and deadly consequences.”The family of the nun has a pending lawsuit against the city, claiming the police should not have chased Williams.Celine Dion is getting into the holiday spirit. On Wednesday night, the Canadian singer will be serving up such holiday classics as "O Holy Night" as well as new songs like "These Are Special Times," from her holiday album of the same name. Also on tap will be "My Heart Will Go On" from the ubiquitous "Titanic," and "Because You Loved Me."Guest stars include Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Rosie O'Donnell. Meanwhile, tonight at 8 on CBS/Ch. 2, Dion will make a guest appearance on "Touched by an Angel," playing herself. nCeline Dion: These Are Special TimesCBS/Ch. 2, Wednesday, 9 p.m.Elton John was king of the road this year, raking in $46.2 million as the top U.S. concert draw in 1998. The 51-year-old piano man, whose career was revived by his "Candle in the Wind" tribute to Princess Diana, beat out by $6.1 million a group whose members were in diapers when John hit it big in the '70s the Dave Matthews Band. Rounding out the top three was siren Celine Dion, who rode the wave of her "Titanic" soundtrack success to earn $38.1 million. Long Island troubadour Billy Joel was the highest-placing local act, finishing 13th on the top-20 list with $26.6 million. Consumers spent an estimated $1.3 billion on concerts in 1998, about the same as last year, according to the concert business trade publication Pollstar. And nobody expected John to be the top pop concert draw. The flashy singer wasn't even among Pollstar's five nominees for its honorary distinction as the year's top concert draw. John didn't just beat the Dave Matthews Band, which made $40.1 million and was one of the few acts to play stadium shows in 1998; he also did far better than New Age music maestro Yanni ($37.4 million) and country stars Garth Brooks ($37.2 million) and Shania Twain ($33.5 million). Last year's top draw, the Rolling Stones, spent most of the year touring the world but still managed to place 10th on the list with $31.8 million. Also in the top 10 were Eric Clapton, with $33.6 million, Janet Jackson, with $33.1 million, and the George Strait Country Music Festival, which made $33 million. Promoters are optimistic about 1999, particularly with Bruce Springsteen set to tour with his E Street Band. Dueling divas Madonna and Barbra Streisand are expected to perform next year, too. Also, the Lilith Fair tour led by singer Sarah McLachlan is fast becoming a summer staple, earning $28.3 million in its second year up from $16.4 million last year.September1 Joe Cocker at Beacon Theater2 Backstreet Boys at Nassau Coliseum2 & 5 Hanson at Jones Beach3 & 4 Celine Dion at the Garden3 Suffragette Sessions tour with The Indigo Girls, Ann Wilson, Lisa Germano, Gail Ann Dorsey, ane Siberry8 Pearl Jam at the Meadowlands Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds at the Beacon9 B.B. King blues fest at the Beacon10 & 11 Pearl Jam at the Garden10 & 11 Bauhaus reunion at Hammerstein Ballroom Slayer at Roseland11 Brand Nubian at Tramps12 Massive Attack at Hammerstein Ballroom14 Gillian Welch at Tramps18 Cowboy Junkies at the Beacon25 Bob Mould at Irving Plaza "The Family Values" tour with Korn, Rammstein, Ice Cube, LimpBizkit and Orgy at Meadowlands OCTOBER 2 Morcheeba at Irving Plaza2 & 3 Rod Stewart at the Garden10 & 11 Janet Jackson at the Garden11 Run DMC at Tramps13 & 14 Elton John at the Garden13 & 14 Aerosmith at Jones Beach29, 30& 31 Cheap Trick at Irving PlazaAfter five years caged up in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace, songbird Celine Dion has finally escaped.The French-Canadian is taking her act on the road next year in support of her recently released CD, "Taking Chances," and one of the major stops will be Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in fall 2008. And though the concert is almost a year away, tickets go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. at the box office or through Ticketmaster for $55, $95, $150 and $225.'GRAND' FOOD FAREBuild it and they will come.Even as Foxwoods rushes to complete its $700 million MGM Grand tower by May, the Connecticut playpen has announced it also will undergo a $55 million renovation of its main Grand Pequot building to "enhance its culinary and retail offerings." The project "will bring two new dining experiences by David Burke to the property," said a spokeswoman. David Burke Prime, a 280-seat steakhouse/bar and private banquet area, and Burke in the Box, with gourmet food to stay or take-away The high-end boutiques will offer designer watches and jewelry, luxury apparel, celebrity memorabilia and more.FOXWOODS TURKEY RUN Foxwoods is also talking turkey. It donated 400 of the Thanksgiving birds to the Gemma Moran United Way/Labor Food Center in New London and St. Patrick's Diocese in Norwich, Conn. DIMINISHING RETURNSAtlantic City casinos took it on the chin for the 10th straight month last month as profits dipped 7.5% over the same period a year ago. The casinos won $384.4 million compared to $415 million in 2006. Slot revenue decreased 12.6%, while table games went up 7.3%. THE EAGLE HAS LANDEDRemember Chuck Bednarik? He was the Philadelphia Eagle who, in 1960, tackled Frank Gifford so viciously that it knocked the N.Y. Giant running back out of the game for 18 months.Well, he is now older, kinder and gentler, we presume, and will behave himself when he hosts a get-together at Bally's Mountain Bar on Dec. 16 at 4 p.m., when the Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys. Admission is free for adults 21 and over. MAKE A DATELast week, "American Idol" viewers sent Sanjaya Malakar packing.This week, in an attempt to perpetuate the feel-good atmosphere of the reality show's two-day "Idol Gives Back" charity fund-raiser, no one went home, meaning the six are still alive."How could we let anyone go on a charity night!" host Ryan Seacrest explained. That's despite the fact that more than 70 million votes were cast, a record for the Fox show. Seacrest said the star-studded telethon raised more than $30 million for charities including UNICEF, Save the Children and the Global Fund. The oddest "performance" of the evening came when Celine Dion sang an out-of-body duet with a video Elvis Presley. RUFUS WAINWRIGHT "Want Two" (Geffen) No one ever accused Rufus Wainwright of being common. Or obvious. Or in any way restrained. But the latest release from this rare bird makes his three previous CDs seem as conservative as a Celine Dion record. It functions as a sequel to last year's "Want One," but it could also be considered its evil twin. "Want One" was, by Wainwright's standards, a conventional pop record. It blended elements of folk-rock, art songs, Broadway standards and classical music into ditties you could somehow sing. "Want Two" blows every pop rule to smithereens - from the arrangements and the use of vocals to the way Wainwright incorporates his influences. If the CD sounds like hard work to listen to, unfortunately it is. "Want Two" is far easier to admire than it is to enjoy. Tellingly, it's bundled with a bonus live DVD of earlier material, as if offering buyers a reward for sitting through the rest. On "Want Two," Wainwright forms his melodies out of waltzes, arias, sonatas and minuets. Few of the tunes have a flow pop fans will find familiar. They amble on at great length, which, sadly, encourages a flaw that has long haunted Wainwright's singing. When Wainwright holds a note over a sustained period (which he often does), his voice tends to sag in the middle, dragging down the tune. You can hear how far his voice wavers in a duet with the New York singer Anthony. The two link up for a 9-minute opera-pop-thingy called "Old Whore's Diet." While Anthony navigates its odd tune with consistent beauty, Wainwright's voice keeps fluttering off the mark. The focused lyrics make up for some of the flaws. "The Art Teacher" tells the romantic tale of a young woman so taken with the beauty of her mentor, she can never find love with a peer. In "The Gay Messiah," Wainwright describes his unique idea of Christ. But originality has never been Wainwright's problem. Accessibility is. No doubt Wainwright would be the first to admit that "Want Two" is a reach. Now that it's out, let's hope that next time he comes up with a couple of tunes we can hum. FABOLOUS REPORTS FOR BOOTY FABOLOUS "Real Talk" (Atlantic Records Group) The rumors about the rapper Fabolous maturing have been greatly exaggerated. Thank God. The 24-year-old Brooklyn emcee may have given some recent interviews touting his new grownup state of mind. But he spends most of his third album doing what he does best: rhyming sly asides to hotties he hopes to bed. From the start, Fabolous (born John Jackson) excelled at randy repartee. His last album, "Street Dreams," found him boasting about holding the record for having "the most ménages à trois at L'Hermitage." Of course, Fab's leering wouldn't have such charm if his producers didn't pair it with such frisky beats. His past songs have been club staples. On "Real Talk," Fabolous threatens to get serious by starting with an a cappella rhyme about the music industry's exploitation of artists and the importance of education. But soon enough he's joking through a cut like "Baby," in which he says "just looking at your onion, girl/I could cry." Throughout the album, Fab describes the women of his fantasies, who often have the unlikely combination of "a flat gut and a big butt." Yet in "Girls" he manages to find enough of them to cover the globe, from "the Asian to the Malaysian to the Caucasian." Call him an equal-opportunity dog. Fabolous is less convincing when he talks about his "hood," or when he matches his boasts to leftover West Coast gangsta riffs. Luckily, he spends far more space matching come-ons that sparkle to beats that bounce. E-mail: jfarber@edit.nydailynews.comThe and feud has reached biblical proportions - all over a 3-year-old "joke."During a press conference to promote the DVD release of "" Wednesday, Cameron called Beck's denial of global warming "poisonous" and labeled the Fox personality an "a--hole" for referring to him as the "anti-Christ" in 2007.On Fox Wednesday night, Beck appeared surprised by the A-list director's vitriol.Donning a pair of 3-D glasses to riff on the tech savvy "Avatar," Beck explained that his "anti-Christ" quip referred to the theme song for "" - 's "My Heart Must Go On" - which he called "horrific."The right-wing pundit proceeded to lash out at Cameron for holding a grudge."This guy is making a billion dollars on a Smurf-murdering movie and he’s stewing about a joke that nobody heard on a network nobody watched!" Beck yelled at his viewers.He also addressed Cameron’s pronouncement that he wanted to "shoot it out" with the "boneheads" who deny global warming exists."I don’t think he’s just upset with me," Beck concluded. "He’s also upset with you, because you’re a global warming denier.”Though “Avatar" is famous for its technical mastery, it is also considered an environmentalist’s love letter to nature.ONE ‘DIVA’ TO ANOTHER. Songstress Natalie Gelman joins “ presents DIVA!” — a weekly show that has New York City’s finest female entertainers covering powerhouse hits by , and more. 11 p.m. Free. Industry Bar, 355 W. 52nd St.HIS FEVER PITCH. performs at the MLB Fan Cave as part of the venue’s bi-monthly concert series. 6:30 p.m. Free. 696 Broadway. mlbfancave.com.FALLEN STARS. MIT professor emeritus shares his extensive knowledge on the death of stars. 7:30 p.m. $15. American Museum of Natural History, 81 Central Park West. (212) 769-5100.THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID. Female comedians take the stage at and share some sassy stand-up. The lineup includes , , and more. 6:30 p.m. $5. 184 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn.(718) 218-9737.A STORM OF SOUND. Hear quirky indie band Skies Revolt and their catchy electronics and aggressive sound blasts. 7 p.m. Free. The Killmeyer’s Old Bavarian Inn, 4254 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island. (718) 984-1202.‘TRIBE’-. “Rare Earth,” a special collection of works by Mark Tribe, blends real life photographs and computer generated landscapes to trick the eye and stretch the mind. Noon-6 p.m. Free. Momenta Art, 56 Bogart St., Brooklyn. (718) 218-8058.FUN FOR ‘FOSTER CARE. ’ Enjoy an evening of songs and stories and help raise money for the production “From Foster Care to Fabulous,” playing this June in the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity as a benefit for the Children’s Aid Society. 9:30 p.m. $15 cover and two drink minimum. The Duplex, 61 Christopher St. (212) 255-5438.A LITTLE ITALY STORY. Author talks about his book “Newsstand,” a look at the tough streets of 1960s Little Italy in New York where he grew up. 10:30 a.m. Free. Greenbelt Recreation Center, 501 Brielle Ave., Staten Island. (718) 667-3545.POM POM PAINTERS. Renowed japanese artist takes kids on a journey to the imaginary world of Mt. Pom Pom where they learn the most important part of art is trusting their instincts. Noon. $10. Children’s Museum of the Arts, 103 Charlton St. (212) 274-0986.GOING INTO ‘OVER TIME.’ Sports Illustrated editor discusses his five decades in sports writing and signs copies of his new book, “Over Time.” 7 p.m. Free. Barnes & Noble, 2289 Broadway at 82nd St. (212) 362-8835.LIFE STORIES. Storyteller Adam Wade shares snapshots of his life in the form of amiable anecdotes about his adolescent years through home movies, photos and even a few songs. 7 p.m. $5. Under St. Marks, 94 St. Marks Place. (212) 777-6088.CINEMATIC SINGER. Experience the sounds of , a singer/songwriter with a long history of crafting moving songs for feature films. 8 and 10:30 p.m. $20 bar, $35 table. Blue Note, 131 W. Third St. (212) 475-8592.SPIN YOUR OWN. You bring it and spin it at Bell House’s “Vinyl Potluck.” Tweens 13 to 18 DJ and hear their records on a top-notch sound system. Free. 8 p.m. 149 Seventh St., Brooklyn. (718) 643-6510.‘HOBO’ SONGS. Musician Charlie Winston grew up in England with folk-musician parents, giving him the appreciation for the performing arts that propelled him into stardom in France with the release of his album “Hobo.” 6:30 p.m. $12. Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (212) 260-4700. celebrated her 40th birthday Sunday with a low-key party at the InterContinental in . But while the Canadian megastar proved herself a model guest, some at the hotel are still laughing about other recent celebrity requests." is obsessed with blueberries," one insider told me of the President, who passed through in September for a regional conference. "And he would order fried rice from a local Chinese restaurant every night after he came in from his official dinners." Future hosts might also take note: According to dietary requirements submitted beforehand, doesn't care for bananas. Apparently, may have figured out there's no girlfriend like an old girlfriend. The bedroom-eyed Oscar winner has quietly circled back to , friends tell us. Their on-and-off long-running romance began in 2002 when George cast Krista in "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." (This was after his marriage to and linkages with , , , , Jennifer Lynn Siebel and . But who's counting?) George and Krista dated for close to two years, till Allen broke it off in March 2004. He moved on to model , but then he and Krista tried again in 2006. After that, he dated , cocktail waitress and "Fear Factor" winner, for most of a year. RELATED: Throughout, says a friend, "Krista has always been there for him. She admits she just can't get over him." And something about Krista brings him back. "George really loves her," says the source. A relationship with Krista, 37, would mean a ready-made family for George, 47, who once vowed that he wouldn't remarry or have children by the time he was 50. Krista has an 11-year-old son, Jake, with production manager . But it may not be an issue. Says the source, "George adores Krista's son." Reps for the two declined to comment. Meanwhile, George has been shooting in , where slowed down production of "The Men Who Stare at Goats." He plays a former member of the 's First Earth Battalion, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions. Next up for the actor is "Up in the Air," in which he plays a "career transition counselor" who's looking to accumulate 1 million frequent flier miles and land a job at a mysterious management company called MythTech. A 13-year-old Queens girl yesterday confronted her father's alleged killer in court, recounting the harrowing night when she watched her dad being strangled as he lay beside her. In a soft voice, Celine Chiu told riveted jurors how the accused killer, Hon Do Lau, 47, then forced her into a car with her father's body. "I turned around. I saw my dad," said Celine, wearing a pink shirt, her black hair in a ponytail. "I touched his neck for a pulse, but I didn't find it. He was cold and clammy." Lau is accused of murdering Tsun Ho Chiu, 44, in September 1995 because Chiu married Lau's ex-wife, Assistant District Attorney Frank Catarisano said. Yesterday, the dead man's daughter took a deep breath and, with her hand shaking slightly, pointed to Lau and identified him as the killer. Lau did not return the gaze, taking notes instead. The girl testified that she was sleeping beside her father in his Rego Park, Queens, apartment when she was roused by a "gurgling sound." She looked up to find her mother's first husband sitting on her father's chest, she said. "He was strangling him," she said, gently rocking back and forth on the witness stand. "He had a rope around his neck. He was pulling it tighter and tighter with all his might." Celine, then 11 years old, reached for the telephone, but the intruder yanked the cord from the wall, she said. "I was crying," Celine said in state Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. "I told him to stop . . . I knew he wouldn't." The seventh-grader fought back tears when she described her father, a parking lot attendant, as a warm and loving man. "When he comes home from work, he would give me a kiss, every day, every night," she said. Lau told police he buried the body somewhere on Long Island but was unable to lead cops to the site. Catarisano said Lau repeatedly had threatened to kill Chiu, prompting Chiu to move from the Briarwood, Queens, apartment he shared with his wife to Rego Park. The wife then tried to placate Lau an ex-con with drug convictions by allowing him to move into the Briarwood apartment temporarily, Catarisano said. He allegedly killed Chiu after the wife told Lau he had to leave her home. Testimony was expected to end today before Justice Arthur Cooperman. The jury will then deliberate on a verdict. Lau faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder.A Queens man was convicted yesterday of slaying his ex-wife's husband in a grisly case marked by startling testimony by the victim's young daughter. Hon Do Lau, 47, showed no emotion as he was found guilty of the September 1995 slaying of 44-year-old Tsun Ho Chiu, who was strangled in his Rego Park home. Lau faces 25 years to life when he is sentenced June 23 in Queens Supreme Court. Prosecutors yesterday praised the testimony of 13-year-old Celine Chiu, who calmly told jurors Wednesday how Lau used a rope to strangle her father as she lay next to her dad in bed. She said Lau forced her into a car with the corpse. "She is as brave and as bright a little girl as I have ever run across," said Assistant District Attorney Frank Catarisano. "Without her testimony, this case would have been a hell of a fight." Celine Chiu wasn't in the courtroom for the verdict. The victim's widow, Jady Chiu, wept and said: "I'm happy. Justice is done."A 13-year-old girl will bravely tell jurors how she watched in horror as an intruder strangled her father in his Rego Park bed, a prosecutor said yesterday. Celine Chiu was lying with her sleeping father when Hon Do Lau broke into their apartment and attacked Tsun Ho Chiu with a handgun and a piece of rope, Assistant District Attorney Frank Catarisano said as Lau's murder trial got under way in Kew Gardens. Lau who was angry that Chiu had married his ex-wife sat on Chiu's chest, put the rope around his neck, and choked the life out of him, Catarisano said. Celine was just 11 years old at the time of the September 1995 attack. "She saw him sitting on top of her father's chest," Catarisano said. "She reached for the phone, but the defendant pulled the phone out of the wall." Lau, 47, then put the girl and her father's lifeless body in Chiu's car and drove from the apartment building. The girl reached out for her father, who was covered by a blanket, in the backseat of the car, the prosecutor said. "She touched her father on the neck," Catarisano said. "She will tell you she didn't feel the pulse," Catarisano said. But defense attorney John Wallenstein told jurors a key piece of evidence is missing the body. Although Lau gave police written and video-taped confessions, he was unable to direct them to the Long Island site where he claimed to have buried Chiu's body. "How do we know Mr. Chiu is not in Hong Kong now?" Wallenstein asked. That lack of evidence should create enough reasonable doubt in jurors' minds to help them find Lau not guilty of murder, Wallenstein said. Celine is expected to take the stand next week. Testimony is scheduled to continue today before Justice Arthur Cooperman. Lau's ex-wife, Jady, testified yesterday that Lau repeatedly threatened to kill Chiu if she did not come back to him. Jady and Lau were married and lived in France before she divorced him and came to Queens and married Chiu. Jurors were told that Lau was absent for years in France, but were not told that it was because Lau was jailed on drug charges there.REMEMBER LAST YEAR'S Grammys, when new and unexpected artists like Joan Osborne and Alanis Morissette got nominated in every major category? Or when a long-overlooked artist like Joni Mitchell earned a shock nod? Consider that an aberration. In doling out its latest contender list, Grammy reverted to type with a vengeance. The 12,000-member voting body came up with the sleepiest mainstream brand names possible: Babyface, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. Babyface, who snared the most nominations this year (12), has been nominated 23 times before (he has landed six). Celine Dion may boast but one previous Grammy statuette for her mantel, but she conforms to the awards' lust for lucre: She had the second biggest-selling record of the last year, after fellow Canadian Alanis. Small wonder that voters shoehorned in another shot for Alanis in the Record of the Year category with her single "Ironic," released in '96. When Grammy anointed Morissette and Osborne with so many nominations in '95 or when it lavished similar attention on Sheryl Crow in '94 it represented the awards' first attempt to deify the new. This year, the freshest artists earned only isolated mentions. Had '96 conformed to the last two years, a nominee like Jewel (who's in the Best New Artist and Best Female Pop categories) would have taken top mentions, too. For those of you who consider it progressive that Smashing Pumpkins got seven nominations, I have three letters: R.E.M. That band snared the most nominations in 1992, only to trot home with no major gold gramophones. Rockers never do well in the top slots, so expect similar treatment this time for the Pumpkins, as well as Beck, whose appearance in the Album of the Year category provides Grammy's hippest nod. In rap, you'd think the Fugees would do better. True, they're up for Best Album, but got nada for their take on "Killing Me Softly." That disappointment can't hold a candle to the teeth-gnashing that must be going on at Toni Braxton's house, though. She had one of '96's blockbusters, but didn't get one top nod. On the champagne-swigging side, consider Tracy Chapman. Her single, "Give Me One Reason," got top Record and Song mentions, an amazing comeback considering Chapman was missing in action in the seven years before this latest work. Should she win, she'll be the Tina Turner of the year. A newer artist who should cheer is Dylan's kid Jakob his Wallflowers got two mentions. That's a nice choice from the Grammy voters. But for sheer Solomon-like wisdom, the year's smartest decision has to be the shutout on the "Macarena." If nothing else, it proves that, even for Grammy, some hits are just too uncool. CAN'T ALWAYS COUNT ON GRAMMY'S WINNING WAYS MERELY GETTING NOMINATED FOR A Grammy award doesn't do much for an artist's sales. But winning can provide a windfall. The most famous recent case involves Bonnie Raitt, whose album "Nick of Time" had fallen way down the charts in 1989, only to shoot all the way back up to No. 1 after snagging Album of the Year honors. Last year, Alanis Morissette enjoyed a 100,000-unit increase in the week following her big win, hurtling the album to No. 1. And last year's other big winner, Seal, doubled sales from the week before and saw his album jump 25 places on the chart. Even winning doesn't guarantee bigger bucks, however. Last year, the Best Rap album by Naughty By Nature actually sold fewer copies in the week after their win. Go figure.YES, CELINE DION WAS THRILLED to win Album of the Year ("Falling Into You"), saying, "I don't do show business to have awards, but God!" And, no, she doesn't mind that no one thinks she's hip. "I don't see myself recording a rap album tomorrow. My songs talk about love. Love moves people. To me, it's the hippest thing." A singing prodigy from a musical family that lived in Quebec and numbered 14 children, Dion was barely a teenager when she came under the wing of Canadian music entrepreneur Rene Angelil. Under his guidance, she had her first U.S. hit in 1991 with "Where Does My Heart Beat Now." The following year, her "Beauty and the Beast" theme song, which she recorded with Peabo Bryson, won an Oscar, and the single "If You Asked Me To" made the Top Five. "Beauty and the Beast" then won a Grammy in 1993, spurring sales of her self-titled U.S. debut CD past platinum. Her next album, "The Colour of My Love," went triple-platinum and she became a regular on TV awards shows. In 1995, the legendary producer Phil Spector began to work with her, but the sessions were aborted. Instead, she recorded the "Falling Into You" CD, which has a different producer for each track. One of those tracks, "Because You Loved Me," became the theme from the hit movie "Up Close & Personal." Dion married Angelil in 1994. She recently said that, at 28, she's anxious to start a family and will soon take a year's vacation to do so.The Grammy Awards may be a couple of years behind in recognizing the prominence of women in recent popular music, but the 41st annual awards ceremony this week should do its best to make up for any oversights. Virtually all the major multiple nominees this year are women. Lauryn Hill leads the pack with 10 nominations, followed by Shania Twain and Sheryl Crow with six, Madonna with five and Celine Dion and Brandy with four apiece. Most of those artists are expected to perform live during the evening, though the Grammy people do like a balanced telecast and thus are sure to include guys in the mix. Actually, the Grammys haven't been as far behind in acknowledging women as in acknowledging, say, rap and dance music. Bonnie Raitt, Joan Osborne and Shawn Colvin have been big multiple winners in recent years. The Grammys have even done well with female hosts, and this year, sure enough, they have one of those, too: Rosie O'Donnell. And if you're trying to predict a big winner out of this group, don't discount Madonna. It's just about the point in her career when she's passing through the Grammy zone. The 41st Annual Grammy AwardsCBS/Ch. 2, Wednesday, 8 p.m.IT'S BEEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to turn on the radio this fall and not hear Celine Dion belting out Jim Steinman's swelling epic "It's All Coming Back to Me Now." There's one moment you definitely won't hear it, however when the Grammy is announced next February for "Song of the Year." Sony Records, which owns Dion's 550 label, did not submit it for consideration in the Song of the Year category, a songwriter's award. Instead, Sony submitted Dion's previous hit, Diane Warren's "Because You Loved Me." "I'm sure the thinking was that the two Celine songs up compete with each other," says David Simone, head of Polygram Music Publishing, which published Steinman's song. "I understand that. I don't think Sony did this with bad intentions. But it's still a travesty that a song as successful as this one can't even get a chance to be in the running." BMI says "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," now certified platinum, is its most played song of the year. Record companies submit a list of nominations every year to the National Academy of Recording Artists and Sciences, which runs the Grammys, and NARAS says individual members can also submit nominations. This list is then narrowed down to five nominations per category, and the winner is chosen by NARAS membership. Steinman is not a NARAS member. Many of his associates are, but Simone says it "never occurred to anyone until it was too late" that Sony would have ignored "It's All Coming Back." Simone suggests that since "Song of the Year" is a writer's award, nominations should be made by writers. NARAS President Michael Greene indicates, however, that he would be reluctant to change the current system. In any case, this continues a streak for Steinman: He has written a number of smash hits (Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell," Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart"), but he has never gotten the time of day from the Grammys.ATLANTIC CITY NOTES: Bad news for fans of Celine Dion. The French-Canadian pop diva has canceled her sold-out, three-day stint at Caesars, April 23-25, because of her husband's illness. As our friends Rush & Molloy reported, Dion's hubby-manager, Rene Angelil underwent skin cancer surgery last week and she immediately scrubbed an upcoming concert in Quebec. Now, apparently, she has rethought Angelil's needs and canceled all of her shows through May 7. "Renee is the biggest priority in my life," the 30-year-old chanteuse said of her 56-year-old husband. "I want to be at his side as he continues his treatment" at their Florida residence. Caesars announced its support for the singer and said they would reschedule her appearance in the fall. Those with tickets can get refunds at the place of purchase, says Caesars. Heavily used Pacific Ave. one of the town's major throughfares will become a one-way street, if Atlantic City Mayor James Whalen has his way. In a bold move to ease traffic congestion, Whalen says he hopes to have the plan in place by the fall something his predecessors often proposed but were never able to accomplish. "All you have to do is change the paint and change the signs," Whalen said last week during a meeting of local businessmen. Whalen said he would not tackle the change before the fall, fearing that the heavy spring and summer traffic would just make matters much worse. He also announced plans to further redevelop the Bader Field area, where last year a 6,000-seat minor league baseball stadium was erected. Employes at Harrah's have hit the jackpot. The Marina-side casino-resort has come up with a unique incentive program, offering cash bonuses of up to $1,200 a year to bartenders, bellhops and dozens of other rank-and-file employees if the property meets customer service and market share goals, according to the Associated Press. The "Harrah's Entertainment Performance Payout," a company-wide $24 million program that has been approved by New Jersey casino regulators, will be available to all non-management employees. If the casino meets its quarterly goals for customer service and market share, each employee could earn $300. The customer service standard will be determined based on what percentage of patrons give the casino an "A" in surveys distributed at the casino. Casino revenues rose by a modest 2.5% in March, thanks in a great way to heavy high-roller losses at the Hilton and Caesars. The Hilton registered a 34.2% increase over the same period last year while Caesars gained 20.6% Both casinos credited the Holyfield-Lewis heavyweight championship bout in New York's Madison Square Garden for their big win. "A lot of big players came down from New York," a Caesars exec reported. They went home a lot lighter in the pocket. According to figures compiled by the Atlantic City Press, the city's 12 playpens raked in $335.5 million in March, an increase of $8.2 million over March 1998 despite having one less Sunday than a year ago. Resorts posted the sharpest decline of the month a 19.5% loss. The Claridge dipped into the red ink with a 14.5% decline.'You and I were meant to fly higher than the clouds."Hillary Rodham Clinton has her eyes on the skies ... and the Oval Office.No surprise there. But now - with a little tongue-in-cheek help from a cleverly crafted "Sopranos" spoof released yesterday on her Web site - Hillary is sending out that message via a newly chosen campaign theme song: "You and I," sung by Canadian Celine Dion.Think what you will about the songbird Celine. The girl is over the top.But "You and I" - with its catchy, engaging lyrics and driving tempo - is on the mark. Even if the fluffy ditty has already been used in an advertisement for Air Canada.Detractors aside (and there are a few - see story inside), the point of a campaign theme tune is, after all, to unify the troops, to spark interest and to stir the imagination. Bill Clinton knew that when he chose Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop," a tune as stirring as it was forward-thinking, as his 1992 campaign theme song."Why not think about times to come?" the song asked. The presidency is about the future, after all, not the past. Translated: A vote for Bill Clinton is a vote for better days. So it is with "You and I," in which Hillary is inviting every American citizen to join her on the trip toward the White House."So come with me," the song continues, "and you will feel that we're soaring. That we're floating up so high."Stick with me, in other words, we'll wing it all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave."You and I" became a part of political history because Hillary posted a YouTube invitation asking people to help her choose a campaign song. The New York senator came up with her own nominees, but "You and I" was a write-in that ended up wining the contest.What's fascinating is that "You and I" conjures images that we've come to recognize as American emblems, from majestic mountaintops to shining waterways."High above the mountains, far across the sea," the tune begins. "I can hear your voice calling out to me. I can see your love shining like a light."Dion is doing the singing, but the "I" is Hillary. It doesn't take much reading between the lines to get the message from Clinton loud and me clear: You need me, and I'm listening, America.Time will tell if "You and I" inspires people to vote. That would be music to Hillary's ears.The latest trend in hairstyles owes its heat to Gwyneth Paltrow, who showed up at the Golden Globes sporting long, straight blond hair extensions.Now ? says celebrity hairstylist Orlando Pita who created Paltrow?s ?do ? everybody wants the look, from Jewel (who is wearing the extensions in her new video) to Celine Dion (who sported a iron-flat extensions to the Grammys). ?Celine Dion is the best makeover I?ve ever seen,? says New York?s hotshot Oribe, who is winging his way to L.A. to coif Jennifer Lopez and Cate Blanchett on Oscar night. Oribe?s celebrity clients pay anywhere from $200 to $2,000 for custom-dyed falls. ?If it?s a pretty piece, with the right texture and the perfect- color blond, it?s worth the expense,? says Anthony Palermo, a colorist at the Oribe Salon. ?Women get very touchy talking about their hair pieces. Unless it?s obviously fake ? like when your hair grows a foot overnight ? they want people to think it?s real, so the piece has to look and feel comfortable.?To make Thersday reader Jane Witowski over as Paltrow for a day, Palermo used four separate blond falls on her short red hair. Then make up artist Liza Zaretsky, for Stila Cosmetics, went to work. ?Gywneth?s makeup always looks fresh, glowing and healthy,? says Zaretsky, who used Illuminating Powder Foundation ($42 for the chic silver compact, $22 for refills), Shell eyeshadow ($16), baby-pink blush ($15) and a new pink lipstick with a brown base called Pixie ($24). To emulate Blanchett?s elegant look, Sean Gallagher, of the Oribe Salon, twisted Lorena Sicilia?s shoulder-length hair up into a sleek chignon? with a little bit of a retro twist in the back.?Jeanine Lobell, the founder of Stila cosmetics, will be doing the makeup for the ?real? Blanchett on Sunday night, and Zaretsky used similar colors on Sicilia, giving her smoky, sultry eyes using silvery-gray/blue shadow ($15). She applied All-Over shimmer No. 3 ($28) to Sicilia?s cheeks and painted her lips with a beige gloss called ?Pink Shine? ($17). To transform Theresa Massaro into an Emily Watson look-alike, our team decided to have the most fun with this look and go all out retro-Hollywood style. Gallagher set Massaro?s hair in pincurls with a long finger-wave, while Zaretsky used strong, rich shades of makeup: A deep red called Norma ($17) on her lips and beige-gold shimmer on the eyelids ($15); and then defined her brows with a stiff, angled brush ($15) and Powder Brow Definer ($20). Call 1-888-999-9039 for a Stila catogueCELINE DION: THAT'S THE WOMAN IN ME. Friday at 9, Ch. 2Tina Turner Week continues on CBS Friday night when Celine Dion kicks off her hour-long concert special, "That's the Woman in Me," with a glittery, full-throttle rendition of "River Deep, Mountain High." It bears a striking stylistic resemblance to Turner's own performance of "Proud Mary" with Beyoncé on the Grammys Sunday night. Specifically, Dion shows her mastery of the Las Vegas gloss that Tina applied on Sunday. Truth is, that's something Dion has always worn better than Turner, and she puts it all on display for this prime-time show. Big, showy productions have been Celine's signature for years, a signature that's made her one of the richest and most popular entertainers in America. On this special, as in the rest of her work, Dion more than occasionally takes it over the top. On "The Power of Love," her voice goes up and just keeps going - and the crowd gets happier with each note. Nearly all artists talk about how they love the audience, but that sentiment is rarely as palpable, or reciprocated, as with Dion. Much of her popularity rests on her extraordinary connection with fans, which stems partly from her ability to simultaneously project both star power and an aura of "Aw, shucks, is that me you're clapping for?" She's done that in Vegas for years. It's harder on TV, but even here, fans will come away feeling like they've spent an afternoon in her living room. In the segment where she is joined by Josh Groban, she devotes several minutes to a warm exchange about how much she helped and encouraged him back when he was young and nervous. Lest anyone miss the point, she dedicates another song to Jennifer Love Hewitt, who is sitting in the audience with her fiancé. As Dion sings a love song, the camera pans across Hewitt's table, where she and her fella are bathed in soft blue light. That's hardly an accident, though ultimately it's just decoration on the Dion package. The main reason Dion has become an institution is that people like the way she sings, and for most of this hour that's what she does. She sings "Something" with Joe Walsh, and "Eyes on Me" with will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. She sings them strongly, with a twinkle or a plea in her eye, depending on what the song calls for. She should save the biggest twinkle, however, for when she sings the title song from her new CD, "Taking Chances." If there's one thing Celine Dion does not do, though, it's leave anything to chance. Democracy and art have never mixed. The latest proof? The public's woeful decision to vote for Celine Dion's drecky "You and I" as Hillary Clinton's big campaign jingle on her Web site.Worse, the song wasn't even among the original top 10 candidates suggested by Hillary's people. It won as a write-in.Bill had a better idea. He had his heart set on Smashmouth's version of the old Monkees' hit "I'm a Believer." It's got a zippy tune, a likably camp aura and a pop icon for an author (Neil Diamond).Choosing that song would have injected a shot of humor into the campaign without muddying the message of faith in the candidate. The Dion ditty, with its soaringly romantic lyric about "you and I/flying high," sung by a woman about a woman, winds up sounding like an ad for a lesbian version of the mile-high club.Will that really help Hillary's image with the most conservative voters she needs to woo?Several other, worthier candidates were in the running for the prize. Among 10 contenders, voters could have pulled the lever for U2's (with Bono) uplifting "Beautiful Day," Tina Turner's strutting "The Best" or McFadden & Whitehead's defiant "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now.""You and I" has none of their righteousness or catchiness. It's just a load of sentimental wind, now destined to spend the next 17 months blowing out every speaker from coast to coast.Is it too soon to call for a recount?BEFORE SUNSET. With Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy. Director: Richard Linklater (1:20). R: Language, sexual references. At the Angelika and Loews Lincoln Square. 3.5 Stars Richard Linklater's "Before Sunset," a sequel to the 1995 "Before Sunrise," may be the easiest movie of the year to recommend. If you liked the first film, you'll love this one. The earlier movie, about a young American and a French student who meet on a train and spend an adventurous, romantic night talking, walking and making love in Vienna, has already tested your patience for long-winded conversation. If you weren't bored then, hop aboard now. Nine years later, the conversation is deeper, faster, smarter and more to the point. Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) only have about an hour and 20 minutes this time. Jesse has come to Paris for the French publication of his first novel, which recounts his night with Celine. Of course, she shows up - he counted on it - and though he's got a plane to catch, they go out for a walk and a talk. What she wants to know is whether he showed up in Vienna for their planned six-month reunion. She didn't make it, she says, because her grandmother had died a couple days before. As it turns out, he did show up, and as their conversation wears on, both reveal how much that missed encounter has affected their lives. In fact, both think that it robbed them of some ability to love. Jesse is married, unhappily, with a 4-year-old son he can't imagine leaving. Celine has gone through a succession of suffocating relationships, and is living with a photo-journalist who is seldom home - thank God. MASTERFUL WRITING As time winds down and their conversation becomes more and more pointed, a window of opportunity opens, if narrowly, and we begin to wonder if they will allow it to slip away again. Will they at least exchange numbers this time? The naturalistic dialogue is a masterful bit of writing, credited to Linklater and his "Sunrise" co-writer Kim Krizan, as well as to the two stars. In the first film, the conversation between Jesse and Celine in Vienna was tentative, both playful and cautious, as if the strangers were afraid to burst the little romantic bubble they'd built around themselves. In the new film, they speak with the confidence of people who've been around, and as two friends who seemed to have shared more than a single night together. They still spar with each other, but on different levels. There are no sexual insecurities, and neither is particularly cautious - about their sexuality, their politics or their coarsening philosophies of life. That the chemistry that brought them together on the train nine years earlier still exists is evident from their first glance in the bookstore, and it creates a tension that carries us with them throughout the movie. Most sequels are financial considerations. This one, and perhaps the next, are organic. Linklater can wait five or 10 years if he wants, but I'd like to know how Jesse and Celine are doing, and whether they're together.A restaurant slated to open early next year in promises to leave diners in the dark - literally.Blind waiters will be serving up French cuisine at Dans le Noir? , in a windowless space devoid of light."It's a sensory culinary experience," said manager . "This is an experience that will allow people to discover and rediscover the food and wine they already know."Clumsy foodies have nothing to fear, Djezvedjian said.In the six years since the unconventional restaurant first opened in , there has not been a single incident. In fact, it has been so successful - and safe - that Dans le Noir? - French for "In the Black?" - now has outposts in and ."We take safety very seriously," Djezvedjian said.As soon as they enter the restaurant, proposed for Franklin St. near Lafayette St., diners will have to surrender their cell phones and other gadgets that light up.A blind server will then lead them from the lit bar to a large table in a pitch-black dining area. The prix fixe menu will run about $65 a person, and guests will be limited to two glasses of wine.There will be helpers to guide customers to the bathrooms, and in the event of emergencies, the lights can be turned on with the flick of a "panic button," Djezvedjian said.The restaurant received approval from a Community Board 1 advisory committee this week, but it still has hurdles to overcome. The full board will rule on the project Nov. 23, and regardless of the decision, the State Liquor Authority will have the final say.The restaurant does have in its corner organizations like , which provides services for people who are visually impaired."As an employment opportunity, it's a great thing," said the group's CEO, , noting that about 70% of visually impaired people are unemployed. "And for people to experience what life is like for people with total vision impairment is a tremendous thing."Plans for the long-reported "ultimate" Latin music concert assembled by and her husband were confirmed this morning amid a blizzard of superlatives. "Q'Viva: The Chosen," described as "the ultimate live show celebrating Latin music, artistry and dance," will be produced by , whose previous work includes the creation of "," the promotion of the and the international branding of David and . Besides the live concert, the project will include a reality-type series documenting the three months Lopez and Anthony say they will spend traveling through the hemisphere in search of talent. They will go "from remote villages" to major cities, they say. The director will be , who has previously directed concerts by , , and , among others. Everything will be filmed in three languages and the concert will be broadcast in 21 countries, said the official announcement from Fuller's . Airdate and broadcast partners are pending, though the project does have its major corporate sponsor: Blackberry. has serious designs on a future in fashion. The pop star is reportedly spending a lot more time in in order to focus on a high-end line of men's and women's apparel, according to the . West, who interned at under the tutelage of , recently created a collection of scarves inspired by the art for his album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." wore a color blocked woman's tunic from French luxury fashion house Celine during his performance.(C Flanigan/; Pierre Verdy/Getty) The singer is likely looking to put out his own label rather than be a brand's celebrity guest designer. After 's much-panned stint as the artistic adviser for the French house of , West said he was worried that he would never achieve his runway dreams. "Did you not see the ? That was 9/11 for celebrities doing fashion. After that I thought: 'Well I can't do a line now," he said, according to the Telegraph. West has become a fashion show fixture these last few seasons and has become a big fan of one Paris design house: Celine. The rapper opted to wear a colorful woman's tunic from the French luxury fashion house during his Coachella performance back in April.Nov. 22, 2008, Karen, 27, a pharmacist, and Jose, 27, a cell-phone salesman, met at a mutual friend's birthday in February 2005. After dating two years, Jose proposed while they were at his house on Feb. 15, 2007, with a princess-cut diamond three-stone engagement ring. "He was calling me to pick up my phone inside the bag. I saw the ring, and I was shocked," recalled Karen. "He got on his knees and proposed." The couple exchanged vows at City Hall on on March 1, 2007. Jose's cousin, , was the only witness. "We chose Nov. 22 [for the wedding] because that's a really good day for Asians to get married, according to the Chinese calendar," said Karen. The couple decided to have a traditional Chinese wedding at Mudan Banquet Hall, with 260 guests. During the reception, Karen changed her dress three times. She entered the room in a white strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline and beading and carried a bouquet of dark purple calla lilies and various shades of pink roses. The five bridesmaids wore grape halter dresses and held bouquets of different shades of pink roses. After the bride and groom danced to "Look Into My Eyes" by and , Karen changed into her chi pao, a fitted Chinese red dress with slits on each side and a gold outline of a phoenix and dragon. The third dress was a pink strapless, long evening gown. Since Jose grew up in , they decided to have Spanish hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour and American-Chinese cuisine for dinner. The couple is looking forward to their honeymoon in .A Rego Park man who killed his ex-wife's husband was sentenced yesterday to at least 25 years in prison thanks in large part to the dead's man young daughter, who witnessed his brutal death. Celine Chiu told jurors that she saw the killer strangle her father, Tsun Ho Chiu, in her dad's Rego Park apartment and that she touched his corpse in the hope of finding a pulse. Yesterday, Chiu, who was 11 when her father was slain, clutched her mother's hand as Kew Gardens Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman sentenced Hon Do Lau to 25 years to life for the September 1995 murder. Celine's testimony last month was crucial in winning a conviction, Assistant District Attorney Frank Catarisano said. "She gave very devastating, chilling testimony," he said. Celine, now 13, did not speak in court yesterday, but Catarisano read a letter to Cooperman on behalf of the family. Now that the horrendous case is over, Catarisano said, family members feel they can go on with their lives. "We were once living in darkness, not knowing where we were heading, but now we have found a new light," he read from the letter. Lau, 47, gave no reaction and remained silent during the proceedings. During the trial, Celine said she was lying in bed with her sleeping father when she was roused by a "gurgling sound." She saw Lau sitting on her father's chest, she said. "He was strangling him," she said softly, gently rocking back and forth on the witness stand. "He had a rope around his neck. He was pulling it tighter and tighter with all his might." Celine reached for the telephone, but Lau yanked the cord from the wall, she said. "I was crying," Celine said in state Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. "I told him to stop. . . . I knew he wouldn't." Lau killed Chiu, 44, because Chiu had married his ex-wife, authorities said. After the slaying, Lau ordered the girl at gunpoint into her father's car, she said. He then put the corpse in the backseat, she said. "I turned around. I saw my dad," she said. "I touched his neck for a pulse, but I didn't find it. He was cold and clammy." Lau told police that he buried the body on Long Island but was unable to lead cops to the site. Defense attorney John Wallenstein asked Cooperman to give Lau a lighter sentence of 15 years to life. He said Lau was emotionally tortured by Chiu's beginning a relationship with his wife while Lau was imprisoned in France on drug charges. "He acted under extreme emotional distress," Wallenstein said. almost didn't get the chance to change her life with a new movie, which starts shooting Monday."Labor Pains" producer kept getting turned down by insurers, an informed source tells us. "[Schwartz] could only find one insurance company to cover her, and even then he really had to vouch for her." As wrote in "Postcards From the Edge," actors with a history of drug and alcohol abuse, to which Lohan has admitted, have difficulty getting film insurance. Lohan is still on probation for two DUI arrests last year. "Labor Pains" is just the sort of romantic comedy that could turn the talented 21-year-old beauty's career around. According to the screenplay we've obtained, Lohan plays a young woman who pretends to be pregnant so she doesn't get fired. She thrives on the attention she's getting despite "carrying a volleyball around on her stomach." We don't want to be spoilers, but the script is hilarious. The movie will be made whether or not there's an actors strike, since the union gave Schwartz a waiver, Variety reported. "Lindsay is a tremendously talented actress," said ' , who's co-producing the film. "We have spent a lot of time with her over the last three months, and she has really impressed us with her work ethic. "She comes to every meeting 15 minutes early, to the point where she has shown up a few times before we were ready for her. She is rehearsing every day with energy and focus. She is lovely to her co-stars and the crew. "We got her insured in the film, and our insurance and bond reps have also been impressed with her good behavior. "Whatever personal issues she may have had in the past, it is clear to me that work is her total priority. "She wants to make this role and this film a success, and I truly believe in her." Concludes our source: "It's definitely the kind of movie people want to see Lindsay in, not like 'I Know Who Killed Me.'"Universal Motown execs are keeping fingers crossed that 's new album can be released on time later this year. An insider tells us the volatile young star isn't being overly cooperative with scheduling and has already canceled important meetings with superproducer ."Universal is trying to make her new album a success by lining up great producing talents, and, recently, they even hooked Timbaland. But Lindsay has canceled their planned meetings twice," says the snitch. Lohan's rep denied that Lindsay had missed meetings, and said that Timbaland had yet to be approached to collaborate on the album. However, it appears that after a rocky start, singer-songwriter is still on board. The source said Lindsay had rejected some initial tracks from the star-maker, who has created hits for , Usher and . But he is still in talks to work with the rehabbed pop star, and staffers hope that one song will make the cut. did not respond to our request for comment. July 4, 2008, , 26, a third-grade teacher, and , 24, an electrician, met when they were just teenagers. "He was friends with my sister and we met about nine years ago, hanging out in a neighborhood park," said Lisa, "and basically we've been together ever since." The Bronx couple got engaged in May 2006. "It was a big surprise," said Lisa. "We were at a family party at , and he got down on his knee and proposed down by the water. It was really romantic." During the ceremony, Lisa walked down the aisle with her father. She wore a gown by and carried a bouquet of calla lilies. A celebration for 260 followed at Marina Del Ray, naturally. The couple gave out bottles of wine for favors and had a photo booth available where guests took filmstrip-style pictures. They had two wedding songs: a first dance to "The Prayer" sung by and , and one after the cake was cut, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by . Guests were also treated to a view of fireworks across the water in . "It was a perfect, magical night. We really had a great time, it was awesome," said Lisa. The newlyweds took off for a honeymoon in . Not only does 's heart go on, her alarm system does, too. A 36-year-old man was busted by police Monday after breaking into Dion's home, eating her food and drawing himself a bath, police told . Dion, 43, and her family weren't home at the time of the break in, but from what police have said, it doesn't sound like the invader was looking to terrorize the superstar and her family as much as he was looking for a little rest and relaxation."He opened the water faucets, was pouring a nice warmish bath [and] he even managed to eat some pastry that was in the fridge," a police spokesman told the . The man allegedly jumped Dion's fence and used a garage-door opener he found in an unlocked vehicle to gain entrance to the house. And although he broke in and tripped the alarm, he was apparently surprised to see the police arrive."The suspect was coming down the big staircase and was asking: 'Hey, guys what are you doing here?'" the spokesman said. "So the officers replied: 'What are you doing here?' and they proceeded to put him under arrest."This wasn't the first time Dion has had trouble with overzealous fans.In 2009, another man tried to break into the same Montreal home.The man charged with mowing down a beloved nun in said Thursday he wasn't behind the wheel - it was a third, unidentified suspect."I just want to own up to what I did, the robbery," said yesterday in a jailhouse phone call to the Daily News."They're telling me I got to take 40 years for this... That's not the time I should be doing," he said. "I owned up to the robbery I committed, but they're trying to blame me for her murder."Williams, who fled cops, leaving fellow suspect, , 18, behind, claimed he jumped out of the car before it hit a minivan that killed , 84.Cops say Williams was driving at the time."There were two suspects, and we have both of them," police spokesman told The News.Williams and Robbins were awaiting arraignment Thursday night. A high school student who used his family minivan in a series of gunpoint robberies that ended in the death of an 84-year-old nun pleaded guilty Monday.William Robbins, 20, confessed to one stickup and thereby avoided going to trial for the murder of Sister Mary Celine Graham.Police pulled Robbins from his minivan June 22, 2010, at W. 142nd St. on suspicion he was responsible for five stickups in Central Harlem.But his accomplice, Dyson Williams, who was in the passenger seat, slid behind the wheel and took off with police trailing. Williams smashed the Honda Odyssey at W. 123rd and Lenox Ave., killing the Franciscan nun and injuring four others.Despite being blocks away, Robbins was still charged with her death.Under the deal with prosecutors, Robbins will likely get 15 years in jail.August 23, 2008, MaryJane Foxworth, 42, a teacher, first met the , 56, when she was 16 and he became pastor of her church. Eventually, he moved to but would let former congregants know when he would be preaching. "A bunch of us got together and went down there and he was really surprised that we showed up," she recalls. Not long after, Joseph called MaryJane and asked her to dinner the next time he was in . She didn't think much of it until five days later when he asked her, "Where do you want to go on our second date?" "I had never imagined dating a pastor," she says, "and at first, it was a bit strange for me." A few months later, she moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to Joseph, and they returned to four months later when he was offered another position. On Aug. 19, 2007, another large group went to Pennsylvania to worship with "Father Joe." Joseph arranged a meal after the service, at which he began to make a speech. "I thought he was just going to thank people for coming," she admits. "When he had me come and stand with him, I still didn't get it. He proposed and I was in complete shock!" The bride was escorted down the aisle by her son to 's "Because You Love Me." The ceremony was at and the aisle was lined with sandcastles. The bride wore a "long and flowing" halter gown from and carried white calla lilies. Her two daughters stood by her side as the maid of honor and bridesmaid. The groom's grandson served as the best man, while his granddaughter was the flower girl. The party for 200 continued on the beach and included sack races, Hula-Hoop contests and an obstacle course for the kids. The couple cut into a cake with pineapple filling before treating guests to gel candles shaped as seashells and starfish. They honeymooned at Sugarloaf Mountain in .Sony Music boss Tommy Mottola's in play. The music honcho is pushing for an early contract renewal with the Japanese electronics giant, but talks have stalled industry sources said. Meanwhile, the man behind superstars Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, and Bruce Springsteen, is said to have had offers from other entertainment companies. Mottola's current contract expires in March, 2004. He's believed to be one of the highest paid music execs in the world, with a salary approaching $10 million. Music insiders said the Japanese may be reluctant to commit to a hefty increase during an industrywide downturn. Sony declined to comment. "He may be demanding salary increases that are greater than they want to give," said music attorney George Gilbert. "But given the talent pool, no one who is available has the experience he has." Since Mottola took over Sony Music in 1988, sales tripled to $4.8 billion, making Sony the world's No. 2 music giant. With the most stable management team in the industry, Mottola is credited with propelling careers of an array of divas including ex-wife Mariah Carey, and for sparking a Latin explosion with artists Ricky Martin, Shakira, Lopez and Marc Anthony. Sony Music's operating profits last year were flat at $152 million. Its U.S. market share is No. 3 behind Universal and Warner. MESSIER'S MESS In another major blow, shaky Vivendi boss Jean-Marie Messier has lost a key ally. His closest friend on Vivendi's board, LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault quit yesterday, right before the company's board meeting in Paris. According to several accounts, the billionaire luxury goods exec was fuming because he was not informed of a recent deal orchestrated by Messier to raise $1.35 billion by parking Vivendi's stock with Deutsche Bank. The transaction hammered Vivendi stock to its lowest level in more than a decade. Arnault is the second French board member to resign from the troubled French media company in the last few days and the fifth to bail in recent months. His departure is expected to tilt the power of the board to its nonFrench members, some of whom are hostile to Messier. "He was fed up with Messier; he wasn't willing to run the risk of being sued," said James Kaufman, president of Kaufman Financial Advisors. While Messier survived another long and brutal board meeting yesterday, the company once again tried to appease furious shareholders, announcing a plan to hold regular analyst conference calls to "put a halt to continuous and negative rumors surrounding the group." The company also named Dominique Hoenn of French bank BNP Paribas to replace Arnault. EISNER'S BOOKKEEPER Disney boss Michael Eisner feels he has a Mickey Mouse accountant. The media mogul claims in a suit filed against his accounting firm, Executive Monetary Management, that he and his wife had to pay $3 million in back taxes because they were given shoddy advice. The suit alleges the firm failed to realize California law differs from federal law in its treatment of stock donations to private foundations. Eisner's seeking $3 million and legal fees. Pfurman@edit.nydailynews.comNBC is now waffling on its pledge to the Anti-Defamation League never to rerun a skit from the Dec. 4 edition of "Saturday Night Live" that included a line about Jews killing Jesus. The debate is continuing at NBC over an "SNL" sketch that poked fun at Christmas. In it, "SNL" cast member Ana Gasteyer playing Celine Dion, said that Jews own all the banks and movie studios. Guest host Christina Ricci playing Britney Spears, later said Christians have forgiven Jews "for having killed our Lord." The day after the skit aired, the ADL's offices around the country were flooded with calls from angry viewers, according to national director Abraham Foxman. Foxman then wrote to NBC complaining about the segment. "We are aware that 'SNL' pokes fun and is irreverent to institutions, people, society - and whether it's funny or not is a matter of taste," Foxman told The News yesterday. "Once in a while it crosses the line of insensitivity." Foxman said the "SNL" skit was "offensive, insensitive and it reinforced the worst of the anti-Semitic canards." In response to Foxman's letter, Rosalyn Weinman, executive vice president of East Coast Entertainment and Broadcast Content Policy, said she reviewed the parody and decided that a portion of the sketch would be cut from all future telecasts of that episode. That came as a surprise to the folks at "Saturday Night Live." Through "SNL" spokesman Mark Liepis, all executive producer Lorne Michaels would say yesterday is that the issue is "under discussion." "It was NBC's intention to not air this again, but it's currently under review," said an NBC spokeswoman, Shirley Powell. Weinman is on vacation and unavailable for comment. It appears the next step will be a meeting among Michaels, Weinman and the higher-ups at NBC, to determine the future of the sketch - which normally would be included in reruns of the show's episode and could return in other compilations. If NBC goes back on Weinman's pledge, then it and she look like liars. If not, it upsets Michaels. Though "SNL" is closely monitored by network standards-and-practices staffers, there was no mention of trouble at the show's Wednesday script read-through, early rehearsals or the dress rehearsal that occurs just before taping. "We're not at war with NBC or 'SNL,' " Foxman said. "I hope that Dr. Weinman's position prevails. If not, it's a message for the future. We're not out there calling for boycotts." Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League - which recorded no calls complaining about the sketch - said: "As usual, there seems to be greater intolerance for anti-Semitism than anti-Catholicism. "There have been worse things that have offended Catholics," Donahue said. "We've complained about things that were far more egregious and we've been blown off by these guys." Donohue said he could see why the ADL would complain about "SNL," but he feels "the average viewer of 'SNL' will understand this for what it is."THE NEW morning co-host on WSKQ (97.9 FM), Epi Colon, says he's not looking to compete with the memory of Junior Hernandez. Luis Jimenez and Hernandez, who died suddenly on Feb. 4, had become the second most popular morning-show hosts in the city. Colon, Jimenez' new partner as of Monday, said yesterday that he hopes to bring in some new elements. "We're taking it to a new level," says Jimenez. "New characters, new skits, a faster pace. I know Epi will be compared to Junior, but we hope people realize it's a different program." Colon has worked for several years in Puerto Rican radio, where most recently he was assistant program director of "Cadena Sal Soul." "Going on the air after Junior's death was the hardest thing I've ever done," said Jimenez yesterday. "But the listeners were great, and after getting through that, I know we can get through anything. I feel like after just two days, Epi and I are 100% already." WABC DEFENDS LAURA: Dr. Laura Schlessinger did not comment on-air about Howard Stern's suggestion that she was just looking for attention when she bailed out of a TV deal because she didn't want to be syndicated by the same company as Stern. But WABC (770 AM), her local radio affiliate, defends her. "Laura wasn't looking for a TV deal," says WABC program director Phil Boyce. "She had a TV deal. She canceled it on principle." Boyce added that he wasn't unhappy with the outcome, since her syndicated TV show could have aired in the morning thus competing with her radio show. AROUND THE DIAL: More sad news: Harold (Doc) Wade, a long-time black radio deejay, has died at his East Orange home. He was in his late 70s. . . . For tax deadline day, WBAI (99.5 FM) is offering advice on how not to pay taxes that support defense programs. . . . WKTU's morning team, noting reports of tension between Mariah Carey and others on VH1's "Divas" show, asked who would win a fight between Mariah and Celine Dion. Most callers voted for Celine ("better reach"), but Michelle Visage picked Carey ("because Celine weighs about 2 pounds").With its audience lagging well behind rival WSKQ, WCAA (105.9 FM) has unveiled a new morning team: afternoon host Alipio Cocco Cabrera and glamorous Univision entertainment host Celines Toribio. "Coco y Celines en la Manana" inherits a slot that averages 1.3% of the city audience, compared to 6.4% for Luis Jimenez and Moonshadow on WSKQ. Moonshadow once did the WCAA morning show. Cabrera and Toribio were both born in the Dominican Republic. Cabrera has been host of Latino Mix's afternoon show, while former model Toribio has been the host of numerous Univision shows. They will be joined, 6-10 a.m., by comedian The Borikua Kid. KISSING AGAIN: Barry Mayo, who was program director when WRKS (98.7 FM) became an urban station 20 years ago, is reportedly returning to the station as a consultant. Mayo, who doesn't do much consulting work, is highly regarded in radio. In the roller-coaster world of urban stations, where the jockeying for position is fierce and constant, WRKS is looking for a way to ride back up again. In the fall it averaged 2.7% of the audience, putting it in 14th place, while rival WBLS had 4.5% and came in fourth. TAVIS ARRIVES: Tavis Smiley, a popular BET host whose departure from that network last year led to a round of protests, starts his talk radio career today. He can be heard locally on WNYE (91.5 FM), 9-10 a.m., Monday-Friday. Smiley is followed by several other National Public Radio shows WNYE will pick up again now that it has ended a partial simulcast with WNYC. That includes Diane Rehm, 10 a.m.-noon, "Fresh Air," noon-1 p.m., "Public Interest," 1-2 p.m., and "Talk of the Nation," 2-4 p.m. Smiley, a long-time NPR fan, says his show will cover "politics, money, relationships, race, class, culture and more." AROUND THE DIAL: The former "dissident" faction that is now back in power at WBAI (99.5 FM) starts a critical fund-raising drive today. WBAI and its parent Pacifica Foundation are always on the lip of the fiscal volcano, but this time it is estimated the network is $4 million in debt even though the staffers on the air at 'BAI last fall said their drive raised a million.? DJ Bobbito of WBAI spins live every Monday at APT, 419 W. 13th St., 10 p.m.-4 a.m.? The Rev. Al Sharpton and James Mtume of WRKS told a symposium on black radio advertising here Friday that they plan a campaign to 1) enforce an executive order that requires proportionate media spending by any government entity and 2) demand that the ad industry hire more black folks.Dion to take a 3-year break MUSIC - Celine Dion says she'll spend up to three years away from the music business, but not before issuing an album boasting a "duet" with Frank Sinatra and holding a New Year's Eve concert. At a news conference, the first since husband Rene Angelil underwent surgery in April for skin cancer, Dion said her Dec. 31 concert in Montreal will be her last public performance for a while. Dion, 30, says she wants to enjoy the break quietly at her homes in Quebec and Florida, and to focus with her 56-year-old husband on trying to have a baby. Haimes exits Livent stage THEATER - Todd Haimes, artistic director of the Roundabout Theater Co. since 1990, announced yesterday that he was giving up his post as artistic director of struggling Livent Inc., to resume full-time duties at the Roundabout. Haimes had been holding down both positions for the last year. Now that Livent, which produced "Ragtime" and "Fosse" on Broadway, has been sold, he's returning to the Roundabout to oversee its move to a new playhouse on W. 42nd St., on the site of the former Selwyn Theater. The new theater's first production will be "Uncle Vanya," starring Derek Jacoby. Michael Mayer ("Side Man," "A View From the Bridge") will direct. Axl's back, for Arnold flick MUSIC - When the trailer for Arnold Schwarzenegger's "End of Days" played last night on the MTV Video Music Awards, the accompanying music gave away one of the film's surprises. The song "Oh My God" is the big single from the picture, and was recorded by Guns N' Roses, with Axl Rose on vocals. It's the first new material from the band in eight years. Arnold may have been instrumental: The band's song "You Could Be Mine" was featured prominently in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day." 'Dogma' gets indy distributor MOVIES - Independent film distributor Lions Gate says it has purchased rights to the controversial film "Dogma" for release in North America. The movie stars Hollywood heartthrobs Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as two fallen angels who believe some religious laws are fallible, and they try to exploit a legal loophole to reenter heaven. Groups such as the Catholic League have voiced outrage about its content. The controversy grew so loud that in April, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who run Miramax, which backed the movie's production, bought "Dogma" from Disney-owned Miramax. On your Marc, get set, go! MUSIC - Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon for Latin superstar Marc Anthony, who will be playing Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 W. 34th St. Tickets are $ 35 and are available through Ticketmaster, (212) 307-7171.STEADY VEGAS GIG FOR CELINE Celine Dion plans to return to performing in 2003 with a permanent show at a 4,000-seat amphitheater at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace that is being built to resemble the Roman Colosseum. Dion will perform there 200 nights a year. The 33-year-old singer, who stopped performing last year to try to get pregnant, gave birth to her first child on Jan. 25. The theater is being built to replace the hotel-casino's 1,000-seat Circus Maximus showroom, demolished in September. HIP-HOP NATION AT THE UN Rapper KRS-One unveiled a document he calls the "Hip-Hop Declaration of Peace" during a ceremony Wednesday at the United Nations. Joined by hip-hop progenitors Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool Herc and the Cold Crush Brothers, KRS-One said the declaration would "establish hip hop as an international culture for peace, decriminalize hip hop's public image and declare peace unto the hip-hop nation once and for all." KRS-One wants every hip-hop artist to sign the 23-paragraph statement of cultural unity. He says he will collect the signatures over the next year, and adapt the declaration's language to the wishes of the community. 'OKLAHOMA!' TO NYC VIA BRITAIN "Oklahoma!", the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, is coming to Broadway next year. A production by Trevor Nunn that was a smash last year in London was set to come last season, but was abandoned when Actors' Equity raised objections to bringing over the British cast. Now, Nunn will direct a cast made up mostly of Americans. Susan Stroman ("The Producers," "Contact") will choreograph. It is scheduled to open March 21 at the Gershwin Theater after previews beginning Feb. 23. FILLING A VOID "Urinetown," a hit Off-Broadway musical, is moving to Broadway. It will close at the American Theater of Actors July 2 and open at the Henry Miller Theater on W. 43rd St. later that month (the date is uncertain, because the theater is being rebuilt for the show). Its cast includes John Cullum, Hunter Foster, Spencer Kayden and Jeff McCarthy.Sept. 12, 2008, Nicole Marie Pakola was only doing her familial duty of attending her father's softball game in June 2000 when she met her future husband. was one of the younger men on the team, and, as she describes it, "We hit it off." Her father had no problem with his daughter dating one of his teammates. "My dad always thought he was a great guy," Nicole says. The two had their first date over a round of miniature golf. Nicole was curious when she hadn't received a Valentine's Day gift in 2007, but was soon surprised with a weekend getaway in the . When they arrived at their suite, Joseph, 31, a fireman, led Nicole, 29, who works in a dental office, to the fireplace and popped the question. Nicole carried white roses, calla lilies and stephanotis as her father escorted her to the altar at St. Benedict's Church. Scattered appliqués, beadwork and pickups covered the bride's sweetheart strapless gown, which she topped with combs and a fingertip-length veil with matching beadwork. Afterward, they filled a party bus with their 13 groomsmen, two maids of honor - wearing coral strapless dresses - and 11 bridesmaids in chocolate brown two-piece dresses from Watters & Watters. Tall vases with roses and calla lilies of assorted colors filled , where the 230 guests selected from seven entree options. , a six-piece band, played "The Prayer," by and , for the newlyweds' first dance. The pair made a donation to the in their guests' honor before departing for more than two weeks in . has titled her current tour "Taking Chances," but those searching for some examples - in fact, for any - would have been hard-pressed to find them Monday night at . PHOTOS: Although four years have passed since the world's loudest diva has toured the land, after a lingering stint in , the Dion playbook hasn't added any new chapters, aside perhaps, for some added bangles, beads and video screens. Luckily, no one treks to a Dion show for a sense of surprise. They gather to listen, in ritualized awe, to the woman's fearsome wind power. Like a human version of Hurricane Ike, Dion whips and blows her way through songs without mercy, tearing apart nuance, meaning and subtlety as she goes. The brute force of her sound may make people of taste cower, but those who try to deny its impact do so at their own peril. From the start of last night's marathon - a take on 's '80s hit "I Drove All Night" - Dion kept the accent on physical prowess, tackling notes as much like an athlete as a singer. She spent much of the show pumping her fist, throwing her hands in the air and thumping her chest in a flurry of triumphant gestures even a young might think a bit much. In her trademark style, Dion approached the biggest notes with great, feigned drama, first pausing to gain momentum, then shooting up her arms to indicate steely intent, only to finally hurl the note with the assurance of a javelin thrower going for the gold. The rippling muscularity of her singing dovetails with the bullheaded idealism of the lyrics she sings. Love doesn't just conquer all in these songs, it beats it senseless. In her many canned monologues, Dion hit all the populist marks, shoehorning in as many maudlin references to "family" as possible. Of course, all the sentiment and bluster can't help but make a real impression - part camp, part legit. If anything, Dion intensified the melodic panache of her hits, from "The Power of Love" to "Because You Loved Me." Her take on Heart's "Alone" idealized the tune. Giggle if you will at all the bombast, when it comes to diva Celine, resistance is futile. TO THE SURPRISE OF NO ONE, the Notorious B.I.G. earned larger-than-life sales for his posthumous new album. The prophetically titled "Life After Death" sold 689,535 copies in its first week out, easily snaring the No. 1 spot on next week's Billboard Top 200. The No. 2? Celine Dion's "Falling Into You" with 196,000. Biggie's gargantuan opening even managed to better the track record of Tupac Shakur's first posthumous release last November, "The Don Killuminati" (released under the pseudonym Makaveli). That album moved 664,000 on its first week out. Biggie's album also boasts the biggest opening-week sales of the year, nearly doubling its second place competition, U2's "Pop," which moved 349,000 its first week. Overall, Biggie's album holds the record as the sixth most powerful opening count since SoundScan began an accurate appraisal of such things in 1991, behind Guns N' Roses' "Use Your Illusion II" (at 770,000) and ahead of Metallica's "Load" (at 680,000). The biggest SoundScan debuts remain Pearl Jam's "Vs." (950,000) and "Vitalogy" (877,000), followed by the Beatles' "Anthology" (at 855,000).Music, once a staple of television, is making a lot of noise lately. After a couple of seasons without any new concert series, several are rolling out this summer on channels ranging from PBS to Oxygen. But rather than going for big-name stars such as Celine Dion or Faith Hill - the focus of two recent prime-time network specials - new acts are being showcased. "I think people are hungry to see music and good performances again on TV, but there's only a handful of artists that the big networks will commit to," said Joel Gallen, an executive producer of WB's new "Pepsi Smash" that airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. "For me, this show brings back the spirit of those prime-time music shows from the late 1960s and early 1970s that had a lot of acts on the same bill and the audience loved each of them equally," Gallen said. Back then it wasn't unusual to have the Ronettes, Donovan and the Rolling Stones appear on the same edition of "Shindig!" There was also "American Bandstand," "Soul Train" and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert." All but "Soul Train" have faded away, leaving a void for music series. But now, the genre is being revived. Oxygen's "Custom Concert" series will have the Goo Goo Dolls in September, while other acts such as Beyonce Knowles and Michael McDonald will show up on other shows on different networks. MTV did its part earlier this year when it shifted its "Live From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" to a concert stage in Orlando, Fla., and this summer rebranded the Wednesday, 8 p.m. show as "AT&T Wireless presents Hard Rock Live." "We hope this will become a signature series for us," said Amy Doyle, a vice president of music programming at MTV. One of the channel's last breakout performance series was the acoustic-based "MTV Unplugged," which ended in 1999 after a decade on the air and was briefly revived in 2002 on MTV2. Meanwhile, PBS programmers are getting back into the music act with a new, highdefinition version of the studio-based "Soundstage," which hasn't aired on public TV in 20 years. New episodes appear on WNET/Ch. 13 Friday nights at 12:30 a.m. and on WLIW/Ch. 21 at 10 p.m. Sundays. "Before MTV established itself as the outlet for music on TV, PBS had an exclusive on this type of show," said Randy King, executive producer of "Soundstage." "Now, we're able to take advantage of new technology that we hope will distinguish this series from other attempts to do music on TV."A CD containing various songs was playing in the Mets' clubhouse yesterday afternoon when Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" came on. "Somebody please turn the sound down, I can't do the Titanic thing no more," Bobby Bonilla said of the song from the hit movie. Thanks to John Olerud and his gigantic grand slam Wednesday night against the Braves, the Mets didn't have to do the Titanic sinking thing at least for one night. Olerud who was dubbed by one television station as the "King of Queens" was the hero in the Mets' 9-2 victory over Atlanta which snapped a seven-game free fall for the Mets. His fourth-inning grand slam off Greg Maddux helped the Mets score seven runs during that inning, and in the process, unload a great deal of frustration in one swing. "I think with all the pressure everybody has had, to come through and get that many runs on the board that quickly, especially against a pitcher like that and a team that's beaten us that many times, that's a big lift," teammate Robin Ventura said of Olerud's smash. The always humble Olerud said he woke up yesterday morning having put the slam behind him. "That's the past and you've got to concentrate on the games coming up," Olerud said before last night's game at Shea. "They are great when they happen but the next day, it doesn't matter." Olerud knows how cruel the game of baseball can be. Prior to hitting his sixth career grand slam, Olerud had been mired in a bit of a slump. Ever since hitting coach Tom Robson was fired with two other assistant coaches on June 5, Olerud has been less than Olerud. The first baseman was batting .333 with nine homers and 38 RBI through June 5. From that point, however, Olerud batted .285 with 10 homers and 57 RBI going into last night's game. Olerud, who called Robson the best hitting coach he ever had shortly after he was replaced by Mickey Brantley, is a career .301 hitter. "Just because you have a good game doesn't necessarily mean you are out of it," said Olerud, who hit .354 last year. Olerud doesn't want to finish the season mired in a slump for several reasons, one being he is a free agent at the end of the season. Olerud, who told the Mets at the start of the season he didn't want to negotiate until the end of the season, says that has no bearing on his play at the moment. "We definitely would like to re-sign John, he's an important part of the team both in the clubhouse and on the field," Mets' general manager Steve Phillips said. "We will certainly honor (John's wishes) but aggressively pursue him once the season ends. Our goal is to try and find a way to make it work."AMERICA'S HEART AND SOUL A documentary that captures the spirit of America through the personal stories of ordinary people. Friday at the Angelika. BEFORE SUNSET Nine years after their one-night encounter in "Before Sunrise," Jesse (Ethan Hawke, see page 7) and Celine (Julie Delpy) meet again unexpectedly for one day in Paris. Friday at the Angelika. BONJOUR MONSIEUR SHLOMI A neglected high-school student who plays caretaker to his entire family discovers himself after a teacher reveals his hidden talents. In Hebrew, with English subtitles. Friday at the Quad. CINE MEXICO A festival of classic and contemporary Mexican film plays from Friday through July 22. Film Forum 2. THE CLEARING A successful businessman (Robert Redford) is kidnapped by a disgruntled employee (Willem Dafoe). Helen Mirren plays the Redford character's wife. Friday. THE CORPORATION This documentary examines the dominant role of corporations in modern American society. With Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky. Wednesday at Film Forum. DE-LOVELY (See story, opposite) A biopic of songwriter Cole Porter (Kevin Kline) that reimagines the major events of his life as if it were a stage musical. With Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce. Friday. SPIDER-MAN 2 (See cover story) College student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) reluctantly girds up as Spider- Man again to battle mad scientist Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), who has transformed himself into a mechanical octopus. With Kirsten Dunst. Wednesday.An Empire of Women, by Karen Shepard (Putnam, $24.95) Seventy-five-year-old Celine Arneaux is a well-known French-Chinese photographer. She returns to a family cabin in Virginia for a reunion with her Asian-American daughter Sumin and granddaughter Cameron, whom she once photographed for a series of nude child portraits. Joining them at the cabin is a journalist working on a profile of Celine, and Alice, a 6-year-old Chinese-American girl in Cameron's care. Shepard's intricate and intriguing debut novel weaves together the stories of the three women, and three generations, revealing family secrets and tensions, custody battles, strength and hope. The Sugar Island, by Ivonne Lamazares (Houghton Mifflin, $23) A tough young girl named Tanya narrates the story of her complicated relationship with her mother and their attempts to escape Cuba in 1958. Tanya's world abruptly changes as her mother becomes a rebel guerrilla during Fidel Castro's revolution and has a son. They eventually move to Miami and discover that, although the setting has changed, their struggles continue. In her first novel, the Cuban-American author Lamazares tells a dramatic story of a culture in conflict and a remarkable mother-daughter bond. The Justice Story: True Tales of Murder, Mystery, Mayhem compiled and edited by Joseph McNamara (Bannon Multimedia Group, $24.95) For 17 of his 40 years at the Daily News, legendary newsman McNamara ushered the hugely popular crime feature "The Justice Story" into print every week. McNamara died in May; this collection reflects his choice of the most compelling tales from the series, which began in 1923, from the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and the horrifying crimes of Lizzie Borden and Baby Face Nelson to the still unsolved 1937 Red Circle murders. Joe Mac, as he was known, wrote many of the columns himself, spinning what seem like thrilling short stories from unbelievable tales of true crime. Where Is the Mango Princess?, by Cathy Crimmins (Knopf, $24) During a family vacation in 1996, Crimmins' husband, Alan, was severely injured in a boating accident. It left the frontal lobes of his brain severely damaged and affected his speech, memory, personality and movement. From that moment, the family's life was radically altered. Here, Crimmins chronicles what happened after her husband woke up and her experiences with doctors and the medical bureaucracy. She also confronts healing, faith and morality as she takes a journey into her newly transformed world.TOP SINGLES OF 1996 ARTIST TITLE NO. 1. Los Del Rio "Macarena (Bayside)" 3.75 2. 2Pac "How Do U Want It" 1.70 3. Keith Sweat "Twisted" 1.63 4. BLACKstreet "No Diggity" 1.56 5. Toni Braxton "You're Makin' Me High" 1.48 6. Quad City DJ's "C'Mon 'N Ride It" 1.38 7. Celine Dion "Because You Loved Me" 1.34 8. L.L. Cool J "Loungin' " 1.28 9. Tony Rich Project "Nobody Knows" 1.26 10. Toni Braxton "Unbreak My Heart" 1.25 11. Mariah Carey "Always Be My Baby" 1.21 12. Keith Sweat "Nobody" 1.21 13. Tracy Chapman "Give Me One Reason" 1.09 14. Celine Dion "It's All Coming Back to Me" 1.08 15. R. Kelly "Down Low" 1.07 16. AZ Yet "Last Night" 1.02 17. Brandy "Sittin' Up in My Room" 1.02 18. 112 "Only You" 1.02 19. Mary J. Blige "Not Gon' Cry" 1.00 20. SWV "You're the One" .98 21. Mariah Carey "One Sweet Day" .97 22. Ginuwine "Pony" .93 23. R. Kelly "I Can't Sleep" .92 24. Donna Lewis "I Love You Always Forever" .81 25. W. Houston/C. Winans "Count On Me" .80 26. Total "Kissin' You" .79 27. Monica "Why I Love You So Much" .79 28. No Mercy "Where Do You Go" .78 29. Busta Rhymes "Woo-Hah!!" .76 30. Outkast "Elevators" .76 31. Coolio "1 2 3 4 (Sumpin' New)" .75 32. En Vogue "Don't Let Go (Love)" .72 33. Eric Clapton "Change the World" .71 34. Joe "All the Things" .71 35. Babyface "This Is for the Lover in You" .69 36. Los Del Rio "Macarena Non Stop " .67 37. Merril Bainbridge "Mouth" .67 38. Do or Die "Po Pimp" .66 39. Alanis Morissette "Ironic" .66 40. L.L. Cool J "Doin' It" .64 41. Dru Hill "Tell Me" .63 42. Aaliyah "If Your Girl Only Knew" .63 43. New Edition "I'm Still in Love With You" .62 44. Case "Touch Me Tease Me" .62 45. R. Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly" .62 46. New Edition "Hit Me Off" .60 47. Mint Condition "What Kind of Man" .60 48. MC Lyte "Keep On Keepin' On" .60 49. Junior M.A.F.I.A. "Get Money" .59 50. Whitney Houston "Exhale" .58 TOP ALBUMS OF 1996 ARTIST TITLE NO. 1. Alanis Morissette "Jagged Little Pill" 7.38 2. Celine Dion "Falling Into You" 6.13 3. Fugees "Score" 4.51 4. No Doubt "Tragic Kingdom" 4.36 5. Mariah Carey "Daydream" 3.08 6. 2Pac "All Eyez on Me" 3.00 7. Metallica "Load" 2.96 8. Toni Braxton "Secrets" 2.89 9. Shania Twain "Woman in Me" 2.78 10. Oasis "What's the Story?" 2.63 11. Tracy Chapman "New Beginning" 2.Coming soon to the pop charts: Britney Spears, Ricky Martin and . . . Pope John Paul. The pop princess and Latin heartthrob are set to recite the pontiff's prayers on a new CD designed to help reach young people with a spiritual message of hope, the Sunday Telegraph of London reports today. "Titanic" songbird Celine Dion, boy band 'N Sync and actress Jennifer Love Hewitt also are slated to recite on the CD, which should be in stores this fall. "What better way to . . . introduce spirituality to young people than through entertainers," said producer Rick Garson, who also masterminded the Pope's million-selling 1999 CD of prayers, "Abba Pater."CONCERT PROMOTER JOHN SCHER SAYS he will cooperate "in any way" with Attorney General Dennis Vacco's announced probe of ticket scalping for the upcoming Spice Girls and Celine Dion concerts. Scher, who is promoting Dion's four area shows, told Vacco in a letter that he would love to help with "an investigation into the wider issue of scalping in general." He says his company, Metropolitan Entertainment, has pushed for years for action against scalpers, as well as stronger enforcement of anti-scalping laws now on the books. The "scandalous" scalping in this region, he says, "has gone virtually unchallenged for too long."Relatives of a beloved Harlem nun killed when she was hit by an out-of-control car fleeing police announced Friday their intent to sue the .Sister Mary Celine Graham, 84, was cut down June 22 as she went for her daily walk, crushed by a stolen SUV after it collided with another car.Cops were following the SUV - which had a robbery suspect behind the wheel - in the moments before the crash. Graham's family and caretaker say the police were responsible for the deadly wreck."We're seeking justice for a death that was clearly avoidable," the family's attorney said. "This could have been prevented by the police."Two accused robbers, , 20, and , 18, were charged with felony murder in the days after Graham's death.Williams was in the when it careened onto the Lenox Ave. sidewalk and struck Graham and her health aide, ."My body is still in pain," Cruz said. "I am hurting mentally and physically."Police have acknowledged that an unmarked NYPD car was following the SUV, but have insisted their vehicle was several blocks behind the Pacifica. Celine Dion, whose soaring voice has sold 100 million records around the world, expects to be crooning nothing but sweet lullabies next year. The 32-year-old French Canadian pop star, who desperately wanted a baby but had trouble conceiving, broke the titanic news yesterday that her dream finally has come true - she's expecting in early March. "There's no hiding happiness," she gushed in an open letter to fans. "We can't keep something so big, so wonderful a secret just for us - I'm pregnant." The singer said she and husband Rene Angelil got the good news Thursday "that the dream dearest to our hearts has come true. We are completely, totally happy." Dion had taken a three-year break from performing to try to get pregnant. Her last performance was Dec. 31 in Montreal. In February, she sued the National Enquirer for $20 million, charging a story it carried falsely said she was pregnant with twins. She said the story filled her with heartache. But "this time it's for real," Dion said yesterday. "In three weeks, if all goes well, we'll hear the heart of our baby, beating inside of my tummy," said Dion, who's best known for "My Heart Will go On," the theme song from the Oscar-winning movie "Titanic." The entertainer had been getting fertility treatments in New York. Dion's statement also noted that her husband, who had surgery last year to remove a malignant lump in his throat, has received test results that showed no cancer. "The man of my life, my whole life, was seriously ill," Dion wrote. "He could have thrown in the towel, given up and let our happiness die. But instead of giving up, he chose to fight with all his might."Jonathan Schwartz is returning to daily radio, as artistic coordinator and air personality for a new station that will play the popular standards of Ella and Gershwin, undiluted by Barry Manilow or Celine Dion. The only catch is this: The station won't go on the air until 2001 and when it does, it will cost money to listen. Schwartz yesterday was named artistic coordinator for the American Standards format at XM, one of two outfits duking it out in the new field of satellite radio. Satellite radio, also called pay-radio, is similar to satellite TV. Listeners will buy a receiver and pay $9.95 a month for 100 channels, half news/talk and half music. Because they are sent by satellite, the channels will be heard nationwide, and it is expected the car-radio market will be a major battleground. Schwartz says he was "initially skeptical," but became convinced "this is the future particularly for 'niche' formats like popular standards, which major commercial stations no longer offer." Since WQEW went off the air in December, New York has no standards station that can be heard areawide. Equally important, says Schwartz, almost all commercial standards stations including WQEW have felt it necessary to play later pop songs in hope of attracting a younger audience. "Here, we are free to do it right," says Schwartz. "We can play great songs the way they should be played with jazz, big bands, Broadway and cabaret. We can go more deeply into a great artist's catalogue." Schwartz will do the 3-7 p.m. daily shift on the new station, plus his Sunday and Sinatra Saturday shows on WNYC (820 AM). He says he's "just starting" to consider the rest of the airstaff. XM's rival, CD Radio, is also expected to offer a popular-standards channel. Both companies have been signing programers, personalities and "content providers" such as the Weather Channel.Bill Carney doesn't speak French. But that didn't stop him from adopting the name Clermont Ferrand (after a French provincial capital) and becoming the lead singer of Les Sans Culottes, New York's most notorious - and ludicrous - celebration of rock Francaise. Over the last six years, the Brooklyn-based septet - which also includes singers Kit Kat Le Noir and Celine Dijon, bassist Jean Luc Retard, drummer Pascal Blase, keyboardist Anouk Ennui and guitarist Cal D'Hommage - has earned a reputation for excessively fabulous performances and intoxicatingly catchy pop in the mold of Serge Gainsbourg and Jacques Dutronc. Last year, the band released its first full-length album, "The Ennui & the Ecstasy," and tomorrow night they play at Makor. Carney says that, at first, he was worried that people wouldn't share his love for the "ye-ye" sound of '60s Paris, so he made sure the group's costumes captured the vibrant spirit of the originals. "It was a challenge to present it to Americans," he says, "especially since I don't speak French and most Americans don't speak French. So we decided at first to stress the outrageousness of it. At the same time, we put across the greatness of the music and how much we loved it." Of course, the songs written by Les Sans Culottes - the name means "Those Without Pants" and refers to the ill-equipped volunteers of the French Revolutionary Army - hardly need translation. The ironic anti-American-culture rant "I do not wish for McFoie Gras, do not Supersize me," from the song "Non Merci, Oncle Sam" ("No Thanks, Uncle Sam"), sounds just as bizarre in French as it does in English. (Dijon, the only member who actually speaks French, edits all the lyrics.) Given their rampant Francophilia, it's odd that the band has yet to play Paris. They have gone to Quebec, however, where the notoriously prickly defenders of French culture embraced the group immediately. "We were a little nervous about going to French Canada, because people are so proud of their culture," Carney says. "I was concerned about my fake French accent. But when I spoke with a reporter, they said, 'Oh, your French accent is excellent.' "Which is good," he adds, "because a fair amount of French people actually come to our show and we want to make sure that it's not all nonsense."HEY, MARIAH Carey and Celine Dion: Watch out! There's a Brooklyn diva catching up to you. Alessandra Guercio may only be 9 years old, but her beautiful, vibrant voice is beyond her young age. Just ask the judges of PAX TV's new variety show, "America's Most Talented Kids," who have picked the Mill Basin youngster out of thousands of applicants. "We Fed-Exed the tape to California, and the show called us the next day," said Alessandra's dad, Maurice. "She's a natural," beamed Alessandra's mother, Lucy. "She was the only Brooklyn kid there. We love it!" Alessandra will be one of seven contestants on this Sunday's episode, which will air at 7 p.m. on PAX TV. At home, wide-eyed and wearing platform sneakers and a lavender turtleneck with a picture of the "Sleeping Beauty" princess on it, Alessandra looked like a typical kid. Her favorite movie is "Shark Tale," and she loves eating pizza. "I like playing teacher with my sister and brother," said the straight-A student. "I also like math - the times tables." What Alessandra loves most of all is to sing. "I just love to see the smiles on my family's faces and the people who hear me," she said. Alessandra's singing career began when she was 4 and in the bathtub, where her father discovered her singing "Part of Your World" from the "Little Mermaid" movie. "She was right on target. It was so beautiful," Guercio said. Her first stage performance was a year later at a breast cancer benefit in Queens - and people listened. "When I first looked at Alessandra's tape submission, I saw this sweet little unassuming Brooklyn girl. "Then Alessandra opened her mouth to sing and all bets were off," said the TV show's executive producer, Peter Johansen. "She transformed into this powerful dynamo with the stage presence of a pro." But for now, the fourth-grader's fan base is at St. Mary's Mother of Jesus School in Bensonhurst, where she sings the national anthem during assembly. Alessandra's No. 1 fan is her sister and schoolmate Stefanie, 8, with whom she shares a bed, as well as toys and clothes. "I think she sings really good!" said Stefanie. "I love it when she sings 'How Do I live Without You?' " Although Alessandra's parents are supportive of her singing, they are not stage parents. "This is one happy kid, and that's what we want," said Lucy Guercio. "She loves singing."ASSUMING THIS TURNS into a fine, balmy, mellow summer night in the greatest metropolitan area on Earth or hey, even if it doesn't there will be fine, mellow music in the metropolitan air. Starting out toward Long Island, Westbury Music Fair will host the "Legends of Motown" show at 8 o'clock. The Temptations who today consist of founder Otis Williams plus Ali-Ollie Woodson, Ron Tyson and Theo Peoples will be joined for the evening by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Marvelettes and the Contours, long renowned as the original Motown dancing group and beneficiary of a second life when their classic "Do You Love Me" was spotlighted in the 1988 movie "Dirty Dancing." Also out to the east, James Taylor opens a two-night stand at Jones Beach, at 8. Taylor's music has always had a mellow sound, so his voice fits it just as adroitly with age as it did with youth. Shifting to the southwest, the PNC Bank Center, known until its recent corporate takeover as the Garden State Arts Center, hosts the very hot Celine Dion, who has been singing melodic pop songs for years and has seen them really catch on in the last two or three. Showtime is 8 o'clock. Back in town, meanwhile, the hot Latin group Mana plays tonight at Radio City, also at 8. Legends of Motown, tickets $27.50, at Westbury's box office, 960 Brush Hollow Road in Westbury, or Ticketmaster. Call (516) 334-0800. James Taylor, tickets $32, at Ticketmaster. Call (212) 307-7171. Celine Dion, tickets $42 reserved, $20 lawn. The PNC Center, Exit 116 off the Garden State Parkway. Call 908-335-8698. Mana, tickets $31-$41. Call (212) 247-4777.WPLJ (95.5 FM) has caught lightning again with a song that splices romantic dialogue from the smash movie "Titanic" into the movie's theme song, Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." It's the same trick that worked so well for 'PLJ and other stations last year when dialogue from "Jerry Maguire" was spliced into Bruce Springsteen's "Secret Garden." Springsteen's song was a minor element in the movie, but the "Jerry Maguire" mix gave the Boss his biggest hit in years. WPLJ vice president Tom Cuddy says phones are "ringing off the hook" for the "Titanic" track. "You never know how long a novelty will last," says Cuddy. "It could die in a week. But right now, we can't play it enough." Cuddy notes that even though the spliced recording was not done by either the record or the movie company, they don't seem to mind because it's such great promotion.Thanks to big hits from Celine Dion and other artists, Sony Corp.'s U.S. music division posted a 14% boost in sales for the year ended March 31. Sony music posted sales of $4.7 billion. Sales for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year were $1.09 billion, a hike of 11.8% from the year before. The company credited strong sales of Dion's "Falling Into You." It has sold more than 21 million units since its March 1996 release. It also credited the continuing success of such stars as Fugees, Mariah Carey and Oasis. "The Score," by Fugees, has sold more than 11 million units. For the quarter, Sony Corp. earned $99.5 million, and revenues totaled $11.82 billion. For the year, profits rose to $1.12 billion on sales of $45.67 billion."America: A Tribute to Heroes," an unprecedented collaborative relief effort televised simultaneously last night by ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and dozens of cable networks, was as rich with emotion as it was devoid of ego. It began with Bruce Springsteen and ended a little more than two hours later with Celine Dion leading a choir in an all-out rendition of "God Bless America," Clint Eastwood vowing, "We will stand, and we will not yield," and Willie Nelson leading part of the all-star group in "America the Beautiful." The finale was sloppy, but everything that came before it was polished and impressive. Mariah Carey sang. Tom Hanks spoke. Jack Nicholson answered phones. And none of them was identified by name, or on screen. Performers came and went quickly, contributing their part without fanfare, flourish or indulgence. They gave of their heart, and their art, and moved on. Similarly, no network superimposed its logo during the two-hour special, so every image, no matter where you tuned in, was exactly the same: All that was on the screen was the show's title and the phone number, address or Web address to contact with contributions to help those whose lives were most directly touched by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. It was a show of solidarity - across the cable and broadcast dial, and across generations of musicians and actors. Most musical performers chose appropriate numbers from their own song books, but some opted to perform emotionally resonant works by others. Neil Young sang John Lennon's "Imagine" - a typically defiant gesture, since the song had been singled out as one recommended for removal from certain radio playlists. Wyclef Jean sang Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," beautifully. Mournful, hopeful tone Springsteen opened the show cold, after an establishing shot of the Statue of Liberty, and sang "City of Ruins," a number he wrote about Asbury Park, N.J., but whose lyrics established the program's mournful, hopeful tone instantly: "My city's in ruins," he sang. "Come on, rise up." Performances, in front of TV cameras but no audiences, alternated between Sony Studios in New York and CBS Television City in Los Angeles (and, with both U2 and Sting, on separate occasions, from London). "America: A Tribute to Heroes" was polished, professional, dignified, with a fast yet respectful pace that provided more than its share of emotional, memorable moments. Among them: Muhammad Ali, finding the strength and will to support Islam but denounce the terrorists; Kelsey Grammer quoting John F. Kennedy; Robert De Niro quoting Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Young's aforementioned "Imagine"; Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind"; Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water"; and passion-filled performances by Pearl Jam, Limp Bizkit and Stevie Wonder. Others taking part included Faith Hill, Tom Petty, Alicia Keys, Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crow. Actors reading tributes included Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, De Niro, George Clooney, Will Smith, Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits. Inspirational. Remarkable. And, one hopes, beneficial, for the victims and families of the terrorist tragedy as well as for the spirits of the scores of millions who tuned in.After "Before Sunrise," the 1995 film romance about two young people spending a night walking, talking and falling in love in Vienna, Julie Delpy had some romantic mishaps. "I had boyfriends fall in love with my character, Celine, then they'd realize I'm not her and they'd dump me!" the French actress says with a laugh. "I'm not as romantic as Celine - I'm much more down-to-earth, and kind of tough. "My personality is about 90% darkness and 10% light, though I do have a sense of humor about it." Delpy's cynical side is more evident in the sequel, "Before Sunset," which opened to great reviews last week. In it, Celine and Jesse (Ethan Hawke), who were twentysomething and starry-eyed the first time they met, come together nine years after failing to keep a promise to reunite. He's now a writer who has come to promote a book in Paris, where she lives. They have two hours to catch up - and maybe spark again - before his plane leaves. "Before Sunset" has the same director, Richard Linklater ("School of Rock"), as "Before Sunrise," but he took a different approach in the new film, having his actors write much of their own dialogue, which touches on everything from sex and relationships to philosophy and culture. "In your 30s, you have more of a sense of humor about things, especially love," says Delpy. "You're more resigned to reality. In 'Sunrise,' Celine was kind of soft, so this time I wanted her to have more of an edge." Delpy, 34, was born in Paris, where her parents were poor "street actors," she says. Because they were homeless, they had to give up custody of Delpy to her grandparents. But with every spare cent, she says, her parents took her to museums or the movies. She began acting as a teen and starred in films in France before attending NYU film school in 1992. She returned to Europe to star in "White," part of director Krzysztof Kieslowski's acclaimed "tricolor" trilogy, leading to such American movies as "The Three Musketeers," "Killing Zoe" and "Before Sunrise." The characters of Celine and Jesse were featured in a dreamlike segment of Linklater's animated 2001 movie, "Waking Life," and she, Hawke and Linklater have discussed following the characters again in several years - though she doesn't think life will get any easier, for her or her character. "I want Celine to capture that contradiction I see in a lot of my female friends - how they're extremely strong and intelligent, but fall apart when they're heartbroken. "And though I'm much less emotional, I can relate to that."Tenor Luciano Pavarotti announced yesterday that he would join Celine Dion, Jon Bon Jovi, the Spice Girls and other music stars in a June benefit concert for a children's charity in war-torn Liberia. The third annual "Pavarotti & Friends" concert will be held in Pavarotti's hometown of Modena, Italy, on June 9 and also will feature Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Trisha Yearwood and The Corrs. Spike Lee will direct the concert, as well as the film and video of the benefit event. "Liberia is certainly one of the countries who need more of our help now than any other," Pavarotti told reporters. Past concerts have benefited Fondazione Berloni, a medical establishment that researches and treats children's leukemia, and War Child, which funded construction of the Pavarotti Music Center in Mostar, Bosnia one of the most ambitious building projects in Bosnia since the beginning of the war there.Dreamy boys and dramatic soundtracks captivated pop fans in 1998. It should shock no one, then, that the year's top seller turned out to be the most romantic possible soundtrack, for a movie that starred the most squeezable teen idol of all. Not only did the Leonardo-associated/Celine Dion-sung "Titanic" soundtrack top this year's sales list (with nearly 10 million copies moved), it outstripped the biggest numbers racked up by any album from the last two years, including 1997's top mover, the Spice Girls' "Spice" (at 4.9 million), and '96's biggie, Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" (7.38 mil). In fact, more wealth was concentrated in the Top 10 albums this year than in recent times: 44 million units sold among them, compared with 31 million last year and 40 mil in '96. More bucks went to teenybop groups than at any time since the beginning of the decade, with The Backstreet Boys racking up the No. 3 LP with their debut, while fellow Orlando boy toys 'N Sync took the sixth spot and girl-bait Savage Garden seized No. 8. That's a far better show for the teen set than last year, when only the Spice Girls filled that bill, or '96, which allowed no teen idols anywhere in the Top 50. Again this year, Celine ranked as the biggest diva, far outshouting Mariah or Whitney. Not only did her single "My Heart Will Go On" keep the "Titanic" album afloat, she also enjoyed the year's No. 2 album with her own "Let's Talk About Love." That should keep the folks at Sony in Champagne for a while. They released both LPs. Dion's success continues a roll that has lasted three years: Her previous work, "Falling Into You," ended up the No. 2 seller of 1996 (at 6.13 million), maintaining enough momentum to rank as the sixth-biggest seller of 1997, too (with another 2.9 million copies sailing out of stores). The trend in soundtracks found more support in the smash status of "City of Angels," which ranked as the year's No. 5 release, even though the movie itself tanked. Credit goes to the singles from Morissette, which came out months before her super-anticipated second LP, not to mention a big hit from Goo Goo Dolls. Another movie tie-in accounted for the year's No. 11 album, the "Armageddon" soundtrack, which was buoyed by the Aerosmith hit "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing." Last year had only one soundtrack in that company ("Space Jam"). And 1996 had none. While Aerosmith's success, along with the other guitar acts on the "Armageddon" LP, put in a bid for the influence of rock this year, it was a fairly weak one. First, the Aerosmith song is a ballad. Second, only one rock album made the year's Top 10 by Matchbox 20, (at No. 9), and they're more of a folk-rock compromise than a hard guitar act. It went the same way last year, when the only "rock" albums in the Top 10 were The Wallflowers' folk-rock work and the ska-punk No Doubt. At least '96 had some truly tough acts up high, like Metallica and Oasis. Rap may claim plenty of places in the year's Top 100 list, and it may dominate the charts in certain weeks, but it holds just two spots in '98's full Top 10, and both LPs have links to other genres. Will Smith's album lands at No. 7, but it's as much R & B/pop as rap, while The Beastie Boys, who came in at No. 10, could be considered as much rock as hip hop. R & B, for its part, had a stronger year than the Top 10 reveals. It took the 14th through 17th spots of '98. Women continued to do well if not quite so terrifically as in the recent past. They took the No. 2 and 4 spots, with links to the soundtracks at No. 1 and 5 by appearing as featured artists. Last year, women took half the Top 10, including the first and second spots. In '96 they acounted for the entire Top Five, and seven of the Top 10. As for the lifeblood of the industry new artists the accent on fresh teenyboppers helped the year keep pace. Four of the Top 10 got in with debut works. That ties '97's record and beats the daylights out of '96, when only one breaking act ranked among the 10 biggies (The Fugees). Then again, how many of these new artists can be developed as serious sellers in the future? Three of them (Backstreet, 'N Sync and Savage Garden) may not last longer than a Sweet 16 party, while the soundtracks are one-time-only phenomena. Meaning next year you can expect to see a list packed with as many new names and surprises as pop can provide. Below, 1998's top sellers, with approximate sales: 1. "Titanic" soundtrack, 9.1 mil. 2. Celine Dion, "Let's Talk About Love," 5.6 mil. 3. Backstreet Boys, "Backstreet Boys," 4.9 mil. 4. Shania Twain, "Come on Over," 4.1 mil. 5. "City Of Angels" soundtrack, 3.8 mil. 6. 'N Sync, " 'N Sync," 3.1 mil. 7. Will Smith, "Big Willie Style" 3.1 mil. 8. Savage Garden, "Savage Garden," 3.1 mil. 9. Matchbox 20, "Yourself or Someone Like You," 2.9 mil. 10. Beastie Boys, "Hello Nasty," 2.9 mil. 11. "Armegeddon" soundtrack, 2.8 mil. 12. Madonna, "Ray of Light," 2.6 mil. 13. Garth Brooks, "Double Live," 2.6 mil. 14. Usher, "My Way," 2.4 mil. 15. Lauryn Hill, "Miseducation of . . . ", 2.3 mil. 16. Brandy, "Never Say Never," 2.3 mil. 17. K-Ci and Jo-Jo, "Love Always," 2.2 mil. 18. Spice Girls, "Spiceworld," 2.2 mil. 19. Barenaked Ladies, "Stunt," 2.2 mil. 20. Jay-Z, "Hard Knock Life Vol. II," 2 mil.Kentucky Derby and Travers winner Street Sense breezed four furlongs in :48.60 yesterday morning at Churchill Downs. It was his second work since taking the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 25."It was just a maintenance work," trainer Carl Nafzger said. "He was just stretching his legs."Street Sense is scheduled to return to the races during the weekend of Sept. 29-30. Nafzger has narrowed it down to the Sept. 29 Hawthorne Gold Cup at Hawthorne, the Sept. 29 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park or the Sept. 30 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.Nafzger said he'll probably decide where Street Sense will run by this weekend.From long and stately to schoolgirl-short, plaid skirts are warming the legs of ladies on both coasts. Burberry has even added a splash of sexy lace to its wrapped kilt, proving that plaid is anything but prim. * 1 Celine, a public-relations rep, found her orange plaid skirt at a flea market and her scarf in her mom's closet. 2 Fran Drescher pauses in a Burberry skirt at a Hollywood film premiere. 3 Former MTV veejay Kennedy wears a pleated kilt at the premiere of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." 4 Frances McDormand keeps it simple in a long wrapped skirt and boat-neck top. 5 Model Cash Casia pairs a Burberry skirt with a Christian Dior sweater and Miu Miu shoes at the Agent Provocateur boutique opening.Celine Dion may have titled her new album "Taking Chances," but does she?Can she? Yes and no. One song slips in a sitar and allows a mild Hindu beat. Another cut could almost be called country, if you call Faith Hill country. Yet another goes all Janis Joplin on us, letting the singer find a tough new texture, and a bluer hue, to her voice. Hard-line Dion addicts shouldn't sit and pout. Nothing on the disk will make you raise too high an eyebrow, or snap your wallet shut. In fact, the greatest "chance" the singer takes on the album is a - gasp! - subtle one. On the first English-language, nonconcept album in four years from the world's loudest singer, Dion croons more carefully than usual, and stresses twinkling ballads over the more bombastic kind. Not that even Dion's quietest songs manage to stay that way for long. Power fanatics still get plenty of Celine the shrieker. But this time she's better at calibrating her belts, yelps and loop-de-loops. Unlike all too many older Dion recordings, she's not being athletic for its own sake. She waits - and waits - for the right moment to let all hell break loose. Once she does, batten down the hatches. Man, can this chick blow. The more refined approach of the CD lets us appreciate Dion's Olympic moments more, while also leaving room for her to connect to the material more often. You could almost call some of the result nuanced. In "Surprise Surprise," Dion shades notes with more sensuality before letting it rip. In "A World to Believe In," she holds back her constant temptation - to turn every note into a climax. Along the way, Dion has some truly impressive moments. In "New Dawn," she's not just exploiting gospel's drama. Her swoops and wails get at the feeling that fuels them. In the blues song ("That's Just the Woman in Me"), the nose-bleed notes won't just impress you, but move you, too. In the final ballad, "Skies of L.A.," Dion goes for a Michel Legrand-style delicacy, and winds up sweetly finessing every note of the tune. Of course, Dion remains saddled with a love of unsinkable lyrics. She's always rising above, seeing the light or being reborn. And - if we're talking about sheer surprise - there's nothing as fantastically chancy as her brilliant take on AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" from a VH1 "Diva" special some years back. Then again, we can't expect a singer of her populist ilk to sustain anything that radical for long. At least "Taking Chances" shows that when Dion allows a few of them, it makes a real difference. Arista Records, home of hitmaking superstars Whitney Houston and Santana, just landed another marquee act: Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds. Arista's new president Antonio (L.A.) Reid signed Edmonds - his longtime partner, music producer and songwriter - to a long-term recording contract. Edmonds, who's produced mega-hits for superstars like Celine Dion, Eric Clapton and Mary J. Blige, will leave Sony-owned Epic Records after the Nov. 14 release of his next album, "Babyface: A Collection of His Greatest Hits." Edmonds and Reid, who started out in a band together, have been prominent songwriting and production partners since the early '80s. The duo, whose hits include Houston's "I'm Your Baby Tonight," created their own successful label, La Face Records, in 1989, which they sold this year to BMG Entertainment. "Kenny is one of the most important artists of our time," Reid said. "I love him, I love his music, I think we can take him to the next level as an artist." Edmonds said, "It was time for a change. It's a fresh start - it will make me push harder." The Babyface deal marks Reid's latest effort to put his stamp on Arista, the BMG-owned label founded by music legend Clive Davis, who now runs J Records. Since taking over from Davis in May, Reid has installed a new management team, signed up producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and laid off about 35 employees with close ties to Davis. In a series of earlier deals, Reid gave Edmonds his own label under the Arista umbrella, Nu America Music, and signed a deal that obliges Edmonds to produce many records for Arista artists. "Babyface is a superstar. Keeping him close to home is a good idea," said Cory Robbins, president of independent label Robbins Entertainment, a BMG affiliate.MAYBE this isn't the occasion to say "a rising tide lifts all boats," but the success of "Titanic" has lifted Celine Dion's theme song, "My Heart Will Go On," to near-icon levels on the radio. "The song didn't get that much response when it came out," says WPLJ (95.5 FM) program director Scott Shannon. "Then the movie hit, and now it's one of the strongest radio songs in 10 years." "Before the movie came out, it was hard to get a fix on response to the song," says program director Tom Poleman of WHTZ (100.3 FM). "But when we do research now, it's off the scale." "Maybe one record a year hits this level," says Adam Goodman, program director of WNSR (105.1 FM, Big-105). "The song captures the emotion of the movie," says Frankie Blue, program director of WKTU (103.5 FM). "When you hear the song, it brings everything back, especially the love story." Jim Ryan, program director of WLTW (106.7 FM), says that with the media crush today, cross-promotion is essential. "You need two forms of media in this case, radio and the movie for a superhit," he says. "It's like with 'Candle in the Wind' it was everywhere." Nor is "My Heart" wearing thin with listeners. "Very low burnout," says Poleman. "Kind of like the movie, I guess." "It's been No. 1 here for eight weeks, so you'd think there would have to be high burnout," says Goodman. "But there isn't." Radio has even had a couple of variations: the "Jerry Maguire" version, interspersing dialogue from the film, and now a dance remix being played on WKTU. "It's not a 'hard' remix," Blue says. "It's more a pop tempo. So it keeps the mood." Both WHTZ' Poleman and WLTW's Ryan think "My Heart" would have been a big hit without the film just not this big. "Celine has always been a very strong artist," Ryan says. "She's one of the artists who defines Lite-FM. When people think of Celine Dion, they think of Lite." Which is exactly what WNSR and WKTU say about Dion and their stations, by the way. AROUND THE DIAL: Chancellor Media has named Charles Warfield, a long-time exec at WRKS and WBLS, as senior veep for its urban operations. Chancellor (WLTW, WKTU, WHTZ) doesn't have an urban format station in New York yet. . . . Dr. Dre and Ed Lover of WQHT (97.1 FM) had an interesting exchange yesterday while marking the anniversary of Notorious B.I.G.'s death. Lover asked why rappers don't make more songs with positive messages; Dre said one reason is that it's hard to get radio play. . . . WBGO (88.3 FM) has the T.S. Monk Trio live tonight at 6 from Macy's, Herald Square. . . . It didn't take long for conservative radio callers and hosts to find something just too convenient about James McDougal's death. . . . WHTZ is close to naming a 10 p.m.-2 a.m. deejay.TRINITY'S KEY PLAYEROrgan virtuoso Nathan Laube will pipe up with classics by Bach, Widor, Messiaen, Strauss Jr. and Rossini. He's part of Trinity Church's summer organ concert series, "Conservatory Stars." 1 p.m.; free. 74 Trinity Place at Broadway and Wall St. (212) 602-0873 or.THEY WROTE THE BOOK ON SUSPENSETwelve of America's best-selling masters of suspense will sign their novels at the "Thrillerfest Conference" at the Park Ave. Borders store. Among them: Tasha Alexander ("A Poisoned Season") and Brett Ellen Block ("The Lightning Rule"). 6 p.m.; free. 461 Park Ave., at 57th St. (212) 980-6785.NETS VETS GET IN STEPThe NETSational Seniors dance troupe kick off Coney Island's Seaside Summer Concert Series, which includes performances by Tommy James and The Shondells, Jay Black and Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge. 7:30 p.m.; free admission. Asser Levy/Seaside Park, W. Fifth St. and Surf Ave.IT'S BROADWAY WITH A 'BEE'Darrell Hammond from "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" performs at New York's 106.7 FM's "Broadway in Bryant Park" concert series. 12:30 p.m.; free. On Sixth Ave., between 40th and 42nd Sts. For info:.A GUY SINGER SALUTES THE GALSDavid Gurland will pay tribute to female singers such as Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson and Bonnie Raitt at the West Bank Cafe. He'll be joined by Lisa Asher, Scott Coulter and Julie Reyburn. 7 p.m.; $16 cover. 407 W. 42nd St.; (212) 695-6909.READY TO BEAM UPThe Empire State Building keeps cool with frosty white lights. Dusk to midnight. 34th St. and Fifth Ave.Fax complete information on openings and other events to (212) 210-2203 or E-mail.MOVIES 8 p.m. (ANPL) "Big Spender." Casper Van Dien (l.) plays an ex-con who turns his back on life, until he forges a relationship with an abused racehorse. NONFICTION 8 p.m. (WNET) "Nova." Just as coalition forces get set to enter Baghdad comes this documentary about the potential fallout from a terrorist attack using a radioactive bomb. The show looks at the realities and the public health policy implications of such a strike. 9 p.m. (WNET) "Becoming American: The Chinese Experience." Journalist Bill Moyers is behind this three-part special that tells the story of Chinese immigration into America. SERIES 8:30 p.m. (ABC) "According to Jim." Talk about a tough one. Jim (Jim Belushi) has to decide whether he'll provide support for his wife as she undergoes dental surgery or going off to meet blues legend Bo Diddley. SPECIALS 9 p.m. (CBS) "Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night." Celine Dion has been on the sidelines for a while, but now she's back with a special built around the start of her three-year engagement at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. In addition to Dion's performance, the special also includes a behind-the-scenes look at how the Vegas show was put together. SEASON FINALES 9 p.m. (ABC) "Life With Bonnie." Barring a preemption for war coverage, this popular comedy about a TV talk show host played by Bonnie Hunt will quietly end its season with two, new, back-to-back episodes.GAST ARTIST . Ana Gasteyer, best-known for her impressions of Martha Stewart and Celine Dion on "Saturday Night Live," and roles in "Mean Girls" and "What Women Want," revisits her musical roots at Ars Nova with "Let It Rip! An Evening of Songs." 8 p.m., $20. 511 W. 54th St. (212) 868-4444. IN WITH THE SPIN CROWD . Five deejays compete in the New York regional finals for SpinOff 2004 at the Guitar Center. The winner advances to next month's competition for the title of "Best Up and Coming DJ in America." 7 p.m., free. 25 W. 14th St. (212) 463-7500. SQUARE SOUNDS . The Washington Square Music Festival in Washington Square Park continues with the Festival Chamber Ensemble with pianist David Oei performing works by Prokofiev and Janacek. Actress Lori Singer ("Footloose," "Short Cuts") narrates "Peter and the Wolf." 8 p.m., free. LaGuardia Place and W. Fourth St. Should it rain, the concert will be at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 371 Sixth Ave., at Washington Place. (212) 252-3621. BATON IN B'KLYN . The New York Philharmonic, under the direction of David Robertson, opens its 40th season of free outdoor concerts with a visit to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The program includes Charles Ives' Variations on "America," Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto and John Adams' "Harmonielehre." 8 p.m., midpark. GLEAMING AT GLOAMING . The Empire State Building glows white tonight. Dusk to midnight, 34th St. and Fifth Ave.ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" with Regis Philbin capped its ratings-rich sweeps run on Wednesday night by easily winning the 8-9 p.m. slot. According to Nielsen data, the game show averaged a 15.8 rating (percent of the nation's 100 million homes) and a 28 share (percent of U.S. homes watching TV) during its first half hour, then bumped up to a 19.4/ 33 in its second half. "Millionaire" outranked CBS' concert by Celine Dion, NBC's "Dateline" and Fox' "Banned in America: The World's Sexiest Commercials." On the same night an hour later, Fox' rival game show "Greed," hosted by Chuck Woolery, ranked last among the top four broadcasters during the 9-10 p.m. hour. According to Nielsen, Greed" averaged a 6.5/ 11 from 9-9:30 p.m., and 16.9/ 12 for its second half. Tomorrow night at 7, CBS' "60 Minutes" profiles former U.S. Army Capt. Gordon Hess, who was found dead with 26 stab wounds. Although Hess' wife thinks he was murdered, the Army says the injuries was self-inflicted. WNET/ Ch. 13 tips its hat to New York's TV broadcasters tomorrow at 8 p.m. with coverage of the New York State Silver Circle awards. Honorees include Fox News chair Roger Ailes and WNBC/ Ch. 4 anchor Chuck Scarborough. Ch. 13 introduces the event starting at 6 with a profile of NYC broadcasters. As Hollywood revs up to release its biggest movies of the season, cable's Learning Channel tomorrow night at 8 uncovers the secrets of movie-making special effects. It covers such films as "The Haunting," "Ronin" and Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy." Brady Barr, aka Gator Doc, is profiled tomorrow night at 8 on CNBC's "National Geographic Explorer" as he combs the forests of Burma searching for deadly spitting cobras. Tomorrow night at 10, public TV's WLIW/ Ch. 21 profiles Jerusalem's famed King David Hotel, which has for years served as a tranquil stopping point for travelers through the turbulent Middle East. Today at 11 a.m., CNN's "Travel Now" wraps up its three-part Italian journey, by profiling Venice.TONIGHT at 10, ABC's Joan Lunden visits war rooms at the Pentagon and goes backstage with Celine Dion on "Behind Closed Doors IV," the latest of Lunden's own prime-time specials. Also included in the telecast is a trip to Necker Island, owned by billionaire Richard Branson, and a supermodel fashion layout. . . . Tomorrow at 9 a.m., Anthony Mason kicks off a four-week series on mystery book authors on "CBS News Sunday Morning." On Sunday's telecast, he talks with James Ellroy about his latest book, "My Dark Places." In upcoming weeks, Mason discusses the writing process with Sue Grafton, John Dunning and Janwillem Van De Wetering. . . . On Monday, Gotham First Lady Donna Hanover talks with actor and activist Alec Baldwin about campaign financing on WNYW/Ch. 5's "Good Day New York," 7-9 a.m. . . . Also on Monday at 9 a.m., "Beverly Hills, 90210" star Jason Priestly and Luther Vandross appear on "Fox After Breakfast." . . . Cable's CNNfn on Friday became the first television network to air real-time quotes from the American Stock Exchange. Previously, that info was delayed 15 minutes.QUIZ SHOWS* 8:00 p.m. (ABC) "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Tonight, Regis Philbin says "Final answer?" for the final time - until next year.* 8:00 (Fox) "Greed: The Multi-Million Dollar Challenge." The real challenge, regarding this show, is sitting through it, and Chuck Woolery's career-worst smarminess doesn't make it any easier.SPECIALS* 8:00 p.m. (CBS) "Celine Dion: All the Way." The first of three nightly music specials presented by CBS this week, this one also is the least appealing (Shania Twain tomorrow, Ricky Martin Friday). Worst of all is the prospect of Dion doing a duet, via the miracle of audiotape, with Frank Sinatra. My advice: Doobie-doobie-don't.SERIES* 8:00 p.m. (WB) "Dawson's Creek." Look who is guest-starring as Jen's mother on tonight's Thanksgiving episode: Mel Harris, the angst-ridden mother from "thirtysomething."VINTAGE TV* 8:00 p.m. (TV LAND) "The Millionaire." TV Land's brilliant umbrella title for this two-hour presentation of old episodes is "Who Wants to See 'The Millionaire'?" An unseen John Beresford Tipton writes the checks, Michael Anthony delivers them, and human nature reveals itself in the process.MOVIES* 2:00 a.m. (BRAVO) "Casino Royale." I know this telecast is very late, but I find this 1967 James Bond a delightful spoof - one that understands the sexiness and absurdity of a Bond film better than most of the more authorized versions. In this one, everyone from David Niven and Ursula Andress to Peter Sellers and Woody Allen ends up being, or claiming to be, 007. Meanwhile, Andress, Daliah Lavi and Joanna Pettet make for a torrid trio of Bond girls, Orson Welles makes for a hefty adversary, and the score by Burt Bacharach is the best Bond soundtrack bar none.July 26, 2008, , 27, a nurse, and , 27, a systems administrator, met through mutual friends in December 2002 and were just buddies until Victoria made a move. "In March of 2003, I approached him, and asked him to go bowling," said Victoria. "And that was it. After that, we started dating and we've been together ever since." The Brooklyn couple got engaged in March 2007. "I didn't think it was ever going to happen because it had been five years," said Victoria, laughing, "but it did right before our anniversary. "He had made me dinner and had roses waiting for me at my apartment one night after I had gone out with friends from work. And he told me to look on the bookshelf, and the ring box was wooden, so I didn't see it at first, but as I did, he came over and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him." Victoria walked down the aisle with her parents and carried a bouquet of red roses to accent some of the red in her gown. A celebration for 200 followed at the Riviera. The couple danced to "The Power of Love" by and gave out whisks with heart-shaped handles for favors. In keeping with the red and white color theme of the affair, the wedding cake was red velvet. "It was a fabulous time," said Victoria. "Honestly, I had the best day of my life." The couple honeymooned in .Fuzzy "Electric Juices" (Tag): If you like tiny female voices (like Julianna Hatfield's or Tanya Donelly's), you may fall for Hilken Mancini. The lead singer of this Boston band boasts an appealingly impish sound, while her band specializes in dinky alternative-pop. Some of the group's vocal harmonies recall vintage Bangles, only with a chirpier tone. Likeably cute.Celine Dion "Falling Into You" (550 Epic): So Celine Dion wants to be the new Mariah Carey. May God have mercy on her soul. Epic has been grooming Dion as a similarly blustery, kitsch-prone hack. Her latest LP perfects the mold. It's all oversung and sappy, bottoming out with a truly appalling take on "River Deep Mountain High." Consider this the year's most shameless release. The O'Jays "Back Stabbers" (Epic/ Legacy): '70s soul music often turns up in refigured hits compilations. Luckily, the Legacy label decided to re-issue this classic O'Jays album in its entirety. With its dense arrangements, sweeping melodies and wrenching vocals, "Back Stabbers" ranks as more than just a collection of songs. It both epitomizes its time and speaks to the ages.Deftones "Adrenaline" (Maverick/ Warner Bros.): Imagine a lighter version of Ministry. That's what the Deftones amount to. The band combines the brusk, stuttering riffs of hardcore metal with the more commercial parts of Metallica and Skinny Puppy. Nothing original, in other words. But if you're hard up for some metallic punch, you could do worse.Paul Karais, 29,retail management, Queens" 'Precious and Few,' because it's beautiful."Marie Torres, 25,cashier, Bronx" 'Love Will Go On' by Celine Dion. It's from `Titanic,' which is a beautiful love story."Frank St. John, 28,graphic artist, West Babylon, L.I." 'Angel Eyes,' by Jeff Healey. It's my wife's and my wedding song."Iris Silva, 24,student,Manhattan"The Boyz II Men song `Mamma' because it tells you about your mother, about the ones who love you." - It's good to be the Prez.This is the palatial hotel room where stayed after headlining a fund raiser for - and it's almost as good as the .The and Cleopatra Suite atop is a 22,000- square-foot mansion complete with six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, two kitchens, two outdoor decks with waterfalls, a sauna and much, much more."I thought I had a pretty nice room" while campaigning, Obama said Tuesday. "But now that I'm president, they upgraded me. I got the upgrade, and it's a really nice room now."The suite occupies the entire top floor of Caesars Palace on the Vegas strip. Bronze-swirled marble floors and pillars accent the Roman themed abode.Caesars has always had the massive suite, but renovated it last year and welcomed and as its first guests. Others who have used the suite include , , , and .Caesars spokeswoman said the suite has no set price and is only available to high rollers or celebrity guests. will be given one final televised encore.Usher, Celine Dion and Jennifer Hudson are the first major stars to be announced for “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston,” a one-hour special airing Nov. 16 on CBS, the network announced Thursday.Hudson paid tribute to her idol in an emotional tribute at the Feb. 12 Grammys.Her performance of Houston’s signature hit, “I Will Always Love You” came one day after her idol was found dead in the bathtub of a Los Angeles hotel room.It was a responsibility so overwhelming that the 30-year-old singer reportedly broke down in tears during a rehearsal.The special, which is being taped on Oct. 11 at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre, will also include include never-before-seen footage of the star, remembrances from some of her peers and some of Houston’s signature concert performances.esacks@nydailynews.comWhat's that smell in the air? It's celebrity fragrances. This fall, famous folks have been working overtime to produce scents for the masses. The monster crop includes Antonio Banderas' "Spirit for Women," Ashanti's "Precious Jewel," Jennifer Lopez's "Live," Sarah Jessica Parker's "Lovely," "Shania" by Stetson and Celine Dion's third perfume, this one called "Belong." Why are so many celebs crafting their own odors? For one thing, star scents grossed $94.9 million last year. "Celebrity-inspired fragrances like Fantasy by Britney Spears (pictured, right) are a huge trend right now, and we expect them to be among our best sellers during the holiday season," said Allison Slater, vice president of retail marketing for Sephora. But while many people obviously (and inexplicably) want to smell like Sarah Jessica Parker, our poll on the street found folks weren't so forthcoming about their celeb perfume purchases. Of 100 New Yorkers, 84% said they've shunned star scents. Among those who've bought into the hype, the most popular choices are J.Lo's Glow and Miami Glow and an old classic: Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds. Below, what our respondents had to say: "I bought Celine Dion. I was hoping to get a little piece of her life, how she's living. To smell exotic, the way she does."Deneen Strickland, 40, the Bronx "Well, I got Glow by Jennifer Lopez as a gift. The person who gave it to me thought I would like it because I love Jennifer so much. And, to my surprise, I hated it!"Yolanda Rodriguez, 33, Manhattan "I bought Tommy Hilfiger's True Star because I wanted to see what Beyoncé's definition of a nice-smelling perfume would be. It's soft. I like it."Marilyn Martin, 22, ManhattanSome years ago, Jim Ryan recalls, he was program director of a radio station in Portland, Ore., and the station ran a contest offering listeners a chance to see a little-known teenage singer from Canada named Celine Dion. The contest winners were invited to a lunch where Dion sang live to a taped musical track. Only trouble was, a lot of the contest winners didn't bother to show up. "At that time, they probably just didn't know who she was," says Ryan. "But Celine sang flawlessly, beautifully, and I felt bad for her that more people weren't there to see it. "So before she finished, I went over to the gift shop and bought a bouquet of roses. When she finished, I gave it to her and told her I was sure she was going to make it." Well, they both made it. Dion is one of the most popular singing stars of the last decade, thanks to songs like her hard-to-forget rendition of the soaring "Titanic" theme song, "My Heart Will Go On." Ryan came back to New York and now programs WLTW (106.7 FM, Lite-FM), the most successful and profitable radio station in the country. He's also a national vice president of adult contemporary programming for WLTW's parent Clear Channel. On Friday, Ryan and Dion will meet again, when she headlines Lite's annual "One Night With Lite" concert at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. It's Dion's only North American concert this year outside Las Vegas, where she's in the middle of a three-year run. That is to say, this is a nice coup for Lite. "I won't tell you it was the flowers that got her here," says Ryan. "I think it had more to do with our being the No. 1 radio station in the No. 1 radio market. But I figure the flowers didn't hurt." Adult contemporary stations don't usually do splashy concerts the way hip-hop or top-40 stations do, but Lite got into a groove five years ago, and it's proven both a success and a challenge. "We've had artists like Elton John and Rod Stewart headline our shows," says Ryan. "So each year it becomes a matter of 'You gotta top it.' " So he set his sights on Celine, negotiated for months with her agents, and in the end got her, he says, "through a piece of sheer luck. The one night she could do the show, The Theater happened to be available." A concert like this doesn't enhance Lite's healthy bottom line. Ryan figures the cost at around $750,000, which even a Dion-size ticket price won't cover. "The concert is more a way to thank our listeners and reinforce the station's image," he says. "We want people, when they think about Elton John or Celine Dion, to think Lite-FM." Josh Groban, Martina McBride and Five for Fighting are also on Friday night's bill, and it's unlikely that any consolation roses will be necessary at evening's end. "But I still think it's a good lesson to be nice to people," says Ryan. "You never know who you'll meet again." As soon as Nikki Yanofsky sits down at the table in , Jazz at Lincoln Center’s imperial spot overlooking Central Park, she takes the menu, says she’s starving, warns that she doesn’t have good table manners (?You’ll see: I can make crumbs out of apples?), announces that she’ll want dessert, and otherwise yaks away. ?I know, I talk very fast,? she declares. ?I call it ?Nikkanese.’ That’s how I do my scatting.? Scatting?singing nonsense syllables to jazz music?doesn’t usually appear in the lexicon of a girl who just turned 16. But Yanofsky sounds less like a teenager than like, well, Ella Fitzgerald. That’s no exaggeration. Listen to Yanofsky’s rendition of Fitzgerald’s famous scat ?Airmail Special? (when it was recorded for a 2007 Verve Records tribute album, Yanofsky became the youngest artist ever to appear on the label) or to her first full-length album, Ella ? Of Thee I Swing: The tracks sound as if they were recorded by an artist 30 years older?60 years ago. Anyone watching the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics got a sense of this when Yanofsky belted out a jazzed-up version of ?O Canada.? That was the only time since she began performing in 2006, she claims, that she has ever really been nervous. ?I was shaking,? she says. ?I said to the guys who were with me, ?In five seconds, the whole world will know who I am.’ Afterward, I cried for twenty minutes, I was so overwhelmed. My whole life changed.? Now she is preparing for her Stateside launch. Yanofsky’s first U.S. album?Nikki, a mix of standards like ?I Got Rhythm,? as well as new numbers she co-wrote?will be launched here at Dizzy’s on May 4. It will be followed, in June, by a PBS special called Nikki Yanofsky: Live in Montreal, her hometown. A perky, astonishingly talented Quebecois import with a voice like a velvet clarion: We have been here before. Like Céline Dion, Yanofsky can belt, croon, and purr, flawlessly. But there is something immediately disarming, almost puppyish, about Yanofsky, even as her musical taste is more sophisticated (or less Vegas) than Dion’s. In any case, she steers away from any direct comparisons. ?I don’t know her,? Yanofsky says of Dion, ?but we have met, and she’s the nicest girl.? Although Yanofsky’s father plays the piano and has a band, and her mother calls herself a ?closet singer,? they owned just one jazz record, Ella and Louis, the 1956 album pairing Fitzgerald and Armstrong, as Yanofsky was growing up. Yanofsky picked up jazz at 11, when one Friday her vocal coach gave her a recording of ?Airmail Special? to try. By Monday, she’d not only nailed it but also found her musical métier. She quickly became a phenom in Canada, and has attracted fans like Tony Bennett and Marvin Hamlisch. It was Hamlisch, the legendary composer-conductor-pianist, who, in 2008, brought her to U.S. stages. She sang at Carnegie Hall on her 14th birthday. (The audience sang ?Happy Birthday? back. ?That was a good birthday present,? she says.) Over the last two years, Yanofsky (accompanied by her parents) has kept up a heavy tour schedule?Japan, South Korea, Turkey?all while trying to stay on top of school from afar. ?I’m in grade ten at St. George’s School, and I go when I’m not on tour,? she says, which is about once a week. So far she hasn’t needed a tutor and has been able to maintain an 86 average. ?My parents don’t push me; it’s because I want it so badly,? Yanofsky explains. ?Music makes me feel so much, music makes me feel so good.? Soon after the waiter clears her onion soup and macaroni and cheese, she’s bopping to the brassy sounds of the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Dressed in a black net top over a gray tee and white jeans, Yanofsky alternately claps, plays the table like a drum, and sits up straight to watch, occasionally twirling her curly brown hair. When the bandleader calls for audience participation, her voice rings out clearly. Yanofsky’s new album contains strains of R&B, soul, and rock, as well as some surprise vocalese: Her version of ?Take the A Train? includes a bit Yanofsky wrote about the theater and shopping, her other favorite activity (since arriving in town this morning, she’s already bought two headbands, a T-shirt, and a fancier top on a whirlwind trip through Soho). She is quick to point out that she’s not a jazz evangelist??I’m not a jazz singer, I’m just a singer??but when the 89-year-old Candido Camero unexpectedly joins the stage at Dizzy’s, Yanofsky is beside herself. Camero introduced the conga drum to jazz and played with Dizzy Gillespie himself. He’s now slowed by arthritis, but when his bandaged fingers start to hit the congas, his face breaks into a smile of delight. Yanofsky pulls out her BlackBerry to take Camero’s picture. Moments later, she leans over, points to her phone, and says, ?I’m letting my friends listen. They love it.? It’s 9 p.m., and the crowd for the 9:30 set is waiting to get in. Yanofsky has one more thing in mind. Hurrying across the room, she introduces herself to the band’s drummer, Jake Goldbas, and they exchange contact information with a promise to talk about collaborating. She is only in New York for three days, and isn’t wasting any time. Multiplatform competition has sapped her ratings, but as Oprah Winfrey prepares for her last episode on May 25, she remains the undisputed queen of celebrity/lifestyle media, reaching more viewers a day?6 million?than the Today show. Here, a look at 25 years of being all things to all women. PERSONAL REVELATIONS 1986 Introduces best friend, Gayle 1989 Introduces boyfriend, Stedman 1993 Introduces personal trainer, Bob Greene 2009 Introduces dog, Sadie 2011 Introduces secret half-sister, Patricia MOST APPEARANCES BY CELEBRITY GUESTS 15 Will Smith Billy Crystal 16 Tina Turner Maria Shriver Tom Cruise Tyra Banks 18 Barbara Walters Jim Carrey 20 John Travolta 21 Patti LaBelle Julia Roberts 22 Halle Berry Mariah Carey 26 Chris Rock 27 Céline Dion GROUPS REUNITED ON TV BY OPRAH Survivors of the Jonestown Massacre The Little Rock 9 A family of Rwandan refugees Cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show WHAT LIZ LEMON SAID THAT OPRAH SMELLED LIKE ON : Rose Water and Warm Laundry THREE (SELF-REPORTED) OPRAH EXES John Tesh Reginald Chevalier* Roger Ebert *Billy Dee Williams look-alike; met on a pre-syndication episode on celebrity dopplegängers. OPRAH’S (SELF-REPORTED) WEIGHT OVER THE YEARS 1987: 200 1988: 212 1988: 145 1992: 237 2004: 160 2008: 200 SECRETS REVEALED TO OPRAH Homosexuality (Greg Louganis, 1995; Ricky Martin, 2010) Fabulism (James Frey, 2006) Pornography addiction (Gospel singer Kirk Franklin, 2005) "Baby Addiction? (Nadya Suleman, 2011) Incest (Mackenzie Phillips, 2009) The original ending to the Twilight saga’s New Moon (Stephenie Meyer, 2009) Having the first name ?Mary? (Oprah’s fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Duncan, 1989) Abduction by aliens (Constance Morgan and Dorothy Wallis, 1987) Being pregnant (Halle Berry, 2007) Being pregnant while being a man (Thomas Beatie, 2008) Favorite cereal brand (Al Gore, 2000; it’s Wheaties) MOST-WATCHED EPISODES ?Oprah Makeovers? (February 2, 1993) ?I Killed My Ex and His Wife? (March 2, 1992) ?Michael Jackson? (February 10, 1993)* ?Celebrity Hall of Fame? (February 11, 1993) ?Diet Dreams Come True? (November 15, 1988) *Preview show that ran the afternoon of her prime-time interview with JacksonThe Paris runways have been a parade of feminine looks with masculine touches, or to put it more articulately, sensible touches, such as trousers worn under dresslike numbers — a combination thatspeaks to a woman who wants to feel comfortable while looking elegant.layered asimple fluttering chiffon dress over trousers, whilestyled a silk organza dress with gold hardware over ivory slim pants, andpaired atuxedo vest dress with black silk slacks. If the array of bejeweled showgoers in Paris has given you the itch to for new baubles, you're not alone. In our latest we hunted down 140 of our favorite pieces of the season from budget-friendly costume finds to investment-worthy statement pieces. If chokers bring back memories of tacky Goth-inspired pieces from the nineties, think again: They're making a comeback in luxe materials like leather and sleek polished silver. Earrings are longer, dangling to mid-neck or even the tips of shoulders. While a stack of carefully mismatched bracelets can be effective street style a good arm party is far from the only way accessorize this season. was spotted out in West Hollywood yesterday wearing a black-and-white striped tank top and cutoff shorts. She accessorized with a Celine bag, red bedazzled boots, an armful of bracelets, and her dog, whose pink dye job seems to be in need of a touch-up.This is a look that very few people (and dogs) could pull off, but does Alessandra? Or is this an outfit that no one should try?This New Year's Eve, singer Alexa Ray Joel (daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley) took to her Facebook page to reassure her fans that she was okay after her recent attempt to . Joel, whom we've always regarded as one of the more grounded and likable children of two big celebrities (no small feat), says she's moving on with her life and her music career. She also declared her new goal to spend 2010 trying to help young girls with a certain affliction: ...Something I feel I know a GREAT deal about: Heartbreak-Related Depression. Although it does not get much attention in our society, it is a very serious and painful condition that often gets "swept under the carpet". I hope to bring this topic more to light... I'm even going back to school for Psychology in hopes to learn more about this and many other afflictions that many of us have had to face. We did a cursory look to see if "Heartbreak-Related Depression" is really a thing. It is. Whether it was a thing on December 30, 2009, before Alexa Ray Joel said it was a thing, remains a little less clear. [Facebook]• will debut men's ready-to-wear and swimwear collections this summer. []• Rumors about getting married in a gown by John Galliano persist despite her fiancé Jamie Hince's . Now, the Daily Mail hilariously claims John Galliano’s boyfriend will help make sure the dress looks just right. []• In other Kate Moss wedding news, Mario Testino will photograph the whole thing, so says iPad newspaper The Daily. []• covers the new issue of Spanish V. Pictures of her fellow Brazilian hotties are inside. []Like Céline, rag & bone, Proenza Schouler, and Fivestory. Retail cartographer Jim Leniart that, on the same stretch of Madison (from 60th to 78th Streets), there are now "82 designer-clothing boutiques, 34 high-end jewelry stores and 34 stores specializing in categories like shoes, handbags, or eyewear." Our wallets (or the Ziploc baggies we keep our money in) hurt.A decade ago, when Idol was launching, the best producers could get to fill the celebrity seat was Paula Abdul. The show became a phenomenon, and dinging amateur singers on national television became a coveted job. When Cowell exited the show in 2010, Idol producers landed two household names in Tyler and Lopez, whose shtick would be the opposite of Cowell’s: gentle and kind to even the tone deaf. It appeared to work for a while — ratings ticked up their first year, but the across-the-board cheerleading ultimately rendered them useless as judges, and viewership for their second season plummeted. At the same time, NBC scored a surprise win with a dysfunctional family of famous coaches — Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, and Blake Shelton — whose feisty chemistry and light trash talk have made The Voice the younger, hipper version of Idol.Saturday10 a.m. I think that everyone walking into a Chalayan show is hoping, at least in some small way, for a magical, theatrical Chalayan moment, and leaves slightly disappointed when all they’ve seen is clothes, even when those clothes are incredibly nice. Unfortunately, I am sitting behind an enormous man who is dressed in a white shirt and jeans — all reasonable — and a tiny black singlet. It’s one of the more confusing outfits I have seen in a while. Also: There’s a pillar in front of me. Not ideal.1:30 p.m.Another not-wacky show, this time from Viktor and Rolf. Today it’s all pastel evening dresses, soft and pretty.Love's Labors Lost Imagine, if you will, one of those hyperactive, assiduously “contemporary” productions of a Shakespeare comedy — all winks and hip thrusts and Halloween costumes and desperate Top 40 music cues: basically a college Godspell in iambic pentameter. Now imagine a perfectly excellent execution of the same play, starring actors fine enough to trust without a net — without, in other words, all those overdirected, extratextual seat-buzzer moments designed to bully or trick us into being Bardolaters for an evening. Somewhere between these disparate points lies Karin Coonrod’s occasionally overcaffeinated but often gratifying new vision of Love’s Labor’s Lost. (The title has been pointedly and irksomely Americanized, said the grumpy Anglophile.) Playing it out on a square of Astroturf, Coonrod takes the Bard’s harpooning of ivory-tower snobbery and imperious male austerity and turns it into a series of daffy lawn games, many of them spot-on, some swatted wildly into the rough. Hoon Lee (School for Lies) is Ferdinand, King of Navarre, who swears his fratty pals (Nick Westrate, Keith Eric Chappelle, and Jorge Chacon) to an oath to abjure women and pleasure as they embark on three cloistered years of personal enrichment: Navarre will redefine the man cave as ashram. Witty, worldly Berowne (the superb Westrate) is skeptical, especially since a distaff royal delegation (Renee Elise Goldsberry, Rebecca Brooksher, Samira Wiley, and Michelle Beck) is inbound from the French court. As Navarre is flooded with X-chromosomes, the boys change their short pants for grown-up all-weather duds, and various clowns — most notably Robert Stanton’s drawling lawman Dull, Stephanie DiMaggio’s withering Jaquenetta, and, as her suitor, the ridiculous Spanish knight Don Armado, a towering, teetering, bitumen-voiced Reg. E. Cathay — play out their own romantic intrigues, which criss-cross with their betters’. Coonrod opens entire theater to her actors, who make liberal use of the aisles and open seats. Things can get a bit shrill and spittle-y at times, and Coonrod’s choice of spotlit pop-culture references (Beyoncé and New Kids on the Block? Huh?) feels a little random. She also goes way outside the text for a handful of cheap laughs. And despite many a pelvic gyration, there’s no real sex at stake here. (DiMaggio, who barely moves an eyebrow the entire show, is the salient exception.) But this Love’s Labor’s Lost isn’t really making a play for the grown-up market. It’s a giddy masque from end to end, long before the actual dancing starts. Are your kids still tweaking from all that Halloween candy? Now’s a perfect time to introduce them to Shakespeare. (At the Public Theater Lab through November 6.)Phoebe Philo showed wide-leg pants, prints, gauzy wide-leg pants worn over prints, and a slew of summer scarves — and one model kind of looked like a cow in her polka-dotted ensemble. Moo. See the the complete collection in our .• Oscar de la Renta and André Leon Talley are teaming up to curate an exhibition for the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute. The exhibit, called Joaquin Sorolla and the Glory of Spanish Dress, will feature both paintings and clothing, including items donated from Daphne Guinness. []• Macy's is teaming up with Dancing with the Stars pro Cheryl Burke to launch an activewear line. []• covers Vogue Germany's December issue. []• All had to do to get Pippa Middleton to come to her fashion show was ask. []Currently , designer Phoebe Philo held a presentation for about 30 editors yesterday in place of the label's regularly scheduled runway show. According to the Telegraph's Lisa Armstrong, Philo personally greeted attendees and looked "much more at ease than she has in the past." And she wasn't the only one enjoying the scaled-back event — Anna Wintour was reportedly overheard asking, "Can you please ensure all fashion shows are like this?" Whatever Anna wants ...Related: See While wool and cashmere scarves are classics, a leather kerchief is an unexpected way to finish off an outfit. , Phoebe Philo used oversize bicolored versions in rich hues like blue and camel to add textural contrast to her sweaters and coats. Luxirare's sleek black take has a soft knit side that feels ultra cozy against the throat — all the better for practical minimalist dressing.Luxirare leather and knit scarf, $150 at After a short stint at the Wynn Las Vegas this summer, Beyoncé is in “preliminary talks” to return for what is rumored to be a “lucrative, long-term contract” at the casino. The superstar is, of course, a bit on the young side for this kind of money-printing Vegas residency — if she does make the move, she can look forward to spending her downtime with Garth Brooks and Barry Manilow. We guess this is the kind of wacky stuff that happens when the music industry collapses? []Last night at the New York Marriott Marquis, a gala was thrown to benefit the Tisch School of the Arts, but Bill Paxton was still in the mood to celebrate Titanic 3-D, which he had recently seen at its premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London. "It was amazing," Paxton gushed to us. "I thought it was just going to punch up all of the big set pieces, but it actually kind of enhanced the drama of the lovers. And I thought Kate looked great in 3-D, naked on that day bed— like, damn! No wonder Leo had a hard time drawing. I’ve seen it from his point of view now!" (.) As for the over whether Celine Dion's immortal Titanic theme, "My Heart Will Go One," is heavenly or , Paxton says its rendition at the premiere convinced him. "You know I gotta tell you, they had [composer] James Horner there, and he conducted a huge orchestra with the woman ... not Celine Dion, but the one who does the choral vocals for that? And, well, it still gives me goosebumps." During Kate Winslet's "Titanic 3-D Publicity Tour of Real Talk," the erstwhile Rose DeWitt Bukater took a break from to snark on Celine, admitting that the immortal Titanic theme song "My Heart Will Go On" Vulture , but you know who else is on Team "My Heart" with us? Winslet's Titanic costar Billy Zane! "It’s not annoying, it’s endearing," Zane the Daily Beast. In fact, when the song is played in his presence, Zane is not afraid to go all-in: "I was in Harrods last week and they have live performances there, and there was a singer who performed 'My Heart Will Go On.' There were a few balconies that overlooked this main escalator with mannequins in the latest designs leaning over, and as I was going down, people had a giggle and I was trying to compel one of the mannequins to jump. 'Jump, Rose!'" Billy Zane, we will never let go.Review A look at the DIY-independent-film movement that coincided withthe late-seventies New York punk scene.Perhaps you remember Kate Winslet's delightfully honest Titanic 3D press tour, during which , , James Cameron does! "I understand her needing to distance herself from it," he told Moviefone. "But, on the other hand, you know, it's been 16 years, like, come on, Kate. Get over it. Take the wind, girl!" Yes, take it (however it is one does that).I was not invited. Despite positive reviews of his early YSL and Dior collections, as well as a profile, Mr. Slimane objected bitterly to — not about him but Raf Simons. Essentially I wrote that without Mr. Simons’s template of slim tailoring and street casting, there would not have been a Hedi Slimane — just as there would never have been a Raf Simons without Helmut Lang. Fashion develops a bit like a genetic line.Anyway, Mr. Slimane insisted that he was the first to show the skinny suit. It was a silly debate. Who cares? As time went on, he also felt (as best as I can tell) that I gave preference to Mr. Simons in my coverage of the men's shows. If I gave him attention, it was because his work and my reporting into the key early part of his career merited it. I haven't spoken to Mr. Slimane in five years.Synopsis "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World" will bring Celine Dion's 2008-2009 "Taking Chances World Tour" to theaters. The highly claimed tour placed Dion second only to Madonna in ticket sales during 2008. This special motion picture event gives Dion fans who attended the live tour another chance to experience the magical event, this time from a vantage point unparalleled by any ticket. Join Celine as she travels to five continents and 25 countries, putting on show-stopping performances of some of her biggest hits. However, this world tour is different as Celine is traveling with her husband, her eight-year-old son, her mother, and her extended family. Intercutting concert performances with behind the scenes footage, audiences will get the chance to really know Celine, her family, and her co-performers, as well as those fans that she meets and performs for around the world. Inspirational, moving, honest and surprisingly funny, "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World" captures Dion's deft balance between the demands of an elaborate and extensive year-long worldwide tour and Dion's top priority -- caring for and enjoying time with her family.Originally launched in 1945 as a children's made-to-measure shoe business for petits pieds d'anges, the French luxury house expanded during the sixties with adult footwear, handbags, and a women's ready-to-wear collection of couture sportswear or "fashion for everyone." During this time, Celine was one of the first luxury brands to open up distribution to Japan, and their focus on international expansion continued over the next few decades. Besides their flagship Left Bank boutique, shops can be found in cosmopolitan cities such as Monte Carlo, Geneva, Hong Kong, and Rome, where the high-end wearable separates, such as swinging skirts, fitted shirts, and soft knits and accessories—belts, boots, shoes, and bags—with a distinct sexy, city-girl appeal are sold. Helmed for over forty years by Madame Céline Vipiana, Michael Kors took the reins in 1997, but upon his departure in 2004, the collection lost much of the buzz he brought to the label as head designer. After Kors, ex-Burberry designer Roberto Menichetti struggled for one year as head designer. He was succeeded by Ivana Omazic, and in September 2008 the label announced that ex-Chloe visionary Phoebe Philo would step in to take the reins, beginning with a fall 2009 collection.StatusEstablishedClientsMadonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, Lucy Liu, Kylie MinogueOther Product LinesFragrances, Handbags, ShoesOwned ByLVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc.Address23-25 rue du Pont-Neuf Paris, France 75001 33-1-55-80-12-78Where To Buy, , , Related WebsitesReview A film about two young women who startliving together and begin sharing their lives, and then anotherpair of women who play them going about their lives, and theodd ways that these realities intersect. Sort of.Synopsis The final curtain will rise and fall on Celine Dion's record breaking engagement of A NEW DAY in mid-December at The Coliseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas marking the end of a remarkable journey of five consecutive years of sold-out performances, playing to nearly three million people. Now, this remarkable show will be broadcast to movie theatre audiences nationwide for One Night Only on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (local)! Created by Dragone, Celine Dion and the cast and crew of A NEW DAY bring to the stage an unprecedented combination of performance, passion and technical innovation that transports the audience to a unique theatrical world; each song evokes a different visual experience. A NEW DAY presented by Chrysler is produced by Concerts West, an AEG Live company.FRAGRANCE • Celine Dion is coming out with her sixth fragrance in April, called Chic. The campaign features her boarding a plane in a feathered cocktail dress. Because chic people take private planes instead of cars to cocktail parties? []• is launching a limited-edition fragrance called Summer Time, in April. She nose what's hot, after all. []MAKEUP • Sam Bryant of Lancôme says the makeup at is inspired by “dirty, slutty, goth, rock chicks.” Aside from The City's Erin, how many girls really want to look like that? []HAIR • It looked like the wig wore to the Oscars was slipping down her forehead. []NAILS • Seal painted his nails black for the Oscars. Apparently he hasn't heard brown is the new black as far as nails go. [] • Celine Dion is part of a group that bought landmark Montreal deli Schwartz's. Evidently her heart goes on despite a love for smoked meat. [] • The French went ahead and outlawed it, and now the FDA is deciding by the end of the month whether to ban BPA in food packaging; the chemical has been linked to cancer and reproductive problems. []• Some of NYC's top Queens food bloggers are now leading tours in that borough, in case you want to finally get around to trying . [] • How to make delicious porky tonkotsu ramen at home? It can be done — hint: You need a lot of bones. []• Italian desserts aren't just limited to tiramisu and cannoli; as the author of Dolci: Italy's Sweets discovered, they're sometimes made with "sugar, honey and chocolate with pasta, chickpeas, eggplant and even meat." [] Yet another editor left , this one to go work at Page Six Magazine. Cop-slugging former Philly news anchor bought her D.J. boyfriend, Chris Booker, a new cat. wants Lindsay to be involved in the filming of her E! realty show Momager, but papa Michael says Lindsay told him that she wouldn't be. three adult daughters hate Nicollette Sheridan so much that they made dad rent them a house in St. Martin so they didn't have to stay with him and Sheridan in St. Barts. Billionaire printing heir is claiming that his mother, Betty, hired a private Dominican Republic doctor to drug, kidnap, and commit him to a mental institution to prevent him from inheriting his share of the family fortune. One day after "Page Six" reported him "clean, sober, and slimmed down," had a meltdown in the lobby of a Miami hotel before going out and fondling girls in local nightclubs. Songwriting great , who died of a heart attack at the age of 50, was laid to rest on Saturday with a service paid for by Denise Rich. The makers of a fitness tape made in 2005 are suing her because she won't give final approval. Soon-to-be-divorced center hollered at some girls at the All-Star Game in New Orleans. are still partying a lot, despite the fact that they just had a kid. now has bodyguards following her to ensure that she does not go to the bathroom or a bar alone. Producer says he got ahold of No Country for Old Men after the president of his company read the unpublished manuscript.In March, the Harris Polls about their favorite musical acts. (Harris weighted the responses to reflect demographics, which means Baby Boomers got a lot of say, as you will soon see.) Conclusion: Anyone who does not enjoy Celine Dion is out of touch with the mainstream. The French-Canadian who once unleashed “My Heart Will Go On” on all of us remains our favorite singer despite this very fact. Our second favorite act (and first among men) is U2, followed by Elvis and the Beatles in a tie for third, Tim McGraw, Lady Gaga, George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Alan Jackson, and then Frank Sinatra. Conclusion: You are probably out of touch with the mainstream. [, via ] designer Phoebe Philo is nearly seven months pregnant with her third child, due in April, and has consequently decided to cancel her runway show this season. She's still producing a collection, and will likely mount a presentation during Celine's normal time slot at Paris Fashion Week. Celine CEOMarco Gobbetti assured WWD that Philo is still very much at work, "designingthe collection with her team," and that she'll attend the presentation in whatever format it takes. "A runway show is a very demanding and personal engagement for a creative director," he added. "The objective is to simplify."• has recently closed numerous stand-alone stores, but plans to roll out at least ten new ones conceptualized by new creative director Pheobe Philo. []• Guccio and Alessandro Gucci, great-grandsons of founder Guccio Gucci, are launching their own handbag line for spring named To Be G. []• EBay launched a new shopping site named Fashion Vault that offers free shipping. Sales only last a few days, kind of like Gilt Groupe and Rue La La. []• Taylor Momsen is on the cover of Japanese Nylon's December issue. []When Pheobe Philo took her job as creative director of Printâ?¦Patti was actually one of the best models of the night, looking stunning in a dress by Marc Bouwer. Yet she was not one of the most popular, judging by the level of applause and shrieking awarded to each celebrimodel's runway entrance. Those were Christie Brinkley, who got so excited when she came out that she tripped on her Pamella Roland chiffon, which only made everyone like her more; Giselle Bondet, the Univision host, wore Oscar de la Renta and danced her way down the runway to that LMFAO song with the best lyric ever ("I work out"); Linda Evans, who prompted one man to exclaim, "Wow, how old is she?!"; Chaka Kahn, who wore a red leopard-print number by Chris March and walked to, well, ; and Gloria Estefan, who made up for the height her heels couldn't give her by wearing her hair in the shape of a cone-head. An honorable mention goes to Rose McGowan, who had a slit up the front of her dress so high that when she rearranged it so as not to trip, the audience saw that even her panties were red, in keeping with the night's theme.Yesterday, tireless Titanic 3D promoter Kate Winslet turned her critical focus to Leonardo DiCaprio's aging, and … very honest. “We do look very different,” she told U.K. chat show Daybreak. “You know, he's fatter now — I'm thinner. It's true, though!” Before you take Kate Winslet to task for fat-shaming Leo, you should know that she is not the only former DiCaprio co-star making observations about his aging process. Cue Claire Danes, : “I saw Leo the other day and in some ways, our dynamic is absolutely the same, but then it’s like, ‘Oh, but wait, we’re big fat grown-ups!’” Granted, the use of the first person plural makes that comment a little more generous, but, man, it's roughout there for a formerly skinny nineties heartthrob. The critics were divided on the success of Dior's equestrian-inspired fall collection. Some, like Godfrey Deeny of Fashion Wire Daily, loved it. He called it "," and a reminder that Paris is where one can "truly witness design imagination, remarkable finish and production élan." WWD agreed, declaring it "." Suzy Menkes thought it was one of Galliano's best Dior collections: "." But others were unimpressed by the equestrian theme, which felt tired and overdone. "," huffed Cathy Horyn of the Times. She called the show uninspired, adding that "we've seen most of these clothes before." Style.com echoed her critiques, noting that the abundance of georgette dresses "." And others doubted the wearability of the clothes in the real world. "" asked British Vogue. "[T]he Dior woman lives — and dresses for — a fairytale." While the former may have been meant as a compliment, The Wall Street Journal was less kind. Though it allowed that the "extraordinary" workmanship was obvious, "." In the end, "this amounts to a collection aimed largely at advertising," it concluded. Stefano Pilati's dual serious-and-sweet spring collection was a miss for most critics. Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune called it "," finding the strawberry-shaped earrings, leather shorts, and unsubtle colors "real puzzles." Many reviewers loved the more refined, office-ready attire but dismissed the flashier elements. "," The Wall Street Journal intoned, before briefly touching upon the "distracting" strawberry patches, panty shorts, and visible lingerie. Likewise, WWD found the diversity of the lineup "," but allowed that "[i]t made for an interesting and often strong journey." Godfrey Deeny of Fashion Wire Daily liked it best, calling the show "." But in the end "," British Vogue assessed. Style.com concurred, noting, "."THE HITS: • “Riccardo Tisci did a good job sticking to a sharp, sexy message. The show had a tenacious quality ? Yet Mr. Tisci didn’t overplay the water-world element, nor did he get hung up on the rock of drippy romance.” []• “[W]e're tempted to call this collection the most accessible that Tisci has ever done ? Tisci is riding a wave right now.” []• “[The collection] screamed out take-no-prisoners hardcore Tisci attitude ? [exotic skins] added a couture feel and made the clothes all the more powerful ? It was fast paced and high energy.” []THE HITS: • "Ms. Kawakubo is the only designer who thinks like an artist ... Her latest collection seemed to turn couture, and the fashion world’s obsession with iconic shapes and structure, on its ear ... Strikingly, these designs are extraordinarily simple ... not to suggest that anyone can do them (you would need her patternmakers) but rather that anyone can understand them." []• "[The show] was a telling reminder of why Comme des Garçons and its designer Rei Kawakubo have achieved such cult status. [Kawakubo's vision] is fashion at its most lovingly distilled ... Call it fashion for the purists." []• "[T]his show was breathtaking in its boldness and vivacity and was cheered to the echo ... Ms. Kawakubo was in a class of her own. The two elements, shape and color, were played to the max." []• "Rei Kawakubo chose this particular moment to present a show that glorified the flat ... If it had been a Dada performance in Zurich's Cabaret Voltaire in the second decade of the twentieth century, its genius would have been galvanic. As a fashion show in the second decade of the twenty-first century, its satire felt a little obvious. But its savage point was well taken." []• "It was fabulous ... Kawakubo did indeed focus on two often-challenging dimensions: those of major volume and color. She had her radical way with both, and everyone left smiling. Wow, indeed." []• "They were stiff and they were bold — a minimalist yet equally flamboyant sensibility ... all the elements you would usually associate with being loud and cluttered [were] somehow reduced to something simple, even when exaggerated and accentuated shapes came into the equation. But that’s Kawakubo’s speciality." []• New photos from Katie Holmes's latest Ann Taylor ad campaign are online. []• As part of plans for regrowth and an increased retail presence, will open two new flagship stores in New York and Paris. []• Here is Michelle Williams's cover of the new issue of Interview. []• Jezebel writer and ex-model Jenna Sauers breaks down the financial costs, and eventual debt, her modeling career accrued. []In the other categories, beat out , among others, for the Best Designer Brand award, and was posthumously honored with an award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design. The list of winners:Although Sesame Street characters (, , andspecifically) were warmly embraced by this season's Céline shoe offerings, it appears that varying skin tones weren't quite so welcome.After earning a cult following as the founder and editor-in-chief of the dearly departed Domino magazine, Deborah Needleman has a new gig: She’s the freshly instated editor of “Off Duty,” the Wall Street Journal’s two-week-old Saturday lifestyle section. The sixteen-page weekly features a slew of new contributors (a few of them Domino alums) writing about design, fashion, food, technology, travel, and family. But though she may covet the luxurious designs of Phoebe Philo and Tom Ford, Needleman’s editorial approach is refreshingly unfussy. “Style is such a fluid concept,” she says. “It’s in how you decorate, how you cook for your friends, how you wear your clothes, and how you hang with your children.” She’s not necessarily aiming to lure readers away from the fashion glossies, either. “The job of the section is to translate the runway for real people,” she says. “A lot of fashion coverage is geared toward the few of us who go to shows and work in the industry, rather than the masses of women who care about style."Accessory heavyweights such as , , and showed over the weekend, but today's details spotlight shines on some quirky jewels found at . Models accented their looks with necklaces and earrings made from resin- and gold-covered walnuts and orange slices. Another sign that the still has legs?Peg-legged is so mad at the media for harassing her during her divorce she's cutting off their access to her. stormed out of a lunch in Beverly Hills with his agent. , the nephew of murdered billionaire Edward Safra, got married on Saturday. wants to put together a reality show starring Mario Lopez where celebs beat the crap out of one another. says he was a klutz as a kid and didn't ride a bike until he was 22. doesn't like Sienna Miller and warned her not to hurt her new boyfriend, Rhys Ifans. is set to star in a musical based on his life. The mother of African baby daughter says the child is a product of rape. cooks his turkey; Glenn Close does not.Norton, Pitt in a State of Play: Edward Norton reunites with Fight Club co-star Brad Pitt for State of Play, the Kevin MacDonald–directed adaptation of the acclaimed British miniseries in which a journalist (Pitt) investigates the death of the mistress of a congressman (Norton), who in turn discovers that the reporter is just a figment of his male insecurity and he’s actually investigating himself. []As , Into the Gloss founder Emily Weiss poached former Elle editor Nick Axelrod at the beginning of June to help her expand her beauty site. She , "Our goal is quite simply to do more of what we, and you, love, and even introduce some new voices, features, and functions." In other news, Weiss now has the same partly-shaved bob as . If there is anything likes as much as fashion?and there’s not, really?it would have to be a Broadway show. This season he’s seen (twice), , Sondheim on Sondheim, A View From the Bridge, and, on a super-humid summer night, Red. ?We ran into one of our neighbors and he said, ?What does red mean to you?’ ? Kors smiles and his face lights up pink. He’s just arrived at for a late supper with his longtime boyfriend, Lance LePere. ?Red? It’s the only color that New Yorkers will buy!? He lets out an enormous peal of laughter and waves hello to Cheyenne Jackson (?Now, that is a star!?), who is at the next table, and then he orders a hamburger, fries, and an iced tea with extra ice and lemon on the side. (?Does that make me sound like Donna Karan??) ?If you want to be a real girl,? he says, ?you should order a banana cream pie and nothing else.? He leans back, delighted. ?A banana cream pie and nothing else!? Kors goes to the theater as much as he can, usually accompanied by LePere, who is also a creative director at his company and looks, according to Kors’s friend Marjorie Gubelmann, like a ?cross between Jesus and Tarzan.? ?I don’t understand why fashion people don’t love the theater,? Kors says. ?Fashion people love escape and a show and pageantry and storytelling, right?? LePere nods gravely. Kors shrugs. He loves escape. And shows. And pageantry. And storytelling. How could he not? Kors is having a moment. As the recession has contracted lots of luxury businesses, Kors has seen his brand explode. The company is expected to hit $1 billion in sales this year. He opened his first boutique in 2000, and by the end of 2012, he will have close to 200 worldwide, in addition to the 1,000 venues already selling his various labels, accessories, and perfumes. He’s currently wrapping his eighth season as a judge on the TV show that has made him the de facto authority on what is and what isn’t ?fashion? in living rooms all over the world. To just about anyone with a cable box, and the tendency to care about these things, Michael Kors is American fashion. ?He was our first choice,? says Runway executive producer Jane Cha. ?We wanted someone with a very serious business. But it turned out that he’s a completely natural performer. Everything is a catchphrase. Nothing is ?too crafty’; it’s too ?Becky home-ec-y.’ Nothing is ?too country’; it’s ?Appalachian Barbie.’ ? Kors himself had no idea what a difference the show would make to his business: ?I just figured, why not try it?? he says. But it’s made all the difference. Kors’s clothing is often about the lifestyles of the rich and highlighted, but the message he delivers by being on television is one of quasi- democracy. By embracing TV, he has cracked some sort of code about what makes a designer matter now. His is a brand of fashion that is as straightforward as it is chic, and his personality happens to match. You can’t imagine him, à la Yves Saint-Laurent, locking himself away to draw and fester, or being cruel to the unattractive or the poorly dressed. And TV plays to those traits: There’s the clever on-air bitchiness, but there’s also the overt accessibility and a fixation on what women might actually want to wear. ?So many designers are so tortured,? says his Runway cohort Nina Garcia, the fashion director of Marie Claire. ?It’s, Oh my God, I’m an artist. I’m so sad. There’s none of that with Michael.? A week after Kors’s trip to Red, he was at Lincoln Center receiving the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from the CFDA. Gwyneth Paltrow was his date. ?When I spend time with him, I feel understood,? she said afterward. Kors stood beside her and beamed. His award was presented by Anna Wintour, who had given Kors his first editorial coverage 29 years ago in this magazine. The photograph was of a mohair coat and a pair of suede culottes. The caption read: ?Michael Kors, 22, feels that fashion should be evolutionary, not revolutionary.? She was giddy presenting her friend with his prize, and she told one story of running into Kors at Round Hill resort in Jamaica. ?After splashing about in the water, he was ready to come ashore, when he suddenly realized that he could not. Ralph Lauren had arrived and was perched on the sand right in front of him, and Michael did not want Ralph to see him in his swimsuit. So he just bobbed around in the water for hours, smiling and waving.?The Gentlewoman is the lady counterpart to Dutch magazine Fantastic Man. designer Phoebe Philo landed the cover; she posed in her own clothes and some new and vintage Celine things for her shoot with David Sims. Though it's not called Fantastic Woman, the biannual magazine's editor-in-chief, Penny Martin, says, "It’s about modernity and women that are just fantastic." The first issue comes out March 22. []"I love a dress — you just throw it on and you're done," says Barneys New York's Amanda Brooks, whose look today could be described as minimalist to the max. The fashion director chose just three pieces to complete her outfit: a bright green 3.1 Phillip Lim dress, Proenza Schouler's PS1 bag, and a pair of Céline heels. Easy, simple, and chic. On Amanda: 3.1 Phillip Lim dress, Céline shoes, and Proenza Schouler bag. About the look: "I felt like keeping things simple on a Monday morning. There's nothing easier than throwing on a great dress in a pretty color. And I love this PS1 bag from last spring — they did color-blocked bags before everyone else."See more: Outfits from days , , , and . In what is Barneys New York's Amanda Brooks's most casual outfit to date (it is Sunday, after all), the fashion director wore a pair of distressed jeans and a Céline baseball tee. Brooks also forgoes her beloved Céline bags, which she's carried for the past three days, for an over-sized, classic Chanel 2.55.On Amanda: Céline tee-shirt, Current/Elliot jeans, mystery belt, Céline shoes, Chanel bag, and Derek Lam sunglasses. About the look: "I am trying to channel my Sunday vibe as much as possible, even though it's a busy day. When I saw this Céline tee-shirt I had to buy it because the little tiger icon looks exactly like a lamp, yes a lamp, I had in my house as a child. And I wore these glasses as a shout-out to Derek Lam, who showed a stunning spring 2012 collection this morning." See more: Outfits from day , , and . "Getting dressed in the morning is the pleasure of my day during Fashion Week," says Amanda Brooks. As the fashion director of Barneys New York, Brooks has some of the most beautiful clothes at her fingertips, but it's really how she puts everything together that adds the extra layer of intrigue. Her knack for picking out just the right extras takes her outfits to a whole other place — usually one of offhanded elegance. "I really, really love to splurge on accessories in a huge way ," she says. We asked Brooks to document her outfits every day during Fashion Week, as she takes in a whirlwind of shows — starting today! Like what you see? The bag and shoes can be purchased at Barneys. On Brooks: Brooks Brothers button-down (from the boys' department), vintage Chanel leather skirt, Azzedine Alaïa booties, Céline bag, Cartier and Philip Crangi bracelets, rings from Chanel and Brooks's father's grandmother, Chanel umbrella. About the look: "It may sound like a cliché, but more and more I’m into re-inventing classic clothes with new accessories. Today I’m wearing a white cotton shirt from the boys' department at Brooks Brothers with a black leather pencil skirt from Chanel that I’ve had for years. But what makes this outfit feel right for today are my brand new sky-high Alaïa sandals and my black leather studded Céline bag, which I bought earlier this summer. I felt great until I walked into the first day of my kids’ school and felt completely out of place among the more casual moms in gym gear and sneakers. Oh well, you cant win ‘em all." After yesterday's , Barneys New York's Amanda Brooks went for a more demure outfit today, including a pair of mystery wide-leg pants that originated thus: "I lost my luggage in Paris and I picked them up at some random store quickly." Today's ensemble had the added businesslike touch of 3.1 Phillip Lim's black iPad case. On Amanda: Céline sunglasses, Maje by Vanessa Traina camisole, mystery belt, mystery pants from Paris, Proenza Schouler cardigan, Céline bag, Azzedine Alaïa shoes, and 3.1 Phillip Lim fur iPad case. About the look: "Today I'm feeling very cozy in my pajama pants, camisole, and cashmere cardigan. I even have a fur iPad case which feels like I'm holding a Teddy bear and acts as a great pillow for catnaps in the car."See more: Outfits from days , , , , and . Today, Barneys New York's fashion director Amanda Brooks took some personal favorites from her closet and mixed them with more recent purchases. Starting with her mother's old camisole on top, Brooks added a Proenza Schouler skirt and cinched it with her new 3.1 Phillip Lim belt. But the best part of the outfit? Her adorable Stella McCartney for Chloé socks from the late nineties that have the words "I Love You" stitched on the cuffs. On Amanda: Proenza Schouler skirt, Brooks's mother's camisole, 3.1 Phillip Lim belt, 3.1 Phillip Lim boots, Stella McCartney for Chloé socks, Céline bag, and Céline sunglasses. About the look: "Today was about picking old basics from my closet and putting exciting, new accessories with them. I've had this Proenza Schouler skirt for years — it's one of the most basic things I wear year-round — and this is my new fall 2011 3.1 Phillip Lim rabbit fur belt."See more: Outfits from day and .Barneys fashion director Amanda Brooks loves Céline, and Céline loves her back. Today she debuts her most beloved splurge of the season: the label's leopard pony classic box bag (and even compares it to a timeless Kelly from Hermès). While yesterday's outfit was minimal, uptown chic, Brooks opts for a more casual approach on this second day of Fashion Week, wearing fitted silk trousers topped off with flats. On Amanda: Céline sunglasses, Maje by Vanessa Traina camisole, a mystery belt, Giulietta pants, Azzedine Alaïa shoes, Céline bag, Hermès watch, and Cartier bracelet. About the look: "I always say I never wear the same outfit twice, but this one is an exception. These Giulietta pants are cut so perfectly, it's hard to take them off. And I wish I'd bought multiples of this Maje by Vanessa Traina camisole. The Céline leopard pony classic box was my big splurge for the season, but it's so worth it. It's like the new Kelly bag in that I know I'll wear it forever and then give it to my daughter one day."See more: Outfit from . Fashion Week is less than twelve hours away from OVER. Can we get a hallelujah? A glass of Champagne? A high-five, some blister pads, and a bed in which to crash till Monday? The besties, who Cut readers now know intimately as Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley, made it through eight days of shows, too, looking chic as all get out the whole way through. (Not us, man. We're now unbathed, unshaved, and wearing a potato-chip-flecked muumuu with Crocs.) Click ahead to see what each lady is wearing for Fashion Week's final hurrah. No lazy Sunday-is-laundry-day outfits for these two. Nope, even when Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley, co-owners of the fashion-forward boutique, wear sweats (like Beth is on this gloomy Sunday), they're the dressed-up fancy Celine kind, totally not the wadded-up-in-a-stinky-gym-locker-somewhere version like we own. Click ahead to find out what else they'll be wearing to the tents today.Sarah Easley and Beth Buccini, co-owners of , have been best friends for 21 years. They roomed together at UVA and founded their Soho boutique, a beacon for the fashionable avant-garde, more than eleven years ago. So naturally, the former high-end wholesaler (Easley) and ex-fashion editor (Buccini) pull out all the sartorial stops during Fashion Week, attending loads of cutting-edge shows (, , , , , etc.) and spending just as much time planning out their outfits. To that end, we've asked them to document what they're wearing each day this Fashion Week — starting now! Like what you see? Many of their clothes are from the fall 2010 looks and can be purchased at Kirna Zabête.Whoop-whoop! They're headed into the home stretch: co-owners Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley have been documenting their Fashion Week outfits for, oh, the last six days, and the seventh set of outfits is just as polished as all the ones that came before it. (If that doesn't inspire envy, well, you're a better person than we are.) Click ahead to see what each lady is wearing on Fashion Week's penultimate day. By this point in Fashion Week, there are a whole lotta editors, buyers, etc., really eager for the damn thing just to be over. The thought of sitting through one more show for one more minute — let alone THREE FREAKING DAYS — is enough to make an otherwise fashionable, reasonable lady want to wear a college sweatshirt and penguin pajama bottoms to Marc by Marc. Kirna Zabête co-owners Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley are fashionable, reasonable, and, apparently, tireless. They still look cute. WTF. Click ahead to find out what they're wearing to the tents today. On Buccini by night: dress, Chrissie Morris shoes, Alaia belt, Ranjana Khan earrings About the look: "This is my summer-is-over, urban-night-out look for dinner with friends. I always love color and print, and Thakoon does it so well: modern and cool versus garden-party flimsy."On Easley: Lanvin white sequin jacket, T-shirt, J. Crew pants, Balenciaga shoes, Chloe "Edith" bag, and Ranjana Khan earrings. About the look: "I love mixing the fancy Lanvin white sequins on a Friday morning with sporty stripes and army pants. I feel like the white on the heel pulls it together. The earrings are sort of too much in a good way and a nice contrast to the beaten-up Chloe bag from 2003, with summer sand still at the bottom. I am going to change before Fashion's Night Out, but I am not sure into what yet." The stodgy, Sherlock-in-the-fog coat is loosening up. And that’s before you tack on the shocking-bright tights and pumps.See Also: • • • Following stints as a design intern for , , and Sally Penn, British-born Frances Tulk-Hart landed an internship at Nylon magazine and discovered the world of styling. After several years as the mag's contributing fashion editor, she tried her hand at photography. While Tulk-Hart still styles (she just wrapped a story for Purple magazine), she now shoots the Tsesay ad campaigns as well as editorials for Japanese Vogue, the New York Times, and Common & Sense magazine. We sat down with the multi-talented Tulk-Hart to discuss her love of the tomboy look, a longing for Celine’s latest resort collection, and her inability to properly tie shoelaces. Where are you going today? Back to my office at 57th and Lexington. I just had lunch at Michael’s with Donna Hanover. She’s one of my clients. What do you do? I run my own literary agency. Before that, I was the editorial director and associate publisher of Little, Brown and Company. How would you describe your style? I suppose I could ask my daughter, Vanessa?she’s the fashion editor of the Financial Times. But I guess I’m aware of fashion and I try to inject current elements into a fairly traditional, professional approach. I think it’s important to have a sense of humor. We could also call it flair. What are you wearing today? The handbag is ?it was a gift from my husband. He’s great at gifts! The coat is from , and the blue tights are an injection of humor and dash. They’re . Did your interest in fashion inspire your daughter’s career? Not really, but for someone like me who spends her time working on manuscripts and dealing with paper and ideas, fashion comes as both aesthetic relief and a sort of avocation. I like to look at art, interior design, fashion. That was something Vanessa shared with me, and her way of looking at it now is that it’s a cultural insight. What artists do you like? Color-field and Abstract Expressionist painters. De Kooning, Twombly, Rothko. My tastes exceed my budget. What are you reading? Proposals by authors of mine. One is by Amitai Etzioni, who heads the Institute for Communitarian Policy at George Washington University. Also, a manuscript by Celinda Lake and Kellyanne Conway, the leading female pollsters in America. Their book, What Do Women Really Want?, will be published this fall. Plus, for old time’s sake, I’m reading Faulkner. As I Lay Dying. Just to lighten things up. What do women really want? The right to fully participate on equal terms with men. We pay a great deal of lip service to it in this country, and yet we have only 14 percent women in the House and Senate, the lowest proportion of any First World country. &#8226 Stefano Pilati's collection for gets a gold star — it both stayed true to the house's namesake and still turned out something completely new.The seats also got us close-up views of the gowns they wore, which in Alves' case was a stunning canary shade and for Dobrev was a beautiful bright blue. We are suckers for color, and they were exhibits A and B as to why the awards ceremonies are such a snooze when everyone shows up in some variation on a flesh tone. Our locale also afforded us a chance to chat informally with Dobrev and, whether we meant to or not, hear much of what she said to other people. And as it turns out, Nina Dobrev is lovely. Sincerely, everything we heard her say was warm and genuine, which after almost six years in the tents we can vouch almost never happens. She was nice to Camilla Alves, putting an arm around her when they were prompted to pose for pictures, and telling her they were best friends now. She was nice when we, two wackadoo strangers in winter coats, randomly popped our heads in to tell her what a hit her red Donna Karan Emmy dress was. She was nice when that led to reminiscing about Giuliana Rancic interviewing her on the red carpet, at which point Dobrev worried about how Giuliana was feeling post-cancer surgery and fretted that she hadn't been able to get in touch with her to wish her "good luck and good energy." She was nice about the clothes — and she was right; they were very impressive best-dressed Oscar bait ("I love awards season," Dobrev giggled to Alves) — and she was nice when we popped up again to suggest she order one of each of them for her closet. She was just… nice. We wonder if it's because she's Canadian. Think about everything kind that great nation has given us: Marty McFly, Captain Von Trapp, Jack Bauer, Celine Dion and her Mighty Fist-Pump of Passion, dill pickle potato chips, and now Elena Gilbert. And what have we done for them lately? Hopefully, this Valentine is a start. (For more Fug Girls, go .)Gaia Repossi takes the family business very seriously. At the age of 20, after studying art history at the Sorbonne, she became the artistic director of her family-owned jewelry house, originally founded in 1920. Six years later, she's become a front-row fixture at big shows like and , as well as those of young designers like and (she has teamed up with both on recent jewelry collections). Repossi's signature cuffs and intricately latticed rings are both tough and elegant. This month, she debuts a collaboration with Zadig & Voltaire, which will be available at a fraction of the price of her eponymous line. We caught up with the designer to talk about her lucky pendant, favorite vintage stores, and appreciation for ponchos.Vogue posted a guide to "glamping" today, for those times when "your chestnut- and marigold-colored sweater inspires you to seek out fiery fall foliage, and you can hear your silver Christopher Raeburn parachute parka calling for a wintry landscape." Unsurprisingly, their packing list is less sleeping bags and s'mores and more stiletto-heeled boots and folding chairs (price upon request). And don't even bother with a tent — the magazine's recommended spots to visit include "rustic" lodges, teepees the size of a New York apartment (wait ... bigger), and a tree-house penthouse — which, presumably, comes with a chef to roast your marshmallows for you. [Vogue Daily] Beyoncé, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” Pizzazz: 7 Relevance: 9 Absurdity: 7 We’re feeling a little “Single Ladies” fatigue, and this episode has two versions (we averaged our impressions for the above scores). Kurt’s opening number takes itself very seriously, as we’re sure Kurt would (those leotards were not Tina and Britt’s choice); the football team’s game-time dance routine, on the other hand, didn’t amuse us as much as we thought it might (even on Glee, the idea of a mid-game dance routine seems a little absurd). Regardless, it’s a good song choice: This episode was all about many of the characters claiming their independence, whether it was Kurt coming out to his dad; Rachel making nice guy Mr. Schue face a painful decision about playing favorites; or Finn manning up to his situation by, er, reading (“I got this out from the library. Did you know you could borrow books there? All of ‘em! Well, except the encyclopedias”). Bernstein and Sondheim, “Tonight” (From West Side Story) Pizzazz: 5 Relevance: 9 Absurdity: 5 Finally, we get to hear Jenna Ushkowitz sing! The girl was in Spring Awakening, so we figured she had a decent voice, and she certainly nails most of Maria’s iconic solo — although she has to admit that her final note is sharp. (Also, we’re not sure how Tina standing alone on a ladder figures into a glitzy show-choir number.) It’s completely believable that Rachel would gasp at being given the alto part (altos clearly aren’t soloists; we were in choir, once, and we know) and would imagine herself the ideal Maria (“Natalie Wood was a Jew, you know. I’ve had a very deep personal connection to this role since the age of 1”). And Mr. Schue’s decision to keep Tina as soloist is an important one; even Terri’s ditzy sister Kendra notes that Will cares more about pleasing everyone than anything else, so perhaps this tough choice is a step forward.Will is overwrought for basically the entire episode — right off the bat, he crows to Emma, "But [the New Directions kids] never get to win!!" Right, except for sectionals three times and regionals twice. Good point, Will. He goes on to wonder if all his hard work was enough. This year I've seen Will work hardest at planning his wedding and writing words on dry-erase boards, so I feel like maybe it wasn't? Everyone rehearses and yells at everyone else (funny how a few seasons back Will told the kids he was ashamed of them for yelling before a competition and now he's praising their intensity) and then things get solemn as everyone remembers that this is the moment, etc. It's a sequence of events that seems prime for a musical montage; weirdly, Glee doesn't get as many of those as one would think. This is my formal request for more montages in season four, beginning with a shot-for-shot remake of the from Scarface.I wish that Tina's big solo moment had been something showier than Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me” or, at the very least, something more timely — it's the love theme for a movie that came out in 1996, but it’s nice in her voice. Still, it's hard not to feel cheated on Tina's behalf when her standing ovation turns out to be a dream, and she's Rachel Berry's chauffeur and seamstress for the rest of the episode. But I will say that Rachel and Tina's visit to Carmen Tibideaux finally, finally made Rachel's NYADA desperation palatable. It wasn't because of the speech Tina delivered on her behalf — it was because Rachel shifts from saying that she had to be given another chance immediately or her life would be ruined to telling Carmen that she would audition over and over every year if that's what it takes to prove herself. A moment in which Rachel Berry drops her sense of entitlement for a split second qualifies as a Glee miracle these days.In 1995's Before Sunrise a very young Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy spent a long, meandering, romantic night together in Vienna. In the 2004 follow-up, Before Sunset, an older, more jaded Hawke and Delpy spent a long, meandering day together in Paris, still crazy and tortured about each other after all these years. Now it looks like the third film might be on the way. (Berlin for a 24-hour rendezvous?) , Hawke said that he thought it was just about time he, Delpy, and their director, Richard Linklater — the threesome who co-wrote the previous films — got started on a third. "I don't know what we're going to do but I know the three of us have been talking a lot in the last six months," Hawke said. "All three of us have been having similar feelings that we're ready to revisit those characters. There's nine years between the first two movies and, if we made the film next summer, it would be nine years again so we've really started thinking that would be a good thing to do. We're going to try write it this year." If you're at all like us, you imagined/hoped that after the last movie — which ended with Celine adorably singing Nina Simone to Jesse, and Jesse missing his flight — these two neurotic kids ended up together, even though, more realistically, they probably would have stayed in bed for three days, freaked out, and then decided not to exchange telephone numbers or e-mails again because it worked out so dramatically last time. May their third time be the charm. And title suggestions welcome in the comments: Before Midnight? Before Noon? Before 7 p.m.?& Get restaurant menus and deals, as well as the latest food news. / / / / / / /Fiona Apple was upstairs, alone, stalking the small suite of her boutique hotel in Soho. It was noon, in May, and she had arrived in New York, the city where she grew up, a few days earlier from Paris, where she was shooting a music video. She was at this moment supposed to be sitting in the hotel bar answering questions about her new album and her life in general, a life that, with the exception of sporadic performances — at her hometown club, Largo, in Los Angeles — she keeps almost hermetically sealed. She’d dressed herself in a long black nylon skirt, a tank top, and a thin green hooded sweatshirt; she applied no makeup. She wore her hair tied up. Despite being late, she was consulting her laptop, which she often struggles to operate, typing the words mirror neurons into Google. With a pencil she began scribbling onto a piece of hotel stationery. The morning — which is to say the hours after midnight — had unfolded well, sunrise had come smoothly, she’d felt good, and she’d seriously debated continuing straight through, as she does most often, but with a busy day ahead, she’d figured it best to rest, and, to her surprise, slipped into unconsciousness beneath the coffee table. When she’d awoken at ten, she’d felt different. She’d felt bad. She’d returned to the window she’d spent the morning staring down from, the man clearly on drugs still hobbling along the same block of Grand Street, picking up twigs and moving them. In her head she heard the refrain from the seventies song: “Do it, do it, till you’re satisfied.”Hot Shot: Peter Marino Was Invited to Céline, All Right? Tags: , , , , Photo: Eric Ryan/Getty ImagesI observed this phenomenon in the wild, recently, at a concert where Celine's Vegas show was being projected on a giant screen for a generally uninterested audience. ( It was a weird night.) For the first two minutes, everyone was cracking jokes, whooping for the recorder player— who was given a special place onstage, with her own spotlight — and generally pretending not to care about the remarkable spectacle unfolding before us. Then the strings swelled, and Celine began to rise up over the stage on a shiny platform; as she hit the "You're here," a giant fountain shot up over her head and framed her in engine-powered tears. It was ridiculous, and hokey, and the crowd cheered, because that is all you can do when Celine Dion is towering over you singing about the enduring power of below-decks love while pounding her chest into a new register. You just give in. So why keep fighting against the laws of God and Love Ballads? "My Heart Will Go On" is a powerful song; don't be ashamed to admit it.2. She took billionaire Über-geek boyfriend Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, to Celine Dion in Las Vegas. "He loves live entertainment. I took him to see Celine Dion, and I was teasing him, sending him these e-mails: "When we're in Vegas this weekend, I'd love to take you to see a singer. Her name is Celine Dion. You've probably never heard of her, but she's quite popular around the world. She is French-Canadian." And he would write back [starts talking in robot voice], "I have never seen Celine Dion but I have heard her name. In fact, I do not know any of her songs but several of my friends tell me rest assured I will recognize them … [A]t the end of Celine when he didn't cry, I was convinced his heart was made of coal. He kept saying things like [back to robot voice] I absolutely appreciate her excellent vocal skills."The designer and his studio's origami-inspired "132 5." collection took the top honor over some serious competition, including Sarah Burton's wedding gown for the Duchess of Cambridge, the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute exhibit, Mary Katrantzou's fall 2011 collection, Celine fall 2011, Suno spring 2011, Vivienne Westwood's "Ethical Fashion Africa Collection" for fall 2011, and Melissa + Gaetano's Pesce boot and flip-flop.For spring, which finally seems to be upon us, Lyons likes minimal looks. “I can’t really wear them, but I love all the paler creams,” she gushed. “What Pheobe Philo is doing for Celine is so beautiful. It’s all about the most expensive fabric in the world, the most beautiful tailoring, the biggest bank accounts, and the most beautiful bodies. It’s not going to happen. Those things aren’t working for me.” However, she's not a fan of the eighties revival, and didn’t escape that decade unscathed herself. “I was committing fashion crime after fashion crime all day long. I had asymmetrical hair. It was bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.”FRAGRANCE • Jennifer Aniston decided to name her fragrance Lola V. Why? Well, does she need a reason? She says she's been working on the scent for a year. "I don't think they really expected me to be [so] picky. But you've got to have it smell right." []• Celine Dion announced that she will release her eighth fragrance, Pure Brilliance, with Coty in September. []• Detmar Blow: “I was very proud of how Issie inspired and encouraged so many people. I feel Issie was let down by the fashion industry — that was in all three addresses at her memorial service. I am comforted though that when Issie was dying she told the nurses, ‘Google me — I am important.’ Issie died proud — she knew she had made a mark. Coming through customs she told me proudly that the immigration officers had seen her and said, ‘We know who you are. No need to show your passport.’ She was proud.” []Phoebe Philo's third campaign for , shot by Juergen Teller, has been released in all its striped, flowing glory. The designer cast (pictured) and as the label's latest faces, replacing Emma Balfour and . Daria, who has been , juxtaposes Celine's trademark minimalism with a bright orange skateboard, adding some street to her pants-only outfit. []Kate Winslet has been using her Titanic 3-D publicity tour as a campaign for real talk, and fresh from , Winslet has circled back around to her co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio. You may remember that Winslet discussed the once-twinky DiCaprio, she giggled about how "Leo looks so young and so skinny" in the 1997 movie. This time, though, she is through with merely implying the obvious. "We do look very different [now], we’re older," Winslet said on the chat show Daybreak today. "Leo’s 37, I’m 36 — we were 21 and 22 when we made that film. You know, he’s fatter now — I’m thinner. It’s true, though!" Have you got all that? Next time, she will bring charts.A few months back, during her delightfully candid press tour for Titanic 3-D (), Kate Winslet admitted that she was not the most devoted fan of the movie’s love theme. Put more bluntly: She told an Italian journalist that “My Heart Will Go On” and that she hates when people try to surprise her with it. , and the entire spat was pretty amusing, except that no one stopped to consider poor Celine Dion’s feelings. And based on her Today show appearance this morning, Vulture thinks Celine was a little hurt. She didn’t say so specifically when asked — she spent most of her answer talking about how special the song is and how honored she is to be associated with it, etc. — but just look at her expression at the 3:48 mark. That is a legitimately sad diva — like "No room left on the floating plank, 'I'll Never Let Go, Jack,' little old lady dying in her bed"-level sad. Aww. And if that's how bummed Celine is, just imagine the scrunchy-sad faces Leo is making in private. Look what you've done, Kate Winslet!Now that Celine Dion is on maternity leave, "old friend" Will Ferrell has decided to help out and do her Vegas show while she recovers with her new twins. Ferrell, who is making a on The Late Show, gave Letterman a sneak-peek at what things will look like at Caesars when he takes over with a rendition of "The Power Of Love." Next up, Chelsea Handler doesn't have to remind Nick Swardson that the idea of that his character dating Jennifer Aniston's character in their new movie Just Go With It is ridiculous, but she does anyway, and wrapping things up on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Mandy Moore admits that she has to tolerate husband Ryan Adams' love of death metal, but when he says it influences his own music. Watch our compilation to see what you missed.Blogger Leandra Medine got married in New York yesterday, but whether she had a cake remains a mystery— even to her: "Cake? I’m not even sure there is a cake," she told WWD. "Do you know how many Celine bags I could buy for that cake?" For four years now, Continuum’s 33 1/3 series has been issuing a steady stream of hip little rock-and-roll catechisms: idiosyncratic pocket-size meditations by eminent critics on seminal albums. Subjects skew toward the artsy-intellectual (Radiohead’s OK Computer), the canonical (Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited), and the cultish (Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea). Among such countercultural titans, the series’s newest topic?Céline Dion’s Titanic-era Let’s Talk About Love?feels alarmingly out of place. Dion is the Antichrist of the indie sensibility, an overemoting schmaltz-bot who has somehow managed to convert the ethos of Wal-Mart into sine waves and broadcast them, at kidney-rupturingly high volume, directly into our internal soulPods. A book pondering the aesthetics of Céline risks going wrong in about 3,000 different ways. Most obviously, it could degenerate into one of those irritating hipster projects of strategic kitsch-retrieval, an ironic exercise in taste as anti-taste in which an uncool phenomenon is hoisted onto a pedestal of cool simply as a display of contrarian muscle power. Instead, this book goes very deeply right. Like most rock critics, Carl Wilson?a writer and editor at Canada’s national paper, The Globe and Mail?has always reflexively detested Céline. ?From the start,? he writes in Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste, ?her music struck me as bland monotony raised to a pitch of obnoxious bombast?R&B with the sex and slyness surgically removed, French chanson severed from its wit and soul ? Oprah Winfrey?approved chicken soup for the consumerist soul, a neverending crescendo of personal affirmation deaf to social conflict and context.? (As another critic once put it: ?I think most people would rather be processed through the digestive tract of an anaconda than be Céline Dion for a day.?) But while most critics would leave Céline there and go back to gushing over the lost tapes of the live versions of early takes of Dylan’s unwritten B-sides, Wilson feels a twinge of critical conscience. Pop criticism’s sacred duty, after all, has always been to articulate the secret genius of the underappreciated?an approach that’s given us our cherished canons of rap, rock, and manga. (Not to mention films and novels.) So what about Céline? In a critical climate that venerates slick, hyperproduced Top 40 pop, why is she immune to praise? Is her ululatory arm-flinging really so unforgivable? To find out, Wilson embarked on what he calls ?an experiment in taste,? undergoing solid months of Céline immersion in an effort to get to the bottom of his ?guilty displeasure.? The Céline phenomenon, in Wilson’s telling, runs surprisingly deep. It was forged in the weird pop-cultural fires of seventies Quebec, a provincial bubble in which news anchors and earnest troubadours were venerated as mainstream heroes, while variety-pop stars were shunned. Céline emerged as a white-trash child star frequently mocked in the press for her ?bushy hair and snaggle teeth.? She was also possessed, of course, with that Voice, an inhumanly powerful blast that annihilated the competition at cheesy global talent contests (the 1982 Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo, the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin) and made her manager cry, mortgage his house, and eventually marry her. Wilson is very good on the uncanny disjunction at the heart of Dion’s talent?that goofy, gawky frame, whipping its arms around like a t’ai chi instructor on a badly scratched DVD, unleashing crescendo after sublime crescendo. ?She is at once doing tricks with her voice and is herself overwhelmed by its natural force,? Wilson writes. He also argues that Céline’s music is essentially aspirational, like rap: ?Her voice itself is nouveau riche??it’s ?a luxury item, and Céline wants to share its abundance with her audience.? One of the book’s fun surprises is the odd way in which this abundance has distributed itself across the globe. Her French work is allegedly nuanced, understated, and literary; she’s beloved by the cabdrivers of Ghana and the ruffians of Jamaica; and she unknowingly endorses questionable products in the market stalls of Afghanistan (?Titanic Making Love Ecstasy Perfume Body Spray?). Even in the U.S., Céline has won the admiration of an improbably large roster of music-industry visionaries, from Rick Rubin to Phil Spector to Timbaland to Prince (who reportedly saw her Vegas show three times). Wilson’s real obsession here is not Céline but the thorny philosophical problem on which her reputation has been impaled: the nature of taste itself. What motivates aesthetic judgment? Is our love or hatred of ?My Heart Will Go On? the result of a universal, disinterested instinct for beauty-assessment, as Kant would argue? Or is it something less exalted? Wilson tends to side with the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, who argues that taste is never disinterested: It’s a form of social currency, or ?cultural capital,? that we use to stockpile prestige. Hating Céline is therefore not just an aesthetic choice, but an ethical one, a way to elevate yourself above her fans?who, according to market research, tend to be disproportionately poor adult women living in flyover states and shopping at big-box stores. (As Wilson puts it, ?It’s hard to imagine an audience that could confer less cool on a musician.?) Although Wilson never grows to love Dion’s music, he’s also no longer comfortable with his former scorn. He acknowledges the merits of her work: ?It deals with problems that don’t require leaps of imagination but require other efforts, like patience, or compromise?; although it is ?lousy music to make aesthetic judgments to,? it ?might be excellent for having a first kiss, or burying your grandma, or breaking down in tears.? And he ends the book with a Céline-inspired plea for a new species of ?democratic? criticism: ?not a limp open-mindedness? but a refusal to indulge in our baser cultural-capitalist instincts. Céline, he says, ?stinks of democracy,? and his effort to understand her has taught him to ?relish the plenitude of tastes, to admire a well-put-together taste set that’s alien to our own.? After all, every genre, no matter how hip, is subject to criticism. Early in the book, after a concise history of schmaltz (which he defines elegantly as ?an unprivate portrait of how private feeling is currently conceived?), Wilson turns the notion back on its critics. ?You could say that punk rock,? he writes, ?is anger’s schmaltz.?• Macy's is shutting down five units in the next two months. Industry experts predict a wave of closings this year, saying there could be up to 10,000 store closings in malls. []• The in the ads has been identified as Rasa Zukauskaite. []• Speaking of headless models, they also appear in the spring campaign. []• will cover red-carpet fashion for Entertainment Tonight Canada at the Grammys this month. []• Lindsay Lohan is accused of knocking off a design for her 6126 clothing-line expansion. []Genre Action/Adventure Distributor Magnet Releasing Release Date Mar 29, 2011But the crowd was all there for Mariah, who, whatever she says, was clearly enjoying her glorious post-baby return. "I wanted to bring them here tonight, but Monroe is shy," she told us. "Miss Monroe, she needs a moment to warm up." Mariah, of course, does not, and like Celine, she was very happy to give the audience exactly what it wanted: preening and solid hits. Her styling team came out at one point for a shoe change and some blotting; throughout the show, she kept asking why everyone feels the need to record everything on their phone. The answer is probably because if you're going to stand in a large purple-lit room and get lectured by Scary Spice, then you want a permanent memory of exactly why you did it, and this crowd did it to see Mariah slay "Always Be My Baby." "Touch My Body," "We Belong Together," and "Obsessed" all made it in, too, and by the time Mariah got to "I'll Be There," the audience was hugging each other and swaying along junior-high style. (Or maybe that was just the two guys next to me.) What else was there to do, then, but sing "Hero" for the encore? Not that you could really hear her over the crowd. When Mariah Carey trots back out onstage for "Hero," you put the camera phone down, and you sing along.Project Runway's tenth season starts this Thursday on Lifetime, and it's . But while the designers aren't new faces, the judges, host, and mentor all are — designers and , model , and Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles, respectively. And while Michael, Nina, and Heidi (along with her auf's) will be missed, it's arguably Tim Gunn who we'll all shed the most tears over. Which leaves Joanna Coles stepping into the toughest spot, taking on the role of the designers' mentor. We spoke with Coles about her time in the Runway workroom, what we can look forward to on the show's upcoming episodes, and how the experience changed her personal style. How did your role as the All-Stars’ mentor come about? Oh, well I’m sure several other people must have turned them down first because it came up rather at the last minute — I had about twenty minutes to decide. So I thought, "Why not? What fun." It was only halfway through filming that I realized, "Oh, goodness, what am I doing? Tim Gunn is really the star of the [Project Runway] world. What on Earth would make me think that I could replace him?"MAKEUP • Despite the tough economy, Mary Kay added 165,000 independent beauty consultants in April, the largest such monthly hire in 10 years. []• Good Morning America profiles real-life makeup hoarder Jennifer Bourgoyne, 45, who claims her condition stems from her mother being the pretty one and she the "ugly duckling." While cosmetics were being removed from her home, the reporter took Bourgoyne to CVS to buy $70 worth of .... replacement makeup. []FRAGRANCE • appears in the ads for 's first fragrance from its new licensing deal with Puig called Valentina.[]Full disclosure: Twenty-six-year-old newcomer might be our favorite new face this fall 2012 season. The Parisian has a severe, arresting beauty and charming intellect that makes us one of her biggest fans — and we’re not the only ones who are smitten. In the span of her six-month career, Piovesan has already booked face time with Paolo Roversi, Karl Templer, Craig McDean, and Marie-Amélie Sauvé. As one the current faces of Céline (she shares the campaign with ), she recently came off a stellar fall 2012 showing, during which she opened for Rick Owens, closed for Louis Vuitton, and appeared on the runways for YSL, Balenciaga, Lanvin, and Versace. We recently sat down with rising star to chat about , collapsing after fashion week, and her love for Jesus and Mary Chain and Hole.Genre Documentary Producer Sarah Omndale, Vera Aronow, Roger Grange Release Date Sep 29, 2010 Official WebsiteHAIR • A British poll found that gentlemen actually prefer brunettes. The majority of the 1,500 men polled thought that brunettes were better at conversation and kissing, though 36 percent did think blondes were the most wild in bed (compared to 31 percent for brunettes). What say ye, blondes? []• To create the super-tight, textured curls for the models in the show, hairstylist Hirofumi Kera wrapped small sections of hair around long, thin hairpins. Except for a short blast of heat to set the curl, he let the hair air dry and then removed the pins just before the models walked the runway. [] Fifteen years ago, Chanel came out with a polish called Night Sky. It was the deepest, richest navy, packed with tiny flecks of silver shimmer (like a starry sky, get it?). Sadly, the lacquer is no longer available — unless you feel like — so when I recently spotted a new crop of dark blue polishesmy heart completely soared. Even better, these offerings are shimmer-free (as an adult, I just can't be bothered to remove shimmer). It's a way to do black polish without feeling too goth about it — and it makes you feel really put together in that sexy-chic kinda way.New resort is here! In addition to the gauzy layers and animal patterns at , the newest cruise collections include statement prints at Prabal Gurung, breezy separates at Chloé, and Ashley Olsen's billowing silk from the Row. See these looks and more in our .• • • • • Juergen Teller shot Polaroids of for 's fall campaign, while and look glamorous and wind-blown in 's ads, lensed by Mario Sorrenti. Plus, see the latest campaigns from Undercolors of Benetton (the brand's underwear line), Antonio Croce, (starring ), and more in our .Bill Gaytten took his second bow at Paris Fashion Week today, sending even more sheer skirts down the runway at than , as well as ruffled gauzy dresses and boater hats. Meanwhile, 's all-star model cast showed textured black minidresses, sculptural silver pantsuits, and cream blouses. See the full collections, plus , , , and more in our runway galleries.RUNWAY • • • To a resounding , mixed geometric prints and lacy trim with carefully measured grace. In other shows, Clare Waight Keller debuted her first collection for — loosely tailored stripes and pleats, all in pastels — and Stefano Pilati's latest line for showcased bold colors and clean lines, broken up just so by distinctive ruffles. See the full collections, plus , , , and more in our runway galleries. RUNWAY • • • Paris Fashion Week soldiers on! And today, made us all feel lazy by sending yet down a European runway (she two weeks ago, too). showed coats, pants, and sweaters in a mix of warm pastels and deep autumn colors, while 's collection was black, white, and red all over, and Stefano Pilati for — sculptural separates covered with beautiful O'Keeffe-esque orchid prints. Check out these shows and lots of new details in our .RUNWAY• • • • • • • • • • • Here they are: the weekend's Paris shows! Check out 's gold jackets and figure-hugging dresses, 's colorful ponchos, and 's trailing silk hemlines. Happy Monday! Resort shows are almost over, but the last ones are still trickling in. showed floral prints and roomy trousers, presented chocolate leather pieces, and 's candy-colored gowns looked almost like they'd been spun from sugar. Check out more resort shows than you could possibly ever look at in one sitting in our .• • • • There's no stopping resort 2011, which is shaping up to be a real-deal season. Dozens of designers have presented, and some of the collections are huge (the Kaiser alone showed !). Click below to see the latest and greatest — and prepare to drool like crazy over relative newcomer 's wild tribal prints. In just a few days Paris Fashion Week and the fall 2010 season will come to a close. Check out the latest collections in our new runway slideshows, and click "full screen" for the full effect. It was a fruitful weekend over in Paris, and between 's tassel-fringed tops and 's enormously puffy sleeves, there are tons of runway shots ripe for the clicking. In addition to , 's collection featured spiky mullets, mesh bustiers, and frilly corsets. Today, layered sheer tulle skirts over bloomers, while 's models milled around on a grass lawn in petal-printed pumps. Click ahead to browse all of those collections and more.• • • Compatible Cover-upsWhat to wear when it’s cold out, if your house of worship frowns on bare skin, or if you’re still hiding that tattoo from the in-laws. A gown this voluminous needs a delicate, monochromatic bolero ($480 at Morgane Le Fay, 746 Madison Ave.; 212-879-9700).Though she's best known for her roles as the fashion director of Marie Claire and judge on , Nina Garcia is also the author of three books on style. Today, the Colombian-born fashion guru releases her fourth tome, Nina Garcia's Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion, a 300-page guide to situational dressing illustrated by Ruben Toledo. The style advice ranges from common wardrobe dilemmas — job interviews, first dates, casual weddings — to super-specific events, like jury duty, an office Halloween party, or a Netflix night in with a guy. Now she wishes she'd had time to add another timely chapter: "What do you wear to rehab? What do you wear to go to trial?" she asks, laughing. "What if you're Lindsay Lohan or Naomi Campbell?" We caught up with the multitasking (and pregnant!) editor to discuss her sartorial nightmares, favorite fast-fashion spots, and this season's "fragile" Project Runway cast.This year’s Tribeca Film Festival slashes its lineup from last year’s 120 films to just 86. Instead of booking publicity blitzes for blockbusters like Mission: Impossible III or Spider-Man 3, as in years past, it opens on April 22 with Woody Allen’s more modest Whatever Works. Allen’s first New York film in five years stars Larry David as an aging, Woodyish ?genius? who beds an impressionable young girl (Evan Rachel Wood)?partly by impressing her with great movies. After watching 51 of the festival’s films, we came up with sixteen sure ways to impress your date. By Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman In Staten Island, kids fear the bogeyman Cropsey because he kills kids with his hook. Or ax. Or hands. In this fascinating documentary, we get the nightmarish story behind an urban myth?a series of child murders in the eighties that traumatized the borough, leaving some residents so obsessed that, more than twenty years later, they’re still digging for missing kids. ?L.H. By Marshall Curry We’ve been waiting for Curry’s follow-up to his stunning 2005 political documentary Street Fight. Now he trains his lens on three young kids competing in the national go-kart circuit and dreaming of nascar stardom. The result is an exciting, poignant tale of growing up fast with adult ambitions. ?B.E. By Asghar Farhadi In this sharp, panic-riddled examination of pretense, a group of young Iranians are weekending in a beach house when Elly, a relative outsider, suddenly disappears into the sea. The camaraderie sours; the squabbling intensifies; and the friends’ guilty discomfort fills the space like a stench. ?M.S. By Stephan Elliott How do you update Noël Coward’s fizzy 1924 masterpiece of class conflict for the 21st century? You don’t. Elliott’s lovely take on Coward’s female American race-car driver marrying into an upper-crust British family is terrifically acted by Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, and (surprise!) Jessica Biel. ?B.E. By José Padilha Stark in the extreme, this documentary about starving Brazilian families could have felt manipulative, even exploitive (at one point the filmmaker shoots as children devour rock-hard beans). Instead, it’s profoundly moving, thanks to Padilha’s even tone and stunning camera work. ?M.S. By Rune Denstad Langlo, April 24 Derailed by depression, a retired Norwegian skier snowmobiles north in order to visit a son he’s never met. But this is no dirge: Along with seriocomic disasters, a bluegrass soundtrack, and lovely snowy tracking shots, there is an accretion of revelations, each a step stumbling toward self-discovery. ?B.K. By Hirokazu Kore-eda The novelistic Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Nobody Knows) has a subtle grasp of the everyday madness of families. Here, he explores how the death of an eldest son continues to reverberate years later. ?L.H. By Eric Bana Celebrity documentaries can be vain affairs, but Bana’s earnest, winning story about his 1974 Ford Falcon Coupe is as much about his home as it is about himself. A mix of memory and interviews, it’s a portrait of the Australia few tourists see, the Melbourne suburbs: a life of mates and muscle cars. ?E.P. By Celine Danhier New York’s cocky, explosive No-Wave scene gets its due in this work-in-progress documentary overbooked with a stellar downtown guest list: Jim Jarmusch, Debbie Harry, Lydia Lunch, Nick Zedd, Steve Buscemi, and many others. ?L.H. By Lucía Puenzo Puenzo’s white-knuckle follow-up to XXY reunites her with Inés Efron. The rising star moves on from playing a hermaphrodite to embodying a suburban Argentine girl who falls in love with her family’s maid, triggering a headlong, intense thriller. ?B.E. By Michael Sládek Eighties artist turned pariah Mark Kostabi (the guy who famously pranced around in a suit made of money) is pretty much a footnote these days, despite his egregious self-promotion. He does, however, make for an entertaining boom-era fable about the commodification of fine art. ?E.P. By Yojiro Takita Don’t you hate it when the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film is given to a movie you can’t see? Now’s your chance to view this year’s, in which a disillusioned cellist becomes an undertaker. Sounds almost alienatingly quirky, but in fact Departures is an enormously affecting, even haunting film with a superb lead performance by Masahiro Motoki. ?B.E. By Ian Olds In this riveting documentary, Olds uses the Taliban’s 2007 kidnapping and murder of Ajmal Naqshbandi, who helped visiting reporters navigate Afghanistan, to explore the invisible line separating foreigners and locals in international war journalism. Naqshbandi’s fellow captive, an Italian, was released thanks to his government’s intervention. ?B.E. , $4,545 The ultimate in sporty glamour, but it’s made from silk taffeta and stuffed with polyester?delicate and expensive materials to make water-resistant(3 W. 57th St.; 212-355-5050). , $2,200 This sparkling-white, fur-trimmed parka is wind- and waterproof, but the astronomical dry-cleaning bill might keep you indoors (667 Madison Ave., near 61st St.; 212-486-9700). Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons, $1,020 Avant-garde poncho style and down stuffing make this polyester taffeta jacket so hot, you might not care it isn’t water- or stainproof. (At .) Andrew Marc, $398 This quilted, polyamide bomber with raccoon-fur-trimmed hood scores style points, but your midsection may feel a breeze when it rides up, despite the goose-down stuffing. (At .) Perry Ellis Women’s, $268 With a belted waist, a sleek, non-quilted look, and a thick faux-fur hood, Patrick Robinson’s design is runway- and element-ready. (At .) Ralph Lauren Blue Label, $225 This festive frontal zip-up isn’t water- or stain-resistant, but does have hidden zipper compartments and a chin guard in case you take a spill on the slopes. (At .) Esprit, $149 Eighty percent down stuffing (the rest is feathers) keeps this parka extremely warm without a Michelin Man puff?and it’s water-resistant, too (110 Fifth Ave., at 16th St.; 212-651-2121). L.L.Bean, $109 True outdoorsmen will stay warm at ?5 degrees Fahrenheit?and there’s a water-resistant finish and multi-zip pockets for lip balm and other winter necessities (800-809-7057; ). Old Navy, $68 The down filling and faux-shearling hood keep you cozy, but like some of its more expensive cousins, this coat’s not waterproof. Haven’t they heard of snow? (At Stores and .) Phoebe Philo stepped in to in September, but now the Daily is reporting she's clashing with the label's new CEO. Philo's first show for the house is scheduled for March in Paris, and a spokesperson for the label said it will go on as planned. However, a source tells the Daily a "team" is working on the collection. []The designer explains that she's "disciplined" about her workday. "We're just organised. Everybody in this building knows when I arrive and when I leave and the important things are done within those hours. That's just the way it is. And it works." Having children actually helps her manage her time, she says: "It's much easier having children, because that creates a natural limit. If I have a good time with them before they go to sleep, it's worth everything to me." []&#8226 The Swedish Fashion Council, the Icelandic Fashion Council, Oslo Fashion Week, Helsinki Design Week, and the Danish Fashion Institute are forming the Nordic Fashion Association. They want to emphasize their commitment to "healthy living" and "sustainable energy." Good for them. []Yesterday Phoebe Philo presented her first major collection for . And to say the critics could hardly stand it (in a good way) would be an understatement. Celine has had four designers since 1997, and Philo has been off the fashion scene to spend time with her family for the past four years (she last designed for ). Cathy Horyn that the runway photos don't do the clothes justice, adding "they put out a mature, confident, sexy vibe." She was relieved to see sportswear on the runway as opposed to those embellished crusty pieces that designers have become obsessed with as of late. The sleeveless trench dress was a universal favorite. Aaaand she's back! British designer and fashion-world darling Phoebe Philo has been appointed creative director of LVMH-owned . Philo has been on hiatus &#8212 and missed &#8212 since she resigned from her post as head designer of in January 2006. The 35-year-old mother of two will officially start at Celine in October on her fall 2009 collection, which she'll present in March of next year. &#8226 Phoebe Philo's first collection for Celine will be resort 2009, before her spring 2010 October runway show, which was originally thought to be her debut season. The sooner the better, lady! []&#8226 At Paris Fashion Week, Kate Moss only went to Karl Lagerfeld–related events: the Chanel show, the Chanel party and the Fendi party. Might she be the next face of one of those labels? []&#8226 When asked what the biggest challenge about his move into fashion was, Outkast's André Benjamin said being an African-American, because of the perception that "hip-hop stars will just throw their names on anything." He also said, "I'm not a gay man." []&#8226 Virigina Bates: "Leaving the [Dior] show I was set upon by a crowd I thought were after my Poiret coat. Having been showered with sand — and shouted at — I realised they were anti-fur demonstrators intent on ruining the musquash collar on my Twenties coat. Musquash, by the way, is a rodent..." []&#8226 You'll be glad to know that Lindsay Lohan settled that lawsuit filed by a woman who accused her of swiping her $11,000 fur coat at 1Oak. Terms have not been disclosed. []&#8226 Phoebe Philo's first designs for will bow in June for pre-spring and cruise lines, while her first runway show has been pushed back from March to October. She says she wanted to "give the brand a bit of a break," rather than rush things. []&#8226 Swarovski will cut 150 jobs at its plant in Austria. This is the third wave of cuts in 18 months. []&#8226 Husband-and-wife design duo Swaim and Christina Hutson's new label is called Hutson. Their old label, , lost funding and last month. []&#8226 A trade show for discount goods in Las Vegas is expecting 30 percent more retailers shopping the event for the first time. Even rich people want cheap things these days. []&#8226 is on the cover of the new Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, which for some reason was unveiled last night on The Late Show With David Letterman. [] Can you tell me what sort of literature affected you when you were growing up in Hawthorne, California? The Act of Creation, by Arthur Koestler, and it turned me on to some very special things. It explains that people attach their egos to their sense of humor before anything else. After I read it, I saw that trait in many people. It made you look at people differently? Yes. The book’s about the logic of laughter, and I noticed that people are very self-conscious about being funny. They sort of watch themselves as they’re being funny, and there’s even a competition?it’s [affects tone of mock horror] ?You’re funnier than me?!" I think [seeing] a sense of humor is important to understanding what kind of person someone is. Studying metaphysics was also crucial, but Koestler’s book really was the big one for me. How about other media?did any movies have a similar impact on you, for example? House of Wax scared me to death. That affected me a lot. Did it turn you on to horror movies? No! After that one I realized that horror movies are not for me. I know you were heavily influenced by black vocal groups of the fifties, but I’m curious to hear what singers moved you. Rosemary Clooney, Chuck Berry, Perry Como, and early-sixties record producers. And ?You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.? That was a great record, and I think it always will be a great record. Was there a ?see the light? record that changed everything for you? When I heard Phil Spector’s productions, I realized, ?A-ha! I see?you can use echoes on the drums, and you can combine three guitars together to get one sound, add pianos to that, and you can get one big wall of sound!? I just loved that kick drum, that BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-POW! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-POW! That’s the trademark of Phil. He influenced me, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, and Motown?quite a lot of people. I’ve heard that you were particularly obsessed with ?Be My Baby.? Yeah, I played that song when I woke up every morning. For how long? For about four years. [Laughs.] I liked the way Beautiful Dreamer, the documentary about you that’s included with the DVD of your Smile performance in L.A., dealt with your psychedelic experiences. Can you talk about the drugs behind your albums? Pet Sounds was marijuana. The Van Dyke Parks songs [on Smile] was Benzedrine. Psychedelics put you in a vocal mood. They make you want to sing. It’s like when a bird lands on a wire. Were you really involved in the psychedelic movement? No, but I liked the whole idea of flower power, and I thought that the ?be-ins? in San Francisco were great things. In the new documentary, you use the phrase ?rock opera? a lot to describe Smile?do you have a favorite classical composer? Bach. He was an innovator. After Smile fell apart in the late sixties, you had a long period of isolation. Did you manage to stay connected to culture? I was snorting cocaine, which I shouldn’t have gotten into. It messed up my mind, and it unplugged me from music. I just remember reading magazines. I would say, ?Get me a Playboy! Get me a Penthouse!? When you came out of that dark phase in the eighties, what were you listening to? David Lee Roth. I thought that his version of ?California Girls? was really, really good. When you were putting together Smile, was there any new technology that impressed you? Pro Tools! Smile was sequenced with Pro Tools?I got somewhat familiar with it, but mostly I got off on other people’s ability with the program. I’d like to learn how to use it now. You’ve done rock operas and pop. Is there any music left for you to tackle? Christmas songs! I have a Christmas album coming out on Arista for the holidays. Is there anyone you’d like to collaborate with? Or is there anything from your back catalogue, like Smile, that you’d like to finish? Celine Dion. She has nice legs, and she’s a great singer. And yes, there’s plenty of stuff in the vault. Let’s just say that we’re well stocked. Dior speculation continues this morning — and not because of or a frenzied race in the fashion blogosphere to announce the winner of Galliano's old job before LVMH can. WWD reports Marc Jacobs is in "serious" talks to succeed Galliano. His contract at Louis Vuitton is ending and, before renewing, LVMH is said to be vetting him for the Dior job. If he goes, his business partner Robert Duffy, who works with him at his namesake label and Vuitton, would go with him. The vacancy at Vuitton would then possibly be filled by Céline's Pheobe Philo. Jacobs's name hasn't been tossed around that much in the reports of who would take over at Dior. When asked if he was gunning for Galliano's job at Dior at his last Vuitton show (the one where a cigarette ZOMG ZOMG), he , "I haven't been asked." Meaning ... but if they did, he'd be into it? Sources told WWD Jacobs was in the running for the Dior job in the nineties as a successor to Gianfranco Ferré, but he ended up at Vuitton because Dior's then-president wanted Galliano.Long coats in a myriad of fabrics and styles have been turning up on the runways, but in Paris, they took a dressier turn in the form of long but lightweight satin opera coats. At Miu Miu today, they were worn with crop tops and midi-length skirts, while Céline's long, silk, trenchlike coat, worn with sandals and slip dresses,had a decidedly haphazard,nineties demeanor. And at Rochas, a dramatic chrysanthemum-print opera coat was paired with a matching high-waisted silk bikini and white wrestling boots. & Get restaurant menus and deals, as well as the latest food news. / / / / / / /We captured countless fashion week attendees— or rather, their well-shod feet— tottering between shows at Milk Studios over the past few days. See if you can spot those Prada raffia oxfords, Phillip Lim ankle booties, Ann Demeulemeester sandals, Preen for Aldo Rise slingbacks, Miu Miu wedges, and many more in our video. (Plus several pairs of chic, comfortable-looking slippers, whose wise wearers probably feel much better than we do right now.)It's tempting to wrap things up with a bow at the end of a fashion week (It's all about purple! Hemlines are rising!), but the message from Paris was more dazzlingly diverse: long skirts, short skirts, something in between. If anything, there emerged a very wearable (which is not to say dull) version of fashion; from 's tunic-trouser combinations to 's smart day dresses worn with flats to Bianca Jagger suits everywhere you turned, it felt that designers were really thinking about the needs of the women who will wear their clothes. In 's lavish spectacle at the Grand Palais, Carmen Kass wowed in a dress made entirely of peach marabou, but it was the simple knit dresses that lingered in the mind afterward as a completely wonderful way to dress. Click ahead to see a slideshow of my top seventeen looks from Paris Fashion Week.Related: • • • • Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, executive producers on Smashas well as a slew of movie musicals like Chicago, 1999's Annie, and , are developing another hour-long musical series for NBC. The untitled project will be about "a 30-something songwriter who has written the most epic love songs of our time, despite, or perhaps due to the fact that she is painfully unlucky in love," . The show will feature the music of Diane Warren, who has written some of the most epic love songs of our time (Celine Dion’s "Because You Loved Me," Toni Braxton’s "Un-Break My Heart,"Aerosmith’s "I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing") and, while perhaps not unluckyin love, has indeed never married. Warren's songs will be integrated in a more organic, less stop-everything-and-sing-and-dance fashion than Smash.Sofia Coppola wore a top and skirt with blue sequined stripes from 's resort 2013 collection to the amfAR Inspiration Night in Paris yesterday. She completed the look with a matching clutch and black sandals.Do you like the director's playful outfit? Or do you think it's a jarring departure from her normally refined style?'s flagship boutique in Paris is now covered in , courtesy of graffiti artist Kidult. It apparently signifies his displeasure at Céline's use of skateboards in a recent ad campaign. Or maybe he did like the ads, and this spontaneous bout of artistry is meant as a compliment?Subscribe to Email Fashion AlertsDaily Fashion & Runway NewsSubscribe to Email Fashion AlertsDaily Fashion & Runway NewsThe Trench AdaptsIn its current iteration, the classic coat is cropped at Dior, ruched at Burberry, and is the whole outfit at Céline.Spring's Big IdeasFrom basics to the all-the-difference details. Photographs by Jeff Mermelstein Photojournalist Jeff Mermelstein finds his inspiration on the streets?and not typically on the streets outside of fashion shows. His interest is in the unscripted, which is exactly why we sent him out to photograph fashion month in New York, Milan, and Paris, when everything is so carefully planned. The Scarf (l’écharpe). Not the classic carré Hermès silk scarf, though that may be seen tied around a purse strap. Rather, these are ?big chunky wool scarves you wear even into spring.? Many scarf hounds have been buying them from goldenhook.fr, whose online army of actual French mamies (grandmas) will custom-knit the pythonlike scarf of your Madame Defarge dreams (for a not-cheap 175-plus euros). The Celine Box Bag ?C’est le ?must-have’ de la saison!? says stylist Philippe Uter, who also nominates loafers without socks or with very discreet ones (?Basic Tod’s, but the big one right now is blue velvet with the gold buckle?) and Dries Van Noten ?snow-washed? jeans. Very popular with cool young guys at the moment: tattoos. (If in doubt, head to Kustom Tattoo in the 11th.) But ?the thing is, French guys have scrawny bodies, so there’s not a lot of room to put the tattoos.?There, there. The Cut knows you're upset that New York Fashion Week is over ... so, here's a Friday afternoon pick-me-up: the second installment of this season's street-style pattern recognition! We continued to lurk outside Milk Studios (the home of MADE Fashion Week), where we photographed trends worn by the People, like statement necklaces, colorful fur, sheer shirts, and oh-so-much Céline. Perpetual sigh. Click ahead to see these themes and more.Tina Chai originally intended to be a lawyer. But after slogging through an uninspiring stint as a paralegal, she traded contract filing for photo shoots, landing a job at Glamour, which paved the way to Vogue's hallowed halls, where she worked for nearly five years. After a decade as a freelance stylist, Chai has cultivated an array of clients, working for glossies like i-D, styling shows ranging from to , and consulting for such retail brands as and . But it's the industry's wide scope that she loves most. "One of the really amazing things about fashion is that it allows you to act out your fantasies," she says. "I can be all the things I'm not: I can dress like a sailor, even though I get horribly sick at sea; I can wear something really sporty, even though I'm the most uncoordinated person on the planet." In other words, she may not be a lawyer as she had once planned, but she can still dress the part (albeit in green Mary Janes). We talked to Chai about her tomboy style, Fashion Week favorites, and admittedly packed closet. It used to be that wearing sneakers in public meant one of two things— you were headed to the gym or you were running errands in comfort. Those who wore kicks as a fashion statement were generally the die-hard sneakerheads who wait at midnight for the latest releases. But as Tommy Ton noted, the most of 2011 was the resurgence of sneakers among the fashion set, between s Phobe Philo taking her post-show bow in white trainers and Tamu McPherson of running around Fashion Week in brightly colored Nikes.Designers are taking notice in their collections as well— from to the ever-popular ,tricked-out kicks are sitting side-by-side with sky-high heels in the stores. Looking to get in on the trend? Our latest has 100 sneakers, from limited-edition collaborations to workout-friendly pairs that look equally good on your off days. So swap out those heels and don't be surprised if you'll be seeing some of these kicks on the street style blogs come Fashion Week.After checking out the for next spring, it's time to take a look at the most covetable accessories. Because, while everyone may not be able to wear head-to-toe pastels, it's hard to pass up a sexy heel or a sumptuous new carryall. Designers didn't disappoint this season, showing a bevy of enticing bags, both big and small, and an array of shoes ranging from spindly stilettos to chunky platforms. To wit, introduced a gorgeous new two-toned tote that rivals last season's Pashli, and offered up a colorful take on its signature envelope bag. And for those obsessed with fall's glittery booties, you'll love the high-octane shine of 's mirrored loafers. Click ahead to see these pieces and more, then put your name on a wait list (or three) and start saving those pennies. Review A lonely, smokin’-hot female mercenary returns from Iraq and inexplicably kidnaps a popular, fresh-faced 14-year-old boy in this ludicrous and predictable low-budget drama, which often feels like a teenager’s wet dream rather than a psychosexual thriller. Horrendous production values and an on-the-nose script don’t help much, either. Over the past month, we quizzed 97 New York culture mavens (and some visiting luminaries) on the best movies, tweets, and other artistic artifacts they’ve encountered this year. The tallies were anything but scientific, but they nonetheless surfaced a few conspicuous crowd-pleasers?plus, as expected, quite a number of ardent endorsements of everything from Ellen Barkin’s Twitter profanity to DIY architecture at Zuccotti Park. STICKIEST POP MUSIC ON YOUR IPOD 78% of respondents were glad when Adele’s 21 was on repeat. 22% needed it to stop. ?You want to send Adele’s album to every guy who screwed you over. So I’ve sent out about 4,700 of them, and I’m just waiting for responses and apologies.? ?Kathy Griffin, comedienne ?One of the great albums of the decade, if not the century.? ?Adam Walker, publicist, Film Forum MORE STICKY SONGS ?I can’t get Justin Bieber’s Christmas album out of my head. His rap of ?Little Drummer Boy’? I’ll be singing it on the subway going home tonight.? ?John Waters, director ?Every time I confess this I’m convinced a lightning bolt is going to strike me down, but I adore Coldplay’s ?Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall.’ ? ?Nico Muhly, composer ?Adam Levine must be tried at the Hague for ?Moves Like Jagger.’ ? ?Darrell M. McNeill, assoc. producer, BAM NO.1 MOVIE THAT MADE YOU CRY The Descendants ?I cried because it’s so rare to see a movie in which everyone, especially men, behave decently.? ?Richard Peña, program director, Film Society of Lincoln Center OTHER WEEPERS Margin Call ?It reminded me of how much money I lost this year.? ?Bob Balaban, actor Friends With Benefits ?I think I cried some tears. I was laughing my arse off.? ?Elizabeth Olsen, actress Being Elmo ?Not crying. Bawling.? ?Solange Knowles, musician Bridesmaids ?When I laugh, I cry, because I’m that emotionally screwed up.? ?Mike Albo, author The Help ?Four times.? ?Russell Simmons, cofounder, Def Jam Records MOVIE I WISH I’D MADE Hanna ?Alex Timbers, director Bill Cunningham New York ?Colum McCann, author The Descendants ?Penelope Ann Miller, actress The Score of Contagion ?Nico Muhly Moneyball ?Celine Rattray, film producer (?The lessons in Moneyball for film producers are very, very interesting. Do you hire the expensive person? Or do you make a bet on someone undervalued??) Weekend ?Tod Lippy, editor Esopus Martha Marcy May Marlene ?Massimiliano Gioni, assoc. director, New Museum Battle for Brooklyn ?Darrell M. McNeill BEST FILM PERFORMANCE Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids ?She’s not only an incredible comedic actress, but she can play tragedy. I think she will win an Oscar, and I bet you it will be for something serious.? ?Andy Cohen, V.P. and host, Bravo OTHER GREAT PERFORMANCES ?I could watch Ryan Gosling in anything. He’s got a real mix of vulnerability and menace.? ?Gary Oldman, actor ?Michael Shannon is a knockout. He bust me out in tears and applause, alone in my living room.? ?Melissa Leo, actress ?Joseph Gordon-Levitt was beeeaauuutiful in 50/50. He’s just really open and really relaxed.? ?Tilda Swinton, actress ?Jessica Chastain has 34 films out this year. Not quite that many, but seems in the double digits. Could they create an Oscar for Most Valuable Player?? ?Celia Weston, actress ?Bill Cunningham owned 2011. Softer than soft, harder than hard, Bill is the realest New Yorker alive. And Occupy? Bill had it down in 1988: ?Money is cheap. Freedom is expensive.’ Never take the money.? ?Sasha Frere-Jones, critic BEST TWITTER FEEDS Nominated by Christopher Bollen, author. • On Melancholia: Lars von Trier is that weird rarity: one of the world’s greatest filmmakers who has never made a great film. • Legitimate question: just walked out on L.A. screening of The Artist and wondered: am I a Grinch or is it just an unbearably cute flyspeck? • The Skin I Live In is basically Pedro Almodóvar’s chic version of The Human Centipede. But I prefer Dieter Laser over Antonio Banderas ? • Steve McQueen’s Shame would have been so much more disturbing if Brandon had actually enjoyed the sex. Nominated by Amanda Stern, reading-series curator, Joe’s Pub. • Wait??Twilight? is about vampires? • I only wrote a ?genre novel? so you’d have another example for your trend piece. • ?Empire State of Mind? is a great song! Is there a version available without the Jay-Z parts? • Will I be able to follow the plot if I see The Help before I see Bagger Vance, Driving Miss Daisy & The Blind Side? Nominated by Adam Walker. • This twitter shit is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Never had so many friends in my life. I’m never leaving my house. • Uh oh PR intervention!! My peeps just told me 2 limit my fuks to 1 fuk a day. What da fuk shud I do? What da fuk wud I say? help me my frenz! • O no,now these muthafuckin assholes r hijacking my fuckin T-fuckin-V. These debates r a full season of a mediocre reality show w vampires! • OMFG?I just realized Callista Gingrich has my exact fuckin haircut. Fuck. 1st thing tmrw, shave it all off or head full of extensions. Fuck • Fuck u all, I like my real frenz better. Bunch of fuckin celebrity snobs? You all know who you are ? BEST PLAY OR MUSICAL Tie! ?The Book of Mormon is the musical that every one of us in the comedy industry wishes we had made.? ?Paul Feig, actor-director ?The theatrical part of Sleep No More was a little forced, but oh, man?the details were fantastic.? ?Jim Jarmusch, director BEST NEW BUILDING ?Tent City was like performance art, placing the Third World in the middle of the financial district. It was a DIY monument to our communal angst.? ?Vikram Gandhi, documentary filmmaker THE MOST OVERHYPED (A PARTIAL LIST) Ashton Kutcher Kim Kardashian Hurricane Irene Will and Kate LMFAO Charlie Sheen #winning OWN James Franco Whitney Cummings Glee The Supercommittee Siri 2011 SURVEY RESPONDENTS: Waris Ahluwalia, Mike Albo, Jon Robin Baitz, Bob Balaban, Molly Barnett, Felix Barrett, Natasha Bedingfield, Bérénice Bejo, Lake Bell, Andrew Berman, Christopher Bollen, Ashley Bouder, Maureen Bray, Bebe Buell, Tory Burch, Jennifer Carpenter, Cliff Chiang, Bill Clegg, Andy Cohen, Karen Cooper, Sam Corbett, Alan Cumming, Julie Danni, Anthony DeCurtis, Drake Doremus, Maxine Doyle, Paul Feig, Richard Flood, Sasha Frere-Jones, J. Michael Friedman, Cary Fukunaga, Vikram Gandhi, Alex Gansa, Massimiliano Gioni, Rebecca Gold, Kathy Griffin, Alyssa Hart, Michel Hazanavicius, Jonathan Hochwald, Paul Jackson, Gillian Jacobs, Jim Jarmusch, Felicity Jones, Geoff Kloske, Solange Knowles, Karl Lagerfeld, Matt Lauer, Ang Lee, Melissa Leo, Tod Lippy, Natasha Lyonne, Colum McCann, Ryan McGinley, Darrell M. McNeill, Aaron Meier, Kenny Mellman, Laura Miller, Penelope Ann Miller, Jennifer Missoni, Honor Moore, Nico Muhly, Kirsten Munro, Gary Oldman, Elizabeth Olsen, Patton Oswalt, Richard Peña, Renée Price, Celine Rattray, Jacques Renault, Nathaniel Rich, Elisabeth Robinson, Melissa Rosenberg, Jane Rosenthal, Tom Rothman, Rajendra Roy, Andrew Saffir, Brian Selznick, David Shields, Russell Simmons, Alex Smith, Gavin Smith, Scott Snyder, Olivier Staphylas, Amanda Stern, Darin Strauss, Sarah Suzuki, Tilda Swinton, Marlo Thomas, Uma Thurman, Alex Timbers, Adam Walker, John Waters, Randy Weiner, Celia Weston, Olivia Wilde, Max Winkler, Susan YungAfter dresses styled over pants started appearing on red carpets and spring runways, the Cut broke into debate: Is this look flattering? Practical? Attractive? Here is our thought process; tell us yours in the comments.Sally: So this originally came up because Emma Watson did thething at aPerks of Being a Wallflowerscreening in London. How does that make you FEEL? Veronica: I FEEL like she's somehow more comfy in an otherwise dressy outfit. Maybe it's because I grew up in Seattle where it just isn't a good idea to be barelegged most of the time — it seems like an easy solution, matching pants under short dress. Sally: But then why not pants and a blazer? Or tights? She looks dowdy. Veronica: She's hitting masculine and feminine at the same time. Tights are the usual suspect with a dress, so the slight crease in that trouser, I think makes her look sharper. Sally: Besides,a torso two-times the length of Emma's?Deep breath. That was just the ending! What about the beginning? Well, as last week’s episode proved, The Killing can be enjoyable when the focus is kept on Linden and Holder, and we weren’t immune to their improved chemistry this time out — their banter over dating, say, or the sweetly protective way Holder physically intruded on Linden’s awkward if pointless showdown with her babydaddy. Also, Bones-haters, the pace of the investigation was better this week but then again it had to be — there’s only one episode left! The thing that kept us scratching our head was lice what prompted all this newfound purpose: the revelation that the entire murder hinges on Beau Soleil, a secretive escort website that simply didn’t exist for the first eleven hours of the season. Of course, once it was revealed (thanks to Holder’s skanky ex-partner, the to , if you will), it all came tumbling out: Beau Soleil is a discreet service run out of a knockoff shoe e-store in Chinatown. (For people saying this was just like , please stop. We’ll believe it when Sterling ties a cherry stem into a knot with her teeth and Belko gets abducted by the .) Not only was Rosie a vendor on said website — allowing her to amass more than $7000 in deposits in casino ATMs north of the border (do those things even have deposit functions?) — she learned about it from her sketchy Aunt Terry, who finally was given something more to do. It seems that Terry, when not making pasta for her nephews, turns tricks online (which explains why she was so freaked at the sight of Jasper’s apparently whore-mongering dad) and lent her niece her I.D. so she could hook have more fun than her mom allowed. A former seventeenth-century bakery redesigned by Christian Lacroix, the (from $220) has become the epicenter of the trendy north Marais neighborhood. The seventeen rooms are small but make a huge visual impact, mixing polka dots, fuchsia florals, heart-shaped Venetian mirrors, and scenes from outer space. Lacroix himself covered Room 204's walls with his own collages and sketches. As one of the Left Bank's most chic hideaways (from $450) is a popular choice with visiting fashion editors, who get their pick from 56 recently renovated rooms. Since the hotel's located directly next door to gastro hot spot , you can put your name on the endless waiting list and then take a nap before dinner. A cheaper, though still stylish, Left Bank alternative is the (from $336), which has standard (i.e., teeny) rooms decorated in browns and crisp white linens. Request something on an upper floor to escape a dawn wake-up call from noisy garbage trucks. Though now over a decade old, (from $400) is still the city's main haunt for models and celebrities. The 82 rooms are done in haute-bordello style, with red brocade walls and black and gold lacquered antique furniture.Leroy reveals that his sleeve tattoo is just a couple of years old; he got it when he decided to pursue singing full-time. “Can’t wear short sleeves and get a normal job with this tattoo!” Leroy’s face is that of a 20-year-old and so are his decision-making processes. His version of “We’ve Got Tonight” is just fine, though it doesn’t really contradict LA’s prediction that he’ll be boring. The judges actually judge his performance, which is a refreshing change, but the audience savagely boos every critical remark. Paula says, “There needs to be more of a connection,” and the crowd cries for her head. “THAT IS UNFAIR, BECAUSE WE TOTALLY FEEL THE CONNECTION,” they say (in Boo-ish). Simon asks Nicole point-blank whether she thinks Leroy can win, and she says: “Of course I would hold that possibility.” What they are taking forever to say is that it’s great that he looks so young, but his days are numbered. Steve Jones asks Leroy what he thinks of “those horrible, horrible comments,” which is artless and hilarious. Also I think Simon calls Leroy “Lori.”First it was the cult luggage a few years ago with their undulating scroll trim that launched a thousand phone calls to get on their wait list. Then it was the sculptural S-curved hemlines and lapels at . Now, the curve is back in a big way for Spring 2013. We've already spotted them at Cushnie et Ochs as an eye-catching frame for a model's décolletage; at in the form of some especially ; and at as a red scroll detail on a white neoprene pullover.• Thinspo site Skinny Gossip panned Kate Upton for "confidently lumbering up a runway like there's a buffet at the end of it," adding, "She looks thick, vulgar, almost pornographic – and she is a solid 30 lbs too heavy for this outfit." [ via ]• In happier Kate Upton news, the model is rumored to be dating Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. []• Kati Nescher covers Vogue China's August 2012 issue, photographed by Josh Olins, in a sweater. But it's from Céline's fall collection, so we're okay with it. []• A new fashion magazine called Document, by Nick Vogelson and James Valeri, will be on sale in September. []• PETA is not pleased with Alessandra Ambrosio for dyeing her dog pink and purple: "What most people don’t know is that dyeing a companion animal's fur can cause the animal stress and can lead to complications or allergic reactions that endanger the animal's health ... Our dogs and cats love us regardless of how we look; why not extend the same kindness to them?" Ambrosio is moments away nasty nickname. []Ethan Hawke, you cagey so-and-so. Mere days after a third Before Sunrise movie was "not really worth talking about" since it was still gestating, Richard Linklater has apparently wrapped filming. The movie is called Before Midnight and is set in Greece, . Hawke and Julie Delpy of course reprise their roles as Jessie and Celine, who are together again, now eighteen years or so after their first encounter. Ugh, let's all just make homemade tapenade and watch this movie and think about love and travel and romance and being elegant in our 40s.Leather shopper totes have been a staple for many handbag brands; Goyard, , and, most recently, have all made covetable versions. Combining simple details with a structured silhouette, these roomy bags fit more than just the essentials and still look polished enough to carry into the office. And there's no need to invest in the trend either: American Apparel, Forever 21, and ASOS each sell options for less than $100 that can double as sleek gym bags. While classic black totes abound, there's no shortage of colorful renditions (think neon yellow, kelly green, and lipstick red). But with such agenerousinterior, keeping your bag organized using smaller pouches is key to avoiding the bottomless-pit effect. Click ahead to see 35 leather totes at all prices.When received a "Designer Brand of the Year" nomination for last year's British Fashion Awards, industry veterans got huffy that such a relative newcomer — and a celebrity designer at that — be put in the same category as titans like , , and . Mulberry won in the end, but Victoria Beckham is back in the nominee pool this year for the same category, this time competing against , , and Burberry again.Meanwhile, royal wedding hero Sarah Burton is an obvious front-runner for "Designer of the Year," and 19-year-old Georgia Jagger will duke it out with seasoned pros Stella Tennant and Kristen McMenamy for the title of best model.See the complete list of nominees:DESIGNER OF THE YEAR Sarah Burton for Last year's winner: Pheobe Philo for EVENTS • Receive a free 2 oz. sample with the purchase of an 8 oz. Quick Curls styling product at Miss Jessie's salon. Enter a raffle for giveaways between noon and two o'clock, and check out demonstrations between five and seven. Refreshments will be served. 441 Broadway, nr. Grand St., Ste. 2 (212-966-5600); 11–7.SALES STARTING TOMORROW • Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes start at $80, Catherine Malandrino dresses start at $108, and Pucci and Celine rain boots start at $95 at AvaMaria. Through 10/1. 107 Crosby St., nr. Prince St. (212-966-0909); daily (11:30–7:30).• All spring/summer merchandise is up to 80 percent off at Scoop's warehouse sale. Through 9/29. 875 Washington St., at 14th St.; 9–7.• Italian home furnishings by Cassina, Poltrona Frau, and Cappellini are 20 percent off. Through 10/5. Cassina, 151 Wooster St., nr. Houston St. (212-228-8186); M–F (11–7), S–Su (noon–6). Poltrona Frau, 145 Wooster St., nr. Houston St. (212-777-7592); M–F (11–7), S–Su (noon–6). Cappellini, 152 Wooster St., nr. Houston St. (212-966-0669); M–F (11–7), Su (noon–6).• Leonidas Fresh Belgian Chocolates are $22/lb. (originally $38/lb.) at the storewide anniversary sale. Through 10/6. 485 Madison Ave., nr. 51st St. (212-980-2608); M–F (9–7), S (10–7), Su (noon–6). EVENTSDiscover the similarities between two famous Italian designers and admire some of their most iconic ensembles at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" exhibit. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., at 82nd St. (212-879-5500); T–Th (9:30–5:15), F–Sa (9:30–8:45), Su (9:30–5:15). Through 8/19.• Jewelry is marked down by 50 to 70 percent at the spring sample sale. Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave., nr. 15th St., second fl.; (212-243-6930), daily (10–7). Through 5/20. • Find up to 90 percent off retail prices at OMEN's one-day sample sale, featuring designers such as Lars Andersson, Amyclaire, FACTORY By Erik Hart, and more. 5 Crosby St., nr. Howard St., ste. 6H.; Th (12–8).Just four days into the spring 2011 season, and trends are already starting to emerge. Among them: next-to-nude faces (, ); long, see-through skirts (; ); watercolor florals of varying intensity (, ); and even faux septum piercings (, ). But what are the pros thinking? We checked in with , youth-market editor for trend-forecasting agency , to get her take on the shows to date. What trends are jumping out at you so far for spring 2011? A few common points have emerged, even this early on. In particular, color trends seem strong — a beautiful, light lime has popped up at both and , while a vibrant cobalt was featured at and Nomia. Sleek leathers seem to be a favorite material, often reminiscent of 's last two collections. At , featherweight leather featured slits or was draped alongside chiffon, while Frank Tell added subtle texture to his minimal silhouettes via croc-embossed lambskin. Cushnie et Ochs's thin leather kilts also used contrast, with peekaboo chiffon panels. Overall, skins are definitely a dominant material, especially combined with lighter, sheer fabrics. Shopping for a new or a is certainly fun, but nothing compares to the thrill of buying a new pair of shoes. And, come fall, it's going to be very hard to pick just one. , , and showed sleek black ankle boots that can easily transition an outfit from day to night. , , and put on their dancing shoes with shimmery and sparkly heels. And thanks to the cyclical nature of fashion, square toes are making a comeback, as seen at . Meanwhile, Phoebe Philo at has single-handedly revamped the white heel. Click ahead to see all these styles, plus many more glorious options.Watch the Video for Lil B’s ‘3 Stacks,’ Featuring an Instrumental Celine Dion SampleSomehow, the Internet is still going. In fact, we’re pretty sure that since Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” finally topped the chart this week, and she controls the entire Internet, everything was reenergized from the inside out. Needless to say, the blogosphere was alive and well with hearty heapings of pop-cultural nuggets you may have missed, and we’re happy to bring them to you today! This week, Celine Dion gave Adele a run for her money, The Avengers’ Tom Hiddleston let us in on his not-so-hidden talent (impressions), and Tay “Chocolate Rain” Zonday reemerged to serenade us with his own personal cover of — what else? — “Call Me Maybe.”Phoebe Philo's outstanding debut collection for hits stores on November 16. Chic and beautifully constructed, these pieces are also totally wearable. Here are five reasons we love her clothes:1. This resort collection thankfully isn't for the beach. It's buy now, wear now. What a concept! 2. Get in on the khaki military trend early. 3. These aren't flash-in-the-pan items. The pieces are meant to last in your wardrobe. 4. Good old separates finally return as mix-and-match — which is how we really dress. 5. Even the dresses are "normal," and not silly evening gowns.$350 to $5,000 at , 660 Madison Ave., at 61st St. (212-826-8900); M?F (10?8), S (10?7), Su (11?6).Although it seems obvious that the fashion industry — which, after all, caters largely to women — would be open to something so commonplace as maternity leave, Philo is actually the first major designer to have taken it (in 2005, while she was at Chloé),according to theFT's Vanessa Friedman. Moreover, Friedman suggests that LVMH's unusual sensitivity to Philo's personal needs this season might have something to do with last year's. This is an interesting thought: It takes a major public meltdown from Galliano for fashion executives to realize they should be respectful of their employees' basic maternity needs?This is just an abbreviated photo gallery of celebrities who attended a game at the Garden this year. Keep in mind that this was during a season when the Knicks went 29-53. In Cleveland, you pretty much have one superfan?Usher. Do you think he’d still show up if the Cavs lost 50 games? NEW YORK Céline Dion, Michael Imperioli, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Brooke Shields, William Hurt, Mary J. Blige, John Mcenroe, Tracy Morgan, Shaun White, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Stam, Lou Reed, Woody Allen, Rosie Perez, Dustin Hoffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rihanna, Howard Stern, Mark Wahlberg, Chloë Sevigny, Spike Lee, Hugh Jackman, Ethan Hawke. CLEVELAND Usher “Phoebe Philo at Céline creates a collection each season that is about building a wardrobe rather than focusing on throwaway trends. I think, as a working woman (and mum), she really has that ability to resonate with what women want to wear.”—Katie Bain, 29, show manager at the British Fashion Council“Phoebe Philo has never made a bad move, including her decision to take time off at the height of her success to dedicate herself to work that to many of us women is much more important than anything else: maternity. At Céline, it didn’t take long for her to seduce women with her work, for she is one of us.”—Vanessa Caputo, 41,editor-in-chief of Petits Luxes Magazine“I'm seduced by the sense of it being the vision of a strong woman who has created a fashion moment, who wonderfully negotiated working from London because that’s where her family is and who has decided not to do a runway show this season because of her pregnancy.”—Agata Belcen, 28, the fashion editor at Another MagazineWell, V magazine, you did the impossible: You made us understand what goes on inside Rene Angelil's head.Phoebe Philo at Celine is generally credited with first promulgating these notions, and as the week goes on, the Celine-ification is in full swing: At Stella McCartney, which is held in the Paris Opera House under a gilded mosaic ceiling so exquisite that nothing in a century of fashion could possibly rival it, begins with a recording of Tiger Woods (well, we think it’s Tiger, though it might be an actor) urging a paramour to please, please remove her number form his phone, or some such. It is not apparent why this is being played (though it is mordantly amusing) since it is not followed by clothes particularly suited for a golf course or a dirty tryst. Instead, the first looks are schoolgirl coats with little V-shaped cutouts in the front, followed by parkas with hoods, and tiny short dresses covered by sheer panels, which, come to think of it, Tiger might actually enjoy very much.If the staff members lined up outside the show bearing baskets with ribbons soaked in Chloé’s new fragrance make you think the recession has really changed things — no free perfume samples waiting at your seat these days! — you will be disabused of this notion by the time the week ends. The Paris shows, as you will learn in a moment, will become more and more elaborate, even if the clothes, with a few notable exceptions, remain depressingly austere. At Chloé, the show begins with the kind of neat trim coats we've been seeing with sad regularity since the spring 2011 shows began five weeks ago (though it seems like 500). Of course the credit (or blame) for all these stultifying clean lines, these solid blocks of conformity, is Phoebe Philo at , who doesn't offer any surprises on her own runway, unless you consider a boat neck blue denim gardening smock a leap into the unknown. The next morning, at the breathtaking Paris opera house (even Hitler was not immune to its architectural splendor), sends out still more plain pantsuits, and even has her own version of denim play clothes. I am happier when the oversized pineapple prints and taxicab yellow rain poncho emerge, a brief reminder that there is a world beyond vanilla blazers.Céline's minimalist accessories have amassed a cult following, but for spring, Phoebe Philo took a step toward the surreal, with pumps resembling perfectly pedicured feet. Sure, trompe l'oeil shoes have popped up before— at Comme des Garçons and Maison Martin Margiela — but Céline's take on the idea was a playful counterpoint to the sharply tailored looks. Click to zoom in on the shoe, and start thinking about what color polish you can use to DIY.For the most part, Kate Winslet has been handling her Titanic 3D: Reach Out and Touch the Iceberg (unofficial title) press tour with grace and charm, talking about how much she loves Leo and how exciting it is that a new generation will get to see her stand on her tippy-tippy-toes on the big screen. But there is one point on which Kate Winslet refuses to be kind, and that is the subject of Celine Dion's "love theme," "My Heart Will Go On." How does it make Kate feel? "Like throwing up." Ouch. Are you sure, Kate? What about the recorder, or that awesome key change? "No, I shouldn't say that … no, actually, I do feel like throwing up." , she hates it when people try to surprise her with the song, she will not sing it on talk shows, and generally she feels haunted by the song. Also, she can't really go boating anymore because people insist on making jokes. Titanic is the disaster that will not end. Her elimination from American Idol was one of the most shocking moments on the show's history, but can reveal that Pia Toscano landed a record deal just one day after her premature ousting."Pia is being signed to a deal with Interscope Records who are rushing her into the studio to record an album ASAP," a source told who broke the story. Interscope is chaired by AI mentor Jimmy Iovine."Starting Thursday night after the show, Interscope told her they wanted her and first thing Friday morning Interscope brass started calling every top songwriter and producer in town to get an album together and rush release it. Papers are being finalized. It's basically a done deal. She's signing. They rushed everything but she's so excited."Pia spoke to RadarOnline.com in a conference call the day after she was voted off the show and was excited about her future."So many doors are going to open for me," she said. "In fact they already have and I'm looking forward to going on tour and I'm excited to see what my future holds. I'm not upset, I'm positive."RELATED STORIES:You know TV's in trouble when it's not just doing awards shows and reality shows, but shows about awards show nominations!But that's what we're getting tonight when CBS airs the Grammy nominations in prime time.Taylor Swift (who will perform) and LL Cool J will host the show. Other performers included Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, and the legendary B.B. King.The actual awards ceremony will air in February.Celine Cawley, 46, who played a party girl in the James Bond film A View to Kill with Roger Moore, was beaten to death on the patio of her Dublin home Tuesday. She had apparently fought with someone who had entered the house. According to the UK Daily Mail, her husband, Eamonn Lillis, had dropped their daughter at school and gone for a walk with the dog. He returned to find his wife alive but unconscious and chased a man whom he described as being in his 20s or 30s and of slight but powerful build. Cawley gave up acting to pursue a career in advertising. Kate Gosselin’s lawyer filed papers Monday morning at Montgomery County Court in Pennsylvania in a bid to get back the $230,000 taken from her account by estranged husband Jon.In a statement to RadarOnline.com, Kate's Attorney Mark Momjian said: "We went to court this morning to protect her rights. The judge hasn't ruled yet, but is expected to at anytime. We are seeking sanctions against Jon Gosselin and we want the money returned, now."A heartbroken Kate told the Today Show Monday that she only had $1,000 left in her account and could not pay her bills after Jon’s shock bank raid. “He took $230,000 of the $231,000 we had,” she told Meredith Vieira in New York.RadarOnline.com was the first to break the news that Jon had gone into the joint account and taken the cash without her knowledge.He appeared on Larry King Live last week saying he wanted the couple to mediate so that they could become friends. But at the same time, he had secretly withdrawn almost all the money out of the account she uses to pay the family bills.This was days after TLC announced it was limited his role on Jon & Kate Plus 8 and renaming the show Kate Plus 8. Jon has demanded the show not film his children and taping has been suspended.RadarOnline.com has learned that early in the divorce Kate removed $100,000 from their bank account after she became concerned Jon was wasting money on "toys" like an expensive car and a four-wheeler.But when arbitration started she acknowledged that she had removed the cash but had given Jon half of it.Jon Gosselin’s lawyer Mark Heller says that according to his client’s recollection since receiving monetary compensation from TLC for the past four and a half years “he has not withdrawn any money for his own re-numeration with exception of the past several months wherein he believes he only withdrew approximately $175,000 which is less than 10 per cent of the gross revenues paid the Gosselins.”Kate Gosselin’s law firm made the claim – according to Heller’s statement that Jon "withdrew the money in secret".Heller argues it’s not a secret because Jon’s sudden yanking of cash out of the account is reflected on the bank sataemments which Kate has sole access to.Kate hired Los Angele’s top attorney, Marty Singer, who sent Heller a blistering letter last week and is now seeking, with Kate’s east coast lawyer, contempt charges against Jon.Heller finally responded and says that when all the money is accounted for "Jon will be awarded substantial additional funds.”Heller gave a statement to Entertainment Tonight, counter attacking and offering justification for Jon’s actions. His full statement reads:“Regrettably, right after Jon Gosselin expressed his sincere desire to mediate at a table with Kate and both of their respective attorneys, while temporarily suspending legal proceedings in order to resolve numerous issues and open up lines of communication, (since Kate has not only refused counseling but has refused to communicate with Jon other than through texting), Kate unfortunately has chosen to “lawyer up” by teaming up three separate law firms to declare war in response to Jon’s request for a Peace Summit.In the past approximate four and a half year period when “Jon & Kate plus 8” has been airing, approximately $2,250,000 in revenue is believed to have been paid to the Gosselins, however, Jon is not certain of the specific amount of revenue paid, since Kate has, upon information and belief, violated the Arbitrator’s Order which directed that she “sign any documents necessary to give Husband internet access to the following bank accounts…” (four bank accounts were identified).In addition, upon information and belief, Kate further violated the Arbitrator’s Order since she has not provided “a written explanation for the disposition of the withdrawal on 10/23/08 in the amount of $332,943.” In addition, Kate has not provided “a written explanation for the disposition for all withdrawals… the first such withdrawal… on 3/24/08 in the amount of $125,000,” as well as a withdrawal “dated 3/28/08 in the amount of $3,000,” nor has she provided “the disposition of the withdrawal on 4/14/08 in the amount of $8,534.89.”Jon has always left the bookkeeping and accounting in Kate’s hands and in light of the litigation, he sought an accounting which he has not received.It should also be noted that in a communication directed from Kate’s third law firm addressing the issue of the purported withdrawals by Jon, the lawyer’s letter surprisingly stated “neither party shall withdraw funds…without the prior consent of the other party…” but the lawyer’s letter failed to include the directive “which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld by either party.” (underline added).Furthermore, the contention in said communication from Kate’s third law firm that Jon “withdrew the money in secret” flies in the face of the fact that all withdrawals would have been reflected in bank statements and online account information that Kate monitored and controlled and failed to access Jon to. Although Jon has been unable to reach the Bank today, Sunday, to confirm the withdrawals purportedly made, his recollection is that for the past 4 1/2 years that TLC has been paying the Gosselins for their participation in the program, he has not withdrawn any money for his own remuneration with the exception of the past several months wherein he believes he only withdrew approximately $175,000 which is less than ten percent of the gross revenues paid the Gosselins and certainly no one would deem it unreasonable that Jon waited a little over four years to take any “paycheck” for his 4 1/2 years of services and is clearly a de minimis sum compared to the $2,250,000 in revenue for which he is still awaiting an accounting from Kate. Jon certainly did not withdraw “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in the past week, contrary to the implications that have been made.Certainly, if Kate would, as Jon requested, open up lines of communication privately, rather than in Court, to facilitate a better parenting partnership, a further benefit to Kate might result now that Kate has opened up this issue of bank withdrawals by avoiding her public embarrassment should it be determined that she took more money for herself than was appropriate. Maybe, this is why Kate refused Jon’s extension of the “olive branch” and instead of accepting the peace offer she chose to build up her legal team to include three separate law firms and to divert what very well might become her embarrassment by attempting to embarrass Jon’s attorney by focusing attention away from the true issues relevant to Jon and Kate and their eight children.It is not unlikely when the Arbitrator and/or the Court receive a full accounting of all of the proceeds which have been under the control of Kate and take into consideration any withdrawals made by both parties, that Jon will be awarded substantial additional funds.By the way, Kate, please let your three separate law firms, that now represent you, know that Jon is still hopeful that you will agree to suspend the Divorce Proceedings and sit down at the table with him to open up lines of communication, straighten out all issues, such as the financing, and most importantly, join him as a partner in parenting your eight beautiful children.”Talk about passing along your genes! Rene Angelil was presented with the National Order of Quebec June 17, and standing at proud attention alongside the 67-year-old were his superstar wife Celine Dion and their son Rene-Charles. It was the eight-year-old who drew much of the crowd's attention though. As he gets older, Rene-Charles is such a dead-ringer for his mom that he is sometimes mistaken for a girl; although the natty suit he wore on the podium made him a manly boy for the occasion.Music manager and professional gambler Rene was hospitalized for a routine medical procedure last month, but he's obviously doing well now. And he couldn't have been happier to be honored in his native Quebec.(Photo: AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jacques Boissinot)Celine Dion and her new twin boys headed home from the hospital on Wednesday night. "Céline and the twins went home last night," her rep told on Thursday. "Everyone's doing great. They are happy to be home."Dion had given birth on Saturday in a Florida hospital via a C-section. She and husband Rene Angelil also have a nine year old son Rene-Charles. Currently, the singer is getting some extra mommy backup from three of her sisters and her mom, according to the rep. RELATED STORIES: There will be a whole lot of blue being sent Celine Dion’s way. The singer announced that the twins she and husband Rene Angelil are expecting are boys!The singer first announced her pregnancy in May but said they wouldn’t know the genders of the twins until June. “Celine first announced the upcoming new additions to the Angélil-Dion family back in May, and now she just revealed that she is expecting twin boys!” her announced. “Congratulations to the happy family!”Dion underwent in vitro fertilization to conceive. The couple also has a nine-year-old son Rene Charles.Grammy award winning singer Celine Dion is pregnant with her second child.Her publicist told RadarOnline.com Tuesday morning: "Yes, we can confirm that Celine is pregnant and she and Renee are very very happy. She is just a few days pregnant and the baby is due in May."Dion is 41. Her husband husband Rene Angelil is 67.The singer -- who is the youngest of 14 children -- has made no secret that she wanted to have more kids.The couple already have a son, 8-year-old Rene Charles.Angélil also has three other children from two previous marriages.Grammy-winning singer Celine Dion was hospitalized Sunday in Florida in an effort to prevent the early birth of the twin boys she's expecting, has learned.The singer is at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, her rep told the AP, adding that she's there just to make sure doctors are on hand for all events up until the birth. Dion is in the third trimester of her pregnancy.The hospital said in a statement that Dion checking in early "is a fairly common clinical practice for mothers of twins.“This is done to ensure the patient can be in close contact with their doctors and clinical resources, leading up to their birth," according to the hospital.Dion, 42, and her husband René Angélil, 68, have a 9-year-old son, Rene Charles, who was conceived by in vitro fertilization. RELATED STORIES:Celine Dion and her husband René Angélil have named their twin boys Eddy and Nelson, has learned.Eddy was named for Dion's first producer Eddy Marnay, Dion's rep told People, while Nelson was named for leader Nelson Mandela, who the couple met in 2008 while Dion was performing in South Africa."René said that in just the few minutes they were able to spend with him, they were impressed by the human being he is," the rep told the magazine. They chose those names because they "want their children to be inspired by their names, because they were so inspired by these men.”The Grammy-winning singer gave birth to the newborns Saturday at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.Dion, 42, and Angélil, 68, also have a 9-year-old son, Rene Charles, who was conceived by in-vitro fertilization. RELATED STORIES:Grammy-winning singer Celine Dion is not pregnant now, but will keep trying, her husband, René Angélil, told a Canadian newspaper. Angélil told the Journal de Montreal that Dion's in vitro fertilization this past summer was unsuccessful; at first the couple did believe it took."We are living the reality of the majority of couples who have to use [IVF]," he told the paper. "But today, we are full of confidence -- Celine is more determined than ever." The singer, who is the youngest of 14 children, has talked passionately about wanting to have more children.As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Dion, 41, announced in August that she was expecting a baby due in May.The My Heart Will Go On singer and Angélil, 67, have an 8-year-old son, Rene-Charles, who was conceived by in vitro fertilization after six years of trying. While trying to conceive her first child, she had her embryos frozen in liquid nitrogen. When she finished her concert run in Las Vegas in 2007, she consulted a New York fertility doctor about trying to conceive again.Angélil explained the misunderstanding: "Dr. Zev Rosenwaks believed that the procedure/pregnancy took, but that wasn't the case," he said. "We found out some days later. We were shocked. But you know Céline. She doesn't let go."Angélil, whose battle with cancer had raised doubts that the couple could conceive again, has three other children from two previous marriages."I admire all the women who go through such a tough process. Since April, she has undergone numerous examinations, multiple hormone injections and blood tests," he said. "Céline and I didn't get discouraged ... we put our faith in life and in the stars." Celine Dion, who gave birth to twin boys last week, told a Canadian news outlet she was originally pregnant with triplets but lost one of the babies, has learned."He chose to let go to give space to his brothers to grow," the My Heart Will Go On singer told Quebec TV.The five-time Grammy-winning singer her husband René Angélil welcomed their twin boys, Eddy and Nelson, into the world Saturday at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.Eddy was named after Dion's first producer Eddy Marnay, Dion’s rep told People, while Nelson was named for leader Nelson Mandela, who the couple met in 2008 while Dion was touring in South Africa.Dion, 42, and Angélil, 68, also have a 9-year-old son, Rene Charles, who was conceived by in-vitro fertilization.A rep for Dion confirmed to RadarOnline.com that the story is in fact true. RELATED STORIES:Proud new mom Celine Dion showed off her twin boys Eddy and Nelson for the first time, and has a sneak peak at the superstar’s beautiful babies.The Canadian-born songbird -- who had struggled to conceive -- proudly posed with her new sons on the cover of the brand new issue of Canadian OK! Magazine.The pair were born on Saturday, October 23, to join Celine’s husband Rene Angelil and their 9-year-old son Rene Charles.Dion, 42, has been very open about her fertility struggles, and she conceived the twins on her sixth in vitro attempt over the course of a year.“It was a very emotional moment, and even though we didn’t speak to each other, we were both thinking about the time it took,” Angelil said. “We are very lucky, very priviledged and very fortunate to have these boys.”Rene said the twins’ birth has also been an exciting time for their 9-year-old son Rene-Charles.“He was very, very happy that it was boys,” he said. “I remember a few months ago when mom told him the day we were going to know if it was a boy or a girl or two boys or two girls…his reaction pointing to his mom’s belly he said, ‘I hope there’s not too many girls in there.’”The name "Eddy" comes from Eddy Marnay, who produced the singer's first five records while Nelson is named after Nelson Mandela, whom Celine met two years ago while kicking off her world tour in South Africa.Following their birth the twins big brother, according to Angelil, Rene-Charles told him, “One looks like dad, and the other looks like mom.” Celine Dion Pregnant With Twins She may be a mom of three now, but to slow Dion’s career down. The singer will return to the Las Vegas stage.“We know she’s going to start rehearsing Jan. 17,” says her husband. “It gives her three months to recoup and she thinks she can do it.” RELATED STORIES: &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; On Saturday morning, Celine Dion was brought into a Florida operating room where she delivered her twins!According to Jose Live column in The Palm Beach Post, the Canadian Singer was brought to the St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach to undergo a C-section. The babies arrived at 11:11 a.m. and 11:12 a.m. Dion was hospitalized last Sunday after displaying signs of early child birth. Her rep told the AP that is was simply a precaution to ensure doctors were on hand for any potential events that could occur. The hospital said checking in early "is a fairly common clinical practice for mothers of twins."Dion was ecstatic when announcing her growing family. “Celine first announced the upcoming new additions to the Angélil-Dion family back in May, and now she just revealed that she is expecting twin boys!” her website announced over the summer. “Congratulations to the happy family!”Dion and her husband Rene Angelil also have a 9-year old son Rene Charles who was also conceived through in vitro fertilization.RELATED STORIES:Is superstar singer Celine Dion about to swap the big stage for the ice rink ? The Canadian songbird is being linked as one of ten prospective buyers for The Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team.And news that the Titanic crooner - who is worth over $300 million - could become The Habs new “Ice Queen” has received a mixed reaction from their fanatical supporters.Some posts on the clubs website: BiVolt wrote: I wonder if Celine will sing the national anthem. NefCanuck wrote: If she buys the Habs hell really will have frozen over.According to local reports the Bank Of Montreal has signed a confidentiality agreement with 10 potential suitors who have until 5pm today (Thursday) to submit formal bids to the team’s majority owner George Gillett. Gillett - who also owns Richard Petty Motorsports and Liverpool soccer club – reportedly bought the Montreal Canadiens for $275 million in 2001. Due to the economic downturn the current value is unknown.Quebec-born Dion has become an international star despite being born into a poverty stricken home where she was one of 14 children. Under the guidance of her husband and manager Rene Angeli she has become one of the wealthiest female entertainers in the world. Founded in 1909 The Montreal Canadiens is the oldest continuously playing professional ice hockey team and they have won 24 Stanley Cups in that time. Any successful bidder would also acquire The Bell Center in Montreal as part of the deal – other interested parties include Cirque Du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberte and Quebec cable giant Quebecor Media.Story developing…Gowns shimmering under the Paris stars, spiked shoes with summer dresses and goggle-like glasses – Best and Worst Wednesday has it all!Style queen and Oscar winner Julia Roberts proved that she still has what it takes to turn heads all over the globe in a Dries Van Noten multi-colored floral print dress and green Celine suede wedges at the Tokyo premiere of Eat, Pray, Love.Funny guy Michael Cera always makes us laugh – even when he doesn’t mean too. The Scott Pilgrim Vs The World star was the definition of geek in thick glasses as he visited a book store in London. We hope he was fooling around but something tells us he may think this is stylish.Always a red carpet winner, Angelina Jolie shone like the star she is in a Pamela Roland ivory silk lame dress and silver heeled pumps at the Salt premiere in Paris. The actress’ arm tattoos provided the perfect edgy accessory to her sparkling gown.Even edgier were the fabulous S&M-inspired Ruthie Davis Spike shoes that reality star Whitney Port wore with her Blue Moon Summer Lovin’ dress to the shoe designer’s event at Kitson Melrose.Check out all the fashion hits and misses in our style gallery! &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Singer Céline Dion is pregnant again -- with twins -- at age 42, has confirmed.The, Grammy-winning singer conceived after undergoing her sixth in-vetro fertilization treatment. She is 14 weeks pregnant and will find out the babies' genders next month."We're ecstatic," Dion's husband, René Angelil, 68, told . "Céline is just hoping for a healthy pregnancy. She was hoping for one baby and the news that we are having two is a double blessing."Dion and Angelil, who is also her manager, have a nine-year-old son, René-Charles. Though he hasn't performed for over 30 years, Elvis Presley was again at the top of Forbes magazine's list of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities, raking in $52 million last year.In contrast, living megastar rapper 50 Cent made $33 million, and Celine Dion earned $45 million over the same period. Yet even with the distinct disadvantage of being deceased and not actually being able to shake his moneymaker, Elvis still managed to outearn many contemporary artists.Sales of Elvis merchandise got a boost last year because of the 30th anniversary of his death. His estate's earnings were also enhanced by a number of new licensing deals.A judge has ruled that TLC can depose Jon Gosselin’s ex fling Kate Major, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.Williams & Connolly, the law firm representing TLC, filed a motion requesting to serve her with a subpoena in order to take her deposition.Court papers obtained exclusively by RadarOnline.com show that the judge granted the motion.Kate quit her job as a reporter at Star magazine while having a romantic relationship with Jon, who has since denied that they were romantically involved. That denial incensed Kate and sources tell RadarOnline.com that she is very much looking forward to testifying against Jon in the breach of contract lawsuit. Kate has given several interviews since her breakup with the Jon & Kate Plus 8 star and she has repeatedly blasted him.Meanwhile, as RadarOnline.com reported exclusively on Monday, Jon is preparing to countersue TLC. He will allege that the network’s contract is overly restrictive and prevents him from earning a living.In a previous court filing TLC noted that Jon is free to go back to his Information Technologies job to earn a living.Major is a resident of the state of Illinois according to the new papers obtained by RadarOnline.com.So far TLC has received court permission to depose Major, Jon’s bodyguard Thomas Meinelt, Mike Heller, Mark Heller, Hailey Glassman, Matthew Kirschner and Michael Lohan. Fergie is on the verge of leaving the Black Eyed Peas permanently as tension in the band has become intolerable for her, has learned exclusively.The band has a full tour schedule for the summer and is planning a tour for early 2011. But Fergie won’t commit for that part of the tour, we learned, and the reason is she’s talking about leaving the band for good.Fergie can’t stand Will.I.Am and that is one of the main reasons she wants to leave the band, a source close to them told RadarOnline.com exclusively. The other reason is she’s decided she wants to have a baby!“Fergie is saying she wants out of the band and the second half of the tour isn’t confirmed for early next year,” the source said.“Things have gotten really bad with Will.i.Am. And it’s not just Fergie who is clashing with him. So is the rest of the band. His ego is out of control.“Fergie just wants to get away from the whole thing.”Fergie has kept the news so secret that very few people know and she is not ready to make the announcement right now, the source told RadarOnlne.com. “I don’t know if she’ll admit or deny it when it leaks out, but I do know that it’s 100 percent true, she’s got everything planned out and she says she can’t be convinced to change her mind,” the source told RadarOnline.com.“And she really wants a baby with Josh,” the source said, referring to Fergie’s husband Josh Duhamel. “Between that and the bad blood with Will, it looks like the 2011 tour is in big trouble and she’s saying she’s going to split for good.”The Black Eyed Peas are currently in the midst of a world-wide tour that includes stops in France, Greece, Ireland, Canada, and the United States this summer.The group formed in Los Angeles in 1995. It's composed of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Will.I.Am and vocalists Apl.De.Ap, Taboo, and Fergie. Fergie’s real name is Stacy Ferguson.The group scored their first worldwide hit with Where Is the Love? in 2003. Another single was the European hit Shut Up. Their album Monkey Business was another worldwide hit, certified 3x Platinum in the U.S., spawning two hit singles My Humps and Don't Phunk With My Heart.In 2009, the group became one of only eleven artists to have ever held the number one and two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time with their singles Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling, from the album The E.N.D., and the singles also topped the chart for an unprecedented 26 consecutive weeks combined in 2009. The album later produced a third Hot 100 number one with Imma Be, making them one of the few groups to ever place three number ones on the chart from the same album. The album also includes singles such as Meet Me Halfway and Rock That Body. The group has sold an estimated 35 million albums worldwide and 41 million singles, and 76 million copies with both sales combined.Jon Gosselin -- a wordsmith?It’s true. After his ex-wife Kate penned a series of best-selling books, the former reality television star is attempting to strike gold with an upcoming tome A Slice Of Life: Jon Gosselin’s Story.Jon and his life-coach, Sylvia Lafair, are currently writing the new book, has exclusively learned.It will tell Jon’s journey from being a relative unknown to reality TV patriarch and regular tabloid fodder.Co-author Lafair, who takes Jon on into the mountains of Pennsylvania for $10,000, tells RadarOnline.com: “The book is about having eight kids all at once when he was under the age of 30.” She says, “It includes some of the lessons that Jon has been learning with helpful hints on how he is working to reframe his relationship with his family including his two brothers and his mother.“It also explores how the death of his father affected him."Jon is working hard to re-invent himself. As , he got an enormous dragon tattooed on his back to symbolize his rebirth.Sylvia has been working as Jon’s life coach for more than one year, but it wasn’t until five months ago, that he got serious about the quest.He told her, “I’m really ready to do some work.”Sylvia says she suggested the reality television father join her six-month leadership program high above Pennsylvania.“It provides life-changing results,” she says.“Jon called because his life was not working... I think sometimes people have to get to their worst place to find out what they need in order to climb out of it.“This past year has been like that for Jon.”But, now Sylvia says, Jon is considered a work in progress.“Watching him is like a vaccination that’s taking effect,” she tells us."I hear it in his voice... He has a more thoughtful way of stopping and asking questions.”He especially wants to do this for his children, Jon’s mentor says.“He wants to be the most effective father,” Sylvia says.“He wants to find a way to speak for his generation in terms of getting married, divorced and raising kids and finding a better way to live his life.”Kim Kardashian is making the most of turning 30 with coast-to-coast bashes being thrown in her honor for the past week.On Saturday night, Kim and crew holed up in the VIP section of GLO nightclub in New York. According to an onlooker, the reality star beauty kept things innocent."A waiter delivered a bucket of bottled water to their table," the onlooker said."No alcohol. Kim and her friends were very calm, almost felt like a sweet sixteen."The brunette bombshell was joined by her sister Kourtney, pal Jonathan Cheban, and a gaggle of girlfriends. The group was kept away from prying eyes."Security was impeccable. No one could get close to Kim."As for the festivities, no table dancing there!"All Kim did was sit at her table and text on her phone. She and her friends were taking pictures if each other the whole night, laughing and giggling."Earlier in the week, Kim requested the cancellation of a diamond-encrusted cake (worth over a million dollars!) made by Manhattan restaurateur Nino Selimaj."Her people contacted Nino... thanked him for his efforts and explained they couldn't accept,” GLO's Danielle Orsino told exclusively.RELATED STORIES: A remake of the 80s classic We Are The World was , as a star-studded cast of more than 100 entertainers -- highlighted by Barbara Streisand, Pink and Kanye West -- united at the same Hollywood recording studio the original was recorded at 25 years ago, with the proceeds from the new song's downloads earmarked for the ongoing Haitian relief efforts.RadarOnline.com has the just-released photos of the celebrity-studded marathon recording session, which included, among others, Wyclef Jean, Carlos Santana, will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dogg, Celine Dion, Keith Urban, Jeff Bridges, Vince Vaughn, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Natalie Cole, Akon, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Toni Braxton, Josh Groban, Zac Brown, Gladys Knight, Justin Bieber, Harry Connick Jr., LL Cool J, Robin Thicke, Rob Thomas, Jordin Sparks, Good Charlotte's Madden brothers, Keri Hilson, Tyrese, Katharine McPhee, Sean Garrett, Melanie Fiona and all three Jonas Brothers.RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that Nicole Richie's daughter Harlow Winter Madden took part in the filming of the legendary music video, which was co-produced by grandaddy Lionel Richie. Keeping it in the family Joel and Benji Madden were also a part of the big day.Janet Jackson was unable to make it to the performance and instead taped her part in Atlanta. Carlos Santana came out to perform a guitar solo early in the afternoon while Nick Jonas was one of the last to tape his solo. Jennifer Hudson also taped a solo and left the soundstage after midnight.Ashlee Wiliss, an aspiring singer who was backstage getting Fender guitars signed for charity, told RadarOnline.com that the mood on-set was up-beat. "Pink was there with her husband Carey Hart, they were drinking coconut water and goofing around backstage. Nicole was there with Harlow and they took part in the video. Harlow was singing along and was so cute! She is really musical."Eva Longoria wasn't part of the shoot but her restaurant Beso supplied the stars with lots of good food and we hear the delicious gaucemole was a big hit!The original We Are the World, recorded in 1985, brought together artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper to aid famine victims in Africa.The remake, which took more than 16 hours to complete Monday, was organized by the original song's producers, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie. Although Richie sang in the original version, he did not sing in the remake. In fact, none of the entertainers in the original version reportedly sang in the new project.Jean, who has been a notable fundraising figure in the aftermath of the deadly 7.0 tremor that struck Haiti January 12, compared himself to "a kid in a candy shop" when surveying the incredible list of actors, musicians and singers the effort drew, just a day after the Grammys passed through Southern California."I just want to thank everyone," Jean told the LA Times. "Haiti thanks you. The world thanks you."The performance was also filmed in 3-D and the music video will debut February 12 on NBC during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.Singer Natasha Bedingfield has a heart-felt new album out this fall, and RadarOnline.com spoke exclusively with her about a fun project she’s working on for the summer. Watch the video on She spoke about her inspiration for her third album, with the first song Touch recently released on iTunes. “I wanted my album to really reflect human emotions and things that we go through and really be about connecting,” Natasha said.Natasha is delving into the judging world (watch out Simon!) helping Hotel Indigo with their where she’s looking to learn secrets of neighborhoods all over the country. Lucky winners will be judged in a live contest and receive awesome trips to stay at the Hotel Indigo NYC Chelsea.Check out the video where Natasha dishes on her favorite spot, the phenomenon that was The Hills and what her hubby does to make her feel real! by Radar Staff ReporterMove over, Elvis: Elton John and his million dollar piano are coming to Las Vegas.The Rocket Man singer will headline 16 shows in Sin City this fall at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, beginning a 3-year residency at the lavish venue he calls the "perfect, idyllic place to play."Elton's not the only Grammy-winner to ply his craft at Caesars, as My Heart Will Go On singer Celine Dion returned to the venue last month to begin her second residency there.And locals are “thrilled” that these two mega-stars are returning to their home town which has been hit hard by the recession in recent times.“Las Vegas is thrilled to welcome Elton John back to the city again,” Cara Roberts, spokesperson for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce tells RadarOnline.“He’s an amazing performer with a huge international draw. It’s another positive indication that Vegas is well on it’s way back from the recession.“Coupled with Celine Dion coming back we are very excited about the future and the business they will bring in.”Never one to disappoint, Elton’s bringing a little something even extra special this time around."I'm going to have a fabulous piano that Yamaha has been working on for four years, and that's the reason why the show is called ‘The Million Dollar Piano,'" the legendary musician said.This will be Elton’s second time performing in Sin City, and at Caesars -- he previously performed over a three year period from 2004 in a show, entitled The Red Piano. April 25 at 10 am PT.RELATED STORIES:Ronald Reagan had Bruce Springsteen. Bill Clinton had Fleetwood Mac. Now Hillary Clinton has ... Celine Dion?After holding a to let supporters pick her campaign song, Clinton announced the winner this morning on her website: Dion's "You and I." (Sample lyric: "You and I / were meant to fly / Higher than the clouds / We'll sail across the sky.")Clinton unveiled the track with a parodying the final scene of The Sopranos. In the clip, Clinton takes a booth in a diner and starts flipping through the selections on the boombox. She's soon joined by her husband, who notifies her that Chelsea is parking the car. The video even includes a segment from an actual Sopranos character (albeit one who died of cancer before the show's actual finale): John "Johnny Sack" Sacramoni, played by actor Vince Curatola. Still, Clinton gets points for cultural relevancy with the timely parody—and then loses those points for having a campaign song by Celine Dion.Watch the video after the jump!Jose Lambiet was RadarOnline’s executive editor in spring 2011.In his 25 years in the news business, he covered topics as eclectic as bear-maulings in Fairbanks, Alaska, as well as the Rudy Giuliani administration’s war on crime in the 1990s in New York City.In 2001, he embarked on a career in gossip/entertainment news when he created a column for the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sun-Sentinel. He moved on to Star magazine in 2001.After three years at the magazine, he returned to newspapers and started another gossip column in Florida, at the Palm Beach Post. There, he covered ’s 2005 wedding in addition to the foibles of local politicians and sports superstars. His coverage of a Palm Beach County commissioner’s divorce in 2005 led to an extensive investigation by the newspaper. In time, the commissioner pleaded guilty to a corruption-related charge.While at the Post, Lambiet also created Page2Live.com, a web-based off-shoot of his newspaper column. The site routinely broke news pertaining to golfer ’ fall from grace, singer ’s delivery of twins and the arrival in South Florida of basketball superstar .Lambiet is married and has two children.Attention friends of Dorothy: Judy's back! In "," technology brings us one step closer to the apocalypse by resurrecting The Wizard of Oz star and Liza Minnelli-birther to sing 27 of her biggest hits with... the Boston Pops.The show blends original video of Garland with live accompaniment of the Pops' 70 instruments, and at a technical rehearsal in Manhattan yesterday, there she was: all four-feet-eleven-inches of Judy, tip-toeing across three massive projection screens. Looking a bit like a bobblehead with doe eyes, tiny and frenetic, Judy shimmies around, flinging the mic cord over her shoulder and belting out tune after familiar tune. She sings, she dances, she cracks wise! Also, she's dead! Remember when Celine Dion sang a duet with ? It's kind of like that, only in 2D. Remember, also, how it made you intrigued, mesmerized, confused? It's like that too.Reality TV ratings powerhouse Kate Gosselin smiled brightly for photographers at The Discovery Channel's 2010-11 upfront presentation in New York Thursday, and has all the pictures for you.Gosselin was there, in part, to promote her two new shows TLC has added to their future plans. One of the shows is called Twist of Kate, and will showcase Gosselin meeting everyday women who are inspired by her."In each episode, she'll walk a mile in someone else's shoes -- meeting real families in the middle of their own extraordinary challenges," the network said in a statement Thursday. "She'll try out their jobs, see how their home life runs, see what they're up against and find out what they do to let off steam. Each family will have some unique circumstance that is a story in itself. As Kate gets to know them, she'll roll up her sleeves and see what she can do to help."The other show is Kate Plus 8, which will have the familiar format of Jon & Kate Plus 8, though neither show has any plans on using Jon Gosselin.In the meantime, you can see Kate on Dancing With The Stars airing Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.Has being married to a much older man aged Katie Holmes’ sense of style?While other stars her age are strutting down red carpets in Herve Leger bandage dresses and Preen cutout minis, Tom Cruise’s leading lady is always covering up her body in unflattering, potato sack frocks. With a world of designer’s dying to dress the A-list actress, why does The Extra Man star always choose Granny over Glam?When Tom and Katie began their whirlwind romance, we had a slight moment of excitement. The gorgeous brunette was quickly exposed to the first hand glamour of Giorgio Armani, who had been dressing her haute hubby for years.The Italian icon designed Katie’s wedding gown, and we figured he would be in charge for her daily duds from that point on.Katie even has her own collaborated clothing collection with stylist Jeanne Yang, though we rarely see her modeling the uber-expensive duds! Instead her daily wardrobe consists of oversized plaid shirts, wide leg jeans, baggy leggings (which she wears under oversized dresses!) and floorlength car coats, which drown her youthful figure.When we saw Katie on Tom’s arm at the National Movie Awards in London looking sassy in a striped summer dress from her Holmes & Yang collection, we were delightfully surprised to see her finally dressing her age, but the success was short feted. A few weeks later she hit the NYC premiere of her latest flick The Extra Man, opting for a striped Celine mini. Only problem?She had to sport not-so-sexy buckled pumps with the youthful number!Do you think Katie is a grunge granny or a glam girl? Check out the gallery in Style and let us know!So Forbes is out with their annual the moderately accurate, purportedly scientific but still somewhat arbitrary list of the world's "most powerful—and best paid" celebrities. At the top of the heap are the usual suspects—Oprah, Tiger Woods, Angelina Jolie, Beyonce Knowles, and David Beckham round out the top five—but there are a number of curious selections. David Letterman is really the 15th most powerful celebrity? Roger Federer is number 23? (We'd argue that Maria Sharapova, down at 61, is far more powerful, as well as infinitely more recognizable.) How is 50 Cent above Kanye West? Celine Dion(28) is ranked above Tom Cruise (31) and Leonardo DiCaprio (44)? And what the hell is doing on there? (More galling is that fact that he evidently made $14 million last year.)Perhaps the most depressing inclusion, however, is Hills gal , who squeaks in at no. 97. (We ) Sadly, she actually places ahead of poor Tina Fey, ranked 99th.) Forbes guestimates her income at $1.5 million; yesterday, Extra : $25,000 an episode, $50,000 for other appearances, as well as endorsement deals with Avon and Linea Pelle and whatever revenue she reaps from her clothing line and handbag collection.We've said it before, but it bears repeating: maybe these people aren't as dumb as they look. Except Audrina. By Jose Lambiet Radar Executive Editor Sometime in mid-June, scandal-scarred golfer Tiger Woods is scheduled to leave the Orlando, Fla., home where his 2009 fender-bender kicked off a chain reaction that cost him his family, reputation and, some say, his career.He’s moving three hours south into custom-built oceanfront digs outside Palm Beach, Fla.A few miles in-land is another brand-new crib that the golfer built for his mom, 66-year-old Tida Woods, and his two toddlers.Combined, the two houses may have cost Woods as much $100 million!And now, reveals never-published details about both mansions in this exclusive tour!On the edges of the posh town of Jupiter, Tida Woods recently settled down in a $10 million, 22,000-square-foot place built on five perfectly manicured acres.And it’s as much a shrine to the golfer as a residence.In addition to the dozens of photos of Woods at various times of his career and trophies displayed throughout the house, every one of the dozens of windows, according to a contractor who worked on Tiger’s two houses, bears Woods initials, TW. The same initials were also blown into the stained glass above the front door, and they are in the marble tiles in the foyer.Built in a classic style with elements from Tida’s native Thailand, including a tea house in a garden, the home features several rooms covered with fine lacquered teak and mahogany.What jumps out at visitors, however, is that much of the house has been designed for Woods’ two children, 3-year-old Sam and 2-year-old Charlie: Any chance to see Playboy-style action in the grotto?Hardly! Tida’s house is also where the former world’s No. 1 golfer himself will hang out when he gets the kids. And there’s a good reason for that, RadarOnline is told by someone familiar with his divorce agreement.“Both Tiger and (ex-wife) Elin Nordegren agreed in their divorce (last year) that whatever boyfriend or girlfriend spends the night with them in the same location as the kids will be background-checked by the other party’s lawyers,” the well-placed informant said.“So, Tiger will be at his mom’s house when the children are around, and there’ll be no girl there because he doesn’t want Elin’s people to start snooping on him. He’s keeping the other house as his party palace!”CHECK BACK WITH RADAR LATER FOR THE EXCLUSIVE TOUR OF TIGER’S PARTY PALACE! RELATED STORIES:We warn you: these numbers are gonna blow you away. Her last album was only the 50th bestseller of the year, she placed # 14 on the list of digital downloads, yet Madonna was the biggest touring act of the past year earning $242,176,466.00.Yes. That's a quarter of a billion dollars.The runners-up didn't do too bad either: Bon Jovi took in $157,177,766, Bruce Springsteen $156,327,964, The Police $109,976,894, Celine Dion $99,171,237, Kenny Chesney $90,823,990, Neil Diamond $82,174,000, Rascall Flatts $63,522,160, The Jonas Brothers $62,638,814, and Coldplay $62,175,555.Fan fave Miley Cyrus was # 15, behind Michael Buble.• : A Mexican judge rules that slur-happy Duane "Dog" Chapman won't be prosecuted on kidnapping charges after doing his bounty hunting shtick south of the border.• : Madonna tops Forbes' list of the richest women in the music industry. Babs Streisand comes in second, followed by Celine Dion and her golden pipes of cheese.• : Grandpa Rossdale confirms that Gwen Stefani and that dude from Bush are expecting a second trendy tot.• : Attorney General Michael Mukasey refuses to define waterboarding as torture.• : Repent! German beer sales hit a 15-year low.• : Philip Morris is coming up with all kinds of kooky new products to keep the world smoking, including a shorter, more potent cancer stick called Marlboro Intense.• : Hillary Clinton is still waiting for Barack Obama to shake her hand after her gesture of "friendship and unity" at the State of the Union address was deftly dodged by her rival.Sunday's Grammy Awards are going to be an emotion–charged event because Michael Jackson concert footage will be shown in 3-D.Neil Portnow, the man in charge of music's biggest night spoke to RadarOnline.com at Friday's Music Cares Benefit in Los Angeles and said he expects the 3-D tribute to the King of Pop will be a fitting tribute. "It's going to be very special, it's going to be very emotional,” said Portnow, the President of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.“We've been able to get the film footage that Michael had created for the tour he was going to do.“He created this film because it has a message and it's his message. “So now, we can get that message to millions and millions of people all around the world, and in this country it's going to be done in 3-D."So, what is the late King of Pop’s message? “We need to take care of our planet. It is a very environmental piece," said Portnow.Superstars including Usher, Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson will all perform alongside the footage.And as for rumors that MJ's kids - Prince, Paris and Blanket - will make an appearance, as their father is posthumously honoured? According to the man in charge, "Anything is possible."An emotional and powerful tribute to Michael Jackson, followed by two of his children taking the stage, created one of the most memorable moments of the 52nd annual Grammy awards.It was a night that featured many collaborations – some far better than others – and showed that talent from several generations is still thriving and RadarOnline.com was on the scene to bring you all the highlights and misses from music’s top awards event.The Grammys lacked controversy but did deliver some record-breaking moments, including 20-year-old Taylor Swift becoming the youngest artist to win Album of the Year. She took home four awards while Beyonce won six, the most ever won by a woman in one night.There’s no doubt the emotional core of the night was Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Celine Dion and Carrie Underwood singing along to Michael Jackson’s 1995 track “Earth Song.”This portion of the show was broadcast in 3-D and even the star-filled audience donned the goofy cardboard glasses. When Michael’s voice, clear and sharp, filled the theater it was a stark reminder of what the music industry lost with his passing.Dion was first to step on stage and sang a flawless verse. Underwood showed surprising vocal depth on the track, Hudson was pitch-perfect and Smokey Robinson displayed a silky, powerful voice that defies time.“Michael Jackson was gone too soon,” Smokey said before introducing two of Michael’s children. Prince and Paris, wearing red armbands, took the stage after the performance to accept a lifetime achievement award for their father. Prince did most of the talking, moving the crowd when he said about his father: ”through all his songs his message was simple: love.”The night got off to a good start with Lady Gaga and Elton John teaming up for an opening medley. Not all collaborations went as smoothly but there were no Kanye West-microphone-grabbing moments to taint (or enliven?) the evening.Pink got everyone’s attention when she stripped to a barely-there flesh-colored body suit before spinning high above the crowd while performing, in keeping with her Circus tour.The Black Eyed Peas though also turned in a memorable performance. Rocking black and silver futuristic costumes the band not only entertained as they were joined on staged by silver robot aliens, but they also proved it’s not all about Fergie. Their version of “I Gotta Feeling” showed the group’s cohesiveness and made their lyric, “I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night,” seem clairvoyant.America’s hottest band, Kings of Leon, took home Record of the Year with the infectious “Use Somebody.” Lead singer and guitarist Nathan Followill made the crowd laugh when he accepted and said,” I’m not gonna lie, we’re a little drunk.”But that’s about as controversial as the night got. It was simply, and fittingly, the music that took the spotlight, with an eclectic mix of talent performing.Beyonce left no doubt why she’s reached superstar status with a razor-sharp performance early in the show. Later she took home the Grammy for best female pop vocal performance for “Halo” and was surprisingly nervous accepting the award. Still, she didn’t forget to thank husband Jay-Z, telling him from the stage, “I love you.”The worst collaboration of the night featured one of the night’s biggest winners: Swift. She closed the show with a surprise victory in the Album of the Year category for Fearless but earlier she struggled on stage.After she performed her new hit “Today Was a Fairy Tale,” Swift was suddenly joined on stage by Stevie Nicks. The eras didn’t mix well as their version of Fleetwood Mac’s Rhiannon proved, with Swift badly off key and Nicks holding back. Mercifully, they sang an abbreviated version before Swift took the lead and regained her footing with an on-key but unspectacular version of You Belong With Me while Nicks sang back up.A far better musical pairing followed the Michael Jackson segment of the show when Bon Jovi brought out Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles for a studio-sharp version of “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”The gimmick of the night was the audience voting on what else Bon Jovi would play and not surprisingly Living On a Prayer was the choice. Nettles stayed on stage and supplied a more-than-capable backing vocal as Bon Jovi knocked out the stadium anthem to cheers.Collaborations seemed to be the theme of the evening as Green Day performed early in the night with the cast of their soon-to-open on Broadway musical based on American Idiot. Later the band won Rock Album of the Year and the punk rockers-turned-mainstream darlings bounded to the stage. Lead singer Billie Jo Armstrong did the usual thank yous before adding, “and now I’m going to do shots with Kings of Leon.”Later, Wyclef Jean thanked America for its support of earthquake-ravaged Haiti and while urging the crowd to buy a song using iTunes, he told the audience: “The music industry is still alive even though ain’t no more record companies.”Despite the changing nature of music distribution, the evening left no doubt that talent is in plentiful supply. That talent, however, didn’t always jell.A perfect example: Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige teamed up on Simon & Garfunkle’s Bridge Over Troubled Water and it was a strange performance that failed to inspire but was used to urge the audience to donate to Haiti relief by texting.Dr. Dre, Eminem and Lil’ Wayne helped the audience recover with their performance but by then the audience seemed played out and the final surprising note was Swift beating out Beyonce and Lady Gaga for Album of the Year.Having documented the Gosselins and their eight children in Jon and Kate Plus 8, TLC is launching a new reality television show, this time following the trials and tribulations of a couple and their sextuplets, has learned.It will be called Sextuplets Take New York.The show will follow Victor and Digna Carpio as they raise their seven babies, plus their nine-year-old son. "The Carpio sextuplets, America’s first Latino sextuplets, are ready for their close-up, if they can sit still for that long!" the network revealed in a press release."Now 22 months old, these four boys and two girls have just mastered the art of walking and will soon be talking - in two languages."The show will hit the air on September 14 and is set to keep viewers, and the parents, on their toes."From 50 diaper changes to three homemade hot meals a day, to balancing doctor's appointments, tennis practice, tutoring, and homework, Victor and Digna certainly have their hands full," the press release continued."Born weighing less than two pounds each and given little to no chance for survival, the Carpio sextuplets are six little miracles."The show will take the 10pm ET/PT slot and TLC have already bought eight episodes.Natalie Portman and choreographer Benjamin Millepied are happily engaged and expecting their first child, her rep confirms to . The pair met during production of Black Swan, reports who broke the story.2011 will be some year for Portman! In addition to becoming a new mom, her stellar performance in Black Swan has earned her nominations for Golden Globe, Spirit and Screen Actors Guild Awards. RELATED STORIES:Celine: Through the Eyes of the World (Not Rated):Say what you will about Céline Dion, but there’ no denying that the woman is a force of nature. Most people know her as the lady who sang that interminable theme song from Titanic, but this behind-the-scenes look at the Canadian diva at work reveals her global popularity, crazy stamina and love of what she does. Through the Eyes of the World takes fans and neophytes alike along with her and her family on her 2008-2009 world tour. (Céline Dion [herself], René Angelil [himself])Daybreakers (R):In a world where vampires rule and the remaining humans are farmed for blood, a covert type of blood-sucker seeks out a sexy researcher to come up with a synthetic food supply. But if you’re thinking about HBO and that handy packaged drink, think again. The gritty urban landscape of Daybreakers is no “good times” town like True Blood’s Bon Temps. Instead, real people are on the run and Ethan Hawke is their only hope. (Ethan Hawke [Edward Dalton], Willem Dafoe [Lionel “Elvis” Cormac], Caudia Karvan [Audrey Bennett])Edge of Darkness (R):Bad guys, beware. Mel Gibson is back in action and loaded for bear with big guns, a burning vendetta and a bad Boston accent. Mel channels his inner crime-fighter as Thomas Craven, a detective who begins to unravel when his activist daughter is mysteriously killed. As he digs for answers, he discovers that there’s much more to her murder than he ever imagined -- including her secret past, a cover-up and government intrigue. (Mel Gibson [Thomas Craven], Bojana Novakovic [Emma Craven], Ray Winstone [Jedburgh])Legion (R):Hollywood has said it before, and it’s saying it again: Humans must behave well, or else. Earthlings get another smack-down in this latest take on the apocalypse and survival when so-called angels descend upon the planet and start raising hell, to to speak. True to form, the only woman with protected status is pregnant with the world’s future savior, but even that might not be enough to save her and the local folk from the doom and destruction that befalls them. (Paul Bettany [Michael], Tyrese Gibson [Kyle Williams], Adrianne Palicki [Charlie])Kourtney Kardashian is one proud new mama!The eldest of the Kardashian brood, Kourtney ushered in her newborn son Mason Dash Disick into the family business with a photo shoot introducing him to the world. The reality star looked stunning as she smiled glowingly at the camera while cradling Mason in her arms.Mason was born on December 14th and is the first child for Kardashian and boyfriend Scott Disick.One thing is for sure: that will be one well-dressed baby!• : Right-leaning former Dick Armitage Robert Novak crawls out of his Capitol Hill manhole to plant gossip about Hillary having dirt on Barack to divide and conquer Democratic candidates. Naturally, it's working.• : Italy—y'know, the country that once elected a —bans gossip that's just gossip for gossip's sake in attempts to improve Italian television.• : For a bunch of people striking for a cut of online video revenues, WGA types sure are creating a lot of free YouTube clips. • : Non-lethal acoustic devices are planned for use by riot squads. Japanese noise bands scramble to get their hands on said weapons. • : Ladies of The View ask Walters: If you were were a tree, what kind of orgasms would you have? • : If we were a sixth grade substitute teacher, we'd confiscate the farewell note left for Bush by his outgoing homeland security adviser and read it aloud to the rest of the Administration while he and Fran Townsend both blushed. Who knew Obama was such a good showman? First he whipped Oprah out of his sleeve. Next up? Lip synching, Bollywood-style, and showing off his dance moves against a montage of pink elephants in a new video called What's more, the Indian press approves of the clip that's been circulating the Web this past week, with one calling it: "[A] last ditch effort to woo the influential Indian American community," and praising the presidential hopeful's rendition of the Hindi hits: "Aaja Aaja Aaja Aaja Aaja, Chori chori ham dono pyaar karenge, and Maahiya, Maahiya, jaldi se le jaa Maahiya Maahiya Maahiya doli mein le ja sun mahiya." Campaign song, perhaps? At least he can't do worse than Hill's Celine Dion selection. Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil is back at home following an undisclosed medical procedure, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively. The Palm Beach Post had written that the 67-year-old businessman was in the hospital due to his pre-existing heart ailments."Mr. Angelil was in the hospital for a procedure which had been planned for months....not heart surgery. Today, he's back at home," his spokeswoman Kim Jakwerth said. Angelil was kept at the hospital overnight.The couple has been staying at Jack Nicklaus' The Bear Club on Jupiter Island while building a new mansion nearby. With her long-running Las Vegas show now finished, Dion, 41, her husband and their son Rene-Charles have decided to make south Florida home.Angelil had what he described as a near-fatal heart attack when he was 50. The couple has been married for 14 years, and Dion recently discussed their desire to have a second child.(Photo: Retna) &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Proving you're never too old -- or too young -- to hit the Vegas strip, Celine Dion and hubby/manager Rene Angelil took their 4-month-old baby twins to Caesar's Palace on Wednesday, and has the adorable pics.It marked the Grammy Award winning singer's trimphant return to Caesar's Palace for the first time since the birth of little Eddy and Nelson last October.Dion is beginning rehearsals for her new stage show which debuts on March 15 at The Colosseum.As Dion posed for photographers and greeted fans, she and Angelil cradled the fraternal twins, who wore matching blue baby gowns and white hats.The couple's first child, 9-year-old Rene-Charles Angelil, was also on hand for Dion's return to the strip.As RadarOnline.com has previously reported, Dion, 42, had been expecting triplets, but miscarried one of the babies early in her pregnancy. According to Sony Music Entertainment, Dion has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. RELATED STORIES:After taking a hiatus after the October birth of her twin sons Nelson and Eddy, Celine Dion returned to the stage in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, upping the glam factor to the max in a bevy of stylish and sexy designer dresses and gowns.From a short and sexy gold sequined Balmain mini, which showed off her luscious legs to perfection, to long and luxurious Armani Prive gowns, the soulful singer dazzled the sold-out crowd at Caesars Palace Colosseum.What was Celine’s best look of the night? and let us know what you think! &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; From the red carpet the edge of the catwalk, stars were dressed to rock and shock on Wednesday and has all the photos.Diane Kruger knows a thing or two about white haute! The Unknown star hit the Los Angeles premiere of her latest movie, dressed to thrill in an uber-mini lace Dolce & Gabbana number, which was impeccably embellished in tiny silver beads. The beautiful blonde fabulously finished off the ensemble with nude Brian Atwood heels, scoring herself the best look of the day!Vanessa Hudgens has been busy this week hitting all the fashion shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and , but that doesn't give her the leeway to wear pajamas to a runway show! The High School Musical star wore a hippie-dippy PJ like Anna Sui ensemble to the designers show, landing herself as the worst dressed star of the day. Elisabetta Canalis sizzled up the Sanremo Festival in Italy, wearing a cutout Emilio Pucci gown, which showed off her tight curves and beautiful back, while Kelly Rutherford and Carolyn Murphy sophisticatedly dripped in Van Cleef & Arpels ice at the brand's opening gala in NYC.Helena Bonham Carter brought her wacky fashion to Berlin, while Amanda Lepore was dressed to shock (in hardly anything) at Fashion Week.OMGlee! It's the episode of Glee we've been waiting for - Britney Spears makes a special guest appearance Tuesday night on the hit Fox show.But the Toxic singer isn't the only one getting major Glee buzz; Glee newcomers Charice Pempengco, Chord Overstreet and Dot Jones are also striking a chord with viewers.Just 18-years-old, Charice Pempengco is the pint-sized Filipino powerhouse who belted her way into Gleek hearts last Tuesday night.She's a singing sensation who has been featured on Oprah and performed a duet with Celine Dion. As Sunshine, the foreign exchange student, Charice has earned the evil eye from Lea Michele's Rachel.Charice's YouTube videos have helped her skyrocket to fame, and has over 21 million views.She's already been involved in her own Hollywood scandal - she's had Botox! Charice said the Botox was for jaw pain, which rings true because there is no way this young beauty has any wrinkles yet!Coach Shannon Beiste just might be the breakout star of the season. Dot Jones, 46, a champion arm wrestler, reportedly saw Glee co-executive producer Brad Falchuk in a grocery store and told him she wanted to be on the show - and much to her surprise, it happened!As Sue Sylvester's new rival, Dot Jones will be going toe-to-toe with the cheerleading coach. Glee's new resident hottie is Chord Overstreet, the hunky new football player who is dating... well, no one is sure yet but everyone is watching! The 21-year-old Nashville native plays the guitar too, so maybe he'll be showing off his musical skills on the show soon. The ripped actor recently told Vanity Fair that he does three hours at a time in the gym, and a hour just on abs. Jersey Shore's "The Situation" had better watch out, this guys' got a rocking set of abs!Check out Glee on Fox Tuesday at 8pm for the Britney Spears episode! RELATED STORIES:Kate Gosselin cut a lonely figure this Memorial Day weekend -- one year after she split from husband Jon. spotted Kate leaving a local nail salon in Reading, Pennsylvania.It was clear she was marking the anniversary with some solo time: a little self-indulgence after a tough twelve months, in which her marriage meltdown was played out in the spotlight.While her famous eight were being looked after by a nanny, Kate, 35, also did a little crafting outside her Wernersville home.But as Kate admitted this week, she has had a tough time finding peace."I don't think I really know how to even relax anymore," she told People."Any little shred I had of that is gone."Kate trades off custody of the kids with Jon, 33, at the family's home in Pennsylvania.But life with Jon, says Kate, "feels like 10 years ago.""I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it's not any calmer," she said."It just appears calmer on the surface. It's just I've had to internalize and keep quiet the rest of the stress. But it bubbles within me and it spills over, and sometimes [the kids] see it."Oh, how quickly children grow up! Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's large brood did some sightseeing with Brad's parents recently and Shiloh once again stood out with her trademark style. With the extra helping hands, Brad was even able to steal away alone time to visit Angelina on set.Clad in a striped, long-sleeved shirt and navy blazer and white slacks, Shiloh showed off her neutral style, shunning the more feminine fashion favored by sister Zahara (who was equally adorable in her metallic flats and matching Hello Kitty purse).Maddox and Pax (who stuck close to grandpa, holding hands with him as the group strolled around Venice) also showed some flair. Pax kept warm with a stylish puffy vest and flannel shirt.Maddox, wearing camouflage pants and a puffy jacket, clearly enjoyed theouting, at one point literally leaping for joy.Meanwhile, Jolie and co-star Johnny Depp continue shooting The Tourist throughout the Italian city. One on particular evening, Angelina looked a bit tired, yawning between scenes. However, she got some company to keep her warm from the cool evening chill. Pitt stopped by and the two had a quiet moment on a boat chatting during a break.It was a dazzling day of fashion as stars hit the red carpet around the world, wearing smashing fashions hot off the runway. Of course, there are always some dressing disasters when it comes to our famous friends. RadarOnline.com has all the photos in our daily fashion feature!Elizabeth Banks was dressed to thrill at the NYC premiere of her latest flick The Next Three Days. Ditching the prison jumpsuit she sports in most of the film, the blonde babe was in bombshell style, hitting the red carpet in sexy-to-the-max cutout cocktail dress from the Versace Spring 2011 collection. Olivia Wilde joined her costar on the carpet in a simply sophisticated Celine sleeved number, which she paired with Christian Louboutin pumps, a Jimmy Choo clutch and Stephen Russell jewels.Over on the West Coast, Malin Akerman (who is usually a style star!) looked like she was on vacation at the 2011 People’s Choice Awards Nominations, wearing a Mariachi-style Prada frock from the Resort 2011 collection with Aldo pumps.Halle Berry showed of her smoking hot bod at the AFI Film Fest, wearing a skintight Elie Saab number, which clung to her curves in all the right places, while Ali Larter flaunted her baby bump street side in Los Angeles, wearing all black duds.Other style highlights? Kerry Washington in a fab floral Oscar de la Renta frock at the Moves 2010 Power Women Awards, Victoria Beckham in one of her own designs in London and Tina Fey in Oscar de la Renta at the Kennedy Center in Washington.See what other celebs rocked and shocked on the fashion front in RadarOnline.com’s daily feature. &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Country music's hottest stars along with Hollywood A-listers including headed over to Las Vegas on Sunday for the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards dressed to rock and shock in the best, worst & wackiest fashions--and has all the photos! It's always a fashion face-off when Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood walk the same carpet, and tonight was no exception. While TayTay opted for a stunning, mellow yellow Elie Saab embroidered gown and Neil Lane jewels, the former American Idol stepped out of her comfort zone by wearing a powerful purple Jean Fares Couture gown, which featured edgy embellished pockets and a super low-cut back. As for the major la mode miss, Nicole Kidman wasn't exactly country strong with her L' Wren Scott look. The bigscreen babe, who was there to support hubby Keith Urban, wore a skintight snaky dress with a furry shrug that didn't do her any justice.And Shawna Thompson scored the wackiest look of the night, looking like she was headed to a gothic themed wedding, wearing a purple strapless thing with a totally crazy hairdo.Fresh from her honeymoon, newlywed Reese Witherspoon skipped the red carpet and headed inside, ravishing in a sexy Marchesa black lace cocktail dress, which featured tulle overlay and an embroidered bodice. The bigscreen babe, who was sporting her dazzling William Goldberg engagement and wedding rings, was on hand to present an award with her Water For Elephants costar Robert Pattinson.Julianne Hough brightened up the carpet in a fresh and fabulous fashion. The beautiful Burlesque star and girlfriend of Ryan Seacrest stunned in a coral halter gown, which she paired with emerald and gold jewels and a crafty VBH clutch. And the least likely attendee was none other than sassy songbird Rihanna, who was at the show to perform with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles (who looked flawless in her cutout halter gown!). The sassy songbird opted for a white hot fringed cocktail dress, which was a subdued and sophisticated choice for the usually out-there fashionista.Supermodel turned actress Brooklyn Decker had the same spring in her step, wearing a salmon skintight Victoria Beckham dress with slanted black heels, while Celine Dion opted for a dark and dramatic look, rocking a sequin Vivienne Westwood frock. While metallic and embellished dresses had their usual place on the carpet, there was an abundance of color, as stars rocked deep shades of blue, purple and burgundy.Who else rocked and shocked on the fashion front at the Academy of Country Music Awards? . RELATED STORIES: The glam-factor was at its' all time high on Sunday night, as Hollywood's hottest stars hit the 83rd Academy Awards dressed in what are sure to be, the biggest trends of the coming year.While everyone assumed that royal blue would be replacing black as the hot hue of 2011 due to the impending royal nuptials, there was no denying that red was the official color of the evening. From Sandra Bullock's va-va-voom Vera Wang strapless gown to Winter's Bone babe Jennifer Lawrence's minimalist Calvin Klein halter, we were delighted to see the ravishing color dominate over black.Purple also had a strong presence, as Black Swan babes Natalie Portman (in Rodarte) and Mila Kunis (in Elie Saab) both opted for different shades of the color, along with Cate Blanchett, in her offbeat pastel Givenchy Couture gown.There are always lots of desperately gorgeous diamonds on the red carpet, but this year we saw some some rather unique colored bling. Natalie Portman matched her TIffany Rubellite Tassel diamond earrings to her plum colored dress, while Reese Witherspoon fulfilled her Old Hollywood glamour role to perfection with Neil Lane emeralds.And sleek and sexy looks resulted in style scores for both Gwyneth Paltrow and Celine Dion, who both opted for sexy, body-skimming silhouettes.What other trends dominated at the 83rd Academy Awards? New England Patriots star Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen are building a massive $20 million mansion and has photos of the current construction.The enormous 22,000 square-foot home sprawls over 3.6 acres and touts itself as an eco-friendly eight-bedroom compound in the exclusive Brentwood Country Estates.With a bridge connecting two parts of the house and a lagoon-shaped pool with a spa, the couple will be neighbors to Project Runway host Heidi Klum and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. on February 26, 2009 and on December 8, 2009 to their first child, Benjamin.RELATED STORIES:Celine Dion is taking no chances with her pregnancy, has learned.The singer who is carrying twins thanks to a year-long effort via IVF, says she is doing absolutely everything her doctors advise to insure the birth of healthy babies."I do almost nothing," Celine told Le Journal de Montreal. "If you tell me I have to stay in bed, I will stay in bed until November, when the babies are born. To bring them into the world, there's nothing more important than that." Celine and her husband Rene Angelil are already parents to a son, 9, but have been desperately trying to expand their family.Speaking of her previous failed IVF treatments, Celine told Le Journal, "I feel like I've been pregnant more than a year. I never gave up. But I can tell you that it was physically and emotionally exhausting."Celine is allowing herself just about four months off after her twins are born before going back to work in March with a new Las Vegas show.What with all the Ugly Bettification of fashion, it's tempting to see it all as one big, campy caricature. But for those in flyover states with big Prada dreams, Friday's Red Dress Collection show at the Tents oozed reassuring familiarity, proving that style doesn't always come with a side of Miranda Priestly inflected frostiness. If you stumbled upon the scene you would be forgiven for thinking you had accidentally landed at an afternoon matinee of Mamma Mia. Celine Dion blared from the speakers, and in the rows of folding chairs, out-of-towners (including a wide-eyed Laura Bush) rallied for some emotive standing ovations as stars in a parade of womanly Americana strutted their stuff on the runway. There was healthy American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee, chat-queen Kelly Ripa, a hard-bodied Paula Zahn, and Everygirl Rachael Ray, who patted her stomach apologetically at the end of the catwalk as is if to say, "Sorry, one too many 30 Minute Meals!" Even Claire Huxtable showed up! Phylicia Rashad gathered a rousing wave of applause as she glided down the runway.• : After being blasted by rival Rudy Guiliani for using curiously accented workers to tend to his private tennis court and surrounding estate, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney fires his landscaping service for still employing illegal immigrants.• : Foxy anchor Brian Williams pulls ahead of Charlie Gibson in the nightly news race, while Katie Couric's overall audience is down a million compared with last November. Couric, however, leads with the coveted "high school gym teacher" demographic.• : Skin care company Hydroderm sues Desperate Housewife Teri Hatcher for allegedly breaking her exclusive contract with them by using another brand to plump her lips. The facialists seek $2.4 million in the case, and may also demand that Hatcher try aging gracefully.• : Dennis Quaid sues the makers of the drug that nearly killed his newborn twins, claiming the company was negligent by not distinctly packaging the different doses of the drug.• : In the smartest political move they've made in weeks, the Clinton campaign ditches the Celine Dion theme song. &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Angelina Jolie reigned the red carpet this week, promoting her latest flick in the fabbest of fashions. The brunette bombshell hit the Los Angeles premiere of Salt on Monday, showing off her banging bod in a miniscule Emporio Armani strapless number. As if that look wasn't drool-worthy enough, she popped up at the Comic Con convention on Thursday, wearing a gorgeously constructed Versace leather jacket with a Dolce & Gabbana skirt and Ferragamo peep-toes.Other memorable moments a la mode? We were green with envy when we spotted Elisabeth Moss at the Mad Men Season 4 premiere in Hollywood, wearing a gorgeous, one-shouldered Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress and we were definitely inspired by AnnaLynne McCord's Herve Ledger look at the Do Something! Awards. Vanessa Hudgens was Charlie St. Cloud gorgeous in Reem Acra, while Cameron Diaz showed off those SoCal legs in Stella McCartney at the UK premiere of Knight and Day.Tila Tequila wasn't looking so EuroChic in London, wearing a boob-baring lace mini, while Damian Marley sported floor length dreads. Someone definitely needs to explain to Amy Winehouse the difference between a shirt and a dress, which is a conversation that Taylor Momsen could listen in on as well. The Pretty Reckless Gossip Girl was not looking so 'sweet 16' while onstage during the Vans Warped Tour!What A-List actress was not looking super sassy in Celine stripes? Check out the gallery in Style to find out.Susan Boyle could be getting ready to follow in Cher and Celine Dion footsteps by playing in Las Vegas. The Internet singing sensation is being lined-up to play at Planet Hollywood by American Idol guru Simon Cowell.Cowell – who is a close friend of the casino’s owner Robert Earl – believes that Boyle would be a sensation on the world famous Vegas Strip and rake in millions of dollars in the process.A source told the Evening Standard newspaper in the UK: “Simon is confident that Susan will be a huge success in America. She is already a household name despite the coming second on the show, and she is now being lined-up to play a number of dates in Las Vegas. The Planet Hollywood bigwigs have been following Susan since she burst on to the scene and are keen to give her a run at the hotel.”The singer is preparing to play at The Britain’s Got Talent tour in Edinburgh, Scotland, as her management team go into overdrive about planning her schedule.Cowell has revealed that he is going to record an album with Boyle reportedly of Broadway hits with an orchestra in the Czech Republic.Meanwhile, Boyle seems to have recovered following her stay at The Priory Clinic in London after receiving a standing ovation when she sang in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday night on the BGT tour.Multi-millionaire Cowell hit back at claims that he exploited the fragile Scottish performer by exposing her on Britain’s Got Talent.He said on British television show GMTV: “No one ever put a gun to her head and said you’ve got to enter the show. I sat down with her and said: Look, if this is getting too much for you, you don’t have to go into the final. No-one’s going to force you – you do whatever you want . And she looked me in the eye and said, No, I want to win this competition.”(Photo: Splash News)Celine Dion’s husband Rene Angelil is overjoyed at the birth of their twin boys.According to Canadian entertainment show etalk, Rene described the emotional moments following the twin’s birth.“When Saturday at 11:11, they showed us the first baby that was crying, we were crying,” Angelil said. Dion, 42, has been very open about her fertility struggles and conceived the twins on her sixth in vitro attempt over the course of a year.“It was a very emotional moment, and even though we didn’t speak to each other, we were both thinking about the time it took,” Angelil said. “We are very lucky, very priviledged and very fortunate to have these boys.”Rene said the twins’ birth has also been an exciting time for their 9-year-old son Rene-Charles.“He was very, very happy that it was boys,” he said. “I remember a few months ago when mom told him the day we were going to know if it was a boy or a girl or two boys or two girls…his reaction pointing to his mom’s belly he said, ‘I hope there’s not too many girls in there.’”The couple have not released the fraternal twins’ names yet but say they both have dark hair and different looks. According to Angelil, Rene-Charles told him, “One looks like dad, and the other looks like mom.”She may be a mom of three now, but don’t expect motherhood to slow Dion’s career down. The singer will return to the Las Vegas stage.“We know she’s going to start rehearsing Jan. 17,” says her husband. “It gives her three months to recoup and she thinks she can do it.”RELATED STORIES: • : After five years and 717 shows, International symbol of French Canadianism Celine Dion sings her final power ballad in Las Vegas. Hearts of superfans, including one woman who estimates having spent $20k on shows, $3,400 on a Celine-themed clutch from the gift shop, and commemorative Dion tattoo, struggle to go on. • : Movie monster Harvey Weinstein weds Georgina Chapman, proving the point that, with enough cash and clout, you can still rock a neck beard and get a hot chick. • : Nicolas Sarkozy takes singer and former supermodel Carla Bruni on a date to Disneyland Paris. Do they not have Chuck E. Cheese's? • : Brit-throb Rupert Everett tears into An American Heartthrob. "Clooney thinks that, provided he does films which are politically committed, he's allowed to do Ocean's 11, 12, and 13," Everett says. "But the Ocean's movies are a cancer to world culture. They're destroying us." This from a man who got his big break in My Best Friend's Wedding?• : Reminding us why Russian politics are way more interesting (and horrifying), a rival of president Vladimir Putin is locked up in a mental hospital, days before he planned to protest against the government. &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; There's never a dull moment in the world of celebrities, scandal and controversy and what better way to see what happened this week in Tinseltown than through photos on !Lady Gaga made an entrance as only she could to the Grammy Awards last Sunday - in an egg. The 24-year old was carried across the red carpet in an and then "hatched" on stage to perform her new single, Born This Way.Gaga later claimed she incubated in the egg for 72 hours prior to the Grammy show, but RadarOnline.com she only had 30 minutes of oxygen in the tank!"The tank at the Grammy's only had 30 minutes worth of oxygen in it so Gaga's full of it for saying she was in that egg for hours!" a source close to the singer told RadarOnline.com exclusively.High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens was by famous tattoo artist BangBang.The 22-year-old ex-girlfriend of heartthrob Zac Efron got a beautiful butterfly done on the back of her neck.Lindsay Lohan was caught sneaking around with ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson on Valentine's Day and .The on-again-off-again couple lives directly next door to each other in Venice, California, but instead of using the sidewalk, Lohan snuck through the bushes after leaving Ronson's home. late Thursday night at their old stomping ground: Teddy's in the Roosevelt Hotel.Two and a Half Men has been on since Charlie Sheen was rushed to the hospital after an exhausting 36-hour bender filled with booze, cocaine and porn stars - but some are still willing to poke fun at the troubled actor.Creator of the hit CBS show, Chuck Lorre, directed at the 45-year-old saying:"I exercise regularly. I eat moderate amounts of healthy food. I make sure to get plenty of rest. I see my doctor once a year and my dentist twice a year. I floss every night. I've had chest x-rays, cardio stress tests, EKG's and colonoscopies. I see a psychologist and have a variety of hobbies to reduce stress. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I don't have crazy, reckless sex with strangers.""If Charlie Sheen outlives me, I'm gonna be really pissed."It's not news if it doesn't involve everyone's favorite tween, and this week Justin Bieber didn't disappoint when he , dissing his usual shag for a spikier hair do."I don't think you should have sex with anyone unless you love them ... I think you should just wait for the person you're in love with," said the multimedia superstar, who's been seen holding hands with Disney diva Selena Gomez in recent months.The Real Housewives of Miami hasn't even aired yet, but RadarOnline.com of cast member Marysol Patton and her mother after they were both arrested for a DUI.Marysol, 44, was arrested by Miami Police in January 2010 for DUI but pled guilty to a lesser charge of Reckless Driving and escaped with a $1000 fine, plus $581 in court costs - while her mother, Elsa Carreras Patton, 76, was also arrested by Miami Police in October 2010 for DUI as well as driving without a valid license.Oprah Winfrey's beau of nearly 26 years, Stedman Graham, appeared in an advertisement for Ford automobiles with her ex-lover, Reginald Chevalier .The print ad appeared in Ebony magazine's 1986 Spring issue - and according to Chevalier, his working relationship with Stedman ended after Stedman pursued Oprah while he was dating her.Socialite Paris Hilton celebrated a milestone birthday this week when she turned 30-years-old, and no one knows how to like a Hilton!Perhaps most unexpected was the Cy Waits presented to her - but not to worry, Hilton told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show the next morning that the yellow car was just a joke and Waits actually got her a white one.The much-anticipated cover of the 2011 Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated came out this week and Russian stunner Irina Shayk in a barely-there sting bikini."Nobody knows until the last minute who the cover will be," a beaming Shayk, 25, told the AP following the announcement. "And then I saw it, and I couldn't believe it." Wedding Crashers star Owen Wilson had his first child this week when his girlfriend, Jade Duell, gave birth to a baby boy in Hawaii.RadarOnline.com bring you your , pictured with his mother in Malibu, California.Ted Williams - known as The Man with the Golden Voice - might also be known now for the Oreo-packed shake he in West Hollywood.Looking dapper in a neat grey suit, the once homeless man said, "To Mr. President Barack Obama," he said. "I'm hoping to get an invitation to The White House... to let the world know, and President Obama know, that America is still the land of opportunity and second chances."Rapper Waka Flocka was involved in a gun battle this week when shots were fired at his tour bus while in Charlotte, North Carolina., the rapper's bus is surrounded by crime tape, although police said Waka was inside a store asking about getting a stereo installed when the shots were fired.In more baby news, actress Cynthia Nixon while singer Celine Dion took her four-month-old to Las Vegas.Nixon's fiancée, Christine Marinoni gave birth to a healthy baby boy, named Max Ellington Nixon-Marinoni on February 7.Dion and her husband Rene Angelil have a nine-year-old son together and gave birth to the twins with the help of in vitro fertilization - a process in which Dion said gave her triplets, but she sadly miscarried one.Finally, the always curvaceous Coco left little to the imagination this week when she account rocking a white-hot skintight, zip-up top."A quick Titty Tuesday shot...I'm freezing my a** off in NYC," the busty blonde tweeted.RELATED STORIES:One-time Playboy cover girl was snapped basking in the warm sun of South Beach, showing off her sexy bikini body in a black two-piece she paired with a black fedora and aviator sunglasses. Jim Carrey’s ex was joined on the beach by her new love, sports agent Paul Krepelka. getting in a fracas with diva Michelle McCool and her heel cohorts. Pop culture’s favorite party girl, in a special six-man tag team match at WrestleMania 27, will attempt to become the greatest -- or at least most-popular -- Italian-American grappler in the WWE since the legendary Bruno Sammartino. Saturday night, and pal Kim Kardashian shared the event with her Twitter followers, tweeting a photo of herself dressed to the nines with bright red lipstick. "All glammed up for a fun 1920s themed party!" She tweeted.Just days after confirming her break-up from and about looking unaffected by the split. The A-Team beauty headed out to Hollywood's newest hotspot, Cafe Entourage, on Saturday night, where she threw an intimate birthday dinner for her brother Justin.Britney Spears, her ex-husband Kevin Federline, and her current boyfriend Jason Trawick were all of Brit and Kevin’s son Sean Preston on Saturday. The sandlot game marked the first time the Gimme More singer and her ex-husband were photographed together since their 2006 split.On the day after Mel Gibson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge, . Oksana told us in a statement she’s content with the legal outcome of the aforementioned case, as her baby’s father was sentenced to three years probation, 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling, 16 hours of community service and a small fine in connection with his January 2010 attack on her. for her twin sons with Charlie Sheen, Max & Bob, who turned 2-years-old this week. Brooke's good friend, Paris' mom Kathy Hilton, opened up her estate for the party Sunday, which was attended by Nicky Hilton and her boyfriend David Katzenberg, among others. : New Orleans cast members were arrested over the weekend after an altercation with a Panama City Beach, Florida nightclub bouncer where Carroll claims a bouncer gave her a black eye. She tweeted, “went 2 jail Bc a security guy punched me black eye from a grown a** man yet the police arrest me This is y women are to scared 2 go 2 cops.”This week, we learned that former Two And A Half Men star -- right next door to Paris Hilton. We’re sure the mega-rich Paris can lend her new neighbor a cup of sugar now and again! Jersey Shore’s , hosting a bash to kick off spring break at LAX nightclub inside the Luxor Resort Hotel and Casino. The petite star, who's real name is Nicole Polizzi, hung out in the club’s VIP area above the dance floor with her boyfriend Jionni LaValle, and her father Andy.After taking a hiatus following the October birth of her twin sons Nelson and Eddy, on Tuesday night, looking resplendent in a bevy of stylish and sexy designer dresses and gowns. From a short and sexy gold sequined Balmain mini, which showed off her luscious legs to perfection, to long and luxurious Armani Prive gowns, the soulful singer dazzled the sold-out crowd at Caesars Palace. were unveiled Tuesday at Madame Tussaud’s wax museums in New York, Amsterdam and London. Bieber -- who's currently on tour in the UK -- personally attended the London unveiling and said it was "incredible to see" his person emblazoned in wax. Punk’d hunk on the Times Square set of their upcoming film New Year's Eve Wednesday. The movie is Michele’s first.Mel Gibson’s comeback flick at the 2011 SXSW Festival in Austin Texas Wednesday, though the embattled star was not in attendance -- on the same evening, Gibson quietly in Southern California to have his picture taken and fingerprints collected, as part of his sentence for a misdemeanor battery conviction for his attack on Grigorieva. finished a private investigator course at top of her class on Thursday after completing the intense, 10-week regimen. "I PASSED. 97 percentile on the Exam.. Graduated top of the class.. So thrilled," she tweeted. &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Radar StaffWilliam and Kate aren't the only people having a lavish wedding next weekend. Las Vegas hotel king Steve Wynn is marrying Brit beauty Andrea Hissom during a three-day blow-out with an estimated price tag of well over $1 million.Wynn -- think the Mirage, Bellagio, Wynn and Encore resorts -- is flying in many of his famous friends, according to . Garth Brooks, Donald Trump, Hugh Jackman, Sly Stallone and Vegas local Celine Dion are all expectedHigh School Musical director Kenny Ortega, who was also the director for Michael Jackson's ill-fated final tour, will be orchestrating Saturday night's Grand Celebration for 1,000 guests.Wynn married and divorced first wife Elaine twice. Her 2009 settlement was a reported $741 million, believed to be one of the world's biggest. Wynn and Hissom met while vacationing on the French Riviera in 2008.RELEATED STORIES:By Radar StaffLas Vegas royalty said "I do" in a lavish ceremony which saw him walk down the aisle with his British bride Andrea Hissom.The hotel-owning billionaire is the man behind numerous luxury resorts including the Wynn and Encore resorts.According to the Las Vegas Review Journal it was a star studded affair with Clint Eastwood playing best man and Garth Brooks breaking out some tunes.The pair tied the knot at noon on Saturday at a private ceremony in the Wynn Las Vegas Chapel in front of 500 guests including Lionel Richie, Sylvester Stallone and Celine Dion.They then celebrated becoming husband and wife with an old Hollywood themed party in the Encore ballroom.Wynn and Hissom hit headlines earlier this week after releasing a video of themselves mocking their big day with a faux ceremony with the hotelier dressed as Elvis Presley.RELATED STORIES:The 25th-anniversary remake of 'We Are The World' debuted Friday night during coverage of the opening ceremony of the XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver.The glimpse of version 2.0 came before the full seven-minute version of the music video is to be aired simultaneously on 53 domestic and international channels later Saturday.The worldwide simulcast is set for 2 p.m. Eastern.The video, filmed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis, shows some of the 85 artists who gathered in Los Angeles this month to re-record the charity anthem. In the teaser released, tween heartthrob Bieber opens the song, which also features Barbara Streisand, Cyrus, Fergie, Jennifer Hudson, Nicole Scherzinger, Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, Céline Dion, Josh Groban, LL Cool J, Nick Jonas, Lil Wayne, Jeff Bridges, Kanye West and Wyclef Jean.And while he may no longer with us in life, original 'We Are the World' co-writer and executive producer Michael Jackson was featured, singing alongside sister Janet. Fans can download the song online. All proceeds will benefit earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti. Donations can be made at .Making her record setting 27th appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show on Monday, Celine Dion showed off her baby twins Nelson and Eddie to the audience and explained that she doesn't take care of the babies all by herself."I'm extremely fortunate. I have a lot, lot, lot, lot, lot of help," Celine admitted. Oprah showed a video of Celine with the babies in her "dream home"The 42-year old mother of the twins, born in October 2010, told Oprah that her mother and sister help her take care of the babies.She also explained their names."We didn't agree on names to start with," Celine said. "At the hospital it was Baby A and Baby B."Celine and Rene ultimately settled on Nelson and Eddie."We had the opportunity to meet Nelson Mandela," the singer explained. "He's got the heart of a child, the soul of a man," so they named Baby A Nelson.Baby B is named Eddie, after her long-time friend Eddie Marnay who Celine said "wrote my first five French albums."To the delight of the crowds, which was filled with twins to honor Celine's babies, they were each given two tickets to Celine's newest show Celine at Caesars's Palace which opens on March 15, 2011.RELATED STORIES: Craig Ferguson says yes, it's true; He's expecting a baby with wife Megan Wallace Cunningham, and he joked about it in his opening monologue on The Late Late Show Wednesday night. Watch the video on The funny Scotsman said of his bundle-of-joy-to-be: “Guess what -- my wife’s pregnant!” to a rousing ovation from his studio audience.He then joked that he gave himself the same applause after conceiving the child. He said that he initially Tweeted about it earlier Wednesday to avoid it leaking in the tabloids, so that he wouldn’t be associated with Mel Gibson. “My wife’s pregnant, she might be pregnant for sometime, all the way to the birth,” he joked. “Its probably best if you don’t ask for news all the time; I’ll tell you if anybody’s born.”The Drew Carey show alum has one child, son Milo, from a previous marriage.The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson airs weeknights on CBS at 12:35 am/11:35c.After the devastating news that Giuliana Rancic had miscarried their baby, she and husband Bill have a heart to heart talk where she reveals "feeling guilty" about losing the baby. In the upcoming episode of their reality show, Giuliana says she isn't ready to try to get pregnant again.In a sneak peek of Giuliana & Bill the couple discuss their feelings after another meeting with the doctor."I'm glad he came," Giuliana says to Bill. "I was feeling guilty and I thought maybe you thought I did something."He shoots down her doubts: "That's absurd."Giuliana, a successful television host on E!, wonders if Bill "feels like maybe he should have married somebody in their 20s? Who isn't as career-minded as me?"Bill reassures her that he wants to keep trying. "If we're going to do it in our lives we're going to do it now. We're not getting any younger."Giuliana worries that the experience would be too much for her. "I'm emotionally not ready now. I'm not ready to go through it again."Check out Giuliana and Bill on the Style network Monday nights at 8 pm and 11 pm.Related Stories:Janet Jackson unsuccessfully attempted an intervention on her brother Michael Jackson, only to be turned away by the Thriller singer's security team, according to a new report Thursday.Janet visited her brother Michael two years ago, after he moved to Las Vegas in hopes of reviving his career with a standing show, a la Celine Dion. The Pleasure Principal singer, according to CNN, was horrified by the gaunt appearance of her brother Michael in February 2007 (the same month Anna Nicole Smith fatally overdosed).Janet then brought two of her brothers back to Jackson's barren Las Vegas mansion to attempt an intervention, but was turned away by Michael's security team. Michael also, according to CNN, refused to take phone calls from his concerned mother Katherine regarding his condition.In addition, a People magazine story from that year detailing the alleged intervention was addressed by the Jackson family in a statement -- sans Janet's signature -- that read the clan was "categorically denying ever planning, participation in or having knowledge of any kind of intervention whatsoever."Justin Bieber swept the American Music Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night, and RadarOnline.com was backstage after the show, where Bieber fever infected everyone, including his fellow winners.Watch the video on Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist winner Michael Buble praised fellow Canadian Justin Bieber (even though the two haven't met yet), and had some playful words of warning in the press room.“There’s something happening here that you guys don’t talk about, that’s ‘cause you don’t know. But I’ll break it to you. While you Americans are sitting getting fat, us Canadians are ready to take over! You know it! We’ve got Bieber, Celine, me, Alanis…you’re absolutely f***ed when we come!”Check out the video to also hear Usher gush about his protégé Justin, and how he actually cried when Bieber won the artist of the year award. RELATED STORIES:Pia Toscano and Casey Abrams set themselves apart from the pack on Wednesday's edition of American Idol, as each delivered rousing performances on a night the show's 13 remaining contestants battled for another week in the limelight.Toscano wowed with a sterling rendition of Celine Dion's All By Myself, showing her range by hitting all the high notes, on the heels of her breakout performance of the Pretenders' I'll Stand By You last week."We love you Pia, I mean... I think a lot of people were wondering what you were going to do to top last week, and that was it," judge Jennifer Lopez told Toscano.The scruffy Abrams held nothing back in his performance of The Beatles-turned-Joe Cocker classic, With A Little Help From My Friends (also the theme from The Wonder Years), getting high marks from judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Lopez."Dude, you were so unbelievable and so exciting," Jackson told Abrams. "You make listening to you sing fun."Tyler called Abrams "a rainbow of talent" and “plethora of passion,” while Lopez claimed the bearded crooner's performance "blew me away."Watch the video on The other remaining contestants include boys Scotty McCreery, James Durbin, Jacob Lusk, Stefano Langone and Paul McDonald; and girls Lauren Alaina, Karen Rodriguez, Thia Megia, Ashthon Jones, Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart.The show's producers caught some criticism this week when it was revealed that the segments that aired Wednesday had actually been taped Tuesday night , as editing was required to consolidate all 13 performances into the broadcast. Also of note, was that each song was cut down to 1:40, which, as Tyler pointed out, was less than half the time of a normal radio track, hence the jagged bridges in between tunes.Someone's going home when American Idol returns Thursday on Fox at 8/7c; we'll keep you up-to-date on all the happenings right here on . RELATED STORIES:LL Cool J was a teenager in 1985 when We Are The World was first released and twenty five years later, the rapper/actor talked about the honor of being part of the star-studded group remaking the song on Monday night in Los Angeles."I remember being a teenager [when the song was first recorded] and here I am now all these years later and here I am participating in it," he said outside the recording studio. "We weren’t allowed to really comment on who was going to be there cause no one really knew who was confirmed."When asked to reflect more on the evening and the potential aid it will generate for Haiti, LL Cool J told RadarOnline.com:"I think it’s wonderful. I think it’s great. They’re hurting right now and if we can help in a creative way, that’s a good thing. You know, we should help each other."Celebrities from both the music and movie world united for the cause. Actors Vince Vaughn and Jeff Bridges made it out for the event as did musicians including Kanye West, Celine Dion and Miley Cyrus. &lt;a href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_href="http://s27.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s27radaronline" target="_top"&gt; &lt;img src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" mce_src="http://s27.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s27radaronline" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt; 'We Are the World 25' premiered to millions around the world in a rare simulcast Saturday, and has the video.Academy Award winning actor Jamie Foxx introduces the much-anticipated music video."Two weeks ago we found ourselves surrounded by a dazzling array of artists of all ages, backgrounds and genres - but all of whom who shared a common commitment to take cation to help Haiti rise from the rubble and rebuild," said Foxx.A shorter, three-minute version of the re-recording debuted Friday night during coverage of the opening ceremony of the XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver.Tween heartthrob Bieber opens the song, which also features Barbara Streisand, Cyrus, Fergie, Jennifer Hudson, Nicole Scherzinger, Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, Céline Dion, Josh Groban, Nick Jonas, Lil Wayne, Jeff Bridges, Kanye West and Wyclef Jean.And while he may no longer with us in life, original 'We Are the World' co-writer and executive producer Michael Jackson was featured, singing alongside sister Janet.The song's most significant update is a rap breakdown lead by LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg and Will.I.Am. And there is also a nod to the original record from 1985, when Foxx imitates Ray Charles, much to the amusement of Hudson.The video, filmed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis, shows some of the 85 artists who gathered in Los Angeles this month to re-record the charity anthem."We ask you to do please more than just watch," said Foxx. "Reach deep into your hearts and give anything you can as we have for Haiti."Whatever you have, no matter how big or small, it all helps."The video finishes with Lionel Richie, who co-wrote the song with Jackson 25 years ago: "Wow... We Are The World 25' is an opportunity for us to see what we can do to help our fellow man. "Haiti right now is in desperate need of our help - and you can help them."UPDATE 3-Hermes gets extra shield from LVMH approach (Adds analyst quote, details, LVMH share price) By PARIS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Hermes won a majorvictory in its battle to torpedo a potential takeover by largerrival LVMH after a court cleared the French luxurygroup's plans to create a holding company that will lock indescendants of the founding family for 20 years. Once Hermes creates the company, which will control morethan 50.2 percent of its equity, LVMH -- which last yearstealthily grabbed a 17 percent stake in Hermes -- will facedaunting barriers to win control of the maker of 7,500-euroleather bags. "The creation of this company (the family holding) in thenext few weeks will durably strengthen the independence of theHermes group," Hermes family shareholders said in a statement. Officially, LVMH says it does not plan to make an offer forHermes but it has been steadily raising its stake to 22 percentfrom 17 percent in October and has made no secret of the fact itwanted to buy more shares. Speculation that LVMH was preparing a bid has propelledHermes' share price to stratospheric heights, valuing it at morethan 50 times the company's expected earnings for this year. The stock, which was suspended pending Thursday's ruling,has gained nearly 70 percent since Jan.1 in a downward market. "This will remove a good part of the speculative appeal ofthe stock," a Paris-based trader said. "Hedge funds who had expected some big M&A action here willlose interest, and the stock might start to trade againaccording to the company's fundamentals," the trader added. Analysts estimate Hermes's free float to be less than 5percent. Earlier this year, French market watchdog AMF granted Hermesan exemption from having to buy out minority investors if itcreated its controlling family holding. The exemption was later attacked by French minorityshareholders' association Adam, which lodged a complaint withthe court of appeal in Paris. But the court on Wednesday upheldthe AMF's decision. "I am disappointed," said Colette Neuville, chairman ofAdam. "This decision will weigh on the rights of minorityinvestors." Hermes, which sees LVMH's entry into its share capital ashostile, plans to create the family holding before the end ofthe year, its lawyer said, even if Adam tries to appeal thedecision. Even if Adam brings the case to France's supreme court, theprocedure may not prevent the creation of the holding company. The new entity will regroup more than 100 Hermes familyshareholders and associates. In addition to shares totalling50.2 percent of equity, it will have first right of refusal onshares representing another 12.6 percent of capital. Only one third of the holding's members will be able to selltheir shares as of 2031. "This shows the extent to which the family (of Hermes) arenot sellers, whether it is in the short-term, the medium-term orthe long-term," Olivier Diaz, Hermes' lawyer said. Family investors holding about 10 percent of the company,including Nicolas Puech, Hermes' biggest shareholder with 6percent and the brother of Hermes Chairman Bertrand Puech, didnot take part in the family holding. Analysts said the holding gave a boost to Hermes' defenceagainst LVMH. "It will reduce the temptation among shareholders to sell(to LVMH)," one London-based luxury analyst said. "The holdingblocks things much more." LVMH, the group behind Louis Vuitton handbags, Celine suitsand Moet & Chandon champagne, declined to comment on Wednesday. Trading in Hermes shares is due to resume on Friday. LVMH shares, which have lost 7 percent since Jan.1, were up2.3 percent at 114.35 euros by 1120 GMT, valuing the group at 58billion euros. Hermes shares closed up 3.6 percent on Wednesday at 269euros, valuing the luxury company at nearly 28 billion euros. Hermes is now worth more than twice French bank SocieteGenerale and nearly three times retailer Carrefour . (Additional reporting by Blaise Robinson and Pascale Denis;Editing by James Regan and Helen Massy-Beresford) ). It wasn’t all bad news though, some were even listing MacGibbon as a possibility to replace Galliano at Dior, although I happen to think her way with louche French sportswear is her strength, and not so much uber dramatic Couture but that’s just me. “Hannah is still with us, that’s all I can say,” Chlo’s chief executive officer Geoffroy de la Bourdonnaye, told . So, it seems she’s staying put. But what does “that’s all I can say,” mean?Chlo Spring 2012 Photo: ImaxTree(, anybody?). However, there are also a handful of celebrities that we most definitely should not be taking cues from. Below, ten stars that should make us rethink our celebrity obsessions. (pictured above):Sure, Lilo would have been worthy of our admiration during her younger years. With an illustrious career starring in movies such as The Parent Trap, Mean Girls, and Freaky Friday, and with amazing style to boot, who didnt look up to the young Lindsay Lohan? Nowadays, however, all that this ex-actress seems to be famous for are her family problems, unhealthy habits, and questionable drug addictions — she’s definitely one starlet we shouldnt be taking cues from.Paris Hilton:She’s known for her long legs, absent-minded demeanor, and trademark phrase, thats hot! Paris Hilton is definitely the epitome of someone being famous for, well, just being famous.Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt:We must admit that some of the things that this duo does disgusts us (ahem, Heidis very public ). However, we cant help but admit that were fascinated by this celebrity couple, which we know is not a good thing.Audrina Patridge: Sure, this Hills star has a body that a lot of us would kill for. But sadly, it seems that her relevance ends there. Role model? We think not.Jordan (Katie Price):Glamour Model turned media whore (aka Katie Price) has just published her second best-selling autobiography. We find that fact to be a little bit excessive when you take into account that shes, you know, a reality TV star.Mischa Barton:The medias fascination with Mischa Barton baffles us. When was the last time this girl did decent work since the The OC? Exactly.Peaches Geldof:“It” girl is always photographed doing the following: partying, wearing nice clothing, and spending her father’s (Bob Geldof) money. Besides the wearing nice clothing part, there’s not much else to look up to here.Amy Winehouse: We admit that songstress Amy Winehouse has an amazing voice. However, her countless stints , combined with her reckless ways make her someone we certainly don’t want to emulate.Kristin Cavallari:Famous for being the bad girl on The Hills, it seems as if Kristin Cavallaris face has been all over the tabloids lately. However, her less-than-impressive dossier includes being on Laguna Beach and starring in a Teddy Geiger music video. Why are we so interested again?Miley Cyrus: There’s no question that has had extreme success in the pop world, but she has also been the subject of endless controversy in the past year. The tween star is famous for dating older men, posing virtually naked in Vanity Fair, and using stripper poles in some of her dance routines — we don’t think most parents want their 12-year-olds looking up to that!Images: More News We Love: that will make great styling accessories throughout the year! Statement jewelry dominated the runways all around! Fashion trendsetters will love showing off large pendants and sparkling chandelier earrings! Like most people, if you cant afford a hit piece hot off the runway, you can always find great stuff on the high street. My dear friend,, and I design a jewelry line, , for the purpose of bringing fashion-forward, quality jewelry to an affordable price point. Here are the 5 jewelry trends for the New Year that I find most inspiring. LanvinAt the summer shows, we saw a lot of big necklaces that gave off a futuristic, . Chanels icicles topped my list. Also all of s bold shaped pieces are genius Lapis Necklace jewelry is so in! Etro really got this right. We created the in response to the incredible pieces that added a worldly, cultural vibe to the catwalk. Its perfect for jazzing up a simple, everyday outfit. GivenchyIm keen on the punk element that pops up on the runways every year. s gold thorn necklace from the mens Fall 2010 collection stood out from the rest edgy, yet delicate. epitomized simple and chic. I love the look of two silver cuffs on each wrist so cool. Kate and I designed a similar concept for JewelMint check out these gold cuffs. These statement pieces mirror the big and neck collars were seeing on the runway. Miu MiuDelicious candy colors at and set the trend for this season. JewelMints November line included the and that give you the same look for less. Glamtastic!Cher Coulter is a top Los Angeles based stylist, whose client list includes Kate Bosworth, Sienna Miller, Katie Holmes, and Scarlett Johansson . Known for combining easy avant-garde with absolute glamour in her womens styling, Cher possesses an equal talent for mens fashion. Cher and her dear friend Kate Bosworth recently launched their very own jewelry line, , which provides members with high-end jewelry for $29.99/month. graced the withhis first free-standing, and largest, Michael Kors store, which opened last Monday in celebration of his 30th anniversary. With 30 years of experience under his belt from his days as a at FIT to doing six collections a year at Celine, to joining primetime television as a judge on Project Runway Kors has just about seen it all in the . It’s no surprise, then, that he has plenty to share, and luckily did so in an interview with . Here are some highlights featuring Kors’ advice, thoughts on his signature “sexy tomboy”sportswear, and how fashion is changing now.1. If you thought Kors would be really fancy in the office, think again: “I never thought, quite frankly, Id be considered the establishment because Im so casual. My idea of a design meeting is to throw a box of pizza on the floor and tell everyone to sit down, and lets look at some swatches on the floor.”2. Also, he gives a fair warning to brand new designers overnight: “If you think youve made it, youre done for. The question I hate the most is, When did you know youd made it? If you think, Ive arrived, and Im on the throne, guess what? Those people carrying the throne are going to drop it.”3. Here’s his secret to sticking around for so long in an industry where you’re in one day and : “Listen, Im competitive, Im definitely tenacious, so I dont get into any game unless I think I can win the game. And when I decide on something, Im in it for the long haul.”4. Apparently with Michael Kors, you could throw all those rules about dressing out the window : “It used to be, if you had great taste, you were rich. Or you were a student…The rules have just diminished.The age thing has changed certainly. I think the word appropriate has flown out the window. Its very personal what appropriate means.”5. Kors gushes like a schoolboy over designers, aka his version of growing up: “I remembered that not that long ago I saw Saint Laurent walking in with his dog to eat lunch, and I couldnt breathe. I was like, Oh, my God, eating lunch! and later he says, “I remember seeing Calvin at Studio 54, and Halston. Thats what I wanted: my own banquette at Studio 54, just like Calvin.”Michael Kors store in Paris. (via ) posted a story about ‘s mom, legendary rock groupieBebe Buell, slamming Lindsay and her mom, Dina.Bebe then proceeded to claim that if Lindsay came and lived with her, she’d have her back on her feet in no time. (Okay, no offense Bebes, but you’re really don’t have any room to talk. In light of all YOUR youthful indiscretions and tell-all books, it rings somewhat hypocritical in tone to me.)As a counterpoint, I have decided to compile my own list of tips that might actually HELP our favorite ginger goddess reclaim her former glory:)Transgendered Givenchy muse Lea T models fur undies and pretty dresses in ffw mag. ( via )Dove made a new product that says it lightens skin and the ad shows a black woman next to a Latin woman next to a white woman kind of like an ethnic game of dominoes. What’s were they thinking? ()Apparently Michael Angel designed that Gwen Stefani amFAR dress we were dying over. Gwen, give props where props are due! ()DOUBLE SHOT: TWEET, TWEETRT @ refinery29 The season’s hottest It-Accessory? Our bet is on the Missoni for Target BIKE: I mean…it’s too amaze.RT @ went to the Celine store & found the most amazing animal print tote but everyone just shrieked about the exchange rate so… Not buying sigh #sadfaceRT @ The makeup artist for today’s shoot is Kayleen McAdams. So sweet and pretty — looks just like her sister Rachel McAdams! Learn something new every day!RT @ Lauren Conrad What’s up fancy pants? Those are fancy pants.is even adored by herself. On a recent , Dello Russo said “I think that todayONEof the most influentialpeople inmen’sfashion isKANYE WEST” and dressed up West in several looks from men’s spring/summer 2012 shows. The looks – which included Prada, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Versace – were some of the most colorful and outlandish of the season, certainly a good match for both West and Russo.As if a little Dello Russ0 love wasn’t enough, tweeted that the album cover for West and Jay Z’s collaboration “Watch the Throne” was designed by designer Ricardo Tisci. The is gold and very ornate and we doubt Tisci has a ton of time to spare, so this must have been a project that was important to him.Image: I can’t help but wonder, how long until West lets loose with one of his infamous statements and angers someone (if not everyone) in the fashion industry?blog, like to say they are two editors with 28 years of combined experience between them. And “editors” is the operative word here. What makes their blog so indispensible to so many is its authors’ ability to synthesize daily pearls of down to no more than a few, easy-to-digest sentences. With close to 40,000 hits per month since Keep it Chic launched in February of last year, these former Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar staffers, whose fashion industry friends are among their most ardent supporters, are definitely on to something. Here, Dana Linett-Silber, a regular contributor to The Inside Source, eBays digital style magazine, finds out how they do it. The Inside Source: How did you come up with the name Keep it Chic? Jennifer Alfano: When we were at Vogue, used to always say, keep it chic.” And we thought that kind of summed up what we are trying to dohelp create a lifestyle where every aspect can be chic.TIS: Your posts are so short and sweet. How do you manage to keep from going on and on about something you love? JA: I think things can get too long, and the women we speak to are so busy with work and their kids, so they need posts they can get something from quickly. Our goal is to do .TIS: What sets you apart from all the other style blogs? Preston Davis: I think one of the main differences is that are by younger womeneither someone who cant find work or is still in college. Theyre blogging before they have any experience. Were coming at it from a different perspective. Weve had careers; we are editors and so were able to be precise about whats important to us. We have a very targeted, sweet spot audience. Jennifer and I dont say heres the look from the runway and heres how to get it for less. Our readers are established, so we say here are the exact pieces and heres the trunk show where you can buy them.TIS: Do you stick to certain topics? JA: We are definitely fashion and . We talk every day and we usually have more than we can actually run. We try to post every day, during the week but if we have more to say, Ill put up twice in a day. PD: I push for it to not be completely fashion centric. Jennifer is the fashion person. Im more lifestyle. I want to do more on art, profiles of women we find interesting, style setters. I did three questions with Kate Betts and I think that is the essence of the site. TIS: So youre really into different things? PD: We are the same demographic, but we have different takes on things, and thats what makes it work. Together we appeal to a larger audience. We are both women living our lives, raising children, and at the end of the day if you can do it all and keep it somewhat chic, well, bravo! We both want to answer the question, How do you keep it all together with a sense a sense of style?TIS: Is it hard to come up with something good every day? JA: No, what we write about is really heartfelt and I think thats why it works.Jennifer Alfano tells us her current favorite eBay keywords include “Chanel 2.55 bag,” “Hermes,” “Celine” and “Derek Lam,” while Preston Davis cites “Hermes trim,” Brunschwig & Fils (specifically bird), Cowtan & Tout and Pattern Paris Original among her saved searches. Meredith Barnett is the Editorial Director for The Inside Source, a digital style magazine presented by eBay. The Inside Source writer Dana Linett-Silber authored this article in its original form. to read it in full.Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Coxjust got christened by . As the star of the brand’s Spring 2011 ad campaign, Muse (I mean, if that name’s not fate) was photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin under the creative direction of Stefano Pilati. The Santa Fe native looks decidedly Euro in a draped black gown and hair, lounging in the gardens of the 1930s Villa Bled Roknine in Marrakechs Palmeraie.Girl has already walked the runways of Balenciaga, Celine, , Chlo, Christian Dior and Marc Jacobs, so the ads were just a matter of time. She replaces Daria’s art deco by way of the 70s black and white Fall 2010 ads.) Celine has announced plans to open new flagship stores in both New York and Paris; Madison Avenue rejoices. ()Buying a counterfeit bag could soon land you in jail or with hefty fines to pay if Chinatown Rep Margaret Chin has it her way. ()Cindy Crawford takes off her pants for Vogue Mexicos May issue and looks damn hot doing it, if I do say so myself. Oh yea, shes 45. () DOUBLE SHOT: TWEET, TWEETRT @ bryant park is buzzing with people, it’s electric!! #cantwaittoleavetheofficeRT @ Would you consider wearing these kicks to prom instead of dress shoes? I kind of love that idea…RT @ Good Idea or Bad Idea: This season’s two-tone fashions? Colorblocking is always a good idea. Always. RT @ Back to work for VS. Flynn is with me on set! Lil cutie pie Xxx I was expecting a pic of Flynn, but this will do!‘s Fall 2011 runway presentation, with soothing music sung live by A Fine Frenzy, passed champagne, warm Spring air drifting in from the outdoor terrace, and the dark wood, classical designs of the Bowery Hotel, it was nothing less than relaxing. Seriously.With only two rows of seating spread out in the space, it also felt quite intimate. All the better to see the collection, my dear. So what of the collection? The mass brand kept it sophisticated for Fall, with some great 70s inspired wide leg pants, airy silk blouses, many moments in camel and grey, punctuated with rich tones of deep red and yellow. A full wool skirt is spot on for the season, as is a dove grey leather jacket with contrasting shearling collar. One misstep may have been a bright pink turtleneck under a leopard jacket, paired with a matching leopard hat. But, Banana Republic has more than one customer to make happy, and they’re not all magazine editors in New York. Still, overall the looks reflected the tailored American sportswear found on the runways of Celine and Michael Kors. Get all the looks in the slideshow boys included.nod to Bianca Jagger (what girl doesn’t feel a tad more glamourous in the louche ’70s pieces?) though I couldn’t help the feeling that there was more a nod to Celine’s Phoebe Philo with the cleaned up cuts. Uptown, offered plenty of dramatic dresses for his favorite social swans, but the highlights of the show was actually in the sportswear. There were plenty of little knit jackets, some with stunning embroidery detailing, that could give Chanel a run for its euro. This being American soil though, dollars would suit just fine. Chances are greenbacks are already changing hands for the stunning closing number: a silk faille white gown with a demure neckline that riffed off polka dots with a cutout and embroidered circle pattern. Per usual, Alexander Wang (coming off a ) was much watched. You have to wonder where Wang is going to go with his off-duty model look like what if the looks are veering towards polished as it did in the Paris Fall 2010 collections? This time around, Wang was exploring folds and proportions an effect that won’t be lost on fans of Japanese ’90s fashion. Comme des Garcons certainly came to mind.Meanwhile across the pond, another hot designer, keeps upping his stock. The Resort 2011 collection was full of rich texture and visual candy. A trench was once again retooled this time with a crochet hem and perhaps in a nod to the melding of fashion seasons, there was luxe spotted fur too. The girls didn’t veer far from their usual fashion girl meets cool Brooklyn dweller aesthetic. But it worked for Resort and there were a couple pieces notably a sweetheart neckline jumpsuit with suspender straps and a mesh meets tribal print bustier and pencil skirt pairing that, while not necessarily trend-setting would be wise additions to any resort-loving closet.Related: — all under $100. Call it wishful thinking, or call it a love of anything , but we felt the need to remind ourselves that spring is just around the corner. So stay warm and spend your snowed-in days dreaming of which shoes you’ll be wearing for all thosepicnics and walks in the park that are hopefully in your near future.1. Top Shop Denim Brogues (above), $90, at Oxford lace-ups were a huge trend for fall, and we love the take on the classic style for spring.2. Steve Madden Platform Clogs, $89.95, at Clogs were seen all over the runways for spring 2010 — yes, clogs. Designers like Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel and Phoebe Philo for Celine brought them back on our radars, and they’re looking better than ever. These platforms in beige are the perfect way to sport the trend without breaking the bank. 3. We Who See Eyelet T-strap Wedges, $58, at These adorable wedges with eyelet detail were made for picnics in the park. Plus, they’ll match your , which if you haven’t heard yet is trs chic at the moment — just ask Kristen Stewart. 4. Aldo Wedge Platforms, $100, at Even though it’s spring, the season of flowers in bloom, you can still wear . are here to stay, and you’ll look great in this strappy wedge shoe. After all, who doesn’t love an exposed zipper?5. Deena & Ozzy Mixed Media Oxford, $48, Another fresh take on the . We adore this style in a sling back, and the nude patent leather can be paired with anything in your closet. This is a definite must-have.6. Jessica Simpson Andreana Sandal, $88.95, at Oh Jessica, while we sometimes question your personal choices, we can’t deny that your shoes are fantastic. The zipper/buckle combo in chocolate brown leather look great on this wedge — and they’ll look great on our feet, too. 7. UO Floral Printed High Top, $28, at are yet another spring trend we’re coveting for the upcoming season. These printed canvas sneakers are the easiest way to sport floral prints without looking too Little House on the Prairie. 8. Jessica Simpson Heathery Wedge, $89, at The caramel shade of brown and braided accents make this wedge a spring staple. And we’re suckers for a — even if it isn’t quite visible on this shoe when worn. It’s all about the details. More News We Love: is a style blogger. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing it just makes discovering those a bit more, challenging, shall I say. To find Marcella of , I practically had to travel half way across the world, but my virtual trip was well worth it (Marcella is based in New Zealand), as coming across her blog was like unearthing the Holy Grail of outfit inspiration. The girl can go from cool, laidback bohemian/rocker babe one day to chic, put together Celine inspired professional the next.Take a second to add Marcella to your bookmarks, and then read on to learn about her style inspirations, icons, and maybe even a little added advice for all of you future fashion bloggers…When and why did you start blogging? Originally, I was only taking pictures of myself to sell clothes online, but I found I really enjoyed putting together outfits and I ended up with a lot of looks that I liked so I wanted an outlet to document them all. Then I discovered the whole fashion blogger community and decided to try it out myself, and it just went from there! It’s been just over three years since I started my blog.You’re based in Auckland, NZ what is street style like there? Being at the bottom of the world, it takes a while for trends to trickle down here, but I’ve noticed over the years that Auckland is improving and slowly becoming more fashion forward, thankfully! At the moment though, there seems to be a bit of a uniform consisting of down puffer jackets, oversized tanks, converses and topknots going on.How would you describe your personal style? I’m a bit of a chameleon, don’t really have a definable ‘look’ per se, I just like to take items which catch my interest and build an outfit around it. Somedays I’ll dress girly, other times edgy, conservative or super casual.Favorite places to shop? I shop online mostly, I love places like ASOS, Topshop, and Revolve for the variety and Shopbop for great service when buying high-end or designer items.Who takes all of your photographs? I’m really lucky that my boyfriend developed an interest in photography just as I was starting out with the blog.Where do you look for inspiration? Everywhere! I read other blogs, fashion magazines, and streetstyle sites, and try to blend all the different elements which inspire me with my own spin into my outfits.Dream job? Still undecided on that one would have to include a bit of traveling definitely.Aside from putting together fabulous outfits, what do you like do to in your spare time? A bit of general photography, reading, eating…. and online window shopping of course!Do you have any style icons? Olivia Palermo, Camilla Belle, Diane Kruger and Jamie Chung.Favorite item in your wardrobe? This changes all the time, currently it’s a pair of customized vintage Levi’s I got off Ebay.Daily blog roll?, , , , and just to name a few! Any advice for those who would like to become style bloggers? Make your content original and attractive – just be yourself, develop your own style rather than trying to emulate anyone else’s. You have to be prepared to be patient and keep at it, as well as put the time and effort into networking and establishing contacts. Most importantly though, have fun with it, and don’t take it too seriously at the end of the day.and those way chic Celine totes and the Wang Diego for the first time. It’s an impulse felt all the way through to your credit card (maybe it’s the magnetic strip) that tells you something special is in front of you. Don’t confuse it with love, it’s not love it’s bag envy.Reed Krakoff’s Spring 2011 Mini Shoulder Bags are cross body and well-structured in super soft leather, come in so-hot-right now red and light blue, as well as black, a grey/tan combo (aka soon to be mine) and an achingly awesome Tejus lizard skin. I don’t know what a Tejus lizard is, but I like it. And the Mini (the nickname I have lovingly bestowed upon it) doesn’t for the most part run in the $1-2K range to which we’ve all become so oddly accustomed. Rather, standard leather runs at $525 per pretty little bag, with that exotic lithe lizard coming in at $1490, available now at . Photos: Courtesy of Reed Krakoffhas become something of a pilgrimage for music lovers and fashionistas alike. The celeb-studded music festival attracts some of fashion’s brightest stars, who take street style to a whole new level at this California-based event, where performances run the gamut from mainstream bands to Indie darlings. Oh, and let’s not forget Kanye West rocking a Celine blouse when he performed last year — straight off the runway!The dates for this year’s Coachella are April 13th-15th and 20th-22nd, and the lineup is expected this week! Although it’s still months away, there have already been numerous rumors about who will headline this musical cornucopia. Confirmed performers include the Arctic Monkeys (swoon) and Housse De Racket. But we absolutely cannot wait to get our hands on the official list.Stay tuned for more details on Coachella and let us know who you hope to see on stage in the comments section below!Image courtesy of .‘s, it’s easy to forget about our old colonizers, the Brits. We love those quirky kids for their fun accents and dry senses of humor it’s like a whole country of Hugh Grants! Last night’s brought out some of the well-dressed and those who dress them. The actual awards went to a lot of people who deserved them, beginning with the fab for Designer of the Year, who could dress us every day if she so pleases so long as she promises to never, ever fake retire for a few years ever again. received a posthumous Outstanding Achievement in Fashion, got the Style Award, while took home the Digital Innovation Award, and we think their 3 million Facebook fans would agree.Christopher Bailey recognized his peeps, which just proves how good he is at socializing, “Digital innovation is an integral part of the culture at and this award recognizes the incredible and inspirational team I work with.”Get the full list of winners below and click through for some fancy ladies.BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design: Designer of the Year: Phoebe Philo for Celine Menswear Designer of the Year: Patrick Grant for E. Tautz Accessory Designer of the Year: Nicholas Kirkwood Designer Brand of the Year: Mulberry Model of the Year: Lara Stone Emerging Talent Award, Ready-to-Wear: Meadham Kirchhoff Emerging Talent Award, Accessories: Husam El Odeh Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Nicola Formichetti British Style Award: Alexa Chung Special Recognition Award: Naomi Campbell Digital Innovation Award: Burberry)Evan Rachel Wood chopped her hair off. She still looks pretty. ()Dov Charney didn’t attend an American Apparel shareholders meeting. Is anyone surprised? ()Alaia on Lagerfeld: “Karl Lagerfeld never touched a pair of scissors in his life. That doesnt mean that hes not great, but hes part of another system. He has capacity. One day he does photography, the next he does advertisements for Coca-Cola. I would rather die than see my face in a car advertisement. We dont do the same work. And I think that he is not doing a favor to young stylists who might think it works that way. Theyre going to fall before they retire.” Harsh. ()DOUBLE SHOT: TWEET, TWEET RT @ The Galliano trial is the main story on ‘s website today. Unbelievable. It’s major.RT @ LOVE MAGAZINE Louis Vuitton by kim jones men’s moodboard RT #prettyRT @ Press release of the day: Celebrity Horse Lover And Bestselling Author Tami Hoag Shares Inspirational Tale On The Equesse Radio Show I mean, what fashion people aren’t interested in that?RT @ Apparently prayed for breasts as a kid. So that tactic works, then… I’ll take money and a Celine tote please.]Ed Westwick gets his nipples licked (by a man)…and the gay rumors continue. []Should Brody Jenner’s silk suit be burned? We vote yes. []Dina and Michael Lohan open their mouths: LiLo cutting rumors confirmed. []Fergie gives up making out with girls for new hubby Josh Duhamel…how sweet. []Celine Dion no longer pregnant…wait–Celine Dion was pregnant?!? []David Letterman’s accused extortionist is all business. []Tom Cruise just hitting puberty, or leg implants? It’s a toss up. [], Kate Bosworth and Sienna Miller are two that would definitely make the list but while these fair haired ladies surely have their own stylish sensibilities, there’s one woman that’s had a little something to do with their sartorial successes. Enter, LA-based celebrity stylist Cher Coulter, whose career started in part through her friendship with Orlando Bloom but has now led her to a friendship and business partner relationship with Kate Bosworth. I got to pick the high-profile stylist’s brain on everything from working with Hollywood’s A-listers to what I’d find in her very own closet.How did you originally get started in styling? I studied fashion design at Saint Martins College in London and then launched a clothing brand, AKA, in the UK, but I always did a bit of styling along the way. On a whim, I came out to LA and bumped into an old friend, Orlando Bloom, who had since become a famous actor. In the meantime, I had taken my clothing line to Flaunt Magazine, and they asked me to style the Orlando cover. From then on, I continued doing covers for Katie Holmes, Jude Law, Jessica Biel, and it all sort of came together. This was my launch pad for getting to know Hollywood and how it worked. Through Orlando, I met Kate, and we immediately hit it off and started enjoying fashion together.Youve styled some of the top celebrities like Julianne Moore, Liv Tyler, Robin Wright, Sienna Miller and Kate Bosworth. Can you pick out your 5 favorite moments? 1. Kate at the Met in vintage Chanel. Her multi-colored dress had a futuristic vibe a fun fashion moment! Kate Bosworth. Photo by Rabbani & Solimene, WireImage2. Sienna Miller at the G.I. Joe premiere in YSL her signature boho glam look. 3. Emily Mortimer in Cher Coulter at the Pink Panther Premiere. (I made her a custom black and white stripe dress that channeled NY cool chic.) 4. Robin Wright in Balenciaga at the Cannes film festival. She wore a blue dress with a black stripe through it that epitomized . 5. Michelle Williams in Coco Chanel at the Cannes film festival was a very special moment for me.You just started a new jewelry line with your friend and client, Kate Bosworth. How is designing jewelry different from styling? Actually, I apply the same rules. Kate and I observe and listen to people to understand their style. Do they seem classic, quirky, bohemian, edgy? Then we design accordingly to accommodate a variety of styles. We also look at the runway shows to get on trend. You can find certain colour palettes and shapes that reflect the runways in our designs. We also love getting inspiration from pieces and other art.What was it like going from having Kate as a client to a business partner? Easy! We have always listened to each other and worked together on everything. Five years of practice! really is our fashion dream.What are the 3 most important factors that you take into consideration when deciding on a red carpet look for your clients? 1. Comfort – they need to feel good! 2. Something fashionable. I ask myself, will this image both stand the test of time and also appear in magazines as a reflection of current trends? Outfits that do both pave the way for my clients to be recognized again and again. 3. The wow factor! The dress should stand out from things theyve worn in the past, but still have their personal style all over it.Youve also dressed some serious leading men like Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom. How is styling for your female clients different from doing so for the guys? Neither sex is easier or harder than the other. For example, Tom Ford fits Eric like a glove, and always makes for an exciting ensemble, the same way Givenchy perfectly suits and brings a new twist at the same time. One main difference is that with girls, Im looking for the perfect fit, color, and fashion sensibility all on a super high level. With guys, the perfect fit comes first, and then the other details climb higher on the list. Emily Mortimer in Cher Coulter. Photo by Jim Spellman, WireImageWhen styling someone tall and curvy like Emily Mortimer as opposed to someone more petite like Kate, what are the different styles and silhouettes that you gravitate towards for each? For Kate, Sienna, Robin and slimmer girls, you dont want to overwhelm them with a lot of prints, frills, and ruffles. The goal is to elongate and simplify. For women with more curves and height, you can get a bit wilder! But you still need to consider things like bigger busts, which require a more structured dress. Each has got something going; the same simple spaghetti strap dress that looks chic on Kate probably wont fit a girl whos reliant on her bra for support. But a petite figure wouldnt pull off a Vivienne Westwood corset dress the way Christina Hendricks could – very statuesque! Any red carpet moments you look back on and cringe? None. Who are some dream clients you have yet to work with? I would love to work with Jon Hamm because he looks so sharp in Mad Men and it would be a great challenge. On the female side, I would love to work with Carey Mulligan because I think we would understand each other. She has some genius curves! Since jewelry has been a focus on your roster as of late, what jewelry trends have you been wearing personally? Big earrings! I live in my JewelMint Cleopatra Cabochons! They get everyones attention and work with so many different looks. I also love mixing and stacking rings and bracelets. You can pile a ton of our bohemian inspired silver bracelets for a fun day to night look.If you werent styling or designing jewelry for a living, what would you be doing instead? Id like to think Id pursue photography. Though Im not a big techie, I love taking shots and have a good eye for timing and composition. If we snuck into your closet for a day, who are the top 5 designers we would find? Well, Id like to say Givenchy, Isabel Marant, Proenza Schouler, Celine and maybe some Chanel… But honestly, its Topshop, Zara, H&M! I have some Mulberry and Loewe in there too they are both great friends.Its about that time when were organizing our closets to make way for winter wares. What are your top closet organization tips? Separate by garment to give your eyes a break! Make sure to hang your jeans for that perfect fold. Also hang your sweaters individually over hangers since youll be wearing them a lot in the chilly winter season. Put your coats in a separate closet or cupboard as theyll get wet and soiled from popping in and out of !Last three fashion purchases? 1. Zara black suede kitten heels 2. Isabel Marant Etoile print dress 3. Current Elliott black lace-up jodhpur black pants Do you read any fashion blogs? Which are your favorites? I love Jak&Jil. Images speak louder than words for me on fashion!For girls that dream of being a personal stylist someday, what advice would you give them? Know body types really well – and start with your own! Be brave with your style choices because fashion should be fun! Study your fashion history as much as possible because it will help you understand why you like certain styles. Scroll through Style.comrunway shows on a daily basis for inspiration!Who are your personal ? Marianne Faithful was uber cool in the Sixties. She was both effortless sexy and herself.To learn more about Chers fashion sensibility, check out the new jewelry line from her and Kate Bosworth at . used more Italian fabrics within this collection to make the pieces more industrialized, trying to veer away from the couture feel often associated with French fabrics. Philo is definitely taking a different route here design wise. What do you think?For full resort coverage, see our has become synonymous with perfection, and for good reason. Her approach to creating a women’s wardrobe of well-made basics continues for Resort 2012, and the resulting collection is both perfectly tailored and timeless, while still incorporating some of the season’s top trends. Thrown in among the stark white suiting pieces and incredible coats, there are vibrant jacquard florals, pops of color in the form of hot pink and cobalt trousers, and some seriously cool chain hardware. In a decidedly un-Cline series of looks, Philo presented a plastic trench, a graphic tee bearing the brand’s name and the chicest pair of striped PJs you will ever see.Click through to see all of the looks!, proving she is still the Queen of Clean, despite the ever-growing competition from other minimalist lines like Celine.Here are 20 top looks from the week — which is your favorite?is the living embodiment of reality TV done right. Prior to cleaning up on Project Runway, the design prodigy did due diligence at the American Intercontinental University in London, where he interned with punk legend Vivienne Westwood, as well as . The kinetic 25-year-old may have earned one type of fame by putting “fierce” into the American vernacular, but his couture-level tailoring, bi-yearly shows at and collections with Payless put him in a different fashion sphere altogether. We gave the our 17 questions. Read on to see what he came up with:1. Occupation? Womenswear designer. 2. Explain an average day at work in one sentence. I come into the office, answer 50 emails, answer 100 questions about the clothes and the shoes, assign tasks to my staff, check on private client orders, lunch with the team, then I usually visit the factory to keep an eye on the pieces being manufactured now, have discussions with my pattern makers, production meetings for Spring, and THEN I will wind down the work day sketching and snacking and crawling home around 7 or 8. I’m tired just writing that. 3. High point/low point of your job? I love owning this business and building my brand of clothing that women want to wear. It’s wonderful of course, but also very stressful. It’s a tough business for everyone, and when its a small team you really stretch yourself to not only survive but grow from season to season. Thankfully we are growing steady and having fun doing it! 4. Favorite Beverage? I just like a Coke with ice! I do also love a Javachip frappuccino from Starbucks. 5. Most inspiring film for fashion? Hmm… Troop Beverly Hills! “And thats why the American Indian is responsible for the turquoise jewelry movement. Fabulous movie. More seriously, maybe Yves Saint Laurent: His Life and Times is one of the most inspiring, beautiful films. 6. Comfort food? I love anything baked or fried. A baked pasta with goat cheese, chicken fried steak, even a burger from the corner deli… as you can tell I am a very . 7. Best gift youve ever received? I am all about my home being fabulous, so one of my favorites is the beautiful linen bedding that my boyfriend gave me last year. Photo: iStock 8. Greatest city in the world and why? is one of the most amazing cities. I love that all the cultures from around the world are mixed together. I think the fashion is exciting and fresh. The shopping is wonderful, all the markets like Portobello and Spitalfields, which are my favorites. London is where I learned so much about fashion and culture and design. But as you know I made my home here in New York, and I can’t imagine ever leaving. 9. Whats one magazine, newspaper or website you read daily? WWD every day, of course. I check on T Magazine a lot, too, and for the celeb stuff I’ve been known to poke my head in on Just Jared and CocoPerez. 10. Fashion uniform when you were 16? I did not dress cute then. I think I was into very over glam clothing with glitter, crazy belts, tons of hardware, zippers and buckles, flashy shoes in gold… it was almost gay punk. Oh, and I had a full mohawk! 11. Last clothing or accessory piece purchased? I bought a beautiful from 4510 in Dallas; it’s an amazing store and I sell my collection with them! Christian Siriano’s apartment 12. One thing most people dont know about you? I really love to decorate and I’m really into . 13. Favorite song on Your iPod right now. Lately it’s a lot of Katy Perry, Brad Walsh and Shontelle. 14. Best decade for fashion? I’d say maybe the ’60s. In Paris, specifically. 15. It girl right now? I mean do they come more cool and fab than my darling Miss ? 16. Finish this sentence: The future of fashion is In YOUR hands, so make it exciting and dont hold back! You only live once! 17. What do you think all fashion industry people have in common? We love to talk about ourselves, we love a free dinner and all work too much!?All photos courtesy of Christian Sirianoand Stella McCartney Club Monaco for Spring 2011 is replete with collectible pieces. Yes, we know we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves speaking spring, but what’s life without something to look forward to?Peruse the above for light fabrics, great jackets, and pants that virtually have our name on them. Girls in love with color might find the collection lacking, but we’re loving a look that’s more neutral than Switzerland. All photos courtesy of Club Monacobecause they’re cool like that. Click through for the cute ones the Mulberry bags in half the pics might indicate someone (aka Mulberry) gave a pool party with some stellar giveaways. is basically a model now too. He has his second cover in as many months. He was shot with Karen Elson by Steven Meisel for VOGUE Korea January 11. () Rendering of Stella’s new storeDOUBLE SHOT: TWEET TWEET TRIPLE SHOT: WATCH IT Jersey Shore Season Three Extended Trailer It’s all fun and games until Snookie can’t find the beach. – is a bit of a national treasure by way of Belgium in these parts, so we don’t appreciate you bowling her over on the mountains of Colorado. The wrap dress and print aficianado emailed of a recent ski accident:Barry [Diller] and I were skiing happily. Some Brazilian man, who could not ski, lost control and went straight at me, hitting me badly on my face and ribs (with his camera). I went to the emergency room and then flew to UCLA. I look like Mike Tyson on his worst fight. Broken nose and some light facial fractures. At home in L.A. now waiting to heal. Will be staying here the week because I have my children and grandkids. I guess it could have been worsebut it does NOT look pretty. Always the hard worker, DVF finished with, Thank god I have Yvan Mispelaere in the sample room. Get well soon, and we’re psyched this won’t affect the Fall show!Photo: Gary Gershoff, WireImageand Christian Dior has now gone kaput. (Bummer, I know.) Seems like Marc has enough on his plate between his namesake lines, LV, and adding to his ever-growing tattoo collection.He’s in good company of those who are scorning our beloved Dior. Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy, Celine’s Phoebe Philo, and McQueen’s beacon, Sarah Burton are all thumbing their noses.We have to ask — what’s up with that? Didn’t Dior used to be the emblem of absolute fashion fantasy? This is becoming more and more like a depressing take on fashion-meets-The Bachelor. We can only hope that some young buck like or Raf Simons will step up and take this beautiful bull by the horns.Photo Credit: Sipa.comis reporting that that giant of e-commerce, eBay, is launching “eBay Fashion Outlet, the first virtual ‘outlet shopping mall’ in the U.S.” on September 19. I think that’s a bold statement, all of that first ever stuff, because I think some others have already started that game [Gilt Groupe, Bluefly, The Outnet, J.Crew's online outlet, to name a few] but let’s find out more about it before getting all judgey, shall we?Apparently, eBay already has outlet sites doing rather well in Germany and the UK [thanks, eBay]. The launch of eBay Fashion Outlet will include brands including Neiman Marcus Last Call, William Rast, Spanx, Fila, Timberland, Brooks Brothers, Bluefly and Custo Barcelona, with a large emphasis on denim, according to the fashion trade. The site will sell clothing and accessories for women at 20-60% off retail prices. It will even be set up with virtual “store fronts” to keep that janky outlet shopping experience-feeling alive.As for brands like Neiman Marcus Last Call, who already have their own sites online, the collaboration with eBay might offer a new bolster to their revenue dollars. “eBay offers us more innovation, more marketing and a different, bigger customer base,” Ann Paolini, senior vice president and managing director of Neiman Marcus Last Call told .You’ll be able to get to the outlet center through eBay’s homepage, but I have to admit I couldn’t ever even really find that Derek Lam collection. I’m all about searching vintage Chanel jackets, and Celine bags, but I don’t know if I think of eBay for anything actually new. Will you use this?Photo: WWDmight just be the cutest thing ever. I’d say around circa 2008 or 2009 there were some leather Chlo shorts and a gold necklace/structural sweatshirt look that basically killed me on . I just had to know who the diminutive brown haired girl was and, more importantly, who she was wearing. Since finding out that her name was Miroslava and that she was an editor for Harper’s Bazaar Russia, I’ve kept an eye out for her street style shots. Little chicks have to stick together.Since then, Duma left Bazaar, began freelancing, proved that being pregnant can make you even cuter and, apparently, started posting outfit shots.Click through for her daily looks from Zara, Prada, Missoni, H&M, Celine and Proenza Schouler with some Pierre Hardy in the mix. And see more daily on .This is some good inspiration news.– our moms were not pleased. Now that we’ve grown up a bit, we’ll skip the bonnet and opt for some family brunch-worthy frocks. Below, find a selection of the best dresses in all shapes and sizes. Whether , maxi, , plaid, , or anything in between, these little numbers make for an utterly styling Easter Sunday and will remain wearable all spring long.Above, clockwise from top left: Black silk chiffon floral dress by ; Cream star print dress by ; Mint broderie cup sundress by ;Black and white chiffon dress by ; Grey bustier dress by ; Black jardin gauze tank dress by . Above, clockwise from top left: Pink and white chiffon dress by ; Multi-color one-shoulder dress by ; Multi-color woven maxi dress by ; Cherry red ruched printed mini dress by ; Pink sand polkadot dress by ; Fuchsia floral woven dress by . Above, clockwise from top left: Green and black patterned dress by ; Multi-color plaid mini dress by ; Blue and purple one shoulder dress by ; White retro print long dress by ; Blue dress with lace neckline by ; Blue and green long silk floral dress by . Not celebrating? It’s cool, these duds are non-denominational.More News We Love: CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter.is totally sophisticated and inspiring, simultaneously helping girls understand the art of layering and that there’s something alluring in being a bit covered up. We chatted first fashion moments, Katy Perry, and the best parts of being a fashion blogger. Read on and click through for pics of B.Jones live from New York Fashion Week and from her illustrious blog!If you had a theme song what would it be? I would say Coldplay’s Yellow, and I think they’ve said they don’t even know what that song’s about, but I think my color is yellow. My husband calls me yellow. Do you have a first real fashion memory? I feel likenot that this was probably the firstbut I remember, maybe 8th grade, and overalls were the new thing, but Im from a small town and no one had done it yet. I remember, I went to the basketball game in overalls. I remember everyone was like What are you wearing? So that was my first time being like Yeah Im doing it. Thats right! Here I go in my overalls! And now Im wearing them again! Which is crazy! Theyre back in. My sister thought I was in a gangAmazing! When did you launch your blog? And what inspired you to start blogging? I started originally with The Vintage Society, which was my first blog and I started that in January 2007. So in blog years thats a long time ago! At that time I started because I was thinking about the idea of opening a store that was going to be vintage and modern. Then, then of course blogging blew up and I got to be on the ride with it. But now I have B. Jones Style, which I officially started doing it the way I am now in September of 2010, but Ive been in the blogging world for a while now.If you had to choose a fashion uniform what would it be? I think definitely a uniform for me is high-waist anything. Like, high-waist jeans, high-waist trousers. I love a high-waist! Im a curvy girl, a Marilyn Monroe. Whatever! So I like to accentuate those things. I think if I had to choose one thing it would be a camel-colored high-waist trousers. In the summer, maybe a great tank top tucked in with a woven belt and some platform sandals and then I would layer it up with a blazer and some statement jewelry. And Id say hats! Im a hat girl. What would you say is the best thing that has happened to you since you started blogging? For me right now, a personal triumph is launching , my daily fashion planner that I have. And there are some cool things maybe in the works and brewing with that right now. So Ive self-published it at this point, but even just seeing girls get so excited about it and really start to use it and respond to it has been huge! Ive had that idea sitting in my brain for 3 years or something and to see it finally come to fruitionIs blogging what you do full-time? Blogging is kind of this core of everything I do. I also do some personal styling; I do some editorial styling and writing here and there, but Id say blogging is the core.Do you have a secret style weapon? Id say hair. I really try to use my hair as an accessory to what I wear. I feel like that is such a lost art that women dont use as much anymore. In the old days women would do crazy French twists and the bouffant and everything. I think even if you have a really simple outfit on, if you have an amazing braid or whatever even if its down but you have really interesting curls or something I think its a great accessory that more women should use.What are some designers that you gravitate towards? I love usually something very 70s-oriented. So I think every season I see someone else pick the 70s thing. But I mean, consistently, Im drawn to Chlo. Im drawn to s stuff. Recently Ive been inspired by Tory Burch and her collection for spring.What are you currently reading? I have The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and I brought it on the last couples trips Ive gone to and Im reading it! But I havent dug in just yet So Im currently trying to. Ive heard its hard to get through the first 100 pages of that. Thats what everybody says! The first 100 pages! I just need to get past that, which I kind of struggle to do a lot of times. So Im trying!Whats your favoriteIm calling it high street shopping spot? Actually, we went to this summer and Cos, which is an H&M company. Its almost like a higher-end H&M? Or its just it was amazing. And the price-point was amazing. So I would say probably that, but I cant get that here. So I die every time I go in Zara. I probably dont always end up buying something, but Im always like, Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Because I feel like they end up having something Chloe-esque or very much like Celine…So I asked if you had to explain your style as X+X+X, what would you say it is? + 70s + drama.Your idea of fashion heaven. Oh gosh, fashion heaven I feel like I dont know if I could pick one person, maybe Iris Apfel’s closet. Or some woman in her 70s who has saved everything and she was a total wonderful fashionista her whole life.Whats the last song that you played on your iPod? Mumford and Sons? Whats that song? I dont know. But I love it! Or Katy Perrys Firework. I love that song! So cheesy. I love her.Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you. I think maybe just the fact that Id rather not be in the scene or in a hot bar. Id rather be tucked away in a little pizza joint with my husband having a Diet Coke and really good pizza or like, the best Mexican food ever, instead of going out to some fabulous party. But Ill probably still wear a fabulous outfit to that little joint!Whats one thing that you have in mind to buy for spring to update? Im obsessed right now with the whole color-blocking thing. So Im now starting to pick up all of these very basic, but solid, bright colors and mixing them all together. Thanks so much!All photos: Laurel Daileycan breathe a sigh of relief…Celine Spring 2010 was beautiful.Philo left Chloè four years ago and, now with Celine, the collection she showed in Paris this week was arguably her best– clean, simple lines with crepe and crisp blouses with a sportswear essence.To prove her new established voice, she warranted these praises from fashion’s hardest-to-please critics:“I agree with Sarah Mower that the runway photos don’t do the clothes justice. In actuality, they put out a mature, confident, sexy vibe,” , of The New York Times, said.“In a sea of clothes, she has a vocabulary of her own,” Jim Gold, the chief executive of said.We say, welcome back, Phoebes! XOXO(above) Dislike redundancy? Well, get ready to hear the words “minimal,” “daywear,” and “polished” thrown around quite a bit for . Not that we’re complaining. As she tends to do, Stella, of course, worked the trend exquisitely. The palette was comprised of a sparse selection of grey, nude, and black highlighted by unexpected flashes of fuschia or chartreuse– found in bold satin dresses. Down to the pointed nude heels, and up to the perfectly cut jackets, coats, vests, and slightly slouchy pants that tapered at the ankle– the collection was all modern business. Until, of course, mini dresses and insanely cool chunky woven sweaters worn sans pants swept the runway and made it clear that the Beatles heir hasn’t forgotten her legion of young leg-bearing fans.2. Ann Demeulemeester Ann D., you lure us with your kick-ass boots and keep us ensnared with your achingly covetable suits– with their perfect drape and mismatched button detail that seems to scream, “I’m cooler than you.” Black leather, red patent, feather detail, and tops and necklaces woven from whips are some extreme ideas to play with, and they work best when tempered by a pairing with easy, slouchy trousers. A little over-the-top never hurt anyone though, and we can’t wait to meet the girl who can pull off wearing it all at once.3. Alexander McQueen As if reminding us of why we’re so sad to have lost him, was a consummate example of the late designer’s unerring genius. With a return to well-tread McQueen themes of old-world elaborate detail, melded with cutting edge design technology and workmanship, it’s difficult to imagine anyone who could have done it better. McQueen signatures of skulls, angels, and wings were on display in the extravagant collection that focused on gilded accents, titian red, deep black, and skillful draping. A poignant moment in Paris, indeed.4. Celine It’s a testament to the singular talent that is that her sophomore effort for Celine is garnering oh so much buzz. The testament lies in the fact that her collection for the storied French house wasn’t filled with bells and whistles, but instead minimal, polished daywear. Those words again– don’t say we didn’t warn you. Philo works her magic on coats in the way of , cropped furs, funnel necks, parkas, and peas. Easy shifts, tailored trousers, a few gowns for good measure, and simply stunning leather pieces rounded out the restrained collection in mostly navy, black, and cream. The only way to do classic luxury well is to elevate well-worn themes– mission accomplished.5. Dries Van Noten The reigning king of didn’t give his calling card a bit of a rest this season– bestowing a veritable buffet of subtle patterns and that perpetually trendy cat– leopard– on easy breezy dresses, pants, vests, jackets, and gowns. What we saw was a completely wearable collection with the coolest kid in class (or more likely, the office) in mind. Army green, grey, and navy were on-hand to balance some of the slightly bolder statement pieces, or to simply stand on their own as simple statements. Overall, each look is a strong contender for the inspiration folder on our desktops.6. Herms The ” Terrible” was at it again, showing tons of leather at the leather house that is Herms. Gaultier cited a British influence this season, in the 60s show The Avengers. And if you’re going to be fighting crime, it might as well be in head-to-toe hides, beginning with a bowler hat straight out of a Renee Magritte painting. Beautifully tailored coats made the cut, as did intricately tailored, menswear-inspired leather suits, a touch of fur, and a stunning black leather gown– perfect for the First Lady of France herself.7. Miu Miu Prada’s little sis was a delightful mix of 60s shifts, A-line coats, bow-adorned necks, and crystal flower-power detail. Don’t think Miuccia’s girl was all innocence though– cut-outs at the stomach, some plunging square necklines, and peek-a-boo, thigh-grazing skirts turned Twiggy’s early 60s on its head a bit. And save for some bits of orange, lavender, and cream here and there, the mostly black pieces added a welcome sophistication to recognizable silhouettes. Oh, but don’t forget those shoes– as if we ever would. Square toe, silver bow and flower adorned pumps will have girls lining up for their edgy, yet whimsical fix.8. Isabel Marant If Miuccia was rifting on the early 60s, then was a rebel without a cause whose inspiration lay firmly in the 1950s. Perhaps, it’s a recapturing of a pre-Vietnam, post-WW2 innocence– or maybe the designer with a crazy cool factor just wanted to play around with some pedal pushers, polka dots, rugby sweaters, and varsity jackets. Signature it-boots have been replaced by pointed flats with bow details, but Marant’s edge hasn’t vanished. Red leather, silver lam, gold sequins, biker vests, and minis were the medium of choice for her mid-century reinterpretation. As faithful followers, we approve.9. Pedro Loureno The fashion set is quick to point out 19-year-old Pedro Loureno’s already impressive style pedigree. An endorsement by a high-powered stylist? Check– Brana Wolf. Representation by the most influential PR firm in the business? Check– KCD. What is this kid, the love child of Marc and Karl? No actually, his parents are lauded figures in the world of Sao Paolo fashion. Nevertheless, his futuristic, directional collection stood on its own as a mature, clever first time out. The Central Saint Martins grad worked mainly in leather and plastic and played with geometry and color blocking in a way that will keep fashion’s collective eyes set on him for seasons to come.10. Now that the cat’s out of the bag that Margiela’s J.D. Salinger-esque namesake designer has left the building, we can get back to the business of looking at the clothes for fashion’s sake– and not to guess their progenitor. The man himself may not be there, but his distinctly avant-garde-meets-minimal approach to design certainly was. The intellectual looks ranged from latex skirts to chiffon overlays and well-tailored coats– continuing the tradition of killer pieces that the fashion house is synonymous with.11. Lanvin Oh Lanvin– even the name is pretty. Although, Elbaz’s pretty girl has become quite the urban warrior for fall ’10. Less about ruffles, pretty prints, and colors– the house of Lanvin has turned to a more architectural landscape in the muted nearly non-colors of the season– gray, taupe, black, metallics, and perhaps a hint of purple (but don’t expect it to be vibrant). It’s a strong take on femininity– embellishments are studded or fiercely nature-inspired, and jackets made of feathers or fur call to mind protective sheaths rather than mindless, lovely toppers. Although Africa was named as an inspiration, perhaps fall was more of a French lesson on how to look chic for the apocalypse? 12. Gareth Pugh This Rick Owens protge has been so intent on telling stories of futuristic samurais or well-coutured aliens in past seasons, that maybe some haven’t noticed his clothes have become insanely wearable. In conservative color options of black, grey, or army green– chevron stripes became an ongoing discourse, as did an intriguing exploration of mixed media fabrics. Chiffon melded with was just one of the ways Pugh showcased his ability to maintain his avant-garde inclinations, while softening enough to let his girls live comfortably in his world.More News We Love CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter.CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter.In the world of designer flash sales, sometimes not all sites are created equal. In fact, when it comes right down to it, a $100 suddenly feels like 10 bucks when lost in a high-priced sea of Chanel or Celine goodies. Thankfully, our friends at share our “style to the people” philosophy. Their “luxury for all” mindset is backed up by the belief that members should be allowed to pick and choose the fashion, furniture and decor THEY want to shop — not the other way around.Curated by industry veterans, stylists and designers, LuxeYard stands out by allowing members to get what they want (up to 70% off — no too shabby, hmm?) within a personal boutique environment. That said, we’re beyond thrilled that they’re offering up not one, or two but FIVE chances for your to score the ultimate online shopping excursion.Want access to all of the sweet sales on LuxeYard? !Enter To Win 1 of 5 $100 Gift Cards To LuxeYard:1. “Like” LuxeYard on Facebook 2. “Like” StyleCaster on Facebook3. Leave your name in the comments to let us know you’ve done both!You have until Friday, April 13th at 5pm EST to enter. Don’t wait- Enter today!!Disclaimer: Only citizens of the United States over the age of 18 are eligible. Winners will be contacted by email. Winners are responsible for any taxes associated with this prize.CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter.and H&M is that they manage to offer pieces that fit the bill for just about any hot trend in a given season. It’s like a one-stop shop to indulge your guilty without dropping a months salary on a single purchase. In H&M Magazines Spring 2011 issue, model Kasia Struss test drives all the styled by Ludivine Poiblanc for photographer Josh Olins, ranging from flirty 50s pin-up girl in and whimsical patterns to ghetto glam in bright animal prints that would make proud. So fashion chameleons rejoice is totally down with your schizophrenic style.freckles, bee-stung lips, doe eyesthis Texas native has been working non-stop, shooting editorials for Marie Claire and walking in a slew of runway shows. It was only a matter of time before Abercrombie & Fitch came knocking. Here, the self-proclaimed nomadic New Yorker reveals her secret skills, and preferred body part (lets just say shes no shrinking Violet).Birthday: June 8thWhere were you born: Riverside, CaliforniaWhere do you live: Im currently a nomad in NYCHow were you discovered: At a high school performance when I was 13 in my SMALL town in Texas.Dream job: 4th grade teacher!What’s your daily uniform: One thing I wear every day? My great grandpas necklace. Oh, and my bag. I can’t leave home without my: Audrey Hepburn style sunglasses. Best beauty secret you’ve learned on the job: Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream fixes everything!What’s the best advice you’ve ever received: Growing up, my dad always said “Don’t sweat the small stuff.. And its all small stuff!” Or just watch Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock What’s the last text you sent: Checking on my brother who has the flu.. AwwwMorning must-have: My snooze button!Favorite place in the world: At the dinner table with my parents and brother!What’s on your iPod: Everything from a little ACDC to Billie Holiday.. But about 75 percent country!Most embarrassing fashion moment: How about frolicking nude through a cornfield?Secret skill: Im a surprisingly impressive cook. I took after my dad, definitely not my mother And, Im a closet poet.Currently reading: The Catcher in the Rye. Who knew it was this good when we were forced to read it in school?Style icon: Julia Roberts… She is just a class act!What are you obsessed with at the moment: . Tube form!Most indulgent fashion purchase: One too many Pradas!Fitness routine: Yoga. The only thing that works!Coffee or tea: “Not my cup of tea”.. Coffee!BlackBerry or iPhone: BlackBerry Childhood dream: Figuratively: a reoccurring dream of the big bad wolf! Literally: to be my mother.Average amount of sleep per night: I need 9 hours!Are you on twitter? No, I’m not that cool.Favorite piece of clothing: My go-to shirt is a friends old pearl snap flannel.Most memorable shoot/job: Well, Abercrombie summer camps are always interesting!Favorite body part: Tits!doppelgnger by way of the deep south has walked the and Calvin Klein, but may soon be showing up at your nearest multiplex. The 23-year-old has already clocked a commercial for a Loewe fragrance and has her heart in film. We got to know a little about this Georgia Peach with a high fashion face. Age: 23 Nickname: JPPhoto: Luciana Val and Franco Muso, Americanshaft How long have you been in NYC? Seven years and always on the LES or in the East Village.Fave NYC spot: Barrio Chino.Originally from: Savannah, GA. Photo: Aneta Bartos, a4 Magazine, November 2008What do you miss most about your hometown? Sweet tea.What is your dream modeling gig? Ive modeled in more things than I ever could have dreamed. Ive been in every Vogue, except American!Where would you like your career to end up? Ive been trying to get more into acting. I starred in a short film and Ive been taking classes (with renowned acting coach) Sheila Grey.Best comfort food: Mac and cheese and spaghetti and meatballs. Photo: Dusan Reljin Numero Magazine, May 2005 Dream destination: Belize. I want to SCUBA!Describe your style: Sometimes kooky, sometimes feminine and romantic. Photo courtesy of IMGWhats on Your iPod? I love my record player actually. I listed to , T-Rex and anything old generation, ’60s or earlier.Motto: The sky is not the limit.Check back tomorrow to see Jennifer in our next , The Color Collector, debuting on StyleCaster.combines tennis activewear with wearable items, blurring the line between performance and fashion. Bradford Shellhammer of Full Frontal Fashion caught up with the New Yorkbased designer recently to talk about her line.Why did you start Loup? I started Loup because I felt there was a lack of comfortable, easy clothing out there for women who still wanted to look feminine, stylish and put together, and I thought it would be a great place to build my first collection. Your line incorporates fashion and tennis. Whats missing from most tennis gear on the market? I feel that a lot of is built for a certain very athletic woman, and I wanted to bring some femininity and softness into the genre. There arent a lot of options for women who want something a little looser, less clingy and more wearable before and after you play. Why do you find yourself now moving away from strict athleticwear and into more everyday items? I love , but the philosophy behind Loup has always been to make athleticwear more wearable on an everyday basis, so it seems natural for the brand to move toward more ready-to-wear items. Whats still important is making the garment easy to wear, easy to care for, and wearable for lots of different activities. Did you grow up playing tennis? I did grow up playing tennis, and my parents still play every week. I was never that great at it, but it was always a fun game to play, especially because you could wear cute outfits while doing it! What has been your biggest challenge in launching your own line? The biggest challenge has definitely been wearing all the different hats from designing to running the business to selling the collection. Theres an endless amount to accomplish, so its a constant struggle to make sure it doesnt get too overwhelming. What athletic brands and designers do you admire? Well, I love what Stella McCartney does at Adidas and I love what she does in her main line. I also think has made a really cool collaboration with this summer. I also admire designers like Alber Elbaz at Lanvin and Phoebe Philo at Celine, who really think about women and what they actually want to wear. Which tennis player do you think has the best personal style? I think Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova always look great on the court and they take some chances, which is cool. Two up-and-comers Sydni Katz and Alexandra Mueller both sport some Loup on the courts as well, so of course I think they have great style! Where can your line be found? The line is carried at tennis and contemporary boutiques all around the country, including Westport Workout Wear in Connecticut and Envy Sportswear in San Diego. And of course there is the official Loup online store at , which carries special exclusives as well. Your blog is a mix of imagery and musings. Why did you start your blog? I actually started the Loup blog, , last season when my production schedule was delayed a month and I realized that Loup still goes on even when the clothes arent in the stores! There are so many things that constantly inspire the collections and continue to shape the brand, and I wanted to share that with the customers and fans.Who is your core customer? Right now the customers range from teenagers to women in their 60s who buy the line equally for tennis and everyday wear, and who all seem to be thankful for a brand that thinks about comfort as much as style.Contributed by Bradford Shellhammer for All images courtesy of Full Frontal FashionRelated fashion news: , sheer lace, feathers, all gold everything… you name it, she’s worn it, unless of course the thing you’re thinking of is “boring.” ADR stepped out to the Moncler Gamme Bleu fashion show in Milan the other day, and while we were expecting something flashy and fabulous, she actually looked quite modest in a Fall 2011 Miu Miu dress. A similar conservative dress from the same collection appears on the cover of the new issue of Vogue Japanwhere serves as the Editor-at-Largewhich is a departure from the glitzy Balmain, colorful Versace and leopard Dolce & Gabbana we’ve seen from the magazine recently.The editor has also been spotted around Milan in a simple Cline lookthe same one and so far there’s been no glitter or headgear in sight. Would you be willing to embrace Anna Dello Russo’s new look if it became the norm, or do you prefer her “more is more” approach? (We think we already know the answer to this.)Photo: Mario Sorrenti for Vogue Japan. The 17-year-old singing sensation and biggest thing to come out of Canada since Celine Dion, is profiled in February’s (check out the artsy cover above), and didn’t shy away from the tough questions.Since being legal is just around the corner for the Biebs, who turns 18 on March 1, he’s a little worried that people are going to expect to see a whole different side of him — but he insists that’s not the case:“I’m not going to try to conform to what people want me to be or go out there and start partying, have people see me with alcohol. I want to do it at my own pace,” . (Well, that’s certainly refreshing, considering the amount of celebs we have seen get a little too crazy at a young age, but something tells me he may need to lighten up a little and have a good time.)The racy topics won’t even make it into his music. He stated, “I don’t want to start singing about things like sex, drugs and swearing. I’m into love, and maybe I’ll get more into making love when I’m older. But I want to be someone who is respected by everybody.”We’re not sure what he’s making now, but we’re hoping girlfriend Selena Gomez isn’t complaining.of his favorite piece of luggage with the caption: “vintage Herms travel bags are tight, yo!!!” However, ‘Ye is stepping in on the luxury label’s silk scarf game, and starting on May 9, a series of five scarves that he designed in collaboration with artist George Condo and design duo will be available for sale. M/M hand-drew frames for the images Condo created for Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album art, and the resulting pieces are just as awesome as that silk Cline blouse . Much like everything else the rapper does, these scarves are super exclusive, and only 100 of each design were produced. They will be available at and on M/M’s website for about $365 a pop, which is chump change compared to what Herms charges for their scarves. , thank Marissa Webb, Head of Womens Design at . For it’s Webb and the Crew that have turned what was once a basics-only kind of shop into a must-stop for women who really, truly love fashion.Webb herself is a poster child for this new era of J. Crew. For starters, she doesnt wear it head-to-toe, obviously, but rather cherry picks (generously) the key pieces that fit her look and then mixes them with higher- or lower-end wares. I mix and match a lot, she said. It really depends on my mood and the place that Im going. Sometimes I would call it very urban and at other moments I feel like dressing like a lady. But its always mixed with something thats a little off. But thats off in an on kind of way.Nandini DSouza a regular contributor to , eBays digital style magazine, , whose design pedigree includes stints at Daryl K, Polo Jeans and Club Monaco, about whats on the horizon for J. Crew.The Inside Source: What are the biggest trends for Spring 2011? Marissa Webb: One of the big trends for spring is color. We love all the bright, vibrant colors like the Modern Red, Gallery Green, Electric Orange, and all the shades of yellow. What also feels fresh is that some of these bright colors also come in our accessories. Love a bright colored bag or shoe. Another trend that I think is very important is new silhouettes and proportions. I love that we have new lengths in both skirts and pants. The Inside Source: J. Crew is known for some great collaborations, like Barbour, Belstaff, Essie, Cosabella… What do you look for when collaborating with a brand? Any new brands you’ll be working with upcoming? Marissa Webb: We look for collaborations that work well with our brand. If there is someone out there doing something that we love, we want to work with them and not try and be them. We look for brands that complement what we doit works because its something that is completely different from anything we offer and adds that extra texture, or its something that we dont do at all, for example, cosmetics. We have some amazing collaborations coming up for spring. One of them is with Jean Shop. Besides the fact the owner, Eric Goldstein, might be one of the nicest people Ive met, what he does is unique. Ive been a Jean Shop groupie for years. The Inside Source: If a woman is going to buy five things this spring, what should they be? Marissa Webb: I cant speak for all women, but these are the things on my list: A bag in an amazing colorIve been on the hunt. A simple but chic day dress. One that you dont have to think too hard about how to wear. Just throw it on and out the door. A flight to an inspiring, relaxing destination to break out of the winter gloom and shake off the cold. A pair of great sunglasses that adds a bit of spice to whatever you have on. And of course a day at the spa to get those toes ready for your favorite new sandals and open-toe shoes. My last one is a great transitional trench. Ive been into my olive trench coat for a while but right now, Im looking for that perfect shade of khaki.The Inside Source: Which designers influence you? Marissa Webb: They can change per season, but Im very loyal to Celine, Isabel Marant, Marni, Rag & Bone, Dries van Noten, Lanvin and Phillip Lim. Theyre all inspiring for different reasons.The Inside Source: Lets talk eBay. Do you remember your first purchase? Marissa Webb: My first eBay purchases were actually vintage books on knitting and different stitches. I was just learning about sweaters at the time.The Inside Source: What are your favorite eBay searches? Marissa Webb:, $52.99; , $745; , $65. I found a great classic Chanel almost in perfect shape. Ive been obsessed with finding the perfect one. But we are now completing gut renovations of our loft and Im desperate to findthat early 1900s French piece of my dreams. great images, very inspirational and some are just very amusing especially the ones that teachwomen proper etiquette. Love that!, $21.99; , $188.95; , $23. My mom collects it and I think has the largest collection Ive ever seen! But she’s very particularshe wants the originals that were produced in the 1930s. I find them so much more interesting then the modern ones out there now. and items that have old rusted out graphics: I love the look of them and we use them as inspiration at work as well.Meredith Barnett is the Editorial Director for The Inside Source, a digital style magazine presented by eBay. The Inside Source writer Nandini DSouza authored this article in its original form. Click to read it in full.CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter., who seems to have become a household name since Michelle Obama sported his designs, has certainly been productive this past year. Wu launched a pre-fall collection, his own , teamed up with Modo Eyewear to create sunglasses, and designed a capsule collection with . Additionally, Wu told that he plans to get into the footwear market by 2011. To celebrate his growing acclaim, Wu moved into a brand new 35th Street office, which symbolizes his on-the-rise status.Sunglasses, footwear — the possibilities seem endless for Wu. With that in mind, check out our favorite shoes for spring, below.1. Lanvin Python and Leather Sandals, $745, at These brown leather Lanvin sandals are sure to give a bit of edge to any wardrobe. Pair them with a flirty dress and sleek shoulder bag to complete the look.2. Isabel Marantis always on point with her designs, and these boots are a reflection of her innate sensibility. Channel your inner pirate with these . Both runway looks show how Marant makes it simple to dress these boots up or down with ease.3. Balenciaga Arena T-Strap Sandals, $575, at Step out in style with these cobalt blue lambskin sandals by Balenciaga.4. BalmainBalmain showcases two of the hottest trends for spring: graphic prints and lace-up boots.5. CelineThe wedge is back and in a big way. Celine isnt the only designer to embrace monstrous heels — both fashion and music lovers were captivated by the alien-like shoes from when Lady Gaga sported them in her . However, with the neutral color scheme and wooden heels, these Celine shoes somehow seem a bit more wearable than McQueens.6. GivenchyDuring the Givenchy Spring 2010 show, not only were people talking about the collection’s mish-mash of cultural references, but they were buzzing about the shoes too. These platform wedges showcase both Riccardo Tiscis two main themes that evening: leather and bold, borderline psychedelic patterns.7. Acne Atacoma Boots, $599, at These Acne boots completely sold out when they hit the stores for the Fall/Winter season. You can only imagine our excitement when we heard that Acne decided to bring back their wildly successful Atacoma boots for the spring. Now available in light grey, these boots combine a hoof-like silhouette with a classic wedge.More News We Love:was mostly known for being a rapper whose most covetable fashion accessory was a gold chain and a Rolex. Nowadays, he’s decked out in Givenchy (and ) and sits front row at shows like Marchesa and, most recently, Dior. Heck, he he even held his own fashion show in Paris for two seasons.After catching a glimpse of Yeezy at the Dior show today in Paris, we decided to trace his time in the front row back to the days when he would vamp it up with former flame Amber Rose. He’s certainly come a long way and now mostly spends his precious moments in the front row shopping for his current girlfriend Kim Kardashian.As an epic fashion month comes to a close, click through the gallery above for a look back at Yeezy’s best front row moments over the years!Planning a trip to Atlantic City? Then mark your calendar for Kanye West‘s first solo performance since and the first in Atlantic City. On July 6th and 7th, the rapper/designer will be performing at hot new locale l and needless to say, in a questionable outfit.Personally, I don’t know why the rapper chose to make his solo return in Atlantic City, ’cause I can think of a million other places (maybe he’s taking a cue from his BFF Jay-Z‘s girl, the one and only Beyoncé, who had her first performance post-baby-bump at Revel last month). Still, I’m curious to find out how his performance will go., but you never know when he’s going to go on a rant or have some kind of diva moment.I’m also curious to see what Kim will be wearing. , so hopefully she’ll show up looking somewhat decent. She looks best when she keeps it simple, so maybe she’ll stay away from the tight dresses and gaudy accessories.Tickets go on sale June 22nd via and if you’re lucky enough to attend, let us know how it went! Good luck on your solo return, Kanye!onstage at Coachella this past April. While his lyrics often reflect the hyper-masculine image present throughout much of hip hop, Yeezy certainly isn’t afraid of a little gender-bending.Teaming up with Jay-Z for the highly anticipated Watch the Throne tour this past week at Madison Square Garden, the male diva took the stage in a thigh-length Givenchy leather skirt. At first, I was , but I can only stay horrified by Givenchy for so long.Kanye pulled it off like no one else could. However, many designers (such asYohji Yamamoto and ) are including skirts in their menswear collections, which begs the all-important question: Is this going to be a popular trend for men?Many celebrities have also taken the risk and thrown on a skirt before hitting the town. Take a look at the gallery above and vote for who wore it best. Oh, and yes, that is Vin Diesel!has made his love for Phobe Philo known through the lyrics of his song “Dark Fantasy” from the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and last night he paid homage to the designer again by wearing a Cline Spring 2011 piece during his Coachella-closing performance. The rapper blew the crowd away during his 100 minute setwhich included fan favorites like “,” “Through The Wire” and “Jesus Walks”and he looked damn good while doing it. Yes, the silk shirt is from the women’s collection, but ‘Ye really wears it well with a simple pair of jeans and a hefty gold chain. I’m going to go so far as to say that I like the look better on him than on the runway model.Watch the full performance below, and tell us: what do you think about Kanye’s choice of Cline at ?Photos: Imaxtree; Chelsea Lauren, Getty ImagesLove them or hate them, are one of the most elusive celebrity couples dating today. (When they are out together, they’re absolutely swarmed by paparazzi.) We’ve always wondered what they possibly talk about when they’re hanging out alone, and thanks to the magic of the Kardashian empire, plenty of their private moments have now been documented on camera.The latest look we have into their lives features Kanye and his stylist giving Kim’s closet a makeover on an upcoming episode of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” Kim’s closet, as expected, looks like it could double as a Louboutin showroom, and Kanye assists her as she tries to “update her look.” Kim is quick to point out that Kanye is a “fashion designer,” so who better to help her overhaul her wardrobe?While it’s a little bit disarming seeing ‘Ye vamp for the E! cameras, he seems right at home in the reality television world. Although Kim has enough Birkins and Celine Phantoms to make his heart flutter, she has also made some major fashion faux pas in her day — many of which are still in her closet. Kanye seems particularly averse to a certain patent leather shearling Louis Vuitton bag, for example, and is quick to highlight it as one of the pieces that should definitely go.!, when the Cline creative director receives the International Award for best fashion designer at the lavish Lincoln Center ceremony next week, West will be the presenter. The rapper made his appreciation for Philo’s designs known in his lyrics for “Dark Fantasy” when he said, “I’m just a Chi- town nigga with aNas flow/and my chick in that new Phoebe Philo.” ‘Ye even wore a Cline women’s silk top while performing at this year. Do you think Kanye can be trusted with a microphone in front of Anna Wintour? Because we’re not so sure. reports Kanye has employed the help ofKatie Eary, a British menswear designer who just held her first womenswearshow in London this week.Kanye came out in support of his new partner and headed backstage post-show. Although he refused to speak to the press,Eary was happy to gush over her new-found working relationship with the notorious artist and aspiring designer. Katie tolde:‘I absolutely love working with him,’ [Eary] said. ‘He’s such a dedicated designer. It’s not what everybody would think — he’s more dedicated than I am. The time and the travel that he puts in is unbelievable. I feel jealous at his commitment.’Kanye, a fan of ‘s Phoebe Philo, has been working amidst a slew of (such as his studio actually being Turnmills), So why don’t we clarify what we actually know:1) He will show in Paris on Saturday.2) According to he draws on paper.The excessive rumors are a good sign. Seems we are all dying to see what the notorious trash-talker will actually come up with because at the end of the day, it’s all about the clothes in Paris — doesn’t matter who you are or if you type in all-caps on Twitter just to get your point across.from the Balmain show at the last Paris fashion week thanks to the notoriously tough, all black wearing KCD PR girls, Kanye West will be returning with a vengeance this season. The rapper and fashionista (who from theirSpring/Summer 2011 collection while performing at Coachella) has been the subject of much industry gossip suggesting that he would design for a variety of labels.Then, it was announced he would be debuting his own line this season in Paris. Ballsy, to say the least. Details of the project have been kept on the down-low, but reports that Mr. West has brought on quirky, London-based designerKatie Eary as “one of the creative leads.” Do a quick for her designs and you will immediately see why her and Yeezy had a creative connection. In short, they’re both nuts.I know a lot of you feel that Kanye is totally overrated, and that he has no business getting involved in the fashion industry, but I disagree. Sure, scheduling your first runway show in what is practically the fashion capital of the world is definitely a bold and cocky move, but what else can we expect from him? We can’t deny his swagger. We just can’t.may be sort of the original street style icon because everyone from Fashion Toast to Sienna Miller has co-opted her look, but that’s not to venture that she’s the type to pile on the accessories, call up Celine for the newest must-have bag and get her pose on for Tommy Ton.Nope. Just look at her here at Paris Fashion Week, she’s practically running (gazelle-like, of course) from this photographer. The model who closed Louis Vuitton also isn’t in the latest Proenza paired with Alexander Wang booties and a leather studded Burberry trench just black skinnies, a black leather jacket and some kickass Rag & Bone boots.If you’re more of the effortless cool sort, you might be eyeing said booties. Get them for $550, at .Photo: Bauer Griffin CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter., SoHos emporium of high style. The duo, best friends for more than 20 years, stocks the shelves of Kirna Zabete the same way they choose their own ensembles every morning a step ahead of the trends, supportive of young, exciting talent and with a sense of daring that always hits the right, stylish mark. Nandini DSouza, a regular contributor to , eBays digital style magazine, asked Easley and Buccini for their take on whats in stores now and what to expect from the runways.The Inside Source: Do a little trend forecasting for Fall 2011. Whats on the hit list? Sarah Easley: Masculine fabrics (such ashoundstooth, Prince of Wales, etc.)and very tailored shapes in jackets, coats and pants.Pop greens, reds and cobalt blue. Even tux suits in pop colors or high-waisted, wide-legged pantscombined with chic silk blouses. Burgundy, purple and chocolate brown shades looked so rich. Great . Loved the Lanvin fur hats!TIS: What designers’ shows are you most excited to see? SE: In New York, Proenza Schouler and Altuzarra. In Paris, Givenchy and Lanvin.TIS: What’s on your must-have list for spring 2011? SE: Tux Blazer by Stella McCartney. Another Azzedine Alaia classic dress and Celine platforms.TIS: What are some young, new designers to look out for? SE: Joseph Altuzarra, Verlaine and Anthony Vaccarello.TIS: Whats new on the horizon for Kirna Zabete? SE: The web store is growing so fast. We’re getting new merchandise every week.Our Facebook is also really fun. We are posting updates from the runways andfrom the showroomsduring buying appointments. Our fans really respond and everybody makes comments. It almost turns into a fashion forum.TIS:How often do you search for things on eBay? Beth Buccini: I am Christmas-obsessed and a few winters ago, while up all night with a newborn, I started searching vintage Christmas decorations. Well needless to say I was instantly an addict, and the proud owner of dozens of Empire Blowmold 3-feet-tall Santas and elves from the 1960s. Of course the KZ team, and my husband, thought I had lost my mind, but we sure did have fun displaying them in the store. Now my kids love themapparently, they got my Christmas geneand we put them all over their bedrooms the day after Thanksgiving.Meredith Barnett is the Editorial Director for The Inside Source, a digital style magazine presented by eBay. The Inside Source writer Nandini DSouza authored this article in its original form. Click to read it in full.Photos courtesy of Kirna Zabete. on for a couple of seasons now because it has that lovely Parisian essence that’s not as boho as Isabel Marant, not as super luxury as Chanel, not as preppy as A.P.C. It’s inherently chic, completely wearable, built for that insouciant, slightly tousled girl who chills in the Sixth and I usually want everything. Plus, the price point is kind of amazing with dresses in the $300 range.Be forewarned before you click through for Fall’s collection by designer Judith Milgrom because chances are you’re going to want everything perfectly shrunken jackets, navy and red mini skirts, leather skinnies, color blocked jackets that call to mind Celine and adorable blouses with mini Peter Pan collars. And, there’s an and, the brand is rumored to be opening it’s first store stateside in SoHo this Fall. Consider me psyched.ads, shot by (bien sur).With straw hats, feathered neck accoutrement, and these two from the under 20 set looking like they could be chilling off the coast of Monaco circa ’76, or playing a baby prostie with Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, it’s a fun ., eBay’s digital style magazine, to learn what they’ll have dangling from their arms as they hit the tents. Because while the outfit is important, any style acolyte worth her salt knows it’s the accessories that really matter. And during Fashion Week, the bag you carry has to hold it all—iPad, camera, smartphone, makeup, you name it… including those bulky invites. Sally Lyndley, Editor at Large, LOVE Magazine “I’m going to be taking my Louis Vuitton pouchette, which is actually a menswear bag, to the shows. It’s an easy little clutch, but it doesn’t look like it’s for evening; it looks like it’s for day. And I have them in all the different colors because it goes with my weird pencil skirt and t-shirt look that I’m doing.” “I’m also doing a bag from Opening Ceremony from their Pendleton collection because I’m Native American. If I’m doing flats and my pajama look, I’ll carry that one with a big fox tail hanging off of it.” “And then I also have a Celine black bag that I love—it’s just a bigger sized, more structured bag.”Francesca (Fran) Burns, Fashion Editor, British Vogue“I’ll be carrying my little Christopher Kane jelly bag. I only like this one at the moment. I’m a bit of a one-bag girl. It’s entertaining when you’re waiting for a show to start; you can just look at it and create shapes, and you don’t even need to get your ticket out to go in because you can see it through the bag.”Stephanie La Cava, Fashion Writer and Stylist “I’ll be taking my Mark Cross bag because it’s big and can hold everything and it’s discreet.” (La Cava adds that she’s into the story behind the recently revived American heritage brand—the company’s leather bags and luggage are still made at its original factories. ) “I’ll also be carrying some Organic by John Patrick pouches. He did bags for the first time this season, and I styled his show. There’s a tote that can fold into a clutch in vintage fabric.” “I’m also going to this vintage eel skin envelope that was my grandmother’s. It’s perfect for carrying my iPad. It wasn’t intended to carry an iPad—so I guess it’s sacrilege that that’s what I’m using it for!”Tamu McPherson, Photographer, All the Pretty Birds, Grazia Italia“Whatever I’m carrying it has to have a long cross body strap and be compact so I can sling it across my body to take photos. I’ll probably switch between my two Celine cross bodies in this deep wine color and in orange. But I also have my eye on this Olympia Le-Tan Victoire bag (she makes those in-demand book clutches)—it can hold a lot of stuff.” Meredith Barnett is the Editorial Director for The Inside Source, a digital style magazine presented by eBay. The Inside Source writer Leah Chernikoff authored this article in its original form. to read it in full and to see how to find these styles on eBay. (Image of Sally Lyndley provided by Lyndley.) CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter.. Favorite Look: A head-to-toe beige, with a and trousers. Who is Wearing This Collection: More conservative ladies who leave experimentation to the details. Spotted at the Show: No one recognizable. Soundtrack Highlights: Folk music that fit the collection perfectly. Final Grade: B+ Images: Style.comMore News We Love: We loved seeing Nicole Kidman bare all for the cover of . The 45 year-old looks outrageously beautiful and far sexier than we’re used to seeing her. We guess divorcing Tom Cruise does everyone good! However we had no idea that there was an even greater surprise when you opened up the glossy: a topless spread of the unofficial Queen of Canada, Celine Dion.Celine’s been kind of quiet lately. We haven’t heard much about the chanteuse aside from the fact that she’s performing in Vegas every night and raking in hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. Apparently, Sin City has officially made its mark on Celine’s heart, and she had no problem taking her top off for V photographer — here, she shows all the abandon of a college coed in Punta Cana.The best part of all of this is the fact that the V website is down (as of this posting). We have asked everyone in our office to try to access it, and it’s definitely down. There’s no other explanation for this except that the masses are clearly clamoring to see Nicole and Celine strip down. If you want to see their spreads in full, wait until V is up and running and . On another note, it seems that nude is the trendiest thing to do these days. Even the generally buttoned-up Natalie Portman .and Alexa Chung, to me they are the epitome of relaxed and cool but still very feminine and thoughtful.We read about your fascination with street-style and bloggers, and saw that you worked with Olivia Palermo. Do you anticipate future collaborations with bloggers etc., and how does that impact your designs?We’ve just announced some exciting projects with two women who perfectly exemplify our new direction for the brand. We’re collaborating with Swedish blogger Elin Kling, she’ll be styling our Spring 2012 runway and advertising campaign with Julia Sarr-Jamois as our model – also a recent style icon and fixture on same websites as Elin frequents and editor of Wonderland Magazine in the UK.Over the past few seasons, the look and feel of Tibi has been evolving significantly into clean, relaxed, feminine and sportswear-influenced silhouettes. The focus has been on neutral solids, pops of color and pared-down prints. I’ve been following Elin’s style and blog (http://stylebykling.nowmanifest.com/) for a while and really wanted her to be our first styling partnership.Your last show (Fall 2011) had some nineties inspired looks, according to several outlets. Is there a particular decade or time period that served as inspiration for this collection?We’re continuing on in a similar thread modernizing and refreshing the Nineties’ silhouette.How does your idea of the quintessential “New York woman” factor into your designs?I’m not even sure what the quintessential “woman” is, I think she completely changes from neighborhood to neighborhood, downtown cool, uptown polish, grunge, bohemian, classic, feminine are all quintessential New York styles for me. I generally seek out pieces that are easy to wear, look rich and are functional, so I design with those same ideas in mind. Quality accessories are completely important and worth it, shoes and outerwear especially. We always admire your use of bold colors and prints – is there a particular theme that dominates this season?Colors for this season are sorbet hues-think a nineties Gwyneth Paltrow in raspberry, lime, melon color blocked in solids, or mixed with bold geometric prints in black and navy.What are your pre-Fashion Week rituals?I’m just a tiny bit superstitious and totally believe in karma so pre-fashion week I tip everyone really well-waiters, cab drivers, manicurists, everybody. I always take time out to get a massage before our show and then binge on a bunch of candy. If fashion week isn’t an excuse to indulge I don’t know what is.Which other designers are you most looking forward to seeing?My perennial favorites are Stella, Celine, Vanessa Bruno, Acne and Margiela. I’m also still excited to see what Sarah Burton will be doing with McQueen, I think she’s been brilliant, something wonderful that came out of a tragic situation.Click through the slideshow to see pictures of behind-the-scenes preparations for the Tibi Fashion Week show.” has been a beacon of hilarity and truth in an often bleak Internet climate. It’s not just me who feels that way – almost half a million followers agree. White Girl Problems follows the trials and tribulations of “Babe Walker,” a young urbanite just trying to make it in the .She deals with her problems and anxieties by sharing them with the world, and let’s be honest, we all have a little Babe within us. “Smash Cut: me dying alone with no ,” she once stated. I too have woken up in a cold sweat, feeling empty and alone without a leather bowling bag by my side. Sure, we may not all have recurring nightmares that our horse is fornicating with our sister’s horse, but hey, no one can have everything.Babe took to her Twitter to announce the release of her “memoir” – which you can pre-order on . While it won’t be available until January, the has a full chapter – and trust me, you’ll want to read it. Also, the sketch above is Babe’s first day of a new job outfit. I think the oversized work-appropriate Birkin is charming, don’t you agree?, we’re opting to shop some originals.This 70s story is less glam Studio 54, more hot 70s babysitter daywear from ponchos to the perfect cut-offs to a totally rando, but so hot angora hat. Click through because it’s all gravy, baby., in 2011 and a lot of speculation has been made about whether Oprah’s talk show will be featured on the network. Christina Norman, CEO of OWN,that, “Her show as you know it is not coming to OWN. She’s going to have a significant presence on this network, but won’t be doing a cable version of Oprah.”Without Oprah herself at the helm of a talk show, we’ve picked our eight favorite choices for possible hosts:1. Kelly Ripa – She has proved herself on Regis and Kelly and we wouldn’t mind seeing her step out on her own.2. Neil Patrick Harris – Harris is on the top of his game and we would love to let him make us laugh daily.3. Simon Doonan- It’s no secret that we love this fashionable man, plus we’d really like to hear his insight on women…or him interview Beyonce.4. Rachel Zoe – We were completely addicted to The Rachel Zoe Project and while we’re sure it’s coming back, we can never get enough Zoe. Do you think guests would drink out of Starbucks cups?5. Natalie Portman – While she would be an unconventional choice, the young star would give OWN a worldly spin, plus as a Harvard grad, she could teach us a thing or two.6. Portia de Rossi – What could be better than watching de Rossi go head to head with her longtime girlfriend Ellen DeGeneres?7. Michelle Obama – Not going to happen, but it would be an inspiration to girls and women everywhere.8. Celine Dion – This would make for an exceptionally unpredictable show and probably excellent entertainment.When we heard that was designing a line called Truly Scrumptious (named after a song in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) geared towards little tykes to be sold exclusively at mega-retailer Babies’R'Us, we were intrigued. We were intrigued enough that I was dispatched into some rather abysmal weather into a horde of mommy bloggers (who ran the gamut from the “Celine cuff” moms to the “Talbots” moms) who were all desperate to talk to the amazing and gorgeous Miss Klum, clad in a Michael Kors leopard frock and Alaia’s most fabulous stripper heels. Let’s just say she stood out amongst the backdrop of strollers.Upon arrival, it became clear Heidi really is the working woman’s superhero. I listened as fellow attendees gushed about the many hats Klum wears. While asking a celebrity about how she balances her career and family life might seem like a run-of-the-mill interview question, these women really took Klum’s advice to heart and wanted her tips. And why shouldn’t they? While modeling certainly paid the bills for awhile, Klum has successfully branded herself as an expert in all fields (she even penned an advice book called ), and children’s clothing seems to be no exception. Her designs were clearly inspired by her creative four children — who, she also noted, have .When it came time to interview Klum, the aforementioned bloggers stormed the pink carpet, and we only managed to get a few words in. Here are some tidbits from the pool of questions people lobbed at her.Bloggers: As a mother with a 17-month-old and a full-time job, I am constantly wrecked with guilt. In your position, how do you balance it all?Klum: When you’re working very hard and you have a child, you just have to give yourself a break. You can’t beat yourself up over sometimes not being there. Sometimes, it’s just impossible. If you have to work, you have to work. I enjoy to work, that is what I love to do. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches, go with the flow if you miss something. Find what works for you.What does this collection mean to your career? For me, it is something that I enjoy doing. I like to design. It is not necessarily that improves my earnings. I make a lot of money doing a modeling gig, and most of the time that’s much easier. I show up for one day, twirl around and smile for the camera. That’s much easier, but I really enjoy making things. I always have.What celebrity kids have style you admire? Who would you like to see wearing your line?I don’t think about celebrity kids. I think about kids, you know? I really don’t. Good question, though! I think all kids are cute and they all deserve the best. As a mom, you always try to find the greatest and newest, whether it’s a toy, educational thing or food. You always want the best for them. It doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity or not a celebrity. And when it comes to clothes, it’s all about fun. Some basics, but fun. And of course comfort!Tell us more about the diaper bags in this collection. Well, as a mom, we want to be cool. You have to be functional, with a lot of pockets in there. It has to be washable. I don’t like to overload a mom because everyone packs differently. I never really used a lot of diaper bags because they always looked too much like a stroller. It has to look like you and not like the kid. I’m not into that matchy-matchy thing with your child. It should look the way you look, so I wanted a fashionable and cool diaper bag. I have great prints in the inside, and the outside has animal print and other options. I also made pouches, where you can put a few things so you don’t have to lug the entire bag.You mentioned your children are already into fashion. Do they have other talents or interests?Yes, they all take piano, and they’re all great swimmers. And after the Olympics, I have a few who want to get into gymnastics! We’re going to look into that next.gleaming, golden find, the majority of those clothes will never end up on your average fashion focused girl. You know what might though? The bread and butter of fashion houses the world over accessories.As much as a great fall coat can affect my breathing, that perfect Dries clutch is getting the superlative Most Likely to Come Home with Me. Same goes for those parfait Miu Miu heels or maybe, someday, a necklace. Why? Because clothing can feel transient but a great bag is forever.Paris Fall 2011 Fashion Week did not disappoint in the department store first floor department. Click though for the top of the toppest accessories from Paris straight from Louis Vuitton, Celine and more.All photos: ImaxTree.Since my first went up this past weekend, we’ve witnessed stellar showings from many of the biggest brands in fashion, including , Celine, and Givenchy. Sheer layers and white were some of the recurring motifs we noticed this week, but there was really something for everyone. From the ethereal looks at Marc Jacobs‘ presentation for to the widely-lauded debut collection by Humberto Leon and Carol Lim at Kenzo, there were numerous beautiful pieces to catch our eyes and feed our imagination this time around.Click through to see my favorite looks, and let us know in the comments section below if you would ever wear any of these pretty white frocks as a wedding dress! Photos: Imaxtreeto lessons in and Paris provided a tableau to choose from on the favorites front. We were able to narrow it down though, from a bad-ass gone whimsical from Sarah Burton’s first collection for the late Alexander McQueen’s namesake label, to the boldly draped, sari-meets-70s muted toned finale looks on a gorgeous tribe of girls from red carpet darling Lanvin by Alber Elbaz. at Celine explored prints, stripes and color in a way that changes the game all together, took leopard to a particularly glamorous new place think magnified and on stunningly structural gowns and Stefano Pilati’s Yves Saint Laurent paysanne ruffles allow the girl to be a flirt. See these exquisite creations reverted back to the essence of their artistry in the illustrations below. -Kerry PieriLANVIN: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: CELINE: GIVENCHY: YVES SAINT LAURENT: All illustrations by Jane Leung. , at Le Caprice in London, or designers cramming as many shows as possible into four days a la , des incroyables and les merveilleuse are checking into The George V and The Bristol and getting ready to pile onto Place Vendome, the Jardin des Tuilleries, and Les Palais. If you can’t make it to a show, or two, or three…live vicariously through these highlights from the up-and-coming Paris Fashion Week schedule.Thursday, October 1: Balenciaga, Balmain, Nina Ricci.Friday, October 2: Issey Miyake, Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Isabel Marant, Lanvin (insert pounding heart here), Maison Martin Margiela, Yohji Yamamoto.Saturday, October 3: Viktor & Rolf, Ann Demeuelemeester, Commes des Garcons, Jean Paul Gaultier.Sunday, October 4: Karl Lagerfeld, Dries van Noten, Givenchy, , Emanuel Ungaro.Monday, October 5: Stella McCartney, Giambattista Valli, Celine, Vanessa Bruno, Yves Saint Laurent (where you will find me holding a sign that reads ““).Tuesday, October 6: Chanel, Agnes B, Chloe, Valentino, Alexander McQueen.Wednesday, October 7: Louis Vuitton, Elie Saab, Hermés, John Galliano.And Thursday, October 8: We say au revoir to Fashion Week with Marie Bishara, Giles, Ingrid Vlasov and Estrella Archs.If you’ll be across the pond, for a detailed schedule overview equipped with times and locations…and tweet me for an afternoon rendezvous and snack at , wink wink. No pressure.events going on across the pond. If you can’t make it to the because you’re overseas, that’s not a problem; FNO is reaching out to all the fashion world capitals. For a complete list of locations, visit …and if you’re in Paris, join me in the 8me arrondisement, on Avenue Montaigne at 7pm tomorrow to kick off the night as we make a round through the following boutiques:1. Akris is hosting a cocktail party, equipped with DJ and raffle, for a dress worth over $3,000…or 2,000 Euros if we’re speaking in European currency.2. No time for makeup? No problem. Barbara Bui plus Bobbi Brown and Creme de la Mer will host a cocktail party that will feature a makeup bar at the Barbara Bui boutique on Avenue Montaigne.3. Who needs Paris Fashion Week tickets when Blumarine is hosting their own free fashion show from 7 to 10:30pm.4. Bonpoint‘s boutique will feature a cocktail party (surprise, surprise) plus photo exhibition compliments of the very talented French fashion photographer Stephane Feugere.5. Cartier‘s enormous boutique will feature live entertainment (singer Ilhem) and three clairvoyants… plus Vogue Japan fashion photo exhibition.6. Chanel is hosting a simple cocktail party and special boutique display…sounds dull, right? Wrong. Karl Lagerfeld never disappoints; this is something you should learn right now.7. Dior will also be hosting very special display, by French Vogue. 7. Fashion and art are truly colliding in Paris, Emanuel Ungaro’s version of FNO will include an exhibition a la photographer Steve Hiett.8. Kenzo is cool in Europe, especially when co-hosted by French Vogue and a Russian-themed (spiked) tea party.9. Loro Piana will launch their new Goyard-esque made-to-order concept, plus champagne at their boutique.10. Louis Vuitton and Guerlain are joining forces to host a cocktail party and makeup bar. We’ll get drunk and then apply makeup. Why not? When in France…11. Valentino will host a cocktail party and live DJ, Eventhough Mr. Valentino is no longer designing and the house has experienced a lot of transition and drama in the last two years, they’ve always maintained an air of elegance and have never disappointed before. I’ll be there, clad in red silk dress.12. Manoush, the Hamsa-loving company, will feature a cotton-candy stall (for you, Manoush, the fashion world will eat an influx of sugar) and a photo stand…because who doesn’t love a photo-op?13. Zadig & Voltaire featuring DJ Street Lab, enough said.14. Boutiques throwing petit cocktail parties include: Bulgari, Zilli, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Chrome Hearts and Celine.[]Ok, so that was more like a top 20 list than a top 10 list. The point is: turn that frown upside down, strap on some heels, and wear your brightest shade of red lipstick. You have your own FNO to attend. A demain, mes amis., former creative director at , has designed her first collection for , and it has finally hit stores to the tune of success. Fashionistas everywhere couldn’t wait to snag a piece of the RTW that gallivanted down the runway last September during Fashion Week. in London was first to grasp the pre-collection in their retail clutches. We personally can’t wait to get our hands on the utilitarian, menswear-inspired fabrications either!Can’t get enough of Céline, especially now that one of our favorite fashion-go-to-girls took the helm? Check out the timeline of memorable moments that led to the brilliant designs of today!1945 – Céline launches as a children’s made-to-measure shoe business for petits pieds d’anges, a French luxury house. Helmed by Madame Céline Vipiana.1959 – The house began marketing a line of shoes for women.1969 – The first ready-to-wear collection is created.1987 – Bernard Arnault assumes control of Céline through the holding company Financiere Agache.1996 – Céline joins .1997 – takes the reins as creative director.2006 – Ivana Omazic takes control.September 2008 – Phoebe Philo takes over as creative director, beginning with a fall 2009 collection.The rest is history, we can’t wait to see what the future holds!make enough of a statement. The woman who is single-handedly responsible for the revival of the French fashion house (and who can be credited for Chlo’s success after she was named its creative director in 2001) gave a rare interview to which ran over the weekend.Although she’s a self-proclaimed interview-hater, she thoroughly discusses how she’s worked to create a brand identity and modern designs that resonate not only with buyers, but with women everywhere. Phoebe explains her philosophy:“What I love is this idea of a wardrobe, the idea that we’re establishing certain signatures and updating them, that a change in colour or fabric is enough. I do think that the world doesn’t need many more frivolous bits and bobs that end up left in cupboards or landfills.”Philo’s “quality over quantity” viewpoint is rare these days in fashion, but it’s evident that whatever she’s doing is working. Her impeccably made staples are photographed on every international editor during Fashion Month, and although her clothing is a bit conservative, it perfectly straddles the lines between modern and timeless, as well as between masculine and feminine. The simplicity that she brings to her clothing is matched by her pure motives behind it. She says:“I absolutely love fashion. I love doing new things and finding ways to swerve in a different direction. But one of the reasons why I try to use fabrics and cuts that don’t go out of fashion is because I like the idea of women buying the clothes and then… I don’t know what the word is… cherish sounds over-emotional for a relationship with a piece of clothing… but for a woman to feel proud, satisfied, comfortable and powerful in them, to wear them and get on with their lives.”She’s a class act, this one. Check out the full interview over at !Photo: David Sims for Vogue Parisstar, Cee Lo Green. The Grammy-winning singer and former Gnarls Barkley star is pulling up stakes in L.A. later this summer and will beaptly titled, Loberace.The extravagana will take place at the Planet Hollywood Casino and Resort and promises to offer up “mind-twisting magic and sexified showgirls”. And knowing Green’s penchant for ridiculous costumes (see last year’s Grammys peacock ensemble) and stage theatrics, we can only imagine this will be a must-see for anyone who doesn’t live and die for the Titanic theme (i.e. Celine Dion), or feels like their life will never be the same after the missing the opportunity to see Cher take on Sin City in assless leggings.Certainly this has us in a tizzy, but until we’re sure Green’s famous furry friend Mr. Purrfect has a cameo, we’re going to hold off booking our plane tickets. After all, if he’s REALLY taking a page from the Cher/Celine Dion playbook, it’s only inevitable that he make room for a perfunctory “I Got You Babe” duet of some sort.and ‘s “Infinite Possibilities” Challenge Winner. She is one of the six lucky gals that uploaded a photo of themselves, flaunting a fearless hairstyle during our photo-upload contest this past summer, and won the chance to be featured in an upcoming cover story to be featured right here on StyleCaster, as well as in the pages of the February issue of .Inspired by Sebastian Professional’s innovative rule-breaking products, Marta uploaded a photo of herself onto our site (which you can check out above), rocking out a head-turning hairdo.We caught up with the superstar-in-the-making after our cover shoot to find out more about this PYT’s own personal style, the worst haircut she ever had and what fashion labels she’s totally into right now.What is your favorite Sebastian Professional product and why? dry, brushable, lightweight control hairspray. It’s such a smart solution to shape and hold your hair without making it heavy and stiff.What are your favorite hair trends at the moment?I’m really into the 60s-inspired voluminous up-do.Who are your favorite fashion designers or brands and why?Miu Miu, , Isabel Marant, Maison Martin Margiela and Celinebecause you would end up wearing impeccable outfits anytime.Which celebrity hairstyles are you digging at the moment?.What was the last concert you went to?.If you could hop on an airplane this very second, where would you go and why?. It’s my favorite city in Europe and I miss it so much…I miss shopping there and going to .How would you describe your own personal style, from head to toe? Chic, masculine, sophisticated and edgy.What’s one hairstyle faux pas that you secretly love? Natalie Portman‘s “pinky” wig as Alice in Closer.Describe your ultimate party outfit. Azzedine Alaa caramel mini-dress, Jeffrey Campbell Night Walk shoes in Black Suede, Topshop black opaque tights and LuLu Guinness shocking pink perspex lips clutch.Tell us about the worst haircut or hairstyle you ever had. Short and boyish as Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry, when I was 10.CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter.a number of fashion houses have turned to the t-shirts in their collections to get a little funky. From labels that stamp on their own logo to various jungle creatures to fruit with eyeballs, these Resort 2012 styles will make you want to kiss your plain white tees goodbye. 1. Mulberry Resort 2012 2. Pedro Loureno Resort 2012 3. 4. Givenchy Resort 2012 5. Stella McCartney Resort 2012My favorite silly sweater from Mulberry!, or opt for a more modestly priced pair of in a bold red at $185. A pop of color or pattern adds to the ensemble.Sweater: It’s all about layering, especially in this frigid weather. Underneath my classic J. Crew peacoat, I chose a Ralph Lauren sweater that is so comfortable, it makes the fabulous transition from pajamas to party attire. You can buy a for $98. It’s durable — believe me, I’ve put it through the ringer, and the use you get out of a classic v-neck sweater is unparalleled.T-shirt: Under my sweater, I would usually wear an oxford shirt, most likely of the chambray variety. But, being as I get hot way too easily, I decided a t-shirt would do the trick. I’m wearing a Lacoste pique polo in pink, that you can . See, I’m working a subtle alligator theme!Shoes: Since I knew I’d be walking a ton, I had to choose comfortable footwear. For that, I look no further than Cole Haan. I’ve been wearing his loafers since I was a wee lad, and I love ‘em. Get a .Accessories: Ray-Ban’s iconic Wayfarers are played out, but every once in awhile you just need to have a moment! I wore my white Wayfarers, which . For my belt, I love the preppy brand J. Mclaughlin, and I am wearing a palm tree covered number, which is . Additionally, I always wear silly socks, like that I’m wearing here, priced at $24.Anyway, if for some reason you want to emulate my style, I hope you enjoyed my tips — and please, I know I don’t look like Robert Pattinson, but I try. Happy NYFW, kids., do you only care about the label? Have you seen a fantastically wild dress but hesitated to buy it because you didn’t know who made it? Take the quiz below to find out if you’re a brand snob!1. What is the most you’ve ever spent on an article of clothing? a. You can’t quite remember but you know you’re still paying it off And now that is calling your name. b. $300 on a J.Crew bridesmaid dress that you were begrudgingly obligated to purchase. c. $400 on a classic long wool camel coat.2. What is your favorite online shopping destination? a. Net-A-Porter.com b. ModCloth.com c. SaksFifthAvenue.com3. Who do you turn to for ? a. Vogue. Which then becomes a shopping list… b. The mirror. Does it fit? Yes? Good. Ring it up. c. StyleCaster. Your one stop shop for a variety of fashion opinions.4. When you see a , you… a. Bypass it and head to the new inventory for spring. b. Shop exclusively from it. c. Browse through it for hidden gems.5. Which celebrity do you identify with style wise? a. and those Christian Louboutins she calls feet. b. Celebrity gossip is a thousand times more fun than celebrity style. c. Olivia Palermo and her eclectic mix of clothing.6. You just found a pair of Celine pants at a sample sale but they’re a size too small. So a. You buy them anyway. They’re Celine. They’re worth the. b. Who’s Celine? What’s a ? c. Shrug oh well. The tunic fit better anyway.7. Have you ever sold old clothes to a second hand store? a. No! Never! You’re creating an archive to hand your treasures down to your first born. b. Of course. But you usually end up turning that money back over to the store. You’re a sucker for a $10 dress even if it’s used. c. Every now and then. Mainly when you outgrow something.Mostly A’s Nose in the Air Brand Snob You only bother with clothing and accessories with a designer name in tact. Whether you’re buying it full price or vintage, it must have a credible source. If it doesn’t have a label, how do you know whether it’s weird in an edgy or weird in a stupid way? You use brand names to gauge the value of a piece and moreover use these brand names to demonstrate your knowledge of the fashion trends. Head to toe you want to be able to recite the designers that make up your outfit just in case you get stopped by ! Mostly B’s Brand Snubber Oscar. Carolina. Zac. When brands are referred to without their designer’s last name, you pause a moment before recognizing their name. Rather, you have a roster of retailers that you frequent and ignore the brands you purchase. You have a hard time justifying an expensive purchase because regardless of whether or not you can afford it, you wonder, “How can this cotton dress possibly be worth $350?!” It’s not that you’re ignorant or frugal, you’re just practical about clothing; you can’t get attached to a pair of jeans that will inevitably be or go out of style in two seasons.Mostly C’s Brand Balancer Every magazine has touted the benefits of striking a balance between high and low end pieces within one outfit. You are not above pairing your Jil Sander skirt with an American Apparel t-shirt or Rag & Bone sweater with H&M jeans. You can appreciate having a nice piece of clothing that requires , but don’t mind pairing it with a Hanes t-shirt lifted from your boyfriend.was wrapped, Fendi got color blocked, Lanvin was elegant in leather, Gucci loved gold, tied it up in knots, and Louis Vuitton was sequined but the well-centered idea from Spring’s runway was to get your belt on.It’s not as simple as to say cinch your dress – as the idea ranged from pants to jackets, jumpsuits and the karate inspired but any way you tie it you’ll appear that much more lithe. Don’t you just love that word? Click through to get it. , but maybe we were a bit too quick to encompass “all things” in that statement. Don’t get us wrong, as much as we love the plethora of gorgeous, flowy, makes-you-want-to-be-a-ballerina sheer skirts and dresses that are walking the catwalk for spring 2011, we’re just not exactly sure how to bring that look off of ‘s back and into our own closets. As to-die-for as designers like at Chlo and Christopher Kane made this look on the runway, all we can think about is how to instantly turn this NSFW look into office appropriate stat. Unfortunately, such wearability would entail wearing said flowy ballerina-inspired skirt over pants (currently envisioning skirt + jeans 3rd grade nightmare) or bringing back the concept of the slip, which simply takes the sheer pun intended beauty out of the whole trend, no? Loving the look just as much as us? Leave your suggestions for wearing the trend the real way in the comments below!shopping excursion over the holiday weekend, I found myself (as usual) perusing the racks of my personal mecca for all things Chlo and Celine-inspired but at one-thousandth of the price . While everything on the racks was made of some delicious combination of chunky knit, , corduroy and right in tune for fall, I happen to believe that the shoe selection that the high street retailer offers is quite the well kept secret. Naturally, I stumbled upon the perfect for under $100, available in both black and brown suede hues. However, after having the salesperson check in their stock room for my size, she only returned with bad news to relay. It was a fashion low point, to put it lightly. Alas, I won’t be giving up on these lace-up pieces of perfection, but I suggest if they look the part for your fall wardrobe, you best snatch them up soon. Zara wedge ankle boots with laces, $99.90, available at . within the continually growing and fiercely competitive world of street style photography. Both fellow fashion bloggers and magazines utilize her images, noting her incredible sense of light and talent for portraying emotion in a fleeting moment. She’s also done freelance work, including a regular column in the soon-to-be relaunched Grazia.it magazine.Chris Frey, a regular contributor to , eBays digital style magazine, about the aha! moment that changed her life and requested that from her thousands of photographs, she give us her current personal Top 10.Tell us about how playing with your husband’s point-and-shoot camera led to a full-time career? In December of 2007 Ijoined the photo-sharing website Flickr and became part of a project called “100 Strangers. Itwas the first time I had ever photographed people other than snapshots ofmy friends at parties back home in Sydney. In the beginning I was completely and utterly terrified: the thought of approaching arandom stranger on the street and asking if I could take their photo wentway beyond my comfort zone. However, I persevered and the projectbuilt up my confidence in terms of approaching strangers of all ages and backgrounds. Gradually I started to learn more about light, composition, my DSLR camera settings (I upgraded from the Fujicamera) andediting techniques. I have always loved fashion and style, however, and moved into shooting street style images in March 2009. You describe what you do as a love affair. Do you shoot every day? Yes, almost every day I take photographs. Even if I don’t physicallypick up my cameras or my iPhone camera, I am constantlythinking about making images.I absolutely can’tswitch my brain off from thinking about ideas for shootsthe people and places that I would love to photograph.And I really believe that practice, practice and even more practiceis the only way to become better at taking photographs.You live in London. What defines London street style? I think the girls in Londonhave certain edginess and cool that is completely unique to them. I love it, but the lightcan be difficult for my style of photography. I think I would be better suited to living in California!Do you have a favorite place to shoot? Absolutely anywhere with good light! I am obsessed with light. I love the vibrancy and energyof New Yorkthere is nowhere else like it in the world. Plus, Iadore Paris. It issuch abeautiful place any time of the year.Having been shooting for several years now do you have certain people youre always on the lookout for? There are a number of girls I have met since I started shooting during Fashion Weeks that I could take portraits of over and over again and never become bored.It is a combination of unique beauty, style, energy and,most importantly, personality. I love happy peopleor at least people who are happy to have me photograph them!people who are willing to trust me and whounderstand my vision.Who are your personal favorite fashion designers? If I had an unlimited budget I would wear Celine, Aussie label Scanlan&Theodore, Chloe, and Lanvin flats and sneakers. Unfortunately I do not have an unlimited budget!Do you ever shop on eBay? eBay is my absolutego-to place for film cameras. I am in love with the look and feel of film images and eBay is excellent for sourcing older cameras. to see Jackmans 10 favorite looks from her blog, along with the eBay pieces we paired with six of them. Meredith Barnett is the Editorial Director for The Inside Source, a digital style magazine presented by eBay. The Inside Source writer Chris Frey authored this article in its original form. to read it in full. (Images courtesy of Vanessa Jackman.) Photos:VanessaJackman.com Agency/Salon: Hometown: Oakland New York City Neighborhood: Woodside, Queens Most Memorable Stylist Moment: Memorable because it was positive or negative? I guess when I convinced a total stranger to go short with her hair and the end result was fantastic! Her reaction was the memorable moment because she was so happy. What product is your secret weapon?: Hairspray, hairspray, hairspray!!!Any celebrity or designer you’re dying to get your hands on?: I want to do Celine Dion’s hair. Those waves/curls aren’t that hard! Celine, give me a call!CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter.CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter.Last year, you may remember that was up in arms over an Old Navy ad, entitled “Super C-U-T-E.” The campaign featured Canadian singer Melissa Molinaro gallivanting around in Kardashian-esque outfits (i.e. skinny jeans, cropped blazers, Jackie O sunglasses and stilettos) and the second Kim saw it, she was less than pleased, claiming the lookalike model violated her “publicity rights.”Okay, so we’ll be the first to say that this was a little crazy. People can’t help it if they look like Kardashians. It’s just the way the world works. However, the styling and premise of the commercial definitely seems like it was knocked off from their eponymous reality show ( before Kris Jenner manually takes it down herself). The lawsuit further heated up when it was revealed that Molinaro was involved in a relationship with Reggie Bush, whom Kim dated for years.Now, it’s finally come to a close. reports that, “The lawsuit was resolved to mutual satisfaction of both parties, but beyond that it’s the only statement we have.” We’re guessing Kim walked away with a pretty penny that she’ll deposit in her Celine Phantom bag and use to buy some Givenchy. It must be tough to be Kim. Her ex-husband first entered the public eye in Hardtail pants and spaghetti strap tank tops, but now tools around town with a Birkin bag those signature Kardashian kurls.Conclusion: Maybe Old Navy should stick with as their spokeswoman.Photo via and inspires her to try new things, like dancing in the street. It’s just the beginning of one of the most memorable love stories put on film. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY Over lunch at Katz’s Deli, Harry (Billy Crystal) refuses to believe that men can’t tell when a woman is faking an orgasm. Sally (Meg Ryan) proves him wrong, while neighboring lunch tables watch on and scramble to change their orders to “have what she’s having.” It’s cringe-inducing, but fun– like so many first dates. SIXTEEN CANDLES While some might not call the iconic final scene of Sixteen Candles a proper date per se, Sam Baker (Molly Ringwald) and Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) share a memorable birthday kiss that makes us swoon every time– and every dorky girl believe she has a shot with the coolest guy in school. ANNIE HALL In one of his most of all time, Woody Allen plays Alvy Singer, a highly neurotic comedian who prefers to diffuse any by giving Annie (Diane Keaton) the first kiss at an unexpected moment. Allen knows how to make anything quirky. BEFORE SUNRISE In Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise, American Jesse (Ethan Hawke), and Parisian Celine (Julie Delpy) meet on a train and decide to disembark in order to spend one roaming around Vienna together. While lingering in a cafe, they begin to express their feelings for one another– not a bad set up for an amazing date.More News We Love: may be a snob when it comes to carrying the best all day every day, but a snob in real life, she is not. Though the moniker is a bit misleading, we appreciate a woman who knows what she wants especially when those things include quality and aesthetic appeal. Meet Tina Craig, of Snob Global Media, who alongside her business partner Kelly Cook, runs all of the company’s sites including BagSnob, BeautySnob, CoutureSnob, etc AND manages to tweet on the reg and did we mention she’s a mother too? Tina took a few moments to chat Twitter, time management and shared a few secrets you might not know about the handbag-obsessed member of the Twitteratti. So what does your typical day look like? I begin each day by checking my twitter feed (it’s less of a commitment than checking emails), followed by the mad dash of getting my son ready for school. Once he’s off with his father, I have my usual Japanese plum tea with fruit and eggs and begin my work day. I go through my emails and check all the blogs (, , , , and ) to make sure all entries posted as planned. I head off to yoga mid morning at least three times a week; it keeps my mind clear and my butt toned (sitting at a desk all day is the worst for the derriere).Once or twice a week I’ll attend charity/fashion/social luncheons, but usually it’s a quick lunch at my desk before I go out to press appointments or R&D at Barneys/Neimans etc. I pick up my son by 3:30 PM and I become his chauffeur/short order cook/slave until he goes to bed at 8:30 PM.I love cooking and try to cook at least four times a week: Chinese food is my preference but I also do a mean lobster pasta with homemade sauce. My husband and I like to keep our social commitments to a minimum; family dinners with our son is important to us. Studies have shown that eating dinner with your children at least 5 nights a week (it doesn’t matter what or where you eat as long as you eat together) greatly reduces the risk of substance abuse. I do not regularly, so most evenings are spent sitting next to my hubby while he watches football and I work on my Macbook. I go to NYC for work every 3-4 weeks those workdays are much more hectic!How do you manage all of the different sectors of Snob Media AND tweet AND be a mother on top of it? We do multiple entries a day per blog and it does get really hectic, but we have a wonderful team of writers and interns who help us keep it all together. Twitter is comic relief for me, it takes a minute to log in, keep up with my friends and tweet so it’s not really work. My husband is hands-on with our son and supportive of my career this is very helpful for a!You must have some amazing time management skills. Whats your secret? I am good at multi-tasking, but there really is no secret other than prioritizing your commitments. In my life, my son comes first, everything else is scheduled accordingly. The minute I make an appointment or a to do list, I put it on my calendar in the iPhone so I don’t forget. I also set an alarm for every single thing, even shopping.In true fashion, describe your personality in 140 or less: I am high strung and strong willed but love a good laugh and can talk to just about anyone!Whats your favorite and least favorite thing about Twitter? I love being part of this huge community; my Twitter friends are super supportive and make me feel warm and fuzzy all over when I am feeling down. I don’t like the ‘location’ service on twitter it’s scary to let people know where you are at all times.You are a pretty big authority when it comes to bags. What are your top high and low bag choices of the season? For RESORT 2011High: Low: Cross Zip Pocket Bubble Cotton – Round Sack Retail: $355 Color- slate/cream Whats the most recent handbag purchase you made? At I got an emerald green for me and a white crocodile hobo for Kelly.How many bags do you actually have in your closet? Have not counted in awhile, but I think a couple of hundred.Wow! So many to choose from. What’s the one youre carrying right now? Proenza PS11 in black SICK.Biggest bag faux pas besides it actually being faux? Lugging a giant day bag out to a formal dinner at night.Any designers youd love to see come out with a handbag line? Roland Mouret and .Three things your Twitter followers might not know about you? 1. I am a certified Pranic (energy) healer from the American Institute of Asian Studies. I studied energy healing for years and attended retreats and workshops all over the country. 2. I am an Ordained Clergy Member of the CSH and authorized to officiate religious rites and ceremonies, including marriage. (I did it so I could officiate the marriage of one of my best friends in 2003!) 3. I meditate daily. (Wow, I’m giving away all my secrets!)You are definitely part of what we would call the Twitteratti. Do you actually know these fellow Twitterers personally, or are they relationships you have fostered through social media? Other than , whom I knew before we started tweeting, I met every one of the “Twitterati” Twitterers through Twitter. These were relationships that were fostered through social media but overlapped into real life. We’ve all become good friends and have dinners, shop and hang out together regularly. Meeting so many amazing people is probably the best thing about Twitter. Top 5 people to follow: @carlscrush – I love his self deprecating humor and hilarious observations on everything from football to lipstick. – One of my Twitter BFFs, she gives great fashion advice and never leads you to bad hair. – Quirky and funny, obsessed with her dog. Need I say more? @sashacharnin – My real-life friend for years, I coached her when she first joined Twitter and she’s taken off like a rocket. She is possibly the most shoe obsessed person I know. Her crazed rantings about shoes are borderline psychotic but so entertaining! @fuggirls – These girls are the smartest and funniest chicks around.#1 reason for unfollowing someone: It is so boring when someone only tweets to promote their business. I unfollow immediately.Whats the strangest thing someone has ever tweeted at you? People often ask me to come over to their houses and edit their closets. I mean…Life motto: If you can think it, you can be it., , and ), which exist for the sole purpose of easily locating and comparing cheap airline tickets. Be sure to hop around directly on the airline websites, as you can usually find better deals when the tickets come directly from the airlines. Once your flight is booked, make 100 percent sure you check-in online 24 hours before your scheduled departure time, to ensure you get your seat (and some airlines allow you to choose which seat you want online). Another useful tip when booking a flight is to make it in the early morning or late evening, allowing you to miss the frantic mobs at the airport.2. Buy durable luggageAvoid an airport meltdown caused by your suitcase zipper getting stuck or breaking. Some suitcases are more compact than others, which is better when it comes to carry-on bags. Duffel bags are also handy since they can squeeze in overhead compartments while still carrying all of your essentials. has a wheelie duffel bag that comes in various colors for only $79. For cheap and stylish suitcases/duffels, visit the website, where you can buy cheetah print luggage for $180.3. Pack like a proTo avoid paying extra to check your bag, only bring a carry-on. Pack your liquids in a one quart-sized doubled-up Ziploc bag. If you are worried your favorite Stella McCartney perfume bottle will be confiscated, either pack it in a checked bag (if you have one) or leave it behind this time. Regarding the safety of your toiletries, all drugstores have travel-sized samples. Keep in mind where you are going. If you are staying in a hotel, it should come equipped with shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and a hairdryer, among other things. If you are going home, chances are you have toiletries already, meaning there will be a couple less items to pack. As for clothing, you can save room by packing your shoes at the bottom (and tucking your undergarments inside them), lying all bulky items flat on top of the shoes, and storing compact items (such as tank tops and t-shirts) in the gaps. Cosmetics cases will help ensure there are no makeup spillage mishaps; has a handful for under $20.4. Always arrive at the airport earlyExpect worst-case scenarios so you are best prepared and equipped. For international flights, it’s best to arrive two hours prior to your departure time and for domestic flights, you should arrive approximately 45 minutes prior. To kill the extra time, bring a good book or Kindle to avoid paying for eight magazines. You can also get this conveniently small portable dvd player from for $60. 5. If you are staying at a hotel, look online to compare prices and amenitiesFor the most part, these websites are honest and legitimate, as they contain reviews from people who were guests at the hotels. Some popular sites for finding the perfect hotel for your needs include , , and . To make the hotel cost even less, use frequent flyer miles or credit card points toward your stay. For more privacy, you could go to to find a house or condo to rent.6. Ship your gifts instead of lugging them with you on your tripAlthough this option may be a little more expensive, it saves you the trouble of having to drag around dead weight. Plus, if you have a connecting flight, shipping gifts is far less risky when it comes to getting lost. members even get a special holiday shipping discount.are the kind of girls you meet, instantly want to be friends with, and make you consider going into business with your bff. When speaking to them, they bring the wit and obscure references that you might hear when watching vintage episodes of Dawson’s Creek or Gilmore Girls, only smarter and not in any way annoying. That they also create cool girl clothes that are completely creative, infinitely wearable, unexpected and chic is more than a plus. We couldn’t wait to hear how Lisa and Sophie would approach our 17 questions read on and find out for yourself! Vena Cava SS11 Photo: ImaxTree1. Occupation? We design and run ! 2. Explain an average day at work in one sentence. Lisa: Come in, emails, spill coffee on my keyboard, sketch some flats/work on some techpacks, meetings outside or within the office, emails, lunch on a stoop nearby, emails, meetings and hopefully something creative at some point. 3. High point/low point of your job? Sophie: High point- getting to build a company, collaborate with friends and be our own bosses. Low point- never really being “done” with work. Photo: iStock 4. Favorite Beverage? Lisa: That Boba Tapioca (Bubble) tea that was really popular a few years ago I never really got that out of my system. Meatballs, 1979 5. Most inspiring film for fashion? Sophie: Ahhhh so many! The Long Goodbye, The Passenger, Celine and Julie Go Boating, The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, Betty Blue, Meatballs, Wanda and Charmed Life of the Bourgeoisie. 6. Comfort Food? Lisa: Lasagna, boba tea (see above) and Twizzlers. 7. Best gift youve ever received? Sophie: Home-made beef jerky and beer from my brother. Paris Photo: iStock 8. Greatest city in the world and why? Lisa: Paris for breakfast foods, and wandering around somewhere beautiful, Mexico City for a sense of possibility, Buenos Aires for a steak dinner and a good party. 9. Whats one magazine, newspaper or website you read daily? Sophie: The New York Times- iPhone App. Who reads the news on paper anymore?! 10. Fashion uniform when you were 16? Lisa: with an over-sized grandpa cardigan and platform creepers. 11. Last clothing or accessory piece purchased? Sophie: I got a new flannel Jalaba off eBay. I have been sort of obsessed with this idea of caftans and Jalabas it’s all I want to wear around the house. I’m really envious of the way Moroccan men dress. 12. One thing most people dont know about you? Lisa: At one point in my life, I was considering being a professional tuba player. I’m not joking. 13. Favorite song on your iPod right now. Sophie: “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” Pink Floyd…. I am 14 again and have gotten deep into Pink Floyd. It’s just so good, and sounds so right again. 14. Best decade for fashion? Lisa: The ’30s and. 15. It girl right now? Sophie: I’d have to say, my Great Aunt Barbara who is 80 years old has the most groundbreaking style of anyone I know. She’s got “it.” 16. Finish this sentence: The future of fashion is Lisa: People that are being born right now… 17. What do you think all fashion industry people have in common? Sophie: The desire to buy wholesale, a love for the word “fabulous,” an obsession with sushi, saying “Caio!,” and the desire to double kiss even when they are not French.Thanks andy! Will I see you at the beach 2day? RT @: Happy Canada Day to @ and @ ! Oh and Miss Anne Murray. Even though we’re very America-oriented this weekend, we appreciate Andy Cohen’s love for our neighbors to the North. Happy Hmm, cute, but we were expecting something a tad more abstract from the design duo… Johnny Weir is coming by StyleCaster this afternoon for a video portrait and an interview on his impeccable style! Shameless self promotion, but we love, love Johnny Weir! Someone in Paris loves UNO too!!!! Like the pizzeria? Dita we thought you were classier than mass market Chicago-syle deep dish. How do you maintain that 22-inch waist? SITES WE LOVE, and now it seems it has. Naomi Campbell must be bored of standard city courts, the model will now have to testify at a war trial. Scary. ()Posh automobiles? Looks like it. was named creative design director at Range Rover. We’re guessing safety won’t be Beckham’s first priority… ()Those girls are not joking about their copyright issues. Apparently Lucky Brand took a page directly from s Spring runway and ripped off the beloved-by-the-fashion-flock clogs. FACEBOOK CNBC’S CRIME INC: COUNTERFEIT GOODS WILL PREMIERE JULY 14TH – A little advance notice for this upcoming feature on the fake trade. Ooh, sounds serious, we love a good fashion expos.More : , Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, and Billy Joel, to name a few) got together and recorded a little song called We Are the World.Yesterday night (February 1), 81 of the worlds top recording artists gathered at the to contribute to the remake of the late Michael Jacksons We are the World in attempts to raise funds for Haitian earthquake relief. The colossal event brought out big names including , Celine Dion, Pink, and Lil’ Wayne (to name a few).The famous lyrics were composed over a more modern track; think of it as the original with a Southern hip-hop twist.In a statement, Quincy Jones said, “Twenty-five years ago, the entertainment industry showed the power of community to help our fellow man when we recorded ‘We Are The World’ to bring relief to those suffering from famine in Ethiopia. And while the need to assist Africa continues, today the country of Haiti is suffering immeasurably from the destruction due to the recent earthquake and is in immediate need of relief that will last long after the television cameras have left. As artists, we have joined together on this 25th anniversary in the spirit of ‘We Are The World’ to help meet that need.”Both the new version of We are the World, as well as an accompanying video will be available for purchase through a variety of retailers, with all proceeds going directly to help the cause in Haiti through the newly established .This is definitely not the first time weve seen stars put their star powers to good use. Below, the top ten most charitable celebs.Brad Pitt:Usually overshadowed by his equally charitable spouse, Brad Pitts New Orleans foundation has helped to raise enough money to build over 90 homes for those left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.Angelina Jolie:The media dubbed her Santa Jolie, and with good reason. Angelina Jolie, who bravely visited the Middle East while pregnant with twins, is an advocate for many charitable causes, most notably for her support for educating children in Iraq.Jennifer Aniston:An active member of the annual childrens hospital fundraising drive since 2004, Jennifer Aniston is an advocate for many charities, including , an organization aimed at stopping violence against women.Eva Longoria Parker:Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria began , an afterschool program for special needs children in San Antonio. “My older sister Elizabeth is mentally disabled. She is my hero,” says Parker.Mariska Hargitay:When the Law and Order SVU star was asked about how she deals with all the negative subject matter on her show, she responded I deal with it by doing something about it. Hargitays supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.Michael J. Fox:Diagnosed with Parkinsons in 1991, Michael J. Fox has been an incredibly outspoken advocate in funding research for the disease. He also created the for Parkinsons research, which has raised over $140 million.Sarah Michelle Gellar:As an ambassador for , an organization that helps eliminate poverty in 65 countries through health education and social reform, Gellar helps to raise funds and awareness in many countries. Working for two years in the organization, Gellar maintains that “It’s one of the best things [she has] ever done.”Anna Kournikova:Tennis superstar Anna Kournikova puts her stardom to good use through partnering with the , a foundation established to help provide moral boosts for both our troops overseas as well as their children.Chris Rock:Funnyman Chris Rock joins forces with the to fix up community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn.Hilary Duff:Former teen queen Hilary Duff works with , an organization which provides kids with backpacks of food to take home on the weekends.More News We Love:Whether it’s the of the Celine Fall 2012 show or the of J. Mendel’s autumn runway, leather is all the rage this season. Some designers are sticking to trims or embellished patches, while others are going all-out with full leather outfits in a range of colors. While this is certainly a trend you can’t miss out on this season, we can all agree it’s one your wallet may not master.For those looking for a thrifty option: Free People is here with the perfect solution. They’ve mastered the season’s leather trend in the form of a charming dress that’s wearable for any occasion, plus they have even designed it in black and bright orange — another hot color this season. Best of all, it’s vegan, so any and all concerns one might have about buying leather are conveniently out the window.Then there’s the affordable price — less than $200. Really, what excuse do you have not to snap this dress up?Free People Pleated Vegan Leather Dress, $198, . As we’ve come to expect from the divine Miss Banks, the video features her quintessential trash-talking and vamping — all while wearing some seriously glamorous clothing.She continues to up her fashion cred with references to brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Celine. Additionally, superstar stylist and Lady Gaga‘s BFF Nicola Formichetti () is responsible for her awesome outfits.Despite initial skepticism on some of our parts regarding Azealia and her cavalier attitude, she has continued to prove herself as a credible voice in the crowded music scene. Watch the video above and let us know what you think of her latest work., Global Traveler: A fashionable free spirit, you get inspired in a worldly kind of way. You’re not afraid of mixing and matching print nor of richly colored statement styles. Recommended runways: , Goth Sophisticate: You’re a devoted follower of black on black. For fall, try adding some texture to your noir wardrobe such as supple lambskins or gorgeous velvets. Recommended runways: , Sexy Siren: When you walk into a room, you want all eyes on you. Whether it be blinding sequins, or up-to-there hemlines, you’re the kind of the woman who’s not afraid to flaunt her god-given assets. For fall, spice up your minidress collection with one-sleeved silhouettes and boldly drenched color. Recommended runways: , School Girl Chic: Flirty and coquette, you like to charm rather than hit-them-over-the-head with style. Come fall, opt for swingy skirts and slightly oversized cozy sweaters. Recommended runways: , Photo credits All runway images: Imaxtree Madonna: Julian Wasser, Getty Images Keanu Reeves: Greg DeGuire, WireImageRelated: .Some pieces are more overt than others, some you may just be all, “whatever, they’re just stripes.” But, the color ways of orange, black, fuchsia and green are pervasive, stripe on stripe and pattern on stripe are all over the place, and that drop waist below a scoop neck is so happening. Am I just seeing the world through Prada colored glasses? Even so, major brands should set the trends, no? It’s kind of like the .are teaming up for Bieber’s upcoming album. The pint-sized prince of pop tweeted,”You really wanna know who im going into the studio with tonight??#bigbro #CANADA.” His manager then confirmed it.When the initial Bieber fever craze took over the world, I didn’t know what to think. Alas, I have grown to love him. Also, I’ve been a Drake fan since the Degrassi days and I find that his music is outrageously addictive.Seriously, these two are the best things to happen to Canada since Celine Dion and poutine. Get amped, folks.on Celine: “I liked the fact the name didn’t stand for anything anymore…it’s really not relevant to me what Celine has been or where it has been. It will be whatever I make it for the time I’m there.” This woman is the definition of amazing. ()DOUBLE SHOT: TWEET TWEET!work perfectly as a boho goddess statement piece. Mystic Fall Earrings, available with subscription at If crisp isnt your style, have fun and pair diamond earrings with grungy, like this one from . Camel Knitted Slouchy Stitch Jumper, $80, at On todays runway, we see a lot of ethnic influence so complement your with chunky silver jewelry piled all on one wrist. One of my very favorite standout jewelry trends was from . The collection showcased two on each wrist. Try the same look for less with the Gehry gold cuffs Kate and I designed, which are coming out in December. With jewelry, you dont want to neglect your neckline. This season, the necklace trends are two extremes super short or elegantly long. Pair the with strapless dresses for a glamorous night out or pair the long pendants over sweaters and tees for a casual day. Celestial Wreath Necklace, available with subscription at As for rings, get creative this season. Stack a mixture of rings of different metals and stones and spread them all over your fingers this was a big focus of our upcoming JewelMint collections. And most importantly, have fun with your jewelry. When you arent feeling the simple look of just one, stack on more. Kate and I love contrast and putting pieces together that you wouldnt normally think of. This seasons trends are perfect for experimenting. Have a fashionable day! -Cher Cher Coulter is a top Los Angeles based stylist, whose client list includes Kate Bosworth, Sienna Miller, Katie Holmes, and Scarlett Johansson . Known for combining easy avant-garde with absolute glamour in her womens styling, Cher possesses an equal talent for mens fashion. Cher and her dear friend Kate Bosworth recently launched their very own jewelry line, , which provides members with high-end jewelry for $29.99/month. To learn more about Chers fashion sensibility, check out the new jewelry line from her and Kate Bosworth at . , Kanye West – the uber stylish and controversial rapper who frequents the front rows during Fashion Week, dons designer duds and drops lines about the designer of the – is now calling Paris home and may be seriously starting a high-end clothing line set for Spring/Summer 2012. He won’t be attending school to learn designing details the formal way and is instead said to be close friends with Professor Louise Wilson, head of the MA fashion design degree at Central Saint Martins College of Art in London so maybe he’s learning design through osmosis?Although West is no stranger to designer collaborations with big names such as Nike and Louis Vuitton under his belt,this is the second time the lyricist/fashionisto will foray into creating his own fashion line since his much-anticipated brand, Pastelle, was scrapped in 2009. With such a quick release for Spring/Summer 2012, we can only hope Prof. Wilson will truely give him a crash course in design. Do you care about Kanye’s celeb line?CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONIncoming… In a sec, you’re going to receive an email from StyleCaster asking you to click on a link to confirm your subscription to the StyleCaster newsletter., in a word, kills it. For its March catalog, the Spaniard brand once again takes notes from its French neighbors at Celine and Chlo and Stella McCartney and keeps it streamlined and minimal with that perfect brand of louche cool the aforementioned brands seem to have perfected. A camel blazer is perfectly cut, rust reds continue to reign and there’s some sick boots that could carry me all the way through Spring. Click through and create your wish list.Photos: Courtesy of Zara– even the name is fun. Just say it, Zara. The Spanish label that keeps girls looking like they can afford high design gave a little catalog sneak peek for the Summer season, and I like it.Equal parts pared down minimalism and bold and sassy fuchsias and turquoises to make you re-examine your color stance the eight looks are fairly perfect and I need that camel leather mini please. It’s not Celine or Chlo, but it’s channeling the chic side, and that’s all a girl can really ask for at a reasonable price point.Plus Stella Tennant is representing so much cool in one catalog.Al Sharpton To Take On Guerlain, LVMH For Racist Remarks by 5:16 pm, October 22nd, 2010 Jean Paul Guerlain‘s now have the attention of one of America’s best-known civil rights activists.WWD reports the Rev. Al Sharpton will be heading to France after the mid-term elections to address the insensitive slur Guerlain used twice on a recent news broadcast. Sharpton agreed to come at the behest of Patrick Lozes, president of the French Representative Council of Black Associations. Lozes’ organization is leading the charge against Guerlain’s remarks, and has called for further apologies from the perfumer and from its parent company LVMH.“It has been six days since Mr. Guerlain made these comments, and for six long days LVMH has not moved to distance itself from them,” Lozès said. And while LVMH’s official statement makes it clear that the luxury house thinks it’s already done enough apologizing (and explaining that Mr. Guerlain is no longer linked to the company), branding and marketing experts disagree.“His name is inexorably linked to the brand,” said Robert Passikoff, president and founder of New York-based Brand Keys Inc. “Very few consumers are going to go out of their way to discover his true status and will attach his racial slurs to both the man and the brand.”And that could mean lower sales for both Guerlain and LVMH’s other brands — Lozes is already planning a silent march in front of the Guerlain flagship on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, and is calling for people who have bought Guerlain products recently to return them.While we don’t know how much damage this blemish will do to companies like Celine, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton, which LVMH also owns, we know one thing is for sure: If Al Sharpton is getting involved, then the tension behind Mr. Guerlain’s words is definitely about to heat up.[Via ] Luxury For Rent: The Albright Fashion Library by 10:27 am, April 6th, 2010 In a 7,000 square foot loft in Manhattan’s Cooper Square sits an estimated 15,000 dresses and 10,000 evening gowns, making up the largest privately held collection of high-end fashion in the country. The clothes are organized impeccably; racks organized strategically by category and color. This is the Irene and Marina Albright have arguably the world’s greatest closet. Chanel, Dior, Prada, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Celine, Gareth Pugh, Marchesa and Hermes: the mother and daughter have everything from Birkin Bags to Louboutins. And while we’re talking shoes, the ladies have over 7,000 pairs.While I’m certain the two have played their fair share of dress up since opening in 1990, these clothes aren’t for their personal use. They’re for editors, stylists, and celebrities who come to the Albright Fashion Library to borrow outfits for various events, appearances, or productions. Movie costume designer David Carl Robinson, who worked on movies like Zoolander and Lindsay Lohan’s Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen frequents the Albright Fashion Library. “There is nothing else like it,” he . “For a job like mine, it’s invaluable. I might need a crazy pink top for a scene and it’s there. It’s such a compendium of fashion.” And for a fee, stylists, celebrities, and editors can delve into this “compendium of fashion” and make it their own, at least for a moment. :The Albrights estimate about 20 percent of their business comes from stylists borrowing for public appearances, 30 percent from costume designers renting for movies and television — Anne Hathaway wore a John Galliano gown from Albright in a pivotal scene in The Devil Wears Prada — and 50 percent from advertising shoots. Both Beyoncé and Scarlett Johansson have worn gowns from Albright for L’Oréal campaigns.The Fashion Library is a fashion lover’s playground, with over 1,200 new pieces added to the collection a year. And last year the ladies opened a store, Mina Gallery, just down the street from their showroom to sell their older stock. “If I love it, I buy it — and then I figure out how to make it work,” Irene told WWD. “Other business owners would probably cringe. For me, it’s instinctual.”The Albright’s instincts seems to have served them well, especially in the current economic climate where purchasing a $10,000 Marchesa gown simply is not an option. It’s “luxury for rent,” the showroom’s website explains. Get a peak into the Albright Fashion Library in this CNN segment from April 2009.Photo courtesy of WWD. Barneys Fashion Director Amanda Brooks On Tweeting For The 1% by 10:10 am, November 9th, 2011 If you’re not following Barneys fashion director Amanda Brooks on Twitter, you’re missing out on a view into one of the coolest stores in the luxury fashion space. So last night, when Barneys celebrated the re-opening of the freshly overhauled CO-OP space in its New York flagship, we asked Brooks a few questions about her 140-character musings on style and shopping.Styleite: Yesterday a reporter sort of Bergdorfs for expanding its social media team. Do you think it’s –Amanda Brooks: Why did they make fun of them?Styleite: Well, they’re hiring a social media coordinator. They called it the “Murray Hill ingenue’s dream job.”Brooks: [Laughs]Styleite: Do you think it’s important for retailers like Barneys, like Bergdorfs, like Saks, to have a social media presence?Brooks: I think it’s important for anybody with a brand to have a social media presence. But I also think it’s the same challenge as anything else. I think it’s a very fine line between being editorial and commercial, and balancing that is always the ultimate. I thnk you have to do it authentically… But the nature of social media is personal, and for a big company it’s hard to be so personal, you’re looking to be more commercial… I do tweet on the weekends about what I’m doing at my country house and . I do go off topic on the weekends because, I just think it’s a bit boring to just talk about product, product, product, product, product. Styleite: So where’s the line for you between being too personal and too commercial?Brooks: I guess in my brain, I always think, “What does this offer?” I don’t tweet about my kids, but if it’s the weekend, I tweet about style, lifestyle … I might take a tweet of the place setting that I did for lunch that day, or a beautiful view or just something that’s inspiring.Styleite: Granted, Barneys is not an inexpensive place to shop. Brooks: Yes. It’s all relative.Styleite: Yes. You have what’s affordable for one person and you have what’s affordable for another person. But Twitter only makes consumption more conspicuous if you’re sending it out there to thousands of people. In light of people being critical of conspicious consumption and criticzing the way the 1% shop and the way they live, do you try to temper what you tweet, or are you just trying to just represent what’s normal for you?Brooks: I think for a fashion director I’m incredibly conservative in what I buy. So I feel like, yes I’m very lucky, I’ve worked very hard to afford designer clothes… I love to shop, I probably spend more money on clothes than I should, but I feel like I can be honest and not be offensive. Like it’s true to myself. I’m not a crazy shopaholic who’s buying a Celine bag every week. But I probably buy a Celine bag a season, you know? Today I bought . They’re $375 retail, and with our employee discount significantly less than that. I feel like I can do it honestly and not be offensive about spending money on clothing. I feel good about how much money I spend on clothing. I support the company, I support the brands I like. I always have a few new things, but I really have always bought pretty classic clothes and I have no qualms about wearing something that’s last season or the season before or five years old or ten years old. Styleite: So, finally, what is on your Christmas wish list and your Christmas shopping list?Unfortunately I already know my Christmas present from my husband because he and I both like to choose our own presents. But hopefully I’m getting the Ann Dexter Jones ID bracelet in silver with the gold plate. And I really want like an Adrian Landau fur throw. They have one in fox and one like a kind of leopard print, probably rabbit or something. What else? I feel like I always shop for myself, so I wouldn’t want anyone to buy me clothes. Do you want to know what I’m going to give?Styleite: Absolutely!Brooks: I’m not pushing product — I really think this is so brilliant. At Chelsea Passage we have this new Fred’s line of packaged food. They have this incredible jar of amazing natural peanut butter. And pots of jam and Barney’s tea… Just incredible food gifts that I think I’m going to buy in bulk, and then every time I go to a Christmas party or somebody’s house for the weekend, I’m going give them out. It’s oddly personal — even though it’s branded by a store, it’s oddly personal to give a beautiful jar of peanut butter of, like a giant old jam jar full of amazing jam. That’s what I’m going to give for Christmas. Jam, for everyone! Anna Wintour On Kanye’s First Collection: ‘Ask Someone Else’ by 10:39 am, October 6th, 2011 By now you are more than aware that critics and laymen alike Kanye‘s very first womenswear collection. Kanye tried to preemptively at his runway show’s afterparty, but that didn’t stop everyone from saying their piece. has a rather in today’s New York Times (headline: “Kanye West, Designer (Yawn)”) about the backlash. He explains that Kanye, rather typically, paraded around Paris Fashion Week defending himself. ‘Ye claimed his clothes were supposed to be as ill-fitting as they were, that fur is totally appropriate for spring, and so on. We know what the critics thought, but what about the non-critic fashion folk? Some were pretty kind:Yeezy : “I’m sure he knows what he did wrong and what he did right. He tried hard, and he wants to learn.”, after being accosted by Kanye at Celine: “All I said was congratulations. I wasn’t even there. If you get it all right on the first shot, where do you go from there?”Some were not:Flaunt style director Long Ngyuen: “There are wishes, and there are realities. I feel bad, actually, that there wasn’t anything to grab on to. But you can’t just dump some fox fur on a runway and call it luxury.”Ice queen Nuclear : “Ask someone else.”Sick burn, girl. We’re pretty sure Kanye would agree that being ignored is the worst kind of critique.[] Britain Voted Worst Dressed Country In Europe by 2:35 pm, March 19th, 2010 Despite having a reputation for being buttoned-up, old-school, and relatively clean-cut, England has the worst dressed nation in Europe.That’s a pretty derisive honor, especially considering that some of fashion’s greatest – McQueen, Burberry’s Christopher Bailey, Stella McCartney, Celine’s Phoebe Philo, to name a few — hail from England. Nevertheless, , a price comparison and consumer review website in the UK, conducted a study that showed 44% of those polled believed England to be the worst dressed country, followed by Germany. “Britain is recognised as one of the hardest working nations in Europe” a spokesperson from Ciao told The Daily Mail, “we have longer working weeks and we spend more time in the office than almost any of our European cousins…as a result we have next to no time to go shopping; we are just diving into the nearest store to grab the first thing that takes our eye.”Perhaps “model” Katie Price and Amy Winhouse are to blame…[via ] PHOTOS: Who Won What At The British Fashion Awards? by Justin Fenner and Julia Rubin 11:40 am, December 8th, 2010 Britain may take flak for its climate and cuisine, but its clothing is no laughing matter — and the talented designers, models and megabrands that took home trophies from the British Fashion Awards yesterday are proof positive that our cousins across the pond take fashion very seriously.The British Fashion Council, which sponsors the awards, broke tradition yesterday by giving a posthumous award to for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design. It also added two new categories, one for special recognition and another for digital innovation. To find out where your favorite British brand or designer stacks up (or whether they stacked up at all this year), check out the list below, and let us know who you think looked best on the red carpet.Designer of the Year – , CelineOutstanding Achievement in Fashion Design – Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator – Special Recognition – Model Award – British Style Award – Alexa ChungAccessory Designer Award – Menswear Designer Award – Patrick Grant, E. TautzEmerging Talent in Ready to Wear – Meadham KirchoffEmerging Talent in Accessories – Husam el OdehDigital Innovation Award – BurberryDesigner Brand Award – Mulberry Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. [WWD (Subscription Required)] [The Independent] CATWALK JUSTICE: Yes, Your Celine Dion Tumblr Can Get You Sued by Charles Colman 3:21 pm, July 22nd, 2011 is our weekly column on fashion law, courtesy of Charles Colman of and . This week, an update on that Congressional hearing about the new design protection bill, a major victory for Crocs (which, ew) and a few good reasons not to put embarrassing pictures of celebrities you admire on the Internet. Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. [This post is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship among any individuals or entities. Any views expressed herein are those of the writer on the particular date of this post, and should not necessarily be attributed to his law firm or its clients.] Celine Is Latest Paris Flagship To Get Graffiti Treatment by 10:24 am, November 10th, 2011 Kidult sure knows his luxury brands. Back in September, he the Hermès flagship in Paris, with a wink to both Cartier and Tiffany. Celine is the graffiti artist’s latest victim, and his work shows that he indeed gets it.Kidult “SK8″ across the front of the store, and his tag has a few layers. SK8 references the brand’s spring 2011 ad campaign which features clutching a a skateboard, and the pink paint perfectly matches the pink plastic wrap from the ads. Take this one step further, and SK8 is also a nod to the super sick Celine made by Stop It Right Now.Who’s next? Yves Saint Laurent? Dior? Chanel? Stay tuned, folks. Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. [via ] Why Are So Many Of The CFDA Award Nominees So Young? by 9:39 am, March 17th, 2011 The nominees for the Council of Fashion Designers of America‘s 2011 awards ceremony are set, and the list is more or less a roster of the coolest kids working in the industry. And when we say kids, we mean kids. Because for the most part, this year’s nominees are pretty young., 24, is up for the Fashion Icon Award, which won last year at age 55. , 26, is nominated for three awards, more than any other nominee this year. The Lifetime Achievement Award is going to , 47, who joked that it should only be called a “half lifetime achievement award.”We have the full list of nominees and honorees below — if you take a look through it, you’ll certainly notice names you recognize, but few who have been working as living brand names for decades the way past winners of these awards have. of The New York Times was surprised that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen got nods, while “most of the biggest American designers, including , , and Calvin Klein’s , were shut out.” The CFDA’s mission isn’t to honor young designers, it’s to honor talented ones. Either the people who run it think these young bucks are more talented than the old masters, or they’re changing course.Womenswear Designer of the Year Nominees: Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and and from Proenza Schouler.Menswear Designer of the Year Nominees: Michael Bastian, Patrick Ervell and Simon Spurr.Accessories Designer of the Year Nominees: Alexander Wang, , and Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler.Swarovski Up-And-Coming Talent Award:Womenswear: , and and Menswear: Alexander Wang, Philip Lim and Robert GellerAccessories: Eddie Borgo, , Alejandro Ingelmo and Pamela Love (who’s already for Topshop).There are a few other honorees who will walk away from the ceremony on June 6 with trophies. of Celine will take home the International Award. , fashion director of InStyle magazine, will win the Eleanor Lambert Award. The Eugenia Shepard Award (for fashion journalism) will go to of The Daily Telegraph. And last but not least, the CFDA Board of Directors’ Special Tribute Award goes to photographer . [WWD] [On The Runway] Christian Siriano Wants To Wear Gowns To The Grocery Store by 3:10 pm, November 15th, 2010 The folks over at HuffPost Style sat down with recently, and he on Project Runway, gay rights and… what he would be like as a woman. We loved his , and it’s always fun to hear what the irreverent designer has to say.Siriano thinks it’s important to show people that there is indeed life after reality TV. While he understands the need to earn one’s stripes, he makes an important point about the show’s credibility:Project Runway is a show based on talent. I mean, we don’t even get through the door unless your work is somewhat good. And I think that that’s what the world of TV has ruined for that show because reality TV is awful, and that show is based on talent.And he definitely wants to walk down the aisle one day:I am such a supporter of the gay community, and all the things just for me personally — getting married is something that I would love to be in my future.If he were a woman, he would wear Burberry, Givenchy, Céline — and Christian Siriano, of course:I would be amazing, and I would be in stiletto heels every day and have a driver. And I would wear exactly what I design… beautiful dresses. And I would wear gowns to the grocery store, and I would just love fashion.Watch HuffPost Style’s full interview below! [] Lara Stone Is CR Fashion Book‘s GIF Angel by 5:07 pm, August 21st, 2012 In only a few short weeks we’ll all be able to get our hands on copies of ‘s new CR Fashion Book, but for now we’ll have to settle with teaser gifs posted on the glossy’s official page. The latest stars French Vogue , clad in an ivory Céline sweater paired with a set of angel wings strapped to her back. Like the the first of the teaser images, the photo was snapped by Sebastian Faena. It marks the third step in a progression that started with and was followed by of a model with a doll swaddled and held like a baby.Any guesses as to what’s next in the CR life cycle? [] Minimalism At Its Gender-Bending Best by 2:59 pm, March 23rd, 2010 Fathers, brothers, and boyfriends have wisely learned to guard their closets when a lady friend enters their beloved bedroom. Blazers, t-shirts, and the odd pair of jeans seem to always go missing when us sneaky scroungers come a-knockin’. Avid androgynous dressers know the best finds are just in the room across the hall. The button-downs beckon, begging for a revival with a pair of cut-offs, and washed sweats whisper to us, echoing Alexander Wang’s name. But with maturation belonging to next fall’s trends, how can we address the comfy casual closet situation we’ve picked and secretly snagged our way into? How do we put our most sophisticated step forward in our dad’s old long johns? Don’t fear, this doesn’t mean grabbing your closest power suit, teasing your hair and calling it a day. Instead, by using these different garments, you can create a masculine minimalism that looks chic, avant-garde, and ultimately exudes femininity rather than erasing it. Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoere twisted an enchanting tale on the construction and lifecycle belonging to their pieces for Viktor and Rolf’s Fall 2010 show. Here, they gracefully dressed their models in segments of an entire look. In addition to suggesting marketable possibilities for the typically directional line, they also quietly advocated the re-use of one’s own pieces that already exist in our wardrobes. Oversized coats layered and belted look not only modern but are easy to translate for the budgeting folk. Simply grabbing your dad’s overcoat and throwing on your own winter staple –- maybe even upside down -– simply screams V&R. Over at Rad Hourani, the Canuck showed a unisex collection that will leave boys and girls playing Red Rover, send those leather pants on over. Beautifully constructed outerwear and multi-dimensional functional garments are effortlessly executed in the androgynous arena. Play with your brother or boyfriend’s hoodie and try zipping, tying, and tucking to create innovative funnel necks and add a progressive update to jersey basics. Greeted by an eagerly awaiting audience, Phoebe Philo for Celine bestowed a vision of minimalism for every occasion. With her meticulously tailored blouses and trim jackets paired with trousers cropped above the ankle, the statement of the collection was simple and powerful. Intelligent knitwear and leather combinations polished off the already impeccable show. Through her use of key masculine pieces, the femininity of her pencil skirts and leather shirts were fiercely flirtatious. Although pouring oneself into a constricting top may not be appealing to some, borrowing a little brother’s old coat or being comfortably cozy in dad’s fisherman sweater with hemmed sleeves is more than alluring. In a time of fleeting and ever fluctuating trends, using pieces that lend themselves to a multitude of looks is absolutely essential. Through using fundamental and minimal garments, progressive styling is straightforward. So go ahead and army-roll across the hall and see what staples you can swipe this time. Celebrate Bastille Day With A Showing Of Farewell, My Queen by 10:28 am, July 14th, 2012 Plans this weekend? Well here’s one more to add to your list: celebrate Bastille Day in the comfort of a cool, dark theater as you take in a showing of Benoît Jaquot‘s Farewell, My Queen, which opened in select cinemas yesterday. We also suggest you don your finest Céline and bring along some brioche for the full francophile experience, but not to worry if you have neither on hand — the majestic tableaux of Versailles and swath upon swath of French silk will more than suffice.Based on a novel by Chantal Thomas, the film stars French ingenue Léa Seydoux opposite ‘s Marie Antoinette, the latter a fitting casting choice if ever there was one. The actress has expressed an affinity for the infamous Queen given their similar heritage (Kruger is German; Antoinette Austrian) and the fact that, like Antoinette, her mother is named Marie-Thérèse.Unlike previous films centered around the court of Louis XVI, Farewell, My Queen concerns itself less with the frippery and grandeur of the palace than with the pivotal moment at which the elaborate mores holding it together collapse upon themselves. This moment, of course, lies in the throes of the French Revolution, within the three days surrounding the storming of the Bastille over which the entire plot takes place. Speaking with director Benoît Jacquot in New York earlier this week, we learned that the narrative’s quick pace was one of the main points that drew him to Thomas’ book. “It’s a situation, a historical catastrophe with tremendous panic,” Jacquot explains. And indeed the viewer bears witness to this escalating panic over the course of the film, from the early rumblings of distress to the full-fledged mayhem that ensues when revolutionaries call for the beheading of the King and Queen.Léa Seydoux gives a captivating performance as Sidonie, Marie Antoinette’s young and adoring reader, through whose eyes we see the action unfold with a palpable, heart-in-throat urgency. The relationship between the two women is bound by a web of hierarchical strictures, but as the revolution unfolds, these codes snap and fissure, leading the Queen to divulge her taboo relationship with the Duchess of Polignac, played by Virginie Ledouyen.“Diane and Léa have very opposite personalities,” notes Jacquot. “Not just different, but opposite. So I tried to put them together in scenes to create electricity that their opposition would engender.” One such scene occurs towards the end of the movie, when Sidonie disrobes in front of the Queen in a poignant display of love, loyalty, and subservience. And while the film’s brief moments of nudity have the effect of stripping off lome of the many layers of palace propriety, the director is quick to note that “the Queen never undressed herself, she had someone undress her.” And, of course, “nudity is still a costume.”Costumes, as you might imagine, are an integral part of Farewell, My Queen. Jacquot tapped costume designer Christian Gasc for the role, working with him even before the script reached its final drafts. Kruger and Seydoux, no strangers to the fashion world themselves, were also involved in picking out the sumptuous silks and rich broderie that they wear while in character. Explains the director:It’s extremely important with the actresses to have them enter into the character through the costume they’re wearing. They need to be involved in the costuming process, that they try them on, that they accept them, reject them, improve them. For me, it’s a way of integrating the character — the costumes needed to be so that to the actresses so they could live in them for two or more months day in and day out.Especially since these are hardly easy cotton slips we are talking about. Even with Kruger’s Marie Antoinette-esque Chanel, the corseted gowns she wears in film look to weigh about as much of the actress herself.And though the lush aesthetics of Farewell, My Queen are reason enough to merit a trip to the theater, Jacquot stresses that the heart of the story lies in the women’s inner turmoil: “The film takes the character of Marie Antoinette just at the point where she ceases to be a woman obsessed with fashion. It’s the moment where that changes for her. All of a sudden frivolity turns into tragedy. That’s what makes her an extremely pathetic character, and so neurotic at the same time.” Fashion Awards Honor Emerging Talent: Who Made The Cut? by 4:28 pm, January 3rd, 2012 Awards season is upon us! While there are plenty of entertainment award shows coming up (Golden Globes! Oscars! Grammys!), there are also quite a few fashion awards to be given out. Today both the finalists for Fashion Group International’s Rising Star awards and the winners of the Ecco Domani Fashion Fund awards for emerging designers were announced.The are each given $25,000 to be used towards producing collections for New York Fashion Week. This year’s winners are Correll Correll, Eighteenth, Haus Alkire, and Sunhee for womenswear, Tim Coppens for menswear, Dezso by Sara Baltrán for accessories, and Titania Inglis for sustainable design. Past winners have included the likes of Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, and Rodarte.While the Ecco Domani awards are decided upon by an impressive panel of judges that includes the likes of Sally Singer and Kim Hastreiter, the are voted on by the group’s 1200 members. Last year cast their votes, so hopefully turnout will be a little higher this time around. In any event, here are the nominees:Women’s ready-to-wear: Wes Gordon Nary Manivong and Alexandria Hilfiger of Nahm Elene Cassis Joel Diaz and Christina LaPens of Jolibe Norman Ambrose Nara Paz of Nara Paz Design Internationale Misha Nonoo of Nonoo Stacy Lomman of Stacy Lomman: New York Steven McDermott of Stevie Mac New YorkMen’s apparel: Simon Spurr Rob Magness of Grown & Sewn Ian Velardi Luis M. Fernandez of Number: LabAccessories: Deborah Sawath of Thale Blanc Ron Donovan Katherine Kim of Roman & Sunstone Michelle Vale Blythe Harris of Stella & Dot Serra Turker of Misela Inc. Adriana Castro, and Michelle Watson of Mimi & Lu.Fine jewelry: Jessica Kagan Cushman of Jessica Kagan Cushman Studio Wendy Brandes Torrubia & Torrubia sisters Yolanda Torrubia and Amaia Torrubia.Retail: Randi Jacobson of Realm Tom Wilscam of Hommage Atelier by Julien Farel Vasken Demirjian of Vasken Demirjian Salon.Corporate fragrance: Remi Pulverail of Givaudan Fragrances Donna Ramanauskas of Robertet Fragrances Celine Barel of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. Sue Saadat of Nars CosmeticsFragrance entrepreneur: Kelly Van Gogh of Kelly Van Gogh Hair Colour Cosmetics David Moltz of D.S. & Durga Kaya Sorhaindo of Six Scents Parfums Worker B’s Michael Sedlacek and Liesa HelfenHome/interior design: Tamara Eaton of Tamara Eaton Design Joe Manus of Shiner International Coco of Cococozy[] French Fashion Critic Gives Tom Ford’s Spring Show A Scathing Review by 4:07 pm, September 29th, 2011 Has fallen from grace? While early reviews of his show were mixed, at worst, one critic has stepped up to the proverbial bat and called the whole thing a “slowly unfolding nightmare.” Oh, and it gets so much worse.Le Figaro’s Virginia Mouzat (who you may remember as to replace at Vogue Paris) has written what will, sadly, undoubtedly be called the most scathing review of the season. According to‘ translation on , Mouzat begins by comparing the show to “an out-of-style Gucci collection from more than ten years ago”, before declaring “overload… the key word of the collection.” She likens the watch to Cartier’s tank, the heels to Alaia, the leather shorts to Celine, and the raffia embellished coats to YSL’s from 1967. And then:After this inventory for Kim Kardashian, Tom Ford appeared on the runway. He walked out. And stayed there, in the middle of the catwalk, wordlessly awaiting his standing ovation. Perhaps people would oblige out of anguish, or sympathy, or because all of this is supposed to be fun, after all. But everyone just looked at their feet. The music kept playing. Ford tried to speak over the noise, but it was impossible to hear. One could see this baby-faced man was seeking desperately to clear the air. He threw himself on his longtime companion, Richard Buckley, and they embraced. ( always embraces his wife Ricky after his shows, but he goes backstage right after.) But still nobody stood. Then Tom Ford retreated towards , on whom he inflicted a hug. So this Texas playboy, whose praises reporters sang in the Gucci years, has become the man for whom nobody stands. If not the man one actively flees. But of this whole vignette, as of the actual collection, you’ll see nothing here. Tom Ford refuses to publish photographs of his shows. And lest you think Mouzat was making a dramatic mountain out of a fashion anthill, has a over at New York Magazine. Her take:Speaking of which: Q. What eminent designer puts what seems like 150 looks on the runway — bottom-grabbing pencil skirts; tiny purple Floradora dresses — and forbids photography (apparently to lend an air of exclusivity, but in this case, maybe to protect his reputation) and emerges on the runway at the end of the show, then stands around with a bunny-in-the-headlights look in his eyes, waiting for a standing ovation that never comes? A. Tom Ford.What we would have paid to see that.In any case, now we just can’t wait to see how long before Ford bans all press and just starts showing his collections to “family and friends”. Proof Harper’s Bazaar Gives Its Advertisers Special Treatment by 4:01 pm, November 11th, 2010 While our initial response to viewing the following document was, “And this is news, how?”, it is news. Because as much as those of us in this industry know that the designers featured magazine editorials are dictated by how much advertising dollars they spend, it’s rare that you see cold, hard evidence of this fact. But that’s exactly what a Racked tipster lying on the desk next to the public computer in a Los Angeles hotel.The following document was found () in the lobby of a large Los Angeles hotel. And while Racked initially meant to publish the documents anonymously, they forgot to redact the magazine’s name on one page — and the cat is : the magazine is Harper’s Bazaar. The document, which according to Racked was vetted by Bazaar editor in chief, splits designers into two groups: advertisers and non-advertisers, and sorts the former “in priority order.” Translation: it’s sorted according to who has spent the most advertising dollars with the mag. The sheet (which you can ) opens with the details of the shoot: “Minimal” is the working name, it’s a 10-page spread, and below that are the names of the the photographer, fashion editor, and location. Then, below that, it lists the advertisers in the aforementioned “Priority Order.”1. 2. 3. Calvin Klein 4. YSL 5. Chloe 6. Versace 7. Akris 8. 9. 10. CelineAnd so on, and so forth. Below that are the non-advertisers which are prioritized as: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Helmut Lang, , , and Proenza Schouler.While we like to think that editors, when they put together editorials, are genuinely showcasing the best, most fabulous, most must-have articles of clothing, this document proves that if they’re doing that, they’re choosing from amongst a group of pre-selected brands: those that, through advertising, pay the magazine’s bills.And while we’re certainly cringing for the employee who left these documents behind (they will, almost certainly, be fired), we’re cringing even more for the moment when Bailey and her cohorts at Bazaar get a call from the advertisers near the bottom of the list. Oh, to be a fly on that wall.And if you’re looking for more juicy tidbits, we highly recommend taking a look at , which includes a list of accommodation for the editors, assistants, and those even lower on the ladder. [Racked] J.Crew’s Spring Collection Is As Delightful As It Is Derivative by 6:47 pm, September 13th, 2011 Who doesn’t love J.Crew? Or perhaps the better question is: who doesn’t ? She has the remarkable ability to design things that are at once fashionably on target and broadly accessible — and her Spring 2012 collection for the brand is no exception. It’s bright and punchy and quirky in all the right ways. In fact, it’s so on trend that we can’t help but theorize just where some of Lyons’ inspiration came from. We saw bits of in the multi-colored stripes, an homage to ‘s spring collection for Celine in , and a heavy dose of the vintage ethos du jour in all the structured bags, driving loafers, and tea length dresses.But as a brand, J.Crew doesn’t need to set trends — though there’s certainly an argument to be made that it’s more than; that whole thing didn’t come out of nowhere. Instead, the driving force behind J.Crew seems to be to bring high fashion to the masses. And there they’ve certainly succeeded. So a little derivative inspiration isn’t a bad thing — but for a brand that’s now showing at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, they should be careful not to be too . Everyone loves Zara, but no one would call them original. Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. Jessica Chastain Is T Magazine‘s Latest Cover Girl by 5:04 pm, April 13th, 2012 We’re totally into Jessica Chastain‘s cover for T Magazine‘s summer fashion and beauty issue. That lipstick!Photographer Cass Bird shot the actress at Universal Studios, and the results are really fun. We also happen to love her fancy frocks from the likes of Balenciaga, Céline, and Burberry.Inside the , Chastain tells about filming The Help (“We drank moonshine and had huge dance parties. I ate a lot of fried food. I had to gain 15 pounds for the role.”) and her newfound fame (“Yesterday I had my portrait taken for the Academy. The photographer told me he shot Rita Hayworth! For the rest of my life, I am ‘the Oscar-nominated Jessica Chastain’.”)However, Chastain says that she wasn’t always fashionable:“Growing up, a big expense was a fashion magazine…I got $100 for clothes at the beginning of the year, and I had to be very careful about what pieces would last — I bought thrift and vintage…I was awkward. I looked like a boy when I was 8 years old — lanky with short red hair. You know that book Ramona the Pest? I felt like that.”Yep, we’ve been there. Check out Chastain’s spread below: Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. [] John Galliano Given Rare French Government Honor by 3:45 pm, November 25th, 2011 Designer may be hiding his face from the world after his spectacularly public fall from glory, but that doesn’t mean his work has been forgotten. This week, France’s Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment gave the John Galliano atelier the label of Enterprise du Patrimoine Vivant, or Living Heritage Company.Women’s Wear Daily that the 15-person atelier, which has been under the direction of Bill Gaytten since Galliano was fired in March, was awarded the honorary title for its rare know-how, noting that everyone who works there has “more than a decade of experience in patternmaking, cutting and other techniques.”The Galliano atelier joins Chanel, Dior, Céline and Hermés, among others, on the list of fashion firms that have made the list — but some 900 other French companies with “rare know-how” in manufacturing categories like roofing, medical equipment, and the fine French art of making dolls are also in the club. And while we’re sure the atelier is deserving of the honor, we’re also sure it wouldn’t have gotten there without the direction of Galliano himself. Odious as his outburst last March may have been, there’s no denying the man was a visionary designer — and his knowledge of what his atelier could do pushed the limits of fashion. Still, you can’t have one branch of the French government a man for hate speech while another puts a golden laurel around his head, so we get why the Ministry would leave Galliano out of the award festivities. We just wish it didn’t have to be that way.Take a look at Galliano working in his atelier in 2008, below.[] Legendary Retailer Joseph Ettedgui Dies at 71 by 11:39 am, March 19th, 2010 British retailer and designer Joseph Ettedgui Thursday at the age of 71. Ettedgui had been battling cancer for several years. Ettedgui, who came to London in the 1950′s and began career as a hairdresser, fell in love with fashion after meeting Kenzo in the 60′s whilst in Paris at the shows. His interest in clothing quickly exceeded his desire to style hair, and he promptly opened his first shop, just underneath his salon. Ever since, Joseph has become a required stop for any informed shopper traveling or living in London. The store features fashion’s greats: Alaia, Celine, YSL, Comme Des Garcons; as well as some of the industry’s favorite new comers: Alexander Wang, Philip Lim, and VPL, to name a few. Each garment has always been thoughtfully chosen, as if he was curated an exhibit of his favorite pieces of art.His own designs were equally thought out, without appearing over-designed or meticulously styled. His clothing may not have been street stoppers, but Joseph’s gorgeous sweaters and wel-tailored pants exuded a sort of quiet chic-ness like none other, making his pieces staples in the modern woman’s wardrobe. “An entire wardrobe can’t be made up of only designer clothes” . “People need good trousers and good shirts that they wear all the time.”Nicholas Foulkes of The Independent perfectly:“With his tousled hair, slightly mischievous smile and cigar, Joseph was a true Londoner even though he never shed his French accent. I believe that Joseph will come to be regarded as one of the handful of men who shaped London taste in the last quarter of the 20th century and who helped establish chic London today. However much you thought you knew about the better things in life, Joseph would always know a little artisan or recondite craftsman tucked away in some obscure corner of Europe who made things which enhanced life’s pleasures…But more than a paragon of good taste, he was a charming man and a good, kind friend. He will be greatly missed.”“I like to dress people,” Joseph told , “Not to make them fashionable.” Whether consciously or not, Joseph did both. as having won London’s Woman magazine award in 1985, as well as the Contemporary Collection award at the Rover British Fashion Awards in 2001. “It’s a very, very sad day,” “He may have left the company five years ago but he still remains a very big part of it. All of us are extremely upset.”Photo courtesy of Vogue.com Kanye Wears An Acne Lady Sweater To London Fashion Week by 11:07 am, February 21st, 2012 UPDATE: Kanye is actually wearing an Acne dude sweater! —When we saw photos of Kanye West in the front row at London Fashion Week yesterday, we remarked on how much we liked his sweater.It turns out it was a lady sweater (by Acne, according to ), which isn’t too surprising given Yeezy’s penchant for lady clothes. Remember his awesome ? We happen to prefer man sweaters, but this really suits the dapper rapper!Kanye seemed to be channeling at the Mark Fast show — at least on his top half — with the mint sweater over a yellow tee topped with a jean jacket and a chambray button-down tied around his waist. He also wore a bunch of gold chains, which we’ll call statement necklaces in this case. In addition, he rocked a pair of Nike Air Yeezy 2s, because wouldn’t you if you had your own sneaker? Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. Kanye West Is Working On His Own Fashion Label In Paris by 11:51 am, June 2nd, 2011 Wondering why Kanye West isn’t working on a new album? Rumor has it the fashion-loving singer set up a studio in Paris — but not to record in. He’s there to design his own fashion line.The Daily Telegraph that West has made Paris his headquarters as he tries to (re)launch a career in fashion. According to an unnamed source “close to the designer,” West is working on a high-end line of men’s and women’s clothing that’s maybe debut as early as September.Of course, West has worked in fashion before. His limited-edition line of inspired by the cover for his latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, were smash hits with the fashion crowd. Before that, he interned at Fendi, collaborated on a line of sneakers with Nike and Louis Vuitton, and even wrote a fashion column for Complex magazine. West is a verified industry darling and front-row staple (except for that time he got of an Vuitton show). He’ll present Celine‘s with an award at next week’s CFDA Awards.West had been working on another label called Pastelle, but announced in late 2009 that it would . And that, for us, was really difficult to deal with.So you can imagine how excited we are now that West is creating a full line on his own terms, not just creating accessories for someone else. We refer you to pictures of West in the past for an idea of what the clothes might look like, but his own wardrobe is so varied that there’s really no telling what he might come up with. [] Kanye Wears Celine Blouse While Rapping About Phoebe Philo by 12:35 pm, April 18th, 2011 Kanye sure likes wearing lady runway looks! Not only is he rumored to be doing the for his upcoming tour, he wore a women’s Celine blouse on the Coachella stage this weekend. And he looked awesome.The printed shirt is from the spring 2011 collection, and while he didn’t opt for the matching pants, we think the jeans worked just fine. We also happen to enjoy his braceleted wrists quite a bit. Of course, we’re not surprised by his label choice — he namedrops Celine designer on the first track of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.Check out the pics below, and get all meta by watching him rap about Philo while wearing her design: Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. Kanye West’s Line Now Involves Fashion Editor At Aussie Bazaar by 2:51 pm, July 20th, 2011 Kanye‘s fashion line has been confirmed…again!Last week Central St. Martins professor Louise Wilson confirmed the fact that Yeezy is indeed . She denied any specific involvement on her end, but did let on that he hired knitwear designer Louise Goldin to help him out. Now the folks over at Harper’s Bazaar Australia are adding some to the Kanye fashion fire.The mag reports that their very own fashion editor Christine Centenera is consulting on the line. The two met at Paris Fashion Week in March, and immediately hit it off. Ever since, the ed has flown to France twice a month to consult for Kanye. Of course, Centenera isn’t even telling her coworkers: “It’s all very hush-hush at this stage, and Centenera refuses to discuss it when she is actually in the office, stating that West is a very private person and that it’s not her place to comment.” That didn’t stop Bazaar‘s Anna McLeod (who sits right next to Centenera) from writing up this juicy tidbit. Awkward.But, hey, need more proof? Both Centenera and Kanye really dig the seen above, wearing it within two weeks of each other back in the spring. Cute! One question still remains: does this mean Kanye will be at New York Fashion Week? Kanye West’s Runway Debut Has An Official Invite, And It’s Fancy! by 11:18 am, September 30th, 2011 If any of you are still deciding whether or not to take Kanye West’s design debut seriously, his show invite, which hit the web early this morning, just put the capital F in Fashion.According to the invite, West is being repped by international PR firm Karla Otto, whose other clients have included Valentino, Celine, Erdem, and Givenchy. Interestingly enough, Givenchy’s has reportedly been helping West with the line. Coincidence? We think not.As for the label name, DW Kanye West, the most obvious explanation is that DW stands for his late mother’s initials, Donda West.The full invite is below, though we’ve blurred some of the RSVP information in the hopes of not pissing off the Karla Otto PR gods and one day snagging an invite ourselves. We wish we were joking.[via .] WATCH: Kim Kardashian Gives A Kontouring Tutorial by 3:20 pm, July 11th, 2012 This is the secret to Kim Kardashian-level beauty, you guys!!In this video, Kim talks airport style (in which she casually name drops so that we know she’s wearing Valentino and Celine), plastic surgery, and with the hilarious Laura Brown of . Laura then lets Kim do her makeup and subsequently morphs into the ridiculous-looking “Klaura Kardashian”. Kim may be a master at her own face, but she should probably stick to that.[] Kim Kardashian’s Purses Are Pretty Flagrant Designer Knockoffs by 5:02 pm, November 4th, 2011 We’ll understand if you’re not at all interested in hearing about any more of Kim Kardashian‘s , but this totally tugs our “fashion law” heartstring. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that a lot of the bags in the Kardashian Kollection look way, way similar to some very well known designer bags, and now we in the blogosphere are questioning just how long it’ll take before some of those designer brands start suing.Kim and her sister Khloe made a few appearances in Australia to launch the handbag collection earlier this week, only to leave the landmass because of the stress of her divorce. We wonder how much more stressed she’ll be when the head counsels at Balenciaga, Chloe and Yves Saint Laurent deliver cease-and-desist letters asking Sears to stop selling her relatively low-priced bags, some of which are almost direct copies of designer purses that have been on the market for years. And if you’ll recall, Kardashian has already over the similarities between one of her bags and Monica Botkier‘s Trigger Clyde tote.Take a look at a few of the more flagrant abuses of trade dress below, and let us know if you want to set up a pool for when the first lawsuit will land. We’re guessing it’ll be Balenciaga sometime before Christmas. What say you? Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. [] Hotel Vuitton? LVMH Moves Into Hospitality by 10:51 am, April 8th, 2010 , the parent company of some of the industry’s most important luxury brands — including Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Celine, among others — has decided to conquer the hotel business with the creation of LVMH Hotel Management. reports,Two new Cheval Blanc hotels, named after the famous vineyard LVMH controls, are already under construction in Oman and Egypt in partnership with Samih Sawiris, chairman and founder of Egypt’s Orascom Development Holding. The two hotels, each with 30 to 40 exceptional suites, are slated to open in 2012 and “other projects are currently under study in exceptional destinations,” LVMH said.Imagine walking into a hotel room and laying on Louis Vuitton sheets and lounging in a classic Pucci print bathroom. Your soap smells like Flower By Kenzo and your bellhop is perfectly buttoned-up in a well-fitted Thomas Pink dress shirt. You open your closet and voila! There’s a Givenchy gown, in your size. Okay, so maybe that’s a little extreme, but one can dream. We trust that a LVMH hotel management company would exude the same extraordinary customer service shoppers have come to expect and love of their luxury brands. Has Marc Jacobs Been Tapped To Take Over At Dior? by 10:25 am, August 22nd, 2011 A couple of weeks ago, a Brazilian website by the name of Glamurama that was in talks to take over ‘s empty seat at Dior. The fact that the story was unsourced (and the fact that the website features a mouse trail of rainbow pixels) gave us pause, but that didn’t prevent it from getting picked up. Today, Women’s Wear Daily weighs in with a much more take on the story — and all of a sudden a Jacobs-helmed house of Dior is looking a lot more likely.According to WWD’s (unnamed) sources, LVMH CEO is looking at ending Jacobs’ 14-year tenure at Louis Vuitton and instead handing him the reigns of the conglomerate’s most storied house. One source cautioned that a deal with Jacobs is not assured, but that the American designer and Dior management are so far “excited” about the prospect. Meetings are scheduled to take place in Paris this week between Dior officials and legal representatives for Jacobs, who is currently in New York preparing for his signature fashion show there. Dior declined to comment. Jacobs could not immediately be reached for comment.The move would set in motion a game of designer musical chairs, as Arnault apparently hopes to replace Jacobs’ with Celine star . While I have my own issues with Jacobs, namely his over-reliance on reinterpretation, his commercial appeal and editorial success cannot be overstated. And in terms of star-power, branding, and economics, Jacobs may well be the perfect fit for Dior, particularly if Arnault is weighing the bottom line more than the hemline. But Dior’s legacy of couture is where Jacobs’ fit starts to falter. The man knows how to move clothing, but does he have the technical skills needed to oversee two additional couture collections — and at one of the most prominent houses? No, probably not, but that’s what Dior’s team of couturiers is there for: All Jacobs needs is the vision.As for Philo taking over Louis Vuitton, well, that seems almost like a no-brainer. Jacobs was hired in 1997 to essentially create Ready To Wear for a brand known for luxury leather goods and trunks, and while his collections brought no shortage of press and attention to the line, the clothes haven’t exactly taken off — at least not in the same way as, say, Gucci, for whom RTW is an almost equally new reinvention. Jacobs’ Louis Vuitton collections make for great runway shows, but Philo’s minimalist take at Celine could do wonders for the wearability of LVMH’s flagship brand. That said, we’re not sure we’ll ever want a Louis Vuitton bag as much as we want a Celine one. Sorry, but it’s true.In any case, WWD also reports that and Nicholas Ghesquière have both removed themselves from the running, that talks with and didn’t get very far, and that McQueen’s “rebuffed overtures” altogether. Which leaves only Givenchy‘s as Jacobs’ competition. Tisci could run couture circles around Jacobs, though he’s had nowhere near the man’s commercial success, which is why, ultimately, this decision comes down to what Arnault wants for Dior. And if you ask us, like any successful multi-billionaire luxury CEO, he’s looking at the bottom line. And for that, Jacobs will probably be his man. [WWD, Sub. Req'd.] Marc Jacobs’ Dior Contract Negotiations Are ‘Progressing’ by 3:20 pm, October 20th, 2011 Buried deep (and we do mean deep) in a story about how much fashion Dior is selling these days is the latest bit of news about the negotiations between designer and the executives at LVMH trying to draw up a contract that will entice Jacobs to become head of the French fashion house.Women’s Wear Daily yesterday that Dior’s sales are up, up, up — even in this economy and despite not having a creative director for over eight months. Since the beginning of the year, the fashion house has sold close to a billion dollars worth of clothing, jewelry, accessories and fragrances, all of which Jacobs will have to manage (and improve on) when he’s named as creative director. But the way things are going, we don’t expect that to happen any time soon:Negotiations with Marc Jacobs, currently artistic director at Louis Vuitton, to become Dior’s next couturier have been progressing, sources said this week. It is understood Celine’s design star, , remains the preferred candidate to succeed Jacobs at Vuitton should the American designer conclude a deal with Dior.And like, yay Phoebe! But now we know why Dior hasn’t felt all that rushed to name a successor for . Sales haven’t been at all disrupted since he was fired amid accusations of being racist and anti-Semitic. In fact, they’ve been booming. The near-billion dollar figure ($992 million, to be exact) represents a 21 percent increase over last year. And that’s a figure that no business wants to disrupt with change — even if that change is for the better.[] Marc Jacobs Might Not Be Taking Over At Dior After All by 10:15 am, November 11th, 2011 After months of speculating and hinting heavily that designer would be taking the helm at Dior, the rumor mill says his previously inevitable appointment to the head of the French fashion house is looking a lot less likely.Women’s Wear Daily that talks between Jacobs and , who owns both Dior and luxury conglomerate LVMH, where Jacobs currently has an eponymous label and designs for Louis Vuitton, have gone cold — interesting when you consider that just three weeks ago, sources said talks to install Jacobs at Dior were Now, sources say Jacobs’ demands and other complications caused the negotiations to go south. For example, one of Jacobs’ requests was that his design team at Louis Vuitton come with him to Dior, a move that would make countless people’s jobs redundant. It would also leave Vuitton, which is LVMH’s biggest moneymaker, without a single creative employee. (And we’re sure Jacobs’ didn’t help matters, either.)To make things worse, it’s also thought that Celine designer , who was the frontrunner to replace Jacobs at Vuitton when he made the move to Dior, doesn’t want his job. She’s only been at the helm of Celine since 2008, and she is said to want to continue to build on the success she’s had there so far.So who else is being considered for the job? The same names that have been mentioned before: , and have been approached, and so has — but Tisci is apparently more interested in staying at Givenchy than he is in moving to another house.Big-name designers like , , Lanvin‘s , Alexander McQueen‘s and Balenciaga‘s were asked about the job shortly after was fired for making anti-Semitic remarks, but all of them turned the job down. Now the search is focused on any designer, young or old, “with a strong affinity and respect for the brand’s glamorous DNA, and a vision for taking it forward in the post-Galliano era,” WWD reports.But fret not, Jacobs fans. It’s not impossible that Arnault and Dior will circle back to a future with Jacobs. As we’ve asked before, what other available designer working today has what it takes to run that place? Jacobs is the total package, and even if Dior is still one of the most profitable luxury houses in the world, it can’t afford to have a second-stringer running the show.[] Guess How Many Billions Michael Kors Is Worth Now? by 4:23 pm, August 11th, 2011 If wasn’t rich enough already, he just got even richer. The recent sale of a 20 percent equity stake in his fashion label valued his company at 2.5 billion dollars. It’s not a record, but it is impressive considering that figure is 25 times the company’s actual earnings.The New York Post this morning that the $500 million stake was sold last month to a group of investors led by designer and a number rich people from his inner circle. The money will be used to expand the brand into Europe and Asia (emerging markets!) and to open more stores. There are currently 100 Michael Kors stores across America and Europe, and by next year the brand aims to double that number. It’s all made even more remarkable when you remember that we’re in a recession, and that Kors only started devoting all his time and energy to the brand eight years ago. (Before that, he had been the women’s wear designer at Celine.) Still, financial experts say that even in an economic climate like the one we’re living in, luxury still means enough to demand high prices.“This is luxury’s day,” said Richard Kestenbaum of New York investment bank Triangle Capital. Fears of a double-dip recession notwithstanding, demand for designer merchandise with fat price tags continues to climb, he said.The company had more than doubled in size over the last four years, and it still has room to grow. Kestenbaum noted that “there are very few brands that are performing on the scale of Michael Kors, and that have as much room left to grow in different channels and parts of the world.”And unless a competitor steps out soon, all those eager customers will be Kors’ for the taking.[] Fashion Week Wrap Up: Paris Is King by 4:12 pm, March 8th, 2010 It is often said that the heart of fashion lives in Paris. While some of today’s greatest designers walk their collections down the runways in London, Milan, and yes, even the United States, those who show at Paris fashion week have always been of another calibre. After taking a look at this season’s fashion week coverage – from New York to London to Milan, and finally, to Paris – it is clear that the edge, the creativity, the attention to detail, and the pure craftsmanship that seems to be fading more and more in the fashion world still lives on, maybe even exclusively, à Paris. Credit should be given to Prabal Gurung for the immense creativity shown in his first fashion week runway show in New York. The collection emphasized Gurung’s crowning obsession with proportion and tailoring, two things at which the designer is known to excel. And while color-blocking seems as ubiquitous as one must applaud the designer for his inspired use of this trend.But the majority of New York fashion week could best be described as a few home runs from the usual suspects and a series of yawns from the rest. We know already know about layering. We already know about knee highs, military jackets, and belts. Not much to learn at the Tents’ final hoorah this season.Vivienne Westwood Red Label put on a truly Westwood-ian fashion show in London, showing pieces from a fall palate of burnt oranges, deep reds, and neutral tans, browns, and deep blacks. But the cut of the garments were familiar and while the Westwood look in itself is aesthetically interesting, contextually, the collection seemed tame.Burberry, London’s raison d’etre if you will, was full of amazingly tailored coats (in the first look Karmen Pedaru wore a perfect black motorcycle cropped jacket with an oversized wide sheep’s wool collar). But with the exception of Bailey‘s collection, much of London seemed messy and unkempt – and not in the good way. Michael Herz‘s Aquascutum collection hung oddly on the models and the most interesting thing about Matthew Williamson’s show – a show that usually never fails in its excessive glamour – was the color of the runway backdrop. Milan definitely came close to winning for the best shows this season. Most notable were Dolce & Gabbana’s pant-less, lingerie inspired collection, Gucci’s uber-glam girls (), and the incredibly fitted black coats at Gianfranco Ferre‘s show — which epitomize luxury at its best. But, while no one can tailor a suit quite like an Italian, once again: Paris still reigns.Stella McCartney, Demeulemeester, Balenciaga, Celine, Dior, Givenchy, Haider Ackermann, Chalayan, Lanvin, Margiela, Rochas, Giambattista Valli, Viktor & Rolf, and Yohji Yamamoto – just to name a few. This list is a roster of fashion’s most important and those with the most anticipated collections, and they all choose to show in Paris. Is it that the image of Kristen McMenamy walking down a highly patterned catwalk accompanied by two impeccably dressed body guards while wearing what appears to be a ten-pound jacket at Viktor & Rolf would not make sense elsewhere? Would people in London not know how to react to the jawdroppingly stunning, Mondrian-eque stacked heel at Balenciaga? There must be a reason that Phoebe Philo felt that a heavily Parisian audience would be the best venue to showcase her anxiously anticipated second collection for Celine. Haute Couture began in France and if fashion week is any indicator, will remain in France. Regardless of the beauty of the collections seen on runways elsewhere, there is nothing quite like the collections that walk down the runways of France. It’s where Chanel lives. It’s where Gaultier and Dior and Lacroix and Givenchy call home. While Milan may be known for its leather and lace, London the classic trench coat-centered collections, and New York for a fashion week that for most is about everything except for fashion, Paris still remains the beating heart of the industry — for featuring the most daring collections, the collections held on a pedestal and the collections that remind us fashion still can be magical, otherworldly, and groundbreaking. Phoebe Philo Is The Most Well-Adjusted Designer Working Today by 2:10 pm, July 18th, 2011 In the wake of with at Dior, what could be more refreshing than a designer who doesn’t draw any attention to herself, doesn’t seek the spotlight, and doesn’t design clothes to be editorialized and then forgotten? Nothing, that’s what. Which is probably why this extremely rare interview with Celine designer (who fits the anti-Galliano bill to a T) was arranged. Philo, whose brand is owned by the same people who used to employ Galliano, is extremely press shy, but you can see why and the rest of her bosses at LVMH would want her to talk about herself in a widely-circulated publication. She’s a talented designer, a wife and mother, and an uncompromising manager who gets things done. And her clothing empowers the women who wear it to do the same.Philo with The Independent to talk about how she transformed not only Chloe, which she took over in 2001, but also Celine, where she signed on as creative director in 2008. Since then, the brand has blossomed under her no-nonsense direction, primarily because her simple, stripped back clothing made sense for women who didn’t want to make brash displays of their wealth at a time when the world would have hated them for it. Philo says she’s making clothes, not showpieces, and she can’t be bothered with the spectacle of being a fashion designer. So she doesn’t let it get to her. Take in our favorite parts of the interview, below.On her design philosophy:“What I love is this idea of a wardrobe,” says Phoebe Philo, “the idea that we’re establishing certain signatures and updating them, that a change in colour or fabric is enough. I do think that the world doesn’t need many more frivolous bits and bobs that end up left in cupboards or landfills.”On working 9 to 5:Philo insists on a reasonable working day. “I think that’s a discipline I’ve taught myself,” she says. “We’re just organised. Everybody in this building knows when I arrive and when I leave and the important things are done within those hours. That’s just the way it is. And it works. “I have a fantastic team and it’s much easier having children, because that creates a natural limit. If I have a good time with them before they go to sleep, it’s worth everything to me.”On why she hates talking to journalists:“I think that the clothes say it all much better than I can. I always find it strange after a show when everybody comes backstage and says: ‘What was it all about’? It’s like: ‘You’ve just seen it. What do you mean?’ My instinct is to say: ‘What did you think? What did you get from it?’ And yet they want you to fill in even more. “To me, the show is quite a complete story. There’s nothing more for me to say and, anyway, it doesn’t matter what it was meant to say. It’s out there. It can be whatever anyone watching it thought it was, surely.”Spoken like a real artist. Philo doesn’t mention Galliano, Arnault or Kanye West, who’s one of her , in the interview, and maybe that’s part of the mystique. Let the clothes speak for themselves. Take a look at the rest of the interview .[ via ] PHOTOS: Oh Look, It’s Rihanna’s Nipples Again by 3:13 pm, June 12th, 2012 Rihanna has nipples, and she to you.The popstar-turned-actress wore an incredibly sheer bandeau bra while hanging out in New York yesterday. (We know this because of the pictures, but also because our very own !) She paired her lace top with a pale pink mullet skirt, a gray sweatshirt (you know, to cover up her boobs or something), and Converse sneakers, and carried a black nano Celine bag.Seriously, what was she thinking? This is either the worst Walk of Shame ever or a coordinated attempt to get us to write about her. Either way, it worked.Okay, now look at Rihanna’s nips in the gallery below: Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. Is LVMH Eyeing Rodarte Again? by 10:33 am, August 27th, 2010 One of our favorite things about the Mulleavy sister’s brand Rodarte is its nonconformity. Tattered dresses and asymmetrical garments typically fill their elaborate fashion shows.At their Fall 2010 show last February, attendees saw distressed bridal-looking gowns walk down an aisle covered with dripping candles. But even the gorgeousness and eccentricity of the Rodarte show couldn’t keep onlookers from noticing a certain CEO in the front row — Pierre-Yves Roussel, head of LVMH’s fashion division.It isn’t the first time LVMH was front row at the Rodarte show. In fact, the company has been huge fans of the line for quite some time. WWD that the luxury group and Rodarte have held several discussions about an acquisition since spring, although market sources stress that no deal is in the works.But why would LVMH — parent company to luxury fashion brands like Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, and Fendi — want Rodarte, a brand that, according to , has yearly earnings that fall just short of $2 million?Despite the fact that Rodarte’s fashion forward and indie cred would make the brand an atypical acquisition, we think Rodarte would round out the conglomerate’s current offerings nicely. An influx of LVMH cash would allow Rodarte to expand their marketing and advertising budget, which would raise the brand’s mainstream profile considerably and increase profit. Look at how much press the Mulleavys and their clothing already get to begin with!And LVMH is known for being home to what are arguably some of fashion’s greatest brands: Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Celine, Donna Karan — why not add to that with a critical darling like Rodarte and prove that LVMH doesn’t just acquire brands, they make them. Runway Review: Can Something Old Ever Be New Again? by 11:09 am, March 27th, 2010 If we learn anything from our pasts, it’s that fashion, like history, repeats itself. Usually, though, we can take this mantra with a grain of salt — color palettes change, ruffles are added, and silhouettes are tweaked to satisfy more modern appetites. This doesn’t, however, seem to be the case with fashion these days. Today’s fashion records seem to be stuck on repeat, with no new track in sight. Shoulder pads, pleat-front pants, sequins and even scrunchies have been spotted on runways and donned by trend-setters around the globe. Have we travelled through time and landed smack dab in the middle of the 1980s? Nope, these the trends of today. It seems that with each new fashion month, a new decade becomes all the rage, with the 80s being the longest reigning period of choice. In Fall 2009, the 80s took over with clichés like big shoulders, sequined leggings and poufy micro-minis thanks to Betsey Johnson, Erin Fetherston, Marc Jacobs, and the king of ode-to-the-80s designs, Christophe Decarnin of Balmain. Thankfully, Spring 2009 saw hints of 90s grunge from designers like Alexander Wang and Balmain, with oversized bags, ripped jeans, and baggy tops. Now we’re past the dark attitudes of the 90s, big hair of the 80s and into the neutral tones and flowy tailoring of the 70s. Hannah MacGibbon of Chloé and Phoebe Philo of Celine hit the trends on the head with button-up shirts, wide-leg pants and tailored silhouettes for Fall 2010. And Rochas sent models down the runway that looked eerily similar to that ultimate 70s good girl, Mary Tyler Moore. Other designers followed suit by incorporating bell-bottoms and earthy, muted color palettes –- anything but black –- into their collections. One of the most noteworthy 70s nods of the fall runways came from Boy by Band of Outsiders with their brown and tan plaid trousers. Why is it that we get so excited about trends that we’ve seen – and hated – before? How have shoulder pads, the bane of our mothers’ existences, been welcomed with open arms by Gen Y? Who would have thought that the grunge looks of our favorite early 90s rock stars are being repeated by industry newbies? Is it that each season’s trends are simply so different from those that saturated the market prior, that they give our eyes a much needed rest from over-exposure? Or is it that the fashion greats have already created everything there is to create? What is it about these tired trends that keeps us drooling for more? And even though the fashion world has -– thankfully -– moved on from the tough-chic, rocker-girl looks of the past couple seasons, we’re still not seeing anything ground breaking. Designers continue to draw inspiration from trends of the past. And it seemed popular for designers to pit their pre-Fall and Fall inspirations as arising from the late designers of their respective fashion houses (i.e. Nicolas Ghesquière using carapace-back jackets that André Leon Talley described as “so Cristóbal” in Vogue’s March issue). It has become a rareity for fashion designers of today to be truly artistic and revolutionary — really forward thinkers. A few of the greats — Galliano, Lacroix, Lagerfeld –- do send looks down the runway that really are works of art. The late Alexander McQueen was also in this league of designers, and his passing reminds us of the vision, talent and yes, opinion, that it takes to keep fashion a relevant medium in the art world. Creativity did show some signs of revival on the Fall 2010 runways. Issey Miyake gave us tops and head pieces made of Crayola-colored scarves and Gareth Pugh kept us on our toes with Matrix-like outerwear and a chain-linked gown. But typically avant-garde lines like Rodarte and Ann Demeulemeester fell short of compelling this season, further evidencing the stagnant industry. Even though fashion is cyclical, and we can always count on seeing trends of late resurface, it’s tiring to see fashion front-runners become so enthralled with “new” looks that are really anything but. As economies around the world continue to improve and sentiments continue to rise, hopefully we can see a resurgence of innovation in fashion. If the Fall 2010 runways were any indication, creativity seems to be making a slow comeback, but a comeback nonetheless. Here’s to an inspiring 2011 season!Get Styleite directly to your inbox – StyleDish: Kanye’s Celine Outfit Gets Illustrated, Emma Stone Covers Elle by 4:35 pm, June 11th, 2011 In today’s , Kanye‘s Celine outfit gets illustrated, Emma Stone‘s Elle cover is analyzed, and solar bikinis are discussed. [High Snobiety] [Go Fug Yourself] [Fashionista] [The Gloss] [StyleList] [The Moment] StyleDish: We Hope These Big Furry Céline Heels Don’t Become A Trend by 5:44 pm, October 1st, 2012 They’re so ugly and impractical — what if we get gum on them? [Refinery29] [HuffPost Style] [Fashionista] [Elite Daily] [The Cut] [Fashion Etc.] Target Taps NYC Boutique Kirna Zabête For Next Collaboration by 12:30 pm, May 7th, 2012 By now you’ve had more than 24 hours to shop the wares from the involved in The Shops at Target. Are you ready for round two?The retailer has now revealed that the first shop to sign on to the second flight, on sale September 9, is none other than New York’s own Kirna Zabête. You didn’t think Target would let you go long without giving you to look forward to, did you?The Soho boutique (hi neighbor!) is known for their tightly-curated selection of high-end designer goods, and is easily one of our favorite places in the city to ogle Céline handbags, jackets, and jewels. So we can’t wait to see what owners Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley will have in store for us with their upcoming Target women’s ready-to-wear collection, consisting of about 100 pieces of clothing and accessories priced between $9.99 and $199.99.A Target spokesman WWD that, unlike the South Beach-inspired goods currently offered by The Webster for Target, “Kirna Zabête at Target will be more reflective of the city — the collection is urban chic.”Stay tuned for the names of the other three stores involved (two homeware concepts and one NYC-based men’s boutique), which Target will be announcing throughout this week on their .[] Feel Like A Splurge? Here’s A $90,000 T-Shirt Covered In Sneakers by 10:18 am, July 10th, 2012 Remember that time of Air Yeezy 2 sneakers on eBay for $90,300? Well, if you feel like you missed out on the opportunity to wildly overspend on a piece of Kanye West memorabilia, look no further than T-shirt, now on sale for the exact same price as that winning eBay bid.The tee, printed with mini-images of the kicks, is the brainchild of Australian artist Wil Fry, a master of T-shirt subversion. His previous projects include a $35 featuring an image of the $689 made of his Soho store and an ‘Expensive T-Shirt’ splashed with images of hangtags from brands like Chanel, Céline, and Givenchy. made offers on the Air Yeezy 2 ‘Limited T-Shirt’, but all have been declined. And unlike the sneaks themselves, only one tee is available, so if you have the urge to rack up some debt this morning you’d better act fast, lest Mr. West snap up the shirt for himself. Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. [ via ] Tommy Ton On Designing For Himself And Those Pesky London Buses by 6:33 pm, March 21st, 2012 At last night’s launch of ’s bag collaboration with Club Monaco, the street style photographer couldn’t help but be selfish about his reasons for designing: “For me, all I cared was getting the bag — for myself.”Well, that was only half-true. He continued, “But something that other people would use.”For the past two years — when he wasn’t jetsetting to London, Milan, or Paris — Ton worked on designing a messenger bag and backpack with the brand. Inspired by the simplicity of Céline, the coated canvas bags are streamlined and feature minimal hardware. This past Fashion Month, he gave the final designs to close friends like Taylor Tomasi Hill and Anna Dello Russo, and photographed them between shows.Want one? Only 500 bags were produced and put in select Club Monaco stores. We heard that the West Coast shipment has already sold out, and at $198 and $225, we’re betting they’ll be sold out on the East Coast, too.In between congratulatory hugs and pats on the back by other party-goers, the photographer-slash-designer chatted with us about his design process, the dangers of street style photography, and another possible collaboration in the future.How did you get involved with Club Monaco? It started two years ago. We had a meeting and Club Monaco was like, ‘What do you want to do?’ and I was like, ‘You know, I need a bag.’ It was fun because I never designed anything for anyone, and it’s perfect with Club Monaco because I’ve been buying their brand since I was a kid. What was so great was working with the team and bringing my ideas, they were able to help refine it and help bring this vision from scrap pieces of paper to this. It was great giving the bags out to my friends and colleagues in the industry and to be so supportive of it. For me, all I cared was getting the bag – for myself.What about your friends? It was great to see so many of my friends carry the bag willingly. I was so lucky that everyone was so happy to carry it. It’s funny because a lot of girls ended up carrying the backpack more than the messenger, and some guys prefer the messenger over the backpack. And from what a lot of women tell me, it’s the perfect carryall for them.What was your favorite part about designing? I think what I had the most fun with was the development of the bag, just seeing the samples back and forth and testing them out. You know, it’s funny, I actually liked the earlier samples, but they were able to talk me into pushing it further and trying different fabrications. Simplifying it was the most important part because backpacks and messengers are utilitarian, so I wanted it to be very clean.Who was your favorite person to shoot? I was really happy that Miles [McMillan] carried the bag, because I feel like the bag was very him and he was so happy to carry it. He was like, ‘I love the bag!’ That was another test, to see if people would like it. That was a mission accomplished. If fashion people love it, then consumers would gravitate to it.If you had to design something else, what would it be? Probably shoes. Maybe a unisex shoe?And we have to ask, what kind of problems do you run into when you have to photograph people who don’t stop to pose? In London, there are so many double-decker buses and they go really fast, so it’s hard to get a good shot quickly!Check out Ton’s photos, as well as shots from last night’s party, below: Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow. Vogue China Proves Professional Can Be Super Sexy by 5:45 pm, April 15th, 2010 While the Chicago Bar Association may have their ideas about what constitutes , which is to say: nun habits, turtlenecks and ankle-length skirts — we had to object. Not that we’re advocating showing up to work looking like you just rolled out of Tiger Wood’s bed, but we’re pretty sure there’s a middle ground between the Bunny Ranch and the Vatican.Leave it to Vogue China to read our mind and combine class and sass in successful fashion. Picturing Asian model Liu Wen in looks by Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan and Celine, we’re totally loving their urbane take on buttoned up beauty. Think: double breasted blazers, crisp white blouses, cool takes on tailoring and even (gasp!) a slit or two. (Now, what would those married lawyers say?)But despite the hint of sexiness, the overall effect is polished, modern and super-sophisticated. So, take that Chicago Bar Association, we rule this case clothed.PS. Estee Lauder has (and ) to be their global spokesmodels. Was Raf Simons Fired From Jil Sander? by 1:44 pm, February 28th, 2012 When Raf Simons announced he would be Jil Sander, it was believed he was leaving because he snagged a bigger gig. Was Dior ? Or Yves Saint Laurent? Probably not — especially since it looks like he was actually fired.In her today, Bridget Foley discusses the return of Jil Sander to her eponymous label, noting that Simons was “unceremoniously dumped”:Simons leaves — more correctly, he was unceremoniously dumped — at the top of his game. A designer of women’s wear neither by education (he studied furniture design) nor first sartorial vocation (he started in men’s), in 2005 he took over a house in distress after some bad decisions — including the one by its founder to sell into a situation, which, in retrospect, would almost surely lead to a clash of personalities — and turned it around, at least creatively. He made it not only relevant again but essential.We’re just as perplexed as Foley. Simons did incredible work at Jil Sander. Why would they want to get rid of him? The clothes he designed should sell (in the words of Foley: “If these clothes aren’t salable, I’m sad for fashion.”), and they surely have a place in the fashion canon. His was one of our favorites of all time! However, Foley does posit that a lack of proper infrastructure and the “company’s inability to build an accessories business” hurt its bottom line.The ever-wise Cathy Horyn agrees. Yesterday she wrote of the “arbitrariness of Raf Simons’s departure” — a :Franco Pene, the chairman of Gibo, an Italian subsidiary of Onward Holdings, which owns Jil Sander, said of the decision: “It’s not that we wanted to change designers. Raf has done a really good job. He’s one of three or four top designers in the world.” He mentioned Phoebe Philo of Céline and Alber Elbaz of Lanvin. But, Mr. Pene said, “it was a strategic issue to return to the culture of the brand” under its founder, Ms. Sander, and gain “consistency.”Like Foley, Horyn lamented the “management’s inability to make a business out of Mr. Simons’s designs”. It’s pretty insane. If Jil Sander could not sell Simons’s gorgeous (and wearable!) designs, it certainly shows weakness on a management level. This is simply not Simons’s fault. Regardless, the man’s talent speaks for itself, and we’re excited to see just where he lands. 10 Important Things We Learned Last Week: April 17-23 by 12:13 pm, April 24th, 2011 1. People wore lots of to Coachella, but Kanye was the clear winner. He wore a Celine on stage.2. Sophie Cranston‘s name was added to the of possible royal wedding dress designers, but she’s the rumors. If only Olivier Theyskens had ! Additionally, the official have been released and the William & Kate Lifetime was hilarious.3. Cindy Crawford likes to have in her guest house, Agyness Deyn ran a , and Miranda Kerr wore a .4. Sarah Burton could John Galliano at Dior. In the meantime, she about Alexander McQueen.5. There is an Anna Dello Russo .6. Kate Moss seduced a , and landed the of Vogue Paris. (The Vogue is awesome, by the way.)7. A new claims to stop your armpits from sweating. Perhaps the lady who has gotten will try it out? Relatedly, Botox could make you a .8. Lindsey Wixson wore Jason Wu to her . The dress looked quite different than the that took six years to make, which certainly did not cost .9. Karl Lagerfeld‘s Magnum ice cream are super kitschy. And we talked to tons of cool people at the !10. Heidi Klum is having a hard time finding an in New York. Anna Sui . Yet Another Designer Cancels Their Fall Fashion Show by 10:08 am, February 2nd, 2012 Though we’re not one to mourn the loss of anything off the exceptionally crowded fashion week calendar, a cancelled show is never a good thing. Designer Ralph Rucci has canceled his February 12 runway show in favor of private showroom appointments for his Chado Ralph Rucci line. And while the natural assumption is money, some insiders say Rucci wasn’t happy that his showtime coincided with Tommy Hilfiger’s famously busy production. But Rosina Rucci, his sister and communications director, says it’s neither.“Tommy’s audience is decidedly not ours,” she wrote in an on Wednesday. “And cost is always a factor but [that] was not the driving force behind this decision.”Last month, notoriously troubled fashion house Emanuel Ungaro both their fall and pre-fall presentations, while Celine to show their fall collection in presentation format to accomodate designer Phoebe Philo’s pregnancy. PR powerhouse KCD’s couldn’t be coming at a better time. [.] Why she went onstage clad in what appears to be a white suit jacket and a tutu is a mystery to this day, but in 1988 French-Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion's ("Don't Leave Without Me") secured the Eurovision crown... for Switzerland. Sadly, they've never won again. Picture: Pat Maxwell/Rex FeaturesThere is hope for her. Battersea has had to become expert at rehoming Staffies (1,300 went to new homes in 2009) and one of its most recent success stories is Reggie, a Staffordshire terrier who was used to coax other dogs to fight. His former owner had filed his teeth down and kept him chained up on a lead so he could not fight back while other dogs attacked him. But he stayed at Battersea for only a month and a half before he was rehomed, three days before my visit. 'Some dogs we just can't help,' Horton says. 'These are the dogs whose lives have been spent being beaten, threatened, intimidated and used for fighting. They are often very badly injured and psychologically damaged. If we decide that they are too aggressive then we have to put them to sleep, because that is the right thing to do.'One third of the dogs that come to Battersea are put down either for aggression or because they are Section 1 types: illegal dogs, such as pit bull terriers, that are banned by law. Section 1 typing is based on physical characteristics rather than temperament, and such a dog is identified by sight by a police officer. Because the dogs are crossbred so often, they may contain only slight traces of the banned breed, and Battersea staff do not always know that they have a Section 1-type dog in their kennels until police mark it for destruction. Three months ago Scott Craddock, 42, the home's operations director, had a scared white puppy staying in his office, as staff sometimes do to give the dogs a break from kennels. 'He had been assessed by our behaviourists and was a really sweet, well-behaved puppy, but absolutely terrified,' Craddock says. 'He had obviously been abused, so I took him into my office to keep him company. But the police said he was a Section 1 type dog so he had to be put to sleep. I just tell myself it's a good thing he spent at least some quality time with people who cared for him.'The small proportion of dogs and cats that are brought in by their owners and 'gifted' to Battersea, meaning they sign over ownership, can be assessed straight away and, after vets and behaviourists check them over, move straight up to the rehoming wing. 'The people who bring their dogs in here have made a really tough decision,' Craddock says. 'I'd much rather have the opportunity to discuss the dog's history with the owner than have them just dump the dog.' But unfortunately that is what most do. More than 70 per cent of the intake are strays and so stay in the Lost and Found kennels, called Tealby kennels, for seven days to allow their owners a chance to reclaim them. Tealby, named after Mary Tealby, who founded the charity for 'lost and starving dogs' in 1860, is a 20-year-old block that is no longer fit for purpose, with porous floors and poor drainage that increases the spread of infections. It houses about 100 dogs, and new dogs often catch kennel cough, an airborne disease, and have to be quarantined, but the sick bay is even worse. Known as TK (temporary kennels), it is squeezed under the railway arches that divide up the Battersea site, and the loud rumble of commuter trains overhead visibly upsets the poorly residents. Battersea, which receives no government funding and relies solely on donations to meet its £13 million annual running costs, 70 per cent of which comes from legacies, desperately wants to update its barely adequate facilities and is about to launch a £7 million fundraising drive to modernise the kennels. Cats, which have been at Battersea since 1883, used to endure even worse conditions, but since October they have been housed in a new £2 million cattery, opened by the Duchess of Cornwall. As soon as they are handed in to Lost and Found they are whisked off to their own rooms inside the sleek glass building. Each room has a floor-to-ceiling window, underfloor heating and a full-size door, so that staff and volunteers can walk in quietly and let the cat come to them rather than grabbing them out of cages that used to be like 'lockers at a gym', one volunteer explains. All cats go through the same behaviour checks as the dogs, but unlike in the dogs' kennels the atmosphere is calm, almost sleepy. Many of the beds have hand-knit blankets and homemade toys that supporters send in to give it a homely feel.By the end of the day at Lost and Found 10 dogs and five cats have been handed in, including an akita, a 100lb Japanese fighting dog, whose owners are splitting up, a Labrador whose pregnant owner doesn't want him and a baby, a brindle and white Staffie brought in by a woman who found him tied up outside her house, and a kitten that an elderly man found on his doorstep in a cat carrier. The penultimate cast-off is a scared Staffie puppy, Jade, whose new owners took her from Battersea only a few days earlier. 'She had a problem with her leg, which we had pointed out to the new owners before they took her and provided insurance for an operation,' Kayleigh Parr, Battersea's 23-year-old Lost and Found assistant, one of about 230 staff members on site, says. 'She would have healed quickly, but they brought her back and said they didn't want a broken puppy.' Five of the dogs have been put in caution pens, including the Labrador, which looks like it may bite, and the akita, which growls when anyone tries to move him. Behaviour experts will assess all the new animals and decide whether they are safe to be rehomed. Pat Moore, 33, the head of behaviour, and his colleague Celine Gauthier are putting Sazzle, a one-year-old Staffie, through her assessment, which takes a couple of hours. Gauthier moves her into different positions to see how she copes with being physically handled, and gives her food and toys to test her reaction, but she is more interested in being petted than in food. 'We can train young puppies, but once they've grown up all we can do is manage their behaviour,' Moore says. 'What we do in this session is test they are safe to rehome and try to find out about their personalities and likes and dislikes so that we can give the new owner as much information as possible and make sure they are the perfect match; we do not want them to go through the stress of coming back.' A family home is not always the ultimate goal. Wilder cats can be sent to open spaces such as farms, while dogs who prefer an active lifestyle can become working dogs, as nearly 60 did in 2009. The final test for Sazzle is to meet another dog. Moore leads in Ed, an old golden retriever which belongs to a Battersea staffer – most staff bring their dogs to work, from Wilma, the CEO's 15-year-old excitable stray terrier, to Banquo, the receptionist's regal-looking weimaraner. Sazzle seems unbothered by the new dog, meaning she probably does not want to live with one, but crucially will not be aggressive to dogs she meets on the street. Moore's verdict is that, 'She's a dog who loves people and will make a great family dog.' In fact, Sazzle gets rehomed the next day to a couple with an eight-year-old daughter.The barking Labrador and suspicious akita did not have the same happy ending. After being monitored for a week they were deemed too aggressive and had to be put down.As soon as the first dog sees a person enter Kent, the rehoming kennels where the public come to view the dogs, a chorus of barks erupts like an early-warning signal, the loudest coming from a tiny, yappy Jack Russell terrier called Buster. He is the only dog out of his 21 kennelmates that is not a bull breed. In the cage next to him a silent Staffie, Angus, presses his nose against the bars and watches us sadly as we pass by.On average, dogs stay for 28 days and cats for 27, although most cats go to new homes within the month whereas dogs have widely different lengths of stay. A puppy can be gone in a week but others, such as Blue, a bow-legged Staffie that is the home's longest-staying resident and has been at Battersea for 502 days, the equivalent of 10 dog years, have to wait much longer. There is no limit to how long the animals can stay, unlike in local authority pounds where they are put to sleep after seven days. Battersea works with dog wardens in and around Greater London and asks them to look after dogs for three days, as a stray is most likely to be reunited with its owner in the first 78 hours. But the longer the dogs stay cooped up in kennels the more danger there is of them going kennel crazy. 'You can see the light in their eyes switch off,' one volunteer says. If they do break down, more often than not they have to be put to sleep. Battersea staff try their best to stave off boredom: Classic FM is piped through the speakers; different scents from lavender to almond are spritzed through the kennels; and food (the dogs eat nearly £250-worth a day) is presented in a variety of ways, from being scattered around like a treasure hunt to being frozen into doggy lollipops. The dogs also have daily kennel sessions where they are stroked and petted to prepare them for life on the outside, and an army of more than 200 volunteers criss-cross the site all day in their standard issue navy waterproof jackets taking dogs on walks to the local park. One of the most dedicated is Alison King, 55, who has two bright blue leads around her neck, pockets stuffed with dog waste bags (Battersea gets through nearly 650 a day) and a bum bag filled with treats. The volunteers may have enviable-sounding jobs of dog walking and cat stroking, but they have to be committed. After 20 hours of training they must turn up on the same day each week for at least four hours, promise to commit for at least six months and have an attendance of no less than 75 per cent. Despite working for four other charities, King dedicates about 30 hours a week to Battersea (she even walked 13 dogs on Christmas Day). Because she is almost a permanent fixture, she is often assigned some of the more tricky dogs to look after, such as Poppy, a gorgeous-looking brown and white mongrel who happily wags her tail inside her kennel, but outside it becomes a quivering wreck ('Whoever heard of an agoraphobic dog?' King laughs affectionately). We learn the next day that during the routine police inspection Poppy was deemed to be a Section 1-type dog and must be put to sleep. King seems to take the news stoically: 'It's really sad, but it's a reminder not to get too attached because the aim was never to keep her here for ever, although I had hoped she would get another chance with a family who would love her.'The rehoming process is key to Battersea's whole operation: if it does not get animals out to new homes, it cannot take in more strays and unwanted pets. It is a thorough process. First there is an interview where the candidate is quizzed on their lifestyle and working hours. Next the 'customer's' requirements are put into the home's database, 'a bit like match.com,' laughs Horton, so they can specify a dog that is good with children or one that does not mind cats or an animal that is comfortable with another dog in the house. Then, after a home visit (even 10 Downing Street was inspected when the Prime Minister wanted a cat in February), every person living at the house has to meet their prospective pet, and if it is a dog being rehomed, it has to meet any other dogs living there too. A red-haired young woman and her enormous rottweiler cross, wearing a red neckerchief, are sitting in reception waiting to meet 18-month-old Lara, also a rottweiler cross. Bryony Woods, 21, fell in love with the puppy on Battersea's Facebook page (as well as its website, Battersea has a Facebook page and an iPhone app, which has had more than 45,000 downloads). Lara looks exactly like a smaller version of Woods's three-year-old rescue dog Kix, and after passing the interview and home visit Woods is back to see if the two get on.Karen Gui, 41, one of Battersea's rehoming staff, leads Lara outside to a large concrete pen beneath the disused power station that looms over the site, and carefully watches as Lara and Kix chase each other, so excited they almost bang into the metal partitions. They growl quietly at each other but because they are not stiffening and are taking it in turns to be the leader, Gui says there is nothing to worry about. They have passed the final test. A week later, after Woods's partner has come to meet her, Lara leaves for her new home.Back in reception, John Clarke, an elderly man with a flat cap and a thick Scottish accent, is being handed the lead to his new dog, Herman, a 10-year-old Staffie that has been at the home for eight months and amassed such a fan club that a crowd has gathered to see him off. Clarke had come in three days earlier for his initial interview with rehomer Carrie Lindell, 30, and told her that he wanted another dog after his last Staffie, 18-year-old Kelly, died in December. Herman happened to be resting in a dog basket in the room at the time.'He jumped up on my knee and fell asleep, so I knew right away that he wanted me,' Clarke says. 'I didn't want a puppy again because I'm an old man now but he seems like me, old but frisky.' Lindell bends down to stroke Herman. 'Herman likes routines, and he's quite a stubborn old man, so I think he's met his match,' she smiles. She gives Herman his final pat and tells him to be good. The farewell party breaks up but Lindell stays by the window watching as Clarke and Herman shuffle off slowly down the road, towards the railway station and Herman's new home on the Sussex coast. To make a donation, call 0870-890 0000 or email . For more information about any of the animals featured, call Battersea's rehoming team on 020-7627 9234, email or visit Las Vegas' Caesars Palace, a luxury hotel and casino with a Roman Empire theme located on the Las Vegas Strip that opened its doors in 1966.Established:St. Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703.Las Vegas was founded by a railroad company in 1910.Top marriage venue:St. Petersburg's premier wedding palace is located on the banks of the River Neva in a grand nineteenth century building, though Tsarskoye Selo, a former imperial palace is increasingly popular.Las Vegas' Little Church of the West (1942) where Elvis Presley married Ann Margaret and many other celebrities have tied the knot remains a favourite.Celebrity sightings:In St. Petersburg you might bump into legendary conductor Valery Gergiev, or, if you're lucky St. Petersburg native Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister.In Las Vegas, you could bump into any number of Hollywood A-listers or star singers. Celine Dion and Britney Spears are regular performers. ABBA shot to international stardom after winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo and are the second most successful act in pop history after the Beatles. They had nine number one hit singles in the UK including Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You and The Name of the Game and despite splitting up in 1982 continue to sell millions of records. Their work has been covered or sampled by some of the biggest stars in the world including Madonna and the Fugees. It has also been used in the soundtrack to a string of hit movies including Muriel's Wedding and Priscilla Queen of The Desert. Throughout most of the band's life Ulvaeus and Andersson were married to the band's two singers Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, better known as Frida. Both couples divorced before the band split but Ulvaeus insists that the marital breakdowns were not the brought about by the pressures of fame. "I don't think the pressures of being in the band caused the splits. On the contrary. If Benny and I had been in a band with two other girls and had wives at home the marriages would have split up much earlier. They were not acrimonious divorces. We all sat down and said hang on we have so much more to give. We are not going to let it end are we? We are civilized people. So we carried on and some of our best work came after the divorces. The Winner Takes It All, for instance." Both Ulvaues and Andersson are amazed and delighted that ABBA continue to sell millions of records every year. "We didn't think the music would live on this long," says Anderssson proudly. "You know what pop music is. It is there for the time it actually happens. You are on the charts for sixteen weeks or four weeks than it goes and then something else comes up. Another band comes in. Another trend comes in. You think that's the way it should be. We were absolutely dead sure that it would be the same for us." Of course no matter how many records they sell the band will always been synonymous with the Eurovision Song Contest. Both men hardly tune in any more but they are confident a Western European nation can win again despite all the fears that the former Eastern bloc countries now dominate the event. "Of course The West can win again," laughs Andersson. "It is just a question of getting the right stuff in there. I am proud of what we did in Eurovision, but I am not proud of Eurovision itself anymore. It is not producing good music of the kind it was in the 1960s. I think after us nothing good has come out of it. Really! Has anything good come out of it? Celine Dion maybe and Johnny Logan produced one or two things." "As for the bias in the voting," adds Ulvaeus, "people have always voted for each other. The Irish have voted for the British and vice versa. It is nothing new." Both men are delighted that their songs have had such an influence on the contemporary music scene. "We have influenced other writers obviously," says Ulvaeus. "With such a string of hits you are bound to influence other people." Madonna is a huge fan and in 2005 asked Benny and Bjorn if she could sample their hit Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man after Midnight) in the song Hung Up. "Madonna wrote a very, very nice letter saying please please we have had a wonderful idea which involves Gimme Gimme," says Ulvaeus. "We said we would have to listen to it first but after half a minute I knew it was brilliant. That is one of the few we have allowed. Five years earlier we said yes to the Fugees. But to everyone else we said No. I think the Madonna record shows that ABBA is part of the DNA set up of Pop." Ulvaeus believes that part of the reason why the band's work endures is that they hardly ever toured and they concentrated solely on songwriting. "We toured very little. Almost nothing. That is why the songs are still out there. They are carefully crafted. It was the very best we could achieve." "Touring we thought was a waste of time. It was much more productive and much more creative to write and record. I am glad today that we didn't tour. We knew it begins and ends with a song. Back then the entire business revolved around the song." Both Ulvaeus and Andersson are thrilled by the global success of the musical Mamma Mia which features more than 20 of their hits and can't wait for the release of the film version this week starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Walters and Colin Firth. "When we were first approached about the idea for a show more than ten years ago we said I don't think so," says Anderson. "We were very protective at the time of the work we had done. We were proud of it. Andersson said: "You don't just give songs away to anyone to do with what they want. It could have been a disaster. But we did have the power of veto which meant we could have stopped it anytime." "But the first preview was absolutely wonderful. I remember in Knowing Me Knowing You they took out the ah ah bits. But the audience wasn't having it and just put them back in. They just filled in the gaps." Both Anderson and Ulvaeus insisted that the trio of women who had created the stage show should be responsible for the film. They say there was no question of handing it over to a Hollywood director. "We didn't want to lose the British Swedish touch which you could easily lose in Hollywood." says Ulvaeus. "We would never have given it away to a stranger. We wanted to keep it in the family We also wanted to keep full control of the sound." The film's biggest draw is without a doubt Meryl Streep, who belts out a string of ABBA classics on screen including Dancing Queen, Money Money, Mama Mia and The Winner Takes It All. "Meryl Streep is a goddess," smiles Ulvaeus, "And at first we couldn't believe that she wanted to do it. I was completely taken by surprise when I saw her performance in the movie. To hear her delivering the songs with all the emotion we put in the lyrics is more than we could have dreamed of."Despite his lawyers arguing that Cecillon had always been known as the "calm man of rugby", some witnesses painted a more turbulent picture. One woman said she had conceived a child with Cecillon in 1989 when she was 17, but that he had not recognised the infant. Another woman claimed he had accosted her in a supermarket in 2001 just after her husband had died. Tickets on offer Invesco Perpetual have stumped up a pair of tickets and return rail travel for Wales' clash with New Zealand on Nov 25 — this on top of contributing three pairs of tickets for the recent thriller against Australia. Here's the question: Who was the Wales hooker who kicked a penalty in the 13-6 defeat against the All Blacks in Cardiff in 1967? Answers to Brendan.gallagher@telegraph.co.uk by Nov 15. Stirring Obolensky Last week's account in The Daily Telegraph of Alexander Obolensky's remarkable debut against New Zealand 70 years ago stirred the memories of some and the admiration of many born long after the thrilling events at Twickenham. Fred Mellor wrote: "I was 16 at the time of the Obolensky try. Wonderful. I remember borrowing money from Matron (along with others) to go to the cinema and see it all over again three times. He also came to Wakefield to play and open the new Sandal RUFC ground; we couldn't get near him for girls! The only comparative England try was Richard Sharp against Scotland a long time later." Robin Aird said of the footage: "It was more poignant for me as my second cousin, Graham Gilbert, was the All Blacks' full-back that day. I have been trying to find the film of the match for some time and now I have seen it." Gilbert, who was the top scorer on that tour with 125 points from 27 games, was born in Rothesay, Scotland, and had an interesting life. He flirted with rugby league with Bradford Northern and played for the unbeaten GB Empire team in France. His exclusion and eventual re-instatement to rugby union in New Zealand made a most interesting story. Graham died aged 90 in 2002. "Let us not forget the other 14 players who helped lay the foundation for an historic victory (with just a slight family interest)," writes Alan Longland. The minimum of research reveals that an R J Longland of Northampton was a prop for England that day. Although always referred to as Obolensky's match, Peter Cranmer, a centre for England that day, always believed it to be England's finest all-round performance.Brazilian Air Force Col. Henry Munhoz said eight more bodies were found Monday, near the spot where 16 others have been recovered since Saturday – roughly 400 miles north-east of the Fernando de Noronha islands off Brazil's northern coast, and about 45 miles from where the jet was last heard from on May 31. MEERKAT MAXIMSHow did you come up with comparethemeerkat.com? It was the idea of my Papa Anton. It actually came to him in a dream after he had eaten a larger than normal plate of cheesy beetles. What did you study at school? I am graduate of the "Learn English Through Acupuncture" correspondence course. I am also qualify cravateer and fur stylist. You have clearly embraced the digital age... has it been difficult? No, it was piece of centipede cake. My ITkat, Sergei, used to work on Russian space program and has install state of art computermabob with extra large RAM jar and floppy box. Your most amusing Facebook update? What do termites eat for breakfast? Oakmeal! That killed at the Annual Leaders in Commeerce Roundtable this year. How much time do you spend at your computer each day? In morning I have to spend many hour replying to timewasters who are email me for cheap car insurance deal. The rest of day split between snacking and Tweeting about snacks. Favourite website? I am current working on a new social media website, called Fritter. It is like Facebook and Twitter combine to let you waste time more efficiently. Who do you most admire? Celine Dion for produce some of best emoto-pop records in all time. What are you most proud about? I am proud of Orlov family museum. I have spent years collecting relic from my family's past, like grub tin from their old home in the Kalahari and first cravat ever worn by an Orlov. If there was fire in mansion I do not know what I would send Sergei in to save first. How many marriage proposals have you had? Today? Under 10. Ever? Let us just say that if I had a rouble for every one, I would be able to add a third storey to my limousine. If you were a character from a book, who would it be? Knightkat. He is star of graphic novel I am working on. He run successful internet business by day but is crime fighting evil mongoose at night. It is base on true story. Favourite piece of clothing? My smoking jacket was made special for me by tailor in Makaryev. It will always have special place in my heart, mainly because it has special place for my tail. Any piercings or tattoos? My fur is too luscious and my tastes too sophisticate for that. The most important thing your mother told you? "Never go up onto the roof with your roller skates on."Favourite song? The Orlov Family Song. It tells of my family in medium of rousing marching jig and, latest recording feature vocal talents of me. If anyone from the Russian Eurovision Entry Committee is read, please check out for it on website. Arturo Bolaño rescues a friend from “The King of the Rent Boys” with a borrowed knife and a fearless attitude. Sitting in her lavatory cubicle, remembering the brief heroic boys, the artist who goes mad, the poets who sacrificed their gifts for establishment positions, Auxilio is “choked by the brilliance and sadness of youth”. We hear of characters who had the bad luck to attract the Muse when they were young, which they will inevitably betray. The outlaw poet becomes a corrupt hack: “The chubby little guy who, with the passage of time, had become a greasy, fat, obsequious man.”It seems likely that Bolaño’s posthumous fame will last. He wrote his long, beautifully balanced, digressive sentences with a precise sense of possibility and truth. It also seems likely that he knew he was going to die young. Such fervency is only possible when the author can feel exempt from the decrepitude of moral value that comes with age.Amulet by Roberto Bolaño, tr by Chris Andrews184pp, Picador, £14.99T £12.99 (plus £1.25 p&p) 0844 871 1515 or In this she blends seamlessly with her adopted habitat, the Seizième sud, home of the discreet Parisian bourgeoisie. Her neighbours in the 75016 postcode, Nicolas Sarkozy’s natural constituency, strongly disapproved of the initial Sarko style, which included parading his three sons (by his two previous wives) and two bottle-blonde stepdaughters at his 2007 Elysée inauguration.The new régime, in which Carla’s instincts collude with Sarko’s spin-doctoring team, has been protesting (unconvincingly) that “no-one is interested in this private event” – there won’t even be an official Presidency communiqué for the birth – while overseeing a few strategic leaks to upmarket women’s magazines.Adding a light skirmishing touch to the whole setup is Sarkozy’s somewhat louche 82-year-old father, the Hungarian-born Baron Pal Sarkozy de Nagy-Bocsa, who has become an unofficial but quite chatty source to German tabloids, on every matter from the Catholic baptism to the (inaccurate, as it turned out) date planned for the birth. There is no love lost between Nicolas Sarkozy and his four-times-married father who abandoned his wife when young Nicolas was eight; but there is a feeling here that if the president had really wanted to shut Daddy up, he would have succeeded.Predictably, all the celebrity websites and weeklies have been scrambling to find out every possible detail of the forthcoming birth. A picture of the baby is currently quoted at €50,000 by the main photo agencies. Clinique de La Muette, where the former justice minister Rachida Dati had her own daughter Zohra two years ago, denied that a whole floor had been booked and cordoned off to ensure Carla’s privacy, implicitly confirming the rest of the reports – that a couple of €250-a-night “ordinary rooms” on either side of Ms Bruni-Sarkozy’s modest suite will be occupied by security officers. La Muette has a controversially-high rate of C-sections, but there has been no indication that the 43-year-old Bruni thinks herself too posh to push.Carla herself has tried to forestall probable criticism in acknowledging herself “incredibly fortunate – I have help, staff; I don’t have to get back to a job.” (And a good thing, too, as she has indicated she will use “green” washable cloth nappies.)She, Sarkozy and Aurélien do not live at the Elysée but in her pretty rue Pierre Guérin townhouse, right next to the leafy Villa Montmorency gated enclave where Gérard Depardieu, Celine Dion and missile-and-media tycoon Arnaud Lagardère have homes – and just across the garden from Aurélien’s father, the philosopher and radio personality Raphaël Enthoven. Far from resenting this proximity, Sarko relishes it: an unhappy, lonely boy himself, raised by a working mother and an adored grandfather, he famously likes to gather his children and extended families, and greeted a bemused Enthoven the first time he met him, at the traditional 2008 Elysée Christmas party, with: “Now you’re a member of the tribe...”France doesn’t really have yummy mummies, but if anyone were to start the trend, Carla Bruni is by far the best-placed. Like famous mothers here before her – Catherine Deneuve, Inès de La Fressange, Princess Caroline – she’d bring a definite Gallic twist to it. “I can’t stand this pregnancy any longer; this baby can’t come soon enough so that I can smoke and drink again,” she moaned recently, to no outrage whatsoever.But it is also Bruni who put her husband on a strict training regimen with her personal trainer almost as soon as they got together. The trainer, the improbably-named Julie Imperiali, talked to the press about the “perineal exercises” she designed for the couple, to “tone up posture” and “improve their sex life”. Apart from her rounded belly, Carla seems to have gained no weight at all during her pregnancy: everyone expects her – and, indeed, this being Paris, expects of her – to be back in model shape by Christmas. (It’s not just mummies: all Frenchwomen are deeply competitive when it comes to appearance.)Carla Bruni breast-fed Aurélien briefly, and may well do the same this time, although enquiries on the subject are met with a stony silence at the Elysée – Frenchwomen are rarely evangelical about this, and take the transition to bottles in their stride. It is likely the baby will be dressed by Bonpoint, Jacadi, Tartine et Chocolat, possibly even receive presents from Baby Dior – although since this is all too often nicknamed “Baby Emir”, Carla might decide to steer clear of it.Carla won’t have a real nanny problem. She already has live-in staff (to whom she is notably generous: she once employed an ex-convict she had met begging in the streets); and her mother, the expansive concert pianist Marisa Bruni-Tedeschi, who likes her son-in-law very much, will certainly insist on baby-sitting her new grandchild. She can afford to hire the best, who need only be vetted for security reasons by the French police.Of course, most Frenchwomen aren’t in the same elevated circumstances, and while dreaming of the Norland graduates only employed these days by oligarchs and Gulf princes, end up with au pairs from Britain, Germany, Eastern Europe (there is a brisk network for Nice Polish Girls among traditionalist Catholic mothers), and girls from former French colonies such as Morocco and Sénégal. If you’re lucky, they have the accumulated experience of having cared for six small brothers and sisters, and become a family member, then friend, for years. If you’re unlucky, they are mostly interested in your dress cupboard and/or your husband – and everything ends up in a spectacularly messy divorce.The Sarkozys will not have to worry about finding a good school for their child (or the vast amounts needed for the fees). France still enjoys an overall decent public education system, and a highly-subsidised private system which must follow the national curriculum by law. While Carla should not have to resort to state-subsidised day care, she might start her child in her local state nursery school at three – the received wisdom here being that this is a good time to start socialising children.Frenchwomen also have a far less dogmatic attitude to child-rearing than their British middle-class counterparts. Their priorities are different – parents will pay vast premiums to move to the catchment area of a top-rate collège or lycée, but they will not, as a rule, interfere much with the teachers. Both Sarkozys attended private but not especially-distinguished schools, Carla in Switzerland and Sarkozy as a day pupil in Paris, after flunking out of Lycée Chaptal. If their child manages, down the line, to find a place in the infinitely more prestigious State-run Lycées Louis le Grand, Henri IV or Saint Louis in Paris, he or she will be considered to have done better than them.It is worth noting that in this process, nobody here seems to be interested in a child’s self-esteem: the psychoanalyst Pascal Baudry has estimated that by the time he or she reaches the age of 18, a French child has been criticised 100,000 times – mostly with little kindness in mind. Schools are expected to produce academically-able children, not well-rounded characters. (This occasionally helps explain the humourless tone of public debate in the country.)But this is still far in the future, when, no matter how next May’s election pans out, Baby Sarkozy will be the child of a former, not a sitting chief of State. Meanwhile the nation awaits l’enfant, the first legitimate baby to be born to a French president in history. However she decides to play things, Carla Bruni will be blazing a trail.What do you need for a perfect holiday?Definitely not snow. I'm not really into the cold. The perfect ingredients for me are simple – some time off. I don't go on vacation to have a party every night so when I'm on a break I like to recuperate and rest. I just need the sun, an umbrella, an iPod and some down time. If you throw in a sunset and a cocktail, then that's even better.What do you always take with you? I'm a terrible sleeper and I have back problems so I always take a Tempur-Pedic pillow. Sleeping in different beds tends to make my back feel weaker and having the pillow at least keeps the alignment halfway in check. What's your best piece of travel advice?Be patient. Everyone is in a hurry, everyone's late, everyone's anxious and you can feel the negative energy in most airports, but if you arrive accepting that something may go wrong and that there may be delays, then there's more chance that you won't let it ruin your trip. If we are stuck on the tarmac for an hour, then we're stuck on the tarmac for an hour. So what? That's one more hour for reading. Travelling can be very stressful for a lot of people but I try not to let my anxiety levels rise.Where do you want to go next? Top of the list is Thailand as I'm a huge beach fan and I've heard that the beaches there are even more beautiful than the Caribbean, particularly Krabi, so that's on my wish list. And I'd love to spend some more time in Italy too, particularly Capri and Florence.…and disasters? Which was your worst holiday?I really don't have disastrous holidays. There have been trips I've taken that have taken way longer than I would have liked, where this has been cancelled or that has been cancelled, but I've never had a holiday that I've not taken some sort of positive enjoyment from. I think it just depends on how much you choose to take in of anything seemingly disastrous that happens. What's your worst experience on holiday?I had a nasty incident with seafood once when I was staying at a hotel in LA with a very famous restaurant, which shall remain nameless to spare its blushes. Let's just say I experienced extreme food poisoning out of both ends at rapid speed and it wasn't pleasant. I bit into this mussel and I knew something wasn't right, but I just swallowed it really quickly and hoped my instincts were wrong.But they weren't. A few hours later I could feel that something was wrong in them there hills and it was like somebody had pressed a button at both ends of my body. I was like: "Wow, I need to get to the rest room. Now." It was a truly awful feeling to have that poison in my body.What's the biggest packing mistake you've made?I've had a missing case that vanished forever just recently. I was flying to a show in Spain and everything just disappeared. All my jackets, all my stage wear. All irreplaceable. It's a shame but what can you do? Life's too short to lose sleep over lost cases.The worst hotel you've stayed in?I don't stay in hotels that I'm not happy with. For me it's all about the odour and if I walk into a place and it's smelly, I just leave and book in elsewhere. And that doesn't mean I'll stay in the best hotels in town either. I actually tend to stay in less flashy hotels when I'm touring.What do you avoid on holidays? The paparazzi. I like to keep as private as possible so I don't tend to book into the most public hotels. What do you hate about holidays?Bad weather. It's sad for me if I'm going to a place that I'm hoping will be really sunny and it turns out to be rainy for the whole trip. I've been on tropical vacations where there's been rain but it's been refreshingly welcome and only lasts for a few minutes or hours, not days.“I am a verry passionate man,” he says in pidgin English. “I do haf a verry beeg reeespect for sex.” All right, Andrea, I know. “And so it is for thees reason that I do not like it when sex becomes an eenstrument for music.” An instrument for music? “Si.” He is too much of an Italian gentleman to call the likes of Rihanna and Gaga whores of Babylon –“I express judgments only on things that I know very well such as opera and classical music and in this case I can’t” – but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was thinking something along those lines. He is a committed Catholic. He tells me that religion has “first place in my life. I do not think anyone can ever do anything without the help and will of God.” He is passionately pro-life, and last year filmed a video expressing his views, which, when posted on the web, was hailed by anti-abortion campaigners as “one of the most beautiful, authentic things ever seen”. In it, Bocelli sits at a piano and tells the camera that he wants to recount a “little story” about a young pregnant woman who is admitted to hospital with a misdiagnosed case of appendicitis. After tests, “the doctors advised her to abort the child. They told her that would be the best solution because the child would doubtless be born with some kind of disability. But the courageous young wife decided not to terminate the pregnancy, and the child was born. The woman was my mother, I was the child.”Bocelli was born with sight problems and was eventually diagnosed with congenital glaucoma. At the age of 12, he went completely blind following an accident during a football game. But this hasn’t held him back. You get the sense that many people are actually endeared to him because of it, but he refuses to talk about his blindness, perhaps because he is tired of being defined by it. “Let’s go to the next question,” he says when I bring the subject up. His views on abortion are well rehearsed, and he has heard about Nadine Dorries and her recent attempt to strip termination clinics of their counselling roles. He interrupts the translator as she relays my question and says very firmly, which I repeat in full here: “You ask me before of my point of view about religion, and I told you I am very religious. It means that before I fight against something, I try to fight in favour of something. “It is not Christian to go against someone. I am in favour of life. And, of course, personally I do not share the idea of being able to interrupt life arbitrarily. But I cannot be the judge of those who decide in a different way. As much as I can, I show them an example and act as a role model, because I believe this is the only way.”He isn’t cross when he says this – on the contrary, the tone is calm and measured. Bocelli has two teenage sons with his estranged wife – the boys are here with him in New York – though his Catholicism has perhaps prevented him from divorcing her and he is about to have a third child with his girlfriend and manager, Veronica Berti. “I am a very lazy man, so, for me, the dream is to be at home on the chair [I think he means sofa] with my family.” Later that day, he will decide at a moment’s notice to fly back to his home in Tuscany on his private jet. Does he worry about Italy? Downstairs in the hotel lobby, his 30-year-old assistant Francesco spoke passionately about how disgusted he was by Berlusconi, how disillusioned he was with what the country had become. “I have met him [Berlusconi] several times,” says Bocelli. “He is a very intelligent man. He is very, very kind and, err, he has a great will.” Really? “A strong will.” Goodness, I’d hate to see him when he’s being weak-willed, then. “Of course, I am not happy about this as an Italian citizen.” Would he ever run for prime minister? A smile creeps across his face. “I prefer to work for my country in a free and independent way. I was born free, and I want to die free. I am always suspicious of ideology. Instead, I respect men with ideas.”I tell him he is very wise. “Grazie mille,” he says nodding. Then the most popular Italian in the world loses his battle with a yawn, and I take my cue to leave. Tiredness is a language we all understand. ‘Andrea Bocelli Concerto: One Night In Central Park’ is out on November 14 2011 on Sugar/Universal 1986: Lennox collected her second Brit Award and The Eurythmics won their first Grammy Award and second Ivor Novello for Best Contemporary Song. Their sixth album, Revenge, stayed in the charts for over a year. 1988: The Eurythmics performed at Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Tribute. Lennox was to become heavily involved in Mandela's 46664 campaign to combat AIDS in Africa. 1992: Her first solo album, Diva, is released and earns Lennox a Grammy Award, an MTV Award and an Ivor Novello as well as reaching the number one spot. 1995: Lennox released her second solo album, Medusa, which reached number one. She also received a further wealth of awards including a World Music Award for Best Selling British Female Recording Artist.1999: Following their first performance together in 1998 after ten years, The Eurythmics released their album Peace and embarked upon the 'Peacetour' over three continents. All the proceeds went to Greenpeace and Amnesty International. The band also received their first ever BRIT award as a duo, for Outstanding Contribution to Music. They celebrated by dueting with Stevie Wonder. The award was Lennox's eight BRIT, meaning she has received more than any other female artist.2002: Lennox received a Billboard Century Award; the highest accolade from Billboard Magazine. Editor-in-Chief Timothy White described her as "the most original and unforgettably affecting artists in the modern annals of popular music." 2003: Lennox embarked upon a three month exlusive solo tour of America and Canada and released her third solo album Bare. The Eurythmics performed at 46664 Concert in aid of Nelson Mandela's Aids Foundation. 2004: After winning a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her contribution to The Lord of the Rings trilogy; the song 'Into the West', Lennox joined Sting on his Sacred Love tour. 2005: Lennox continued her work as an ambassador of Nelson Mandela's 46664 campaign to raise global awareness of HIV/Aids, performng at two 46664 concerts as well as putting her face to the Make Poverty History Campaign. At the behest of Richard Curtis, she made a small film, highlighting poverty in Uganda. A diary of her experiences was published in The Daily Telegraph. Lennox also performed at Live 8; singing her iconic hits 'Why', 'Little Bird' and 'Sweet Dreams.' One critic remarked of the concert that: "The most beautiful sound came from Annie Lennox." In October 2005, Lennox joined other prominent Britons and South Africans in central London to launch Friends of the Treatment Action Campaign; a UK-based charity established to support the fight for HIV/Aids treatment in South Africa. On World Aids Day in December, Lennox appeared on the Jonathan Dimbleby show on behalf of FoTAC in order to raise awareness. She was a guest contributor for The Times; producing a passionate piece on HIV/Aids and wrote a thought provoking piece for the Make Poverty History website about women in Africa.2006: In response to her humanitarian work, Lennox was made an honourary patron of the Humanitarian and Development Practice MA course at Oxford Brookes university. She also spoke out in the House of Commons about the need for British children to support their African counterparts.2007: Included on her album Songs of Mass Destruction was 'Sing'; a collaboration between Lennox and twenty-five female artists including Madonna, Shakira, Celine Dion and Faith Hill. The song was recorded to raise money for the AIDS/HIV Treatment Action campaign. The Sing Campaign was launched to raise awareness for women and children affected by AIDS.2011: Lennox received an OBE for her tireless charity campaigns and championing of humanitarian causes. An exhibition at the V&A, The House of Annie Lennox, opened in September and will run until February 2012. The exhibition celebrates her iconic creativity and style. Tonight she will be awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Inspiration for Women awards. A friend told the Daily Mirror Gibb was “incredible to the end,” adding: “He talked constantly about touring again, working with his brother Barry, and about how much he missed Maurice or Mo as he always called him.“It was very moving to hear him speak so lovingly of his twin brother – as though he had never quite accepted that he had gone and still felt the same amazing connection between the two of them that they’d always had.”The friend added the “incredibly loving father” had woken from his coma to ask for his son RJ.Maurice died in January 2003 after complications arising during an operation on a twisted intestine. Robin is said to have found it particularly difficult to come to terms with the death, describing his brother as “part of the fabric of my life”. Together with brother Barry, the pair helped turn disco into a global phenomenon with hits including Stayin’ Alive and Night Fever, which featured on the soundtrack of the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta.His family announced his death yesterday prompting an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow members of the music industry. Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini described the musician as "talented beyond even his own understanding" and "one of the important figures in the history of British music", while stars including Bryan Adams and Mick Hucknall also paid emotional tributes. A statement released by relatives said: "The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery. The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time." Gibb had surgery on his bowel 18 months ago for an unrelated condition but a tumour was discovered and he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and subsequently of the liver. He fell into a coma last month after contracting pneumonia and was given 10 per cent chance of survival but astounded loved-ones with his recovery, “beating the odds" just days after doctors said he "was in God's hands". His younger brother Andy, who was not part of the Bee Gees but a successful singer in his own right, died in 1988 from heart failure at 30. The Bee Gees' hits catalogue, which also includes Massachusetts, I've Gotta Get A Message To You, Lonely Days, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart and How Deep Is Your Love, led to their induction into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame. Gambaccini said: "Everyone should be aware that the Bee Gees are second only to Lennon and McCartney as the most successful songwriting unit in British popular music. "Their accomplishments have been monumental. Not only have they written their own number one hits, but they wrote huge hit records for Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Celine Dion, Destiny's Child, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, the list goes on and on. "What must also be said is Robin had one of the best white soul voices ever. He was singing lead on his first number one when he was 17, that was Massachusetts." Many people took to micro blogging site Twitter to pay their respects. A statement posted by Sony Music said: "Rest in peace, Robin Gibb. Thanks for the music." Former deputy prime minister John Prescott wrote: "Just heard about Robin Gibb. "A good friend, a brilliant musician and a man who turned all of us into wannabe Travoltas! "Rest in peace Robin." Canadian rock star Adams was also among the stars paying tribute, saying: "Robin Gibb RIP. Very sad to hear about yet another great singer dying too young." Twitter: Bryan Adams - Robin Gibb RIP. Very sad to hear about yet another great singer dying too young.British singer songwriter Hucknall wrote: "RIP Robin Gibb. A musical giant," while former X Factor judge Dannii Minogue said: "We start believin' now that we can be who we are – Grease is the word ... RIP Robin Gibb."Ronan Keating, the singer and former Boyzone member, tweeted: "Just heard about Robin Gibb. I am devastated. Can't believe it. May he rest in peace. My thought and prayers are with his family."Twitter: Ronan Keating - Jut heard about Robin Gibb. I am devastated. Can't believe it. May he rest in peace. My thought and prayers are with his family. XEighties rock band Duran Duran also posted on their feed: "Sorry to hear about the passing of Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees. Our condolences to his friends and family." Twitter: Duran Duran - Sorry to hear about the passing of Robin Gibb of the BeeGees. Our condolences to his friends and family: Radio disc jockey Mike Read, who was a family friend of Gibb, said the singer had an "incredible voice". "Robin had the voice, the pathos, and he was a great writer," he added in remarks to BBC Radio 5 Live. "He had a gift for melody and a gift for lyrics and left a phenomenal legacy, a phenomenal catalogue." Referring to the Bee Gees, the former BBC Radio One DJ said: "They had every accolade under the sun. They were able to write great commercial songs that touched people over a very long period of time. They had every award, every gold disc, every platinum disc, the Grammys the lot and had been doing it so long but were still so good at it." American singer Justin Timberlake said: "We have lost a truly brilliant musician. One of my idols. RIP Robin."LeToya Jackson, sister of Michael, wrote: "Why are we losing so many great artists? Robin Gibb, you will be missed. And we will keep your music Stayin' Alive!"Dionne Warwick, whose popular song Heartbreaker was written by the Bee Gees, said: "He was wonderful. He had an incredibly witty sense of humour and was fun to be around."Sir Cliff Richard said: "What the Bee Gees did was stunningly good stuff. For me they just were the best band."Gary Barlow, Take That singer and X-Factor judge, said: "Such a great loss. His music will outlive us all."Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "He was an exceptional and extraordinary musician and songwriter, a highly intelligent, interested and committed human being."For indestructible lightweight sunglasses, handmade in Berlin, visit Mykita on Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse in Mitte. Neukölln, the city’s art hub, is the place to buy bargain prints from a gallery above a derelict shop. Sterling Gold on Oranienburger Strasse, also in Mitte, will provide you with a 1930s handbag – perhaps to wear later at shabby, lightly sinister Clärchens Ballhaus, the last surviving old dance hall in the city, built in 1913 and now extremely fashionable. Completely flat, Berlin is made for meandering. Many of the most interesting stores are down alleys and in courtyards, however, so you have to keep your eyes open as you go. The best place to start is cobbled Mitte, in the heart of the former East Berlin, with its little design shops, concept stores such as The Corner and Andreas Murkudis, and the locally famous Hackesche Höfe – an interlocking series of art-nouveau residential blocks built around eight courtyards, now home to fashionable little cafes and shops such as Jost (for pared-down leather goods), Edsor Kronen (the silk-tie specialists whose first heyday was in the 1920s) and the Berlin Fashion Network store. Distinguished by its beautiful tiled frontage, this is the place to find labels such as German Garment and Saena, from Saena Chun, the former designer for Celine and Chloé. West Berlin has its draws, too. KaDeWe stocks Stefanie Hering ’s fine bisque porcelain crockery. Bauhaus lovers can profitably head to Kantstrasse and browse at Zeitlos Berlin , which specialises in vintage design classics. After the essential trip to the Story of Berlin museum, a nearby wood-panelled cafe, Berliner Kaffeerösterei at Uhlandstrasse 173, makes a snug retreat on a nippy day. “Ach, design, design, design. Berlin is swarming with designers!” says Henrik Tidefjärd , a “lifestyle guide” who meets me for coffee to talk about the best places to go after dark. His suggestions include Cantina at Bar Tausend, Grill Royal, Facil, Volt , Uma, Tim Raue and Rutz. Of the night-spots, seductive Salon K has the best burlesque show in the city twice a month, he says – “like something from the 1920s”. Next day, recover with coffee and cake at the original Cafe Einstein on Kurfürstenstrasse, my favourite. HOW TO DO ITGuideHenrik Tidefjärd (00 49 3043 72070; berlinagenten.com ), my excellent “personal lifestyle guide”, charges about £330 for four hours for up to six people. He is especially knowledgeable about nightlife and sites relating to the Second World War, the Cold War and the Weimar Republic of the 1920s. Staying there Rooms at the front of the Westin Grand (00 49 302 0270; ) have views of the Brandenburg Gate and the glass roof of the Reichstag. In what used to be the no-man’s-land between East and West Berlin, glitzily rebuilt Potsdamer Platz is home to a string of five-stars. The 3,000 sq ft apartment on top of the Ritz-Carlton (00 49 3033 7777; ) is probably the most glamorous spot – celebrities stay here during the Berlin Film Festival (in February). The new Grand Hyatt (00 49 3025 531234;) has a popular restaurant and bar and, like the Westin, is close to an underground station. British Airways (0844 493 0758; ) offers two nights at the Westin Grand in March from £279 and at the Grand Hyatt from £289, room-only, including flights from Heathrow. Getting thereBA, Ryanair and EasyJet fly to Berlin, from £80 return. After June, when Tegel closes, they will fly to the new Berlin Brandenburg airport (detail, above) in the south-east of the city – the first new international airport in Europe for decades. Getting around The tourist office (00 49 3025 0025; ) has details about the Welcome Berlin card, with which visitors can travel on the city’s excellent public transport system and get discounts of 25-50 per cent on entry to museums and attractions. It costs €17.90 (£14.85) for 48 hours, €23.90 for 72 hours or €30.90 for five days. The Museum Pass allows free entry to 55 museums for 72 hours and costs €19. BooksBerlin Story (00 49 3020 453842; ) at Unter den Linden 40 stocks about 10,000 titles on Berlin, many in English. These range from general city guides to Goodbye to Berlin – Christopher Isherwood’s semi-disguised autobiography about his life in the city in the 1930s, which prompted the film Cabaret. The French may accuse the multi-millionaire of being a pampered radical (or, as one friend sneers, “the Simon Cowell of intellectuals”) but Lévy is anything but an armchair philosopher. He covered the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan as a young man, called for intervention in the Bosnian war and spoke out early against the alleged Serbian concentration camps. In 2002, he spent a year in Pakistan trying to uncover the truth behind Daniel Pearl’s execution and until Gaddafi’s death in October, Lévy had a $5.8 million price on his head. “Why the eight?” he chuckles. “I still don’t know.” We laugh, but even now, Special Forces are at the neighbouring table. BHL’s decision to invite two Syrian dissidents to attend Tobruk’s premiere has once again put the writer under threat. Isn’t he scared? “Of course,” he shrugs. “The writer Céline once said that the only people who aren’t scared are those without imagination. There was a scary moment when we were standing in Tripoli’s Green Square and there were snipers all over the place. Had I betrayed even the slightest sign of fear to my companions, someone would have filmed it and put it on the internet. That helped me keep it together.” It may have served him well in that instance, but in the past BHL’s vanity has been feasted on by his detractors. In Public Enemies, a book of letters between Lévy and the French novelist, Michel Houellebecq, he claims: “Few writers are abused as much as I am.” Why does he think that is? “I don’t know and I don’t care,” he says, taking a sip of tea. “Really. Watching all these people get worked up makes me laugh. It tends to be more men than women…”Jealousy, one assumes. While there’s no denying Lévy’s extraordinary intelligence, he doesn’t help himself by semi-parodying the looks he was born with. “There is a Chinese proverb: when the wise man points to the moon, the imbecile looks at the finger. Now I’m not saying that I’m the wise man, but when I show Daniel Pearl’s Pakistan or the war in Libya – the imbecile will look at the shirt.” I must be an imbecile then, because I’m looking at the shirt. “It’s unbuttoned,” I point out – needlessly. We both stare down at the plunging triangle of prime BHL flesh. “Yes, it’s unbuttoned.” Isn’t that an act of pure provocation? Isn’t it the equivalent of a woman in a short skirt asking to be prized for her intellect? “No, it’s not an act of provocation. When I get dressed, I don’t decide: it’s a physical thing.” I understand: it’s his brand. “No!” He doesn’t like that. “It’s not my brand – it’s my way of being. There have been problems, incidents. When I went to see the Pope, protocol dictated that one had to wear a tie. In the 1970s, when Giscard d’Estaing was President you had to wear a tie, too, but I wouldn’t put a tie on. For me, it’s a physical impossibility: I would suffocate.” My point, though, is that Lévy clearly enjoys his own physique. “No,” he flings back, exasperated. “I am at ease with my body, but I don’t enjoy my body.” So how many times a day does he look at himself in the mirror? “I never look at myself in the mirror,” he assures me, laughing now. “I promise you.” But what about The Hair? “I’ll run my hands through it or a brush, and that’s it.” Exhausted by the debate, I wonder aloud why hair is such a big deal with men. “Because it’s really about their virility, maybe?” he sighs. “But I don’t have a problem with my virility – I really don’t.”Few would contradict thrice-married BHL on that point. Currently married to pneumatic French actress and singer Arielle Dombasle and a father of two (he has a daughter, Justine, from his first marriage and a son, Antonin-Balthazar, from his second), Lévy is rumoured to have a woman in every port. Still it wasn’t until his recent relationship with British heiress Daphne Guinness (whether or not it is ongoing is unclear) that he transgressed French marital rules and became the subject of vulgar gossip. “I never speak of my personal life. Ever,” he says tightly when I question him on the subject. Understood. I’m curious, though: theoretically speaking, are philosophers more pragmatic than the rest of us about affairs of the heart? “No,” he says after a moment’s pause. “Humans are all equal in suffering, death and love.” Another theoretical question: “Can a man be in love with more than one person at a time?” “A man or this man?” he asks with a narrowing of the eyes. A man – since I’m not allowed to ask this man. “Then absolutely yes. There was a sentence in my first book, [La Barbarie à Visage Humain] in which I describe man as 'a failed species’ – and that could be one of our failures.”Born in French Algeria, to a wealthy Jewish timber magnate father, Lévy moved to Paris when he was still a baby. His elegant young mother would take him to fashion shows when he was a boy and he remembers “feeling a great deal of emotion when I looked at the models – the equivalent of an erotic emotion. I was dumbfounded by the grace of women.” Women were to be one of two great passions. As he grew more and more engrossed in the political and philosophical dilemmas of the time, Lévy and a group of young writers founded Les Nouveau Philosophes, breaking with the fashionable Marxist position of the time. Since then, and throughout his career as a bestselling writer, he has often acted as an adviser to the government, but always remained his own man politically. Sarkozy was a friend, but Lévy refused to vote for him in the 2007 elections, campaigning for Ségolène Royal instead. “He was very angry,” he shrugs. “I can separate friendship with political affiliation, but not he, so for three years we didn’t speak.” In April, he voted for François Hollande, “although with a lot less passion than I did for Ségolène”. This is surprising. As a multi-millionaire many times over (when his father died, Lévy sold off his timber company, Becob, for £84 million – to entrepreneur François Pinault), he can’t be looking forward to his next tax bill. “That’s OK,” he says, nonplussed. OK? They’re going to take away 75 per cent of his income. “I’m happy to pay my taxes,” he assures me, “and I will pay 75 per cent because I’m privileged and I have a duty of solidarity towards my fellow countrymen.”It’s harder to imagine Lévy in frayed shirt collars than buttoned up and wearing a tie, and it seems a shame that the philosopher’s intellectual distinction should be blurred by such frivolous considerations. In an uncharacteristic moment of modesty in the film, he claims that he is “not a man of action”. Even his greatest critics would dispute that from someone whose new project is “to use the film to help things change in Syria – to call for a similar intervention”. Given that the philosopher’s role is all too often to sit in an attic and ruminate, Lévy may need to redefine his title – invent a new term. “Yes,” he nods gravely. “Involved philosopher or philosopher on the ground might be better. But there will come a day when I won’t be able to go out and do these things. Perhaps then I’ll take time to ruminate.”Attraction Tix 10pc off Legoland Windsor at , code LEGO (ends September 30) ONLINE DEALS The Boat That Rocked (DVD) A welcome collection of British talent, including Bill Nighy and Kenneth Branagh £11.98 including delivery, RRP £19.99, from The Songs of Celine Dion (CD) A classic collection of Celine Dion songs for Karaoke£2.99 including delivery, RRP £4.99, from Madame Tussauds London – adult entry Experience the glittering world of fame for a day at Madame Tussauds. £22.50 including delivery, RRP £25, from The Damned United (DVD) A look at Brian Clough's controversial 44-day reign as the coach of Leeds United. £9.98 including delivery, RRP £19.99, from Read more at Keep up with the latest offers every day or check previous lists in our archive at 'And if I wasn't I would know how to pretend,' she says crisply.And presumably if you pretend to be happy, you become happy. 'Exactly, I try to be upbeat and that can be self-fulfilling. It is about acting "as if". Act as if everything is just great. Things lighten up when you do that. It's about stepping into character.'Let's address this character she steps into first, then. It, she, 'The Divine Miss M' as she used to style herself, is warm, funny and camp. To emphasise a point she rolls her eyes and pulls faces. She is or was (she always wore wigs on stage) a larger-than-life, wisecracking redhead who could be bawdy and insinuating one moment and then sing a tender ballad the next. A fairly gentle example of her humour is what she once said in her act about Madonna: 'Pity the poor soul who has to rinse out that gal's lingerie.' But actually her comedy route was so spectacularly lewd, even now, 30 or so years on, I struggle to find an example I can quote or even allude to in a family paper. Think cunnilingus, erections, flatulence…One of the alter egos she does in her show is a mermaid in a wheelchair. That says it all really. 'I didn't invent tack,' she once said. 'But I definitely brought it to its present high popularity.'As a film star, her most memorable characters were versions of herself, from the self-destructive rock star in her Oscar-nominated film The Rose (1979), to those string of comedies in the mid-Eighties – Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People (in which she played an obnoxious wife opposite Danny DeVito, one who became more sympathetic as the film progressed) and The First Wives Club. She was good, too, opposite Woody Allen in Scenes from a Mall – again, a version of her own character. In truth, she was so charismatic playing herself that it was hard to cast her as anyone else.There is something very glitzy and Vegas about this character, then.Very Caesar's Palace. She is doing a two-year residency there at the moment – performing about 200 days, in rotation with Cher and Elton John. She got off lightly. Celine Dion had to do five years before she was given parole. They do it for the money. Midler is reportedly being paid $150 million. Her show is called The Showgirl Must Go On and everything about it is big, big, big. Twenty high-kicking showgirls.More sequins and feather boas than the imagination can cope with. Midler describes it as 'not only the biggest show of my career but the biggest show in the history of showbusiness'.We talk about how Las Vegas has its origins in the Great Depression. The town wouldn't have been built there in the desert had it not been for the construction of the Hoover Dam, that towering symbol of Roosevelt's New Deal. It soon became a place for people to escape the doom and gloom, live out their fantasies. Presumably she is noticing history repeat itself at the moment? 'Definitely, my audiences want spectacle and glitter. They want escapism and I give it to 'em, right between the eyes. That's what entertainment is, escapism. People in my profession give themselves airs and graces, but essentially it is about entertaining, helping people forget their lives. I used to be mortified in the Sixties at the thought that that was what I was. I didn't want to be known as this kind of entertainer, I wanted to be a serious actress, a serious singer, but as I've gotten older I've realised an entertainer is not such a bad thing to be. I'm kind of proud that I've survived and that I'm good at what I do. I must have had some talent and done something right to be still doing it. Most of the kids I started with have given up.'This sounds modest enough, it is even said with a slight stutter, but when she returns to this theme, as she does from time to time, she speaks more quickly and her resolve hardens. Increasingly, she bigs herself up, tells me several times about how proud she is of her achievements. But the secret, she reckons, is to think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread but know you're not. With Midler, it seems, there is a mask of confidence covering her insecurities. Is that fair? 'Sure I feel like an impostor sometimes. Everyone does. I'm a worrier.' It's a Jewish thing, she adds. Worry, worry, worry. She's a bit of a hypochondriac, for example. And she says that however confident you are about your skills, you are never quite sure how divine you actually are.But is she happy more often than she is unhappy? 'I'm happy at the moment. Happy that I'm not touring because the market has fallen out of that for a lot of people and being in one location, Vegas, is a good alternative. The population there changes every three days. They want to see the one big show. They are laughing and crying and it is therapeutic. They come away feeling buoyant. My husband stands back and sobs openly.'Oh come on, she's not that bad… (No, I didn't really say that. Of course I didn't. She means her husband Martin von Haselberg weeps with pride.) Is that when she sings Wind Beneath My Wings? 'He loves the flights of fancy in the show. He likes the wackiness. He thinks that's inspired. He loves it back stage. But yeah, when I sing Wind Beneath My Wings, that's my guy.'Because? 'When I was on the road and on location he had to pick up the slack with our daughter. He sacrificed a lot. He kept her on the straight and narrow, knew how to reel her in.'Their daughter was a handful? 'No, it was more my daughter never wanted to hear any advice, always wanted to go her own way. You know, she was like, "If you say that one more time I'll never speak to you again".'Sophie, their daughter, looks spookily like her mother. Midler calls her Mini-me. She has just graduated from Yale. Now that must have made her proud. 'Hey, we must have done something right. We were proud, so proud. One of the best days of my life. She read Chinese at university. She lives in China now. Martin taught her German and she is trilingual.'Midler went to Hawaii University. Read drama. She had grown up there, the third of four children and had worked in a pineapple-canning factory. While she sorted she sang 'at the top of my lungs' and no one could hear. She reckons this is the reasons her lungs 'are made of leather'. She has said that nothing beats working in a pineapple factory. It was one of the happiest jobs she had, along with go-go dancing. For all this happiness, though, she was desperate to leave the island. Now she says that her fellow citizen of Hawaii, Barack Obama, has made much better peace with the place than she has.The problem was she grew up in what she describes as 'dire poverty'. Her father 'worked like a dog all his life' as a painter for the Navy. Her mother was a seamstress. Her parents weren't very demonstrative. They showed her 'plenty of emotion', but they didn't give 'much love'. 'There was a lot of yelling going on. It made me self-centred, a result of not getting any attention as a child. If you are neglected, you go for it elsewhere.'I ask whether, as a mother to Sophie, she has consciously tried to avoid being like her own mother was with her. 'My mother didn't know we were there. She was in her own world trying to make ends meet. I was more hands-on, trying to make a well-rounded person. But it was Martin who provided Sophie with everything she needed, when I wasn't there.'It is touching the way she refers to her husband. She uses words such as 'cosy'. Talks about how they 'suit' each other. Says their relationship is nothing to do with drugs and alcohol or having a 'whoopee life'. She is the breadwinner. He does the cooking. He used to be a commodity broker, and some-time performance artist. That was how they met. Their marriage got off to an unconventional start. It was in Vegas. An Elvis impersonator conducted the service. 'Yeah,' she says now. 'We only got our wedding pictures back last year after 24 years. Got a letter from a guy saying, "I'm closing my chapel and I thought you would like these".'He sent us our pictures and we looked like children, even though we were quite old. I was 37, Martin was a couple of years younger, and all his hair is dark, no grey hairs. I'm a redhead. My hair is silver now, but you can't tell. It was frivolous to do it there with an Elvis impersonator but it was a whim.' It took them a long time to get to know each other properly, she adds. All their friends said it wouldn't last.She shakes her head, gives her easy smile. 'Boy, the time. Time used to be so sleepy and slow. I swear they have cut an hour down to 15 minutes.'How does she keep the spark in her marriage alive? 'We don't always. There were plenty of times we felt like throwing in the towel because it was so hard, with my working. But we kept putting one foot in front of the other. It was hard. We kept plodding along and each success you have within the framework of the marriage you build on.'They live in New York but her husband goes with her to Vegas for her residencies. Does she have homely touches in their rooms there – family photos, ornaments, flying ducks? 'No, we live in the hotel and it's OK now that I have moved rooms. I was getting distressed because everything in the suite they gave me was grey. Grey walls, grey rugs, grey furniture. Grey, grey, grey and right across the road they were putting this new tower up, so for the first 77 shows I was tearing out my hair. I'm an artist so I'm sensitive to colour and light. I was getting depressed. Getting the blues. I begged them to move me and they gave me the Asian suite which is where all the high-rollers from Asia stay… It has doors and you can breathe the air and that has made such a difference.'The worst part of success, she reckons, is finding someone who is happy for you. She has a new album out, a collection called Best Bette, and it shows her range – pop, jazz, soul, swing, music hall. Since its release in this country it has sold 400,000 copies. I'm happy for her, I say. 'Thank you, thank you. This album has taken me by surprise. No one ever told me I had so many fans here! It's strange to find this out at my age, but then everything surprises me about getting old. I've never been this old before. I never thought I'd feel this good.'Her career began in earnest on Broadway in the late Sixties when she starred in Fiddler on the Roof. One of her two sisters was killed by a taxi on her way to see the show and it took Midler a long time to recover her equilibrium, and career. In the early Seventies she reinvented herself as Bathhouse Bette, a cabaret act singing in New York's bathhouses, a meeting place for gay men. Her accompanist on piano was one Barry Manilow. 'It was such a fun time,' she recalls. 'Camp. Frivolous. I was getting a chance to do all the things I dreamed of. It was kind of a wave you rode. You didn't want to look too closely. I didn't think it would ever end. I'm happy I didn't know better. If I had known then what I know now, what a struggle it can be, I might not have done it.' She adopts a squeaky voice: 'How did I get so far on sooo little?' But when she takes stock now, does she feel fulfilled? I mean, isn't the fact that she hasn't got performing out of her system yet tantamount to a kind of failure? 'When I was 50 I had a big party and I looked back and felt good about it. It hadn't all been for me, me, me. I had done stuff for other people. Yes, I had done some beautiful shows and I had sung some beautiful music, but sometimes I was in too much of a hurry. On the whole, I was very proud of myself.'And her film career? 'Yes, I'm very proud of that, too.'Even Jinxed!, the 1982 film that received such poisonous reviews it nearly finished her career for good? It bombed. Everybody blamed her.She didn't work again for a couple of years. 'No, Jinxed! was a turkey.'She flutters her hand, waving the memory away. 'People ask if I'm pissed off I don't make pictures any more but I'm not. I had a good run. You have to make your peace with that and not cling. You know, you can't keep saying, ''Why isn't it me, goddamit.'' You can't be bitter.'Sounds like something she might have been told in therapy, something she doesn't entirely believe. Still, what about her life generally? Has she done things she is ashamed of? She gasps. 'Oh! SO many things. I can't even talk about it. I wake up screaming in the night. Some things, I'm so appalled at the way I behaved!' I lean forward. Like what? Like what? 'I really can't talk about it, but I was cruel more than once. I never wanted to be like that but the DEVIL made me do it. Even I was disturbed by my behaviour. I felt ashamed. I still wake up shivering. But I feel I have done enough good to balance it out.'Blimey. Does she sleep well? 'I don't sleep at all. Sleep really badly. Always exhausted. It's a function of getting old. No more melatonin. No more hormones. I have to do a lot of exercise. That helps a bit. But I still sleep badly.'Bette Midler is more delicate and dignified than I had imagined. She has better posture, too, sitting straight-spined in her chair, her hands cupped demurely in her lap. And while it's true that, as someone once wrote, she always looks like she is on the brink of an amusing rebuttal, she is, actually, for all the cheerful brassiness of her stage persona, quite ladylike. She says she would never discuss money because she is 'a lady'. It's meant as a joke but you suspect she thinks that a lady is exactly what she is, or would like to be. She mocks herself, her shallowness, says she is like a magpie because she loves 'shiny stuff', but you suspect this is a defence mechanism, that she is saying it before someone else does. She wishes she had been taken more seriously, especially in her film career.One of her most memorable roles, after all, was not a comedy but a weepy – Beaches. Hers was an odd film career. She began to think Hollywood was out to get her, but in fairness she did make some bad calls – she turned down the lead role in Misery, and despite the fact that Sister Act was written for her, she turned that down, too. She admits she does still call around from time to time. 'I get on the phone and I ask people, "Is there anything out there?"' And when she quickly adds that she has no regrets now and that she accepts her film career is over, you know that she protests too much.Is she any good at switching off, chilling out? 'The trouble is I overcommit myself. I just keep thinking I don't have much time left! There are so many things I haven't done that I wanted to do. Darn, I should have learned French.'Does she keep a diary? People find that therapeutic. 'I don't, no. But I have started photographing everything. If I don't photograph everything there are months when I don't know what I've done. My memory is so shabby. I put the photographs in a scrapbook then I have a record of my life. It's a full life, no question, but it's not all meaningful. There is a lot of crap. There are highs but then there is also garbage, garbage, garbage.' She sits up and widens her eyes. 'Shall I take your picture? May I take your picture? Ken! Ken!' A member of her entourage appears from behind a door. 'Ken. Take his picture.' She bounds over from her chair and cuddles up next to me on the sofa. I battle momentarily with my English reserve then put my arm around her. Click.When Ken turns the digital camera to show us the picture, we are both grinning like lunatics.1 The Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling2 Kings of Leon – Sex On Fire3 The Killers – Mr Brightside4 Stevie Wonder – Superstition5 Abba – Dancing Queen6 Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’7 Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)8 Billy Idol – White Wedding9 OutKast – Hey Ya! - Radio Mix/Club Mix10 Adele – Make You Feel My Love11 Jason Mraz – I’m Yours12 Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)13 Jackson 5 – Blame It On The Boogie14 Beyoncé – Crazy In Love feat. Jay-Z15 Al Green – Let’s Stay Together16 Take That – Greatest Day17 The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)18 Barry White – You’re The First, The Last, My Everything19 Dolly Parton – 9 To 520 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My LifeWe then watch, as if through a two-way mirror, four actors who are dressed just like us and who are using a break in their working day to discuss the wonder of Céline Dion and her decision to take time out from her career to have a baby. The cosmetics saleswoman, the display assistant and the manager all talk of their beloved Céline with the excited reverence and purple prose of people who have overdosed on Hello! magazine, though I think the dramatist is missing a trick here. The real taste in celebrity gossip these days isn't for admiring revelations about interior decoration and soft furnishings but for nasty, show-the-stars-in-the-worst-possible-light stories. Never mind; the play soon gets nasty enough of its own accord. The account of Dion having a miscarriage is unexpectedly juxtaposed with the story of one of her adoring fans, who is dying of cancer, chained to a bed and abused by her grotesque family. And we gradually realise that the whole narrative is being manipulated by a fourth on-stage character, Caro, who works on the tills, spends much of her time hiding in the lavatories, and is described by a colleague as a "poor spastic". Caro's staff number is 31, and if you look at her staff name label, 31CARO, in a mirror, it is transformed into the word ORACLE. Clever eh? Well not really. Infuriatingly tricksy would be nearer the mark, and there is something truly vile about the Oracle's gory description of the suffering of the abused fan who finally ejects gallons of black bile before her whole body turns inside out. It is from this mess of guts and rotting flesh that the unfortunate Caro believes she has herself been fashioned, so that a play that initially seemed to be a heavy-handed satire of fan worship finally becomes an examination of the mind of a desperately sick woman. There's only one problem with this - I didn't believe a word of it. The whole play seems like an empty exercise in flashy experimentalism. The considerable talents of Brid Brennan, Justin Salinger and Neil Dudgeon are wasted on their one-dimensional roles as the Dion-worshipping Wal-Mart staff, but the diminutive Hayley Carmichael does bring a quality of haunting intensity and psychological damage to the role of Oracle. But frankly, if I had to choose between this play and an evening spent listening to the painfully penetrating power-balladry of Céline Dion, I'd choose Dion every time.Explorer-with-a-difference, David de Rothschild crossed the Pacific in a catamaran made of plastic bottles to draw attention to pollution by the material, which, it is estimated, kills at least a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles each year. The 31-year-old scion of the banking family and nine companions made the 8,000-mile journey in 128 days after he was inspired by a report on the state of the oceans by the United Nations Environment Programme. Some 12,500 plastic bottles went to make up the sailing boat, with a mast made of a reclaimed aluminium irrigation pipe, and electronic navigation equipment powered by solar panels, windmills, turbines towed behind it in the sea and even a “bicycle generator”. He plans to start “Plasitiki Pod” programmes on the ecological issues affecting the islands – such as in Kiribati, Western Samoa and the New Hebrides – visited on the voyage.David NichollsDavid Nicholls’s novel One Day has been the word-of-mouth hit of 2010. Since its release in the summer of last year, the book – which follows the tangled romance of Emma and Dexter, who meet every year on July 15 to compare their lives’ divergent paths – has been passed round offices, taken up by book clubs and recommended online (nearly 300 five-star Amazon ratings). It sold 50,000 in hardback and when it came out in paperback early this year sold 30,000 copies a week. Forty-four year old Nicholls, who works in the unpretentious yet smart mould of Nick Hornby and Jonathan Coe, has managed to pull at the heartstrings of British readers – both male and female. One Day is set for further success next year, when the film version starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess is released. So if 2010 was the year David Nicholls broke through, expect him to be even more famous this time next year.Phoebe PhiloThis has most definitely been Phoebe Philo’s year. First, the young British designer and mother of two changed the shape of global fashion with her second and third “clean and lean” collections for the French house of Céline, which consolidated the rise of the New Minimalism. Then, she was awarded the title Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards, and, wearing a super-chic black, strapless all-in-one, accepted her trophy from Bianca Jagger. “I wanted something that felt honest, that was a mixture of what I want to wear and how I want to live,” Philo has said of her vision for Céline. “I felt it needed to be quite simple and very real.” The fashion world has needed little persuading.Graeme SwannSuccess has not come easy for Graeme Swann, whose cricketing triumphs in 2010 are a tribute to his personal character and fortitude. First chosen for England 11 years ago, he blew his chance and gained a reputation for tomfoolery and a bad attitude. Returning to the county game, it took a decade of hard graft to win the favour of the England selectors once again. But when he did so, he grabbed his chance and over the last 18 months he has been the finest off spinner in Test cricket. Shane Warne describes Swann as “the most improved cricketer in the world”. Whatever the outcome of the Fourth Test in Melbourne, and indeed the Ashes series, Graeme Swann has enjoyed a fantastic year.Zaha HadidThe Baghdad-born, British-based architect has for years been better feted abroad than at home, but that changed when she was given this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize, the most prestigious architecture award in the UK. Hadid, who had been shortlisted three times before, won for her MAXXI Museum of 21st Century Art in Rome – “a mature piece of architecture, the distillation of years of experimentation, only a fraction of which ever got built”, the judges remarked. Noting her previous near-misses, Hadid said in her Stirling acceptance speech: “People ask me why I stay here in Britain and I tell them it is because of the Architectural Association, the great engineers, the amazing people and London – it is a fantastic city.” The capital will see evidence of that affection in Hadid’s swimming and diving centre for the 2012 OlympicsLord JudgeLord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice and head of the judiciary in England and Wales, continues to pepper his rulings and utterances with the sort of common sense observations that the public had begun to despair of ever hearing again from the senior judiciary. He assumed office in 2008 with a reputation for being more of a traditionalist than his recent predecessors and less keen on modernisation and reform. He he has tended to concentrate on matters that most affect the people who are the victims of crime: the general public. Recently, Lord Judge, 68, was critical of the amount of new criminal justice legislation introduced in recent years, though there are hopes that the pace will slow markedly under the Coalition. In April, he complained that courts were basing too many of their decisions on European human rights legislation, rather than centuries-old English common law. He is doing much to help restore public trust in the judiciary. Christopher BaileyNot only has Burberry’s share price almost doubled over 2010, but the label’s chief creative director, Christopher Bailey, has blazed a trail online. Luxury goods do not necessarily fit in with the “online space”, mainly because shoppers want the experience of a physical store. However, Mr Bailey has used the web to create a global buzz about Burberry. This year Burberry beamed its London Fashion Week show live to VIP parties in 25 of its overseas stores, from Mumbai to Beverley Hills. Attendees could browse the collection on iPads, or download the songs from a Bailey-curated compilation on iTunes. Burberry’s Art of the Trench social network website continues to grow, and next year it will launch an online “design-your-own” trenchcoat service. The West Yorkshireman – the son of a carpenter and a window dresser for M&S – has the golden touch. Christopher HitchensA diagnosis of oesophagal cancer has done nothing to blunt the dazzling verbal talents and formidable insight of one of Britain’s finest writers, albeit one lost long ago to America’s shores. In a series of articles and interviews, he approached his illness with the same verve, elan and humour that has marked his career, and found the time for a vigorous, sell-out debate about religion with Tony Blair. He has shown an illuminating courage and dignity in the face of adversity – and the debilitations of chemotherapy – that may give succour to fellow sufferers everywhere. The dedicated atheist accepted with good grace the prayers of the devout for his well being, while noting that many were praying for his salvation as well as his recovery. “Please do not trouble deaf heaven with your bootless cries,” he wrote in Vanity Fair. “Unless, of course, it makes you feel better.”Ann WiddecombeA prediction made in January that Ann Widdecombe would appear on our television screens in a sequinned frock, being swung around a dancefloor by Anton Du Beke, would probably have been met with incredulity. But the former MP for Maidstone and the Weald was a surprise star of 2010, making it all the way to the quarter finals of Strictly Come Dancing, despite referring to herself as a “dancing elephant”. The woman who once said Michael Howard had something of the night about him proved herself to be a dark horse, with her refusal to take herself too seriously enamouring her to a public who previously knew her as a strict Catholic and Conservative. The company, which is a few years shy of its 75th birthday, draws all its 1.5m customers a year from these shores. Attempts at exporting Butlins to South Africa and Australia have failed in recent years. For Bates, "you've got to go to Las Vegas to find anything remotely like Butlins". Profits at Butlins, which was founded by Billy Butlin and is now part of the Bourne Leisure Group, rose to £26.6m in 2007 from £23.5m in 2006. It has three resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, with the latter original 200-acre site, still the biggest and most profitable. Despite his confidence that Butlins' Redcoats can bask in the sun even as the economic climate darkens, Bates is investing to upgrade and modernise. There's £20m on a new hotel, following the success of the 2005 launch of the £10m Shoreline Hotel at its Bognor site. Quite a departure from the self-catering chalet and bed-and-breakfast offerings of the past, the hotel has a 92pc occupancy rate. It also launched time-share apartments last July, which allows customers to block off short breaks for 30 years for £6,000 a year. Having built the business around its slogan "A week's holiday for a week's pay!", Butlins still aims to offer value for money, with holidays ranging from £300 up to £1,200. For that, the typical Butlins family of four gets a hundred different entertainment options and three meals a day. On average customers spend a further £112.40 each on alcohol, groceries and souvenirs. Bates is quick to acknowledge that alongside its proud history - arcade manager Billy Butlin opened the first holiday camp in 1936 - the company has a "legacy of underinvestment in accommodation". However, he insists that Butlins is not trying to go upmarket. "I'm very aware of Butlins' heritage and there are still synergies with the past, but we've moved on so much - we're responding to the modern market, which is calling for choice." Offering sushi, for example, isn't that outrageous? He says: "M&S sells millions of pounds worth of sushi now." Launching a trial basis, Bates quips that it may prove a "squid too far". At the spa in Skegness, there are now 14 treatment rooms. "It's possibly the biggest spa in Lincolnshire, and on a standalone basis it makes us more money than any other offer," says Bates. Butlins is just being remodelled, says Bates, drawing comparisons with London's O2 Arena, where he saw Led Zeppelin's comeback gig. "The O2 is an outstanding concert venue - it's so not rock'n'roll. I was in a private box, eating lobster paella and drinking Chablis. But it's found its place in life. I'm pleased it's not a casino." Well over half of Butlins' holidaymakers revisit the resorts, with the majority booking in twice a year. Bates, who is holidaying in Cornwall's Padstow this summer, knows that the company's unique brand of entertainment is key to keeping them coming back. Butlins spends £12m a year on entertainment and has found that the explosion of TV talent shows offers a stream of performers. "Within two months of finishing Britain's Got Talent, we'll have the stars of the show at Butlins," says Bates. Coming soon to Butlins is former X Factor winner Shayne Ward, girl band The Sugababes and WWE Wrestling. For younger children, giant Bob the Builders and Angelina Ballerinas are on hand to entertain. "Elton John and Celine Dion aside, I think the quality of entertainment is better at Butlins than at Las Vegas", Bates bravely claims. "Butlins shows are about interaction. People love to be up on the stage, not 50 metres away." His personal favourite are the 1970s themed weekends, which no doubt inspired his most recent idea - a disco shower for the spa at Skegness. "There always has to be a fun, Butlins' spin on things," he says. "When you turn on the shower, mirror balls and coloured lights pop out, and the music to Saturday Night Fever starts playing." Butlins, it seems, is very much stayin' alive. Profile: Richard Bates Current job: Managing director, Butlins Age: 53 Lives: With wife and two teenage daughters in Grimsby Early career: Nightclub manager for Mecca Education: Left school at 15 with an O Level in Archeology Car: S Type Jaguar Interests: History, walking Reading: The Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks and The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, anything by Terry PratchettBrookes says the BBC has let the broadcast grow stale. In his day, he says, it was “important… we took it seriously, it was the big news of the week”. (He even refers to the chart, in a way I find charmingly reminiscent of Alan Partridge, as “the legacy of Bruno”.) “When I was presenting the show, Radio 1 made much more of it,” says Brookes, who’s now 50 and owns and runs Immedia Group, which produces bespoke radio stations for corporations such as Ikea. The show today, he says, sounds too much like Radio 1’s ordinary daytime output, all giggly banter; there’s no tension as we climb towards No 1. (Yates admits that, when he was co-hosting with Cotton, it sounded too much like “two friends having a good old pow-wow”; he says his relaunched version will have “a change of pace”.) Brookes also says an “official Top 40” based solely on sales means little in an age when so many listen to music free of charge via filesharing websites. The official singles chart has been broadcast on Radio 1 since 1967, 15 years after the chart itself was founded. In the Seventies, it was scheduled on Tuesday lunchtimes; there was also a countdown on Sunday, but this was merely a repeat of the same chart placings in FM stereo (at the time, the rest of Radio 1 was broadcast only on MW – the presenter of the Sunday countdown would be handed the FM transmitters specially for the occasion). It wasn’t until 1987 that the first transmission was moved to Sundays. Then, in the mid Nineties, something dismal happened to the chart. Until then, the thrill of the countdown had been that songs would move up as well as down; last week’s No 14 might be this week’s No 9 and next week’s No 2. Celine Dion’s Think Twice, for example, was released in October 1994 yet didn’t reach No 1 until the following January. But Dion’s single was the last to take such an interesting route. After that, singles rarely climbed from the position at which they entered the chart, mainly because record companies’ publicity and marketing was now geared towards attaining the highest possible position in the first week of sale. Singles shot into the chart then plummeted out. It was a drearily predictable pattern. This was why I, and I’m sure many other pop fans, stopped listening to the chart. Reggie Yates argues that the pattern has now been broken – by downloads, sales of which have been counted towards chart positions since 2005, and the power of television. “The other week, a guy with an Afro went on The X Factor and sang Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon,” says Yates. “Seven days later, a year after it was released as a single, it re-entered the chart and got to No 6.” Adverts help spice up the chart, too, he says: In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins returned to the top 20 in 2007 (26 years after its original release) following its use in a Cadbury’s chocolate advert that featured a drumming gorilla. This isn’t enough to impress Bruno Brookes. He’d like to see the BBC reinvigorate the chart with “a bold and interactive joining of media”: a simulcast between Radio 1 and a Top of the Pops-style television show, complete with some kind of “voting element”. (“I don’t think it should just be about buying records,” he says. “There are other ways of getting the public’s true view of what is the most popular song in the country.”) He suggests the use of “mobile telephony, visual podcasting and other vertical distribution channels”. Well, that certainly sounds exciting and innovative and 21st century. But on reflection, I think that’s why I’m not sure about it. When I was a boy, the chart was joyously simple. To me, “vertical distribution channels” sounds like the name of an unlistenable post-rock trio from Chicago who have just dropped out after one week at No 39. The chart no longer grips the whole nation, true. But then, neither does Radio 1, whose target audience is far narrower than it was 20 years ago. And an official chart-topping single still matters to record companies, if only because it helps them plug the things that really make money now: live tours. These days we’re engulfed by lists, but the official Top 40 has one thing that keeps it unique in that field: it’s based on fact (sales) rather than blustering opinion. That’s reason enough to let it keep its place – even if that place isn’t at No 1 in the listening figures. - The Chart Show with Reggie Yatesis on Sunday on Radio 1 at 4.00pmAfter completing a task as each character – collecting his shy teenage daughter from a party as the father; carrying out a contract killing as the assassin; kidnapping a supermodel (Eva Mendes) and eating her hair as Monsieur Merde – Oscar returns to the limousine and is driven to the next job. How these jobs are connected or who is paying Oscar to do them is never explained, although we do learn that Oscar is far from the only person employed by the firm. Late in the film he meets another employee (Kylie Minogue), and she reminisces about a past romance by singing a show tune, co-written by Carax and Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy. The film’s neatly episodic structure allows Carax to nod towards all sorts of other films and cultural traditions without getting bogged down in any of them: it opens with a shot of a still, perhaps sleeping, cinema audience that harks back to King Vidor’s The Crowd, and the limousine scenes call to mind the opening of David Lynch’s equally dreamlike Mulholland Drive. The uproarious Mr Shit, meanwhile, is rooted in some of the stranger medieval French clowning traditions, and the assassination sequence features a must-keep-secret twist worthy of Kafka that drew whoops and cheers at the festival screening. But Holy Motors is so much more than an arthouse Greatest Hits tape, and purrs along the dark, deserted highways of the mind with a muscular, erotic charge that is all its own. Dreams don’t merely become real here: they’re commodified, fetishised, even monetised in the course of Oscar’s job. In short, it is a film about the stuff of cinema itself, and is perhaps the strongest contender for the Palme d’Or yet. • Despite boos - well, and a standing ovation - at the first screening of Terrence Malick's The Tree Of Life, odds are low at 4/1 on him still winning. This paper's film critic , but he has hinted (reluctantly)that he still thinks it might be the ultimate winner on Sunday night. According to the bookies it's American veteran Terrence Malick's The Tree Of Life (top) versus Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (bottom) • The other favourite (also 4 to 1) is Nuri Bilge Ceylan's drama about a doctor living on the Anatolia steppe. Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan took the Best Director award at Cannes in 2008 for his last feature Three Monkeys. This new film film will be screened in Cannes for the first time on Saturday. 16:50 Here's something weird for you from David Gritten Tilda Swinton is wearing this year's 'trophy' dog collar. She sportingly agreed to be the Palm Dog Pin Up 2011.The Palm Dog? It's an award given for the best canine performance of any film in Cannes. This marks the 11th year of the award. The result is announced Friday. "We feel that The Spirit of Tilda will be présent at The Palm Dog ceremony this year!" explained Toby Rose, the British journalist and bon vivant who organises the Palm Dog.16:49 Jude Law (jury memeber at this year's festival) and Paul Haggis were present at the BFI's rooftop cocktail party in Cannes last night. Director Paul Haggis, London Film Festival Artistic Director Sandra Hebron; actor Jude Law and BFI Director Amanda Nevill16:16 Please, please bloggers, tweeters, commenters at large accross the metaverse: please stop recycling the joke about Jodie Foster's Beaver. We know everyone should see it at least once etc. It's done the rounds. It's a good 'un but an old 'un. OK, enough 16:03 Jodie Foster launched a fierce defence of her "complex" friend and co-star Mel Gibson at a press conference in Cannes, calling him "the most loved actor in Hollywood". Er, is there any truth in that statement? There is a yes or no answer. [Anita Singh has the ...] 15:21 Lovely photos coming through from the Fashion For Relief catwalk. If you weren't here earlier you will not have watched the deflation of the runway souffle There's a video if you scroll down the page 15:09 World wide web news flash: art house film festivals just got a whole new breed of followers. Want to know the most viewed film review of the whole festival by our online audiences? Terrence Malick's breathlessly awaited The Tree of Life? No. Our five star review of The Artist? Mel Gibson's new film? Nope, nope. It's actually a Chinese film by a little known director, starring two little-known Chinese actors: . 14:52 If, like me, you're sick of glamorous photos of gorgeous celebrities lining up for photo calls, then this is just a heads up on the most original picture gallery from Cannes [by the Telegraph's famously inventive online picture editor David Sim] there are pictures of celebrity funny faces, awkward angles, and delightful fashion quirks that don't quite cut it in the world of couture: 14:35 Now online: , "the most out-and-out joyous film of the festival to date" 14:30 Mel Gibson is said to "make a decent fist of portraying Walter Black", a depressed man who finds a puppet in a dumpster and adopts it. The Beaver isn’t for everyone, but I warmed to its ambition. It could easily have been played for easy gags, but everyone involved maintains laudably straight faces. 13:52 JUST IN: Reports of our FIRST FIVE STAR REVIEW from Cannes 2011. And - hold onto your chairs - not only is it in black and white but it's also a silent movie The Artist by French director Michel Hazanavicius was a late entry to this year's Cannes Palme D'Or competition. Set in Hollywood, 1927, it stars US actor John Goodman and French actor Jean Dujardin. Bérénice Bejo and Jean Dujardin in The Artist The Artist is not a film that thinks it’s superior to the movies it evokes (I was going to use the word 'pastiche', but that seems inappropriate; 'pastiche' sounds cold, a touch heartless - the very opposite of what this is). Hazanavicius has evidently immersed himself in the silent period, seeing in it liberation rather than restriction: he’s in love with its melodramatic intensity, its lack of irony, the importance it places on lighting and photography. 13:41 David Gritten has given four stars to Aki Kaurismaki's film, which - Twitter reports suggest - distributors are scrambling to get their hands on. Le Havre, set in the Normandy port town, tackles a social issue — immigrant refugees passing through from north Africa. It has immense, minor-key charm, and Kaurismaki’s understated deadpan wit is never far from the surface. "Immense charm and deadpan wit": Le Havre13:12 Hmm, we're undecided here; what do you think? Can you detect a hint of irony in this absolutely golden photograph of Aki Kaurismaki, Finnish director of the aforementioned fairy tale Le Havre? Yes, this is the director who said at a press conference this morning: "I was about 10 years old when I found myself disappointed with life."Hello sunshine: Aki Kaurismaki Photo: AFP/GETTY If you can find any more gems about this artist's inspiration, we want to hear them [please add to comment box below]. Le Havre movie review to follow, but early reports have been very positive... 12:54 The first time Jodie Foster came to Cannes, she was 13 years old, and there to launch Taxi Driver with co-star Robert De Niro. Now she's back, showing off her own film - no wonder she's a dab hand at a difficult press conference. Anita Singh reports: Mel Gibson has dodged a grilling by journalists in Cannes, electing to miss the press conference for The Beaver and instead leave director Jodie Foster to politely field questions about his, er, recent difficulties. He is, however, planning to pop up on the red carpet. "He will be here. He won't be talking, but he will be here," Foster said. Foster, by the way, is delightful. And able to effortlessly conduct a press conference in both English and French.12:39 Naomi Campbell and Bruce Forsyth have teamed up to stage Fashion for Relief catwalk in Cannes. Jane Fonda, now 73, was looking very glamorous on the catwalk. Sadly, they were let down by one poor model who fell over not once, not twice... 12.20 Look over here! Jodi Foster certainly knows how to draw a crowd. She's in Cannes today for the launch of her film The Beaver. Jodi Foster with the press today at Cannes 12.16 This film sounds tedious. French director Alain Cavalier has made "Pater", a film about two friends, played by Vincent Lindon and Alain Cavalier himself, who dream about a movie they may make together. 12.15 A pessimist's pessimist. Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki, whose fairy tale "Le Havre" was well received this morning, said at his press conference: "I was about 10 years old when I found myself disappointed with life."12.03 There has been speculation abut Angelina Jolie's tattoo. Lottery numbers? Secret of the Da Vinci code? Pin numbers for Bradd Pitt's bank accounts? Ah, it's all much more charming and Hollywood bonkers. The seven lines are the birth co-ordinates of her six children - and the seventh is her husband's. "Well if they know that it's latitude and longitude they would have figured out quickly that it was Brad's birthplace," she said. "It's Shawnee, Oklahoma."Jolie has tattoos in most places, of course - of the usual dragons and Buddhist prayers, and even a quote from Tennessee Williams. Most bizarrely, she has one on the sole of her left foot of Conronation Street's Ena Sharples. Angelina Jolie and her tattoos11.45 The photoshoot to promote the 3D porn film took place on the beach with a lot of flesh on display - but pics that are not really very suitable for use here. Helpfully, the caption for one Getty photo tells us that: "the picture was taken with a tilt and shift lens." Or was that just the cameraman? 11.40 Mel Gibson looks like being a 'no show' at Cannes. He's not down for photocall or press conference appearances. It was never very likely. Let's hope his Cockerney Beaver glove-puppet wasn't causing all the trouble at West Ham's 'party' at the Grosvenor. 11.20 Now here's a subject that will have to be handled sensitively. A novel about the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster, in which 39 football fans died, is being made into a film. The film, about the tragedy during the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, is based on the novel, In the Crowd, by French author Laurent Mauvignier. Jean Baptiste Babin, from BackUp Films, told Screen magazine the story was "very strong in terms of European identity". It will be directed by French film-maker Jean Stephane Sauvaire whose last film, Johnny Mad Dog in 2008, was about child soldiers in Africa. 11.15 Mandrake reports on how Gemma Arterton wins favour at Cannes for not being stick thin. . Gemma Arterton10.50 Cannes bosses are paying tribute to the "cocky wit" of actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. He's an icon of the French New Wave and the 78-year-old is due to attend the premiere of a documentary about his career, followed by a celebratory dinner and party. Belmondo gained fame more than 50 years ago as the dapper, chain-smoking hoodlum who charms newspaper seller Jean Seberg in Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless. He suffered a stroke in 2001 and has not worked much in the past decade. Festival chiefs Gilles Jacob and Thierry Fremaux praised Belmondo's "range and personal charisma, the precision of his acting, his cocky wit." Jean-Paul Belmondo10.44 It's all going on in Cannes. Ikea will be named Advertiser of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. One of their campaigns was in London - letting 100 cats loose overnight in a U.K. Ikea store and then filming them in cute poses. Wonder who had to clean up the sofas afterwards? 10.40 Only 20 minutes until the screening of The Beaver. Mel Gibson's return, which bombed on its first weekend in America. 10.15 Michel Hazanavicius, known for spoof spy films, says The Artist - set in Hollywood between 1927 and 1931, during the transition from silent film to sound - will show he has a serious side. "In France, if you do a comedy, everyone wants you to make comedies," he adds. "'Why does he want to be a serious guy?' 10.10 So Carla Bruni was expecting after all, that's why she missed Cannes 2011. It's nothing to do with Woody Allenm whose film Midnight In Paris she stars in - but she's due to have her first child with Nicolas Sarkozy. The French President's father, Pal Sarkozy, told German newspaper Bild this morning: "I am delighted at the arrival of my grandchild." The president's 83-year-old father added: "They do not want to know the sex of the baby in advance, but I'm sure it will be a girl and she will be as beautiful as Carla." 9.59 Critics are raving about French silent film The Artist. It's set in 1920s Los Angeles at the dawn of the talkies and Bérénice Bejo plays an up-and-coming starlet. Bérénice Bejo• • Silence fell and the town came to a standstill before spontaneous applause rang out as the coffin, draped in the Union flag, topped with Capt Head's cap, belt and ceremonial sword, was borne into the church carried by six pall bearers - fellow soldiers, to the song I'm Your Angel by Celine Dion and R Kelly.Her parents, John and Leila and Capt Head's two younger sisters Helen and Jayne led close family into church, already packed with hundreds of service personnel, colleagues and friends of the fallen soldier.As the coffin disappeared into the church a member of the crowd shouted ''Go on girl!'' and applause again rang out.Capt Head is the second British woman soldier to be killed in Afghanistan. In June 2008 Sarah Bryant, 26, a member of the Intelligence Corps, died along with three SAS men in a roadside bomb attack in Lashkar Gah.It comes straight from the reddest of Hollywood carpets. And here they are, seen for the first time, legends from the Cinemascope pantheon distilled to a few flourishes of flamboyant ink. But it is ink uniquely applied to surfaces stroked by stellar hands, the thrilling, if vicarious, intimacy of the autograph.Collected in what the hotel calls its Golden Book are contributions from a list of straight As. Clint Eastwood rubs signatures with Sharon Stone; Jennifer Lopez with Colin Firth. Turn the page on Ralph Fiennes and there is Mick Jagger. The "book" is a collection of sheets of fine vellum that will eventually be preserved between covers. So Dustin Hoffman and Jim Belushi will one day be bound with Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush; Mel Gibson will share a stiff jacket with Celine Dion, Bruce Willis with Audrey Tautou, Andy Garcia with Grace Jones. Gordon Gekko, James Bond and Sherlock Holmes have signed as their alter egos of Michael Douglas, Pierce Brosnan and Robert Downey Junior.In the hotel's first Golden Book, now locked away in Paris, there are doodles by Chagall and Picasso. Here we must content ourselves with a deft caricature by Johnny Depp – of Johnny Depp – and quick-fire sketches by the likes of Tom Hanks, Tim Burton and Karl Lagerfeld. Tom Hanks (left) and Karl Lagerfeld signed the guest book Every spring the stars arrive in their constellations for the Cannes Film Festival. The Hôtel du Cap is close enough to nip across to the Croisette by speedboat, far enough away for film folk to laze in their own oh-so-special firmament. It's where Elizabeth Taylor's luggage arrived by truck considerably in advance of Elizabeth Taylor, and where Tom Cruise is preceded by his instructions for making salad, a melange involving green beans, artichoke, tomatoes and leaves of arugula and spinach – accompanied with a glass of sheep's milk.It's where Lars von Trier turned up in a camper van and Bill Cosby stood to attention in a small launch, sailor's cap and T-shirt, and took the salute of passing yachts. Every day, Eddie Murphy ate a turkeyburger here, John Travolta ordered vegetable quiches – one at 8am, another at 2am – and Kevin Costner's cheeseburgers combined Charolais beef with Emmenthal cheese. It was a previous general manager who summed up the secret of the hotel as its simplicity. "When on vacation, the rich like to pay maharajah prices to live like boy scouts," he explained.The house rules are made of exceptions: Monica Belluci was allowed to spend a night in one of the beach cabanas; Mel Gibson booked a table for 30 and turned up with a party of 300. To adapt an exchange in Tender is the Night, "Do they like it here – this place?" Came the response: "They have to like it. They invented it."Johnny Depp left a self portrait In his book on the hotel, journalist François Simon tells how Sharon Stone, "in a moment of inspiration", first requested a harpist dressed in an Irish costume, then a Nebuchadnezzar of champagne. "Or maybe it was the other way round." Simon was the Riviera correspondent for Le Figaro, which is appropriate because it was the newspaper's founder who in 1870 opened the first hotel on the site, in the handsome Napoleon III building. He supposedly intended it for writers with a creative block. Writers who are creating are not the most promising of business propositions; writers who aren't spell disaster. The hotel foundered until, in 1889, it was reopened by a brave Piedmontese, Antoine Sella. As Simon tells it, "The hotel was occupied by only two old Englishwomen. They each paid 12 francs per day even though Sella had a 40-person staff, five horses for the coaches and a small omnibus that went to the train station every day to greet potential guests – who never came. Everyone predicted a new failure."Everyone was wrong. The business was saved by James Gordon Bennett, owner of the New York Herald, who wanted somewhere quiet for his recently widowed sister to stay. Objecting to weekly bills, he put down 40,000 francs and asked to be informed when the money ran out. Hotel du Cap was now attracting custom of the aristocratic and the rich, who in those days were one and the same. Then it opened in winter and closed in summer; now it is the other way round. But if the clientele was fashionable, the facilities were not. In 1903, Sella was taking Lord Onslow, a regular guest, to the station. Sella remarked that the hotel was in need of central heating, private baths and a lift, if only he could afford them. His lordship reached for his chequebook and wrote out a sum sufficient not merely to modernise the place but to buy it. "We can settle the mortgage at a later date" was his wafted comment as he boarded his train. Tim Burton signed off in typical style In 1970, history nearly repeated itself when André Sella, Antoine's son, decided to sell. On the recommendation of a member of the Boch family, as in Villeroy & Boch, Rudolf Oetker, the German foodstuff billionaire, bought it despite having never visited. The hotel – now part of the Oetker Collection that includes Le Bristol in Paris – is owned by his wife, Maja. It was she who oversaw the massive restoration completed last spring.It cost €45 million (about £37.5 million) and took four years. The key word is restoration because all those euros seem to have been spent not just on reviving the original spirit of the place, but in a way that no one would notice. It's the first instance in my experience of anyone spending so many millions to disguise the fact that they have. The greatest risk in the whole exercise was that anyone should think the hotel had changed. In the words of French writer Anatole France, engraved on a plaque in the hotel garden: Ce qui sera, c'est ce qui fut. "What will be, is what was."Hotel du Cap regulars, which is to say eight out of 10 guests, will notice some major differences. They could hardly miss the reconstructed swimming pool and the new terrace restaurant, which is reminiscent of the deck of an ocean liner berthed at the very tip of Cap d'Antibes, the hotel's rocky and exclusive point.Grace Jones left her mark In the guest rooms, now fewer and larger, the changes are more subtle. There is new lighting round the bathroom mirrors in hand-blown bubbles of glass, and there are televisions. Ah, the televisions. I loved the hotel. I loved the unpretentiousness of the staff, immaculate in creaseless cream jackets; I loved the space and the light and the fantasy of having emigrated to some gorgeous realm totally disconnected from the anguished century in which I live. I loved the cushioned pathways, on either side of a sweep of grey gravel, that descend through the garden to the sea. I loved the silence but for the soft pop of tennis balls being hit. I loved the pines, palms and lawns and the designer gulls that patrol them. But the televisions… The screen in my room had an aggressive black frame, totally at odds with the rest of the decor, as pale and pure as Keira Knightley's complexion, splashed with Colefax and Fowler fabrics. In fairness, the screen surrounds were supposed to be white but they were never going to be hidden. "Mrs Oetker is completely against television cabinets," said Philippe Perd, the hotel's managing director. "Actually, she is completely against television." They didn't have televisions in the rooms before, or hair-driers, or private bars. They didn't take credit cards either. They do now, though the private bars, one senses, were adopted reluctantly. "If you want a glass of champagne in a luxury hotel, there should be someone to pour it," insisted Monsieur Perd. The only demand placed on guests is that they should have some grounding in the nuances and potential of these heights of service. In addition to room service, the call buttons in the bedrooms give you the option to summon either a valet de chambre and/or a femme de chambre. The guests of the 19th century would have understood the distinction. "What will be, is what was."She had to issue a reversal weeks later.In an interview earlier this year, Dion said she hoped that by publicly sharing her struggle, she could help others."If I help people through my voice, through my interviews, through what I go through, I do not want to change that at all," she said."I think it's making a difference."The boys arrived a month early.Dion was , but earlier this week, it was announced that she was admitted to hospital as a precaution to make sure she was near her doctors as she prepared to give birth.Dion, a five-time Grammy winner who has sold tens of millions of albums, announced earlier this year that she would be returning to Las Vegas for a three-year run at Caesar's Palace. She had a hugely successful five-year run in Las Vegas that ended in 2007.Actor Matt Damon has also announced a new arrival this weekend, with his wife Luciana giving birth to a baby girl, Stella Zavala Damon on Wednesday.Damon, 40, and Luciana, 35, have two other daughters together – Isabella, 4, and Gia, 2 – and are raising Luciana's daughter Alexa from a previous marriage."Everyone is great," his spokeswoman said. When her son was conceived in 2000, Dion stored another frozen embryo at the clinic which she hoped to use in the future. “I do not know if it is good forever but I think it lasts for a very long time. I will go get it, that’s for sure,” she said at the time. In a 2005 interview, she reiterated: “This frozen embryo that is in New York is my child waiting to be brought to life.”The singer, who is married to René Angélil, her manager, learned of the pregnancy on Monday after she underwent fertility treatments in New York, Ms Blondeau said. The baby is due in May.Dion, a five-time Grammy winner, told Oprah Winfrey in February that she had had a miscarriage. "It's life. You know?", she said. "A lot of people go through this, but it's not being told because it's not in the newspaper."Dion is working on new albums in English and French, and returns next year to Las Vegas for a three-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. During her last run in Las Vegas, from 2003 to 2007, every last ticket of every show sold out, accumulating gross profits of $400 million and reaching a total audience of three million. Caesar's built a $95 million, 4,000-seat auditorium especially for her, complete with dazzling stage wizardry and a dehumidifying system to protect her voice from the dry desert heat.By coincidence, she departed Caesar's in 2007 just before the city's economy collapsed, and is returning to it just as some believe it is poised for potential recovery."Las Vegas was caught in the boom and bust that occurred in the US housing market and it was probably more severe here than in any other city in the US," said Dr Brown. As tourism crashed, gaming profits slumped and hotels, casinos and restaurants were forced to lay off staff. Hotels posted record losses of $6 billion for 2010."Last year in Las Vegas, unemployment hit 15.7 per cent. And if you look at statistics on people who are considered under-employed - people not in full-time jobs who wish to be, and take the number of people who have dropped out of the labour force but are still living in the area - then you get up to 25 per cent. Even when tourism rose again in 2010, the expenditure per head was still down."Dion, 42, is the best-selling female artist of all time - hits include the Oscar-winning theme songs from the films Titanic and Beauty and the Beast. She has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide, won more than 1,000 awards and enjoys a deeply loyal fan base. Air Canada has added more flights from Quebec to Las Vegas just to cope with the mass of fans making the pilgrimage from her home province.Few people are under any illusions that Las Vegas can be single-handedly salvaged by one woman and a microphone. On the same day that her new show opened, the fabled Sahara hotel and casino, one-time favourite of stars including Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles, and the setting for the movie Ocean's 11, announced that it will close in May, driven to the wall by the recession after 59 years in business.But economists and business leaders are convinced that she will be a formidable factor in the city's financial rejuvenation; tourism, for example, is expected to rise by 3.1 per cent in 2011 - equating to around one million more visitors - with Dion's comeback accounting for a significant part of the surge. Hotel occupancy rates will rise accordingly, as will restaurant services, merchandise sales, casino spending - all prompting new employment through a knock-on effect known as the "multiplier factor.'Oscar Goodman, the mayor of Las Vegas, who professed to be the "world's happiest mayor" even in the thick of Sin City's financial woes, says that his smile has been stretched a little further by Dion's return.Gary Selesener, president of Caesars Palace, said that there has been top-level debate over the wisdom of staging such a major show against a backdrop of such severe economic hardship before the decision was made to sign Dion for 210 performances over the next three years.The hotel casino lost $831.1 million last year - around $3.5 million more than its net income in 2009. Despite the continuing hangover from the recession, he said, "People still want to see the big stars get on the stage and sing their hits."Dion has moved her family - husband and manager René Angélil, 69, son René-Charles, 10, and five-month-old twins Nelson and Eddy, into her penthouse at the hotel, along with her sister to care for the twins while she sleeps and her brother-in-law to cook for her.Appropriately enough for a star expected to work the Midas Touch on Las Vegas, among her songlist on opening night was the theme from the James Bond film Goldfinger. But the star, who is reaping a $500,000 pay packet per show, claims not to believe in her own powers of financial influence."I want people to come and not feel disappointed. That's my most important job," she said. "I personally don't think I have anything to do with the economy." Experts also delivered a verdict on the most successful cover versions. Jimi Hendrix's cover of the Bob Dylan song All Along the Watchtower topped the list, followed by The Beatles' rendition of Twist and Shout, first recorded by the Top Notes. The Guns N' Roses version of the Wings' song Live and Let Die, Nirvana's cover of The Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie, and Muse's Feeling Good, made famous by Nina Simone, are also in the top five. Total Guitar magazine editor Stephen Lawson said: "Cover versions have never been bigger. "Producer Mark Ronson became a household name on the back of his quirky covers album, with Amy Winehouse's version of Valerie outselling The Zutons' original. "It's good to see that Hendrix still is Number One. The first time you hear All Along The Watchtower, with that heavy vibe, it sounds like it's from another planet. "The number one worst cover song - Celine Dion covering AC/DC - is sacrilege. "The best covers are unlikely choices and they do something radical."The list is published in the July issue of Total Guitar. Worst Cover Songs1. Celine Dion, You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC) 2. Girls Aloud/Sugababes, Walk This Way (Run DMC and Aerosmith) 3. Westlife, More Than Words (Extreme) 4. Will Young, Light My Fire (The Doors) 5. The Mike Flowers Pops, Wonderwall (Oasis) Best Cover Songs 1. Jimi Hendrix, All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) 2. The Beatles, Twist And Shout (The Top Notes) 3. Guns N' Roses, Live And Let Die (Wings) 4. Nirvana, The Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie) 5. Muse, Feeling Good (Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse) "We think the possibilities are endless. It even has potential for the military and factory assembly workers, who need to use both their hands continually, but would benefit from another functionality. "And with video games, just imagine playing a Harry Potter game, and blowing to cast a spell. It would be great." Sensawaft is powered by microelectromechanical systems, tiny chips that can be embedded in other devices, such as a video game or hands-free mobile phone headset. Zyxio intends to license the chips to third party manufacturers. The technology was showcased at the in Las Vegas, and on the demonstration product, users could breathe into a headset to move a cursor around the screen. The headset, resembling a Bluetooth hands-free device, contained four small sensors. To move the cursor across the screen, users needed to move their breath from right to left or up and down, as if they were blowing a tiny imaginary ping pong ball across a table. Gadget experts were fascinated by the technology, but most were dubious that it would take off on mainstream products. Kat Hannaford, contributing editor to the Gizmodo website, said: "It is certainly intriguing and I can see it has enormous potential. "But for it to get any traction it needs a major manufacturer to adopt it. And do video gamers really want to be huffing and puffing away into a headset? I am not so sure." Inviting Amélie’s friends to our house is complicated enough because we don’t know if she has any. We’re not even sure if our daughter speaks French yet. She just reels off a list of first names from her class – Sherel, Maya, Justine, Lauryann, Jade and Camille – and we ask her sultry classroom assistant, Céline, to tuck the invitations into the appropriate schoolbags. And then we wait. I practise playing Old Macdonald and Frère Jacques on the piano, while Alice leafs ominously through her Annabel Karmel cake recipes.Both of us are worried that nobody will come. But my own fear masks a deeper, less acceptable, dread: it is that all of them will. I can’t help picturing six blank-faced little French girls, who may or may not appreciate our daughter, waiting to be entertained by two gauche grown-ups who haven’t been to a children’s birthday party in 30 years, still less thrown one in rural France. Should there be a cake? Party bags? Filterless cigarettes? Marmite sandwich, anyone?The risk is not that we won’t do enough. It is that we might do too much, especially if we succumb to the pink princess theme that Amélie has requested. The French already blame the Brits for inflating house prices in France. We don’t want to be guilty of pink princess inflation, too. On the big day, Alice is up early to bake her cake. Then, when this one is safely in the bin, she begins another, sniffing back her tears.“We can buy a cake,” I say to her. “Why do you have to make one?” “Because that’s what they teach you at Mother School,” she says. With time, I shall learn that what French children really like to do at birthday parties is to eat sweets and dance. These particular children – four arrive, so we breathe again – look awfully hungry, verging on malnourished. But we have no sweets and the dancing must wait, because Michael has had the swotty idea that we should all do a “Creative Activity”. So we make crowns out of coloured paper. Two of the girls even agree to put theirs on. I look at my watch: 11 minutes gone, and not a tantrum in sight. Only 109 minutes still to go.On balance, I’d say that Musical Bumps goes quite well, although I can’t for the life of me work out how to say “You’re out” in French, let alone bring myself to say it to a girl whose lip is trembling. Fortunately, Musical Bumps under these circumstances can be made to last a long time.I wish I could say the same for an indoor egg-and-spoon race, conducted over a very short course with hard-boiled eggs that are still hot and rather stinky. And for Grandmother’s Footsteps, whose rules take me longer to explain in French than the game actually takes to play. And then Alice goes and fetches the princess dresses, and everything changes.Now I don’t know what it is about little girls and princesses, but when these tawdry creations appear – sequinned, highly flammable hand-me-downs from Alice’s sister’s children – everyone’s eyes widen and light up. Order is restored to the kingdom at last. Again and again, Amélie and her friends try the dresses on. I worry that we have opened Pandora’s Box for these sweet innocents, uncorrupted by Disney.And then Alice brings in the cake, and it is my eyes that widen. This thing looks amazing. I mean, it looks like a cake. The hollow-eyed children drool as Alice cuts.“How did you do that?” I mouth. But Alice simply smiles. I think my wife is becoming almost French.All too soon, the mothers arrive, visibly amazed to see that their daughters have survived their visit chez les Anglais. At last, Alice and I can collapse into our armchairs.We agree that we haven’t felt so drained since the day we were married. The nymphs are departed. The dresses are folded away. What a delightful thing it is, I think to myself, to have a daughter who would be a princess. And what a wonderful relief it is, too, that it was only for today.Back in the early days of China's "opening up", Western brands had an in-built allure merely by dint of their "foreign-ness". That, however, is rapidly changing according to London and Hong Kong-based based brand consultancy, Hunt Haggarty. "After being detached from the rest of the world for so long, China's youth have been playing catchup when it comes to popular culture," they argue in China's Creative Voice, a new report. "When restrictive laws began to relax, they looked to Japan and the West for brand and lifestyle identities, but a unique Chinese voice is beginning to emerge."It is, says the report, the voice of an only child who grew up free from the hangovers of China's Cultural Revolution; a young person who perhaps finds greater solidarity with his friends than family and whose rising self-confidence, tinged with a new cultural nationalism, is mirrored by that of the nation as a whole.In a country imbued with ancient traditions of conformity, where elders are respected and education is still centred on testing and rote learning, this marks a fundamental step-change. They could be called the "rising power generation".Source, a Shanghai-based lifestyle clothing brand with gallery dedicated to street life, tries to sum up a nascent new Chinese individualism as "there are those who find a need to live their lives the way they want, to express themselves, to have their own identity…our ideals are simple – the right to choose the right to be unique".It is marketing-speak, but with the US and European consumers looking likely to remain anaemic for several years to come, the importance of identifying and then tapping into the zeitgeist has never been more important. China's retail sales are currently growing at 9pc-15pc (depending on how you dice the data) which offers serious long-term growth opportunities to those companies who hit the right notes.Brands as including Wrangler, Motorola, Levis, Pepsi, Ben Sherman, Nokia, Budweiser, Umbro and Converse have all tried to ensure that a bit of the "new cool" brushes off on them, sponsoring rock festivals or using their retail spaces as galleries or impromptu concert venues.Michael Pettis, a former investment banker and Beijing-based professor of finance who also runs Beijing's D22 club and China's Maybe Mars indie music record label, sees the emergence of an authentic modern Chinese cultural voice from both a local and broader historical perspective."Eight years ago many of my Tsinghua [University] students hadn't even heard of Nirvana, they were into syrupy pop like Celine Dion," he says "Even five years ago most hadn't heard of indie bands like P.K.14, but now at least 10pc-15pc know the band and have even heard the music."More sweepingly, he sees the rise of a distinctively Chinese popular culture as an inevitable by-product of China own rise in an emerging new world order."With exception perhaps of Japan, when countries become major economic and political powers, they also become cultural powers, but there is a lag," he says, "The US was already a world power by the 1880s, but didn't become a cultural power until the 1920s."Tapping Chinese youth culture is an inexact science, however. While some brands, like Converse, have gone to the cultural fringe for their piece of reflected "China cool", bigger brands such as Pepsico have sought to dominate the mainstream.This year, in a twist on the American Idol series, Pepsi staged a 10-part battle of the bands telethon in which 10 bands selected from more than 6,000 who auditioned from 121 cities competed to win a cash prize and a production deal.The heavily branded show, which also included a partnership between the beverages giant and a Chinese record production company, was an attempt to design a new model for China's record industry which is governed by the fact that most Chinese download their music for free.For Harry Hui, a former MTV and Universal Music executive who is now Pepsi's chief marketing officer in China, the opportunity was to create stars organically rather than hire established acts off the peg as is Pepsi tradition."When we did the research we discovered that downloading music is still the number one activity on the Chinese internet, accounting for 85pc of usage. We also found out there were 20,000 bands in China playing at clubs, bars and universities," he said."We also discovered that the live concert business growing by 30pc a year, but there was no single television platform or other creative venue that gives bands an outlet, so we provided that. There was a real untapped demand."In a country as vast as China, where levels of cultural exposure can differ hugely from place like Shanghai or Beijing to third and fourth-tier cities, there is no single solution: brands, as much as bands, will have to fight for their customers."I think consumers in China today are undergoing an economic transformation and all consumer brands are battling for market share," adds Mr Hui, "Chinese consumers tend to be more experimental and less loyal, so you have to work to engage them in innovative ways."However when we meet in a Beijing café, P.K.14's Yang Haisong – surprisingly softly-spoken in his off-stage guise – says talk of a new "individualistic" young China is more a construct of the marketing men's imagination, then a reality in contemporary China.Culture in China is already homogenising. True individualism, he adds, was his decision to quit the engineering degree that back in the early 1990s that still guaranteed him a job, so he could learn to play guitar and go on to form P.K.14. "The youth culture in China was never mainstream, you can't even say it's a counter-culture, in fact we have no youth culture, because everyone is subject to the media and external influences – they do not have their own point of view," he says."For us when we were kids, music was like a religion, it took us to a new place, to a new world of opportunity, a different lifestyle. We had no hope of becoming rock stars, we played because we loved to play. Now there's a TV show to make you a rock star."For the new generation of kids it's not the same, it's just for relaxing, for being cool." Fans of Gram Parsons don't visit a conventional grave to grieve over the country rock pioneer who died of a drug overdose in 1973, aged just 26. They go to Cap Rock, California, which is where his road manager poured petrol into his coffin and lit it, having stolen Parsons's corpse from Los Angeles International Airport. David N Meyer's walloping Twenty Thousand Roads: the Ballad of Gram Parsons and his Cosmic American Music (Bloomsbury, £25) tells the whole Southern Gothic melodrama of the charming, faithless man who taught Keith Richards to play country, and taught country how to rock. And there's more blood and booze spilt in Stephen Davis's Watch You Bleed: the Saga of Guns N' Roses (Michael Joseph, £18.99) - which would make a good companion present to the band's first album in more than a decade. To my ear Davis's prose has the same ploddingly overwrought style as his subject's music, but hey (as Wilson would say) who am I to judge? I was more deeply moved and informed by Camille F Forbes's Introducing Bert Williams: Burnt Cork, Broadway and the Story of America's First Black Star (Basic, £15.99). The Bahamian immigrant was the most popular black entertainer of his day, performing demeaning "coon songs" in blackface for the American audiences of the early 20th century. This book takes Williams out of cartoon imagery and reveals the man who would watch birds, beetles and butterflies for hours before weaving "little stories about their lives, as if their hopes and dreams were human ones: and who is there to say that they are so very different?""Immortal" will also feature as-yet-unreleased songs that Jackson had finished before his death last year, including some from an album that the singer's estate hopes will go on sale by Christmas, Mr Branca said.Concept art for the set prominently features a large tree, which represents a favourite oak that sat outside Jackson's Neverland bedroom, Mr King said. The singer nicknamed it the Giving Tree and had a perch built atop it where he wrote music and sometimes slept."It made sense that that would be the perfect environment for us to create this world of magic, fairy tale," King said. "Because Neverland for Michael Jackson was his kind of his peace and his serenity. ... So after going to Neverland and really experiencing and feeling the beauty and the energy that was there, I had no choice but to create an environment that reflected that."Mr King said he would begin auditions for about 60 dancers next week. Producers are hoping to hire dancers and musicians for the live band who have worked with Jackson, Mr Branca said.Jackson admired the Canadian troupe's work and had attended Cirque shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. "He was always captivated and a fan of what Cirque does," Mr Branca said.Cirque and the estate are also collaborating on a separate permanent production in Las Vegas in 2012 at a property owned by MGM Mirage Inc. They will each own 50 per cent of both projects and share equally in the cost of putting on the productions.Cirque said "Immortal" would be its most expensive touring show ever, with a budget of $57 million. A select number of tickets are being sold to fan clubs of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil starting on Wednesday.The rest go on sale Saturday. It is easy now to forget the intensity of fear generated by the IRA and the loyalist paramilitaries: the safest thing to do was to keep your mouth shut, or give voice only to generalised pieties. Those who persistently ignored such rules had a tendency to be murdered.Under such circumstances, O’Brien became an implacable public foe of the IRA and its sustaining well of passionate unreason. Irish republicanism recognised him as a dangerous enemy, because he understood its “ancestral voices” intimately: both his mother and father had been committed “Irish Irelanders”, and he had close acquaintance with the seductive power of its myths.The nature of his background, and the breadth of his intellect, meant that he could not be lightly dismissed as a Protestant, a Brit or a bigot. He was sure in his identity as an Irishman, and he confronted republican terrorism with the scourging force deriving from that confidence. Unionists, accustomed to being either despised or patronised, discerned in him a rare generosity of spirit: in uncivilised times, he spoke almost uniquely of a better, broader vision of Ireland.There are personalities that settle unquestioningly into the comforting orthodoxies and hypocrisies of their nation. O’Brien did not have such a personality: his ability to seek intellectually beyond the narrow confines of Ireland made him the very best of Irishmen. Beneath his charm was a steely fierceness that provoked discomfort in those wary of having their weaknesses exposed.Since he habitually moved beyond the boundaries of all tribes, their self-appointed chieftains always suspected him for it. In his memoir he describes a fact-finding visit to the North in 1970, during which he attended a rally addressed by the Unionist politician William Craig. He refrained from applauding Craig’s speech, thereby drawing the ire of some nearby loyalist toughs. They inquired why he had not clapped, and he replied that he had not agreed with the substance of the speech. Since a beating was evidently on its way, he wrote later: “I preferred being beaten without having clapped to clapping and then getting beaten as well.”The beating, augmented by a kicking, duly followed. Not long afterwards he received a postcard from Omagh in Northern Ireland. It read: “I see you got a Protestant beating-up in Derry. If you come to Omagh I promise you a Catholic beating-up”.I first met Conor in the 1990s, when the “peace process” was under way. He was not a fan: its moral compromises and orchestrated cant offended his natural love of exactness and candour. Those who interpreted his position as a veering into unreason might reflect that, as a political experiment, it still has a long way to run.Yet the memory that remains with me, alongside that of his warm, witty conviviality, was the glittering precision of his thinking, undimmed by numerous glasses of red wine. With his memories of Yeats’s muse Maud Gonne, her son Sean MacBride and Eamon de Valera, he was a living link to a vanishing Ireland, and he brought his unrelentingly clear gaze to bear upon it. I was honoured to have known him. One day Ireland, even more so than today, will realise too how honoured it was to have him as its restless conscience, its difficult and dazzling son.Breast cancer-free baby is wonderful and disturbingIt is rare for a decisive medical advance to feel at once hopeful and chilling, but that was my reaction to the news that the first baby specifically designed to be free of the breast cancer gene will be born this week.A 27-year-old woman and her husband, who was identified as a carrier, underwent a form of IVF so that their embryos could be screened for the gene: only those free of it were implanted. Otherwise, the risk that any daughter born to the couple would develop breast cancer was estimated at between 50 and 80 per cent.If I or my husband carried such a gene, and had lost a number of close family members to the disease, would I contemplate undergoing such a process? I might. But knowledge is not just power: in certain circumstances, it is also a form of torment.Once the couple became aware of their potential for passing on genetic misfortune, would they have watched their young daughter as she grew, always worrying when the breast cancer time-bomb might explode? Would she herself have had a test for the gene, and perhaps opted for a preventative mastectomy? As things stand, they can now congratulate themselves on having eliminated a potential threat to their own happiness, and that of their child.Yet the wider issues are not so simple. The treatment for breast cancer is improving every day, and in very many cases it is successfully eradicated. And those who suffer from breast cancer are much more than their affliction: they are individuals who have lived and loved for many years. Many are understandably horrified by the idea that, if such embryo screening became routine, the misfortune of breast cancer could be replaced by the much greater misfortune of never having been permitted to exist at all.As genetic testing broadens its scope, many more of us could find that we are at a significantly heightened risk of passing on some severe affliction or other to our offspring. Then we might realise that the reality of exhaustive genetic testing is a little like Oppenheimer’s experiment with the atomic bomb: at first it will send forth a blast of illumination, but its darker implications thereafter will be intensely difficult to predict or control.It's not just Barack Obama who has embarrassing photographsSome commentators have described the pictures of a student Barack Obama that emerged last week as an embarrassment: he is smoking.The pictures are not embarrassing in the least, for the simple reason that Obama looks pretty good in them, in a youthfully louche way. We all know that smoking is a filthy, life-threatening habit that stains the teeth and diseases the lungs: it is a dreadful pity that it can also look rather stylish. If anything, I would change the hat: its river-boating style is a little too early 1980s, and a classic trilby would go much better with the smouldering cigarette.This is often the way when so-called “embarrassing” pictures of well-known people are unearthed: they are actually carrying off a slightly dated look surprisingly well. Embarrassing pictures from my family album, however, remain precisely that.Where do I start? Well, there’s the Christmas Day one of me aged about 13, suffering from flu and wearing a curious grey boiler suit that I clearly thought the height of chic. My shortish curly hair has been amplified by a Belfast hairdresser who appears to have perfected the art of the frizzed mullet. I’m not smoking: I certainly don’t think a cigarette could make things any worse. But if I entered public office, I would stop at nothing to have this photo suppressed. No one who saw it would be safe. Perhaps it’s best for all concerned if I stay where I am.The man behind the fabrics counter at John Lewis thinks differently. As much is clear when I start talking to him about my plan to make a duvet cover. “How wide should your fabric be?” he asks. I consult the Ikea book and shrug. Frowning, he whips out a tape measure. “You need to remember that a single duvet cover is 150cm wide,” he says. “So this fabric you’ve chosen won’t work.” What I should have done, I’m told, is put two bits of fabric together horizontally and seam them along the middle. So it is that, with his advice, I buy a bundle of fabric, plus wadding, padding, self-cover buttons, ribbon and bias binding. The bill comes to a little over £100.Back at home, I kick off my weekend projects with Bend the Rules Sewing, a book which aims to “dispel some sewing myths” (you don’t need to use pins, apparently) and encourages quick short cuts.“These Pillow Buddies look quite easy,” I say to Honey, my eight-year-old daughter. We read the instructions. “Lay out both pieces of fabric, right sides together. Sew around the outline. Turn inside out. Stuff. Hand stitch the opening.”It takes me 20 minutes. I make one more, then another three and then Honey makes one too. We flick through Simple Sewing with a French Twist and knock out the Button-Tufted Cushion, which looks suspiciously like a Pillow Buddy, in a matter of minutes. We’re thrilled; the cushions look gorgeous and would make great presents. A tea cosy proves trickier. Bend the Rules Sewing has an attractive-looking design, but I find the hand-drawn step-by-step guide impossible to follow.Similarly, the cosy from Sewing In No Time looks terrifyingly complex, with bits of material, braid and wadding flying everywhere.The answer? A composite cosy created with tips from each book and a bit of improvisation. Next up it’s time for the big one: I flip open the Ikea book to the duvet cover page and stare intently. Can you really describe how to make a duvet cover from scratch in only six sentences?No. In the end, I bring down an existing cover from another bed, put it on the floor and cut out my fabric using the commercial cover as a template. I follow the John Lewis man with regard to the central seam, and tips from Sewing In No Time for the fabric ties on the opening. A matching pillow case follows, by which time I’m sewn out. So, one weekend and £100 later I’ve made five small cushions with appliqué designs, a tea cosy, a button-tufted cushion and a duvet cover with matching pillow case. To say it was easy is probably stretching the point; a modicum of experience, a basic sewing machine and the confidence to pick and mix advice from different sources are all useful. Get it right, though, and you’ll save a huge amount of cash compared with buying similar items from shops, and have a thoroughly satisfying weekend to boot.Rosie's top sewing booksSewing In No Time by Emma Hardy (Cico), £12.99, plus £1.25 p&p.Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol (Potter Craft), £14.99, plus 1.25 p&p. Simple Sewing with a French Twist by Celine Dupuy (Potter Craft) £17.99, plus £1.25 p&p.All of the above are available from Telegraph Books. Call 0844 871 1515 or visit . She has multimillion-dollar mortgages on properties she owns in New York, and her plans to renovate three town houses in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village landed her with a $15m (£9m) lawsuit from a neighbour.New York-based Art Capital Group, which wants the loan repaid, issues short term loans against collateral of fine art and property.I didn’t go to catering college; instead I cooked my way around good restaurants, with chefs such as Marco Pierre White, Gary Rhodes and Bruno Loubet. I found that the camaraderie of the kitchen was similar to that on an aircraft carrier – so after a while I decided that cooking was for me. I eventually wound up with Michael Quinn at Ettington Park Hotel in Stratford upon Avon.My first book is On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee. It was a present from my father, and for me it marks the transition from the Navy to cooking. Next would be Larousse Gastronomique. It’s a wonderful book; I use it all the time. I think my particular edition was borrowed from a library and never given back, but it’s a great thing to have on your shelves – inspirational. If I’m ever stuck for ideas, I’ll delve into it.The Bescherelle Complete Guide to Conjugating 12,000 French Verbs is indispensable. I need it both in the kitchen and at home, though probably more at home – my wife is French and she talks to my two boys only in French, and they really tease me for not being able to speak the language.My fourth book is Richard Olney’s Simple French Food. Olney is a real unsung hero of food writing. He was ahead of his time, writing about fundamentally great food in a way that makes it instantly accessible to the ordinary reader. Simple French Food is one of those books that is an education to read.Danny Meyer is a top restaurant operator in New York, and Setting the Table is his book about how to run a hospitality business – and the crucial word here is 'hospitality’. It’s a concept that’s gradually being lost in London – there are too many despotic chefs operating here at the moment.I got tired of working for other people in other people’s restaurants, which was why I decided to start my own. Will Smith and I opened Arbutus in Soho in 2006, without much cash. It was very bare and simple, but so successful. It seemed to be something that was lacking in London, a reasonably priced restaurant with very good service and great food, and a unique approach to wine. Wild Honey in Mayfair came about because the landlord of the building where it’s situated had told me he loved Arbutus, but didn’t want to have to travel to Soho to eat there. While Arbutus is earthy stuff – braised pig’s head and bavette – Wild Honey is more modern English food, such as scallops and rib of beef. Which brings me to my next book, Cuisine du Terroir, edited by Céline Vence. My wife bought it for me. This is regional French cooking at its best – tête de veau, blanquette of rabbit, falette, veal brisket. It’s absolutely fantastic. Chicken and salsify pie – that sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? It’s a book that inspires me every time I look at it.I own several of Claudia Roden’s books, especially those on Lebanese cooking, which I use a lot at home, but the one I want with me on the desert island is The Food of Italy because it’s more the kind of thing I do in the restaurants. The eighth book has, on the face of it, nothing to do with food at all. It’s Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong, but it sums up for me the connection between the kitchen and the Navy – the camaraderie that exists in both disciplines and which Faulks captures so well. I’d have to have it with me because I read it two or three times a year. If I’ve got knives and pans, my kitchen gadget would be a box of matches.A decade later, Sharron's kitchen - a similar version of which would cost around £100,000 - is in place, including limestone floors, granite worktops and the largest island Clive Christian has built. "We built a single-storey extension to the house, with an indoor heated pool and gym for Darren and a 40x20ft kitchen that is the centre of the house," she says, adding that they have spent more money refurbishing the house than they did on buying it in the first place. "It's not a show kitchen. This is where we spend 90 per cent of our lives," says Sharron, who has now added Clive Christian bedrooms and a dining room, a full-house renovation that would cost around £250,000, estimates the designer's daughter, Victoria. "The kitchen is the centre of the house and we do everything there, from having a quiet coffee in peace and watching television to it becoming a hive of activity when our two daughters and three grandchildren visit. We put the babies in their car seats on the island," adds Sharron. "We could have got a much cheaper kitchen that would look almost as good, but this is built to last and we're not planning on moving." The Jones's weren't alone in waiting years for their kitchen. "We have one client in Cheshire who waited 15 years before she could afford her kitchen, which cost £100,000 in cabinetry alone," says Victoria Christian. "She and her husband totally rebuilt their small manor house in reclaimed stone, to look as it would have done 200 years ago, and waited until she could get exactly the kitchen she wanted." Peter Shaw was similarly tenacious in getting the pièce de résistance for his restored watermill: a kitchen by the Wiltshire-based designer Mark Wilkinson that cost "well into six figures and took 20 years to get as I had to do it between two wives", says Peter, 60, a retired commercial property surveyor who has spent two decades converting Hazeland Mill in Bremhill, near Chippenham. "I restored the mill in phases as and when I could afford it and the kitchen was always going to be the final piece," says Peter, who says he needed somewhere with a wow factor because he and his wife, Jennie, do a lot of entertaining. "We have a green oak conservatory on the Victorian extension to our Cotswold stone mill, and the kitchen is the focal point of our home. It's where we really live," he adds. "It's worth every penny and I don't ever intend to leave this place, so it doesn't matter to me whether I could ever recoup its value on selling the house." Gary Rhodes and Antony Worrall Thompson, who has seven cookers in his Henley kitchen, have praised the design and functionality of Wilkinson's kitchens, which start at £30,000 and feature in Millgate Homes's new Sundridge Park development in Kent, where apartments in the converted John Nash mansion house and neighbouring new buildings start at £675,000 through Savills. Mark Wilkinson's clients are typically sports stars, Russians and the business elite, says the company's marketing director Richard Moss. "In our New York showroom we give people the option of whether they want a kitchen in their apartment, as people eat out so often there," says marketing director, Richard Moss. "In England, our clients are either people who absolutely love to cook, or they never cook at all." Welcome to the new Victorians and their status symbol kitchens. Kitchen contacts: Clive Christian, , 0207 839 3426 Mark Wilkinson, , 01380 850007 Sundridge Park, , 0208 313 7468The work was, in some respects, a welcome relief from the agonies of the camp. "It was an escape for me, you know," she said later. "You don't know what it feels like to be hungry without any chance of appeasing it. It's a physical pain in your stomach. So I was sitting there, painting, and for a moment I could forget about all that." Mengele provided her with a pad, watercolours and two chairs – one to use as an easel, the other for her subjects to sit on. Among them was a girl called Celine, painted wearing a blue scarf. "She had just lost her baby, it was two months old and it starved to death. She had no milk, there was no way she could feed it. Luckily Mengele sent his orderly, who was bringing me my soup every day, to bring me white bread, which I could share – I gave it to Celine, of course. And therefore I painted her slowly, because I wanted to be with her as long as possible. So I think it took about a week to do Celine."For Dina Babbitt and her mother, the paintings did indeed prove a lifeline. But the works could not save Celine or any of those painted, all of whom were murdered after they had posed for the artist.Annemarie Dinah Gottliebova was born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, on January 21 1923. She showed artistic aptitude early on as a child and was sent to the country's Academy of Fine Arts. But, as a Jew, she was compelled to quit her studies when, in 1939, German troops occupied Prague, where she was then living with her mother. At the beginning of 1942 the pair were rounded up and transported to Theresienstadt, often used as a transit camp to Auschwitz, where they finally arrived in 1943. After the end of the war, Dinah Gottliebova's paintings had almost as miraculous an escape as she had. They would not have been identified as hers at all had Mengele not noticed, after she completed her first subject (a girl in a red scarf), that the artist had not signed her work. "And at first I asked him, 'Do you mean my name or my number?'" recalled Babbitt. "And he said, 'Your name'." The nine paintings were duly inscribed "Dinah 1944"; but their creator, who managed to start her life again in Paris, assumed that they had been destroyed in the Nazi retreat and the chaos of the end of the war. Meanwhile, in the French capital with her mother, she applied to Warner Bros for a job as an animator. In a bizarre twist, she was interviewed by Art Babbitt, an animator who had worked on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. After they married, the couple moved to Los Angeles, where they worked on animation projects for cartoons, commercials and films. Back at Auschwitz, Dina Babbitt's watercolours had, in fact, survived. According to the museum, they were given by a prisoner to a local family, as a reward for their kindness in adopting an orphaned Hungarian girl, Ewa, after the camp's liberation. It was Ewa, by then a dentist, who sold the paintings to the museum in 1963. But it took six more years before the then head of the museum's collections was able to identify – and track down – the artist behind them.It was the beginning, not of a happy reunion, but of a long dispute. Though Dina Babbitt travelled to Auschwitz in 1973, and was presented with photographic reproductions of her work, she was not able to claim ownership of the originals. Before her death, the museum, in a statement, said it "fully understands [her] emotional attitude" but "is profoundly convinced that the watercolours should remain in Oswiecim" for educational purposes.In her last years, Dina Babbitt's campaign to recover her paintings attracted increasing attention in America, and she received support from politicians and fellow artists. Her daughter said: "The museum's refusal to release the paintings to Dina began her re-incarceration as a spiritual hostage of the Auschwitz Death Camp." But an American rabbi on an advisory council to the museum, Andrew Baker, noted that the case was particularly sensitive and evenly balanced. In retirement, Dina Babbitt used the number tattooed on her arm by the Nazis – 61016 – in the California state lottery. She never won. Her marriage was dissolved, and she is survived by two daughters. At a festival this summer she admitted to the crowd that she couldn't dance and seems instead to have perfected her own "Duffy-semaphore" moves: side-to-side cow-steps, pointing, swishing her microphone lead and arching her back on the big notes. This has worked perfectly for Shirley Bassey, but in the spit-and-sawdust ambience of a modern venue, it doesn't encourage the audience to move, and a strangely static quality fell over the evening. Which is a shame because her big, high voice works better skipping lightly on newer go-go-grooves such as Rain on Your Parade than funereal ballads such as Rockferry. Still, Duffy delivered what the fans wanted: every song from her album sung as note-perfectly as on the CD, and with a final rousing rendition of Mercy, she sent them off with another grateful twirl.The couple spent around 15 minutes chatting to people in the crowd and accepting flowers, cards and letters from them on the second day of their tour of the Far East.Corine Ackermann, 17, who was with schoolfriends from the Tanglin Trust British School, said: “Someone asked [the Duke] how many children he would like to have, and he said he was thinking about having two.”Meanwhile the Duchess, wearing a white Alexander McQueen broderie anglaise suit, was given a children’s book called Blow A Kiss by Eileen Seow, 76, the mother of its author David Seow. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, receives flowers upon their arrival at Changi International Airport in Singapore (EPA)She said: “My son gave a copy to Celine Dion and she had a baby!” But she said she “didn’t dare” bring up the subject of babies with the Duchess, who at one point tickled the tummy of a baby in the crowd.Earlier the Royal couple had visited the garden’s Cloud Forest Dome, where the temperature is kept at a steady 24C.They were met by Andrew Grant, Chris Wilkinson and Russell Cole, three of the Brtish team who designed and built the gardens, and were taken up in a lift to a lush, green “mountaintop” inside the glass dome.Just as they arrived jets of steam, which spurt among the gardens every three to four hours, began to fill the air with mist. (PA)The Duchess immediately began touching her hair as if worried the mist would ruin her hairstyle and, by the time, she left, her normally glossy, well-groomed locks did look rather frizzy.The Gardens, which are Singapore’s version of the Eden Project, with two glass domes housing sub-tropical blooms, only opened in June, and the Royal couple walked past a waterfall which drops from the top of the Dome to the ground floor and is one of its main attractions.Mr Grant, who said the design had been inspired by “sci-fi movies”, said: “These gardens are the antithesis of Kew Gardens. Instead of a glass conservatory to keep plants warm we have designed one to keep them cool.”Chris Wilkinson added: “It’s a model of the future run on solar power and biomass energy. Everything left over, any odd material goes into fuelling the biomass cooling system.” (PA)The new deal means that for the first time every county in the world is committed to cutting carbon – although the legal wording remains vague and the treaty will not come into force until 2020. Charities point out that the "Durban road map" is still too weak to stop temperatures rising above the "danger point" of 2C because it does not set tough targets for emissions cuts or a quick enough timetable. However Chris Huhne, the UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary, who played a key role in the talks, insisted it was a “huge step forward” – especially after the failure of the last high profile UN attempt at a deal in Copenhagen in 2009. He pointed out that the world’s three biggest polluters – the US, China and India – who account for almost half the world’s emissions are now committed to cutting carbon. “What we have done today is a great success for European diplomacy. We have managed to put this on the map and take the major emitters – the US, India and China to a road map that will secure an overarching deal.” In particular the inclusion of the US, that has resisted any previous attempts to be part of a global deal, is a significant move. Todd Stern, the US climate envoy, said every country made compromises. "This is a very significant package. None of us likes everything in it. Believe me, there is plenty the United States is not thrilled about," he said. Mate Nkoana-Mashabane, the president of the conference and South Africa’s foreign minister, said the longest UN climate change meeting in history, was a roller coaster. “We have saved planet earth for the future of our children and our great grand children to come. We have made history,” she said. ‘The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action’ is carefully worded to ensure all countries are comfortable with the legal form. It commits all parties to “a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force” that will be decided in 2015 and come into force in 2020. In the interim between now and 2020 just Europe and a handful of other rich countries are legally bound to cutting carbon emissions through a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The deal also includes plans to set up a Green Climate Fund that will channel around £60bn a year towards helping countries adapt to climate change from 2020. The UK has already committed £3.4bn to fighting climate change and will be expected to donate around £1bn a year to the new fund once it is set up. There are also plans to pay poor countries not chop down trees in order to stop deforestation and plans to look at taxing aviation and shipping. The commitment to emission cuts sends a clear signal to business to start investing in green technologies like wind turbines. It means Europe is likely to increase its targets to cut carbon from 20 to 30 per cent by 2020, putting pressure on the UK to increase our own ambitious targets even further. But Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace International, who was thrown out of the conference centre for protesting earlier in the week, said the deal was not enough to stop dangerous climate change. The UN warns that emissions have to peak before 2020 and start coming down to keep temperature rise below 2C. "The chance of averting catastrophic climate change is slipping through our hands with every passing year that nations fail to agree on a rescue plan for the planet,” he said. Samantha Smith, of WWF International, said the compromise had watered down the deal to such an extent it became almost meaningless. "They haven't reached a real deal," she said. "They watered things down so everyone could get on board." Celine Charveriat, Director of Campaigns and Advocacy for Oxfam, said the world is “sleepwalking towards 4C”, where millions of people will be displaced by floods and drought. “The failure to seal an ambitious deal will have painful consequences for poor people around the world,” she said. “A 4C temperature rise could be one of utter devastation for poor farmers who will face increasing hunger and poverty.” But the most vulnerable countries to climate change said waiting until 2020 to enforce the deal will not be enough to save small island states from sea level rise or stop droughts and floods.UN scientists have stated that emissions need to peak and start coming down before 2020 to stand a chance of keeping temperature rise within the 'safe zone' of 2C.Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, insisted the deal will address this problem by encouraging countries to cut carbon before 2020, even though it will not be legally binding at this stage.Even as the Eurozone collapses at home, he said the agreement was a huge success for Europe.He pointed out that it was the first time that the 'Big 3', the US, India and China, that make up almost half of the world's emissions, have agreed to cut emissions as part of a legal treaty."What we have done today is a great success for European diplomacy. We have managed to put this on the map and take the major emitters – the US, India and China – to a road map that will secure an overarching deal," he said.The EU has also agreed to a second commitment of the Kyoto Protocol from 2013 as part of the deal so that the world has a legal treaty to cut emissions in place before 2020.This will mean Britain will be one of the few countries in the world committed to legally binding targets to cut emissions over the next few years while the US, India and China only have voluntary targets until 2020..But Mr Huhne insisted Britain will not be at a competitive disadvantage as we already have an ambitious domestic target to cut carbon by 34 per cent by 2020."We are already a pioneer in this area and for us this just means that other countries are doing as much as we are," he said.Ruth Davis Greenpeace UK chief policy adviser, said the deal would make it even more important to enforce green policies in Britain like supporting wind power and solar.But it was not enough internationally to stop global warming."This deal is a lot better than no deal, not least because it scuppers George Osborne's push to gut domestic environmental action on the altar of international inertia," she said. "That said, we can't keep coming back to these annual talks to agree deals that fall so far short of what the science, rather than the politics, requires."Celine Charveriat, Director of Campaigns and Advocacy for Oxfam, said the world is "sleep walking" towards a 4C rise in temperature by failing to get tougher targets in before 2020."The failure to seal an ambitious deal will have painful consequences for poor people around the world," she said. "A 4C temperature rise could be one of utter devastation for poor farmers who will face increasing hunger and poverty." • They don’t need herbicides or pesticides to keep them going. After all, their sting keeps hungry animals away. • With no need for chemicals, they provide a natural habitat for rabbits, birds, insects and frogs and toads. • Every part of the plant is used. The leaves provide nutrients for next year’s crop, as the plants are left to dry out on the field. The outer part of the stem is extracted for its fibres, while the woody remnant is used for animal bedding. • Fabrics manufacturer Camira spent four years perfecting Sting, the pioneering material that is a blend of 25 per cent nettle fibre and 75 per cent wool. They worked with De Montford University to research the best ways to cultivate, harvest, weave and dye the fabric. We love it! We're also making a mini hemp dress and Eden bamboo t-shirt – a replica of the full-size ones our staff actually wear. Good, ey? Polar Bear’s meticulous style teeters on overload while Hurley’s talk leaves too many aspects of the adventure untended to. The most satisfying of the bunch was the most straightforward. Using a small camera fashioned like a microscope, beneath which he positioned a succession of snapshots - each relayed on a screen behind him - Dylan Tighe read aloud from his diary of a trip taken along the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Siberian railways.What might be a desultory travelogue sharpens into a twin-track voyage through alien landscapes and into the interior of a troubled soul. Admissions of personal failings blur into insights on global politics, especially the irresistible rise of China. Philosophical musings segue into references to Celine’s novel Journey to the End of the Night.Talking calmly, Tighe communicates a melancholy sense of someone dissolving under the pressure of being among strangers - and modern life itself. Perfect for the Fringe.Information: Many audience members seated close to the stage Wednesday night gave the pop singer a standing ovation after each hit he played, including Candle in the Wind, Rocket Man and Tiny Dancer.Several of the songs were combined with complex video productions created by famed photographer and director David LaChapelle. The offbeat music videos included appearances by singer Justin Timberlake, actress Pamela Anderson and actor Paul Reubens."One day I might even see you in Vegas, OK? But until then, I love you," Sir Elton said before ending the show with Your Song and kissing an audience member's hand as he exited the stage. Another of Kundera’s passions is Curzio Malaparte, the Italian author and journalist. Malaparte’s bestseller Kaputt, published in Italy in 1944, chronicled with scrupulous and unsparing lucidity the horrors of the conflict on the Finnish and Russian fronts. With its blurring of truth and reality, Kaputt might be construed as an exercise in literary craft, yet few before Malaparte had cast such a dispassionate eye on atrocity, or put into words the unspeakable. For Kundera, he remains a 'criminally neglected’ author.A cosmopolitan soul, Kundera is drawn to composers steeped in post-Mahlerian modernism (Schoenberg, Berg) and displays scant interest here in humdrum melody. Leoš Janácek, a fellow Czech, is hailed as a 'great anti-Romantic’, while the Greek composer Iannis Xenakis is too 'radically other’ for comfortable definition. In the Twenties, Kundera’s father, we learn, had brought home a sheaf of Darius Milhaud piano scores from Paris; at his funeral in Prague half a century later, Janácek’s Second String Quartet was played. Clearly, the Kunderas were a family steeped in pan-European sensibilities.Inevitably, many of Milan Kundera’s friends and acquaintances are mentioned here (Salman Rushdie, Gabriel García Marquez, Carlos Fuentes). But if the impression remains of a charmed circle, Encounter is none the less enjoyable for that. Immensely readable, the volume combines the sterling virtue of good writing with emotional and intellectual engagement. In short, a triumph.Encounter: Essays By Milan Kundera, tr by Linda Asher FABER, £12.99, 178ppAvailable from 0844 871 1516Yet even before the game, there had been questions over the fitness of captain Faye White and she was rested in the final group game against Japan.In the end Powell decided to go with experience over youth for the quarter-final, recalling 33-year-old White for Sophie Bradley, the youngest member of the squad.During the opening minutes, it looked like England’s women might succeed where the men failed in South Africa last year. An early chance for Kelly Smith, who took the ball around second-choice keeper Celine Deville, gave England hope that they had overcome the shortcomings that saw them scrape a draw against Mexico in their opening game.The team did well to shake off the criticism levelled at them in the wake of the result – including a spate of well-publicised disputes between striker Eni Aluko and her critics on twitter.France manager Bruno Bini said before the match that he feared every England player could pose a threat to his side. And the ladies were in the quarter finals for the third time by no accident – a feat that already surpassed their male counterparts’ efforts last year.But in the first half, it was the woman from Lyon – Women’s Champions League winners – that dominated the Lionesses.Louisa Necib worked France’s set pieces and regularly tested the Karen Bardsley. But the keeper from US team Sky Blue kept her cool, tipping a powerful shot over the bar seeing off a number of dangerous corners.But while England were holding there own in terms of possession, the vast majority of the game was being played in their own half. Jill Scott, who had such an impact against New Zealand in the second group game, was unable to find the freedom to support England’s strikers.But on one occasion when she did get the ball, she put Fara Williams through in a rare chance for England just before half-time but the shot went high over the bar.The second half began much as the first half ended. Powell had walked from the dressing room with a look of dejection and it wasn’t until the 58th minute that England had anything to cheer. For once, Jill Scott found herself unfettered up front after being fed by Rachel Unitt. She turned two defenders and struck a beautiful shot to finally break the deadlock.It should have been the catalyst that England needed but with history on the side of the score-draw between these two sides, the last three matches between them have ended level, France’s dominance indicated the scoring was not over.Tensions were running high when Sonia Bompastor went down to win a France free kick, with Kelly Smith leading the accusations of diving, before Viguier knocked in a set piece that Bardsley did well to trap between her legs.The women in white were hanging on, and their resistance finally crumbled in the 87th minute when Elise Bussaglia struck a dead-ball left by Marie-Laure Delie directly in front of goal on the edge of the 18-yard box to force extra time.Powell brought on Stephanie Houghton, Claire Rafferty and Anita Asante but England could only achieve damage limitation in the remaining time.Match detailsEngland (4-2-3-1): Bardsley; Alex Scott (Houghton, 81), Stoney, Faye White, Unitt (Raffety, 81); Jill Scott, Yankey (Asante, 84); Williams, Carney, Smith; Ellen White. France (4-2-3-1): Deville; Viguier, Georges, Lepailleur, Soubeyrand (Thomis, 67); Bompastor, Abily; Necib (Bretigny, 79), Bussaglia, Thiney; Delie. Subs: Philippe, Renard, Boulleau, Meilleroux, Franco, Le Sommer, Pizzala. Subs: Brown, Chamberlain, Clarke, Aluko, Bradley, Bassett, Susi. Referee: J Palmqvist (Sweden).16.25 Still more than three hours to kick off but the competition between Holland and Germany has already begun in Ukraine with a spat at the airport. Two empty Dutch planes refused to give up their stairs for a German plane carrying reporters to the match, leaving them sweating for 20 minutes. Airport staff eventually intervened to provide their own stairs. 16.21 Another day, another opportunity for Greece manager Fernando Santos to parade his happy-go-lucky nature. Anyone ever seen a picture of him smiling? Now that would make him frown. 16.17 There is no harsher critic of the Holland team than its own players. Ahead of their match against Germany tonight, Wesley Sneijder has : It is time we let these pathetic egos go. If somebody is creating a mess, I will stand up against them now. We don't need a psychologist with the Dutch team, we are grown-up men. The ones who have a problem with other players or the manager should tell them face-to-face. That is the only psychology we need. We have to stop living on little islands. We must all go for the same goal, be united or face the consequences.16.10 UEFA has given Russia rather more than a slap on the wrist over the behaviour of fans at Friday's Czech Republic match. They will fine the country 120,000 Euros and give them a six-point deduction, which will be suspended, from their next Euro qualifying campaign. Ouch. 16.05 Here's Danny Welbeck on why he's confident England can achieve a better result against Sweden than in their opener. 16.02 Less than an hour to go until Denmark v Portugal. Here are tonight's teams: Denmark: Stephan Andersen, Daniel Agger, Lars Jacobsen, Simon Kjaer, Simon Poulsen, Christian Eriksen, Michael Krohn-Dehli, William Kvist, Niki Zimling, Nicklas Bendtner, Dennis Rommedahl. Portugal: Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao, Joao Pereira, Pepe, Joao Moutinho, Raul Meireles, Nani, Miguel Veloso, Helder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo. 15.58 More attempts to get to the bottom of this . Twitter: Jeremy Wilson - Cracks most definitely appearing in Sweden camp after Expressen release this video: 15.50 Our man in Poznan Chris Bascombe sends this from today's pre-match press conference ahead of Italy v Croatia: Slaven Bilic offers a colourful response when asked to assess Mario Balotelli. “There is a circle and in one half there is genius and in the other weirdness. In between there is a fine line. Balotelli is a top class player, sometimes a genius but sometimes he does weird things.”15.45 Jordan Henderson says he's ready to take centre stage if Roy Hodgson's fears about Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker being able to play every four days are realised. Steve and Scotty did very well in there. I think they're both fit enough to last the full game but I was delighted to get on for the last 15 minutes. I had to treat it like any other game. It was another amazing experience for me.15.33 Encouraging words coming in from Sweden defender Jonas Olsson ahead of Friday's match: The way England played against France is very similar to the way Roy Hodgson set the team up at West Brom. It's an organised team, they defend well and are good on the counter-attack with the pace they have upfront from Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck and Walcott. Roy is a top, top coach. I really enjoyed the time under him at West Brom. He is experienced and is good at inspiring players, and he is a very nice man as well.15.25 Mark Ogden reports that Sopot is emerging as the venue of choice for rich and famous Euros fans: The seaside resort, famous for having the longest wooden pier in Europe, is the tournament base for the Republic of Ireland team and Uefa have also checked the delegates into the town's opulent Grand Hotel. And with Ireland set to face Spain in neighbouring Gdansk on Thursday, the Irish WAGs have been joined in Sopot by Noel Gallagher and his band, High Flying Birds. Gallagher and co. are expected to attend the Ireland game tomorrow night. Didn't he once sing "Where did it all go wrong?"15.15 A fashion show involving only the 1970 Germany strip. What's not to like? 15.05 Luke Edwards is looking forward to the chants in Kharviv's Metalist Stadium tonight: Is there a better chant in international football than the Dutch singing "you stole our bicycles" in reference to the German's hasty retreat from Allied advance in WWII?14.58 With what gravity our rivals on Friday conduct their footballing news. A row is brewing after Sweden players goaded goalkeeper Johan WIland into pulling his shorts down . Amazingly, the criticism is not that this is silly or vulgar but ... bullying. "They are heroes for thousands of boys and girls around Sweden and I don't think they should be signalling that this is OK," huffed an anti-bullying campaigner. 14.52 Here are Sweden training earlier on. Fingers crossed they look like this after Friday night. 14.45 Five hours until Holland take on Germany. But there's one colour only at Kharviv metro: 14.35 Here's about Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic sitting out training: Ibrahimovic has been forced to sit out part of team training because of a sore thigh, a legacy of Monday's 2-1 defeat by co-hosts Ukraine. However, the Swedish camp insist they aren't too worried about Ibrahimovic's status and that he should be fit for Friday's vital game against England. 14.25 UEFA has condemned last night's violence in Warsaw. Here's their statement: UEFA condemns the isolated incidents that occurred yesterday in the city of Warsaw prior to and after the Poland-Russia match, when some groups of known troublemakers pelted the police with missiles and attacked fans irrespective of the team they were supporting. Those arrested and charged will have to be dealt with by the relevant authorities.14.22 No, no, no. Reuters reports that the "cloud of depression" over Sweden is lifting after Erik Hamren said his players would spend yesterday "grieving" following Monday's defeat. More storm clouds by Friday please. 14.17 Best photo of the Euros so far? When there's a riot going on who do you need to save the day? writes @Gibbe84. 14.07 Reader Alex Banks sends this insight into the Holland-Germany rivalry from his office in Bonn. Tonight's game is huge for both the Netherlands and Germany - when it comes to football they really, really hate each other (a la Poland v Russia) and for both teams it doesn't get any bigger than this. For each of the sides it won't be too bad if they don't win the tournament provided they at least beat the other. To celebrate our office has laid on free food and lots of beer (thanks boss). This is what German fans are emailing their rivals: And Holland fans are retaliating: 13.55 Don't listen to those optimistic team doctors. Earlier on Czech Republic doctor Peter Krejci said there was a "big chance" injured captain Tomas Rosickny would play against Poland on Saturday. But the hobbling player didn't sound too great on Czech TV: I played three matches with this at the end of the season but it has not been as painful as it is now. I can barely stand on the foot but I am not giving up. If it is at least a little possible, I will play.13.48 Understatement of the day. Poland captain Kuba Blaszczykowski, who saved his country's chances of a place in the quarter-finals with his goal last night, says: "It's always good to score the equalising goal." 13.44 Oh dear. Our man in Lviv Luke Edwards is less than impressed with the, um, hospitality on offer in Ukraine. My hotel in Lviv is a corker. The wi-fi advertised doesn't work, my room is approximately 3 metres from a building site and smells of wet cement. Oh and the air conditioning doesn't work either. The icing on the cake, however, is the pipe taking the water from upstairs' toilet, which snakes through my room. Might be heading to the stadium earlier than planned.13.35 More on the real news of the day: Rooney's hair. Welbeck, smiling, gives us the answer: The barber came in [to the hotel] and set up his own little barber shop. Quite a few members of staff and players participated in it. 13.32 Reader Achu Kply won't be impressed with Welbeck's comments. What do you think - Carroll must start in place of Welbeck.He is more suited to Roy's tactics #targetman13.26 The heat is taking it out of the squad, Welbeck adds. "The second half [against France] was a bit cooler and our second and third games are at a later time so that will be a bit better for us." 13.19 England press conference going on currently in Krakow. Danny Welbeck has this to say ahead of the Sweden match on Friday: I think the France game, as a start for us, we set out our platform. We really want to build on that from now on. I think we can improve a lot more. Looking at it from a neutral point of view it will be a fine game to watch. Once the game is opened up, there will be a few goal-scoring opportunities carved out. He said Rooney is "itching to get out on the pitch". He will rejoin the squad on Tuesday. 13.15 Update on Martin Kelly, who missed training this morning: Twitter: Henry Winter - Henderson: "Kelly getting a lot better. He'll be training soon. It's maybe a virus" 13.05 Sadly for former Ireland midfielder Kevin Kilbane, Mark Ogden can still remember last night's events in Gdansk: Meal with Kilbane and Irish journalists was great fun, but I declined the trip to a karaoke bar with the group in the early hours. Apparently, there is now video circulating of Kilbane, one of only four Irish players to win more than 100 caps, singing Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice in front of his audience. Oh yes there is: 12.54 Looks like the Dutch are a little keener on this rivalry than the Germans. And the tweet even has helpful maths for beginners. Twitter: tariq panja - Estimated number of dutch fans at tonight's game is 15,000. Germans will number circa 5,000. 3:1 ratio.12.45 Of course someone has made a parody of Celine Dion's It's All Coming Back to me Now about Rooney's hair. Obvious, really. Will it fall out at all When I next head the ball? Things that I need to know Now it's all coming back to me 12.35 Paul Hayward has some background on Hodgson's description of Rooney: Twitter: Paul Hayward - 'Ace in the Hole' (Hodgson's term for Rooney) was a great Billy Wilder film, featuring a seedy reporter. Krakow press pack auditioning now.12.25 Good news for England from Sweden's training? Captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic had to sit it out because of a sore thigh and he will undergo treatment later this afternoon. But a member of Swedish staff is sure he'll still be playing: "There is no worry about him not being fit for Friday's match, none." 12.16 Where's Rooney's cut on the hairdo-ometer? Better or worse than Donald Trump's? Personally, I think he's had a transplant ... there are definitely shades of Freddie the psychic ferret there. 12.09 More news on those Czech injuries (see 10.18). Team doctor Peter Krejci says there is a "big chance" that both Tomas Rosicky and Petr Cech will play in the Poland match on Saturday after their scans this morning. 11.58 Poland's interior minister says he hopes the country's courts will severely punish those who caused trouble last night. Jacek Cichocki said: When it comes to our hooligans, I hope the prosecutors and especially the courts will be strict and these people will fully feel the consequences of their antics.11.50 More pictures are coming through from this morning's training. Let's hope they're looking this cheery on Friday night. 11.41 A decades-old rivalry continues tonight when Holland and Germany face off in Kharkiv. Didrik Ottesen has put together of some of their better matches: Ronald Koeman outraged the Germans by pretending to use Olaf Thon’s shirt as toilet paper, proudly displaying footballers’ great level of sophistication. 11.32 More squad injury news coming in. Poland defender Damien Perquis and midfielders Eugen Polanski and Dariusz Dudka might be in doubt for the side's final group match against the Czech Republic, says team media director Tomasz Rzasa: Perquis has a deep cut on his shin. Polanski has a heavily-bruised knee and Dudka has a recurrence of an abdominal strain.11.24 It was a very English training session in the Warsaw rain. You can see why Young, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lescott and Milner apparently sneaked off to the pool as soon as the 15 minutes open to the media was over. 11.15 Paul Hayward says you don't need an anorak to enjoy the debate about proactive and reactive football at the Euros. Holland had 27 shots against Denmark but still lost. England, Portugal and Italy have all played defensively, while many of the smaller here have embraced the earlier trend towards pace and dynamism. Of the barricade builders, only Portugal are open to criticism. Italy were facing the the ball-monopolisers of Spain and England don't have the players for a buccaneering style. It's a relief to find so many people talking about the game and all its nuances. 11.11 Glad to see the Spanish squad is hard at work. Twitter: Graham Hunter - ... Okay everybody assume the lotus position, cue new-age, pan-pipe music ...... and .... relax 11.02 Henry Winter has the latest on the England band, who were banned for Monday's opener. This won't cheer Telegraph readers - are quite happy without them. Trumpetgate update: Dutch band got into their game. They've sent a message of solidarity to England's banned band. #brassedoff10.52 Ashley Cole is leaving the England training session at Hutnik with physio Gary Lewin. "He rarely trains for two days after games anyway," says Henry Winter. 10.51 Our reporter Luke Edwards has filed this video assessing the heavy-handed tactics of the Polish police. About 10 people are still in hospital in Warsaw. 10.45 Our man in Krakow Henry Winter says Martin Kelly is missing out on this morning's training session. Twitter: Henry Winter - 22 players train at Hutnik. No Kelly (virus).10.38 Reader Duke Addleman has this wish list for England. For Hart: An all-expense trip to the Ukraine's finest glover. For Johnson: A new pair of boots - left and right. For Chamberlain: Milner's spot on the right wing. For Downing: A start at left. For the fans: Twenty minutes of a crash-tested Andy Carroll..."Release the hounds!" 10.30 The England training session is getting under way and UEFA's reporters are not going to let us miss a minute of the most important action: New hairdo for Wayne Rooney, writes @UEFAcomAndyJ, posting this helpful picture: 10.24 Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom isn't giving up without a fight. In , he says the side has no room for error when they play England on Friday: In the first-half against Ukraine there were only maybe five or six players who answered the call to duty, and that is not good enough and cannot be repeated.10.18 Bad news for the Czech goalkeeper and captain. Twitter: OndÅ™ej ZlÃ¡mal - and are not training, both in the hospital for medical scan, achilles and shoulder 10.09 Polish sports minister Joanna Mucha is speaking at a press conference. She says she's "ashamed" of last night's violence, which went ahead despite the presence of more than 5,600 police. 10.00 It seems Theo Walcott is also with the team hotel, taking on the squad at table tennis, FIFA and snooker. "I am not bad on FIFA," he says. Well, that's reassuring. Here's what he reckons for Friday: A draw was a good start [against France], but you can always improve. We have to score more goals because we don’t concede many. We are training very hard and the Manager and staff have been great with all the preparation. We just have to make sure we do it for the fans on Friday and get the win.09.50 Recovery...or relaxation? of the day after England v France starts with a gym session, but the headers in the pool look a lot more jolly. But it's back to hard work again today - they're training in Krakow from 10. 09.41 From the nearly man (see 09.04) to yesterday's man. Fabio Capello has backed the England squad to get through to the knockout stages, saying they are still "part of my heart": They have key players in important positions. Steven Gerrard is dangerous from long distance and free-kicks and John Terry is the spirit of the team. He drives the players in front of him. They will qualify because I still feel like it is my job. I hope Roy is happy after the third game. I want them to win. 09.33 UEFA is playing Intro by Mercury prize winners The xx before each match. But Chris Bascombe thinks some other prize winners might be more apt for England: Last year’s winner Let England Shake by PJ Harvey would be more appropriate when Roy Hodgson’s side take to the pitch. Elbow’s Seldom Seen Kid (2008 winner) could be the temporary anthem for the suspended Wayne Rooney; Myths of the Near Future by The Klaxons (2007) is an FA explanation for failure waiting to happen; Ms Dynamite’s A Little Deeper’ (2002) is Hodgson’s demand to his defence before every fixture; and then of course there is Speech Debelle’s 2009 Mercury Prize Winner Speech Therapy which, er, actually I think this has run its course for the time being...09.26 At least 24 foreign football fans were hurt in last night's violence in Warsaw, the ambulance service has just confirmed, including 14 Russians, a German, an American and a Pakistani. About 150 Poles and a few dozen Russians were among those arrested. 09.20 Translator for Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni has been talking about his boss's idiosyncratic take on the English language. "Sometimes I do find it to be quite funny and it probably shows. You probably see me smiling at times and putting my head down," he admits. What could he have in mind? Surely not something like Trapattoni's new proverb: "no say the cat is in the sack when you have not the cat in the sack"? 09.11 Reports still coming through from last night's violence in Warsaw. . 09.04 The team might be preparing to challenge Sweden on Friday but they are sure to be refreshing their phones today for news about the , Harry Redknapp. Will Roy echo Redknapp's kind words the other day? Twitter: Paul Hayward - Turning into an annus horriblis for Harry Redknapp, acquittal aside. Didn't get the England job and expected to part company with 08.57 It wouldn't be a morning without some animal or another claiming to possess hitherto overlooked "mystic" powers. Today is the turn of a psychic ferret who confidently predicts a German victory this evening. He might be a brilliant pundit, but he looks an awful lot like an otter to me ... perhaps he should get the basics right first. 08.50 Henry Winter sends this message for Uefa. Do you agree? Dzagoev, Arshavin, Debuchy, Iniesta, Pirlo, Shevchenko etc - this is shaping up as one of the best Euros on the pitch. Plea to Uefa: it started so well on the field partly because of the 16-team format. High stakes every game. Please scrap plan to expand. 08.45 Morning everyone and welcome to day six of the Euros. The arrests from last night's violence before the Russia v Poland game are continuing, with 183 so far and more expected. Here's . Police announced they had made at least 183 arrests, although there were fears that that number would grow as supporters dispersed across the city after the game. In some of the worst scenes of football violence seen at a major tournament since England fans clashed with local youths in Marseilles at the 1998 World Cup, dozens of men were involved in running battles, punching and kicking each other. More alarmingly, there were also unprovoked attacks on bystanders as they made their way to the stadium. • The UK has won five times and been second 15 times. Ireland, represented again this year by Jedward, is the country with the highest number of wins (seven). • Each song cannot be longer than three minutes and a maximum of six people are permitted on the stage at any time for each country. Live animals are banned. • In 2006 Ireland's Brian Kennedy, who has sung duets with Van Morrison, became the 1000th act to sing on the Eurovision stage with Every Song Is A Cry For Love. He came tenth. • The UK has hosted the competition five times - in London, Edinburgh, Brighton, Harrogate and Birmingham. • Bruce Forsyth's daughter, Julie Forsyth, appeared with Guy 'n' Dolls in 1979. • A singer named Ruslana won for Ukraine in 2004 and was later rewarded with a seat in parliament. • Nearly 2000 journalists are covering this year's event. 14 countries took part in the first contest - 42 are participating in Baku.• Norway are the Eddie the Eagle of Euro pop. They have scored "nul points" more times (four) than any other country in Eurovision history and have also appeared at the bottom of the polls the most number of times (10). • Among the contestants who have had successful careers are ABBA (1974), Céline Dion, Cliff Richard and Julio Iglesias. Dion won for Switzerland in 1988 with the song Ne partez pas sans moi. Cliff Richard competed twice, finishing in second and third place in 1968 and 1973 respectively and Grease star Olivia Newton-John also took to the Eurovision stage, singing her way to fourth place in Brighton in 1974. Other artists who have achieved varying degrees of success after winning include Dana, Brotherhood of Man, Marie Myriam, Johnny Logan, Bucks Fizz and Nicole. • Johnny Logan won the Eurovision Song Contest three times; in 1980, 1987 and 1992. • Italy boycotted the 1981 Eurovision Song contest, saying that it was too old fashioned. • Purely instrumental music is not allowed• Titles of songs have included Boom Bang-aBang (UK, 1969), A-Ba-Ni-Ba (Israel, 1978), Bana Bana (Turkey, 1989) and Bourn Badaboru (Monaco, 1967). • 1983 the Turkish Eurovision entry, Opera consisted entirely of the word 'Opera' being repeated over and over. Spain's cleverly titled, La La La contained no fewer than 138 la's. • Norway's 1980 song was about the construction of a hydro-electric power station. • The youngest winner was 13-year-old Sandra Kin from Belgium in 1986. * The first Eurovision Contest broadcast in colour was held at the Royal Albert Hall, in London, in 1968. Jupiter Island – which is home to fewer than 700 people – is a picturesque barrier island on the coast of Florida, and is home to singer Celine Dion and golfer Tiger Woods, as well as the Fulds. In addition to the Florida property, the pair own four other homes, including a $21m Manhattan apartment, and in November sold a number of etchings from their fine art collection, including three Willem de Koonings, worth $20m.•Citigroup came under fire yesterday over reports it is buying a new $50m corporate jet to fly top brass around the world. The Dassault Falcon 7X 12-seater was ordered two years ago, but the bank is understood to be still taking delivery, despite receiving $45bn in US government funds as well as $306bn asset guarantee. But that's not the point. The point, if there is one, is that it took me 42 minutes to find that pen, during which increasingly demented search I counted seven computers around the house – five of them obsolete, what with being more than a year old, but all bearing the fruity logo of Mr Workplace-Responsibilities' world-beating firm.Miss Nisbet, it would seem, has a point. The pen, if not dead, is senescent. Thank-you notes arrive by text, the chequebook's days are numbered, and we are obsessed by rumours about the forthcoming iPad 2. For many under 55, the computer is king, and for our children, it is God. So what possible point can there be in depriving them of keyboard and mouse under the pressure of exams?There is an even more compelling reason to support Miss Nisbet. As a certain Professor Alan Smithers argues, cheating on a computer is much easier to do and harder to catch than on paper. This can only be a good thing. Only this week, allegations surfaced that Saif Gaddafi, the Colonel's boy, plagiarised portions of the PhD awarded him by the LSE. If he did cut and paste chunks off the internet, good luck to him. Where would Libya be today had Saif not returned home to speak in support of his dad's regime, armed with the authority of a doctoral thesis on the democratisation of global governance?Since one central purpose of exams, here as in Tripoli, is to test readiness for working life, cheating in them can only be encouraged. Any dunce can memorise and reiterate stuff of no conceivable use in adult life. Successful cheating takes cunning, nerve and initiative, and these are the qualities employers value most.In Porterhouse Blue, the young toffs ("Scullion's Scholars") pay swots to sit their finals for them, while Horace Rumpole insisted that the only honourable way to pass a law exam was to scrawl a few notes on the sleeve and take the odd shufti. My own masterplan to pass the Solicitor's Finals involved collapsing to the floor after half an hour and being carried out, and then applying for a sick note. It might have worked had the two hip flasks not fallen from a pocket, and dribbled the last dregs of Famous Grouse towards the invigilator's feet.But that was then, in a primitive age when the weediest computer was twice the size of Greenland. If today's students, with their dinky little laptops, can find methods of subverting whatever security measures Miss Nisbet has in mind to get online and Google the answers, they will be showing drive and gumption. If they can satisfy the examiners by purloining the work of others – why, so did Mr Tony Blair in compiling intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq. And with him, you will recall, it was all about education, education, education.Cheating will be with us long after pensioners start turning up to the Antiques Roadshow to have their ballpoints valued, and so will computers. In her determination to twin the two, to provide properly effective preparation for the examinations of the adult word, Miss Nisbet is to be applauded. To participate in the competition, Ms Barclay has had to sing in both English and the Azerbaijani language, Azeri. “When I first started learning to sing in Azeri, it was very difficult, but like anything, if you practise enough you soon get used to it," she said. ”The hardest part is the pronounciation. There are many sounds in the Azeri language which we don’t have in English so it’s difficult to speak them, never mind sing them.”Ms Barclay said that her pupils at the International School had been very supportive, with many “coming in first thing the next morning to ask about my performance the night before, and some even coming the studio to watch.”The PE teacher moved from Livingston, West Lothian to Azerbaijan in August this year. She said: “Many people have asked why I am doing this and I tell them I never moved to Azerbaijan with the intention to represent them in Eurovision. I love singing and if this opportunity came up in any country I would take it.”2011 will mark Azerbaijan's fourth year of participation in the song contest, which has been an annual event since it was first broadcast in 1956. This year, it will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany on May 14. One of the most well-known singers to have represented a country other than their own in the contest is Canadian Celine Dion, who won for Switzerland in 1988. However, what you don't often get with either, unless you've headed straight backstage or you're booked for follow-up salon appointments, is that close detailed view; a true second look. Believe me there have been many times when I’ve peered forward from my seat, or better yet hit pause and CTRL + to zoom in on the screen - it's not quite the same. But this is why ICB was perfect. Every look was already there in high-res jpeg form. And every detail had a dedicated picture too - the fabric textures, the handbags, the prints and the make-up choices. There were also informative notes on each piece and a video of Gurung discussing his inspirations. All can be replayed and revisited. And what's even more interesting about all this, is that the ICB show was also invite-only. Even my colleague next to me couldn't login - her email address wasn't on the list. This new exclusive online-only strategy has made me wonder - is this a step towards an anti consumer all-access sentiment? Are Gurung’s team trying to buck the trend for offering everyone around the world a "front row seat" via the web? Could this be the beginning of a backlash to the fashion industry's rapid adoption of burgeoning social media platforms? We first saw it with Tom Ford, who has a strict no photographs and no reviews policy for at least three months, and Phoebe Philo at Céline, who likewise calls for no shots or tweets from backstage at her shows. Those decisions have been met with mixed reception, but both are essentially attempting to close the gap between the hype of a new collection and the time (on average six months later) it actually hits the shop floor. ICB is adopting the same exclusive strategy, albeit with a less established brand and solely on a digital platform. “The password is just a replacement for your seat number,” said Ed Filipowski, co-president of PR company KCD, who was behind the concept. “To me, it’s not MTV, it’s not YouTube. It’s for the industry.”While the time lag wasn't enforced (I for one was tweeting as I watched), it seems, if anything, at least an attempt at rediscovering a sense of authority in the industry. Enabling the likes of Vogue and the major newspapers to be the first to comment once again, rather than your dime-a-dozen blogger is an interesting step. Likewise, the British Fashion Council is reinforcing the importance of focusing on the press and buyers who attend London Fashion Week this season. Although consumer access to the event, which kicked off on Friday, has become increasingly open over the past few seasons, and is set to be its biggest yet with , those in the trade are being prioritised once more. For the first time, their passes to the fashion week grounds provide a constant stream of live content, thanks to an ongoing partnership with image-recognition app Aurasma. By scanning them, they’re directed to live news from the London Fashion Week organisers. While that content isn’t exclusive, it is confirmation of ensuring the experts have easy, on-the-go access to everything they need, especially given the fast-paced nature of such a week. But on the other hand, London is also seeing a continuing focus on consumer-first. last September – offering those on Twitter a glimpse of each look seconds before those actually in attendance. The same is planned for tomorrow’s show, with a delayed version of the image-stream also being posted on the giant Cromwell Road billboard in London (Europe’s longest advertising outdoor space). The brand’s main focus is reach; getting out to as many of the public as possible, which is why they’ll also be live-streaming to Liverpool Street Station, as well as on mobile and tablet device. Harrods is taking it one step further again by handing the buying decision of the forthcoming Burberry collection over to its Facebook fans. On Tuesday, the day after the designer’s show, the department store will post images of every look on its . Those that receive the most ‘likes’ will be incorporated into the store’s purchases for the season. The argument almost certainly is that it’s common sense those outfits proving the most popular at this stage will end up being the ones that sell once they hit the floor later in the year (although the profile of the Harrods Facebook fan versus the actual Harrods shopper could be questioned). Similarly, back in New York and Oscar de la Renta turned to crowdsourcing, inviting consumers to become a part of his creative process by launching a virtual pinboard open for anyone to post their ideas to. The idea is similar to , the new picture-based social network, that has been attracting lots of attention of late. “” is a call for anyone and everyone to help the designer with inspiration sources for his resort collection. Both of these initiatives aren't just about providing consumers with increasing amounts of access anymore then, but actually involving them in the entire behind-the-scenes process; from concept to sales rail. Combined with ICB, the result of these conflicting digital strategies is an overwhelming sense of the fashion industry being drawn into a “whirlpool”. There is now a battle between a tightening industry grip on the one hand, and an all-access opening to consumers, on the other. Neither side is right or wrong, but there's still that gaping hole from one extreme to the other, and more importantly from the season we're seeing to the season we're buying. The question is can the industry, defined by these biannual fashion weeks, the world over, adapt fittingly while continuing to embrace the benefits of digital media? Rachel Arthur is the media and marketing editor at online trend analysis and research service , where she focuses on providing the fashion and style industries with news and analysis from across the communications world. Based in New York, she also tweets about the crossroads of fashion and technology and contributes to WGSN’s new . Foreign-language cinema had a tough job luring audiences away from this home-grown bounty, and some great movies from around the world still feel in need of discovery. One of these is , Céline Sciamma’s study of a 10-year-old French girl’s identity crisis, and another is the exquisite , about a 66-year-old grandmother with encroaching Alzheimer’s; the latter’s the first picture to get a theatrical release here by one of Korea’s most superb auteurs, Lee Chang-dong. , François Ozon’s breeziest film in years, had a great lived-in rapport between Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Dépardieu, and did well, as did the most electric Iranian film in memory, Asghar Farhadi’s tremendous . Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation outfit which has wobbled a little, returned to form with the gorgeous , which wins colour palette of the year, even if it peaks in the first half-hour. For the best 3D, many would look to Scorsese’s , but my vote goes to Wim Wenders’s , an arresting dance-documentary whose choreography felt sculptural and all the more alive because of the stereoscopic visuals. A double whammy of rock-hard crime films from Australia, and , fielded two of the best acting ensembles: Jacki Weaver’s matriarch got an Oscar nomination for the former, but Ben Mendelsohn was every bit as good. Snowtown is brilliant, but something I’m nervous of recommending to non-psychopaths. Several standout US indies – Aaron Katz’s Sherlock-goes-mumblecore mystery , Lance Hammer’s Delta drama , and , Steve James’s just-aired-on-BBC-Four documentary about Chicago violence – deserved wider distribution, but Jeff Nichols’s apocalyptic , with a never-better Michael Shannon, struggled to get seen even on a relatively generous 55 screens. Speaking of under-released films, queen of the pack was surely Kenneth Lonergan’s , a remarkable adventure into New York’s post-9/11 state of mind, which only now reaches us six years after it was shot. The campaign to garner more attention for it has led a cabal of international critics to form the “Team Margaret” hashtag on Twitter and petition the distributor, Fox Searchlight, to make screener copies available for award purposes. Perhaps Fox has enough on its hands with Terrence Malick’s insanely beautiful , a spine-tingling elegy to evolution which is topping many end-of-year-lists and is the champion cause of many cinephiles for the Oscars and beyond. What a mind-altering double bill it must have made in with Lars von Trier’s , in which the world ends twice: with the whimper of all-consuming depression and the bang of interplanetary collision, each a metaphor for the other. Still, the film to beat Oscar-wise is Michel Hazanavicius’s , besotted as it is with Hollywood’s heyday, the transience of its own art form, the possibilities of great silent acting and the notion that a contemporary audience might be beguiled by the kind of stuff they were doing 80 years ago. Released on December 30, it sneaks on to this survey by a hair, but it won’t be disappearing in a hurry. The moment that made me love my job Simon Amstell’s first appearance as a self-styled shrink in Black Pond made me practically combust with glee. The moment that made me want to wailI’m worried that Jason Bateman’s nappy-changing mishap in has given me a permanently down-turned mouth. "Yes, I have lots of fantastic girlfriends, and yes, I do have a lot of testosterone; at school I was the only girl in the basketball team. And the football team – and I was also very good at throwing things," she says."I know I'm quite driven and dominant and can be overpowering, but I couldn't bear a man who wasn't able to stand up to me. My boyfriend, Richard, who works in the financial sector, is completely alpha; he doesn't allow himself to be henpecked and puts me in my place when I need it."Making a mental note never to sit beside them on an aeroplane, I once again press her on why she appeared so arrogant, dismissive and controlling. "On a programme like The Apprentice, you're perceived as either a villain or a hero, a saint or a sinner, and I'm happy to be a sinner if gets results," she says, in eminently reasonable tones. "I am passionate and driven, which people sometimes mistake for ruthlessness. I'm not one of life's passengers; I stick up for what I believe in, and if it sometimes gets me into trouble, so be it."And she certainly did get into trouble; although she proved her mettle as a saleswoman, when she was openly rude to Nick, who suggested that she couldn't take the credit for the sale of a book, Sir Alan was almost apoplectic. She got into spats with virtually everyone, and when her mild-mannered team-mate Howard fantasised about strangling her with a dog lead, we knew what he meant."Oh, I get on very well with Howard," she says blithely. "And Kate and Lorraine, Ben and Philip, we all bonded really well. I see Kate at least once a week. I'm a different person out of a work environment. I like to chill out riding my horse, Ebony, and I have two dogs, Mitzy, a miniature Pomeranian, and Jake, a Siberian husky."Brought up in Surrey by Glaswegian parents – her father is managing director of an IT company, her mother a civil servant – Barr graduated with a 2:1 in English from Royal Holloway University of London and prior to The Apprentice, she worked in digital media sales, earning around £50,000 – an impressive salary for her age, that reflects her single-mindedness.Despite being fired, she'd love to work for Sir Alan, and away from the cameras, she displays a very different facet of her character. Although still brimming with slightly overpowering confidence, she is amusing, relaxed and even self-effacing. When I comment how surprised I am, she gives a knowing smile."I'm not Miss Angry, rushing about blowing my top all the time, or I'd have a heart attack. You can see I'm not some sort of monster."Quite so, but then I'm not competing against her for a job.The Apprentice Final is on Sunday at 9pm on BBC1 It is a far cry from her early years in Norwich, where she accompanied her father, Alan, a big band musician, on the local hotel circuit.Her big break came at 17 when she was discovered by Simon Fuller, the man behind the Spice Girls and the Pop Idol phenomenon, who was auditioning for a British answer to Madonna.She was signed to record label Polydor on a £20,000 deal and had her first top 20 hit in 1989 with C'Mon And Get My Love, a collaboration with dance outfit D Mob.A handful of top 40 singles followed, two of which made the US top 10. But by the release of her third album in 1996, interest in Dennis was beginning to wane.She took the decision to abandon her singing career and concentrate her talents on writing for other artists.And so began an extraordinary run of success, which has included seven UK number one singles. The biggest of them all was Can't Get You Out Of My Head by Kylie Minogue, which topped the chart in 15 countries in 2001 and earned her three Ivor Novello Awards. She wrote it in one afternoon.Her continuing association with Fuller led to her penning hits for his signings, including S Club 7 and Will Young. Anything Is Possible, recorded by Young after his Pop Idol win in 2002, became the fastest selling debut single of all time and the best-selling song of the year. She has also written for the likes of Celine Dion, the Spice Girls, S Club 7 and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson.She says of her songwriting career: "It's still about proving myself, that I have a place in music somewhere. It's a tough process for me to write songs, so when I hear a song on the radio that I've written, it's as exhilarating as hearing one that I recorded." Detectives believe the attacker escaped by running through the back garden.Joan Maher, a local councillor, said it was a disturbing murder in a normally quiet area."I'm absolutely shocked and stunned. It's horrendous coming up to Christmas," she said."It's an area popular with walkers, around the hill but it's a seriously quiet area. On a Monday morning there would be nobody about."Gardai issued a description of the prime suspect who is in his mid to late 20s, of slight build, around 5'10" and was either wearing or carrying a balaclava.Lesage was arrested in 2007 after her partner at the time, Luc Margueritte, discovered the tiny corpses in plastic garbage bags in the basement of their apartment building in Valognes. He is the father of the last newborn and was a civil party in the case.On the fourth and final day of the trial, Lesage told the court that "she had prepared nothing" ahead of the deaths but nevertheless acknowledged that she had given birth in her bedroom with plastic bags and cords next to her.Lesage has a 14-year-old son. Header: TelegramC O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 00000699 VZCZCXRO2664PP RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDU RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKWRUEHLA RUEHMR RUEHNP RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSRDE RUEHTRO #0699/01 2391658ZNY CCCCC ZZHP R 271658Z AUG 09FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLITO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5205INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVERUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1147RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0819RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0588RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DCRUEAIIA/CIA WASHDCRHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GERUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVERUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVERUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 5749Tags: PREL,PGOV,KPAO,KSUM,AU-1,LYC O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000699 DEPT FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/27/2019 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAO, KSUM, AU-1, LY SUBJECT: FRENZIED PREPARATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 1 ANNIVERSARY REVEAL FEW HINTS OF MEGRAHI'S POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION REF: A) Tripoli 692; B) Tripoli 689 TRIPOLI 00000699 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Joan Polaschik, Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Embassy Tripoli, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)1.(U) This is an action request. See paragraph7.2.(C) Summary. Tripoli is awash in frenzied preparations for the 40th anniversary of Muammar al-Qadhafi's "Al Fateh Revolution," a four-day extravaganza that will include the new "Libya-Italian Friendship Day" (to be attended by Italian PM Berlusconi), an extraordinary African Union Summit, and two days of military parades, speeches and concerts celebrating Qadhafi's coup. We expect high-level diplomatic representation for the events, including: Jordan's King Abdullah, Hugo Chavez, Hosni Mubarak, and Pakistan's PM Yousuf Gilani. Banners in Green Square extolling Pan Am 103 bomber Megrahi as a hero (leftover from the August 20 youth rally) are the only hint of Megrahi's possible participation in the festivities. We are hopeful that Libyan officials are taking efforts to ensure Megrahi is not featured in the events. However, given the importance that Megrahi has played in Libya's domestic politics, there is a possibility that Megrahi could be a physical or rhetorical presence in the celebration. End Summary. PRE-EVENT ATMOSPHERICS 3.(C) Two miles of Tripoli's waterfront are being repurposed for what promises to be a grand celebration. A 150-foot-wide stage towers at least 50 feet above former park land in front of the state-owned Hotel Kabeer, with a half-dozen Jumbotron screens stretching back to the historic red fort of Tripoli. Tents and dozens of trailers stretch 100 yards backstage as greenrooms for the yet-undisclosed program. A large, covered reviewing stand for the planned military tattoo has been erected in front of that fort between the infamous "Mussolini balcony" and the mast of the USS Philadelphia. Green Square itself, normally a 400-car parking lot, sits empty. A stage and thousands of plastic chairs set up for an August 20 youth rally have been taken down, but banners with the Libyan Youth Foundation's logo hailing Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi's release and which refer to him as a "political hostage" and victim of "contradictory international standards" (in Arabic) feature prominently on walls separating pedestrians from the last-minute work. 4.(C) In typical Jamahiriya fashion, organizers seem to have waited for the last possible moment to implement their grand plans. As young Libyan men fasting for the holy month of Ramadan lounge in parks near the event sites, hundreds of migrant workers hastily construct roads, tents, and stages in the 105-degree sun. The Corinthia, Tripoli's main hotel, has had all bookings taken over by Libyan Protocol. A second international-class hotel operated by Radisson will be opened two months ahead of schedule to house AU Summit delegates. Dozens of workers are frantically putting finishing touches as an army of movers places furniture in the guest rooms. The site for the AU Summit, to be held August 30 and 31, lies on what was three weeks ago a harbor-side amusement park. Two tents, each approximately 5,000 square feet, and a few side halls indicate that Libya will likely keep delegate counts much lower than July's summit in Sirte. The Summit tents are situated on a jetty separating Tripoli's commercial harbor from a naval/coast guard station. During a site visit on the morning of August 27, Poloff observed two military helicopters circling the site, along with several small patrol boats in formation. GUESSING GAME - WILL MEGRAHI ATTEND? 5.(C) In spite of the left over banners from the August 20 Qadhafi Development Foundation youth rally, the stage setting for September 1 does not indicate that Megrahi will be a theme, nor does the official program provided by MFA Protocol (ref A) feature activities focused on Megrahi. GOL interlocutors have also provided assurances that Megrahi will not be present on September 1 (ref B). Those contacts have hinted that Megrahi's return was important to Qadhafi's domestic audiences - particularly key tribal and Revolutionary Committee (RevComm) figures who keep Qadhafi in power. As stated in previous reporting, GOL interlocutors are attempting to pressure Megrahi not to attend the September 1 events if invited, as they realize that they cannot control Qadhafi's actions (ref B). Even if Megrahi does not attend, however, the question remains whether Qadhafi will hail him as a hero during his remarks. LIKELY PARTICIPATION TRIPOLI 00000699 002.2 OF 002 6.(C) Press reports and diplomatic contacts indicate strong head of state/government attendance: Jordan's King Abdullah, Hugo Chavez, Hosni Mubarak, Pakistan PM Yousuf Gilani, and President of The Philippines Gloria Arroyo are among the probable attendees. Many Western nations will also send high-level delegates, including the Spanish Foreign Minister, the French Minister of Cooperation, the Italian Minister of Defense, and the Head of the Russian Duma. The September 1 events will be the pinnacle of a week-long gala that begins on August 30 with Libyan-Italian Friendship Day, PM Berlusconi's state visit, and the preparatory meetings for the extraordinary Summit of the AU Summit. Several nations are sending military demonstration units to perform during the week and participate in a large tattoo on September 2, including aerial demonstrations units from Italy and Jordan and cultural performers to include Ukrainian, Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, and Egyptian dancers. Despite persistent rumors, there is no indication that international pop acts, such as Beyonce, Celine Dion, or Shakira will perform. U.S. PARTICIPATION 7.(C) As the Department considers possible U.S. attendance at the September 1 event, we note that we are hopeful that GOL officials are in fact taking measures to ensure Megrahi will not feature prominently in the program. But even if Megrahi himself is not physically present, it is possible that some of the speeches or other events could make reference to him. Should the Department instruct us to attend the September 1 event, we request guidance on how to handle Megrahi's presence -- physical or rhetorical -- in the program. UK Ambassador informed us that, if he is authorized to attend, he will be under instruction to walk out if Megrahi attends. POLASCHIK “What’s that you’re reading?” asked Sam.“A history of southern Spain,” said Dave. “There’s a fascinating chapter on the Reconquista by the Catholic kings from the Islamic caliphate.”“Fascinating. And is there anything there for Britain to apologise about, since you’re in the mood?”Dave had spent the rest of the journey sulking, while wondering if they might have got a better deal if they’d gone to Portugal instead. Still, never mind, he’d thought. Things would look up once they got to their three-star hotel.Sadly, it had turned out to be even less attractive than the photos on the website. On the second night, the water supply had broken down. By now, Dave was beginning to smell like he’d been on one of his long cycle rides.“Come on, darling,” he said, climbing off the broken bed. “Let’s go and look at the Alhambra.”“What?” snorted Sam. “Dressed like that?”“Dressed like what?” Dave looked down at his jeans and black shoes. Very natty. Sure, they were the same clothes he’d worn yesterday, due to the shower situation, but jolly natty none the less.“Like Jeremy bloody Clarkson,” said Sam.The couple walked towards the red fort in silence. The fort! Dave was suddenly reminded of Nick. What if his deputy had forgotten – again – that he was supposed to be holding the fort while he was away? In a panic, he took out his mobile and dialled Nick’s number.“Is everything OK?” asked Sam.“Dunno,” said Dave. “Someone’s picked up, but all I can hear is Celine Dion singing All by Myself and the sound of a grown man weeping.”“Gosh.”“We’d better head home early. Is that OK?”“Absolutely,” said Sam. “Want me to put in a call to BA?”There had been an expectation that US house prices would drop 0.2pc but the report showed from April average house prices in America gained 0.9pc.The positive sentiment also helped the FTSE 250 surge 51.47 points to 7794.05.Shire topped the FTSE 100 amid renewed hopes it will see a better than expected uplift in sales after Genzyme Corp, a major US competitor, lowered its 2009 earnings projection. In June, Genzyme halted production of its Fabrazyme pill, after finding a virus at its manufacturing plant. Fabrazyme – a treatment for a rare genetic condition – is a direct competitor of Shire's Replagal drug, which provides about 6pc of revenues.Although Genzyme said the impact from the shutdown had a minimal impact on this quarter's results, the anticipated revision to its full-year 2009 earnings projection came in below already-lowered estimates. Shire climbed 33 to 866½p. Water utilities were in demand ahead of Ofwat's decision on how much money water firms can make between 2010 to 2015, which is due on Thursday. United Utilities gained 6¼ to 502½p, Pennon perked up 10¾ to 507½p and Severn Trent rose 21p to £11.13. Analysts at Nomura believe investors in water companies have been too pessimistic ahead of Thursday's decision on pricing. Tullow Oil was a strong performer as traders chewed over the implications of a Macquarie note. On Tuesday, the Australian broker raised its 12-month price target on Tullow Oil by 40pc to £14.00, arguing it expects the company to unveil further positive updates on new oil discoveries throughout the year. Cairn Energy also rose despite a falling oil price. The company put on 51p to £24.35.Other risers included Smith & Nephew. The shares perked up 11 to 460¼p as fears over the impact of swine flu on the company's business receded.Telecoms giant Vodafone made it onto the leaderboard, climbing 1.1 to 114.8p. On Wednesday, Vodacom, in which Vodafone has a stake, said total revenue rose 12.2pc for the three months to June to and mobile users grew 19.5pc to 41.3m. However, revenue at Vodacom's international mobile unit dropped by 8.1pc for the first quarter to the end of June.Banks, though, were under pressure following poor earnings statements from US rivals and news that bad loans are increasing. Morgan Stanley posted a third straight quarterly loss and Wells Fargo, America's fourth-biggest bank, said non-performing assets, or bad loans, had jumped. Investors were also spooked by talk of possible capital shortfalls – which was suggested by JP Morgan on Tuesday – and news from National Australia Bank, which owns Clydesdale and Yorkshire, that bad debts had risen sharply at its UK operations. Lloyds Banking Group shed 1.14 to 72.3p and Barclays almost took the wooden spoon, losing 9.7 to 299.6p. Miners were sold off after BHP Billiton gave a cautious outlook for global demand for metals as part of its quarterly production report. Even though the company said production has risen for 12 major commodities, including coal and copper, its shares slid 27½p to £15.02. Analysts said the figures for iron ore had were below expectations. Elsewhere in the sector, Lonmin retreated 37p to £11.36 and Kazakhmys fell 16 to 740½p. Supermarket groups were hit by a bout of profit taking following their strong performances on Tuesday. Wm Morrison shed 4¾ to 269¼p and J Sainsbury dipped 3¼ to 322¾p.Among the second liners, Car parts maker GKN had another strong day on the back of a push from Merrill Lynch. Celine Fornaro, analyst at Merrill Lynch, said: "Better-than-expected second-half results and positive outlook statements released by Autoliv, Faurecia, Conti and some US suppliers support our Buy case on GKN with 55pc automotive exposure." GKN also said that 95pc of its shareholders had supported its recent fund-raising, which was carried out to cut the engineering group's debt by raising £423m. The rump – or remaining 39m shares – were placed in the market at 90p each. GKN jumped 6 to 94½p.But pub company Marston's slipped 2¾ to 88¾p after it achieved a worse take up for its rights issue: 91pc of investors signed up for Marston's cash call. Brokers placed the remaining 25m shares at 85p each. Marston's lost 3¾ to 88¾p.Among the small caps, film distribution company Entertainment One was a talking point with roughly 7pc of the company's shares traded. Some hedge funds, such as GAM, Deephaven, Bluecrest and Morgan Stanley, are thought to have sold out of the stock, clearing a significant overhang. Last month, Evolution published a "buy" note on the company with a price target of 125p. The shares rose 1¾ to 23¾p. The rooms have telescopes so guests can watch passing whales at the right time of year. It also features underground passageways for staff to be unobtrusive. Other high profile visitors to Los Cabos include Eva Longoria, Scarlett Johansson and Shery Crow. Brad Pitt wooed Jennifer Aniston there, and the singer LeaAnn Rimes recently spent her honeymoon there. Los Cabos rus from San Jose del Cabo, which is known for its fine restaurants, and Cabo San Lucas, a party town famous for its unbridled nightlife and daring watersports. The road that snakes between them along cliff tops overhanding the Pacific is lined with lush green golf courses and some of Mexico's most luxurious hotels. Celebrities visit the The Shoppes at Palmilla, a group of boutique shops and restaurants. Tiger Woods has played the Jck Nicklaus designed golf course, and Los Cabos is also a big draw for deep sea fishers, having been declared the "Marlin capital of the world." Judge Robin Cousins told Bissix: "It was an OK start, it wasn't a good start."Judge Ruthie Henshall said: "You wanted a challenge and you've certainly got one. Your determination and drive hopefully will keep you in."You need to work on your nerves, become much more solid. And grace – that's the word of the day."Only the six female celebrities skated this week in the programme presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.The seven male contestants had their first turn on the ice last week, when former footballer Graeme Le Saux became the first celebrity to be kicked off. Clooney's latest partner is the Italian TV presenter Elisabetta Canalis, with whom he got together following the end of his two-year romance with former Las Vegas waitress Sarah Larson. As well as a short-lived marriage to actress Talia Balsam in 1989, past loves include actresses Renee Zellweger, Kelly Preston, DeDee Pfeiffer, Kimberly Russell, Brooke Langton, Taylor Howard, Krista Allen and Jennifer Siebel, and models Lisa Snowdon and Celine Balitran. Clooney said that his image as a playboy is one at which he is happy to poke fun. “I’m old,” he said in an interview with the Daily Mirror. “I’m kind of comfortable with getting older because it’s better than the other option, which is being dead. So I’ll take getting older. “It’s an interesting thing to be able to watch yourself grow older on screen. I was watching Up In The Air and I thought, ‘Jesus, who’s the old, grey-haired guy?’ And it was me. “I never wear make-up for movies and now it’s starting to show. It’s funny because earlier in my career I was working with a lot of actresses who were my age or older and most actors work with actresses who are considerably younger. “So people always thought I was older anyway and I’ve been going through this thing with people thinking I’m about 60.” The pair divorced in 1993, with Clooney later admitting he did not give her a "fair shot" and vowing that he would never again marry or have children. Balsam went on to marry actor John Slattery. Celine Balitran (1996-99) During the filming of The Peacemaker in Paris in 1996, Clooney met a 23-year-old French waitress and law student, Celine Balitran, and the pair began dating. Just months later Balitran moved to Los Angeles and the couple continued their romance until 1999. Lisa Snowdon (2000-05)The English model and TV personality met Clooney while filming a Martini advert in 2000, and began a five-year on-off relationship with him. Snowdon, who said the affair "fizzled out" in 2005, hosted Britain's Next Top Model between 2006 and 2009 and has appeared on Strictly Come Dancing. Traylor Howard (2000)Howard, an actress best known for her roles in Monk and Two Guys and a Girl, was rumoured to have dated Clooney for a short period in 2000. She later married Law & Order actor Christian Navarro. Renee Zellweger (2001)The Bridget Jones's Diary star reportedly had a short-lived relationship with Clooney in 2001, after ending an 18-month relationship with fellow Hollywood actor Jim Carrey. More recently Zellweger has been romantically linked to Bradley Cooper, who stars as Face in the new A-Team film. Mariella Frostrup (2002) The Norwegian-born journalist and broadcaster was reported to have had a brief affair with Clooney after meeting him at the Cannes Film Festival. Frostrup denied ever having been in a relationship with Clooney but said the pair are close friends, and that her children, with husband Jason McCue, refer to the star as "Uncle George". Krista Allen (2002-04) Allen, an actress, reportedly struck up a relationship with Clooney after he cast her in the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind in 2002. They dated for almost two years until Allen ended the affair in 2004, but the pair were said to have briefly rekindled their romance in 2006. Sarah Larson (2007-08) Larson was best known as a contestant on reality TV show Fear Factor before she began dating Clooney in 2007 – an affair that lasted almost a year. While the pair were in a relationship she quit her job as a cocktail waitress and signed with a modelling agency, being named one of People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People of 2008. Elisabetta Canalis (2009-) Clooney began dating Italian model and former cocktail waitress Elisabetta Canalis in 2009, and the Italian press have repeatedly speculated that the couple would tie the knot. But she has since been linked to a sex and drugs scandal after allegedly taking cocaine at a Milan nightclub where businessmen reportedly took drugs and used the services of prostitutes. This year's Grammy Awards nominations were announced during a live concert in Los Angeles. The show kicked off with Mariah Carey singing a song from her classic Christmas album, decked out in a short red minidress to give some holiday cheerPicture: REUTERSWood was held at a police station overnight and bailed to return in January. Celine Dixon told The Sun that she and her boyfriend, Phillip Legge, witnessed the incident outside an Indian restaurant at around 11.30pm. She said: “We heard a woman screaming, then saw a man pinning her to the ground. "He was shouting at her then we heard choking sounds so my boyfriend rushed out to help. When he got outside he saw it was Ronnie and Ekaterina." Miss Dixon added that Wood let Miss Ivanova go and walked away when challenged by Mr Legge. The couple then escorted Miss Ivanova back to their home before calling police, she said. Another witness told the Daily Mirror: “I saw a couple. I thought they were hugging but when they got closer I realised the man had the woman in a headlock. “As soon as I got a decent look I recognised Ronnie. He was forcing her to walk with him. She was crying and sobbing and trying to get away but he wouldn’t let her go.” A spokesman for Wood, David Rigg of Project Associates, said: "I can confirm that there was an incident (on Wednesday night) and that Ronnie Wood was arrested. He has since been released on police bail. "We have no further statement to make at this time." A Surrey Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that a 62-year-old man from Esher was arrested (on Wednesday night) on suspicion of assault in connection with a domestic incident in Claygate High Street. "He has been released on bail until a date in January pending further inquiries." The arrest is the latest chapter in a tumultuous relationship between the couple. Police were called to the Wood’s mock-castle home in September after a row in which it was claimed Miss Ivanova threatened to kill herself. Wood famously left Jo, his wife of 23 years, for Miss Ivanova in July last year. Mrs Wood was granted a divorce earlier this month on the grounds of her husband's adultery. She recently found fame of her own on the BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing. Last week the lap dancing bar where Wood met Miss Ivanova was closed after a raid by vice squad officers. Detectives allege that The Capricorn Club in Goodge Street, Soho, was a £1 million-a-year sex and drugs den. One officer claimed the bar was an underground brothel where clients had sex in cubicles and drugs including cocaine were easily available. Miss Ivanova has denied accusations that she is a gold-digger in pursuit of Wood's £75 million fortune, saying last year: "You can't choose who you fall in love with. I fancy him because of the person he is. I don't think about his age or the fact he's a Rolling Stone." Céline (Julie Sokolowski) is initially seen as a novice nun; intent on self-mortification, she has given up eating, and is expelled from her convent for excessive self-regard. Back home in Paris, living with her parents, she falls in with Lebanese immigrants, meets a charismatic teacher of Islam, and temporarily finds a faith to meet her emotional needs."You see these three rocks? They're the same as those you see under the magnifying glass!" declares Jean-Pierre Allain, the picturesque fishing port's retired bookseller and passionate amateur archaeologist. There are other clues. Hiking maps record a nearby site called "Caesar's camp", and locals insist a lighthouse on the jetty looks remarkably like the one on page four of Asterix's 1971 adventure The Mansions of the Gods. "Asterix's village is here," declares Manuel Mendes, a stonemason whose girth resembles that of Obelix, Asterix's huge comrade, a warrior so strong he can carry Brittany's menhirs - prehistoric standing stones. A granite statue of Mendes' hero stands outside his business, celebrating the village's pride but also pointing to the massive commercial potential for any resort that becomes recognised as Asterix's home. Accordingly, several other villages have also claimed the title, including one in nearby Normandy and one 285 miles away in the Calais region. "That's not very likely," snorts Allain. Since the first story in 1959, Uderzo has drawn the village - with its stone huts, Fulliautomatix the blacksmith's forge, Unhygenix the fishmonger's stall and Cacophonix the bard's treehouse - hundreds of times. He took a helicopter flight over Erquy in 1996 and afterwards admitted that he might have "unconsciously" modelled his vision on the area's rocky cape and sandy bay, before later insisting the village was purely imaginary. Erquy will therefore have to content itself with being an unofficial draw for the Gaul's fanatic devotees, unlike Parc Asterix outside Paris, which drew 1.8 million visitors last year despite the economic crisis. Meanwhile, the moustachioed hero's adventures continue next week with his 34th edition, Asterix and Obelix's Birthday: The Gold Book. The series almost came to an end in 1977 with the death of Goscinny, the author of the books' famous catchphrases - such as "These Romans are crazy" - and distinctive verbal wit. Asterix's puns have proved a headache for translators worldwide. The illustrator Uderzo, however, decided to carry on alone and, now 82, has chosen two men to succeed him after he retires. The Mebarki brothers, Frederic the draughtsman and Thierry the colourist, already draw Asterix on merchandising spin-offs for Uderzo's publishing house and, if they can find a writer, will continue the series. "No-one would ever guess it wasn't me drawing these characters. It seems my style isn't very difficult, I hope it won't be hard to take over. Time will tell," Uderzo said. The handover won't come yet, however, as Uderzo is already working on the next adventure. "I have a vague idea, it's not a given that it will come to a conclusion. If I can still amuse myself by working, it'll be for my own pleasure and I hope for that of the readers," he said. So why has Asterix proved such a hit for young and old for so long? Some say the stories touched a particular political chord in a France that was recovering from the humiliation of Nazi occupation and rediscovering national pride under General de Gaulle. Asterix and his friends preserve Gaullish honour and celebrate a very French way of life, refusing to bow to Roman rule even when many of their neighbours are collaborating. Uderzo is dismissive of the idea that the series had a broad political theme, but admits to seeking to celebrate and gently mock certain aspects of the French national character in the attitudes of his ancient Gauls. There must also be some more universal appeal, given the books' massive export success. More than half of international sales are in Germany, despite the somewhat unsympathetic portrayal of the Gauls' Germanic opponents in Asterix and the Goths, and the books have been translated into 29 regional German dialects. Belgium, home of Tintin and its own rich comic book tradition, has adopted Asterix almost as one of its own, and the books have been a great success in Scandinavia and in Poland, birthplace of Goscinny's family. China has yet to meet the Gaul and Japan prefers its home-grown manga comic book characters, but Indonesia - where translator Rahartati Bambang is known as "Mrs Asterix" - has fallen for his charms. In Britain, just across the Channel from Asterix's village, translations by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge have proved enduringly popular, capturing the spirit of Goscinny's puns where a literal rendering would be impossible. But despite Asterix beating Columbus to North America by 1,500 years, if the story of Asterix and the Great Crossing is to be believed, the plucky Gaul has yet to find his place alongside America's leotard-clad superheroes. Uderzo said, however, that each new Asterix book published revives interest in its predecessors, so the plucky Gaul may still have new worlds to discover. First he’s a bag lady, then a black-clad motion capture performer contorting his limbs (and other parts) in the role of a randy reptilian alien. Then it’s the sewer man’s turn to rampage around a graveyard terrifying onlookers by stuffing his face with wreaths. This extraordinary Rumpelstiltskin interrupts a fashion shoot, kidnaps Eva Mendes, and takes her to a cave, where things happen that Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast didn’t prepare us for. He eats her hair. I can’t think of the last film that made me clamp my hand to my face while lurching forward, gasping and then laughing in sheer astonishment, but this sequence did, frequently.In one particularly funny and disturbing episode, Monsieur Oscar transforms himself into a flamboyant Parisian clochard, a raving, absinthe-addled lunatic clad in a fraying bottle-green suit, with one milky eyeball and long, curling brown fingernails. He rampages through Père Lachaise cemetery, seizing and gobbling flowers from graves, stumbling upon a fashion shoot, and abducting a haughty model (Eva Mendes) to his dank underground lair. What does one take from such a vividly grotesque scene, or make of it? I cannot say. Later, Kylie Minogue pops up in a sorrowful, singing cameo as a fellow “actress” who has a history with Monsieur Oscar: the pop princess is recast as a melancholy femme fatale. This is by no means a great film – I am not quite ready to jettison the old-fashioned notion that it’s preferable for a film to make some kind of narrative sense – but anyone with a weakness for surrealism will find it a pleasurably insane diversion. This article also appeared in SEVEN magazine, free with the Sunday Telegraph. Follow us on Twitter Dave and Tamsyn Jarvis did what many Londoners dream of doing by returning to their roots in Cornwall along with their two young daughters and business. Running Skim, a successful graphic design company and an online picture library, meant that a creative workspace was key to their move. So, having found a suitable home, they replaced a dilapidated garage with a garden home office. “We needed to avoid anything that might say 'cottage industry’ as we work with some really big brands,” Dave says. “We selected Rooms Outdoor following an extensive internet search because we were impressed with their contemporary designs, in particular the Cuberno.” The local planning office requested some modifications as the property is in a conservation area (this would no longer be necessary with the new planning rules). The original Cuberno has a flat roof, while the amended design was given a Cornish slate pitched roof with Velux windows so the office can double as a photographic studio. Sliding doors along its length open on to a porch – useful in poor weather. “The quality of the building is excellent and it’s extremely energy-efficient and warm, even in winter,” Dave says. “We specified a large cabinet for our computer server and have a wireless network installed, serving both the house and office. We financed the office as an integral part of our house move. It cost us around two years’ London office rent so we’ll recoup the investment in just two years while adding value to the property.”A similar 4m x 6m office costs about £30,000 plus VAT fully installed including foundations, flooring, decoration, lighting, heating and certified electrical connection. See . Colleen Toomey Author and documentary film-maker Colleen Toomey wanted to “go to work” even if that meant just strolling 60ft through the back garden of her Victorian house in North London where she lives with her barrister husband and son. “It makes sense to remove myself geographically from the house so I’m not interrupted or tempted to inspect my fridge every time I get writer’s block,” she says. “Having trawled the internet, I came across Ecospace and loved the designs with their simple lines and big expanses of double-glazing. My office has a sliding glass door and a big window through which I see foxes walking past. It also has a sedum roof in which alpine plants flower in spring and summer so the outlook is much more pleasant for our neighbours and from the top floor of our house.“The building is well-made with a sustainable birch wood interior and cedar cladding – good-quality materials that are attractive and sympathetic to the surroundings. I’ve found it cool in summer and warm in winter thanks to the structural insulation and low-energy, underfloor heating. It took about four days to build after which the electrics were installed. The same wireless broadband connection works in the office and house and I also had a phone installed. Neither my husband nor son use it, so it really is a room of my own.”A similar 5m x 3.8m office would cost £21,950 plus VAT and delivery. Planted sedum roof, underfloor heating, recyclable rubber flooring, double-glazing, power points, insurance-approved security locks are included. As Ecospace is part of an architectural practice, a professional design and planning service is also included. Bespoke sizes and designs also available. See . Robert Spencer“Although my office is 60 yards from the house, I like to leave my problems at the end of the garden,” Spencer says. “It’s psychological but I feel a house isn’t really a home if you’re working in it.”Spencer runs a corporate rentals company with his son Paul from the garden office at his Victorian riverside property in Taplow, Berkshire, where he lives with his wife and another son. Having installed a garden office at his previous home in Gerrards Cross, he ordered a similar design from the same company, now rebranded and under new management. “I love the classic design and the fact that it doesn’t look like a log cabin,” he says. “It has a lot of glass through which I watch the squirrels, deer and our chickens pottering around. You really do feel part of the garden.” The office is painted green and blends into its surroundings. “We built a pergola and put plants around it to soften the lines,” he adds. As with the previous project, Spencer had a trench dug in the garden and utility cables laid by an electrician before the office arrived. It came with a fuse box and took two days to install. “The electrics are on a separate meter from the house and we also have separate office phone lines and broadband,” he says. “There’s room for four people and it’s well-insulated so it doesn’t cost a fortune to heat in winter using a convector heater. It has definitely added value to the property.”A similar 4m x 5m office would cost £17,990 plus VAT including flooring and lighting. The Home Office Company is offering a VAT-free period (worth 15 per cent off) for any Sunday Telegraph readers placing orders before December 31 2009. .And here's how to kit it out...John Lewis recently reported an 18 per cent spike in home office furniture sales. No surprise given its imaginative new designs. The Celine writing desk, £349, is a stylish, Fifties-inspired alternative to corporate-looking designs. Theo, £349, is a practical desk in natural oak veneer, while the tall, natural oak Edwin unit, £399, has two storage shelves, a printer shelf and flip-down laptop surface. For a minimalist look, there’s the Kobo desk, £349, with a black laminated surface, whose chromium-plated steel frame houses a four-drawer unit. And for those yet to install a home office, there’s the Otto Workstation, £399, right, whose white lacquered exterior opens to reveal a teal-coloured interior with drop-down laptop flap and storage shelf. Go to . Anyone on a budget, meanwhile, should head to Ikea which has a complete home office for less than £145. This bargain-priced workspace, right, includes the new walnut-finish Expedit desk-and-bookshelf combination, £101.99; height-adjustable Snille swivel chair, £18.99; three-tier Dokument letter tray set, £8.99; Strikt four-piece desk accessory set and Mil work lamp, £6.99 with halogen bulb included. Total cost? £143.95. Nearest store: . Celine lives in western Kenya. She was left destitute when her husband died three years ago. Thanks to Farm Africa she is now growing a new fast-maturing, high-yielding variety of cassava on her small plot and is able to provide for her young family. Visit the to learn more about the work of this charity. “Yes, it was our best show!” agreed Ignazio Boschetto, as his phone kept beeping with greetings on his 17th birthday. Ignazio is the big, burly one whose lyrical tenor tones put the sun-ripened tomatoes and Chianti in Il Volo’s sound. “I think it’s because New York is New York, and the audience was so hot.”Il Volo’s third man is 16-year-old Gianluca Ginoble, whose dark good looks suggest a gene-splicing experiment involving Mario Lanza and Paul Anka. He wasn’t saying much, because he’d eaten something that didn’t agree with him the previous night and had turned a queasy yellow colour. However, he did manage to frame the thought that “we have three different voices, three different ways to live life, but together we are one soul”.The trio’s American tour schedule takes them from the East Coast to California, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and more, before they head back to Europe at the end of the year. Their hectic work rate is designed to cement Il Volo as a crossover phenomenon which (their handlers hope) will in due course be able to rival the likes of Andrea Bocelli or Josh Groban. The difference is that whereas the former tend to reach middle-aged or older crowds, Il Volo are proving staggeringly successful with the young pop generation.Their first album – due out here later this month – debuted at number 10 on America’s Billboard 200 chart, boosted by a TV blitz that saw them appearing on American Idol, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the space of a week. For every knee-jerk comparison to the Three Tenors – even though Gianluca is technically a baritone – there has been another to New Jersey boy band the Jonas Brothers.“We never expected all this to happen,” said Piero, “but we dreamed and hoped it would. We thought our music would be for people over 40, but now we understand that teenagers love this kind of music.”“Our goal has been to bring our emotion and our music to the young generation,” Ignazio added. “We are doing this and so we are happy.”With maximum commercial reach in mind, their album has been designed to hit as many bases as possible, and of course any dabblings in unadulterated opera are out of the question. As Gianluca put it, “even in Italy young people don’t love opera. People are tired of this kind of music.”“We chose a lot of kinds of music,” said Piero. “You can find Spanish songs, English songs, Italian songs and pop songs. It’s music that lets you love, laugh and cry.”Every teen band needs its Svengali, but Il Volo has a whole battalion of them. They were spotted by Italian music biz veteran Tony Renis (author of the much-covered Quando Quando Quando) when they appeared on Italy’s Pop Idol-style TV talent show Ti Lascio Una Canzone. The boys had each been appearing as a solo contestant, but one of the show’s producers suggested they join forces to sing O Sole Mio. When he’d picked his jaw up off the floor, Renis got on the blower to record mogul Jimmy Iovine and producer-A&R man Ron Fair, which resulted in Il Volo becoming the first Italian act to sign to Geffen Records in the States.The group are managed by Michele Torpedine, who has worked with Bocelli and Italian rocker Zucchero, and he’s assisted by former Aerosmith and AC/DC manager Steve Leber. Renis co-produced the debut album with Humberto Gatica, sometime collaborator with Bocelli, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion. Let’s hope there’s some money left for the group when this lot have all taken their cut.For now, they’re finding it all incredibly new and amazingly exciting.“It’s not difficult because we love what we’re doing,” Piero stressed. “We do it because we love it, so everything is easy.”“The hardest thing is leaving our families at home in Italy,” Ignazio added. “But everyone knows we are building our future, so we always do it with a smile.”Il Volo’s self-titled album is released on Oct 31 on Polydor'Before we moved in we knew that the architecture would work as an element detached from our lives,’ Benetton says. 'But was it going to be a home? I think that was the nicest prize of all – walking in and saying, “This is home.”’ He and Compagnoni separately admit to having a rethink about the furnishings: Compagnoni would like to add some carpet, and Benetton has realised that some elements, such as a set of carved wood occasional tables, might not be as functional as they would like. They may have lived here for six years, but, as Compagnoni explains, 'it takes time to get things right’. Benetton is more interested in his collection of modern art. In the reception are two instantly recognisable pieces – a Marc Quinn oil painting of flowers, hung daringly within reach of children’s sticky hands, and a Damien Hirst spot painting. 'They make the room happy and light,’ Benetton says. 'The spots on the Hirst are different colours and it reminds me of the United Colors of Benetton.’ Elsewhere the theme is mid-century Italian – sculptures by the early futurist Giacomo Balla, a monochrome canvas piece by the abstract artist Augustine Bonalumi, and a couple of works by Lucio Fontana, regarded as the founder of the 'spacialism’ art movement. One of these is Discovery, a rare action painting that Fontana completed in 1964, the year of Benetton’s birth. It dominates one wall of the living-room 'and at night if you turn all the lights off it really looks like a sky and the stars,’ he says. Benetton and architecture As a family and a business, Benetton has long been associated with architecture, both in historic preservation and new designs. In 1964 Tobia Scarpa and Afra Bianchin were commissioned by Luciano Benetton to design the company’s knitwear factory in Ponzano. Benetton then asked them to work on the restoration of the 16th-century estate of the Palladian-style Villa Minelli, the company’s headquarters. Thirty years later, the company bought and restored the 17th-century Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, which overlooks Venice’s Grand Canal. Ponzano Children, the children’s centre created by Benetton in partnership with the town of Ponzano, opened in 2007. The modernist structure includes play areas in sand, wood, stone and grass, and was designed by the Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza. Last year the company held Designing in Teheran, a contest to develop a design for two multi-storey buildings in Iran, which was won by up-and-coming Polish and Bulgarian architects."The suspect was coming down the big staircase and was asking: 'Hey, guys what are you doing here?'," Di Genova said."So the officers replied: 'What are you doing here?' and they proceeded to put him under arrest."Mr Di Genova said the man had jumped a fence to get on the property and used a garage door opener that he found in an unlocked vehicle to gain access to the luxury residence.Daniel Bedard, a Laval resident, was arraigned on charges including breaking and entering, auto theft and causing property damage.Mr Di Genova said there was another incident att Dion's mansion in 2009 when another man jumped the fence, but was stopped by the security firm that was keeping an eye on the property before he could enter the home. He currently lives in exile in London after falling out with regime partly because he favoured greater cultural openness and removed thousands of titles from the lists of banned books. In his speech, the 72-year-old Khamenei, whose pronouncements are often interpreted as official guidelines, refused to give more details on which books he deemed "harmful". However, titles ranging from uncensored version of Plato's Symposium to Louis-Ferdinand Céline's Journey to the End of the Night and works by James Joyce, Gabriel García Márquez, Kurt Vonnegut and Paulo Coelho have been banned in recent years by Iran's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance which vets all books before publication."Those responsible in the book industry should not let harmful books enter our book market on the basis that we let them [readers] choose [what they want to read]," Khamenei told cheering crowds."Like poisonous, dangerous and addictive drugs which are not available for everyone without restrictions … as a publisher, librarian or an official in the book industry, we don't have the right to make [such books] available to those without knowledge," he said. "We should provide them with healthy and good books."In the wider economy, high employment, wage increases, a low corporate tax rate of 12.5 per cent, low interest rates, substantial aid from the European Union and a variety of incentives to multinationals, especially in the hi-tech sector, meant that Ireland’s young, growing, highly educated population started to enjoy unprecedented levels of income and wealth. In a 2006 survey of per capita wealth among the top eight OECD nations, Ireland ranked second only to Japan, with every man, woman and child worth €150,000. The ‘Irich’ were born. The crash has been the one of the steepest and most disastrous of any developed country since the Second World War. By the time of the global financial crisis of 2008, Ireland’s banks were awash with loans, mostly to property developers; the notorious ‘world’s worst’ Anglo Irish Bank, which was later nationalised, alone held €72 billion of loans – half of Ireland’s GDP. Bank guarantee schemes, an €85 billion EU/IMF bail-out (including up to £7 billion from the UK), loss of economic sovereignty and, ultimately, a change in government followed. In the past four years, Irish property prices have fallen by as much as 70 per cent, with further decreases predicted for this year. At least 40 per cent of all Irish home owners are now in negative equity. In addition, they carry the largest mortgage debt per head in the world. More than one in 12 mortgages are in arrears of more than three months. ‘In their rush to freedom, the Irish built their own prisons,’ the American financial author Michael Lewis recently wrote. ‘And their leaders helped them to do it.’ ‘People here are quite happy to pay their debts and put their hands up and admit they were stupid and made mistakes,’ Brian Lucey, a professor of finance at Trinity College, Dublin, says. ‘But people do want to see senior banking figures and politicians answer for their actions, in a court of law. There is a sense that the political and business class in Ireland have got away with it.’The construction industry has all but collapsed – there are more than 2,000 ‘ghost estates’ – developments left unfinished with no or only a small fraction of homes occupied – around the country. To reduce the budget deficit, there have been tax increases, spending cuts, public sector wage cuts and job losses, pension levies, a property tax and harsh austerity measures. Unemployment is running at 14.5 per cent and the country is experiencing the return of something many thought had been relegated to the shameful past: forced large-scale emigration – with a significant percentage going to Britain. Ireland in 2012 is a country suffering from a recession that could last a generation and beyond. Six years ago Jillian Godsil, 46, pretty much had it all. An English and history graduate from Trinity College, Dublin, she was living with her English banker husband, Mike, in a sprawling Georgian manor house in rural Co Wicklow that they had expensively renovated. She was running a flourishing PR and digital marketing business with two employees and an annual turnover of €370,000, and had also self-published a children’s story (she has since written her first novel, available as an e-book). Her two daughters, Georgina and Kathryn, then 11 and nine, had ponies; Georgina was a weekly boarder at Kilkenny College, one of the oldest private schools in the country. Godsil employed a cleaner, gardener and child minder. She was a Sunday school teacher, warden and honorary secretary at her local church. ‘I was very happy because I had a sense of order and success, of belonging in the community,’ she says. ‘My life looked perfect – on paper at least.’ After their house had been valued at €1.2 million (later upped to €1.6 million), Jillian and Mike increased their joint mortgage from less than €100,000 to €800,000. They bought two apartments in Vilamoura in Portugal: one as a holiday home, the other as an investment. They also put €100,000 into a Portuguese property consortium. ‘It seems a big decision in hindsight, but almost everyone we knew at that time was doing something similar,’ she says. ‘We felt protected by our earning capacity and sound investments that were growing in value.’Then in 2006 the 16-year-old marriage failed. Godsil cites ‘incompatibility’ and the fact that Mike, eight years older than her, had given up work partly to help renovate the manor house when they bought it in 1997. ‘I wasn’t just the main breadwinner, I was the only breadwinner, and that role reversal threw our differences into sharp relief,’ she explains. Mike moved into the manor’s guest cottage, but after 18 months he returned to England, where, with no income and heavy debts in Ireland, he was declared bankrupt. It fell to Godsil to meet the full monthly €1,700-a-month interest-only mortgage payments. Realising this was impossible, she put the house on the market in 2007; an offer of €1.1 million fell through. ‘That was my get-out-of-jail card,’ she laughs, ‘but it was not to be.’In 2008, as the recession started to bite, Godsil took her daughter out of private school, took a lease on a two-bedroom cottage nearby (her daughters share a room), and rented out the manor house. The income she received covered half the mortgage. ‘Since my last tenants left in January, I have stopped paying the mortgage altogether and the house has been empty and unmaintained,’ she says. In April, Godsil had a bright idea: she decided to market the house via an offbeat video on YouTube. ‘Within a week I had a cash offer of €500,000 from an Irish banker living in Britain,’ she says. But her bank refused to accept it; the house is now worth less – as little, Godsil estimates, as €430,000. With arrears, the mortgage stands at almost €1 million. One of the properties in Portugal was sold at a €100,000 loss to pay for legal fees for the divorce; the other is unrented, and has been on the market for four years. The property consortium fared the same as the doomed Portuguese economy. Godsil is still managing to operate her PR practice with one staff member but has taken no salary for the past couple of years. She couldn’t even afford the €3,000 to legally liquidate her business. In November bailiffs acting for the Revenue Commissioners called unannounced at her office; there was nothing of value to seize. She cannot claim the dole as she is self-employed; she relies on child benefit, and maintenance from her ex-husband. ‘We can’t afford to shop at Tesco any more – we go to Aldi and Lidl – we don’t eat out, we shop on the sale rail at Penneys [Primark’s Irish brand], and we haven’t had a holiday in the past year and a half,’ Godsil says. ‘But I don’t think we are unique. A huge number of people contacted me after seeing the YouTube video to say that they were going through something similar.’Godsil has sold most of the contents of the house to pay bills; all the furniture, most of the appliances, the range cooker, the wood-burning stove, even the curtains have gone. ‘I loved the house, though possessions are not important and they never really were, in fairness. But for someone like me, who had always been a secure, successful, high-achieving middle-class professional, it was really quite scary to think I could reach a point where I might not be able to support my kids, or even put food on the table.’Godsil says she has no idea what the future holds. Now that she has moved out, she expects her bank to finally repossess her home. ‘I have hit rock bottom, I can’t go any lower,’ she adds. ‘The banks are supposed to be the experts, and they valued the house, but it seems they don’t have to take any responsibility when the economic situation changes and property values fall. The law protects them, but not the individual. I’ve lost everything – my husband, my financial security, my social standing and finally my dream home, the house I put all my money into. Twenty years’ hard work and I have nothing to show for it – all I own now is a noisy old fridge freezer.’Andrew Lane, 46, is an architect based in Cork who, during the Celtic Tiger years, ran a highly successful and rapidly expanding practice. Like many architects in Ireland at that time, the vast majority of his work came from property developers building large multi-unit residential estates, including one for 1,600 houses. ‘It was a crazy time because almost everyone believed they could make money from property,’ Lane says. ‘Bankers, builders, subcontractors, chemists, opticians – even plasterers on the sites – became developers. We had more work than we could handle.’By 2007 Lane employed nine staff and had an annual turnover approaching €1 million. He lived in a handsome three-storey Victorian townhouse with his wife, Madeleine D’Arcy, a short story writer, and their son, Cass, then 12. He borrowed against the €600,000 value of his family home (it is worth half that today) and bought a holiday cottage in the country for €236,000. A new €68,000 Land Rover Discovery 3SE was paid for, in full, out of his burgeoning profits. ‘What was happening in Ireland at that time gave me a sense of very real wealth – it was like being a surgeon or CEO or something. Suddenly I didn’t have to worry or even think about money.’Towards the end of 2007, Lane says he knew the property bubble had burst; developers were suddenly stalling or insisting on a quick turnaround. ‘I had lived through the recession in Britain in the early 1990s,’ Lane, who is originally from Portsmouth and moved to Ireland in 1999, says. ‘I thought, all I have to do now is be really efficient and manage the so-called soft landing.’ That soft landing quickly became a ruinous crash. ‘The developers were running the Irish property market, and as soon as they stopped speculating, my work came to a sudden and dramatic halt,’ he says. Over the next three years Lane had to make all his staff redundant. ‘We were a small company and we formed close working relationships,’ Lane says. ‘My staff were incredibly loyal to me and I genuinely thought they would remain with me for the rest of my career. It was devastating to have to let them go one by one.’ He extricated himself from a costly 20-year lease, moved to a smaller office, and finally to a bedroom at home. For the past six months he hasn’t paid himself a salary and has had to call upon an early inheritance from his 78-year-old mother to meet his mortgage. The holiday cottage can’t be rented as it needs improving; he may be forced to sell it, at a loss, Lane estimates, of €100,000. His €1,000 monthly payments into both his and his wife’s pensions have long been frozen. Last year Madeleine decided to return to her former job as a criminal lawyer, which would potentially earn more than writing; she is still looking for work. ‘There seem to be almost no opportunities available to her – solicitors in Ireland are pretty much in as bad a situation as architects. It’s been very difficult for the three of us, but if anything this experience has actually brought us closer together.’Unlike the good years, when the family took several holidays a year and impromptu weekend breaks at five-star hotels in Paris were the norm, there have been no holidays for the past two years. ‘We are running on empty; as a director of a company I can’t even claim the dole,’ Lane says. ‘We don’t entertain at home and we don’t eat at restaurants any more. I used to be a collector of wine and I had a pretty decent cellar; now I buy the cheapest box of wine I can find at Tesco.’Lane sold the Land Rover for €24,000, which he says was a double loss: ‘In my business, clients judge you by what car you drive – it’s a symbol of your success. So selling the Discovery was for me a huge thing – it’s what it represented.’Lane says he is resilient and strategic, and he has been careful – ‘it’s all about survival, about coming out the other side’ – but he admits he has suffered a great deal of stress over the past couple of years. ‘At one point I didn’t know how much longer I could cope,’ he says. But in September he managed to secure two part-time teaching posts; one at the School of Architecture in Cork, the other as a senior lecturer two days a week at the University of Brighton. He has become an ‘extreme commuter’. ‘My income from Brighton is zero, as the cost of getting there is what I get paid, but I’m hoping that it might lead to something else.’ Lane tells me he is not alone on his commute. ‘I meet the same people every week at Heathrow – the plane back to Ireland is crammed full of professionals and business people working weekdays in England.’He says he has turned the shock of the past few years into a positive and, with up to 70 per cent of architects in Ireland now out of work, considers himself one of the lucky ones. ‘The truth is I had become too materialistic and money-driven. It didn’t suit me, and in many ways, it didn’t suit Ireland. This has been a severe and painful correction, but it’s also appropriate. In the end I think Ireland will be a better country.’Tom Quinn is a senior manager in his 'mid-fifties' with extensive experience across a wide range of companies, and qualifications from the Irish Management Institute and Henley Business College. In 2008 he was offered a well-paid position as the general manager of a long-established sign manufacturing company that had expanded enormously during the Celtic Tiger years. The company, a 'barometer of the boom', was making signs, for example, for new housing estates, shopping centres, hotels and factories. 'Like many businesses in Ireland at the time, it was actually turning away work,' he says. Quinn was the main breadwinner in his family of five. His wife, Celine, was not working, and his three sons, Declan, 25, Robert, 20, and Stephen,15, and were living at home – a five-bedroom end-of-terrace house in Palmerstown in the western suburbs of Dublin. 'I had mortgages, bank loans, car loans, building society loans, credit union loans and credit card loans – I owed money to all sorts,' he says. 'It paid for the good life – anything from house extensions to family holidays to college fees – and I guess I thought it would never end.' Quinn also borrowed €120,000 to build a two-bedroom house on an infill site he owned next to his home; it would provide rental income and, ultimately, a pension. 'The building society was not only quite happy to lend us the money; it also encouraged us to borrow more in order to buy a third property and build up a portfolio,' he says. 'Luckily enough for us, we were just a bit too conservative and we hung back. I know a lot of people who did continue to borrow and, for a time, they were sitting on quite a pile. Now they're sitting on quite a pile of debt.' The value of the two houses at the height of the property bubble was at least €1.1 million; Quinn says they are now worth half that amount. The sign-manufacturing business suffered in the recession, and Quinn was made redundant after only a year with the company. His income fell dramatically – from a net salary of €4,500 a month to unemployment benefit of €204 a week. 'It was a big financial shock – the dole only just about covered our household food bill,' he says. 'But my wife was very frugal and we had enough to buy what was unavoidable, like food and some expenses for the boys. Any discretionary purchases, such as clothes or things for the house, went out of the window. If something got broken, and it wasn't absolutely essential, it stayed broken.' Quinn reduced his mortgage payments by more than half to €890 a month by extending the period and restructuring to interest-only. The investment property was hard to rent, however, and at one point Quinn was almost forced to sell it. He had to stop meeting his loans, paid only the minimum amount possible on his household bills and, after his 14-week redundancy package was used up, got further and further into debt. 'The building society would do deals with you as long as you were upfront about your financial situation and at least paid them some money,' he says. 'But I knew they would eventually have forced us to start selling some of our assets to make up the payments.' Quinn tells me that at Christmas the family received supermarket vouchers from a local charity. 'We had debt collection agencies calling at the door and sometimes ringing the house 15 times a day, but I just faced them down,' he says. 'You get to a level of desperation that in some ways gives you a strength and sense of purpose.' Quinn was out of work for almost two years. 'When I went down to the social welfare to sign on, I was stood beside engineers, designers, builders, businessmen and all manner of highly educated people,' he says. 'And we were all in the same boat.' Quinn was highly disciplined about his job search, registering with websites and recruitment agencies, and applying for up to 40 jobs a week. The tiny response he got led to a handful of interviews, during which he was told he was overqualified. He was too young to retire, too skilled for the positions available. 'I'd worked all my adult life and I'd never had to deal with being unemployed,' he says. 'Initially you're OK and optimistic, but as time goes on you get more and more demotivated, you lose structure and focus, and you become depressed. I wasn't used to having all this spare time, and my wife wasn't used to having me at home. I was just in the way and a bloody nuisance. 'You tell your children: get educated, that's your passport for jobs, for work for life. In the recession we're in now, that no longer follows. You can have lots of experience and talents, and plenty of qualifications, and still be on the scrap heap. At times during my period of unemployment I was very angry about that. I thought, what more can I possibly do, what the hell do they want?' At the end of last year Quinn joined an enterprise and entrepreneurship programme at a nearby institute of technology, the depression lifted and he refocused his skills and abilities. He was offered a job shortly afterwards, as the general manager at a not-for-profit small business enterprise centre, which also houses a childcare facility, training college – and a blueberry farm. It is a change in direction, from the 'tough, bordering on vicious' commercial world to community development and support, and green energy. 'You learn to concentrate on the really important things in life, like looking out for your wife and children and trying to do the best you can to get them whatever they need,' Quinn says. 'You also learn who your true friends are. I still have financial problems and debt, and I'm being paid substantially less than I was a few years ago, but now I have a regular income, work I love and, if I'm honest, much greater job satisfaction. I can feel good about myself again.' The new judges might not have Sharon Osborne’s caustic one-liners, or Cheryl Cole’s eye-popping wardrobe, but each has their own charm. There’s Gary Barlow for the mums, Nicole Scherzinger for the dads, straight-talking Tulisa and the lovely Dermot O’Leary, who most of us just want to cuddle. X Factor is the only show I know that could feature the vocal talents of Miss Piggy, emerge unscathed from an auto-tune scandal and still manage to uncover stars like Leona Lewis and JLS. I love the series because it’s a throwback to the good old days of Saturday night TV. It's like The Generation Game and Noel's House Party – wholesome, family shows that brought us all together at weekends and gave us something to talk about. X Factor has none of the cheap gimmicks of The Voice or Britain’s Got Talent – and far fewer dancing dogs. Instead, there’s lots of genuine emotion on show, particularly during the teary montage scenes set to Celine Dion ballads. So, for the next two months, I’ll be spending Saturday nights on my sofa. It may be brash, over-the-top and predictable – but the show’s tried-and-tested formula keeps me entertained. In my eyes, X Factor still has the X factor. Although If Louis ever leaves, ask me again. The X Factor has gone from essential viewing to joyless entertainment by numbers, says James LachnoWithin the first two minutes of this year’s X Factor, the stage had been set for another disappointing series. In a tumultuous opening sequence, we saw snippets of wild-eyed teens embracing, bawling mothers, and the ear-splitting screeching of deluded contestants. The judges came next, lips-pursed, offering banal soundbites such as “if you can’t do it right here, right now, it’s game over” (motivational speakers step aside, it’s Gary Barlow). The X Factor, once a reasonable talent show and essential primetime television, is now an automaton programmed to deliver slick, joyless entertainment by numbers. Once, each series thrived on steadily building a compulsive mix of glitz and mush. Watching it was the perfect preparation for a night out at university. Beers in hand, we’d titter at peculiar performances and squabble about our favourites. X Factor Saturdays were tied inextricably to the carefree whimsy of my student years. The biggest mistake the programme made was opening up the entire process to a live audience back in 2009. Since then, it’s been a pantomime. Crowds turn up to catch a glimpse of the celebrities, then boo and cheer their comments with ritual obedience. In its golden era, the auditions were given to the judges only, in an unflashy room, and we saw scores of tryouts, not the handpicked half a dozen with the most tear-jerking back-stories or dubious grasp on reality. The sob-stories were truncated; the Disney-strings preserved for genuine emotional crescendos. The judges, meanwhile, were fearsome. The sight of Simon Cowell – a genuine pop mogul – preparing to deconstruct a contestant with withering authority stirred a quiver of excitement. At least Cheryl Cole had been through the process herself. This season, we again have former N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos – hardly an industry powerhouse. The contestants who should be X Factor’s lifeblood have become more incidental than ever to the show’s thrust, their air time eaten into more each year by the judges’ trash talk about “winning”. At the weekend, 15 minutes was devoted to laboriously bearing out the premise that guest judge Mel B lives up to her nickname "Scary Spice". It was scarily dull. And when did the tone become so mean? The excruciating moments used to be when someone didn’t quite make the cut. Then they were because an endearing oddball had danced like MC Hammer. In this year’s opener, a cut-price Pink reacted to her rejection by rampaging across the stage, spitting expletives at no-one in particular. I had my hand over my mouth; this belonged to an unsettling documentary, not a variety show. No wonder viewing figures suffered a three million slump for the series opener. I, for one, won’t be tuning in again. ... Neil Gaiman, who has just been awarded the Booktrust Teenage Prize for his latest novel, The Graveyard Book, based on Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, is in trouble for citing the Bombay-born author as an influence. Kipling, lest you should for a moment have allowed his oeuvre to be overshadowed by his demotion to the rank of racist imperialist, is one of the latest writers to be subjected to the retrospective moral inquisitions we take pleasure in inflicting on great talents these days. Enid Blyton's a sexist racist, T S Eliot, Hergé and Louis Ferdinand Céline are anti-Semitic – even Roald Dahl, wont as he is to portray women as objects of contempt for children, is a write-off. It's too tedious even to get into the charges. I suppose we should feel grateful that we now boast the greatest crop of morally upright poets and authors that any generation has ever produced. Who can find fault with the Margarets (Atwood and Drabble), or the saintly J?K Rowling? But buying into the ethical pretensions of an author, rather than their works, is not a particularly inspired stance. ... Spare a thought for Dr Francis "eight brains" Lambert, a man who thundered through a series of University Challenge and Mastermind episodes in the 1960s before winning a place in the Guinness Book of Records for his achievements. "They used to know me as 'the human Google'," he explained to me at a Spectator dinner on Wednesday night. "Journalists and politicians would ring me up and ask me who the King of Thailand was in 1849, and I'd tell them just as quickly as any search engine could. Then Google came along and the calls tailed off."Still, his female companion chirruped: "Francis has something the search engines will never be able to master – he's interactive." In 1960 Joseph and his brother Maurice arrived in London from Casablanca. Joseph later maintained that he "fell in love with the rain and the baked beans", but at all events he and Maurice opened a hairdressing salon in the King's Road in 1962, being joined two years later by their other brother, Franklin. "It was exciting," Joseph recalled. "There were so many inspiring people around – Terence Conran, Mary Quant, Vidal Sassoon." He was already intensely interested in fashion, and began to display a few choice items from designers he admired, such as Kenzo, Emmanuelle Khanh, and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, alongside the hairdryers. Then, in the 1970s, he opened his first shop, in Sloane Street, Knightsbridge. He had no background in fashion, but he did have a good eye and a knack for retailing. He also believed in giving women what they wanted – in the King's Road salon he had made a particular point of identifying this, later explaining: "When they are sitting in front of you for an hour and a half, getting a makeover, you learn to pay attention to what they say." His first store was designed by Norman Foster ("He opened my eyes to the importance of architecture, he translated my dreams"); it offered monochrome decor and predominantly black stock, and was soon a destination of a fashionable clientele from around the world. Soon, too, designers and pioneers of style were keen to be showcased in his stores. At Joseph Pour la Maison, for example, he introduced the work of figures such as the home stylist Maryse Boxer and the Czech architect and designer Eva Jiricna – the latter helped Joseph to style several of his homes. Joseph is credited with revolutionising knitwear, investing it with a new and understated chic. Meanwhile, during the economic downturn of the early 1990s he came up with the low-cut, narrow-legged Joseph trousers that were an immediate hit with fashionable women. "After all, trousers are probably the most difficult thing for a woman to buy," he said. "You find one perfect pair of slacks which suit you and then, next season, they are out of fashion and you can't find the same shape anywhere. I decided I would try to offer every shape in every fabric and size, to try to make it easier." In 2005 Joseph (as chairman of the business) and his brother Franklin (as chief operating officer) shared more than £20 million when the chain was sold to a Japanese clothing company for £140 million. They had sold the majority of their equity in 1999 to a consortium of Belgian and French investors, with Joseph personally making just over £30 million from the sale. In 1998 he bought Connolly, the leather company famous for designing the interiors of Jaguars and where his wife, Isabel, had been creative director. At one time the genial, tousled-haired Joseph liked to wear black or white suits while smoking a cigarillo, but he later jettisoned this image: "Oh, I got very tired of that, the black and white, the cigar," he said. "I don't want people to concentrate on the way I look. I would love to wear a straw hat and red trousers. It is more shyness than anything else that stops me."Between the mid-1970s and 2002 he moved house no fewer than six times, on each occasion responding to the new trends he had identified: "In my homes and shops I have worked with architects and interior designers who I have admired and respected, and I have learnt much from them," he said. "But my tastes and needs move on, as do the colours and styles in clothing, and although each place was right for its time, when I am ready I leave."Joseph Ettedgui had been suffering from cancer and died on March 18 in a London hospital. He is survived by his English wife of 20 years, Isabel (née Pritchard), and their daughter, Gigi, and two sons, Peter and Paul, from a previous marriage.1 Pick a crowd-pleaserWhen selecting your song, think about the people in the room. Will they know and appreciate it? You want the opening bars to be greeted with a ripple of recognition, then a chorus with which they can join in. It’ll become you leading a singalong, rather than serenading a silent crowd. So nothing too obscure or personal. Anthemic and popular is best.2 Check it’s in your vocal rangeMake sure your voice can comfortably handle all the notes without straining. Unless you’re an undiscovered diva, women should avoid big-lunged warblers like Mariah, Celine and Whitney. Men should be careful with Queen, Simon & Garfunkel, U2, metal and rap. Look instead for relatively easy mid-range singers. For her: Dusty, Madonna, Abba, Spice Girls. For him: Beatles, Stones, Neil Diamond, Kinks, Tom Jones, an uptempo Elvis or Sinatra.3 Check it’s not too longStick to classic pop songs of three to four minutes duration. American Pie, Bohemian Rhapsody, Tiny Dancer and Hey Jude might be tempting, but they go on for ages. On stage, that feels even longer.4 Know it inside outYou’d be surprised by the number of karaoke novices who only know the chorus. Cue mumbling. Make sure you’re familiar with the verses and middle-eight (the change of gear that often comes two-thirds of the way through).5 Practice makes perfectRehearsing at home is easy these days, with games like SingStar, and the internet. Or simply sing along to the CD. After checking the house is empty and the windows are closed.6 Get in there quickOn the night, try to sing a song fairly early during proceedings. The longer you wait, the more nervous you’ll get – and the higher the chance of someone nabbing your tune. 7 Three’s a crowdIt’s tempting, especially your first time, to take friends on stage. But it is best to sing solo or, at most, perform a duet. Gangs of three or more just shriek over each other and jostle for microphones.8 Remember you’ve got a microphoneOne of the worst crimes is shouting. It’s tuneless, anti-social and the true sign of an amateur. So don’t forget you’ve got a mic. Better to hold it close to your mouth and sing normally than hold it low and yell.9 Play the crowdThe audience are there to be entertained, so get them onside. Ad-lib a comment, make eye contact, or dance. It radiates confidence and distracts from any vocal imperfections.10 Enjoy yourselfDon’t forget this is supposed to be pleasure, not pure torture. Laugh at yourself and live out your fantasies. No matter how good or bad you are, if you’re having fun it’s infectious. Five great places to do karaokeIt was launched in the former Harland & Wolff drawing offices in the Titanic Quarter of the city.Irish author Don Mullan, a friend of Miss Dean, approached the stars to lend their support. He's also produced a limited edition photograph depicting Millvina signing a card for an autograph collector, which are selling for 500 euro (£440) with all proceeds going towards the Millvina Fund.It is believed that the Titanic Trio of DiCaprio, Winslet and Cameron have donated 30,000 US dollars (£22,000)Mr Mullan said: "I laid down the challenge to the Titanic actors and directors to support the Millvina Fund and I was delighted with the generosity they have shown in meeting that challenge.""To date 30 copies of the print have been sold and I am confident that the support of stars such as Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio will help boost interest in the prints and ensure they will sell. I am also determined to enlist the support of Celine Dion, who sang the theme tune from Titanic."Millvina Dean was the Titanic's youngest passenger. Her father, Bertram Dean, died in the 1912 tragedy after saving the lives of his wife and two children. Millvina's mother returned from New York with her children to Southampton, where Millvina has spent most of her life.Una Reilly of the Belfast Titanic Society which helped set up the fund, added: "As the last living survivor from the most famous ship in the world, Millvina Dean has a very special place in the annals of Northern Ireland's history and, indeed, across the globe.""We are delighted to officially launch the Millvina Fund today. We felt it was an important initiative after hearing from Millvina how the stress and strains of having to pay her nursing fees was forcing her to sell Titanic memorabilia to raise funds."In a joint statement, the acting stars said: "We are honoured to contribute to the Millvina Fund. Our hope is that others will feel inspired by Millvina Dean's remarkable story of survival, and hope she can rest easier in knowing that her future will become more secure through this fund." Chilean plants are notoriously difficult for British gardeners to grow, and one glance at an atlas will tell you why. Chile’s maritime climate is extremely variable and the Andes are thrown in for good measure, offering sharp drainage and cool climes. Obviously the ligtu hybrids come from cooler areas of Chile, as they thrive in this country. I once had to dig some out – they seemed to be heading back home to the southern hemisphere. It turned into a week-long project, which didn’t endear them to me. The die was finally cast by reading Vita Sackville-West’s rather sad conclusion that summer was over once the ligtu hybrids had finished. Really I’d rather not know, so I have aspired to grow more modern alstroemerias instead. However, I feel their value as a cut flower has focused plant breeding on showy forms that flower well under glass rather than garden hardiness. Those bred for garden use were often short and compact, forming a mound of flower, and I have an aversion to low pouffes. I like height, flow and form. Breeds apartHelp was at hand in the RHS trial of almost 90 alstroemerias held at Wisley in Surrey. However, the elements intervened: two savage winters sabotaged the trial, weakening the plants and laying them open to disease. Our panel was forced to assess the hardy survivors, a useful exercise for me in the cold Cotswolds but highly frustrating for the growers and breeders. Good forms that withstood winter and proved floriferous included 'Perfect Blue’ – only available from Viv Marsh Postal Plants. This is more pale purple than blue, but the nearest to blue on offer. The variegated 'Phoenix’, bred by Parigo of Spalding, was eye-catching with cream and green leaves supporting lots of pink-red flowers, lightly veined and marked with a merest touch of egg-yolk yellow. It was consistently stunning throughout the year, and 'Spitfire’, an orange-red, was almost as good. Parigo’s 'Red Elf’, probably the most vibrant of all despite being only a foot high, was a lightly speckled clear red stunner. The white 'Apollo’ and the creamy 'Friendship’ (both older AGM varieties from 1994) held their own, too. The muted-pink 'Celine’ was as pretty as her name suggests and the similar 'Oriana’ was a dark salmon-pink. Perhaps the award for the strongest should go to 'Orange Glory’, an alstroemeria that romped through summer in a blaze of glory. It lifted my spirits every time I saw it. The Planet Series (bred in France by Ernest Turc) also shone and these included 'Cahors’, 'Uranus’, 'Saturn’ and 'Mars’. Some are available from Hillier Nurseries, and Thompson & Morgan also sells mixtures of the Planet Series. They will sell an AGM collection in 2013, once the RHS results are ratified. Flower improversLots of alstroemerias start life in the laboratory, grown from a meristem in tissue culture, and this makes them expensive. The warmth of the soil initiates flowering, most performing after six weeks of warmth, and they dislike disturbance, so find them a sunny position and leave them well alone. Conventional wisdom is to pull out the fading stems so that the meristem underground is damaged: this produces faster reblooming. However a wonderful stand at RHS Wisley is cut back, not pulled up, and the eminent lady gardener near me (who grows them so well) just disbuds the tops and keeps the green stems on to feed her plants. But you will need to remove the heads or stems as soon as they fade in order to get more flower. Hardiness is the issue, and Viv Marsh, who raises more alstroemerias than any British nurseryman, swears by an eight-inch protective bark mulch over plants in their first winter. Apparently after that alstroemerias pull themselves down deeply season by season. I think I can vouch for that, having struggled to eradicate some thugs that had been there for 30 years. I shall be covering my 'Perfect Blue’ and hope to bring you good tidings next year. Where to buyViv Marsh Postal Plants 01939 291475; Thompson & Morgan 0844 248 5383; at the .Gram Parsons' bleak vision of may chime with the more conventional views of this city as a vortex of heartbreak, disillusionment and broken dreams, but having spent a few days there recently I'm more inclined to think of Vegas as America's capital of resilience and reinvention. That resilience is evident in its determination to rise above its current reputation as the recession capital of the United States. The city's trajectory from boom to bust has taken five years, and it now finds itself struggling under a collapse of property prices, an unemployment rate (14 per cent) that is the highest in the country, and a fall in gambling revenues of 15 per cent. But tell that to the millions of tourists who are still flocking to the Strip, taking in the shows, eating at the Michelin-starred restaurants, and they will probably think you are making it up. And flock they do: last year Vegas bounced back with more than 39 million tourists, two million more than in its annus horribilis (2008), which recorded the city's worst decline since the turn of the century. I flew out on one of British Airways' daily 747 flights, and there wasn't an empty seat on the plane. Nor was there one on the return flight. The giant hotel casinos on the Strip – the two I stayed in, Bellagio and the Cosmopolitan, have 7,000 rooms between them – report occupancy rates of more than 90 per cent, and even if they're exaggerating they are pretty busy. Clearly, the show must go on. As for reinvention, what started out as a railroad stop at the turn of the 20th century turned into a modest gambling centre with the legalisation of gaming in 1931, then a Mafia business centre after Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky built the Flamingo at the end of the Second World War, and then the self-proclaimed "entertainment capital of the world" by the Seventies. Since then it has marketed itself at various times as a family-friendly resort in the style of Disney, an international marriage and honeymoon destination and, in its current metamorphosis, as one of the world's gastronomic capitals, with more than 25 Michelin-starred restaurants along the four-mile Strip. The entertainers have also reinvented themselves here. In the early Sixties Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack came on as a louche, boozy song-and-comedy act at the Sands, and joked and crooned themselves into the Vegas history books. At the end of that decade, Elvis Presley, having been buried by Beatlemania and the British Invasion, re-emerged in Vegas doing two shows a night to sell-out audiences at the Hilton, a reinvented career that would run until his death in 1977. So, I wasn't too surprised on this visit to witness Rod Stewart, that former stadium star, doing something similar in the more intimate confines of Caesar's Palace. Now, I haven't cared too much for Rod's various styles since he led the gloriously ramshackle Faces in the early Seventies, but here he was in a 4,000-seater Colosseum Theatre at Caesar's, which was built for Celine Dion and will, over the next year, feature seasons from Rod, Celine and Elton John. It was a magnificent Vegas experience. Great band, perfect sound, a rollicking extrovert audience intent on having the night of their lives, and a performer on top of his game. I've seen it many times in Vegas over the years, and it is reassuring that even as the city is going through what is probably its most traumatic metamorphosis it is still able to display unselfconscious pleasure. As you may have gathered, I love the city and pity those who snobbishly regard it as culturally and spiritually beneath them. What they're missing is the point of Vegas, which is essentially carefree, cost-effective fun with a bit of gambling thrown in if you are so inclined. What it specialises in is hedonistic long weekends – and judging by the number of British travellers I came across on this recent visit, it offers a jolly antidote to the gloomy times we are living through. Vegas makes no pretension of being intellectually or aesthetically edifying, although you can eat a Michelin two-star meal at Bellagio's Picasso restaurant and spend the evening staring at the original Picassos on the walls. (Bellagio also has a Gallery of Fine Art that has held exhibitions of Monet and Warhol, among others.) Apart from eating at one or two classy restaurants and watching a Vegas show (the aforementioned Rod Stewart), my mission on this four-day trip was to play a little blackjack at Binion's, the famous downtown casino where the minimum bet is $2 compared with $15-$20 at the uptown casinos, fire off a Colt M-16 machine gun at the Gun Store, the indoor firing range out on East Tropicana, and take a poker lesson at one of the casinos. I have never been a big gambler, having lived by the mantra that you will never beat death and you will never beat the house, but I do enjoy the faintly seedy atmosphere, the smell of stale cigars and the collective hyperactivity of the casino floor from time to time – and to savour this fully you have to join in. According to David Gonzalez, a spokesman for MGM Resorts International, the largest casino operator in Vegas, only 1 per cent of visitors say they come here to gamble, "although 70 per cent do gamble when they're here". He says that, although gaming is Vegas's largest single earner, contributing 40 per cent of the city's revenue, there has been a considerable shift over the past 20 years, "and now people come for dining, entertainment, the attractions, the conventions and, of course, retail". For all that, everywhere I looked there were casinos, slot machines and promises of earning a fast buck. Having at first resisted the more expensive tables on the Strip, I started out modestly downtown at Binion's, one of Vegas's oldest casinos and venue of the World Series of Poker. Thanks to the $2 minimum, I managed to play blackjack for a good 45 minutes on a $50 stake, but I left empty-handed. Later that evening I had another $50 blackjack flutter on the more expensive Cosmopolitan tables ($15 minimum), this time lasting no more than 15 minutes. It was time to take a lesson in cards. Jim Ortruba has been a poker dealer at the Monte Carlo casino for the past six years, having spent most of his life working in a chemical plant in Illinois, and he teaches enthusiasts such as me with great patience. After he had explained the ground rules of Texas Hold Em, we started playing hands and quickly fell into the rhythm that makes poker schools so seductive: the rhythm of the cards. First, there was the players' two cards dealt face down, then the three flop cards, then the turn, and finally the river. Pretty soon we were playing with the speed of old pros, instinctively knowing the value of our hands, quickly gauging whether it was worth a check or a raise, and figuring out the psychology of our fellow players. As Ortruba pointed out, for players like us, with a basic grounding in poker, the Las Vegas poker tournaments, played daily up and down the Strip, are a cost-effective way into gambling. "You buy in for $60," he said, "and you get 10,000 chips. When you're out of chips, you're done. But if you've got all the chips you've won quite a healthy pot. Hours of fun."We said farewell to Jim Ortruba and an hour later I was sitting at a live table playing poker for real money – not in a tournament, as Ortruba had recommended, but at a casino table. Again, I ended up losing $50 in an enjoyable flurry of activity that probably lasted half an hour. This was entertaining, but was becoming expensive, despite the regular appearances of waitresses offering drinks on the house. Next time I'll play a tournament. Clearly, the moment had come for me to walk away from the casinos. So, I headed out to the Gun Store, a short cab ride from the Strip, with two unlikely companions, the novelist Tim Lott and the comedian David Schneider, gentle British literary characters both. Neither of them had picked up a weapon in anger previously, and we all approached this extraordinary, bizarre amusement arcade not quite knowing what to expect. We were led into our private booth by a pretty girl called Nena who used to be a cocktail waitress but found working at the Gun Store more edifying. As the background rattle of blazing weapons resounded from adjoining booths, we were obliged to sign a waiver declaring that we were free of drugs, alcohol and "emotional impairments" and, according to Nena, "that none of you is pregnant, none of you is planning to shoot yourselves or anybody, and you all get along". As we signed the documents and pored over a menu of weapons, I noticed on the far wall of our booth a photograph of Ozzie Osbourne grinning manically and taken in this very place. Clearly, the Gun Store's definition of emotional impairment is rather broad. After choosing our weapons – a Dirty Harry 44 Magnum, a James Bond 9mm Beretta, an AK-47, a Colt M16 – Nena presented us with a selection of targets. While I chose the conventional heavily armed terrorist hate figures, Schneider opted for "zombie Nazi officer and dodgy burglars in my home". With that, Nena handed us over to our "rangemaster", an equally attractive young woman named Alicia who is a military reservist and a weapons expert. She patiently explained how we should hold each weapon and how to hit our targets. For the next half-hour we blazed away with our high-powered weaponry, all with reasonable accuracy, and certainly from my point of view with a great deal of satisfaction. A little surreal, but a harmless bit of role playing, and completely Las Vegas. All that was left before I climbed on board a packed British Airways 747 to return to my pragmatic London life was one last roll of the dice, or in my case deal of the cards. This time I played blackjack in the Bellagio casino: a $15 minimum stake and $100 worth of chips. Same again, I regret to report. First, a brief flurry of winning hands, a heady moment when I realised I had doubled my stake, and then, slowly and inexorably, the house got the better of me and after an hour I left empty-handed. No doubt in the coming months more will be written about the parlous state of the Vegas economy, as indeed there will be swathes on our own economy. We are constantly being reminded of the grim state of the world. While it is entirely appropriate to stiffen one's lip and face up to bleak reality, it is occasionally a relief to jump into fantasy and just splash around a bit. Vegas provides the perfect environment. Las Vegas basics British Airways (0844 493 0758; ) offers three nights at the five-star Cosmopolitan (room only) from £849 per person (sharing), for travel between Nov 13 and Dec 16, including return flight in World Traveller (economy) from Heathrow. Hotel and flights in Club World (business-class) from £2,349, in first-class from £3,999. Sale prices valid until Nov 8. What to do and see MusicThe Colosseum at Caesar’s PalaceRod Stewart’s The Hits show (see main story) is on for nine dates in November; Celine Dion’s latest show will run for 20 dates between December 28 and February 28; Sir Elton John’s Million Dollar Piano show will return in the New Year (dates to be announced). Tickets cost from $89/£56 to $270/£171 and all shows should be booked well in advance (). Other acts due in Las Vegas in the coming months include Donny and Marie Osmond, Barry Manilow, Paul Simon and Sting. RESTAURANTSThere are more Michelin-starred restaurants per square mile in Las Vegas than in New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco. The one three-star is Joel Robuchon at the MGM Grand (001 702 891 7358; ). The two-star establishments are Picasso at Bellagio (702 693 8865; ) and Guy Savoy at Caesar’s (877 346 4642; as above). There are 15 one-star Michelin restaurants; most have reasonably priced tasting menus and feature splendid wine lists. AttractionsThe Gun Store (702 454 1110; ) charges $50/£32 for 50 shots with a Colt M16 machine gun, $25 for 20 shots with a Beretta M9 and $25 for five shots with a 44 Magnum. There is also a variety of packages: from $160/£101 for a choice of three weapons up to $777/£491 for a wide range of weaponry, targets and souvenir T-shirt. The Mob Museum, which opens in February 2012, will tell the story of organised crime and law enforcement in Vegas and beyond. Located in the former federal courthouse, which housed the Kefauver Committee hearings on organised crime in the early Fifties, it will bring to life stories of mob history with both exhibits and “multi-sensory experiences”. Have your sayDo you agree with Graham Boynton's view of Las Vegas? Please leave your thoughts below. The best comments and tips will be considered in our Travel View of the Week competition. Having just stepped off Sir Richard's Virginal red-eye to knock back a couple of the house's infamous Martinis (which once jet-propelled the Rat Pack into legendary misbehaviour), and therefore now full of dangerous Nederlands courage, this surreal situation seemed a great welcome to Sin City; aka Las Vegas. "Is somebody going to get whacked?" My question gets the Omerta treatment. Quite rightly. The bill has been settled quicker than a greedy British bank pockets a multi-billion loan from the public, and we are being shuffled out through the kitchens to a rear exit. The route is the furthest possible from the bar where all the action is taking place. "But I wanted another Martini," I whinge childishly. "They are Mafia and they have guns," a waiter says in that matter-of-fact waiter way. He's Tony and he worked in Solihull for ten years. He's seen it all then. "It was too dangerous to stay. We hope you had a great meal and enjoy Vegas. Come back soon.""Oooh. The Mob," we said diving into the taxi, not realising just how close we'd been to getting rubbed out in a re-run of the St Valentine's Day massacre. "But the food was sensational. Spectacular."And indeed it was. The floor show was just a fantastic extra. I bet they do it every Sunday night at 10pm. Not quite so, it seems. While (very roughly) translated 'Las Vegas' means 'The Meadows', a 1980s mock-Tudor estate in Tunbridge Wells this is not. The history of the desert town at the bottom of a valley in the Mojave Desert is well known. Mobsters wanting somewhere to play, clean up their ill-gotten cash and do what mobsters do. They'd mostly been driven out of California. In 1946, Bugsy Siegel built The Flamingo Hotel for his associates. Although high on notoriety, it was low on income and Bugsy got "offed", as they say, a year later. But the money in the mirage in the desert was clear to see and wave after wave of themed hotels grew up mimicking Paris, Venice, New York, Rome, Egypt and Vegas, which celebrates 100 years as a city next year, became the entertainment capital of the world, and the spiritual home of Elvis and Frank, and Dean and world championship boxing. These days the electoral roll might still list a few good old gangsters, but there are more than million good guys too. And girls. They aren't all molls or mistresses or lap dancers. There's a few though. It wouldn't be Las Vegas without them. This sinsational City is mending its ways; or at least most of them. There is gambling galore in the casinos around which every humungous hotel is built. But you can holiday here now and hardly notice the gaming. I didn't even have one bet. Honest. I was too busy doing other things. That's because Las Vegas is no longer simply a Mecca to Mammon or whacky marriage chapels or parlours where they dye your poodle pink. You can still do the tacky if that's what you want, but Vegas understood a while ago it needed to hoik itself up market. Since the 1980s, it has developed as a business centre, created manufacturing plants and service industry. So there are corporate gangsters here now. Like every successful town. So there are five-star restaurants, stellar entertainment, golf courses, beauty and therapy spas, a stunning natural environment on its doorstep and all the world's greatest stores within walking distance in and around the brave new multi billion City Center development to keep even the most desperate of housewives happy... and rival tourist destinations at bay. Vegas had to smarten itself up to compete with the Dubais and Macaus of the world. Visitors wanted more. And the one-time casino capital had to invest in other areas. While once famed for its "eat as much as you want for ten bucks" buffets, Vegas is now keen to show off its classy culinary side and offer gastronomic delights from across the galaxy. The choice is truly cosmic. Piero's: a traditional Italian still serving fabulous fayre after decades, was a good place to start. It's a stand-alone restaurant. But many are attached to the hotels. And each hotel has several top-notch diners. One of the newest mega residences is 4,004-room Aria, boasting Julian Serrano's sexy eaterie. There's the redoubtable old favourite Rao's at Caesars Palace. But there are legions of others at the palace too. Most notably Restaurant Guy Savoy, the three-star Michelin chef's only US property. Famed for perhaps the best steaks in the world is Carnevino, at the Palazzo. Or the simply sensational Switch at Encore, so-called because the walls and ceiling "switch" every twenty minutes so you eat in "different" places three times an hour. It can be quality without having to be too super-slick. The Nine Fine Irishmen, at New York New York (the restaurant was actually made in Ireland and shipped out to desert for authenticity) is good old Irish and British fayre and as much "craic" as you can handle. Celebrity chef Rick Moonen, a passionate environmentalist and champion of sustainable food, is as a relative newcomer to Vegas and has perhaps the best take on the supper scene on the Strip. Taking a break from the kitchen at Mandalay Bay, which offers one of the most attractive menus anywhere, he says: "Five years ago, we were still finding ourselves. But now the top restaurants in Las Vegas can compete with the top ten restaurants in any city in the world."Before or after eating, there's always a great show nearby. The hotels also house some of the globe's finest auditoria often the home from home for showbiz icons like Manilow, Cher or Celine Dion or the simply unbelievably spectacular productions Mystere or LeReve, often masterminded by the astonishing Cirque Du Soleil. There's magic and mime and look-alikes and even the classic tits-with-everything Busby Berkeley-style Jubilee, still running after three decades. Although the girls have changed. Though their outrageous feathered gowns - and headwear - the produce of at least three tropical rainforests - haven't. Too expensive these days and while one local resident, Liberace, had an outfit made out of monkey hair, the world has turned a little. Food in the upmarket restaurants comes in around London prices. You'd get away with about £40-a-head without wine, including the tip. But you could spend considerable more. The variety of wines on offer is huge and priced accordingly. Outside on the Strip, there's every kind of fast food joint to keep the bill down. Shows start at about £50 a ticket. But can be more for the big-name acts. Forget the price. You're on vacation. And if you want to get away from the madness of the Strip, why not calm down in one of the resort's array of spas? I went to the uber-luxurious Wynn Las Vegas and Encore spa where for just 150 bucks, the lovely Oni performed a deep-tissue fusion massage on my tired old body and said in that fetching Korean way of hers: "You very cricky."I mumbled something only to be drowned out by the clunk-click of my vertebrae re-engaging. Now I was ready to get out of town for a while on a white-knuckle ride in a pink jeep into the mountains surrounding Vegas to take in a little of the environment and take a look back at "The Meadows". These 4x4s are as comfortable as they get and a day in native American country was a good perspective on what was going on down their in the valley. Those who have been to Vegas before will notice the costs have risen gradually, not only because of the slumping wedge of sterling in your pocket which turns into far fewer greenbacks these days. A bottle of Bud in a bar is around a fiver. Spirits and mixers around a tenner. You'll find cheaper off Strip, in the bars and hotels and in areas used by locals. The rooms at the quality Strip hotels aren't the inexpensive deal they once were. You can get into a four-star for around £80 to £100. But there are deals to be done and packages normally come in cheaper. The Vegas experience is not the cheap date she once was. She offers a little more these days and wants a little more for her time and trouble. But she's worth it. And remember, the weather comes free. Only Vegas as they say in these parts. Yes, indeed. Only in Vegas. And the gangsters come free too. Now, here comes the writer and self-declared fan of edgy, avant-garde music Carl Wilson to write about her best-known album, Let's Talk About Love. It is, on the face of it, a rather perverse undertaking, the kind of contrarianism you might have assumed was passé even in the early 1990s, when a wave of Oxbridge graduates managed to blag their way onto the pages of the broadsheets by waxing lyrical about the Steve Wright radio show and the movies of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Wilson doesn't pretend he's a fan of Dion's music; early on, he describes it as "Oprah Winfrey-approved chicken soup for the consumerist soul". What he's trying to do is perform "an experiment in taste, in stepping deliberately outside one's own aesthetics". Those aesthetics revolve round sonic invention, erotic power, subcultural potency and, sometimes, authorial intention. By contrast, Dion's songs are written by other people, aimed at mainstream and relatively mature audiences, and almost entirely lacking in throb or libidinal promise. Small wonder that Wilson is startled to discover that Dion is beloved in Jamaica, particularly by those living in the island's roughest neighbourhoods where the sound systems often pump out her tunes at full blast. She's just as popular in Asia - cassettes of her songs blare out of market stalls in Kabul's central market - as she is in Ghana, where her lyrics have popularised Valentine's Day. In Iraq, the US military broadcast her music on local radio stations in order to showcase a gentler side of the West. The book is especially interesting on Dion's background. The youngest of 14 children, she was born into a very poor family, several members of which had to share a bed. Her father was a butcher and factory worker. From him she derived her strong work ethic, performing almost nightly at Las Vegas for three years, learning Japanese and Spanish in order to conquer new markets, and sometimes going for days without speaking in order to preserve her voice. Some of her early, French-language songs dealt with dark themes - Aids, the plight of Algerian immigrants in France - and to this day she maintains a strong humanitarian impulse that, in the context of contemporary American political discourse, borders on the revolutionary. A case in point is the extraordinary in 2005 (available on YouTube) to talk about her million-dollar donation to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund. Sitting in her dressing room at Caesar's Palace, a mere 30 minutes before appearing on stage, she tried to hold back tears while lashing out against Federal inertia and the demonisation of looters: "Maybe some of those people are so poor… they've never touched anything in their lives. Let them touch those things for once… How come it's so easy to send planes in another country to kill everyone in a second." Wilson draws liberally from the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's theories about how so much of what we call good taste is a matter of social groups trying to create cultural distinction for themselves. His book is intelligent and often moving. He places the singer, accurately I think, in the tradition of schmaltz, a loaded term, but one that describes a pre-urban, pre-Tin Pan Alley form of immigrant music rich in melodrama, romantic excess and working-class sentimentality. His tone gets increasingly emotional as he goes on, convincing in his belief that music criticism should be more empathetic. After finishing the book, I listened again to Let's Talk About Love: it's no classic, but it had certainly grown on me.All you need to know about this year’s 'Best Picture’ nominations: In one line Hollywood starlet struggles to adapt to talkies – then a dog (right, with Bérénice Bejo) steals the show. Trivia The first silent film to receive a 'Best Picture’ nomination since 1929. Despite having no dialogue, it is, curiously, also nominated in the Best Original Screenplay category. Odds Front-runner. In one line Travails of a French boy who lives in Montparnasse station and watches over unique and magical goings-on, such as the Parisian railway staff not going on strike. Trivia Director Martin Scorsese’s first film shot in 3D, a technology that makes him look fatter, but sadly not taller. Odds Dark horse. In one line An emotionally distant man looks his mid-life crisis in the eye from his priceless spot of untouched Hawaiian real-estate. Trivia George Clooney (right) and his fictional daughters watch March of the Penguins, which – like The Artist and Hugo – is another Academy Award-nominated French film starring animals. Odds Rank outsider. In one line Does for race relations between maid and master in the Sixties’ Deep South what Downton Abbey does for class in entre-deux-guerres England, though with fewer people dying of Spanish flu. Trivia Features Sissy Spacek, previously nominated for causing telekinetic mayhem in blood-bathed horror, Carrie. Odds Late mover. In one line With Steven Spielberg pulling the strings, the National Theatre’s astonishingly real First World War drama about the separation of a Devon farmhand from his beloved horse, featuring wooden puppets, is transformed into an astonishingly wooden drama featuring real horses. Trivia No animals were harmed in the making of this film, but Spielberg’s reputation among critics has taken a knock. Odds Cart horse. In one line Baseball manager drafts in a geeky number-cruncher to comb game statistics, buy up undervalued players and produce a team capable of winning the World Series (yeah, right). Trivia Based on the true story of low-budget Oakland Athletics’ unexpectedly successful 2002 season. Odds Flogging a dead horse. In one line Francophile boy (above) sets out on a quest to find meaning in his father’s death in the 9/11 attacks, while bored critics amuse themselves by inventing a thousand puns based on the film’s title. Trivia 82-year-old Max von Sydow, who plays a mute Dresden-bombing survivor, is nominated for Best Supporting Actor despite not uttering a word. Odds Refused to leave the stall. In one line A needy, nerdy, nervous and emotionally complicated middle-aged man ponders his relationship with one beautiful woman while being pursued by another, as per every other Woody Allen film – but this one involves time travel and drafts in Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso and Zelda Fitzgerald. Trivia It’s the most commercially successful film of Woody Allen’s career, grossing more than $100 million worldwide. Odds Lame. In one line Epic, non-narrative (read ponderous) take on one man’s life, from childhood through to an increasingly disillusioned adulthood, fashioned from an impressionistic rush of images, from bubbles and butterflies to a wounded dinosaur. Trivia fact Weirdest of all, Mel Gibson was considered for a role. Odds Glue factory. THE DESIGNERS Who ought to be wearing what? It’s a big night for the world’s fashion industry – because those beautiful people on the red carpet aren’t going to dress themselves, are they? Forget about the films, the Oscars is one long parade of glamorous gowns, glittering jewels and – perhaps best of all – hilarious fashion faux-pas that will be leapt upon by squads of fashion police watching every hemline, catty remarks at the ready. Get it wrong on the red carpet, and Hollywood vilifies you for evermore. Who can forget Celine Dion’s back-to-front white suit, Gwyneth Paltrow turning up in a translucent bustier and taffeta skirt by Alexander McQueen, or Demi Moore’s cycling shorts and bustier ensemble, an effort from 1989 that – eek! – she ran up herself. Few will ever wear a dress as ghastly as Björk’s 2001 swan-themed catastrophe, but will the stars play it safe this year, go for the craziest couture, or take a risk with the current vogue for vintage? These are the designers whose collections are most in demand. Giorgio Armani The Italian’s maestro’s classic elegance is made for a night at the Oscars. Perfect for Angelina Jolie (left). Why She needs to play it ultra-safe. Who wouldn’t err on the side of caution after the Elvira shocker by Versace that she wore in 2006? Elie Saab The Lebanese designer specialises in princessy beaded gowns in a palette of sweet shop colours. Just add glass slippers. Perfect for Bérénice Bejo (The Artist). Why Because the star of a fairy-tale story needs fairy-tale style. Zac Posen For colourful, floor-length gowns that are anything but basic, and just a little bit daring. Perfect for Shailene Woodley (The Descendants). Why To announce that the youthful 20 year-old is the new Hollywood darling. Givenchy Couture Cheeky contemporary looks designed for all-out wow. Perfect for Rooney Mara (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; above). Why Only the star of this goth gore-fest could carry off such daring designs. THE GOODY BAGS Haven’t you heard, the era of conspicuous consumption is over? Today’s celebrities are responsible, environmentally aware folk, in touch with their own feelings as well as the mood on the street. Absolutely not the types ostentatiously to scoop up bagfuls of Apple gadgets and expensive watches and run screaming in delight to the limo. No, these days, goody bags to take home are out – but ''gifting suites’’ to drop in to are in. Every A-lister in town will be invited to various hotels and, in the privacy of the conference facilities, pick out some gifts. Last year, gauche fripperies – trips to Monte Carlo, Tiffany crystal-studded cat collars – were all the rage. But times have changed. This year’s gift list includes a luxury elephant safari in Botswana worth $15,000, as well as a hand-sanitiser in a $135 gold-and-crystal jelly sleeve. Choose carefully as the IRS classes such giveaways as taxable income. THE PEOPLEA “Who’s that...?” guide to the celebrities who’ll be gracing the red carpetBilly CrystalHost of the ceremony, a role he’s performed eight times before. Now as famous for handing out statuettes as watching Meg Ryan fake an orgasm. On the night, he’s nice about everyone, which is boring, but it’s the main reason they keep asking him back. Meryl StreepThe one-time front-runner for Best Actress – for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady – is now tipped to be pipped by Viola Davis (The Help), right. Watch out for her losing a heel, a trick she perfected at the recent Baftas. From shoo-in to shoe off. George ClooneyA debonair, sophisticated and talented Cary Grant de nos jours, which is not bad for a man whose big break was a role in Return of the Killer Tomatoes. Michael FassbenderIrish actor whose turn as a sex addict in Shame has been cruelly overlooked by the Academy. Maybe a slavish, uncontrollable desire to get young women naked is not considered acting in Hollywood. Jessica ChastainFlavour of the month. Nominated for The Help (left), but if required can accept on behalf of The Debt, Tree of Life, Texas Killing Fields, Take Shelter and Coriolanus. …AND ONE THAT WON’T Uggie the DogAn appearance by the 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier – the real star of The Artist – would greatly enliven the Oscars, but is unlikely, as he has been retired from showbiz with a mystery nerve illness. THE BLUB-OMETER Who’s likely to cry when receiving their statuette ? Meryl Streep The lady’s not for weeping – she’s won twice before. Dry as a bone. 1/5Gary Oldman Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Blubber? Not likely. 2/5Michelle Williams An audience with Michelle is not complete without her fighting back tears. Put the plumber on stand-by. 3/5Glenn Close Major waterworks if she finally takes home an award. 4/5Glenn Close But nothing compared to the wailing if she doesn’t. Flood warning 5/5 THE HOST'S JOKESBilly Crystal likes to be liked, so he’s expected to pick targets who can’t talk back – such as the French-speaking stars of The Artist, and animal 'actors’ – Uggie the Jack Russell terrier, Cosmo the canine star of Beginners, Joey the War Horse. On the other hand, Miss Piggy, who will be dressed in specially commissioned designer robes to present an award with Kermit (see below), will definitely talk back. And karate chop. Crystal likes to make an entrance. In past ceremonies, he has arrived on stage on a horse, on a giant Oscar statuette, on a mock-up of the Titanic, and dressed as Hannibal Lecter. This year he’s odds on to come on as the Iron Lady. Whether he’ll announce that Hollywood is dispatching a Task Force to the Falklands is unclear – as is whether Sean Penn can be conscripted. THE SPEECHESKey words to listen out for during the thank-yousIt’s always the same. The demure star from whom you want to hear more says a polite “Thanks” and leaves the stage. The most vacuous airhead has to be prised from the rostrum. Studies of recent Oscar acceptance speeches suggest a clear trend away from thanking God, towards thanking one’s spouse. Similarly, actors today are more likely to talk about their “film”, not their “movie” (too gung-ho American). And the crew are more likely than ever to get an honourable mention, especially those without-whoms who helped an actor prepare physically for a role. Natalie Portman name-checked her ballet tutor for Black Swan, Christian Bale the fitness instructor who helped him thin down for The Fighter. The words most mentioned last year were “wonderful”, “amazing”, “incredible” and “great”, which it surely was for “parents” the “crew”, the “cast”, the “team” and “the family” (it’s a Sicilian thing). But, like God, there’s little mention these days for another key player – the “agent”. Unless you’re Miramax’s Harvey Weinstein, who always gets a nod from the podium. Excepting three years ago, when Kate Winslet was roundly criticised for failing to pay tribute to the mogul. ...AND INTRODUCING THE BEST-DRESSED IN SHOWOne starlet will take particular pride in her designer gown, following her recent and rather unlikely transformation into a fashion muse. Step forward Miss Piggy, tour de force of the Muppets, who will be dressed by Zac Posen for Hollywood’s most glamorous night. Posen, who has previously dressed Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts, has created what may be the fashion spectacle of the evening. The porcine actress told The Sunday Telegraph: “Moi will wear a très fabulous dress. It’s designed to make George, Brad and Kermie drool all over me.”Miss Piggy’s new-found interest in fashion follows her star role in the latest Muppet film, in which she plays the “plus-size” fashion editor of French Vogue. Her character wears Chanel tweed and sports a bob hairstyle similar to that of Anna Wintour, the editor of American Vogue. Miss Piggy will attend the ceremony with her partner, Kermit the Frog. The couple, nominated in the best song category, will also join the stellar list of presenters including Halle Berry, Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie to present an award. Kermit will be dressed by the American label Brooks Brothers. Miss Piggy added: “After success as an actress, singer, diva, supermodel, moi decided to try being a fashion muse. No sooner did I start musing than the most talented and amazing designers clamoured to fill moi’s closet. With a body like moi’s, I can make any outfit work.”Zac Goldsmith MP (Con) Patron, Greener upon Thames Roz Savage Patron, Greener upon Thames Sir David Attenborough Dame Vivienne Westwood Shaun Spiers Chief Executive, Campaign to Protect Rural England Dr Jane Goodall Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace David de Rothschild British Adventurer and Environmentalist Jeff Bridges Academy Award Winning Actor Jackson Browne Musician Natalie Massenet Founder, Net-A-Porter John Bird MBE Founder, Big Issue Andrew Lindsay MBE Olympic Gold medallist Rowing Baroness Kramer House of Lords Siobhain McDonagh MP (Lab) John Sauven Executive Director, Greenpeace UK Stanley Johnson Author, 'Where the Wild Things Were’Dianna Cohen Co-Founder, Plastic Pollution Coalition and Artist Marcus Eriksen Anna Cummins Founders, 5 Gyres Institute Dr Sue Kinsey Litter Policy Officer, Marine Conservation Society Andy Cummins Campaigns Director, Surfers Against Sewage Simone Spray Director of Programmes, Keep Britain Tidy Mark Lloyd Chief Executive, Angling Trust Professor Richard Thompson Professor of Marine Biology, University of Plymouth Dan Haifley Executive Director, O’Neill Sea Odyssey Martin Bourque Executive Director, Ecology Centre, Berkeley California Sue Vang Californians Against Waste Emily Jeffers Staff Attorney, Center for Biological Diversity, San Francisco CA. Michiel Roscam Abbing The Plastic Soup Foundation Maria Westerbos The Plastic Soup Foundation Sydney MacInnis Founder, Mothering Mother Jay Sinha Co-Founder & Co-Owner, Life Without Plastic Céline Cousteau Founder, CauseCentric Productions Bill McKibben Author, 'The end of Nature’ and 'Eaarth’Mike Dilger Naturalist, Writer and TV Presenter Polly Higgins Lawyer/Author, 'Eradicating Ecocide’ and ’Earth is our Business.’Mark Sanders-Barwick Sea Shepherd Member, Founder of Big Green Factory Shaun MacGillivray Managing Director, One World One Ocean Campaign Dan Epstein Director of Sustainability, Useful Simple Trust Edward Scott-Clarke Director, LMV Productions, writer/producer ,“Plastic Shores”Beth Terry Author, 'Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too’Tony McNally Managing Director, Climate Change Solutions Martin Birley Consultant International Health Impact Assessment Alan Knight OBE International Animal Rescue and British Divers Marine Life Rescue Alex S Earl Executive Director, Project AWARE Foundation Jennifer Constant Associate Director, Project AWARE Foundation Suzanne Pleydell Director, PADI Europe, Middle East & Africa & Project AWARE Foundation Michael Glazebrook Chair, Greener Upon Thames Marilyn Mason Transition Town Kingston Colin Cooper Chief Officer, South West London Environment Network (SWLEN) Jean Loveland Ham United Group Trish Pargeter Greener Upon Thames Sabina Lucia Greener Upon Thames Sarah Dixon Greener Upon Thames Andrea Craig Greener Upon Thames London TW9 ‘I Believe’, arranged by Foster himself, is a tender operatic ballad which unites Jenkins and Bocelli on record for the first time.In addition to the October 26 release of the ‘Believe’ album, Jenkins will embark on an 11 date UK arena tour in March 2010. However despite their scale, the modern ceremonies retain all the traditional elements decreed by the IOC. The protocol, developed over the years as different elements have been added, lays out guidelines for the alphabetical order of the athletes' march, the symbolic release of pigeons, the raising of the Olympic flag and the taking of the Olympic Oath. 1896 Athens, Panathinaiko Stadium14 nations and 245 athletes competed at the first modern international Olympic games, and 80,000 spectators attended the opening ceremony. The song that would be officially designated the Olympic anthem in the 1958 Tokyo Games was performed for the first time, composed by Spiros Samaras with words by Kostis Palamas. 1908 London, White City StadiumThe enormous White City stadium held 150,000 spectators, with seating for 68,000. However, with tickets priced at eight guineas for a box seat and two shillings and sixpence for a seat in an upper tier, it was not the most affordable show in town. During the ceremony, spectators were treated to a display by gymnasts from the London Polytechnic and a procession of athletes. Mild controversy arose when the US flag was somehow omitted from the display above the stadium, convincing the Americans that the British were biased against them and provoking the US flag bearer, Ralph Rose, to refuse to dip his flag to the royal box as an act of defiance. 1920 Antwerp, Olympisch StadionFounder of the International Olympic Committee Pierre de Coubertin created the Olympic flag that was flown for the first time in Antwerp, after its official presentation four years earlier at the Paris Games. The flag's design of five interlocking rings to represent five continents is still used, but its accompanying motto, Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger), quickly disappeared. The Antwerp opening ceremony was also significant because it was the first time that doves were released as a symbol of peace, and that the Athlete’s Oath was introduced. Belgian water polo player and swimmer Victor Boin was the first athlete to take it, swearing on the Olympic flag on behalf of all the athletes to respect the rules of the Games. In ancient Greek Olympics it had been customary to make a similar oath, but with the entrails of an animal as the object on which it focused. 1928 Amsterdam, Olympisch StadionTwo key traditions were established in Amsterdam, the first being the Olympic flame, which was lit during the opening ceremony to reflect the ancient Greek respect for fire as a divine element. The set order for the parade of nations was also confirmed, with Greece leading the procession and the host country bringing up the rear. 1936 Berlin, Olympic StadiumHitler's Olympics in 1936 gave the opening ceremony format a dramatic overhaul. Hitler was not a sports fan, but was eventually convinced by his Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, that the Games would be an opportunity to showcase his vision of the 'new Germany'. The ceremony featured 7,000 children acting out Aryan ideals in terms of sport, honour and community. The music was composed by two promising young German musicians, Carl Orff and Werner Egk, and Richard Strauss wrote an "Olympische Hymne". Anticipation built over whether the athletes attending from 51 nations would give the Nazi salute, with the arm straight and pointing forward, or the more defiant Olympic salute, with the arm out to the right, as they passed Hitler in the parade. Most countries gave an ambiguous-looking salute to avoid trouble, though the British and Americans refused to raise an arm at all. The torch relay also took place for the first time in 1936, when it journeyed from Olympia, in Greece, to Germany, carried by around 3000 runners. 1948 London, Wembley StadiumThe 'Austerity Games' were the first to be held since 1936 due to World War II. 85,000 spectators watched as 2,500 racing pigeons were released and the flame was lit by athlete John Mark, to a 21 gun salute. The opening ceremony cost £600,000 to stage, and the BBC reportedly paid £1000 for the right to broadcast it. To mark the first Games in 12 years, former gold medal winner and Chairman of the Organising Committee Lord Burghley opened his speech with the following words to King George VI: "Your Majesty: The hour has struck. A visionary dream has today become a glorious reality. At the end of the worldwide struggle in 1945, many institutions and associations were found to have withered and only the strongest had survived. How, many wondered, had the great Olympic Movement prospered?" 1956 Melbourne, Cricket GroundThe Olympic flame was kept alight in a miner's lamp as it was flown to Australia in a plane, and soon became the subject of the greatest prank in Olympic history. Set up by students from the University of Sydney protesting against the Nazi-invented torch relay, the hoax involved Barry Larkin and eight other students delivering a fake torch, made from a wooden chair leg and topped with a pair of flaming underpants held in a plum pudding can, to Sydney mayor Pat Hills. The plan succeeded: police didn't look closely enough at Larkin running through the streets, assuming he was the real runner, Harry Dillon. The mayor was too busy talking and didn't look at the torch he was handed, so Larkin slipped away unnoticed as Hills held it aloft. Despite the uproar that followed when the plot was uncovered, the ensuing Games were a success – known in later years as the 'Friendly Games'. 1964 Tokyo, Olympic StadiumThe 1964 Games were the first in Asia and the organisers chose 19-year-old Yoshinori Sakai (known as 'Baby Hiroshima'), who was born close to the blast zone on the day an atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, to light the torch. 1984 Los Angeles, Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles was a turning point in terms of opening ceremony scale. The last couple of decades had seen cultural dances and traditional music played as the historic elements of the ceremonies were carried out, but they were nothing compared to the entertainment value of the LA Games. Hundreds of grand pianos were set up on the stadium's floor, and a spaceman powered by a Bell Aerosystems jetpack flew over the delighted audience. On his exit, hundreds of white balloons carrying the word 'Welcome' in 140 different languages were released into the sky by the performers. Finally, every single spectator held up a card from under their seat, to reveal the national flags of all the competing nations in an incredible mosaic. The competitive bar was set high. 1988 Seoul, Olympic StadiumUnfortunately, the Seoul Olympics will be remembered for shattering what had become a key Olympic opening ceremony tradition. Just after the Olympic flame was lit in its cauldron in the stadium, live doves were released on either side. Most flew off as intended, but a few of the more dozy birds stopped to perch on the edge of the cauldron and were scorched or burnt alive. After this, organisers stopped using real birds and replaced them with symbolic representations. More positive elements of the ceremony included a mass taekwondo demonstration and the formation of the Olympic rings in the sky above the stadium by a skydiving team. 1992 Barcelona, Estadi Olímpic de MontjuïcBy 1992, director Ric Birch had established himself as official producer of Olympic opening ceremonies after his involvement in Los Angeles in 1984. He went on to assist with both the Sydney and Beijing ceremonies in later years. In Barcelona, his main coup in a £10m show was commissioning Paralympic athlete Antonio Rebollo to light the Olympic torch by firing a flaming arrow towards it. The other great highlight of the night was a performance of ‘Barcelona’ composed by Freddie Mercury and recorded as a duet with Montserrat Caballé. Mercury had died from Aids eight months earlier. 1996 Atlanta 83,000 spectators were thrilled when the secret torch lighter was revealed as Muhammed Ali, severely weakened by Parkinson's disease but able to hold the flame to the cauldron. His participation famously moved President Bill Clinton to tears, though several other elements in the £15m ceremony could also have been held to account, including Celine Dion's performance of The Power of the Dream and Gladys Knight's Georgia on my Mind. 2000 Sydney, Stadium AustraliaRic Birch came into his own once more, managing 12,697 performers in an extravagant show costing £20m. The torch was lit by Aboriginal sprinter Cathy Freeman to mark the 100th anniversary of women’s inclusion in the Games and a crowd of dancing fire breathers advanced across the stadium representing the approach of a bushfire. Live streaming of the show was controversially banned after the FBI warned that hackers and anti-Olympic protesters might sabotage the event. Anti-games feeling had reached an all-time high the year before the show after the organising committee commissioned 1,300 teenage musicians to play in the ceremony, only to change their minds and cancel the deal later. 2004 Greece, the Olympic Stadium in MaroussiThough it now seems unthinkable given Greece's parlous economic state, a £35m budget was set aside for director Dimitris Papaioannou's homage to the country where the Games began. 72,000 people filled the Olympic Stadium to watch 2,600 Greek performers, and the ceremony was the first to be broadcast on high definition TV. Opening with a 28-second countdown to mark the number of Games held since Athens was last the host, the show continued with memorable drama. A giant pool of water flooded the floor of the stadium, and was drained in three minutes flat to allow the athletes to start their parade. Later, as singer Björk launched into her song Oceania, her dress steadily unfurled over the athletes below into an enormous sheet, onto which was projected a map of the world. 2008 Beijing, the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest)91,000 people, including 11,000 VIPs, crowded into the Bird's Nest Stadium for the $100m show of a lifetime. As August 8, chosen as a lucky date, approached, seats in the stadium began selling for as much as £15,000 on eBay. The spectators were not disappointed: over 15,000 performers had practised for 12 months to put on an incredibly polished display. Few of those who watched, even on television, could forget the 2,008 drummers playing special Fou drums with inbuilt LED lights, working precisely in time with each other to illuminate giant numbers counting down to the official opening time. The 35,000 fireworks lighting up the Bird's Nest in red, orange, pink and white were the spectacular end to Zhang Yimou's ceremony. The Olympic HymnImmortal spirit of antiquity, Father of the true, beautiful and good, Descend, appear, shed over us thy light Upon this ground and under this sky Which has first witnessed the unperishable fame. Give life and animation to those noble games! Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors In the race and in the strife! Create in our breasts, hearts of steel! In thy light, plains, mountains and seas Shine in a roseate hue and form a vast temple To which all nations throng to adore thee, Oh immortal spirit of antiquity! It’s exciting to visit a shop that embraces creativity as DSM does. The window displays more often feature artistic installations than malnourished mannequins and, like the rest of the interior, are something of a tourist attraction in themselves. On the day of my visit a gaggle of Brazilian fashion bloggers were touring the shop alongside a collective of Japanese schoolgirls and a smattering of shoppers. An abundance of staff was there too, dutifully folding clothes and looking attractive. Friendly, approachable and eager to help, they seemed passionate about their jobs but I was surprised and disappointed by how uninformed they were about their surroundings and the products available. I asked how much Comme des Garçons’ DSM t-shirts cost. Nobody really knew but after collaborating on the answer I was eventually told they range from £75-£90 – I was later informed they start at £25. The shacks that house the tills and dominate the space were made from salvaged material either from South Africa or Japan but nobody was certain; a hulking series of metal shades that covered an entire wall were available for sale, but the sales attendant couldn't remember the price. It was either £10,000 or… £50,000. Madonna and Celine Dion 'biggest worldwide concert draws' Madonna and Celine Dion were the biggest worldwide concert draws in 2008, together selling more than $500 million (£346m) worth of tickets for their epic shows, according to box office figures.They had to return his kit to him in July. Just three days later officers were called to a noisy party at Sigston's house. The unit seized Sigston's stereo, TV and computer. Sigston admitted three charges of breaching a noise abatement order at Medway magistrates court. The nuisance neighbour got a conditional discharge for 12 months and a forfeiture order for his CD players, mixers, amplifier and speakers. JPs warned Sigston he would not get them back and ordered him to pay £1,100 costs. Cllr Mike O'Brien, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact, said afterwards: "There is nothing worse than annoyingly relentless loud music being played by a neighbour. I am glad we have been able to help those that are living nearby this man as he was determined to carry on playing music loudly without a thought for others."It is a plight that has inspired her next series, which will air on Channel 4 this autumn, in which she will investigate why British fashion fails properly to recognise women in their forties, fifties and beyond. "At the moment in fashion, youth represents sex appeal, and the fashion industry and the media are responsible for this. We need to shift perceptions.""It's about fashion that's age-appropriate that can also be glamorous and sexy," says Portas, who, as part of her new series, will open a shop that will radically reinvent how fashion is sold to older women. "Even if businesses do cater for older women, they don't want to show it. I want to challenge that. There are so many women who don't want to be sold clothes by a size-8, 18-year-old shop assistant. These are the most powerful and influential consumers, so why aren't they being served?"According to Mintel, UK women aged between 50 and 69 buy more designer fashion and luxury goods than any other group, while the over-55s also control about 80 per cent of the country's wealth – a pot that is estimated to grow to £6.4 billion by 2014. For those women with disposable income, it's frustrating when the high street doesn't deliver. "Women over 40 are just coming into their power. They have money and they look after themselves, too," says fortysomething Caroline Evans, who once worked in fashion retail and now runs a luxury accessories line, Moncrief. "I have friends who are in their forties but dress as though they are in their twenties. I don't want to emulate that – I want to be fabulous and elegant."Evans adapts most of the pieces that she buys, using a tailor to rework the cuts or reshape pieces. "There are clothes out there, but they are not on the high street," says Evans. "Where is the amazing tailoring, beautiful fabrics, shapely jackets? Where are the really good, multi-functioning pieces?"For many women, the cut and quality of clothes is key. "The fit needs to be different for older women," says Lorna Donovan, who is in her fifties and lives in Cheshire. "I'm not fat – I'm a size 12 – but a young woman has skinny arms, while an older woman's arms are bigger. Occasionally, I buy from the high street, but most of the time I shop at boutiques because I get a better cut and the fabrics are better, too."Susie Forbes, the chic editor of Easy Living magazine, agrees: "I think that, too often, it is the quality of high-street clothes – not the style – that fails the more mature customer. When you are young, clothes are all about style over quality, but as you get older and your body shape changes, that all goes into reverse."Aside from fit, the shifting profile of women over 40 can confuse retailers, too. "There's a preconception that, over 40, you get more conservative and grown-up, and I'm not sure that's true," says Brenda Polan, director of programmes (media) at the London College of Fashion. "One of the problems with the shops that think they cater for the over-40s is that they are very dull – not classic, just dull."Polan is adamant that there are good clothes out there, but admits that sometimes it's hard to find them.But, as Portas asks, why aren't retailers plainly advertising their wares to the right consumers? Sandra Halliday, global managing director of the trend-forecasting agency WGSN, says that retailers are offering plenty of clothes for women over 40 on the high street, but the message retailers are projecting can be very confused. "There's an image problem," she says. "Either shops seem too young, or they advertise the fact that they are a destination for middle-aged women, which is equally off-putting."Halliday says that some retailers try very hard to correct this, citing M&S's multi-generational ads. "It's a powerful example of a retailer saying this is for you and for your daughter."However, some retailers are making strides. Stores such as Banana Republic and Cos – the cool off-shoot of H&M – have filled a gap in the market for well-cut pieces that are fashionable but not too young.Wallis now collaborates with Yasmin Le Bon, who is 45, producing collections that are both elegant and alluringly ageless. "We couldn't afford to ignore these women – we wouldn't have a business," says Anne Secunda, brand director for Wallis. "But I believe it's about attitude not age now. Women in their fifties and sixties want to look fashionable and sexy."Jane Shepherdson, the woman behind the renaissance of Whistles, agrees. "There are some things that do change as you get older – maybe your hemlines come down a bit – but I think it is about confidence, too. We spend a lot of time in stores talking about how things would be worn and put together. We have mothers and daughters who shop together, but they would wear things in a different way."The ultimate shift will surely come from designers rather than retailers. After what seems like almost a decade of the international catwalks being dominated by cocktail dresses and super-sexy party-wear, designers are finally waking up to the real day-to-day needs of women. The recent round of autumn/winter shows was brimming with clothes that all ages of women could wear, from sleek trouser suits and elegant dresses to gorgeous outerwear and clean-cut basics.Why is this happening now? The recession has made luxury labels reconsider their approach, and well-designed classics are sure-fire winners when women have less money.But the shift in mood can also be laid at the door of Céline's Phoebe Philo. In reviving the French luxury house, Philo – one of the industry's most influential players – has put beautiful classics at the heart of her design philosophy. Her designs for Céline are out of reach for most women, but Philo's influence guarantees that soon her aesthetic will be trickling down on a high street near you. Genie In A Bottle singer Christina Aguilera, another singer with a sideline in perfume, takes the seventh spot, while country singer Faith Hill was placed eighth. Controversial group the Dixie Chicks - who by apologising to a British audience on behalf of the US for electing President George W Bush - and R&B diva Mariah Carey round out the top ten. Forbes.com's highest-paid female music artists: 1. Madonna - $72m (£36.1m) 2. Barbra Streisand - $60m (£30.1m) 3. Celine Dion - $45 (£22.6m) 4. Shakira - $38m (£19.2m) 5. Beyonce - $27m (£13.5m) 6.Gwen Stefani - $26m (£13m) 7.Christina Aguilera - $20m (£10m) 8. Faith Hill - $19m (£9.5m) 9. Dixie Chicks - $18m (£9m) 10. Mariah Carey - $13m (£6.5m) Chances are Bublé hasn’t actually spent much time in that living room. He’s been busy for much of this year, recording his fourth album, Crazy Love. Like its predecessors, it largely comprises well-rendered cover versions: of Georgia On My Mind, of Cry Me A River, of the Van Morrison title track. But it also features, for the first time, a couple of songs that Bublé has had a heavy hand in writing. One, the lead single, Haven’t Met You Yet, is a Radio 2-shaped, jaunty, singalong smash-in-waiting. He’s breaking ground in other ways too. Bublé has stepped away from the protective embrace of his mentor, (Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Seal). Foster produced half of Crazy Love, but on the other half Bublé has pursued his own agenda: duetting with Bryan Adams, collaborating with Mark Ronson faves Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, covering cult Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, and avoiding the ‘easy picks’ that Foster – a commercially minded titan with his ears on the pulse of middle America – prefers. On the last album, Foster tried to persuade Bublé to include a cover of Chris de Burgh’s The Lady In Red. Bublé claims to be bullishly unfazed by critics’ sneering at his lack of edge; he says he doesn’t mind being ‘the housewives’ choice’. But even for Bublé this was a cheesy bridge too far. ‘Far too obvious. I can’t do something just because it’s popular.’ Bublé is getting tough. When he asked the boss of his record company, Warner Bros chairman Tom Whalley, how many global album sales they were projecting for Crazy Love, he was told ‘two or three million’. His last album sold six million. Bublé understands that the music industry is in crisis, that artists are selling fewer records. ‘But I said, “no, I’m not the same as other artists, I won’t be affected in the same way. I’m telling you Tom, we’re gonna sell seven or eight million”.’ In what way are you different from other artists? ‘Other artists, they write 13 songs and hopefully one or two of them are successful singles. And the other 11, for the most part, are filler. And I think people have grown tired of spending £15 for the two singles they like, so they download them. And everyone bitches about downloading but a lot of artists put out s--t. And I think part of the reason I’m so fortunate is that I get to cover some of the greatest songs of all time. So there’s quality.’ Back in Casa Bublé, it’s plain to see how lucrative it can be giving the people what they want (that is, old songs, done well) and why corners of his lovely home may lack that fully lived-in feel. There are many other rooms in which to hang out in this property sitting on 15,543 sq ft of land: the room with the giant television; the room with the piano and bar; the basement room with the table-tennis, air-hockey game, darts board, mini-cinema, elephant-sized easy chairs and second bar (backed by a wall-mounted waterfall). Tonight, we (myself and a photographer, two publicists, Bublé’s friends and girlfriend) will also spend much time on the heated patio, with its views over the swimming pool, Burrard Inlet and Bryan Adams’ old place. In the small hours of the night, the thoughts of the ‘Canadian Sinatra’ turn – admittedly, with prompting from me and the contents of half a bottle of whisky – to the spoils of singing other people’s songs in a supper-club-meets-mega-arena manner. Those ‘spoils’, if it’s not too crass, might be said to include his girlfriends. The last time I was in this house, in November 2007, it was to interview the actress Emily Blunt, Bublé’s partner at the time, whom he’d first met at an Australian awards show in 2005. Blunt told me then: ‘Michael’s not really that sort of smooth, sophisticated guy. He’s a bit rough. He’s my bit of rough! And he’s hilarious and we just laughed a lot together, from the get-go. And we’ve laughed a lot ever since. And now I’ve got a nice house as well! So we’re laughing in our nice house.’ Now his partner is , a tiny, doll-like Disney princess-type who’s a superstar in South America. He met the 22 year-old late last year, at one of his shows in Buenos Aires. Off-duty, Bublé is a thoroughly affable, easy-going, dude-in-a-bar-in-a-baseball-cap. He’ll buy you a beer, offer you a cigarette, hanker after a burger – another one – then worry how it’ll sit on his gut. He’s charmingly but clumsily thoughtful when he converses with Lopilato, who spoke only Spanish when they met. He speaks to her like a hesitant Spanish child speaking English. ‘Mi amore, I make an interview,’ he tells her when she telephones during our interview earlier in the day, ‘can… I… call… you… back… in… one… moment?’ He’s a global superstar – ultra-famous in Italy (acknowledging his family’s Italian heritage, the), mobbed in Australia, a Hollywood A-lister who’s buddies with Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal – but who is more interested in being a raving sports fan than being coolly worldly-wise. It just so happens that, courtesy of those 22 million albums, Bublé is a sports fan who can afford to buy a stake in his favourite ice hockey team (the Vancouver Giants) and a chunk of a golf course with permission for 400 houses and condominiums (the Tsawwassen Golf and Country Club). In the wake of Madonna leaving Warner Bros for a hugely ballyhooed new deal with concert promoters Live Nation, Michael Bublé is the label’s biggest star. ‘The success is worth nothing to me if I can’t share it with the people I love,’ he states – and, having met him before, I know he’s not just spouting brand-enhancing platitudes. He lets his friends use his penthouse apartments in the centre of Vancouver. If any of them are getting married and considering Los Angeles for the celebrations, he wants them to use his home there, not splash out on some fancy hotel’s honeymoon suite. He’s bought houses for all his family. ‘I think most of us are like that though. I don’t think I’m doing something that’s crazy…’ But most people don’t give their siblings and parents Christmas gifts of suitcases stuffed with $1m in cash and the deeds to homes, though. ‘Maybe those people haven’t had the family I’ve had. The money never mattered. I’m not kidding you. It hasn’t really brought me any kind of happiness. Maybe a little more comfort – not having to worry about my future and my family’s future. I guess that’s a bigger deal than I make it out to be. But I don’t have anything really fancy.’ He catches himself. ‘I know I say that in the same breath that we talk about buying a hockey team and a golf course, and I have houses and all the s--t!’ he laughs. ‘But I don’t want to wear fancy jewellery.’ He says that he was recently offered a brand-new, top-of-the-range convertible BMW after he agreed to be photographed for an advertisement. ‘I’ve never had so many people give me the finger driving a car! And I got pulled over twice by the cops. I gave it back within a week and a half. It was too ostentatious for me.’ So who – or what – is Michael Bublé? He’s the chubby kid from a small town outside Vancouver who, when his peers were rocking out to Guns N’ Roses, was dreaming of Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé and Dinah Washington. ‘I liked all that [rock] stuff too,’ he protests of his mid-Eighties adolescence. ‘I had long hair, two earrings through each ear, snow-washed jeans, the high-top [trainers]. My denim jacket had “I love GnR” and “I love AC/DC” written all over it.’ But his grandfather, a plumber and music nut, had played him Vic Damone’s version of It Had To Be You when he was 12, and it awoke something in him. ‘I heard this melody wrapped around lyrics that were perfect for each other. A voice that was so beautiful, that hid behind nothing. And it spoke to me because it allowed me to be different. This was a way for me to follow my own beat and not be one of the sheep following what was supposedly edgy and cool.’ But he was the son of an ocean fisherman in a blue-collar town. For all his bruising proficiency on the ice-rink and football field, teenage Bublé’s love of old-fogey music must have marked him out. ‘It was definitely not normal. But a lot of the songs speak about love and all of us can relate to that. So it wasn’t that crazy.’ He pauses and shrugs. ‘Listen, I would love to tell you that I was this wonderfully smart and full-of-integrity kinda guy. But at the same time, man, I wanted to get laid. That was a big part of it! This is why I wanted to be different and why I wanted to have power and fame and money: because I wanted to be attractive to the opposite sex. I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say that was a big part of it.’ Summers were spent deep-sea fishing on his father’s boat. But the rest of the time Bublé sang and smooched his way around the clubs of Vancouver. After school, Bublé gigged for almost a decade. He entertained pensioners on cruise liners, did musical theatre, was a singing telegram. ‘I’d turn up in restaurants, sing Happy Birthday or a love song, dressed in a suit, get 40 bucks, but a lot of the time people wouldn’t pay – ’cause my voice isn’t very loud and they’d want me to embarrass the person and that’s not what I did’. But his doggedness paid off. At a corporate gig in 2000, he passed a CD to an impressed guest. The next day the guest called – he was an aide to the then-Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Bublé was hired to sing at Mulroney’s daughter’s wedding, at which David Foster was a guest. The rest is easy-jazz, big-band-lite history. Courtesy of his rich voice, finger-snapping showmanship and beefed-up Matt-Dillon looks, Michael Bublé was a hit. His work ethic is ferocious: he once flew from an Australian tour to perform on a television show in Paris, then flew straight back Down Under to resume the tour. When he started stepping out with Emily Blunt – then riding high on the acclaim afforded her performance in The Devil Wears Prada – his power/fame/money/sex circle was complete. How, I ask, did his relationship with Blunt, and the end of it (she finished with him in summer 2008), impact on him? ‘One of the worst and greatest things that ever happened to me,’ he says heavily. ‘When it happened, obviously it was devastating, man. Emily is truly one of the most amazing and wonderful people that I’ve ever known. And really, even now I sit and I’m thrilled that I got a chance to be a part of someone’s life who’s touched so many lives and is so amazing. ‘And it’s weird – there’s no more pain. There’s feelings of hurt, but I’m just proud of her. And I’m still great friends with her brother, and I love her family to death. And it gave me an opportunity to take a good look at myself and to want to change, and to want to become a better guy.’ How so? ‘I allowed my fault self to fill me up.’ Your ‘fault self’:what’s that? ‘My fault self. How do I say it? I allowed my insecurity to run my life a little more. And there were a lot of things I did and a lot of mistakes I made that I can’t take back. So I realise that. And I took the opportunity to learn from it and to grow. ‘I’m a much happier guy. I’m far more content in my life. And the truth is, I like myself. I like myself enough to really like somebody else.’ Therapy-speak aside, Bublé insists that the truth about their split is not public knowledge. It is unclear whether he is referring to the claims by a woman called Tiffany Bromley that she slept with Bublé behind Blunt’s back (and she supplied the camera-phone pic to ‘prove it’), and in fact had been doing so for a decade. He’s clearly besotted with Lopilato, and they’re very easy in each other’s company. So much so that Bublé leads the confused Anglo-Spanish conversation concerning exactly which Argentine tennis player she used to date (it was Juan Mónaco, not Juan Martin del Potro). Still at his patio table as the night draws to a close, it’s clear she has strong feelings for Bublé, too. ‘If he cheat on me, I keel heem,’ she tells me, before adding that she has strong feelings for Jack (Matthew Fox) from television series Lost, too. ‘Yeah – twice when we’ve been making love she’s called me Jack!’ hoots Bublé to hysterics all round. Bublé didn’t mean to chase after the cyclist, threatening him with his hockey stick. But, well, the cyclist had spat in the face of the old lady in the car. Bublé had witnessed the road-rage incident the day before our interview and immediately got out of his own car to sort out the cyclist. ‘My instinct was that was not OK, threatening an old lady.’ But Vancouver is Bublé’s town. So, as soon as the cyclist had escaped and Bublé had calmed down, ‘my second instinct was to call my manager and tell him what had happened in case the man knew who I was, in case this came out in the papers. I worry more for my family, I don’t want them to read this stuff. There is,’ he concludes, ‘no privacy.’ Is that a loss? ‘Not at all. I like it. I wanted to be famous. I’d be more worried if people didn’t say anything.’ What do people get wrong about you? ‘I think they assume that maybe I’m soft – the genre of music, people categorise me. I’m not some hard-a---, bad-a--- motherf--ker. But I’m not soft.’ Bublé professes to not care much that now, as far as Warner Bros is concerned, he’s bigger than Madonna. ‘Maybe this year I might sell more than this other guy. But next year it could be Linkin Park or Red Hot Chili Peppers or Green Day. It could be Groban,’ he says, meaning . ‘Look at Neil Diamond,’ he says. ‘Was he the cool guy? No, he was the housewives’ guy. He didn’t try to be what he wasn’t. He just did what he did – made great music, was a good entertainer, nice-enough guy. And, boy oh boy, is he hip as s--t now. Nice guys do finish first sometimes.’ from 16.12 The BBC has added a last-minutereference to Jackson's death to tonight's episode of EastEnders, the Press Association reports. Denise Wicks (Diane Parish) will mention the sad news to Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), as she wishes him a happy birthday. 15.58 Liza Minnelli, another friend of Jackson's, has suggested his post-mortem may bring uncomfortable disclosures. "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now," she told CBS television in the US The procedure is due to be carried out today, although toxicology tests may take a number of days. 15.40 Andrew Sullivan, who blogs for The Atlantic, . Watch it . 15.24 Neil McCormick, who writes about rock and pop for the Telegraph, gives his thoughts in a piece for telegraph.co.uk. “'This is it, this really is it,' announced Michael Jackson in his last official public appearance, at the O2 centre on March 5th, 2009," McCormick writes. "He could have had no idea how true that phrase would turn out to be. ."15.17 TMZ, the gossip website that broke the news of Jackson's death, reports that . It adds that who lived at his home and is likely to have administered the painkilling injection, can not be found. Police are said to be looking for him. 15.14 P Diddy, the flamboyant hip-hop star and all-round guru, has said that Jackson "made me believe in magic". "Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat," Diddy added. 15.02 The Telegraph's Heidi Blake looks at , and examines whether a dependency on painkillers that might ultimately have contributed to his death may be traced back to an accident on the set of a Pepsi television advert 25 years ago 14.57 Paul Waugh, the Evening Standard's Deputy Political Editor, the strange experience of following Jackson around the Palace of Westminster in 2002. He writes: "At one point, on the tour of the Lords (which he preferred to the Commons), the star pointed at the Queen's Throne and told one of his flunkies 'I want one of THOSE!'"14.43 The Economist's US blog, Democracy In America, recalls . He was received by President Ronald Reagan, who gave his name to the University of California medical centre where the singer was to die 25 years later. 14.32 A tribute has arrived from Martin Bashir, the broadcaster who produced the controversial documentary 'Living With Michael Jackson'. Saying he was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the news, Bashir added: "He was probably singly the greatest dancer and musician the world has ever seen". 14.24 John Landis, the director of the revolutionary video for 'Thriller' - the glorious 13-minute version of which can be seen has made a statement. "Michael was an extraordinary talent and a truly great international star," Landis said. "He had a troubled and complicated life and despite his gifts, remains a tragic figure."14.16 Quincy Jones, the music production genius behind many of Jackson's most famous songs, has expressed his sadness at the singer's death. "I'm absolutely devastated," Jones said. "I just don't have the words ... I've lost my little brother today and part of my soul has gone with him." 14.04 Guy O'Seary, a business partner of Madonna, has that she intended to make an appearance at one of Jackson's o2 concerts in London. 13.54 There were tears to go with the white ties and tiaras at last night, as news of Jackson's death passed through. John, who was on stage at the time, dedicated 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' to the singer. 13.49 For those wondering why there has been no word from Elizabeth Taylor, another of Jackson's high-profile friends, the actress has said that she is "too devastated" to issue a statement. 13.47 Biz Stone, one of the co-founders of Twitter, has said that Jackson's death caused the . "This particular news about the passing of such a global icon is the biggest jump in tweets per second since the U.S. presidential election,” Stone said. 13.40 Remember the long and curious career of Michael Jackson with this retrospective of some of his eccentric antics. 13.27 Jackson's death led to , which originally contained a joke about the singer, Florence Waters reports for the Telegraph. The edit really was last-minute: the film had its Hollywood premiere last night - just hours after Jackson's passing. 13.20 In her latest take on the story, Anita Singh examines whether . A family lawyer has claimed the singer was addicted to painkilling medication. 12.59 Uri Geller, famously a friend of Jackson's, has said: "I'm just devastated, very, very sad. I pray that his soul is up there now. I'm still trying to hold on to the glimmer that it is not true. It is too surreal for me to absorb that Michael is no longer with us."12.32 Madonna, a fellow 20th-century superstar who continued performing into middle-age, has expressed her condolences. "I can't stop crying over the sad news," she said. "I've always admired Michael Jackson - the world has lost one of its greats, but his music will live on forever. My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless." 12.23 A permanent shrine to Jackson is being considered by bosses at the stadium where he performed his final full concert - the King's Park Stadium in Durban, South Africa, on 15 October 1997. Megan Harris, a spokesman, said: "Everyone in Durban remembers when Michael Jackson played here. He was sensational and we felt lucky to have him. 12.00 Sir Paul McCartney, one of the few entertainers to have enjoyed a comparable career, has said: "It's so sad and shocking." Sir Paul, who dueted with Jackson, added: "I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones." 11.51 Anita Singh, the Telegraph's Showbusiness Editor, has reconstructed . 11.45 Bruce Forsyth, the veteran entertainer, has paid his respects. Speaking at his home in Surrey, Forsyth said Jackson had amazing "dancing legs". "Watching him perform on Thriller, for example, is amazing," he said. "He stays with the beat and never misses a quaver or semi quaver. Michael was pure genius and his death at such a young age is nothing short of a tragedy and a shocking waste of his wonderful talent."11.40 Londoners on Twitter, the micro-blogging service, are planning to pay tribute to Jackson's most famous dance move by holding a mass moonwalk tonight at 6pm at Liverpool Street station. Details can be found by searching . Find Liverpool Street using this 11.26 The Prime Minister has commented. Downing Street said that the singer's death was sad for his fans and that Gordon Brown's thoughts were with his family. "This is very sad news for the millions of Michael Jackson fans in Britain and around the world," the Prime Minister's spokesman said. "The Prime Minister's thoughts are with Michael Jackson's family at this time." 11.18 Max Clifford, the PR guru, tells Sky News that Jackson's career showed that "fame is a drug". and can be as destructive as alcohol and addictive substances. He will have shown young people that famous people can also be "very, very unhappy", Clifford says. 11.04 Prisoners in the Philippines who spawned a worldwide internet hit with their video have announced that they will recreate their dance on Saturday in tribute. 11.00 Celine Dion, the singer, has given her reaction. She told the veteran CNN presenter Larry King: "I'm overwhelmed by this tragedy. I have to say to you that been an idol for me all my life. I remember being in in my house when I was very, very young and having his posters above my bed."10.50, the flamboyant US gossip blogger, is facing a fierce backlash from readers this morning. After news broke that the singer had been rushed to hospital, Hilton initially speculated that Jackson was orchestrating a publicity stunt. The post has since been removed from his site. Readers have commented abusively underneath a later post headed "". 10.43 News of Jackson's suspected cardiac arrest at 4.30pm US west coast time on Thursday, and the site announced his death less than an hour later. It promptly crashed under a deluge of traffic from around the world. Reaction to his death has dominated the web ever since. 10.28 American tennis players at Wimbledon have been reacting as they wake in London. Serena Williams, the women's number two seed, : "My heart goes out to the entire Jackson Family." Meanwhile Andy Roddick, the men's number six seed, "oh my lord..... michael jackson died........ RIP sad and surreal", later : "regardless of what u think of him he was completely revolutionary and will be missed". 10.24 The best-selling 15 CDs on Amazon.com, the online retailer, are now Michael Jackson albums, shows. 10.18 at UCLA medical centre, where the singer was taken. He said doctors had tried to resuscitate the star for more than an hour before declaring him dead. He said: "My brother, the legendary king of pop Michael Jackson, passed away ... it is believed he suffered cardiac arrest at home". Jermaine, a convert to Islam, concluded: "Allah be with you Michael always. I love you." 10.15 London For those just learning the news: in Los Angeles, California, after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest. He was 50. The singer was due to begin a long series of concerts in London in less than a fortnight. AEG has sought assurances that Jackson will be able to perform a full-length, greatest hits concert.Jackson prefers London to a US venue for his return because he remains far more popular across Europe. A Thriller tribute show has become a West End hit. Jackson, 50, visited London last in 2006 for the World Music Awards. His performance, in which he sung a verse and chorus of We Are the World, was regarded generally as disastrous.The promoters have also reportedly sought assurances about Jackson's health. He was photographed in Las Vegas, before his 50th birthday, dressed in pyjama trousers. He is reportedly up to £100m in debt and is auctioning 2,000 items from his Neverland ranch.Crucially, the programme involves both school and parents in the whole 36‑week process, with each child doing four 20-minute Decipha sessions a week, three of these at school, and one at home, with both parties required to submit progress reports every seven days to Decipha HQ (that’s Janet).“I really like it,” beams Saul, who’s now 11, and still able to walk (many boys with Duchenne find this no longer possible at this age). “Before, I found it hard to get through books, and I could only read really easy ones. After doing Decipha, though, I started reading the How To Train Your Dragon books by Cressida Cowell, and now I’m on to Anthony Horowitz and Darren Shan, who are my two favourites.”As they are with children who are 12 to 14, let alone 11, like Saul.“It’s the same with a lot of Duchenne boys,” says Janet, who has two other children unaffected by the condition. “They have this great enthusiasm for knowledge, but a block when it comes to reading or writing. Parents are always telling us how their sons know all there is to know about, say, dinosaurs, but just have trouble getting it down on the page. “The thing is, a lot of those problems stem from a difficulty in joining up sounds and letters. While C-A-T may be simple for most children to join up and make “cat”, the same doesn’t apply to Duchenne sufferers. A good example is when I tell Saul to clean his teeth, pack his school bag and put his coat on. He’ll put his coat on, but then have trouble remembering the first two instructions.”As well as just observing and noting this phenomenon, Janet actually went ahead and did something about it. A trained teacher, she retrained in dyslexia therapy soon after Saul was born, at the same time setting up a nationwide charity, Action Duchenne, with her husband, Nick.And while Action Duchenne concentrated on fund-raising and promoting the long-term search for a cure, Janet’s own section, Include Duchenne, sought to address more immediate issues. With the help of the University of Swansea, she gradually pieced together the Decipha programme, which as well as being an online phenomenon, comes with an attractive little suitcase full of colourful cards and play pieces.These include standard-looking phonic cards (“ow”, “oi”, etc), plus a set of dice, a mini-egg-timer, an entire board game and, intriguingly, an element of time travel.A distinctive feature of Duchenne is that it affects mainly boys (girls have a chromosome that counters the condition). It’s an uphill task, therefore, trying to interest energetic lads of 10 or 11 in babyish Janet-and-John storybooks. Which is why Janet’s Decipha system sets itself up as a sort of online adventure game, with participants as “time agents”, travelling back and forth between Ancient Egypt, the London Blitz and the age of the dinosaurs.Once they’ve landed in their allotted time period, their parents or teachers read out a scene-setting narrative (“you step out of your time machine on to hot desert sand”) and the young voyagers are then free to explore their new surroundings.It’s not just a holiday. In the course of their journey, the boys get plenty of practice with letter combinations: each new sound they encounter has to be said five times out loud, written five times in the air, five times on a wipe-down whiteboard, and then entered in the traveller’s “sound passport”, which chronicles not just the places, but the letter combinations he has visited.“Repetition is really important, because it takes our boys about 40 times longer than their classmates to get the hang of these words and sounds,” says Janet.However, once those initial boulder-sized obstacles have been removed from their path, the boys are off and running.“You can’t imagine how wonderful it is for their mothers and fathers to be able just to sit down and read books with them,” says Celine Barry, a specialist education assessor who works with Include Duchenne. “Quite often, these are parents who have been told by the school that their children will never be able to read. All at once, not only are their boys enjoying books, but the parents are actually talking to the school about learning, not about behaviour.”Meanwhile, of course, the search goes on to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. But it can take years for any drug to reach the market: too many years, perhaps, to be any use to the 2,500 or so Duchenne sufferers in the country today. Which makes Janet’s here-and-now work all the more important. “By the time they get to the age of 11 or 12, most Duchenne boys become unable to walk,” says Janet. “At the moment, Saul is doing well, but in a few years’ time, he won’t be able to get into his best friend’s house because his wheelchair will be too large. Even going out to the shops or cinema will be difficult, so it’s clear that if he can read, write and send emails, his life will be so much richer. And that’s what we’re working for, both for him and others boys like him. “The fact is, all of us – parents and teachers – are grieving for the limitations this condition puts on our boys’ lives. But opening up the world of words and communication enables you to feel that, for once, the illness isn’t controlling you, but you are controlling it.”For more information on the Decipha programme, visit ; to find out more about Action Duchenne and its new Lottery-funded programme for 14 to 19-year-old boys, visit actionduchenne.orgAs for literature, he is said to have digested a volume of six Maupassant works in one weekend, and spends all his spare time perfecting his knowledge of Stendhal, Balzac and other French classics. In interviews, Mr Sarkozy has started casually dropping references to heavyweight authors from Louis-Ferdinand Céline to Jean-Paul Sartre. Franz-Olivier Giesbert, a magazine editor and political author recently told Le Point that the president had dazzled him by quoting at length from a host of authors from Racine to Maupassant. "What really interests him in literature is above all the psychology of the characters. Often he speaks as if the heroes really existed," said one dinner guest. Until Mr Sarkozy, solid cultural credentials have traditionally been a prerequisite for French presidents, with leaders like François Mitterrand particularly well-read. The French Left have traditionally been the self-styled culture champions. Two Socialist presidential hopefuls paraded at the l – France's thespian Mecca – last weekend and slammed the Right for allegedly bleeding France's heavily subsidised culture scene dry. One, Martine Aubry, promised to raise the culture budget by up to 50 per cent if elected. "I'm not asking you to vote for the Right or think like me," Mr Sarkozy told one director after lunch. "(But) I just hope you'll retain from this lunch that I am not the caricature that they want me to be." Still, there is heated debate among France's artistic establishment as to whether Mr Sarkozy's sudden culture craze is genuine or a cynical electoral ploy to shed his oft-cited "bling" image. For some, the turnaround was too great for a man who only three years declared only "a sadist or an idiot" would include The Princess of Cleves, a 17th-century romantic classic, in public sector exams. "I am very circumspect," sniffed Jérôme Garcin, who presents the literary programme The Mask and The Quill on public radio station France Inter. "In cultural matters, I don't believe in this type of metamorphosis. You don't go from Saving Private Ryan to (Danish director Carl Theodor) Dreyer in a sincere way," he told Libération. Yann Moix, a writer and director, was more convinced. "Carla no doubt pushed him into the debate, that's for sure. Then she took the stabilisers off the bike and now I think Sarkozy takes real pleasure in pedalling all on his own," he said. That said, he added, the President "meets you solely to show you the current state of his culture". He has "no interest" in what his guests have to say. 06:26 Video of Melissa Leo's hilarious four-letter outburst during her. 06:16 Telegraph blogger Nile Gardiner says that "", which might be over-dramatising things a little, but you see what he means. 06:11 We've got footage of Colin Firth's rather touching now. 06:01 Damning review of the ceremony from the great Roger Ebert - : The worst Oscarcast I've seen, and I go back awhile. Some great winners, a nice distribution of awards, but the show? Dead. In. The. Water.His full, non-Tweeted review is online here: "", he says. 05:54 , including glory for The King's Speech, a win for Natalie Portman, and an unexpected F-bomb from Best Supporting Actress Melissa Leo. 05:47 Nick Allen, Our Man In LA, has filed a story, which I'll link to from here when it's live. In the meantime, he's given us this snippet to chew upon: "What a great night for British film. Not only did our guys win, they showed how to win. As Bill Maher indicated, there was no trumpet blowing, and no dissolving into shambolic, dribbling wrecks while accepting awards. It was all done with an admirably stiff upper lip, particularly by Colin Firth. Amid the euphoria there’s sympathy for The Social Network. It was a great film and Aaron Sorkin richly deserved his Oscar. Sadly, there can only be one best film. You never know what Mark Zuckerberg will do next though so, you never know, there might one day be a Social Network 2."05:34 More video: 05:22 And our picture desk has put together this rather lovely slideshow of the Take a look. 05:07 We're getting some video in, for those of you who haven't been watching. First up is Colin Firth and Natalie Portman, winners of the Best Acting Oscars (AFP/Getty)05:03 David Gritten on The King's Speech's victory: "The King's Speech takes the big prize, and seemingly half the audience makes its way to the stage - an indication of how many people were involved in producing and financing this film, which at first glance looked unpromising. Cue champagne corks being popped all over Britain. Not everyone will be thrilled, notably supporters of The Social Network. But the Oscars is what it is - a ceremony for which some 6,000 industry professionals, mostly Americans, are entitled to vote. And in many ways The King's Speech is a more Oscar friendly film: uplifting, with a story in which something important is at stake, and an uplifting ending. Oscar voters are somewhat conservative and of a certain age (average 57), so this result was always on the cards."04:47 They're recapping the big ones on Sky. Portman and Firth had the best speeches, say the little coterie. I think I'd agree. 04:44 Alex Zane on Sky says the singing-children stuff at the end was a bit "Village of the Damned". Robbie Collin disagrees, saying it's more Britain's Got Talent. 04:43 Nick Allen has this: "It’s King Colin! Fantastic. God knows how many speeches he’s already had to give this awards season but he manages to compose another one, remebering to thank 'all the people rooting for me back home.' It’s an expected, popular and well deserved win and great news for British film. Firth is very self-deprecating, telling the audience: 'I think my career’s just peaked.' Don’t think so Colin. People have won twice before..."04:40 Some reaction. of Firth's speech: No snark, I love that Colin Firth and the English are so much better at this. And David Gritten is similarly impressed: "Colin Firth, probably the finest screen actor around today, finally receives his due. And Firth being Firth, he gives the most thoughtful, self-deprecating, generous speech of the night. Nice touch that he thanked all the people rooting for him at home -- that is, in Britain. It's become easy to take The King's Speech for granted now, so much has been written about it -- but let's say it again: this was an astonishing performance."04:35 Hmm. They're showing a montage of the 10 nominated films, but - and is this telling? - they're doing so while the King's speech from The King's Speech plays over the top. Is that a sign? It's a bit weird if not. Anyway. Steven Spielberg is reading it out - and the Oscar goes to... THE KING'S SPEECH - well, there you have it. The main players - Tom Hooper, Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush and more - flood on stage, and heartfelt speechers are given. Twice they try to play them off with the music, which seems a little intemperate. And Hathaway and Franco introduce a gaggle of schoolkids to sing "Over the Rainbow" to close the night, which is pretty saccharine, let's be honest. But you'd expect nothing less, I suppose. 04:31 So it's only Best Picture to go. The Social Network? Or The King's Speech? Or (even though its early momentum seems to have faded) Inception? Nominees: Black Swan The Fighter Inception The Kids Are All Right The King's Speech 127 Hours The Social Network Toy Story 3 True Grit Winter's Bone 04:29 Ed Cumming has Tweet from the doyen of film critics, the , on Sandra Bullock's slightly dismissive comment about The Social Network: Jesse Eisenberg looked a little surprised to learn he had inspired lonely young men hunched over their keyboards.04:25 Back to Best Actor, and the award goes to... COLIN FIRTH for The King's Speech. Fantastic. A brilliant performance, even if it was very much an Oscar-friendly one, and a wonderful film. 04:24 David Gritten on Portman: "And the award goes to Natalie Portman -- no surprise there, and a huge consolation prize for Black Swan, which like True Grit is being overlooked at the Oscars this year. Classy speech without notes from Portman, who just about held back the tears..."04:20 Now it's last year's Best Actress, Sandra Bullock (somehow typing that feels wrong), going through the nominees for Best Actor. Jeff Bridges is among them, again, this time for True Grit. "Jeff, dude. You won it last year. Ever think about giving someone else a go?" says Bullock. Other nominees are Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network, (evening's most inevitable joke: "Jesse, I'm still waiting for you to accept me as a friend on Facebook"), Colin Firth for The King's Speech, Javier Bardem in Biutiful, and James Franco for 127 Hours. 04:16 After Bridges gives a short speech about each of the nominees (Natalie Portman for Black Swan, Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right, Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole, Jennifer Lawrence for Winter's Bone, Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine). Then he picks the name... NATALIE PORTMAN for Black Swan! Strong field this year, but she was the clear favourite. A tearful and heavily pregnant Portman looks lovely giving her acceptance speech. 04:12 Jeff Bridges is going through the nominees for Best Leading Actress, and singles each of them out in the crowd for praise. Gotta love Jeff Bridges. Meanwhile Nick Allen and David Gritten have got in touch about Tom Hooper's win: "The night's first truly key major award -- and it goes to Tom Hooper for The King's Speech. Bit of a shock -- especially for favourite David Fincher, who was tipped to win for the Social Network. This award ti Hooper will causde huge controversy within the Academy, between the younger set who favour The Social Network and the old guard, who warm to The king's Speech. Still, it can't be denied that Hooper marshalled his acting talent, overall the best in any Oscar film this year, very effectively. Things are warming up nicely. "Affecting speech by Hooper, who thanked his mother not just for being his mother but for tipping him off about an unproduced play called the King's Speech she had seen in a north London fringe theatre. Moral of the story? Listen to your mother, said Hooper...""Hurrah! The fight back begins for The King’s Speech. Well done Tom Hooper – and his mum for finding the script. Also, what a lesson he gave in how to deliver an Oscars thank you speech. Genuine emotion but no crying or rambling. He was gracious, composed and interesting. For once you actually wanted to hear more. Other winners take note."04:10 The Sky Movies gang are saying that was a robbery and that David Fincher should have got it for The Social Network. He certainly should have it for something. This is the man who directed Fight Club - it's a crime he hasn't got a Best Director gong. 04:03 Big one now! Best Director! At last! Time to sit upright and pay attention again. Come on people. Nominees, as you'll know, are Darren Aronofsky, for Black Swan; David O Russell for The Fighter; Tom Hooper, for The King's Speech; David Fincher for The Social Network; Joel and Ethan Coen for True Grit. And the winner is... ...drum roll please... ...TOM HOOPER for The King's Speech! Wow - it had looked as though the night was slipping away from Firth et al, but they've got a big one. Congrats. 04:00 Wow, it's four in the morning. David Gritten agrees with me on the dead-people-bit of the Oscars: "It's not enough that you give your life to the film industry and finally die -- your send-off reward is to be serenaded at the Oscars by Celine Dion singing Charles Chaplin's Smile over your photo. Pete Postlethwaite, Claude Chabrol and Leslie Nielsen, to name just three, deserved better..."03:57 Ed Cumming on Gwyneth Paltrow's musical turn - he's more sympathetic than I was: "Poor Gwyneth Paltrow. Following Florence (not the Machine) is like following the really keen girl at karaoke."03:54 Oh, we've reached that creepy bit of the Oscars where they show us a montage of every vaguely movie-industry-related person who's died in the last year, while a weepy song plays in the background. Arthur Penn and Lynn Redgrave are among them. And it's blank-eyed Canadian warble-bot Celine Dion doing the dirge-duties this year. 03:52 David's back: "Randy Newman wins best song for We Belong Together. Oh dear. Wrong choice. But Newman redeems himself with a witty, self-deprecating speech. I still love him..."03:47 It's Best Original Song, which is going to be won by Randy Newman for We Belong Together from Toy Story 3. Other nominees are If I Rise from 127 Hours, I See The Light from Tangled, Coming Home from Country Song. WE BELONG TOGETHER, Randy Newman, from Toy Story 3. Nothing to see here. Move along. Next. 03:46 Nick Allen on the Law/Downey Jr bit: "The Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law skit woke me up. A rare, funny moment after a long fallow period. It seems you can always rely on Downey Jr to say something worth listening to. Great comedy timing. If you arrived from Mars at the moment you’d say it was Inception’s night. Astonishing. Christopher Nolan must be feeling vindicated after he was snubbed in the Best Director nominations. It has been noticeable how Inception winners have all been paying handsome tribute to Nolan. One called him 'my master.'"03:42 Florence out of Florence and the Machine is doing a song. Weird. It was only last year, I think, that I saw her doing an afternoon slot at some medium-sized festival in an east London park, now she's playing to a billion people on the Oscars. Jennifer Hudson introduces her. She has lost a frankly incredible amount of weight. What? Now Gwyneth Paltrow's singing, which she is functional at. Honestly, one appearance on Glee and the woman thinks she's Aretha Franklin. 03:41 And more from David: "Inception wins visual effects category which gives it four Oscars. Social Network takes the editing award, which gives it three. The King;s Speech needs to get a move on if it's to win the night's most awards. So far it has just one. By the way, a lot of people from The Social Network are thanking director David Fincher effusively and he just sits there. Not much of a smiler, is he?"03:39 Before the Visual Effects one we had eight-time Oscars-presenting veteran Billy Crystal talking for a bit. Here's David Gritten with more: "First standing ovation of the night - for presenter Billy Crystal. Maybe the audience are just overwhelmed to see what a real Oscar host looks like....unfortunately he's presenting a self-regarding look back to the days when Bob Hope hosted the Oscars, It's a way of ushering in the visual effects category..."03:36 It's Film Editing now. Nominees: Black Swan; The Fighter; The King's Speech; 127 Hours; The Social Network. And the winner is: THE SOCIAL NETWORK. One of the guys accepting it says he wants to "thank our wives for allowing us to have incredibly passionate affairs with our families", which just sounds weird. "And our work", he says afterwards, but the damage is done as far as I'm concerned. 03:31 This next one's presented by Robert Downey Junior! Hurray! Oh, and Jude Law. Boo. But they're presenting Visual Effects, and the skit is that Downey Jr is calling visual effect-people irritating geeks, allowing Law to say "If it wasn't for [visual effect-people], the closest encounter you'd have had with a superhero is when you were caught in a cheap hotel room in 2001 with a woman dressed as Batgirl". Slightly funny. Anyway. Nominees: Inception; Alice in Wonderland; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1; Hereafter; Iron Man 2. And the winner is... INCEPTION. Christopher Nolan's film is building an ominous momentum, making it all the stranger that Nolan himself is not nominated for Best Director. 03:30 More from David, allowing my weary typing fingers a brief respite: "And now the category with the heaviest British presence: documentary. There's Banksy's Exit Throuhg the Gift Shop, Lucy Walkers moving Waste Land, and Restrepo, co-directed by Tim Hetherington. But the winner is Inside Job, Charles Ferguson's cerebral, clinical examination of the global financial crisis. No complaints there -- and Banksy didn't even need to show up."03:28 Glad to hear it's not just me struggling to stay awake in the mid-show fallow period, when it's all Makeup and Sound - David Gritten: "And this is the point of the ceremony when time seems to stand still and the night drags on -- that's right, the best song category. Most Oscar-worthy songs are hopelessly bland. Randy Newman proved the point, kicking things off with We Belong Together from Toy Story 3. It's his 20th nomination. I admire Newman a lot, and have several of his albums - comprising sour, literate little songs, beautifully crafted. But one suspects he knocks out these songs for animated films in his sleep..."03:21 Oprah's presenting Best Documentary Feature, which is notable for having the Banksy doc Exit Through the Gift Shop. Everyone's all excited about this, in case he turns up in person, as though there aren't enough Bristolian public schoolboys in the world all ready. Anyway. Other nominees are: Gasland; Inside Job; Restrepo; Waste Land. And the award goes to: NOT BANKSY, or more specifically, INSIDE JOB, a documentary about the financial crisis. Charles Ferguson, accepting, says that three years after the crash, it's a disgrace that no traders or bankers have been jailed. Yeah! Stick it to the Man! Anyway, Banksy didn't win it, so we don't have to put up with some irritating stunt involving a dwarf accepting the award or something. Ed Cumming with some top punning action, now: "Well, the winner was 'Banksy' after all! As in about banks yes? Inside Job! Lol rofl lmao et cetera."I can only apologise on behalf of the Telegraph. 03:19 Hathaway is on her fifth or sixth different costume of the evening. This one has lots of little tassels - there's probably a technical term, I dunno - all over it, so when she starts twisting her hips, they sort of fly out with the centrifugal force. She has fun with this for a second, then hands over to Oprah Winfrey, saying she's lucky just to be "breathing the same air" as the chat-show host. I feel the same way about Richard and Judy, Anne. 03:16 Arrgh no time to muse! They've gone straight on to Short Film Live Action without taking a breath. And the noms are: The Confession; The Crush; God of Love; Na Wewe; Wish 143. And the winner is: GOD OF LOVE. Speech is notable for the guy being uncomfortably aware of the time limit and racing his way through the speech at 200wpm. He got a laugh, though, so well done him. And thanked his mum, and his wife, who he calls his "dream come true". Bless. 03:12 Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams present Best Documentary Short Subject. My indifference is overwhelming. Noms: Killing in the Name; Poster Girl; Strangers No More; Sun Come Up; The Warriors of Quigang. The Oscar goes to... ...if you care... STRANGERS NO MORE. Hold the front page, etc. 03:08 This is pretty hectic. Anyway, they've stopped for a bit, allowing Alex Zane, Bricks N Mortar and the Sky gang to waffle on. 03:07 A brief pause for some music, so I'll take this opportunity to send you the way of our slideshow. Some of the music is Randy Newman's latest from Toy Story, which - well, I'll leave it to Alonso Duralde on Twitter: Wow, it's the Randy Newman song that sounds TOTALLY DIFFERENT from every other Randy Newman song from a Pixar movie"I suspect he is being insincere", says Ed Cumming. 03:05 Rachel Ray on the aforementionedly lovely Scarlett: "Scarlett Johannson who presented for Best Sound Mixing is the most Hollywood glamorous star so far with a form fitting sleeveless lacy wine red gown. Not hip, but real Hollywood glamour."02:59 the Costume Design nominees are Alice in Wonderland, I Am Love, The King's Speech, The Tempest, and True Grit. And the award goes to... ALICE IN WONDERLAND and Colleen Atwood. Yeah, great costumes, weirdly unnecessary film. Why did they take the fantastic original Lewis Carroll story, utterly ignore it, and replace it with a sub-Lord of the Rings battle thing? Bizarre decision. Poor Colleen is getting musicked off, her voice shaking. It's pretty harsh, this musicking. And David Gritten is man enough to admit when he's got it wrong: "Well, how wrong could I have been? Colleen Atwood lifted the costume design Oscar for Alice in Wonderland. So that's two Academy Awards for Tim Burton's movie..."02:57 Cate Blanchett presenting Achievements in Makeup. The Wolfman, Barney's Version, and The Way Back are up for it, and... THE WOLFMAN wins it. So there you have it. No time to dwell, because we're straight on to costume design. They're coming thick and fast now. 02:56 David Gritten on Trent Reznor et al: "Pretty cool to see Trent Reznor picking up an Oscar -- and acting like a solid citizen. Two of the three sound awards go to Inception, which to be honest looked pretty irresistible in these categories..."02:54 Nick Allen has this on Hathaway and Franco: "The verdict’s still out on Hathaway and Franco. Hathaway in particular seems to be making the best of not exactly hilarious material. She’s clearly incredibly talented with a powerful singing voice we didn’t really know about. The plan for Franco to sing was shelved at the last minute and he seems a bit more stilted than his co-host. At the end of the day though presenting the Oscars is all about the material, and so far they’ve not been given any great lines. Apparently, previous host Billy Crystal will be making a guest appearance later. They might have been better giving him the whole show."02:50 Now it's Sound Editing, which is presumably different to mixing in some way. Inception, Toy Story 3, Tron: Legacy, True Grit and Unstoppable are nominated, and... INCEPTION gets this one too. Big night for the various knob-twiddlers in the Inception recording booths or whatever it is they have. 02:46 More aural-based awards, this time Sound Mixing, presented by the lovely Scarlett Johansson and the profoundly irksome Matthew McConaughey. Inception, The King's Speech, Salt, The Social Network and True Grit are up for it, and it goes to... INCEPTION. So, you know, hurray to the people who mixed the sound for Inception. It was beautifully mixed, I remember thinking when I was watching it. Actually I don't. Anyway. Inception's won it, so there. 02:42 Back to the music. Music (Original Score) nominees: How to Train your Dragon, John Powell; Inception, Hans Zimmer; The King's Speech, Alexandre Desplat (great name!); 127 Hours, A R Rahman; The Social Network, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Yes, that's Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, 1990s industrial metal fans. And the Oscar goes to... THE SOCIAL NETWORK, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross! Now there's something you might not have predicted in 1991 while you were listening to Pretty Hate Machine in your bedroom and wearing dark eyeliner. Now if we can just get Faith No More's Mike Patton to win Best Supporting Actor next year. 02:39 What the hell? Someone From The Academy and Someone From ABC Television are up saying how great the partnership is between ABC and The Academy. Why on earth do I care? Oh, right, I don't. Anyway, now it's Hugh Jackman (apparently forgiven by Hathaway) and fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman are up presenting the Music (Original Score) award. First though, here's David Gritten again, on Bale's win. "Another predictable win – for Christian Bale as best supporting actor in The Fighter. The bearded Bale, his accent more Home Counties than from his native Wales, acquitted himself well – though he seemed to be close to tears near the end when he seemed to forget the name of his wife and daughter. Ah well – it should happen to all of us..."02:36 Ed Cumming on the social-media response: Online consensus is few surprises so far, especially not for Aaron Sorkin, Toy Story 3 for Animated Film or David Seidler for King's Speech Screenplay. David Seidler clearly running out of pithy speech ideas - conclusion of this one "we have a voice, we have been heard" very similar but not as good as his Baftas. Aaron Sorkin's over-running speech prompted Piers Morgan to write: "My Oscars speech, in totality, if I ever win one: 'Thanks, I deserve it.'" Thankfully it's hard to think what he might win for. Seems to be some surprise from Americans that Christian Bale is British. Fair enough, I suppose. Alec Sulkin @thesulk, says "I always forget that Christian Bale talks like 19th century chimney sweep" . Also some excitement about his plugging his mate's website. First .com in an acceptance speech?02:35 David on the Russell-Helen comedy moment: "Just a thought on the corny patter served up for Helen Mirren and Russell Brand to speak before they presnted the Best Foreign Language film to Denmark's Suzanne Bier for In a Better World: Dame Helen and Russell could surely have improvised something wittier themselves."02:31 Quite a big one, now, if you're tired of the small-beer ones - Best Supporting Actor. Christian Bale in The Fighter, Josh Hawkes in Winter Bone, Jeremy Renner in The Town, Mark Ruffalo in The Kids Are All Right, and Geoffrey Rush in The King's Speech. And the Academy Award goes to... CHRISTIAN BALE in The Fighter! His accent, unusually, is straightforwardly English. Not even a weird Mid-Atlantic twang or anything. He's a bit more Cockney than I remember, though. Anyway. Another big one evades The King's Speech. Bale has a ludicrous big beard, incidentally. And he chokes up a little when he mentions his wife and daughter, which is kind of sweet. 02:30 David Gritten on the screenwriting awards: "The screenplay awards, presented by two white-clad hunks of testosterone, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin, offer pointers to the way the evening is going. Adapted screenplay to Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network and David Seidler, the originator of The King's Speech. Proof positive that these two films are the main contenders of the night. "Appropriately for writers, both their speeches were classy. Sorkin thoughtfully thanked the author of the book he adapted, while Seidler, the oldest writer to win this award, thanked Her Majesty the Queen for not throwing him in the Tower for his use of 'the Melissa Leo F-word.' Neither outcome was exactly a shock, but they went to the right screenwriters."Rachel Ray on the same topic: "Javier Bardem, potentially the sexiest screen star for adult women, and Josh Brolin look like Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum in matching while tuxes and short haircuts while presenting Best Writer awards. Isn't this taking the Hollywood appeal for more youthful audiences a little too far?"02:25 This is just weird. Hathaway is doing a lengthy musical number, referencing the fact that she did similarly with Hugh Jackman at the 2009 award, and calling him a "Hugh Jackass". Then Franco comes on stage in a red dress and blonde wig, and says he's just got a text message off Charlie Sheen. Now it's Russell Brand and Helen Mirren presenting the Foreign Language gong. She says something in French, Russell hilariously mistranslates, she says "tu es un idiot", he says "Thanks, but I'm married." Hilarious stuff. If you stopped watching comedy in 1976. Biutiful (Mexico), Dogtooth (Greece), In a Better World (Denmark), Incendies (Canada), Oustide the Law (Algeria) are nominated, and... Denmark's IN A BETTER WORLD gets it! About which I have nothing much to say, to be honest, since I've never heard of it. Sorry. 02:22 The Telegraph's says on Twitter: Seidler didn't write a better script than Sorkin, but his speech was a good deal less intolerable.02:17 It's Original Screenplay now - Mike Leigh's Another Year, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right and The King's Speech are up for it. And, here we go... THE KING'S SPEECH gets its first gong of the evening! First of many, can we hope? Rather nice simple speech (and quickly written-in reference to the Leo F-Bomb) from David Seidler, who wrote the screenplay. 02:14 The award for Adapted Screenplay is up now. Nominees: 127 Hours, screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy; The Social Network, screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Toy Story 3, screenplay by Michael Arndt; True Grit, Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Winter's Bone; adapted for the screen, Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini. And the winner is... THE SOCIAL NETWORK! And Aaron Sorkin! And this is brilliant - he keeps talking over the 45 seconds, and just ignores the music which starts playing in the background to chase him off. Fair play. 02:13 Nick Allen, our LA correspondent, says: "After a lacklustre opening by the young hosts Kirk Douglas briefly stole the show with some true star power. Presenting the award for Best Actress he brought the biggest laugh of the night so far when he eyes up Anne Hathaway and tells her: 'Why weren’t you around when I was making films?' Hathaway seems to genuinely flush. Kirk may be 94, and using a walking stick, but he still has a way with the ladies. He notices that Hugh Jackman, an Australian, is laughing, and teases Colin Firth for being English and not laughing. Kirk had the audience eating out of his hand. That’s how to do it James and Anne. "Sadly it seems Melissa Leo may end up being remembered for using the F-word rather than her fantastic performance in The Fighter. Millions of people will see the film – but one billion people see the Oscars. Heads in hands time for the producers. Just shows you can plan the event all year but you can never predict what an excited actress will do in a speech. How can they be so composed yet lose it when accepting an award?"02:09 David adds this: "Justin Timberlake the first presenter to say it: 'I am Banksy.' Glad that's out of the way..."I fear he may not be the last. 02:07 The full-size Best Animated Feature Film is up now, which let's face it is a nailed-on certainty for Toy Story 3. Nominees: How to Train Your Dragon, Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois; The Illusionist, Sylvain Chomet; Toy Story 3, Lee Unkrich. And, yes, it's... TOY STORY 3 and Lee Unkrich. Utterly deserved. Glorious, glorious film. 02:06 David Gritten on Melissa Leo's F-bomb flame-out: "The night's most unpredictable major award category, presented by elderly but droll film legend Kirk Douglas. And it's Melissa Leo, who took out space in trade papers to support her campaign. (Good for her.) A dotty speech, in which she asked Douglas to pinch her, uttered the F-word and waved to the crowd in the balcony. She did bang on a bit, but those of us who have loved the TV series Homicide know her as a great actress. Her role as a crime matriarch was a worthy winner -- and the fact she beat out Helena Bonham Carter suggests the King's Speech may not have it all its own way tonight...."02:03 And now it's Best Short Film (Animated). Nominees: Day & Night, Teddy Newton; The Gruffalo, Jakob Schuh and Max Lang; Let's Pollute, Geefwee Boedoe, The Lost Thing, Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann; Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary), Bastien Dubois. And the winner is, or rather are: SHAUN TAN AND ANDREW RUHEMANN for The Lost Thing. Congratulations. Oddly I think they thank the wonderful Australian musician-comedian Tim Minchin in their speech - I can't help but wonder why. 02:01 Reaction to some of the early Oscars from our own David Gritten: "The Oscar for art direction will surely be the last appearance for Alice in Wonderland. As for the great British cinematographer Roger Deakins (True Grit), you do wonder what he has to do to receive an Academy Award. He's has nine nominations and lost out tonight to Inception's Wally Pfister. Expect this film to scoop up quite a few more technical awards as we proceed..."02:00 MELISSA LEO in The Fighter! Who is dressed in something a little like a gold-plated doily. She struggles in her speech for a second, gets all silent, then says "When I watched Kate [Winslet] two years ago it looked so f--kin' easy. Oops". 01:51 Kirk Douglas is presenting the next one, Best Actress in a Supporting Role. It's quite poignant - he struggles to speak a bit since his stroke. But he's clearly enjoying himself. The nominees are Amy Adams in The Fighter, Helena Bonham Carter in The King's Speech, Melissa Leo in The Fighter, Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit, Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom. And the winner is... 01:50 Ed Cumming has this reaction, via Twitter, to the Hathaway/Franco skit - from : So far, I'm reminded of watching the head boy and head girl doing a school pantomime comedy with a script written by the cool teacher.That's about right. 01:46 And it's Achievement in Cinematography. Black Swan, Inception, The King's Speech, The Social Network, and True Grit are up for it, and... INCEPTION takes the gong, or rather its cinematographer, the wonderfully named Wally Pfister, does who gives a calm and composed speech. The first award to go to a Best Picture nominee - is it an omen? 01:44 Now Tom Hanks is presenting Achievement in Art Direction. So they're starting with a small-fry award up first. Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, Inception, The King's Speech and True Grit are all nominated, and... ALICE IN WONDERLAND gets the first Oscar of the night! Which, in fairness, does not give us much of a hint as to how the rest of the night will go. Nice, brief speech. 01:43 Also both Hathaway's mum and Franco's grandmother stand up in the crowd to deliver jokes. It's pretty mortifying. 01:39 Franco says "this is particularly exciting for us, since we're both nominated." "I'm not nominated", says Hathaway. "Stop being so modest," he says. "No, I'm not modest, I'm just not nominated", says Hathaway. "You know, it used to be, you get naked, you get nominated. Not any more."But for some reason, as Oscar jokes always are, they're delivered in a sort of wooden music-hall laboured-joke style. People pretend to laugh. They do better with a bit about "It's been a great year for lesbians", before pointing to The Kids are All Right, Black Swan, and, uh, Toy Story 3. 01:33 So it's James Franco and Anne Hathaway presenting, as you may already have known. And this year's hilarious skit is that the pair of them are breaking into last year's presenter Alec Baldwin's dream to get presenting tips. A la Inception, you see. And in his dreams they find all the films nominated for Best Movie. It's a bit laboured, frankly. Then Morgan Freeman turns up. And suddenly it's in Back to the Future. No, I have no idea what is going on here, sorry. 01:28 "When you're a nominee and you hear your name called, it takes on a feeling of a silent impressionistic painting", says Tom Hanks, presumably intending to convey some information in that collection of syllables. I have no idea what. It may have been a joke of some sorts, because he then starts frantically mimicking Robin Roberts as she says "don't go away". After the break: The Oscars 2011! I think I'll take this opportunity for a comfort break. Back in two. 01:25 Edith Bowman and the Bric-a-Brac woman on Sky are big fans of Cate Blanchett's Givenchy dress, saying that it's a "bit sci-fi". Not sure that's all that much of a compliment, really. Anyway, Melissa's right and they're wrong, so let's just move on. 01:21 And Ed Cumming, who is thanklessly examining Twitter's reaction, has this to say: "E! Entertainment's red carpet coverage is just so much better than Sky's. Quick, slick, polished. Even Kelly Osborne on fashion is convincing. Trust the Yanks to do these things properly. Sky's so-called 'fashion expert' Start-Hans Blix-Smith (or something) is . "For those who like these things, Jennifer Lawrence and Gwyneth Paltrow seem to be doing well in the fashion stakes. Since I know about as much about dresses as I do about the Kuiper Belt, I'll have to take the Twitter's word for it."01:13 A couple more of the Telegraph's pundits have got in touch. First, , our US TV critic, emails with the following: "Former major addict Robert Downey, Jr. is being interviewed against a backdrop of SCREAMING fans in LA. Downey is just the awards ceremony poster boy, isn't he? He's a presenter at EVERY major awards ceremony. "Hollywood is trying to send a message to all those celeb addicts: Be like Robert Downey, Jr. What I just don't fathom is why Downey's rehab handlers haven't hooked up with Charlie Sheen. Doesn't Charlie, in addition to being the highest paid TV actor in the United States, want to present awards too?"01:07 And more inexplicable luvvie-speak, this time from the (undeniably lovely, talented and intelligent) Natalie Portman: “To have people love Black Swan as much as they do is really a completion of the artistic process.” I'm sure it means something to people who pretend to be other people for a living. 01:03 More from Melissa, who's doing my work for me here: "Natalie Portman, the actress everyone has been waiting for, arrives at last. Heavily pregnant, she is wearing mauve Rodarte with Tiffany jewels. Any plans to wear John Galliano were clearly nixed at the last minute, given ."Well, that's certainly one word for it. 00:47 Cate Blanchett's dress is a little weird, it must be said. But she was Galadriel so she can do what she likes. Now they're talking to Scarlett Johansson, who's looking splendid, I think. One celebrity face we haven't seen so far, though: "I think it would be great if Charlie Sheen showed up."Yeah, that'd be a story. Preferably bare-chested so we can all see , eh? 00:46 Here's a pic of Jennifer Lawrence, as promised. And, thrown in free, Russell Brand and his mum. He looks very strange without a beard, doesn't he? Jennifer Lawrence, Russell Brand, and Russell Brand's mum on the red carpet, Oscars 2011 (Getty/AP)00:39 Melissa has already mentioned Jennifer Lawrence of Winter's Bone, who - even to my untutored eye - does look absolutely stunning. I'll see if I can't find a picture. And now the splendid Kevin Spacey is chatting away, putting in a good word for Annette Bening for Best Actress. Russell Brand is on the red carpet with his mum, for some reason. Melissa says he's not the only one: "All the boys have brought their mums with them on the red carpet: clearly next season’s must have accessory. "00:35 Also chatting to one of the red-carpet harpies is Hailee Steinberg, of True Grit, who is disgustingly sensible and charming for a 14-year-old. The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg is now talking to the Robin Roberts woman - he's tiny. Barely comes up to her shoulder. 00:30 Sky's flicked to LA, where a terrifying horse-woman who may or may not be labouring under the moniker "Robin Roberts" is talking us through the evening ahead. She also throws the camera to her supporting acts, including an astonishingly camp man in a tux. He's called Tim and is chatting to Black Swan's Mila Kunis on the red carpet. He actually waves his finger and tuts "listen, sister", barely stopping short of shouting "You go girl!". I think he might be a caricature. 00:25 A couple of acting's grandes dames have apparently been raising the fashion bar. With retch-inducing obsequiousness, the E! red carpet reporter tells celebrity leg-crosser Sharon Stone that she has “crushed the 20 year-olds" with her dress. "I am bowing down to you, Sharon Stone, for being the gorgeous woman that you are.” Good Lord. But Melissa says "Helen Mirren might have outdone Sharon Stone in the style stakes. Not sure what the dress is yet, but she has serious curves."I'll give you more detail if and when I get it. 00:21 Helena Bonham Carter apparently told the E! reporter that her dress is a Statement of some sort: "I thought it would be nice to celebrate film rather than fashion. I have a complex with my bum, so I thought I would make it even bigger.” Interesting. I have no idea what her dress looks like, but apparently it Celebrates Film. "Spoken like a true fashion rebel", says Melissa, who is still disappointed with the quality of the red carpet soundbites: "'It’s just exciting to be here' is another red carpet quote staple. Hilary Swank just pulled that one out of the bag."00:12 Some pictures are coming through from the red carpet, so here are a few - Mila Kunis of Black Swan, Hailee Steinfeld of True Grit, and Anne Hathaway of various things, to be specific: Mila Kunis, Hailee Steinfeld and Anne Hathaway on the red carpet, Oscars 2011 (Getty)I'll leave it to Melissa to tell you if any of those dresses are hideous or not. 00:00 It's all disappointingly bland on the red carpet so far, says Melissa: "They are all so appropriately dressed. Also the red carpet interviews are remarkably dull: 'I am incredibly blessed,' is a classic we hear all the time. Amy Adams said she was 'feeling incredibly present,' whatever that means. WAY too much therapy."Luckily, as I've been putting that up, Cate Blanchett has turned up, apparently "channelling Lady Gaga" and wearing "an outfit that looks like a space alien costume": "We think it’s Givenchy… It’s a work of art, but it’s all wrong," sighs Melissa. 23:54 Now the Sky team is going through the contenders for Best Film etc. They give The King's Speech what can only be described as a monumental brown-nosing (can you brown-nose a film?), as well as pointing out that it's almost custom-made Oscar-hunting material, with its disability and its royalty and its stiff-upper-lipped period-drama schtick. Now they're on about True Grit, which looks pretty good. Jeff Bridges: legend. If you need something to pass the time, by the way, here's Melissa's piece from earlier on . 23:52 Brix Smith-Start on Sky has just praised the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, for "having all her own teeth", which I have to say was a little unexpected. I don't think Americans expect it from us Brits. 23:45 And has the following on the Twitter reaction so far: "Early thoughts: 1) From the Twitter banter to be very little doubt that Colin Firth will take Best Actor, and The King's Speech Best Film. Other prizes are much more open, if 140 character witterings are to be believed. "2) James Franco has timed several things extremely well to ensure that his hosting (with Anne Hathaway) comes when his reputation is higher than ever. First his novel Palo Alto, which was grudgingly praised, and then his well-received turns in 127 Hours and Allen Ginsberg biopic Howl. The man's like the bloody Renaissance. How are we supposed to compete?"23:37 Over in the States, they're already showing red carpet footage, and Melissa emails with a few snippets: "Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) is the first to be interviewed on the red carpet in a drop-dead, simple, red Calvin Klein Collection dress, which was made for her by Francisco Costa. "She set the bar so high, said one fashion commentator. 'It is the most perfect, sexy red carpet dress,' says Kelly Osbourne, who is commentating for E!."23:31 Sky has begun its coverage, and will presumably be showing some of the red carpet stuff in a bit, but at the moment it's Edith Bowman, Robbie Collin of the News of the World, someone called "Brix Smith-Start" - a "fashion expert", apparently - and their presenter Alex Zane nattering away about what who they think will win what. "It'd be nice if there were a few surprises", says Edith, while this "Brix" woman, who seems to be wearing the back end of an ostrich, says there will be surprises on the red carpet. Nothing so surprising as you, m'dear. 23:24 Evening all - Tom Chivers here, getting ready for the Oscars 2011. The Telegraph's film buff David Gritten is power-napping at the moment, preparing for the ceremony itself at 1:30am. In a couple of minutes we're going to start covering the red carpet action, and we'll have our own Melissa Whitworth to tell us which dresses are nice and which are not. Meanwhile, - our TV critic - is following the evening on Twitter, to keep us up to speed on the ramblings of the nation's insomniacs. Follow the 2011 live here with Tom Chivers and Telegraph film critic David Gritten from 11:30pm. • • Read the Telegraph film critics' • - David Gritten: The film studios’ obsession with awards is ruining the way films are released. • The King's Speech has 12 nominations, including Best Picture • True Grit has strong show of 10 nominations; Winter's Bone has four nominationsContributors: is the Telegraph's film critic is one of the Daily Telegraph's New York feature writers is a TV and film critic for the Telegraph is the Telegraph’s US television reviewer Although Ringo Starr posited, in With A Little Help From My Friends, that it "happens all the time", love at first sight is an extreme rarity with a restaurant. With this one, even my wife was gushing from the start. "Wonderful," she declared over good bread, olives and hummus as she took in a dark, garret-like room with blood-red walls and ceiling, a sloping floor covered in something like seagrass, photographs of Edwardian toddlers and brooding 18th-century oil portraits, and a view through the windows of such enveloping foliage that you might almost be in a tree house. "It's very Jane Austen: like the room where Elizabeth hears that Lydia has run off with Mr Wickham in Pride And Prejudice. I love it here. And I love this menu."No wonder. This is one of those gutsy, determinedly unpretentious menus – part classic brasserie, part modern British, part English grill with eclectic touches (a hint of Morocco here, an echo from the Orient there) – from which you want everything. She settled on the Animal Liberationist Special (ALS), beginning with a foie gras and chicken liver parfait with toasted brioche and onion marmalade. "Oh, oh, oh, that's marvellous. Luxurious, velvety, delicate brandy kick… This goose did not die in vain." My crispy duck with cucumber, spring onion and pickled ginger was as fine a version as I've had, the duck skin perfectly crunchy, and the meat juicy and sweet, the soy-and-sesame dressing faultless.The portions were colossal but raw courage saw us through. My five chunky slices of venison, most regal of the red meats, were as alluringly red as the walls, and came with cabbage and scrunchy little roasted Jersey royals, the ensemble marooned by a lake of redcurranty Oxford sauce. "Delicious," was the spousal verdict on the second half of her ALS, a vast veal chop with a glorious, tarragon-infused fricassee of wild mushrooms and grilled asparagus, "and I don't like veal."This invited an obvious question, but being so tantalisingly close to a third entirely bicker-free lunch in 19 years, I didn't pose it."What I most adore," she added, after cooing over her potatoes dauphinois, "is that they haven't restauranted the food up a bit." Where that ersatz verb fits into this newspaper's style guide one dreads to imagine, but the point was sound. However facile a winning formula it may appear, taking great ingredients and cooking them with accuracy and flair, but without a shred of poncery, so they taste vibrantly of themselves, defeats all but the smartest chefs.After struggling heroically through a shared, impeccable Eton Mess, we continued to gush over coffee cutely served with freshly made fudge. Everything about this place – the charming service, the thoughtful wine list that takes no liberties, even the trad jazz playing delicately in the background – is as it should be."It makes me want to buy a house here just to be close to it," said my wife as we waddled contentedly to the car. About three million reasons why that won't be happening in the absence of a lottery jackpot, a ram raid on a bullion depository or a songwriting credit on the next Celine Dion album came to mind; but I kept them to myself. There are some regrets, after all, with which we must learn to live in stoic silence. The Crooked Billet, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon (01491 681048; )Three course meal with wine and coffee, £50-£60Telegraph rating 9/10Header: VZCZCXRO6406OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROVDE RUEHFR #2134/01 3260821ZNY SSSSS ZZHO 210821Z NOV 08FM AMEMBASSY PARISTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4895INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITYRUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITYTags: PREL,PARM,MARR,KACT,FR,UK,CH,RU,KN,SY,IRS E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 PARIS 002134 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2018 TAGS: PREL, PARM, MARR, KACT, FR, UK, CH, RU, KN, SY, IR SUBJECT: P3 CONSULTATIONS ON NONPROLIFERATION AND DISARMAMENT IN PARIS Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Kathleen Allegrone for reas ons 1.4 b and d. 1. (C) Summary. On November 7, Acting U/S John Rood met in Paris with his French and British counterparts Jacques Audibert and Mariot Leslie, respectively, to discuss a broad range of nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament issues. Topics included regional issues (Iran, North Korea, and Syria) and multilateral efforts (IAEA, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Conference on Disarmament, Convention on Conventional Weapons). U/S Rood, Audibert and Leslie agreed on the need to continue to pressure Iran wherever possible and to work within the IAEA to combat Syrian proliferation. The P3 also discussed Russia and China, developments in bilateral cooperation, and ideas for further initiatives. The parties planned to meet again in Washington in late December or January. Separately, U/S Rood held side discussions with both Audibert and Leslie. Audibert and U/S Rood agreed on the need to work closely with the UK on their proposed initiatives to ensure their end results remain constructive. End Summary. ------------------------------------------ REGIONAL ISSUES: IRAN, NORTH KOREA, SYRIA ------------------------------------------ 2. (S) The parties agreed that Iran is progressing steadily in developing its nuclear program. Leslie agreed with U/S Rood that the possibility of covert facilities is the biggest concern. U/S Rood stated the need for continued close collaboration in pursuing national measures and multilateral efforts beyond the UN Security Council, such as a possible G7 statement. Leslie noted that financial measures are controversial in the UK, with several legal challenges pending from private firms and any measures requiring House of Lords approval. That said, she expressed support for continued utilization of financial measures. Leslie also said the UK is disappointed in Italy and Germany, but thinks focusing more on Japanese banks would be constructive. She said Japanese banks were beginning to take up more Iranian business as financial sanctions bite in Europe. She emphasized the need to use sanctions to pressure the Iranian leadership while taking care to preserve Iran's economic linkages to the global economy. UK and French representatives agreed that efforts within the EU were not dead, with the French EU presidency planning to push for designation of additional entities by the EU. 3. (C) U/S Rood provided an update on the Six-Party Talks, stating that the DPRK has a deliberate, systematic approach that emphasizes conditionality. The key challenges were to continue disablement of North Korean nuclear facilities and to begin verification activities. The U.S., South Korea, Japan, China and Russia have reached a common position on principles of the verification protocol, which we hope to codify soon at a head of delegation level meeting. ISN Acting Assistant Secretary Patricia McNerney briefed on the specific steps taken to date at Yongbyan and the challenges to completing disablement by the end of the year. All concurred that efforts so far had borne some fruit, but the situation could reverse. Both the UK and France expressed support for U.S. efforts and a willingness to help if desirable. 4. (C) U/S Rood stated U.S. hope for a report from Director General ElBaradei on Syria at the next IAEA Board of Governors meeting that would give the BOG the opportunity to take action to pressure Syria to cooperate with the IAEA investigation of its current nuclear program. Audibert, Leslie, and Rood agreed that Syria's request for IAEA technical cooperation on a reactor project was of concern. Leslie expressed caution that if the report's content is insufficiently strong, a failed attempt for a resolution prohibiting such cooperation or pressing for greater Syrian cooperation with the investigation would weaken the P3 position. She also warned against inadvertently giving the impression that the IAEA takes Syria more seriously than Iran, since a resolution on Iran is unlikely. UK Head of Counter-Proliferation Department Paul Arkwright noted that the BOG nonetheless offers the right moment for strong national statements on Syria. Acting A/S McNerney highlighted U.S. concern that the November IAEA Board of Governors was poised to approve a project to help Syria develop a nuclear reactor absent greater effort to halt this proposal. The P3 agreed to press the IAEA not to pursue the technical cooperation project with Syria on a new nuclear reactor, which they agreed seemed completely inappropriate in the circumstances, and to confer again as soon as the IAEA report on Syria is available on the prospects for pursuing a BOG resolution. PARIS 00002134 002 OF 005 ----------------------------------------- MULTILATERAL EFFORTS: IAEA, NSG, CD, CCW ----------------------------------------- 5. (C) Leslie stated that neither Japanese candidate Amano nor South African candidate Minty is ideal to replace ElBaradei as IAEA chief. The UK is not yet ready to commit to either candidate, but Leslie noted that OPCW DG Pfirter might also be interested and would be a good choice. Audibert and U/S Rood noted that their governments support Amano's candidacy but recognized that if neither candidate gets two-thirds consensus, a third candidate may be needed. All recalled that ElBaradei emerged as a candidate only after other candidates had failed to get two-thirds support and that he did so without the support of his government. U/S Rood said that Japan expects Amano to get support from African and Latin American countries despite the African Union's endorsement of Minty, noting that the vote is secret. 6. (C) For the upcoming Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting, U/S Rood said that the U.S. is working hard to produce consensus on criteria governing trade in enrichment and reprocessing. The partners agreed that Canada is the key, since its vocal opposition to the inclusion of a "black box" requirement in the criteria is based on substantively weak reasons, and other countries would likely follow a Canadian shift in position. Canada might agree to the "black box" approach for current technologies, but wants more flexibility to pursue technologies that are not yet commercially viable. All agreed that multi-pronged pressure on Canada would be necessary. Audibert said France would increase pressure in its own demarches. Leslie said she had already weighed in heavily with the Canadian MFA but requested that the U.S. share the language under discussion with Canada. Leslie further suggested we might be able to identify NGOs that could indirectly pressure the Canadian government, as public opinion would be on our side. 7. (C) Regarding the Conference on Disarmament (CD), the parties agreed that expectations were modest, largely due to the intransigence of China and Pakistan to pursuing negotiations on the FMCT. U/S Rood noted that China is a free rider in the CD context, noting that the proposed Prevention of an arms race in space (PAROS) treaty would not even ban China's own anti-satellite weapons. Leslie said that China could be somewhat vulnerable to public pressure if we expose the fact that China is building more weapons while others are reducing their levels. The parties also agreed that an isolated Pakistan might be more flexible, but prospects for a fissile material cutoff treaty are not good regardless. 8. (C) In a brief discussion of cluster munitions and the ongoing Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) meeting, U/S Rood pressed for movement at the CCW and urged the French and British to use their influence to persuade other adherents to the Dublin convention to take a more practical approach rather than dogmatically sticking to the positions adopted in Dublin. Audibert said a French proposal may have produced a compromise between munitions-possessing states and the more extreme participants of the Oslo Process. Leslie said the UK will sign the Dublin text in December but has not given up on the CCW. ---------------- RUSSIA AND CHINA ---------------- 9. (C) P3 relations with Russia and China remain complex. Leslie said UK bilateral relations with Russia have seen a little improvement overall, and Russia is eager to resume military cooperation with the UK. However, Russia is also pressuring Britain through daily overflights of UK territory, which are annoying but more importantly, carry the danger of accidents. France reported that one side effect of its EU presidency's intense negotiations with Russia regarding the Georgia crisis is that French leaders have developed personal relationships with their Russian counterparts. France prioritizes open dialogue and recognizes the need to cooperate with Russia on key issues whether or not we want them as partners. U/S Rood reported that U.S. relations with Russia have taken a more negative tone since the last P3 meeting, though cooperation in some counterproliferation areas has not faltered. U/S Rood said that the U.S. has transmitted a draft follow-on START text to Russia. He commented that Russian officials seemed surprised to receive it, indicating they had perhaps doubted our sincerity. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen how serious the Russians are about negotiating, particularly with the current administration. Leslie asked that the UK be kept apprised of post-START developments, not just as a stakeholder but PARIS 00002134 003 OF 005 because the agreement will set a new standard among nuclear states; PM Brown has personal interest in the issue and may make public remarks along those lines soon. U/S Rood added that the U.S. has developed a new proposal for missile defense, in the same framework, but that Russia seems less open to an understanding than six months ago. In the P5, Arkwright said that Russia will be reluctant to decouple itself from China since China has successfully been a long-time free rider. In the NPT review conference context, P5 cooperation is not the primary cause for concern, though expectations overall are moderate for that meeting. U/S Rood agreed to talk to his Russian counterpart about closer coordination in the run-up to the NPT Revcon. --------------------------- BILATERAL AGREEMENT UPDATES --------------------------- 10. (C) Audibert provided updates on French bilateral agreements on civil nuclear cooperation, a French Presidency priority. Framework agreements are underway, but not yet finalized, with a range of countries including Jordan, Algeria, Libya, Slovakia, and India. Audibert stressed that all agreements will be consistent with France's legal obligations including NSG engagements, which are legally binding for EU member-states. Audibert said safety is a huge concern because French public support for nuclear power is largely founded on France's excellent safety record. Leslie said the UK was reassured to have France taking the lead with these countries, since France takes its obligations so seriously. U/S Rood said the U.S. is pursuing civil nuclear cooperation with countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, where we have signed MOUs that Will be drawn upon to negotiate legally binding 123 agreements. Acting A/S McNerney highlighted that the U.S. approach is intended to shape the development of nuclear energy in the Middle East in a manner that meets high nonproliferation standards but also makes good economic sense and relies on the markets for fuel generation. As this approach takes root it would help shape debate in multilateral fora away from stale discussions of "rights" under the NPT. U/S Rood noted that the U.S. agreed to permit the UAE to pursue overseas reprocessing in France or the UK only, and expected that any separated plutonium would not go back to the UAE including plutonium incorporated in mox fuel. The P3 agreed these developments were positive, and should continue to be developed. ----------------------------- IDEAS FOR FURTHER INITIATIVES ----------------------------- 11. (C) Leslie said UK Prime Minister Brown is eager to host a conference focused on topics, such as the UK proposal for a fuel enrichment bond, in order to demonstrate commitment to all three NPT pillars. The conference, which might occur in March, would group supplier states and potential purchasers at the ministerial level, going "beyond" MFAs to include other relevant ministries. Audibert noted that the French EU presidency is working for the EU to contribute "up to 25 million euros" to the NTI/IAEA fuel bank initiative, which he said complements the UK's enrichment bond proposal. U/S Rood said that a significant EU contribution could push the fuel bank into operational status, a big accomplishment. The UK also welcomed the French EU presidency's effort, which Leslie said would decrease the skepticism of non-aligned states due to the EU stamp. On the British proposal for a P5 conference on verifying nuclear disarmament, U/S Rood urged that we focus on bringing Chinese and Russian transparency up to P3 levels. He referenced his discussion in Beijing this past summer with Chinese Deputy Chief of the PLA General Staff Ma Xiaotian, who in apparent keeping with Sun Tzu dicta said he did not wish to reveal his country's military strengths or weaknesses through transparency. Audibert agreed that we should focus in the proposed conference on advancing Chinese and Russian transparency, and the British seemed to take this on board. 12. (C) U/S Rood discussed the U.S. proposal for a suppliers' code of conduct, which would go farther than NSG commitments especially on qualitative points. He acknowledged that such an effort would need to be conducted sensitively to avoid the perception of creating a "cartel" and angering non-aligned states. U/S Rood said the U.S. would refine its concepts and then send out a discussion paper. Audibert said the GOF was also developing a list of common principles for suppliers and recipients, which it would transmit as a discussion paper in approximately two weeks. 13. (C) Leslie distributed a UK government discussion paper PARIS 00002134 004 OF 005 on how to fill gaps in the current "patchwork" architecture surrounding nuclear trade, particularly in the area of physical protection. She said the UK's goal would be to create comprehensive, legally binding institutions to address growing proliferation concerns, noting that nonproliferation structures have not evolved to keep up with advanced technology that makes proliferation easier than ever. She said the paper did not reflect a formal proposal, but reflection and preparation would need to take place now for a push in the 2010 timeframe. Audibert and U/S Rood remarked that the current patchwork seemed to work and questioned why a single, comprehensive instrument was necessary, but agreed to review the paper. 14. (C) Leslie reported that FM Miliband has repeatedly asked British officials to define "deterrence" in today's context. As part of Miliband's initiative to "bring foreign policy home" in the UK through spurring domestic intellectual debate on foreign policy matters, the UK government is preparing a public discussion document on nuclear issues. Leslie said that preparation of the document was complicated, which by definition goes beyond iterating current British policy, but she would share the paper shortly before it is published, possibly in late December. U/S Rood noted that for the U.S., deterrence is not the same thing as offensive nuclear forces. He said in today,s environment, that deterrence was much more complex than during the Cold War when we often described our nuclear forces as our "deterrent." In today,s world, any discussion needed to being with what we were seeking to deter (e.g. terrorism, attacks by rogue states, etc.) and then progress to consideration of the right means to deter such actors. Audibert noted that the French defense white paper exercise reaffirmed nuclear deterrence as the core of French defense. 15. (C) Audibert also circulated a non-paper, containing basic elements of a treaty banning short- and intermediate-range ground-to-ground missiles. The concept of such a treaty was set forth by President Sarkozy in remarks in March on French nuclear doctrine. Concluding the discussions, the parties agreed to meet again in late December or January in Washington, and U/S Rood agreed to circulate possible dates. ------------------------------- BILATERAL TALKS WITH FRANCE, UK ------------------------------- 16. (C/NF) In a bilateral discussion prior to the P3 meeting, Audibert and Rood discussed the UK's thinking on nuclear disarmament. Audibert said the main reason he had sought a bilateral discussion with U/S Rood before the P3 meeting was to express concern with the direction the British are going, and to coordinate with us in advance of the P3 meeting. U/S Rood said increased transparency along the lines of British thinking for states with nuclear weapons wouldn,t necessarily be stabilizing; it would in fact be destabilizing in the case of India and Pakistan. The French agreed that moves toward transparency along the lines of British thinking would also put unhelpful pressure on Israel. Audibert stated that the U.S. and France must work very closely with the UK to ensure their initiatives stay constructive. He also noted that UK Prime Minister Brown seems willing to engage personally in arms control issues, crediting him with the reversal of the UK's position on cluster munitions. Rood noted that even positive steps in arms control sometimes produce negative press coverage and that high visibility is thus not always desirable. They agreed that the UK government seems to be unduly cautious about getting ahead of public opinion. Both sides broadly agreed we should convince the British to shift their focus to enhancing Chinese and Russian transparency. 17. (C) In a bilateral discussion following the P3 meeting, Leslie and Rood focused on Russia and China. Leslie asked for more information on the draft treaty to replace START, noting that the UK has sensitivities about revealing information about its own nuclear programs. Rood outlined the text of the treaty the U.S. recently sent to Russia and assured Leslie it would not require particular actions by the UK. Rood added that Russia believes conventional weapons are part of the bilateral balance of power and should be covered by the treaty. Nonetheless, he said that Russia will likely postpone intense post-START negotiations until the next administration's tenure in hopes of a "better deal." Regarding China, Leslie described bilateral arms control talks with Deputy FM He Yafei as a constructive process despite few deliverables thus far beyond an invitation for UK nuclear scientists to visit their Chinese counterpart lab. She said that the Chinese goal seems to be to "catch up" with the U.S. in weapons capabilities to avoid American strategic PARIS 00002134 005 OF 005 dominance in Asia, seeing the "pax Americana" as a blip in world history. 18. (U) P3 Participants: US: U/S John Rood, Acting A/S Patricia McNerney, T Chief of Staff Hugh Amundson, T Executive Assistant Thomas Cynkin, Embassy Political Officer Emilie Bruchon UK: Director-General Defense and Intelligence Mariot Leslie, Head of Counter-Proliferation Department Paul Arkwright, Team Leader Nuclear Issues and Missile Defense Chris Allan, Embassy Political Officer Ben Fender France: Director (A/S-equivalent) for Strategic Affairs Jacques Audibert, Strategic Affairs Desk Officers Celine Jurgensen and Myriam Pavageau 19. (U) U/S Rood has cleared this cable. STAPLETON Phoebe Philo's late trend Credited with making Chloé "cool" again, Phoebe Philo was snapped up by the French fashion house Celine as its new creative director. Her much-anticipated debut collection, which was expected to be unveiled in March, will not now be launched until October amid rumours of tensions between the 35-year-old British designer and the bosses of LVMH, which owns the label.PENALTIES:SPAIN PORTUGAL Alonso misses Moutinho misses Iniesta scores Pepe scores Pique scores Nani scores Ramos scores Alves misses Fabregas scores Spain 4 Portugal 2 In off the post! Spain are in the final!Spain 3 Portugal 2 Alves takes this one.... He's hit the bar! Spain are in the final if Cesc Fabregas can score this penalty. Spain 3 Portugal 2 Ramos does a Pirlo... Not quite as good, but the same result. Spain 2 Portugal 2 Alves steps up... But Nani sends him back and he's going to take it instead...Scores! High into the net. Spain 2 Portugal 1 Another top spot-kick from Pique, into the side netting. The good side. Spain 1 Portugal 1 Excellent kick from Pepe, right in the corner. No chance for Casillas. Spain 1 Portugal 0 Iniesta scores Sending the keeper the wrong way. Spain 0 Portugal 0 CASILLAS SAVES! Equally good save by Casillas, middling height and to the keeper's right. Spain 0 Portugal 0 PATRICIO SAVES! Alonso struck it well enough, but the keeper's at full stretch and turns it round the post. 22.19 Penalties will be taken at the Spain end... I think. Spain will take the first one. Alonso stepping up. 22.18 Here's a tweet from our friends at Opta which tells us something important: Twitter: Opta Sports - 2 - Portugal’s only two penalty shoot-outs at major tournaments have been vs England (won both). PreviousYep, England are in real trouble here... 22.17 Fernando Torres has found a role in this Spain team at last... He's the chief hug-giver. I'd like a hug from Fernando Tores. Although for most of the past two years I think he's been more in need of a hug from me. Here's Andy Price: I think the shark is waiting round the corner, in white, with red black and gold flashes. Germany have little to fear here.22.16 Keep an eye on that table above. That's where the action is going to be. Rui Patricio has a towel over his head. Pepe Reina has given Iker Casillas a big kiss on the cheek. 22.14 Portugal deserve penalties. We shall see if their clear tiredness comes into play. I will ask you to refresh your browser so that you can enjoy the new faster auto-refresh rate of 30 seconds. Let's work at this together. We can do it. FULL TIME IN EXTRA TIME WE WILL HAVE SOME PENALTIES119 min Pedro bursts into the Portugal box, skips past a few players... Moutinho blocks him off. 117 min Portugal, obviously exhausted, are defending with laudable guts here. I think they realised early in the second half of normal time that their chance to win the game had probably gone. As such they've been disappointing going forward after their excellent first 45 minutes, but you can't fault their dedication at the back. Spain have had very few gigantic chances, despite their dominance. 116 min Navas crosses from the right. Fabregas in the middle... He's fouled Pereira. Here's Stephen Shakesheff with an attempted pun which betrays his tired, tired extra-time fingers: It's a long journey on the trans iberian ineffectiveness 115 min Pedro put through by Fabregas! Running at speed, away from the defenders... But Alves is over to make a desparate clearance. Another corner for Spain. Another non-event. 114 min Ronaldo fouled by Alonso, late tackle, yellow card. In my nifty live pictures program there about 200 different variations of this pose from Cristiano: You can add real-life tears to that in about 10 minutes if Portugal go out. 112 min Meireles off for Portugal, Varela coming on. I should add that Veloso was removed at half time in extra time, replaced by Custodio. 110 min Arbeloa in the Portugal box! Finds Navas, who shoots, and it's another excellent save from Patricio. Comes to Pepe a couple of yards away who shapes his body as if he can't get out of the way, but patently is helping it back into his keeper's hands. No back-pass, says the ref. 109 min Spain look markedly less tired than Portugal. You feel they're going to have at least two more excellent chances before penalties happen. 106 min No timing issues this time, friends. Instead I am smoking at my desk. It's about time the Telegraph Office became more like that of Sterling-Cooper-Draper-Price. HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME105+1 min Spain in total control now. Free kick on the left, 30 yards from goal. Ramos blasts it at goal! Just over. Better than all of Ronaldo's free kicks this evening. 104 min What a save! Pedro does fantastically to keep in a wild shot by Navas and brings it down before finding Alba. He's into the box and stands it up in the middle... Iniesta's on the end of it but Rui Patricio and his excellent instincts bat the ball away. Corner... Nothing good comes from it. 103 min Iniesta receives it, and, very unlike Spain, there's no pass on for him. He's crowded out and Nani plays it forward for Oliveira who feints past Ramos... But Ramos has read it, and Spain win possession. 102 min Fabregas finds Navas on the edge of the area. He shoots, Nani blocks, another Spain corner. 101 min Spain have a corner. Good for them. They've not done much from them all evening. 99 min Lots going through Pedro, who's stationed out on the left-hand side for Spain. He plays in the overlapping Alonso whose cross deflects into the area. Pedro hares towards the loose ball but he's flattened by Pepe and has stayed down. Portugal take it away, but, of course, the referee blows up so Pedro can receive treatment. 98 min This is not shaping up well. Both teams looking unlikely to do much of anything that's good. Lots of misplaced passes... Ronaldo has a chance to run on the right0-hand side... Good challenge from Pique. Here's jazz legend Duke Addleman: Not only has Spain jumped the shark, they're in its belly. The question remains: Will they find a knife and cut their way out, or will they be digested?96 min Alonso takes a free kick given for a non-existent foul. Appropriately it's headed away. 95 min Are we going to see an exciting period of extra time? Or the usual festival of tired legs and teams settling for penalties? Pedro briefly looks like doing something with his un-tired legs. Pereira reads his run and tackles well. 93 min Look, I'll be honest. I had a problem. I went for a cigarette. My gate-opening card failed to open the gate. There was panic. I missed the opening two minutes. Do not worry. I am reliably informed that nothing has happened. NOTHING. I apologise. I'll never do it again. (During this tournament). EXTRA TIME91 min We're off again. How's this going to end? 21.36 Veloso booked for a meaty challenge on Alves. We're going to extra time. After a tournament with zero 0-0s, we've had two in a row. I fancy this to be settled before penalties. Errors creeping in, and a dangerous number of players on yellow cards. FULL TIME Portugal 0 Spain 090+3 min Martin Keown think Coentrao is pronounced like the orange-flavoured liqueur. Spain do nothing with the corner. Forty-five seconds left. 90+2 min One minute of added time left, Navas has won a corner off Coentrao. 90 min Alonso with a free kick for Spain on the left. Heroic header away... AND PORTUGAL BREAK! Four forward, against two Spanish defenders, Meireles finds Ronaldooooo.... Oh he's blasted it over! Curses and desk thumps from an office-full of people that are conscious of print deadlines and would really like for this match not to get to extra time. 88 min Do you agree with this assessment from Luke Edwards? Twitter: Luke Edwards - Always the same in major tournaments. Excitement of group games gives way to chess like tedium of knockout phase as teams nullify each otherI'm not sure I do. I'm sure there was a fairly recent tournament which was the opposite, but am failing to remember exactly which one. Great counter-argument... 87 min Xavi, who's not done a whole lot, comes off for Spain. Pedro's on. That's their final change. We will not have the pleasure of a winning penalty by Fernando "He's back! Again!" Torres. 85 min Getting scrappier and more dirty as extra time looms. Bruno Alves is booked. That's Portugal's entire back four on yellows. Perreira, Pepe and Coentrao can't afford another foul. Busquets, Ramos and Arbeloa in the book for Spain. 84 min Third time lucky for Ronaldo? No. Thid time not a goal. The less well-known variant of that saying. Overhit, and over the bar. 83 min Another promising free kick from Ronaldo. HIts the wall this time, and Arbeloa is booked for handball. Another free cick for CRon, 10 yards further forward. 81 min Nelson Oliveira on for Portugal, replacing the so-so Almeida. 80 min It's a cross-position free kick. Veloso reckons he can catch Iker Casillas, possibly the best goalkeeper in the world, unawares, and tries to shoot. No, Veloso. Velosno. Casillas catches with ease. 79 min Portugal still with the best of this, but the game is closing up in front of us like a mussell that you probably shouldn't eat. Nevertheless, they have a free kick on the right-hand side. 76 min Spain looking a little leggy, and Nani's unmarked on the right-hand side with Ronaldo in possession on the left. He works it right to Almeida, who is slow to spot Nani, slow to turn, and under hit his pass to him. Two men around Nani now, and the chance has gone. 73 min Oooh! Not far off. I forbid you from not feeling excited about a Ronaldo free kick with that ridiculous routine of his. Five reverse goose-steps, one to the side. Heavy breathing. One perfect strand of fringe teasing his forehead. What a man. 72 min Right. It's a Portugal free kick about 30 yards out. Come on Cristiano. Time to make a name for yourself, son. 70 min Here's Cristiano Ronaldo and his world-famous Phil Jones impression: 68 min Given away cheaply by Veloso and Spain pour forward... Xavi's on it. Ominous. Three ahead of him, peeling away into decent positions, but Xavi opts to shoot... Straight at Patricio! I am reliably informed that is Spain's first shot on target. 67 min Alono performs his requisite one shot per game from extremely optimistic range. As ever, it's off target. 65 min Excellently-taken free kick from Xavi, looks to be reaching the six yard box as one of those "any touch, and this is in" crosses. Pepe's there with a crucial header and concedes a corner. It fails to pay immediate dividends, but Spain are still on the ball. 64 min Cynical foul from Perreira, who pulls down Fabregas after his one-two with Alonso cuts Portugal open on the right-hand side. Perreira booked, Spain with a free kick just outside the box. 63 min More cagey in this half. Portugal's intensity without the ball has dropped off a bit, but then they're seeing more of it than they did in the first half. Spain yet to cause them any problems in the second period. Top tweeting from Gavin Barber: Twitter: Gavin Barber - Now we'll find out if Jesús is worth 30 pieces of Silva 61 min Pepe booked now, for an elbow in Busquets' back when challenging for a high ball. Not sure about that, I don't think it was on purpose. Alex Olafsson has imagined that Vicente Del Bosque has done the old teacher trick of saying "well, if you're so clever why don't you come up here and run the national team": I think Spain could have benefited from rotating their players a bit, like Germany. Would have liked seeing Mata get a start, and some shuffle in the middle of the park.. As I speak Fabergas comes on, I am assuming Spain want to suffocate Portugal more, would have liked to see Torres come on to run into space, maybe Navas/Perdo on the outside, there is space out there to exploit. I mean Ronaldo and Nani are not exactly known for playing defense... Del Bosque's plan to embarrass Alex has backfired. 60 min Busquets receives a yellow card right in his defensive midfield-y face. I think it's for waving an imaginary card at the ref, after Ronaldo went to ground a little too easily under Ramos' challenge. Jesus Navas on for the quiet Silva for Spain. 58 min Luke Edwards reckons this could be going all the way: Twitter: Luke Edwards - Spain look more than a little rattled. Good contest, although neither side quite able to open up the other yet. Extra-time and pens?57 min Another corner for Portugal. Nani to take. Rubbish. Too little on it, and it bounces well in front of the penalty spot. Fabregas kicks it away with ease. Shortly afterwards Almedia opts to have a go with a bobbling ball from 25 yards. Curls over. Not a bad attempt, but Nani and Ronaldo were offering him support. 55 min Tom Robershaw is surprised to see Spain's persistance with their strikerless thang: I thought Spain would have abandoned the false #9 scheme after the tie with Italy in the first round. The deep threat of a real striker would open up the passing more. I still think they're the most talented team, but Spain's first round results remind me of the time Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson in boxing. The aura of invincibility is gone54 min Negredo is coming off for Spain, with Fabregas replacing him. Finally, we are back to the 4-6-0 formation. 53 min Not a great corner. Not a great clearance from Alonso, but at the second attempt he smacks it into an opponent and it's out for a goal kick. Fabregas has taken off his charming tracksuit top and is ready to come on. 52 min Portugal have a corner. At last, Soren Assmann has given me his thoughts: Kinda looks like Ral Madrid vs. FC Barcelona out there...with the shirts. Lively game, with Portugal well matching Spain. Unlikely to be a high-scoring-affair, though, which makes it a bit sad. Hope you're holding on without England, as I'm holding on without an internet connection...51 min Good defensive header in the circumstances from Perreira after Arbeloa delivers an excellent cross from the right. No-one that close to the Portuguese full-back but he can't take the chance, so nods behind. Nothing doing from the corner. 50 min Stephen Shakesheff emailed me in the first half to give me his opinion that Spain were looking bullish. He's just sent me this update: Correction: Spain are looking bulls***. 48 min Spain already looking a little more fluid and comfortable in this half. Raul Meireles really shouldn't have had that large portion of Peri-Peri chips. 46 min Portugal begin the second half after their refreshing half-times Nando's. Bruno Alves was the unfortunate recipient of the extra spicy one in wing roulette. 20.33 Marvellous half. Portugal closing down with breakneck speed, and rather than prompting lethal counter-attacking football from Spain it's made them hurried, jittery and unusually error-prone. Yet to see a chance worthy of the name, but there's been enterprising play at both ends and some flashes of brilliance from the usual suspects. Negredo doing nada up front. Time to abandon this foolish "having a striker" experiment? See you in 15. HALF TIME Portugal 0 Spain 045 min Minor kick-out from Joao Perreira on Iniesta. No harm donw. Martin Keown says "Perreira's got that in his nature, hasn't he, he's an angry man," with a level of scorn in his voice that's not appropriate from the man who reacted to getting hit in the head with a football like this: 43 min Pepe with a well-placed lofted ball from the back, heading towards Ronaldo up top but it should be no trouble for Ramos, but he leaves it for Casillas and Almeida is far too close to comfort... Just fails to get on the end of it. 42 min This gives you an idea of how uncomfortable Spain have been this half: 38 min Another disappointing pass from Silva, with Iniesta in space in the box. He at least had the right idea this time, but it was too short and Portugal intercept with ease. 37 min Spain are really struggling here. Silva plays a pass to no-one in a decent position, with Iniesta running outside of him. Andy Holgate only needs one incidental mention of alliteration to get him going: Spanish salsa soccer? Splendid. Portuguese primped prima-donnas? Probably. Expected English exit? Exactly.36 min Nani has gone down, in a style which owes a little to the traditions of the theatre, after being made the unwitting filling in a Alba / Alonso sandwich. I reckon he'll be fine, to be honest. 33 min From the "is it just me" files, courtesy of Abhishek PanditIs it just me, or does Xabi Alonso resemble Obi wan Kenobi? I think it is just you.... 32 min End-to-end. Exciting. Ronaldo. He spins, he shoots, he barely has time to realise the ball's at his feet before it's zipping past Casillas. It's also past the post. Portugal won it back superbly in Spain's half there. How long can they keep this pressure up? 30 min Big chance for Spain! Portugal's pressure forces Alonso into another long ball, and it pays dividends with Nedgredo holding it up well and findins Silva on the edge of the box. Spain have Iniesta over and open on the other flank and obviously find him. He's closed down quickly enough but still has time to set himself for a shot... which dips just over! 28 min...not for long, though. Portugal do some splendid pressing and they force Spain into a mistake. Two bits of showboating on the left-had flank, first Veloso with a heel flick that forces Ramos to clear in a hurry, then Ronaldo with a marvellous chopped backheel to find a team-mate. Meireles tries a cross from deep, Ramos falls on it. An appeal for handball. No chance. 26 min Portgual back on top now, there's an enjoyably even format to this so far, it's a far better game than I was expecting. Portugal doing it all down the flanks. Nani runs at Alba which makes room for Moutinho on the overlap. His cross is decent, but Pique sticks an unusually-angled leg at it and Spain clear... 24 min Spain finding their rhythm now, and it's the same one that Celine Dion explored for most of the 1990s. Slow, patient, efficient, deadening. They're being booed and whistled for keeping the ball, which you've got to applaud... Extended period of possession? That's not what football's about! How dare they?! Twitter: Richard Whittall - People whistling the Spaniards for passing. Don't they know how beautiful Busquets passing to Pique is?21 min Nani, everyone's favourite second-favourite Ronaldo, breaks on the right. Cuts inside, past Jordi Alba, and the full-back looks to get a piece of him as it's pushed past him. No foul, says the satisfyingly-named Cuneyt Cakir. He's wrong. 20 min Distincly un-Spanish over-hit pass by Alonso as Spain break after better work from Arbeloa. He's in quickly to cut out a pass to Ronaldo from Coentrao that's not quite a hospital pass, but is certainly a pharmacy pass. Alonso has options ahead of him. The option he takes is to boot it into Pepe's shins. 17 min Ronaldo does his free kick preparation thing... Straight into the wall. Heh heh heh.. Portugal soon win a corner, they're building momentum here... That's a poor corner though, from Moutinho. Easily palmed clear by Casillas. 16 min Ronaldo has perked up, think he's just realised that Arbeloa is Spain's right back and he's not all that good. The former Liverpool man clips his heels on the edge of the area. Free kick. No booking for Pique for kicking the ball away. 15 min Alliteration fan William Walsh has emailed, with the hugely inviting subject line "Irrelevant side note": Each of your preview's key match-ups involves a former Liverpool player playing for Spain. Ah, those were the days.13 min Here's our first proper sight of Ronaldo, after Veloso cuts out a pass with some Nostradamus-like reading of the game. Ronaldo's away on the right, with that strangely stiff runing style, and his pace is too much for the Spain players in pursuit. Crosses wonderfully as the ball reaches the byline, with Almeida in the middle, and Casillas has to be at his best to punch away. 12 min Someone evidently needs to re-explain the rules of football to Cristiano Ronaldo, or he's in danger of earning himself a yellow card: 10 min It's opening up for Spain, who are looking a lot more positive and direct than we'e seen them for much of this tournament. Arbeloa is on the end of a zippy passing move, has space in the box, his rising shot fades just over the bar. 8 min Blimey, that looked almost like route one from Spain, Alonso thumping the ball forward from the halfway line for Silva to chase. It obviously takes Rui Patricio by surprise, as his claim isn't the best, but he takes control of the ball quickly enough. Mark Ogden is estimating 20,000 empty seats inside the ground. This is a disgrace. Not sure who to blame though. Uefa, for their pricing? Ukraine, for its low average wage? Ukrainians, for their decision to eat for a month rather than watch a football match? I think I'll go for... Uefa: Twitter: Mark Ogden - Would be great if Holland were playing in Donetsk tonight. The thousands of empty orange seats wouldn't be so visible then. 6 min Lovely flick from Iniesta from Alba's throw which puts Alba away at such speed that it's initially difficult to understand what's happened. Pepe's on hand again to clear for another throw. 5 min Spain struggling to get into this so far. Negredo picks it up in a menacing area and runs diagonally right-wards from just outside the box. Pepe sticks out a foot and wins the ball with a well-timed tackle. 3 min Casillas claims this time, authoritatively. 2 min Miguel Veloso has gone and won his side a corner with a deflected shot from outside the box. He takes it himself, it swings, Jabulani-like, towards goal at the last second and Casillas has to touch it behind for another corner. 1 min Spain begin the game with a really, really boring kick-off. Passing?! From one man to another?! Over a short distance?! ACCURATELY?! BOOOOOOOOOOOOO. 19.42 Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo doing a good job of reading from a piece of paper with some anti-racism words on. 19.39 Some national anthems. David Nemeth tries to explain the joy on the faces of the Spain fans below: Messi is on the bench? 19.37 The teams are in the tunnel. Ronaldo looks seriously. Donetsk, I have just learned, is closer to Baghdad than Berlin. 19.35 A well-observed point from the always-excellent Donncha Ó Conmhuí: I think if there's anything we've learned from this tournament (and equally the 2010 World Cup) it's that if you want to be semi final bound, you need to have endured at least a decade of oppressive right-wing dictatorship. At least we know what we've got to do before 2014. Surely 2024 is the earliest we can expect to triumph? Still...It's coming home, it's coming home..... 19.30 The game's not kicked off yet, so what are these Spanish fans so excited about? Answers on an email. 19.20 Beeb still prattling on about England. Far more interesting fodder from Mark Ogden on Twitter: Twitter: Mark Ogden - Alvaro Negredo starts up front for Spain, three years after rejecting a £12m move from Real Madrid to Hull. Strange, but true.19.17 Gary Lineker and co are still talking about England. Didn't England go out? Isn't there a semi-final happening tonight ? 19.15 Alex Olaffson offers a considered response on the shark-jumping topic: Yes and No. I think for the most part no, and Iniesta's recent comments regarding it is the opposition that makes Spain's play boring, was very accurate. It is very naive for most teams to think they can match Spain on the field, so they resort to the only tactics that give them a chance, counter attacking and sitting deep. It would be suicide for most teams to play head to head with them. Yet, I believe this reluctance on Spain' part to play a striker,(eating my words because Negrado is playing) gives them less of a cutting edge. I think they are more predictable without a striker, and having one opens up the field and makes them more dangerous and exciting, I think. At the same time I am not in charge of one of the greatest national teams in history..19.10 For anyone struggling with the question above, please allow me to elaborate. To "jump the shark" is to reach the pinaccle of your existance. Everything is downhill after jumping the shark. The expression comes from popular 70s / 50s television show Happy Days, and an episode in which Henry Winckler's Fonzie (very much the Lethal Bizzle of his day) jumped over a shark on some waterskis. Look: Have Spain done this, metaphorically? Or am I just blind and bitter? 18.55 So, Alvaro Negredo starts for Spain. This is not great news for Portugal, according to our good friends at Opta: Twitter: OptaJose - 11 - Álvaro Negredo has won every game he has played for Spain, scoring six goals. Nine18.40 The teams, you say? Well. Here they are: Portgual: Patrício; Pereira, Alves, Pepe, Coentrão; Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles; Nani, Ronaldo, Almeida. Subs: Eduardo, Custodio, Quaresma, Nelson Oliveira, Ricardo Costa, Rolando, Ruben Micael, Varela, Miguel Lopes, Hugo Viana, Postiga, Beto. Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Alonso. Busquets. Xavi; Silva, Negredo, Iniesta. Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Fabregas, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina. Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) 18.15 Evening liveblog fans. Hang the tennis. Curse the cricket. Laugh sarcastically at the Tour de France. It's semi-final time. After three weeks of more-or-less uninterrupted football we've had a couple of days to gather our thoughts, compose ourselves and collect all of our cross of St George tat before putting it in the recycling (where appropriate). We're left with only the four best teams in the tournament and an increasingly prevalent groundswell of ill-feeling towards the world and European champions. 's style is not for everybody. Roy Keane accurately described them as "so good it's boring" during their quarter final stroll against France. I feel like a phillistine to say that I don't find them very enjoyable to watch, but then I don't think we've seen them properly tested in this competition since their opening game against Italy. That was great. Italy disturbed Spain's game, which is more about suffocating, professional control of a football match rather than the freewheeling levity the Tiki-Taka tag suggests. Can do a job against them tonight? For my money they've been the tournament's third-best team so far (behind Germany and England, obviously) and Cristiano Ronaldo is beginning to have a very pleasant time. Let's all just take in this wonderful .gif again from the Czech Republic game: I can wholly get behind a man that can pull such marvellously pathetic faces and as such am hoping for an upset this evening. No-one (in this country, at least) likes a dynasty. Team news and the letter "n" with a little curly hat on to follow, stay tuned. Let's enjoy a lovely preview together: PREVIEWWednesday June 27, 2012 semi-final v Donbass Arena, Donetsk Kick-off: 19.45 (BST) TV: Live BBC One Probable teams Portugal (4-2-3-1): Patricio, Pereira , Pepe, Bruno alves, Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso, Moutinho, Ronaldo, Almeida, Nani. Spain (4-3-3): Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba, Xavi, Busquets,Alonso, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Match notesHaving swept past France to reach the Euro 2012 semi-finals, Spain can expect a more exacting ordeal on Wednesday when they face a Portugal team who beat them 4-0 in their last meeting. Spain have largely held the upper hand against their Iberian rivals, losing just nine times in 37 encounters, and they edged Portugal 1-0 in the last 16 en route to their triumph at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. However, Portugal claimed emphatic revenge less than five months later with a four-goal victory in Lisbon that condemned the reigning world and European champions to their heaviest defeat in 47 years. The teams have changed little since. Nine members of Portugal's likely starting line-up at Donbass Arena in Donetsk on Wednesday featured in the game, while Spain are expected to start with eight of the same players. Cristiano Ronaldo terrorised the Spanish back line at Estadio da Luz two years ago and would have claimed one of the finest goals of his career had Nani not headed his goal-bound shot over the line from an offside position. The 27-year-old is not short of scores to settle against a team who can call upon five of his Real Madrid colleagues. After match-winning performances against the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, he is finally making his mark at a major tournament and Spain's ability to keep him quiet will be pivotal. "We will be taking special care of Cristiano Ronaldo," promised Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, whose players successfully muzzled the Portugal captain in their encounter at the last World Cup. "It won't be an individual (marking) thing. There will be permanent support (from midfield), as there was two years ago." The match should provide an intriguing clash of styles, with Spain likely to dominate possession while Portugal await opportunities to spring forward on the counter-attack. Spain have lost only three times in 47 competitive matches and are closing in on an unprecedented treble of major honours, but Portugal midfielder Custodio says his side have faith in their own ability. "We know that they are a great team, but we will look to beat them by playing to our strengths," he said. "We'll fight to the end for a place in the final. Will this be Portugal's year? I hope so." For the first time at the tournament, Portugal coach Paulo Bento will be obliged to change his starting line-up due to the thigh injury sustained by striker Helder Postiga in Thursday's 1-0 win over the Czech Republic. Besiktas' Hugo Almeida is set to deputise, although 20-year-old Benfica striker Nelson Oliveira is also in contention, while defenders Pepe and Fabio Coentrao are both fit after sitting out training on Saturday to rest injuries. Spain reported no new injuries after their victory over France, but Del Bosque must decide whether to persevere with Cesc Fabregas in the 'false nine' role or restore Fernando Torres to his starting XI. While Spain are gunning to become the first team to win three consecutive major international tournaments, Portugal are aiming to reach a first final since their heartbreaking loss to Greece as hosts of Euro 2004. The two sides' records in semi-finals are sharply contrasting. Spain have never been beaten at this stage of an international competition, but Portugal have won only once in five attempts. Tonight’s clash between Portugal and Spain in Donetsk has been dubbed the international clasico, with 12 players from Real Madrid and Barcelona expected to start the Euro 2012 semi-final. Key battlesThe first Euro 2012 semi-final tomorrow will see Spain look to book their place in the final as they bid to retain their European crown and reassert their authority as the world's best team. Neighbours Portugal will be aiming to cause an upset tomorrow by knocking the holders out. Here Press Association Sport looks at the key battles on the pitch which could decide the game. Fernando Torres v PepeTorres' season ended with a flicker of hope of recapturing his former glory, and despite a shaky start to the tournament as a substitute against Italy he proved his worth scoring twice against Ireland. He will need to produce this kind of performance and more if he is deployed as the centre forward by Vicente Del Bosque as he will be facing Portugal's defensive commander Pepe whose strength and awareness will make his side difficult to break down. Supremely confident, with a goal to his name in the competition and coming off the back of a title-winning season at Real Madrid, Pepe has shown he can handle any of the top strikers around. Torres cannot allow his form to let him down if he wants to unlock the Portuguese defence and send Spain through. Cristiano Ronaldo v Alvaro ArbeloaThe two Real Madrid team-mates line up opposite each other. Ronaldo will be terrorising the left wing, as well as dropping into a more central position to help create moves when required, whilst Arbeloa is operating in the right-back position for his national team. Ronaldo is not only instrumental in constructing many of Portugal's moves, he is often there to finish them off too, as he has shown with three goals in the final two group games. Arbeloa will have to track him well and communicate with his team-mates in order to deal with the the threat. If Spain fail to keep Ronaldo in check, Arbeloa knows better than most what he is capable of. Xabo Alonso v Joao MoutinhoMadrid's Alonso, known as a solid and reliable holding midfielder, came to the fore in Spain's quarter-final against France as he scored twice. Moutinho can operate in a similar holding role, but has looked threatening in a more advanced position so far in the competition, supplying two assists and providing dangerous balls to the forwards and out to Ronaldo and Nani on the wings. Both will look to stifle their opponents, although with Spain's possession-dominated play, Porto man Moutinho could be set to do the most running. Both will also look to get forward in support of attacking moves. Past meetings Spain are favourites to win today's Euro 2012 semi-final, but their record against their neighbours is far from perfect. June 17, 1984 - Portugal 1 Spain 1 (Marseille) The group stage game at Euro 1984 ended in a draw which proved good enough for both teams to progress to the semi-finals. Portugal took the lead against the run of play in the 52nd minute with practically their first chance of the game, Antonio Sousa producing a fine chip. But Spain's pressure paid off when Santillana equalised in the 73rd minute. Portugal went on to lose to hosts France in the last four, with Spain beaten in the final. September 6, 2003 - Portugal 0 Spain 3 (Guimaraes) The two sides met in a friendly during Euro 2004 qualifying. Portugal, who qualified automatically for the tournament as hosts, were facing a Spanish side who had not scored in their past two qualifying games against Greece and Northern Ireland. But the Spanish, with Fernando Torres making his debut, ended their drought with Joseba Etxeberria opening the scoring and substitutes Joaquin and Diego Tristan adding further goals in the second half. The two teams were drawn in the same European Championship the following month, but it was Portugal who went on to reach the final June 20, 2004 - Portugal 1 Spain 0 (Lisbon) In a tight group at Euro 2004, Portugal beat Spain in the final game to book their place in the knock-out stage alongside Greece and send the Spanish out. It was Portugal's first win over Spain for 23 years and they had Nuno Gomes to thank for the victory, the striker scoring the winner in the 57th minute as he buried a Luis Figo pass. Portugal went on to lose to Greece in the final. June 29, 2010 - Spain 1 Portugal 0 (Cape Town) This last-16 match at the World Cup in South Africa was the first of four successive 1-0 victories for Spain, which led them all the way to the title. Portugal had chances to go in front in the first half, but wasted them, and it was not until the introduction of Fernando Llorente around the hour mark for the ineffectual Torres that Spain started to come alive. In the 63rd minute, Xavi cleverly played in David Villa, who saw his initial shot parried, but blasted home the rebound. November 14, 2010 - Portugal 4 Spain 0 (Lisbon) Portugal exacted revenge on the new world champions in a friendly just four months after the final in South Africa. Spain fielded a full-strength side, but went behind just before half-time as Carlos Martins netted when Iker Casillas failed to hold a Cristiano Ronaldo shot. Spain went to pieces in the second half with Sergio Ramos putting the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a backheeled effort by Helder Postiga, who was on target to make it three. Substitute Hugo Almeida latched on to Pepe's through-ball to add a fourth in the 90th minute. Betting: Home 10/11 , Away 12/5, Draw 7/2 Stat of the game: Spain have never lost a semi-final match before Thom Gibbs's prediction: Portugal 2 Spain 1 This improved liquidity enabled the company to pay its bills more quickly, thereby reducing trade creditors by 30pc to £4m. Trade debtors were also down, 28pc to £13.1m, as procedures to improve the speed of recoverability were introduced.The O2 has a bright outlook, with more events being hosted this year. The accounts state that "an economic decline could pose a risk to the business", but they add that the board has adjusted the company's trading forecasts for the next 12 months "to factor in what continues to be an unfavourable economic backdrop".AEG is not the only winner from the venue's success, since one of the conditions of buying it from the Government was that 15pc of its net profits would be paid to the taxpayer for 25 years. However, having spent $1.2bn (£750m) building the venue, it will be a long time before the Government makes its money back.Bright outlook: the O2 is one of the world's biggest music venues, having sold more than 2m tickets to 140 events last year Likewise Celine Delbergue of Chesterton Humberts in St Tropez has been receiving more interest for properties in St Tropez's outlying villages. Buyers these days are much more careful, less coup de coeur, about what they are buying and where, she says. "It's changed radically from two years ago when there was Russian euphoria." The winding coastal roads, parasol pines and unspoilt beaches surrounding St Tropez and villages such as La Croix Valmer, Ramatuelle and Grimaud are exactly what made the area famous in the first place. Matisse and Signac came to paint the pastel-coloured buildings and emerald sea in the late 19th century, followed by Picasso in mid-20th century. In the Fifties the Plage de Pampelonne was discovered by young starlets Brigitte Bardot and Françoise Hardy, who sunbathed topless and played backgammon under driftwood shelters.Since then a line-up of celebrities and royalty has joined in the beach party; Roger Moore in the Seventies, Donatella Versace in the Eighties, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista in the Nineties. Then five years ago the Russians, Eastern Europeans and Romanians arrived. "They traditionally bought large properties in Cannes or St Jean Cap Ferrat but they realised there was more to do here," says Bruni. "Unfortunately there's nowhere to find an 11-bedroom home. It took a while to convince them to buy a small house and appreciate the beautiful coast and waterfront."Of course their presence pushed up house prices in the town and near the Plage de Pampelonne – they wouldn't dream of buying a property more than 10 minutes from Nikki Beach and nightclubs such as Les Caves de Roy and Papagayo. 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Chesterton Humberts: 020 3040 8210Saint Tropez plages£6.9 mA villa conveniently situated between the beaches and town, with glorious gardens and sea and mountain views.There are four bedrooms in the main house, a two-bedroom staff cottage and a studio, plus a pool area with terrace.Chesterton Humberts: 020 3040 8210Grimaud£105,000A 25-acre gated development near St Tropez and Port Grimaud, with a large swimming pool, gardens and lake.There are 53 properties from studios to four-bedroom villas available on a freehold or leaseback basis.Pierre & Vacances: 020 7471 4500St Tropez£7.8 mA family house with tennis court, swimming pool and large garden, just 10 minutes from St Tropez. It has grand terraces, six large bedrooms, three reception rooms, a kitchen with servant's entrance and a gym. It is fully fitted with alarms and security cameras. Beauchamp Estates: 00 33 (0) 4 93 94 45 45 In 2002, he bought an £8 million mansion in the lakeside village of Laglio (population: 900), and he now spends April to September every year at his 30-room Villa Oleandra. Regular houseguests include Matt Damon and Brad Pitt, with whom Clooney enjoys touring the mountains on Harley Davidsons. “What changed my life in a very pleasant and unexpected way was buying the villa in Laglio,” Clooney, 49, said recently. “That was a pure investment decision. Then I realised how beautiful life was in Italy and how it really helped calm me and not feel so pressured.”Britons who have followed Clooney’s example include Julia Killingbeck, 52, a retired recruitment agency managing director and mother-of-two from Wandsworth, south London. She retired to Lake Como three years ago, swapping her £700,000 five-bedroom family home in Britain for a £334,000 three-bedroom Como newbuild. “It’s paradise on earth here,” she says. “We had lived in London for 16 years and wanted to move. Now our apartment is 250 yards from the water’s edge. There hasn’t been a minute when I haven’t felt genuinely happy and relaxed.”“The Clooney effect” has pushed prices up. Lakeside, where land costs £8,350-£12,500 a square metre, a six-bedroom villa can set you back £5m. Tony and Cherie Blair were spotted house-hunting in Como last year. J K Rowling has also been scouting the area. Sir Richard Branson is said to own the sumptuous Villa La Cassinella. At Como’s grand Villa d’Este hotel (up to £1,250 per night), previous guests include the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, JFK with Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and, more recently, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen (but not together). In the restaurant on Comacina, Lake Como’s only island, photos of diners include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Elton John. Oh, Dale Winton, too. But despite the large numbers of celebrities per square mile, property prices away from the shoreline are surprisingly affordable. At the Regina apartments, a new complex at Sala Comacina, a one-bedroom apartment with shared pool and lake-view terrace, is just £188,000. Buy as an investment and you can earn £1,125 a week in rent. A two-bedroom apartment costs £325,000. Weekly rental income is £1,460. Slightly larger is the Villa Rosa, a newbuild in the hamlet of Muronico, on the lake’s favoured western shore. It has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a private pool, garden and large dining terrace with lake views. It’s on the market for £540,000. Paul Belcher, managing director of Ultissimo, the Italian property developers who operate a private buying service in Como, says the time is perfect for Britons to buy. “Over the past six months, the sterling exchange rate has strengthened by 15 per cent, so properties in Como look 15 per cent cheaper. It’s a rosy picture,” he says. “The British now want to buy here more than any other nationality. It’s been quiet for the past two years due to the crunch. But last year we were receiving 10 inquiries a month, and this month, we had 60. The Brits realise now is the time to buy.”Belcher, 52, is restoring Villa Peduzzi, a 1909 Liberty villa that splits into three apartments, priced £1.3m, £1.8m and £2.7m. Or buy the entire 13-bedroom villa for £5.9m. At the top end, there’s a £12.1m villa at Cernobbio (). Over a cappuccino, he sums up: “People back in Britain say the property market crashed, so it must do the same in Italy. But it hasn’t. “I’d have reservations about buying property in Britain now, with the risk of a second dip. In Como, I have real confidence in the market.”TOP10 TIPS FOR LAKE COMO HOUSE-HUNTERS1 Research your sunshine anglesMountains around the lake mean many properties lose the sun after lunch and can be almost permanently in shade during winter. Make sure your home enjoys maximum sunlight.2 Avoid traffic noiseDon’t buy a home on the lake’s perimeter route, where delivery lorries tour villages. There’s more peace and quiet in the hills where villas offer elevated views.3 Keep an eye on neighboursSeek out properties that aren’t overlooked. Homes are often built close to each other. Don’t spend £5m on a villa to find your neighbour sitting on a balcony 20 feet away.4 Prioritise parkingMany homes have no parking of their own. Try to ensure that your home has a garage. And choose a small car.5 Pool your assetFew villas and apartments include a pool so it has become a valuable asset. But be aware of the ici, a council tax on pools of £400 per year. 6 Choose advisers with careLocal geometras (akin to surveyors) can design buildings without an architect. Avoid homes oriented in an illogical direction that fail to maximise the views.7 Check design qualityDon’t buy a place where you discover that you have to walk through someone else’s bedroom to get to the only bathroom.8 Measure your boathouseThirteen rivers flow into Lake Como. If you buy a villa with a boathouse, make sure that you can moor your boat despite the tidal ebb and flow.9 Mind the red tapeOne local property adviser jokes: “England has 10,000 laws, Germany has 12,000, in Italy we have 150,000 laws.” Recruit an expert to help you cope with local bureaucracy.10 Buy close to a ferry stopThe lake’s rapido service is as quick as driving. Living near a ferry stop is a bonus.It is not quite the most beautiful city in the world (it’s not even the most beautiful city in Italy), but it is not far off. It is not even quite the “eternal” city of repute. The centuries aren’t lined up politely for your inspection, but piled on top of each other in a gigantic eternal pub brawl. The Curia, the Roman Senate house, was a church until Mussolini stripped to the waist and took a pickaxe to its lush Baroque interior. The Theatre of Pompey, where the Senate met before the Curia was built, and where Julius Caesar received his final vote of no confidence, is flats now – though the actual site of the assassination is a theatre, or rather an archaeological site (which looks like a building site) next to a theatre. The Colosseum is not only an archaeological site, but actually was a building site, strip-mined for its masonry, until it was consecrated as a church (and very nearly got a little church built in the centre of it) in the 17th century. Armed with a three-month course in Italian from Perugia University, Penny rented an apartment while beginning work on her 400 million lira (approx £175,000) ruin in the medieval hamlet of Santa Giuliana near Umbertide.Although the property, now called Prato di Sotto, had been empty for 40 years, its location in an area of great cultural interest and medieval hilltop towns — of which it enjoys panoramic views from its situation atop a 1,000ft hill — was convincing.So first, some basics: she put in a proper electrical supply, built a proper road to the property and installed a water supply and storage system.“I had to pay for the road myself and one Sunday someone broke in and stole the money I had put by for it,” says Penny, who now has five dogs to deter intruders. “It was a very lonely time and a fairly awful experience. Money was always tight.” The renovation schedule grew organically, based on the need to install some paying guests as soon as possible. The three-storey 18th-century farmhouse came first — now a four-bed and a two-bed apartment (former animal stalls) to let; then the 14th-century mill house — which houses another rental apartment — and the swimming pool appeared in 1999.Last came the restoration of the two-bedroom Owner’s House across the courtyard and a one-bedroom cottage by the pool.“Digging out the pool was a very low point. We hit bedrock halfway down so had to build a concrete box above ground level to get the depth. Two weeks before guests were due to arrive it looked like a bombsite,” the resourceful Penny says.“However, the landscaping around the box and lavender garden looks like it’s always been there.”Likewise, an unexpected dispensation from the commune to add another 30 per cent of living space to the Owner’s House resulted in the creation of a “Provencal-style” farmhouse with a shady area perfect for her favourite hydrangeas. White climbing roses and wisteria prevail in the magnificent 1,900sq m garden.On top of an increasing tally of paying guests, builders’ bills have been paid by some property-finding, along with doing up other people’s houses — something that has gradually grown into a business of its own ().“You learn as you go along,” says Penny who, after her experience of working with many builders and geometras (surveyor-architects), can now call on a team of expert craftsmen.Her own property showcases her interior design style, which is English country house with original Dutch colonial pieces imported from Sri Lanka, kilims from her lifelong collection and 17th-century doors that come from a monastery in Le Marche.Penny is especially proud of a fireplace she created around some costly cornicing from a southern Italian Baroque palace she found in a Tuscan reclamation yard, but she saved money by reusing materials.“Underneath the mill we found some pink-hued granite from the original pig sty. Too rough for internal use, I used it for steps to the pool area. I also reused rotten chestnut beams as flooring or lintels,” she remarks. Penny says it’s possible to make €50,000 a year from her guests, some of whom have returned 10 times, but being hands-on is key.“My days are busy, chatting to guests, often cooking for them or welcoming them with a cocktail party,” she says.She admits she never gets to relax so is now selling her property, to do the same on a smaller scale.“It’s a large place to keep up on my own and I do miss England — winters are especially lonely — so I might even head back home.” PENNY'S TIPS1 Learn the language – by immersion course or free lessons from the local commune.2 Don’t ignore drainage and seismic checks – “unseen” potential problems.3 Use a recommended geometra (some are highly inefficient) and negotiate fees.4 Restoration costs are around €2,000 per square metre – but have a 25 per cent contingency fund.5 Investigate green energy alternatives – utility costs are high."When Pavarotti was too weak to come to our studio to record Il Canto, which Romano wrote for him, Romano took the microphone to Pavarotti's home and they recorded in his bedroom instead," Judith says. Before he met Judith, Romano had spent occasional holidays at the 10-bedroom Villa Malva - now on sale for £5.1million (€6.5million) through Knight Frank. Then, three yeas ago, the couple fulfilled his dream of building a recording studio where artists would perform and savour a musical sanctuary in the forest. "We were going against the current as it's very rare to build studios these days, when music can be recorded simply with a microphone and a computer," says Judith. "Like many Umbrian houses, the villa is one part modern, one part antique, but this room - which could also easily be converted into a great cinema or salon - lent itself perfectly to being a recording studio as it is a glass-enclosed diamond shape, with perfect acoustics," she says. She also points out the soundproofing. "We are so insulated that we have watched peacocks flirting, mating and having babies on the lawn outside the studio, oblivious to the big sounds coming from inside." While Romano came with the contacts - he also worked with Elton John for Ewan McGregor and Alessandro Safina's version of Your Song for Moulin Rouge, and Nicole Kidman - Judith brought the building know-how to the project. "My family built about seven homes in Montreal, so I have no fear of renovation or living in dust," she says. "I used to hate it when my dad was shovelling rocks or drilling something while my friends and I were playing outside as a child, but now I owe it to him." Romano has a reputation for reducing singers to tears in getting the best out of them, Judith says, "but he's a discreet person and he believes in creating good-quality things that last - good wine, good olive oil and good music". Judith has just hosted the Rome Symphony Orchestra for a week to record a new album, which she and Romano are producing. "Even though this house is very big, it is warm and inviting. People come here and forget all their stress. They just become the artist part of themselves." Judith admits that she and her husband have been so busy focusing on music that they haven't pushed the property's wine-making potential to its full capacity. They have planted the maximum amount of vines permitted by the EU on their 10 acres of vineyard, but their Etruscan wine caves could do with updating, she admits. "There's a huge, empty farm here, which could become a fantastic wine-producing area. The potential is enormous - you could turn the place into a luxurious 'agri-tourism' retreat, producing 40,000 bottles of wine a year - and it would be lucrative. The white, red and sparkling wines we have produced would sell for up to £30 a bottle." Their olive production has already proved to be a successful money-spinner. The 9,000 trees produce an annual income of about £100,000, and are pressed in the large, hi-tech olive mill that the couple built on their land with a regional grant. The resulting oil was recently voted the second best in Umbria. With home-made wine, oil and the fruits of 400 truffle trees, in the town whose mayor invented the slow food movement, Villa Malva naturally lends itself to some lavish al fresco dinners. 'Every November, at the end of the oil season, we hold a huge tasting in the big dining room beside the olive mill and invite all sorts of artists, film directors and writers. They all go home with their car boots crammed with bottles of oil," says Judith. She adds that she has yet to meet Madonna, who owns a house less than one kilometre from Villa Malva. Richard Gere is also a frequent visitor to friends' homes in Orvieto. Now that Judith and Romano's music studio is complete, they want to move on to a new challenge. "We're addicted to building houses. He's the creative one, I'm a good worker. So next time we want to build an even better recording studio in an eco-friendly house with a garden on the roof." They have no intention of leaving the area. "Unlike Tuscany, which can become quite dull in winter because much of the land is cultivated, Umbria is colourful all year round. It's greener and wilder. There are hot springs, truffles, mushrooms… If you love nature, it's the place to be," says Judith. She and Romano hope, of course, that the next owners of Villa Malva keep up its tradition of producing fine music, wine and food. "We'll still be neighbours. We'll give them a hand." For sale £3.79M (€4.8M) Villa Maria, in Pozzuolo, near the Tuscan border, includes a vaulted entrance hall, frescoes on the ceilings, four bedrooms, four acres of fenced land and a pool. Casa Travella: 01322 660988. £3.1M (€3.95M) Boccali has been rebuilt to include large reception rooms, kitchen and five bedrooms. It is set in 3.5 acres, with an olive grove, vineyard, pool and tennis court. Knight Frank: 020 7629 8171. £1M (€1.3M) Near Todi, La Torricella is a stone-built property with large reception rooms, five bedrooms, a pool and beautiful landscaped gardens. Knight Frank (as above).LL Cool J and likely Grammy nominee Taylor Swift were the shows hosts. Swift, who at just 18 has become one of country and pop's best-selling stars, was a best-new artist nominee last year. The Grammy Awards will be broadcast on Feb 8. Last year's show drew 17.2 million viewers, making it one of the least-watched Grammys and continuing the trend of shrinking awards-show audiences. Ratko Mladic, nicknamed "the butcher of Bosnia", joins a who's who of accused genocidal dictators, warlords and mass murderers at the international war crimes detention centre in the HaguePicture: AFP/GETTY IMAGESThe prison is located about a mile from the beach, where top properties have views of rolling sand dunes and sea spray.Then there are the facilities: detainees are locked in their cells – single, not shared, and about 10 square metres in size – from 9pm until 7.30am, where they can watch television, read or work on their cases. Each cell in the ICC wing contains a bed, desk, bookshelves, a cupboard, lavatory, hand basin and a telephone, although calls are placed by the centre's staff. Detainees can work on their cases using computers but cannot access email or the internet.During the day, they are free to mingle and instead of wearing prison uniforms can dress in their own clothes.But in the Yugoslavia wing of the detention unit, politics and court cases are taboo topics of conversation, perhaps to stop the discussions from getting too heated."There are strict rules in the detention centre – conversations about politics and cases are not allowed," said Sefer Halilovic, a former Bosnian Muslim general who was suspected of murder of Croat civilians during 1992-95, but later acquitted by the tribunal.Serbian media reported that despite their political differences, detainees who used to be on opposite sides in the 1992-95 war in the Balkans would gather for religious holidays and even exchange presents."The war separated us and The Hague has put us together again," wrote Mr Halilovic in a book about his time in detention.Others also noted the camaraderie that developed in the detention centre.According to former Macedonian interior minister Ljube Boskovski, who was also acquitted by the tribunal, when Ante Gotovina arrived in The Hague, he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt because he had been arrested in the Canary Islands."The problem was resolved when (former Serbian strongman) Slobodan Milosevic lent him a pullover," Mr Boskovski said.Gotovina was recently sentenced to 24 years for war crimes against Serbs in Croatia.With political and legal discussions off-limits, small talk tends to centre on food, family and health issues, such as the difficulty of getting access to the local dentist.One of the most common complaints is the food: the vegetables served al dente are not to everyone's taste, but detainees can request items from a shopping list and prepare their own food."The food is not what we are used to in the Balkans. Vegetables are not cooked well enough and portions are too small so we had to buy our food in the canteen," Mr Halilovic said. But his main complaint was the difficulty of getting a dentist appointment because there was only one dentist and a long waiting list.Mladic, whose lawyers have argued that he is in poor health, is very likely to have access to good medical treatment, as the war crimes tribunal will not want another top war crimes suspect to die in detention in The Hague. Slobodan Milosevic, who liked to listen to Celine Dion CDs in his cell, died in detention on March 11, 2006, a few months before a verdict in his four-year trial for genocide and other war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.The centre is located in a prison compound which houses a prison hospital and psychiatric clinic.Common criminals are housed there only if they are undergoing medical treatment, a Dutch Justice Ministry spokesman said.Nerma Jelacic, a spokeswoman for the tribunal, said Mladic will be given a medical check-up when he arrives."The detainees can use prison medical facilities, but if they have severe problems we can use other prison hospitals or even civilian hospitals," Mr Jelacic said.Despite all the facilities, Mr Halilovic said "It is still a prison." The Russian papers are covering the British scandal without any sense of Schadenfreude, and indeed, probably with a touch of envy at the fact that the misdeeds are being widely publicised. As one Moskovsky Komsomolets reader ironically put it: “At last! They’ve got the same problem! What joy!” In the last few days Izvestia has been publishing extensive information about how freely Russian government officials spend taxpayers’ money: “Neither the crisis nor appeals for stringent economies by the President and the Prime Minister have taught our officials anything. Many of them continue to spend taxpayers’ money on luxury items or unnecessary purchases, laying on festivities and banquets costing up to 32m roubles ($1m).” Many examples are cited, including “three chandeliers costing a total of 1.2m roubles for the parliament of Kabardino-Balkaria, a Russian republic in the North Caucasus dependent from top to bottom on state subsidies. Staff of the head of the Republic of Kalmykia, in southern Russia, ordered curtains worth 721,000 roubles for themselves, and then a further 1.4m roubles’ worth last autumn.” Eurovision: worth its weight in gold The Moscow Eurovision was the most expensive in the history of the contest, says Novye Izvestia, pointing out this was at the height of the economic crisis. “Moscow splashed out in an unprecedented way on this contest,” the paper says. “In 2006 Greece spent 12m euros, and last year Serbia limited it to 9.3m euros. Russia’s hospitality exceeded all conceivable limits: we’re talking about as much as 30m [euros].” If we take into account the rouble’s recent substantial fall, it means the costs are another 50pc on top of that, Novye Izvestia calculates. Kommersant reckons Eurovision is a strange event. On the one hand the contest claims to be the biggest event in European cultural life, but on the other hand the number of winners who’ve gone on to become serious artists is not just low, but laughably so. In the 53 years the festival has been running, there have been just two: ABBA (35 years ago) and Celine Dion (21 years ago). The paper goes on to note: “With the possible exception of Ukraine, no country has taken hosting the Eurovision final as seriously as Russia. The event was virtually on a par with the Olympics or the Champions League final. The arrival of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at Moscow’s Olympic stadium was unprecedented. Probably only the leadership of Ukraine has ever shown more serious interest in the contest: in 2005 in Kiev it was President Viktor Yushchenko himself who presented the prize to Greece’s Helena Paparizou.” The national security strategy gets everybody talking Russian newspapers have taken a close look at the Russia’s national security strategy to 2020 approved recently by President Dmitry Medvedev and come up with conflicting views. The state news agency RIA Novosti notes “the West’s reaction of near panic to the section dealing with strategic assessment of Russia’s place in the world and the threats facing it, which does not rule out using military force in possible future raw material conflicts on Russia’s borders.” “Despite the fact that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it clear Russia does not plan to use military force in the Arctic shelf, Moscow stated it would defend its interests in the Arctic ‘to the end’,” wrote the independent newspaper Rossiya. Moskovsky Komsomolets has its own view: “The way it deals with Russia’s security is completely clear – but unintelligible.” The paper finds the document lacking specific detail: “Kremlin analysts have given a very accurate ‘diagnosis’: the list of risks threatening Russia could be called accurate. Where they are less successful is in ‘writing the prescription’: instead of specific ways of avoiding strategic misfortune, the document offers words that may be right and fine-sounding but nevertheless are only general. Major powers usually expect a national security strategy to include plans for the future: what the country specifically needs to do to avoid geopolitical snares. But this new document has nothing to say about that.” Start treaty talks A round of Russian-US disarmament talks – the first for seven years – took place in Moscow on May 19–20. The aim is to prepare a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start 2) to replace Start 1, which expires in December. Gazeta quotes the view of the political observer Sergey Karaganov, who believes that “reducing nuclear capacities does not really benefit Russia, since the USA is significantly ahead of it in conventional nonnuclear arms”. Izvestiya, quoting experts, says that under the future treaty “nuclear capacities are reduced to 1,500 or 1,300 warheads. Carrier systems will also go under the knife of these reduction talks, together with the ‘surplus’ nuclear warheads. An institute for joint monitoring of the treaty’s implementation will also be set up.” What might invalidate all the efforts of the negotiators is the American missile defence system in eastern Europe. Vremya Novostey is sure that “Moscow will try to link the Start treaty with the issue of the American missile defence system deployment in Europe. And if Barack Obama’s administration fails to reconsider the George Bush administration’s plans to deploy a third tier of missile defences in the Czech Republic and Poland, it will effectively become impossible to conclude a new Start treaty.”Her record label boss and friend Clive Davis is reportedly at the helm of the planned film, with Jennifer Hudson also on the shortlist.Rihanna - whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty - considers Houston a musical inspiration."I met her at a Clive Davis party. I love her. She's one of my big music icons, and I have always looked up to her," she continued."My first song that I remember falling in love with was a Whitney Houston song - I Will Always Love You. All of her music actually was always played in my house, with Mariah Carey and Celine Dion."It was really inspiring and it made me develop a passion for music, so really she's partly responsible for me being here in this industry," she added.Rihanna, who stars alongside Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch and Brooklyn Decker in Battleship - which opens in cinemas on Wednesday April 11 - also revealed she would like to try her hand at comedy."I want to try different roles - maybe comedy next, or who knows? I like sarcastic, dry humour: I love movies like Superbad and Pineapple Express, pretty (much) all Seth Rogen's movies." But it was their own songs where the Bee Gees found most of their success. In 1977, they became the first and only songwriters to place five songs in the Top Ten at the same time. The trio reached the Top Ten with "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" and "I Started a Joke" (both 1968) but split briefly after the relative failure of their concept album Odessa (1969). They reunited in 1970 and had hits with "Lonely Days" (1970) and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (1971). But there were several hitless years before they returned to the charts with Main Course in 1975 - in which they produced a new sound – the emphasis being on dance rhythms, high harmonies, and a funk beat. "Jive Talkin' ", the first single off the album, became their second American number one single, and was followed up with "Nights on Broadway" and then the album Children of the World, which yielded the hits "You Should Be Dancing" and "Love So Right". The trio's contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack album pushed sales past the 40 million mark. It also reigned as the top-selling album in history until Michael Jackson's "Thriller" – an album that Jackson acknowledged was inspired by Saturday Night Fever - surpassed it in the 1980s. Songs you might not have thought were written by The Bee Gees"Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" by Teri DeSario "Buried Treasure" by Kenny Rogers (backing vocals The Gatlin Brothers) "Chain Reaction" by Diana Ross "Come on Over" by Olivia Newton-John "Emotion" by Samantha Sang and by Destiny's Child "Gilbert Green" by Gerry Marsden "Grease" by Frankie Valli "Guilty" and "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand "Heartbreaker" & "All the Love in the World" by Dionne Warwick "Hold On to My Love" by Jimmy Ruffin "I Will Be There" by Tina Turner "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman "Immortality" by Celine Dion "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton "Morning of My Life" by Abi and Esther Ofarim and by Mary Hopkin "Only One Woman" by The Marbles "Rest Your Love on Me" by Conway Twitty "Sacred Trust" by One True Voice "Warm Ride" by Graham Bonnet and by Rare Earth For it is a truth universally accepted that where the Hunter welly classes are gathered together in scenes of oblique courtship, there is Curtis (and if he’s not available, Julian Fellowes or Andrew Davies) in the midst of them. Americans, with their oversimplistic meritocratic assumption that hard work and talent will get you anywhere, simply cannot reproduce the exquisitely painful nuances of British social mores – especially not when they film them in Bel Air. Take , 28, a classic Curtis hero; posh, slightly gauche-verging-on-repressed but well-mannered and in need of a good woman to unclench his metaphorical buttocks and stop him dressing like his father. He is Colin Firth as a buttoned-up Mr Darcy, a bumbling Hugh Grant struggling to get the girl; but, like them, he shows his true mettle when he manfully rises above his class cliché. Indeed, he sets himself decisively apart from his peers by, daringly, defiantly, choosing an outsider. In Four Weddings the heroine was the American Andie McDowell, ditto Notting Hill, where Hollywood film star Julia Roberts was the glittering prize. , 29, may have been privately educated at Marlborough College in Wiltshire, but to those born with a canteen of silver cutlery in their mouths and blue blood coursing through their Norman/Plantagenet/Hanoverian veins this (to our eyes privileged) young woman virtually qualifies as Eliza Dolittle. Love Actually is perhaps, then, an even more pertinent parallel, what with (lawks!) the Prime Minister stooping to conquer his char lady, Martine McCutcheon in full Pygmalion mode, dropping a lot more than her aitches. A windswept cove near St AndrewsDecember 2003, evening The foaming waves crash suggestively on the shoreline, a downpour is soaking the young lovers as they embrace. WILLIAM (whispering, hoarsely, his voice gruff with desire, Viyella shirt clinging to the contours of his chest) Darling you must come inside, out of the rain. KATE (lips parted, her gaze meeting his, as the raindrops tremble on her glossy lashes and her Jigsaw thermal lace camisole starts to run) Is it raining? I hadn’t noticed. WILLIAM Oh my darling, darling girl! Is that how much you love me? KATE No, it’s just your friends are yelling “Doors to Manual!” from the car park, which is a bit distracting. WILLIAM (raising his lantern jaw towards his housemates) Damn them and damn their outdated ancien regime prejudices! (Louder) She may be a prol, but I love Kate, whatever that means, and I intend to string her along for years to come, so you better get used to it. KATE Oh William! WILLIAM Kiss me, Kate! She does so, locking him in a passionate embrace while simultaneously texting her mother. As in all the best romcoms, the course of true love never runs smooth, and so as the months and years roll by with still no sign of a sapphire-and-diamond reminder of William’s late mother on her finger, Waity Katie quits her job in order to be available at all times, ostensibly helping out at the Party Pieces family business. Leafy Bucklebury, Berkshire, the five-bedroom residence of the Middleton familyApril 2007, mid-morningKate and her mother are at the scrubbed pine kitchen table, packing up wedding orders and listening to Celine Dion. CAROLE MIDDLETON Catherine, pass me that job lot of Justin Bieber party pinatas, will you please? Catherine! What’s got into you these days? How are things with William? KATE I’m not sure, Mummy. It’s been ages since he, you know, buzzed me in his Chinook. CAROLE Eeww! Too much information! Hang on, isn’t that one of Harry’s slangy expressions? Don’t tell me the rampant little so-and-so made a pass at you, too? KATE (shocked) No, Mummy, I mean he literally hasn’t buzzed me in his Chinook. He’s been acting all distant and, you know, regal. Well regal apart from being photographed dancing with that blonde on a podium in a Bournemouth nightclub. CAROLE (momentarily returning to her modest roots) Flamin’ bloody Norah! That’s a ruddy disaster! You can’t lose William, he’s all I’ve – sorry, you’ve – ever dreamt of. Unless he might go for Pippa? KATE (sobbing loudly) Wha-a-t? CAROLE Calm down! I’m just saying, it worked in The Other Boleyn Girl… now, chin up, Tatler didn’t dub you the Wisteria Sisters for nothing. KATE (confused) Wisteria? CAROLE (with a deadly smile and a faraway gleam in her eye) As in: highly decorative, terribly fragrant and with a ferocious ability to climb. William and Kate’s split in 2007, after four years of togetherness, could have been scripted, so perfectly judged was it; no messy third-party involvement (apart from that brief Bournemouth podium episode) — just a touch of the going-steady jitters to stop the paparazzi from getting too complacent. While William threw himself into his Search and Rescue helicopter pilot training, Kate courageously pitched up at Mahiki anyway, stoically concealing her broken heart with a nautical vest, skinny jeans and peep-toe espadrilles. An upper crust nightclub, LondonJune 2007, late eveningBraying Hoorays in Regency powdered wigs are clutching pomanders to their noses at the sight of the middle-class Middletons, who are standing beside the bar, tossing their Herbal Essences hair in slow motion. PIPPA (hyperventilating with excitement) Catherine! Catherine, he’s looking over! OMG he’s so hot, and I mean sizzling! Talk about primus inter pares. I mean, could his shirt be unbuttoned any lower?”KATE (eyes widening in surprise and delight) Wills? My Wills? An open-necked shirt you say? I didn’t think he had it in him. Wow, he has changed. PIPPA Duh. I meant Harry? Mind you, Chelsy is a bit of a crack shot with a .270 Winchester so I wouldn’t – Oh, hi William. WILLIAM (shuffling) Hi Pippa. Hello Kate, I was um, wondering, would you, uh, care to join me for a Moulin-Rouge-themed party at Bovington Barracks, followed by a, y’know, go on my bouncy castle? KATE Would I care to? You had me at Second in Line to the Throne. Oh yes, yes, dear, sweet William! And so the stage was set for the final, delicious denouement; as the couple moved through cosy cohabitation in June 2010 towards the inevitable engagement in December 2010 and, finally, the fairy-tale wedding, when Curtis traditionally pulls out all the stops. The Archbishop of Canterbury admittedly turned out to be less of a comic turn than Rowan Atkinson’s novice vicar’s malapropisms in Four Weddings, but William’s jolly insistence that he invite a clutch of exes made for a table plan that was the seating equivalent of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the dense flock of perky feathered fascinators could be seen, like the interminable snaking queue for the buffet, from outer space. The balcony at Buckingham PalaceApril 29 2011, 1.25pm preciselyThe assembled crowds, stretching back as far as the eye can see, are roaring their approval as the happy couple emerge, smiling. WILLIAM Oh latey Katie, did you really have to leave me languishing alone at the altar quite so long? I thought you weren’t going to turn up and I could see Jecca ready to fight out first dibs with the Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe girl. Never could recall her first name. KATE I’m so sorry; it was my mother. First I had to talk her down from the whole biker boots and floaty skirt combo, then I confiscated her contraband Wrigleys. Look, I’ve still got the teeth marks on my arm. WILLIAM Oh let’s not worry about other people, today of all days. You, my ravishing little commoner, have made me uncommonly happy. And when you move into Clarence House with Harry and me… KATE What? For one crazy moment there I thought you said we were moving in with Harry. WILLIAM Um, didn’t I mention that before? Oh, no biggie, I’ve told him we get the top bunk. My position is not, shall we say, without its privileges, heh, heh. KATE (smiling through gritted teeth) OK, so I wasn’t allowed a horse and carriage because I’m not posh enough, no glamorous honeymoon so’s not to send out the wrong message, I have to live on Angelsey for the next two years and now you tell me that when we’re in London we have to shack up with your priapic little brother and his chavvy girlfriend. Anything else you were planning on telling me, William? WILLIAM (waving graciously without looking at his new wife) Um, that’s Sir to you. KATE (baffled) Huh? WILLIAM Can you, y’know call me Sir from now on? Papa suggested it. Just so we remember – how can I put it? – what’s what and who belongs where. KATE (apoplectic with rage) How dare you, you complete and utter… William is guffawing with pleasure at her loss of control. She realises he is joking, trails off and snuggles up to him. William bends down and affectionately kisses the tip of his wife’s pert nose. KATE Oh William, how could I ever have thought… WILLIAM Yah, I mean give me some credit… Their lips meet in a deep, thrilling kiss that sends the onlookers into a frenzy (especially Harry). Kate waves to her future subjects. WILLIAM (with a soppy, lovestruck look in his eye) Seeing as it’s you, my brazen, yet irresistible baseborn bride, Your Royal Highness will do very nicely instead. KATE (sotto voce, as she beams down on hoi polloi below) Oh mummy, mummy, we’ve made it! Now have a glance at the kind of stuff we prefer over here. Sure, not everything we like is necessarily the acme of cool (Military Wives is currently number two in the album charts), but we do seem to have tastes slightly more eclectic than the rock, R & B and country-dominated US charts. We like winsome young folk popsters such as Ed Sheeran, cartoon rappers (Rizzle Kicks), grime garage (Dizzee Rascal), dubstep (Chase & Status), epic, anthemic stadium rock with stupidly named album titles (Coldplay), and much more besides.Does this mean, then, that Americans are conservative fuddy-duddies while we Brits are bold stylistic adventurers forever at the bleeding edge of trendiness? Up to a point. But the truth is, to paraphrase Stephen Fry, whatever sweeping generalisation you care to make about America, you’ll find the opposite is also true. For example, there’s no doubt that America was glacially slow to pick up on music’s most important development in the past 25 years: dance. In Britain – thanks to acid house and Balearic beats, which soon mutated into warehouse rave and so on – dance music was well under way by 1987. In America, it wasn’t till the mid-Nineties that repetitive beats had begun to penetrate the mainstream.Part of America’s problem, perhaps, was grunge. The US felt so incredibly chuffed, apparently, to have invented Nirvana (and Pearl Jam and the rest) that it seemed determined to rest on its laurels and go on churning out bouncy, grinding guitar rock for all eternity. The fickle British music scene has never permitted such complacency, not least because of the intense competition between our cities. From Bristol came the dub-heavy trip-hop scene and drum and bass; from Manchester came the dance-rock crossover called Baggy, as well as Oasis; from London, we’ve had everything from the chirpy mockney of Britpop to dubstep. We invent more genres in a decade that the US has managed in its entire musical history.But before we get too smug, let’s not forget that there are at least two Americas: the safe bit in the middle that likes what it knows and knows what it likes (Taylor Swift, mainly); and the urban centres (mostly) on the right and left coasts, which are at least as inventive as we are here. They gave us the Velvet Underground; they gave us the Ramones (which led to punk). They also gave us dance, in its nascent form, exported from Detroit (techno) and Chicago (house).And of course they also gave us rock in its most raw, basic form (the blues), which we then embellished and improved upon (via the Beatles, the Stones and Led Zeppelin) and re-exported back to them so that they could then give us back White Stripes, Nirvana, and The Killers. It’s the same with folk: we gave them Fairport Convention and Roy Harper, they gave us back Fleet Foxes, to which we replied with Laura Marling and so on.Maybe, when finally we get Sade back after she’s toured the rest of the world, we’ll realise that the Americans were right and that Smooth Operator is the greatest song ever written. That’s how music works: yesterday’s naff horror is tomorrow’s forgotten classic.To his credit, he never has. Salif Keita was one of the first stars of "world music" after the category was invented as a marketing catch-all in 1987. In his case, it seemed a pretty fair description. To those unfamiliar with the style of West African vocals, he sounded like a long lost cousin of Marvin Gaye. Following his breakthrough album, Soro, which set his piercing, muezzin-like wail against a backdrop of breathy synths and electro-funk basslines, Keita embarked on a hectic series of collaborations which redefined "fusion" for the Womad crowd. "I've played with great musicians, lovely, humane people," he says, beaming. "I'm delighted to have done stuff with them." The results, though, were mixed. In 1991, Keita worked with Carlos Santana and the late Joe Zawinul of Weather Report on the interesting if overcooked Amen album. In 1999, he joined forces with the black metal rocker Vernon Reid of Living Color for Papa, a confusing record which suggested Keita might have lost his way. Dead wrong. The 21st century has found Keita at the top of his game, with two quieter and more traditionally flavoured albums: 2002's Moffou and M'Bemba from 2005, both of which triumphantly reunited Keita with his Malian roots. He attributes their success to him recording for the first time in his own studio, Wanda, in downtown Bamako. "That allowed me to work whenever and however I wanted. We put down hundreds of tracks, giving opportunities to many local musicians." Keita says he has never felt so happy in the land he was glad to escape at the age of 34. "I never left my country forever, but my early life was tough. I started suffering when I was five." He was mocked for being albino, and with eyesight so poor that he was excluded from school as a teenager, music seemed like his only career option. "Back then, musicians were viewed as delinquents. My parents were horrified." The fact that his family were descended from Sundiate Keita, the 13th-century ruler of the Mandinka empire, didn't help. "I come from a very poor family of farmers. It's not like in England," he says. "The Queen's family is rich but for us, it's just a name. If my parents were rich I would have become a businessman." Like his young disaffected Western counterparts in the 1960s, Keita took refuge in music and taught himself to play the guitar, an instrument he fondly refers to as "my first, best wife. Women come and go. They're always asking where you are, and why? Whereas my guitar is always there, speaking to me in the same way." As well as enjoying Malian folk music, Keita developed exotic tastes early. He listened to Cuban salsa on the radio, but what really got to him were the records flooding into Bamako from Europe. "We had everything you had. The Beatles, Rod Stewart, Bad Company…" His all-time favourites, he says, were Pink Floyd, "because of their great melodies, and that feeling of loneliness". These days, he's not so keen on rock. "The young ones, I don't know, their melodies are not to my taste. I like Céline Dion." Keita says he always looks forward to visiting England, for all sorts of reasons. "It's special. You have to drive on the left; and I love the food. Indian, I adore that. And there is that wonderful building in London which is on the cover of a Pink Floyd album…" Can he mean Battersea power station, from Animals? Keita grasps my hand, delighted. "Yes! I love that. Animals. Ah, that record was ahead of its time!" 'You want to be skinny and have a good body? You have to work out every day and say no to certain foods,’ she says, shrugging when I commiserate on the diet. 'You can’t achieve anything in life without a small amount of sacrifice.’ Second, she is friendly and considerate – a rare thing in superstar circles. Third, the fact that, in these tropical temperatures, not a bead of sweat mars her perfect brow indicates that she is, quite possibly, superhuman.I hadn’t been well-disposed towards Shakira. As she’s been famous in her native Colombia since the age of 13, I’d dismissed her as South America’s Britney Spears with an overexposed navel and a penchant for ridiculous lyrics ('Lucky that my breasts are small and humble, so you don’t confuse them with mountains’, went her pan-piping international hit Whenever, Wherever).But mine was the minority view. With 40 million record sales behind her, Shakira makes comparable Spanish-English 'crossover’ acts such as Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias seem like minnows. In South America she is viewed as akin to Mother Teresa, thanks to her charity Pies Descalzos (Barefoot), which she founded aged 19 and which has opened six schools in rural areas, providing education and jobs for more than 30,000 people over the years. Meanwhile, her 'will-they, won’t-they marry?’ nine-year relationship with Antonio de la Rúa, the son of the former president of Argentina, is the staple of Latin gossip mags. Friends include – inevitably – Bono, with whom she sung at President Obama’s inauguration, the only non-Americans to do so. She brainstormed about child poverty with Gordon Brown ('I like his accent,’ she says, laughing) and the 82-year-old Nobel literary laureate Gabriel García Márquez, who has written dubious essays about her 'innocent sensuality’.Within minutes of shaking hands, I’m sucked in by Shakira’s charm, too. Tiny (she’s 4ft 11in) in cut-offs and a T-shirt, she looks as if the most pressing thought in her head is what colour to paint her toenails, but as soon as she starts talking it’s clear that those bleached-blonde curls conceal a mind of steel. As someone whose life has been almost entirely played out in public (she performed her first public belly-dance aged four), she must surely be a basket-case, but she seems utterly grounded.Normally, child stars are the puppets of pushy stage parents. But the way Shakira tells it she was always in the driving seat. The only child of a Lebanese jeweller (with eight children from his first marriage) and his Colombian second wife, she was born in Barranquilla, an industrial city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Civil war and drug syndicates were tearing her country apart but they had little effect on Shakira’s middle-class childhood. 'I was a real mummy’s girl – still am. And as for my father, well I have an Oedipus complex I’m still working out. I love that man!’But when she was eight her cosseted world imploded when her father’s business went bankrupt. 'He sent me and my mother to stay with relatives in Los Angeles so he could liquidate things, and when we came back he had sold all our furniture, our colour television and both cars, and we had no air-conditioning. The new reality was a shock to me, so my parents decided to take me to the park where orphans were sniffing glue to put my situation in perspective. I remember it so vividly: I made myself a promise that one day I would, one, vindicate my parents’ social and economic situation and, two, do something about those kids. That image of those kids that day in the park has never left my mind.’It sounds like a cheesy speech from a miniseries, but I sense that’s how Shakira sees her life: an epic drama with her as the protagonist. In any case, shortly after this watershed she wrote her first song. Two years later she joined a touring dance troupe performing for workers in Colombian mines. At 13, having pressed a demo-tape on a Sony executive in a Barranquilla hotel lobby, she acquired a three-album deal.Although she had a number-one single in Colombia, sales of the first two albums were disappointing. 'I tried to give my career a shot from Barranquilla, but the musicians would never show up. It was just not taken seriously.’ She persuaded her mother to move with her to the capital, Bogotá, where she found a role in a popular soap ('I was terrible,’ she says, chortling). But an award for 'best rear on television’, given by a listings magazine, was not enough to satisfy Shakira’s ambition. Then Sony announced it would drop her unless the sales of her next album improved dramatically.'Imagine the pressure! But I work best that way and basically I did my first really good album.’ Aware that talent does not necessarily equal sales, Shakira promoted it all over Latin America. 'I promise you I went to every single radio station with that album under my arm – even some obscure place in Honduras.’Like Scarlett O’Hara vowing to rebuild Tara, she continues: 'I did my homework. I put one brick on top of the other, under the sun with hard work and sweat.’ It paid off: the album sold six million copies worldwide, including one million in America. Time for Shakira to tackle her next hurdle – the English-speaking market. The fact that she didn’t speak a word of English was a minor concern. She locked herself up with a personal tutor, studied the lyrics of Bob Dylan and the poetry of Walt Whitman and wrote the English lyrics to her album 'Laundry Service’, 'with a dictionary in one hand and a thesaurus in the other’.Why bother when a jobbing songwriter could have done it? Shakira giggles again and shrugs. 'I just felt that was part of my destiny and I had to fulfil it. I knew I had to jump into a pool of cold water without even knowing how to swim, and I learnt. Songwriting is such an intricate part of me as an artist and as a person; I couldn’t just let someone else do it.’Spanish speakers report that her songs in her native tongue are far more profound than her English numbers, and bewail her selling out and becoming a homogenised clone. Shakira certainly plays a tricky game – balancing an image of a serious-minded artist who cites Led Zeppelin and the Cure as influences, with that of her alter ego – a leather-bound hottie writhing in a cage, as she does in the video for her latest single, She Wolf. But the sales bear her out: 'Laundry Service’ sold 13 million copies. In 2005 she released the two-album series 'Oral Fixation’, the single from which, Hips Don’t Lie, became the biggest-selling single of the century, along with Madonna’s Hung Up.As ever, that success just spurred Shakira on to climb even higher. She extended her reach to black America by duetting with Beyoncé and working extensively with legendary songwriters such as Donna Summer and Wyclef Jean. In her new album, 'She Wolf’, she has collaborated heavily with the producer of the moment Pharrell Williams to produce an electronic sound that barely nods to her Latin roots, but which will almost certainly be a huge hit with clubbers.Still, she’s sensitive to accusations that she’s abandoned her native land. Her main home is in the Bahamas; her parents live a short hop across the water in Miami in a house she bought for them. But, she stresses, the family returns to Colombia 'all the time’.Having left her convent school to go on the road, Shakira’s now keen to catch up on her formal education. Last year she took a break to do a course in western civilisation at the University of California, Los Angeles. Then she has to find time for de la Rúa, who used to have a trust-fund, jet-set image (Colombians called him 'the sponger’) but in recent years has redeemed himself somewhat through his work as vice-president of Alas, a Latino children’s charity.Will they marry? 'No!’ she says, grinning but firm. 'I wanna stay an eternal girlfriend. I want to have my boyfriend’s children, but I don’t think we need a piece of paper to regulate the game and we don’t have to go through the whole stress of a wedding and suffering to throw a good party.’But there will be babies? 'Yah, we’re so ready to reproduce. At some point during the making of the album I was like, “I want to stop everything and just have a baby.” You hit your thirties and something changes. Your body clock is reminding you that it’s another important part of your existence to reproduce.’ She wants two children; Antonio wants three. 'I might need to stop work for a couple of months to breast-feed but that’s about it. I can’t conceive of the idea of not working.’She is as tireless working for her charity as she is on her music. Of the former she says, 'That is the part in my life I will always have. Even when I am 60 and no one pays attention to me anymore, I’ll be able to go to the schools I’ve helped found and see the progress of these kids.’In many ways Shakira embodies the having-it-all dream women today are supposed to live up to: world domination, babies, followed by more world domination; semi-pornographic gyrating while also being a modern saint and PhD student.Can one woman achieve so much and still remain sane? The only admission that it may have not all been tickety-boo comes as we’re saying our goodbyes (another interviewer is waiting – Shakira will carry on wooing the media until 2am). The catchy strains of She Wolf float through the door, with its typically batty lyrics about 'lycanthropy’ and feeling abused 'like a coffee machine in an office’. So, who is this she-wolf, I ask.'A free woman. A happy one,’ Shakira says, wrinkling her adorable nose. Like you? She smiles. 'Well, yeah, like me after eight years of analysis. I think I’m letting the she-wolf out more often than probably 10 years ago, five years ago, even. I think I’m getting there.’ Sharks on the Barrier Reef have declined by as much as 80 per cent in the past 30 years mainly because of over-fishing. Millions are slaughtered worldwide every year for their fins which are considered a delicacy in Asia. Often the fins are sliced off and the animal is thrown alive back into the water. Marine biologists have been tagging sharks in the Coral Sea, where they are still plentiful, to learn more about their lifestyles and particularly the lengthy journeys they make through the oceans. The tagging experiments can be seen as part of a special Shark Weekend on the Discovery Channel on Saturday August 2 and Sunday August 3. Celine is International Programme Coordinator of the Ocean Futures Society, founded by her father, film maker Jean-Michel Cousteau and is committed to increasing awareness of threats to the environment and particularly to the world's oceans. She joined marine biologist Richard Fitzpatrick, filmmaker Mike deGruy and conservationist A M Sanjayan, for the tagging project which is the biggest ever undertaken in Australia. Fitzpatrick, who has been pictured holding on to the dorsal fin of a fearsome tiger shark, has been involved in shark monitoring for much of his life particularly in the shark hotspot of Osprey Reef 60 miles off the Queensland coast. As part of his research he inserts a small microchip under the skin of sharks which allows the animal's movements to be tracked. But first the shark has to be caught and brought to the surface so it can be tagged. In the film he demonstrates his technique of lassoing small reef sharks by the tail, turning them on their back to calm them down, and then hauling them aboard the research vessel - normally into a child's paddling pool - where the tag can be painlessly placed. The team also worked in waters around Raine Island, a small speck of coral about 80 miles off the coast. The tiny island is famous because thousands of green turtles use its beaches every year to lay their eggs in the sand. But the annual migration also attracts huge numbers of the ocean's most fearsome predator, the tiger shark, who patrol waters around the island looking for weakened turtles who make an easy meal. To tag the much larger and aggressive tiger Fitzpatrick has developed a special 'claw' to literally grab the tiger by the tail after it has been attracted to the surface by bait. The claw is connected by a rope to a float and once it has been fixed the shark drags it through the water until it stops swimming and the tag is surgically attached. Celine explained: "Does the tiger spend its time in the same area, does it move further out into the ocean, these are the things we need to know if we are going to guarantee its future. The different species display different behaviours and we need to learn about all of them."He said that those who sang songs from the era of the struggle against apartheid stood a better chance of winning over the judges, a mixture of local actors, DJs and politicians."One of the aims of this talent search is to sensitise young people about the history of the liberation of our country," he said.But he added: "We don't want anyone coming to sing Shoot the Boer or anything that might be offensive. This is meant to be an inclusive exercise and we want everyone - black, white, Indian, coloured, green, red, to take part. If they want to sing Celine Dion, so be it."The ANC's Youth League President Julius Malema is currently embroiled in court action over allegations that he incited hatred by singing the apartheid-era song Shoot the Boer. He has argued that the song was a way of commemorating the heritage of the country and was not used to target white people. A former songwriter who has written for Celine Dion and Dionne Warwick, Mr Bronfman now prefers to stay behind the scenes in the music industry – as does Zomba founder Clive Calder (the UK's second richest music millionaire, with a fortune of £1,300m). The rest of the top ten in The Sunday Times Rich List 2010, however, are far more recognisable music icons. The reigning kings of the West End, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Cameron Mackintosh, take third and forth places respectively. Lord Lloyd-Webber's new musical Love Never Dies, the sequel to the phenomenally successful Phantom Of The Opera, is due to transfer to Broadway and he maintains his high profile with television talent shows such as I'd Do Anything (hunting for the cast of Oliver) and Over The Rainbow – his current BBC TV show searching for Dorothy and Toto in a West End production of The Wizard Of Oz. Sir Cameron Mackintosh's £635m fortune makes him the fourth wealthiest music mogul, and 98th overall. The 63-year-old entrepreneur owns seven London theatres, and plans to endow them with enough money after his death to ensure their survival. Rock stars also famed for their survival in the music industry make up the rest of the list. Sir Paul McCartney's £475m bank balance makes him the wealthiest musician still currently performing, with Mick Jagger, Elton John, Sting and Keith Richards all in the top ten. "I feel very young and inspired," said Elton John, 63, when asked about being the seventh most played artist of the decade. His £185m fortune – up six per cent on last year – has kept him in fine clothes and filled his homes with flowers, but the singer is also a dedicated charity campaigner and philanthropist. Since 2004, the Giving List has tracked £180m of donations from the Rocket Man singer, and he regularly gives performances in aid of Aids and cancer charities. Music Millionaires 1) Edgar Bronfman (£1,640m) 2) Clive Calder (£1,300m) 3) Lord Lloyd-Webber (£700m) 4) Sir Cameron Mackintosh (£635m) 5) Sir Paul McCartney (£475m) 6) Simon Fuller (£350m) 7) Sir Mick Jagger (£190m) 8) Sir Elton John (£185m) 9) Sting (£180m) 10) Keith Richards (£175m) She worked for all the big fashion houses including Chanel, Valentino, Céline and Versace. Dubbed 'The Blonde with Class' by Vogue magazine, Mulder was at one point earning up to £10,000-a-day before officially retiring. In 2001 She attended a psychiatric hospital suffering from chronic depression, blaming it on drug addiction during her modelling days. A year later there was a suicide attempt when Mulder overdosed on sleeping pills, but she was rescued by close friends in Paris, who at one point included France's current First Lady Carla Bruni. Mulder frequently complained about her hatred at 'being photographed' but two years ago briefly returned to the runway alongside Campbell and other supermodel contemporaries including Linda Evangelista and Helena Christensen. Another police source in Paris said Mudler was arrested at 10am on Tuesday following a complaint from the unnamed surgeon. Mulder faces a charge of threatening behaviour, but is likely to be released, said the source. Act 3, as it happens, is unusually enjoyable throughout (with a particularly zippy Czárdás in which Laëtitia Lo Sardo reigns supreme but fleet little newcomer Laura Day also catches the eye). As Benno, Mathias Dingman goes some way to make up in boyish rumbustiousness what he lacks in finesse, and Jonathan Payn is a charismatically villainous von Rothbart. A closing mention for the fine corps, for the Royal Ballet Sinfonia’s powerful (if occasionally wobbly) delivery of that stupendous score, and for Philip Prowse’s designs, remarkably monumental for a touring production and exquisitely tasteful in the colour palette and detail of the costumes. Aside from the slightly muddy-looking ivy, and von Rothbart’s frightful bald wig, he doesn’t put a stitch or a brushstroke wrong. Touring until Nov 3. Details: Police sources meanwhile told Europe 1 radio station that the woman was Céline Maréchaux, the wife of Mr Bertrand Maréchaux, 59, who has been the Prefect of the Orne region since 2009. The man, who is now facing charges of taking someone hostage by force, is not believed to have known the woman, but attacked her by chance.At least 15 people managed to get off the train, while crew used mobile phones to raise the alarm.But others had to stay put as the man waved the swords at them. Two women are thought to have been held hostage to begin with, before one was allowed off.The weapons used by the man were thought to be Katanas, which were used by Japanese Samurai warriors.Both Bordeaux and La Rochelle are hugely popular with holidaymakers and other visitors over the summer months, with many arriving from the UK.When he first took to the stage on Britain’s Got Talent, Simon Cowell, the notoriously harsh judge, took one glance and muttered “just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse.” And his initial success on the show brought a challenge of a different kind, when Cowell told him he would do better by dropping Charlotte and carrying on as a soloist. Jonathan refused, declaring: “We’ve come on here as a duo and we’re going to stay here as a duo.” Two things have helped Jonathan through his difficulties: the confidence instilled by performing, and the support of his singing partner Charlotte. For these he can thank two teachers – Mrs Brown, head of music at West Hatch comprehensive in Chigwell, Essex, who put him forward for roles; and Jenny Ewington, the school’s singing coach, who paired the two youngsters together. Their part in Jonathan’s development can now be revealed. Preparing to watch the Britain's Got Talent final, Mrs Brown said: “I am exceptionally proud. “I chose The Prayer because I thought it would showcase their talents. I thought it was a beautiful piece. I hoped they might sing it at my wedding, to about 100 people. “I never imagined that I would one day be sitting in my lounge watching two very dear students, whom I had seen grow up, singing that song to millions on national television.” Mrs Brown, in her twenties, has known the pair since she arrived at the school in 2007. Charlotte was already lively and confident. Jonathan, then 12, a policeman’s son from Hainaut, east London, was shyer. “He was quite introverted. But he was a very sweet boy then and he still is now.” She believes he has benefited from her approach of putting on as many school musical performances as possible, with the aim of building up every pupil’s confidence in the way that only a stage ovation can. She said: “Since I arrived here, one of the things I wanted to do was to create as many performing opportunities as possible, in a supportive environment, for the students to feel confident.” One key moment for Jonathan, she believes, was the school’s 2009 summer concert when, as his voice was developing into a tenor, he sang Bring Him Home from the musical Les Misérables. Watching in the school hall, Mrs Brown was reduced to tears. “Jonathan just came into his own. People were amazed by his talent. They really started to sit up and notice,” she said. “All students of all years would see him and say: 'That’s Jonathan Antoine, the boy with the incredible voice.’ "The younger students would be telling him 'Oh Jonathan, you were brilliant in the concert last night.’ He has just developed and improved since then. “For all of us, music is a powerful, beautiful thing in times of hardship. And receiving the love and appreciation of a crowd, there’s nothing like that as a performer. It helps him with confidence; it helps him to be appreciated as a singer, for his voice.” Jonathan has said he suffered bullying about his weight since the age of four. While Mrs Brown prefers not to talk about it directly, she alludes to his ordeal when she says: “I would like to think he felt we supported him as a school, and that he was known for his voice – instead of, maybe, other things.” Mrs Ewington said that during music lessons, Jonathan’s shyness vanished. “He was never particularly shy or nervous with me. With singing you have to put your emotions on the line, and it’s very exciting sitting there listening, thinking – wow, it’s not just a great voice, it’s also being sung with feeling and conviction.” As he and Charlotte prepared for their music GCSE, Mrs Ewington had the idea of asking them to perform together – because they were already friends, and because thought their voices would complement one another’s. Their initial goal was to perform a duet for an exam in March last year. The teacher said: “The first time I heard them rehearsing together in the school practice room, there were moments when I thought 'Wow, this is amazing’. "But did I think they would put themselves in for Britain’s Got Talent and it would do what it has done? Not in a million years.” It soon became clear that shy Jonathan and self-assured Charlotte were also a good personality match. Mrs Brown said: “Charlotte is a lovely, really confident, streetwise girl. She doesn’t let things get to her. Jonathan likes being around her for those qualities. “They are both very mature. They have brilliant personalities and are lovely to be around. And together they both share a great talent and are really passionate about music.” For the exam piece, Mrs Brown suggested The Prayer, a contemporary song released as a duet by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. The pair performed it for their GCSE, helping them both to achieve A* grades, then again last August at her wedding to David Brown, a business studies teacher. Mrs Brown said: “The congregation was blown away. To have them performing such a favourite piece, on such a special day was just breathtaking. It was beautiful and very emotional.” Last summer, Jonathan left West Hatch to take up a musical scholarship in the sixth form of Forest School in Chigwell, where fees are £14,500 a year. But things did not work out. He told interviewers: “I sort of had a nervous breakdown in October. I left the school I was at [Forest] and rejoined the school I was at previously [West Hatch]. But then I couldn’t handle that either so I am currently not at school.” Forest School declined to comment. Its rules state: “The school stands firmly against bullying.” Jonathan, who is still seeing a psychiatrist, has also had to endure the unkind nickname 'SuBoy’ – a reference to Susan Boyle, 51, the singer who reached the 2009 Britain’s Got Talent final and came second, despite being mocked for her appearance. Mrs Brown said West Hatch school had tried its best to help Jonathan through his recent problems, adding: “I have seen him grow in confidence immensely since I first met him. He is a different man when he is on stage. “It is somewhere where he can be somebody, empowered and appreciated. He takes on a different character. It is awe-inspiring. I hope this television experience, and every performing opportunity we gave him, has helped him feel more confident. “Whatever happens now, I hope they enjoy long careers as musical artists. They are wonderful kids and they deserve all the wonderful things that come from this.” This was the decade in which the left field became the mainstream. Mouthy, low-born young artists (Hirst, Tracey Emin) became millionaires. Indie scruffs (Blur, Pulp, Oasis) ousted boy bands from the cover of Smash Hits. Smart young comedians (Eddie Izzard, Steve Coogan, Caroline Aherne) deposed the creepy old guard of showbiz. One of the most successful films of the decade, Trainspotting, was based on a novel about heroin addicts written in the vernacular of Edinburgh housing schemes. Hirst and Blur were associated with another Nineties trend, the “new lad”. Today, we think of the “new lad” as a burping, tracksuited man-child. But the point about “new lad” was that he didn’t just like beer, birds and football; he also liked books, films and art. He was David Baddiel, the comedian with a double first from Cambridge who co-hosted Fantasy Football League; he was Damon Albarn, who in an interview with Loaded magazine could discuss both QPR and Nabokov; he was Nick Hornby, who, in Fever Pitch, used his addiction to Arsenal to write as sensitive an examination of masculinity as you’ll read. These men, whether they meant to or not, were, in a small but significant way, breaking down cultural class barriers. They showed there was no such thing as working-class culture or middle-class culture. Whoever you were, wherever you came from, you could enjoy it all. Football wasn’t just for yobs. Books weren’t just for snobs. We began to have different ideas about age, too. More and more adults played video games, without feeling like kids or geeks. In 1997, JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was published; soon, adults were seen reading them as often as children were. You could say this was infantilisation – or you could say that people simply decided to be honest with themselves about the things they liked. This was also a decade of intelligent comedy. OK, not completely: Saturday night television meant Jim Davidson, Noel Edmonds and Mr Blobby. But Chris Morris’s three masterpieces of derision, On the Hour, The Day Today and Brass Eye, blended surrealism and satire to mock media falsity and political gibberish. There were immortal sitcoms: The Royle Family, I’m Alan Partridge, Father Ted. And subtle new forms were emerging. The mockumentary about workplace mundanity is thought of as a Noughties trend pioneered by The Office, but Chris Langham had perfected it in the Nineties with the wincingly acute People Like Us. Of all the decades of ’s reign, this was the least heavily influenced by America. In the US, self-pity was all the rage, thanks to grunge (led by Nirvana) and books such as Douglas Coupland’s Generation X. But most British teenagers quickly dumped all that for the frivolous thrills of Britpop. America’s most prominent contribution to British life was probably Friends, a sitcom that seemed to influence everything from the way the young spoke (“Yuh-HUH!”) to the way they cut their hair. Perhaps the above makes it sound as though the Nineties weren’t serious. True, there was a lot of irony (in the sense of liking something because “it’s so bad it’s good”). And there was tat that some of us liked without irony, and now feel sheepish about. The Spice Girls, say. But there was also wonderful, moving art that existed outside all that. Take The Bends and OK Computer by Radiohead. The acclaim those albums received has devalued them; surely nothing hyped so hysterically can have been that good. And the singer seems so humourless, and his interviews are so pompous, and the band have barely written anything with a tune since… But then you listen again to Paranoid Android, to that glorious, soaring refrain of “Rain down, rain down on me”, and you close your eyes, and you feel weightless. Then there was Birthday Letters (1998), the final collection by Ted Hughes. Every poem was addressed to his first wife, Sylvia Plath, who had killed herself 35 years earlier. Maybe biographical curiosity was why the book sold. But that isn’t why it’ll last. It’ll last because it does what all the best poetry does: it tells you things you didn’t know you knew. As you read the poems, you realise that you’ve felt like this yourself about love, pain, separation, death – yet it’s only now that the poet has put it into words that you truly recognise it. We may not have had a marriage like Hughes and Plath’s (for which we should be pretty damn grateful, too); but the art inspired by that marriage finds a way to speak to us, all the same. That’s what we should remember the Nineties for. On the surface it was a decade of flippancy and kitsch. Underneath, though, lay some great art, art that enlightens, thrills, heals. 1990s bestselling albums1 (What’s The Story) Morning Glory, Oasis, 1995 2 Stars, Simply Red, 1991 3 Spice, Spice Girls, 1996 4 Talk On Corners, The Corrs, 1997 5 Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette, 1995 6 Robson & Jerome, R Green & J Flynn, 1995 7 The Immaculate Collection, Madonna, 1990 8 Urban Hymns, The Verve, 1997 9 Gold: Greatest Hits, Abba, 1992 10 Falling Into You, Celine Dion, 1996 1990s bestselling singles1 Candle in the Wind 97/Something About the Way You Look Tonight, Elton John, 1997 2 Unchained Melody/White Cliffs of Dover, Robson Green & Jerome Flynn, 1995 3 Love is All Around, Wet Wet Wet, 1994 4 Barbie Girl, Aqua, 1997 5 Believe, Cher, 1998 6 Perfect Day, Various Artists, 1997 7 (Everything I Do) I Do it For You, Bryan Adams, 1991 8 … Baby One More Time, Britney Spears, 1999 9 I’ll Be Missing You, Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (Feat. 112), 1997 10 I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston, 1992 1990s top movies1 Titanic 1998 2 Jurassic Park 1993 3 The Full Monty 1997 4 Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 1999 5 Independence Day 1996 6 Men in Black 1997 7 Four Weddings and a Funeral 1994 8 Ghost 1996 9 A Bug’s Life 1999 10 The Lion King 1994 1990s top West End shows 1 Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story 1995 2 Chicago – the Musical 1997 3 Lion King 1999 4 Mamma Mia! 1999 5 Complete Works of William Shakespeare 1996 6 Don’t Dress for Dinner 1991 7 An Inspector Calls 1995 8 Art 1996 9 Complete History of America 1996 10 Sunset Boulevard 1993 At the Opposite House Hotel she shows me her suite with its balcony, vast flat-screen televisions, automatic blinds and shower with piped-in telly. Back in England she is staying with her uncle and his family, south of Watford, sleeping on a sofa bed next to a chest freezer. Such is the topsy-turvy life of a singer on the brink of her first album release. 'Quite a lot of people have said to me, "That's it, you've hit the big time now, you're going to be loaded." But I'm not,' she says. 'I've got to pay my manager and my lawyer. I could never go wild. I've got my first car; she's a Mini One called Minim. But that's the only thing I've splashed out on.' So how did Mary-Jess get here? A second-year Chinese and music student at Sheffield University, she was a few weeks into her language studies in Nanjing when a friend took her along for moral support when he was entering a television talent show. They passed a studio where auditions were taking place for a singing contest. Mary-Jess sang for the producer and was asked to enter, but came down with flu and had to pull out. The story might have ended there, had she not spotted a poster for what she took to be a university singing contest, but which turned out to be the same show. 'The way it happened it was as if it had been planned. You can only say that with a few things in life,' she recalls. She went on to win a special foreigners-only edition before beating five rivals in the final of the main contest, with her rendition of Sarah Brightman's song Time to Say Goodbye and Mariah Carey's When You Believe. Her prize money was 10,000 yuan, about £950, enough to fly back to England for Christmas, where no one knew a thing about her story, until her mum, Liz, contacted her local newspaper. 'I just thought it would be something nice that I could keep and say, "Look, I was in the Citizen." I had no idea that it was going to blow up,' she says. Little did she know. She hit the national press and then found herself flown out to New York and courted by two major record companies, Universal Music and Sony. Universal won out, signing her to its Decca label, the champagne was popped and, back in London, she was taken on by Jonathan Shalit, Myleene Klass's agent. No wonder friends now nickname Mary-Jess and her boyfriend, Britain's number-one in-line skater, Rich Parker, the new Posh and Becks. After an initial wave of interviews – including some faultless live singing on the BBC Breakfast sofa (the presenter Charlie Stayt asked, 'Did they know you weren't Chinese?'), she settled down to write and record her album. And here we are. I'm surprised to discover that Mary-Jess isn't in China to woo the public. Despite a booming demand for bubblegum pop and a growing festival scene, illegal downloading means there isn't a viable market for CDs here. No, this is Chinese-themed music for the British market, and beyond. We are here, one, to add authenticity to the album by having Mary-Jess sing with traditional Chinese instruments and, two, to shoot her in front of iconic architecture – because nothing says China like the Great Wall. Our four-day schedule is tight, but Mary-Jess displays reserves of get-up-and-go befitting a member of Mao's Red Army. This is a girl who will say, 'I got 10 As and a B for GCSE. Stupid B!' or talk earnestly of her love of Celine Dion – not your average cooler-than-thou student. But first things first, the music. We head to a recording studio, where a young Mongolian musician is tuning a traditional horse-head fiddle and sporting the height of Chinese geek chic: glasses frames minus any lenses. Mary-Jess instantly commands the space. Gone are any traces of girlishness as she opens her mouth to sing Yue Guang Ai Ren (A Love Before Time), the theme tune from the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Her voice spans four octaves and is so pure and, at times, so high, it really does give you goose bumps. Looking on proudly is Tom Lewis, head of A&R at Decca. I ask him at whom the finished album will be aimed and he talks about a plumber who was working in Mary-Jess's kitchen and overheard some of her music. 'He came in, obviously just moved by the music, and he went, "What's that?" So we had this idea that we want the record to make plumbers cry. I quite like the idea that it is an emotional thing, rather than a cerebral thing.' Don't engage your brain? There is a sniffiness attached to so-called crossover music but Lewis knows his stuff when it comes to this lucrative market. He and Decca have scoured the globe for unusual signings such as a group of Benedictine nuns near Avignon who sing Gregorian chants and the Gondoliers, a trio of Venetian crooners for the 'Just one Cornetto' crowd. He sees Mary-Jess appealing to fans of Enya and Katherine Jenkins but also Sigur Rós – ambient Icelandic experimentalists popular with yoga types. For her part, Mary-Jess describes her sound as 'New Age classical crossover'. You could say that she was born to sing it. 'My grandmother was a semi-professional classical singer, my mum's a more rocky popular-music singer – I was surrounded by both as I grew up and so I'm able to switch my voice to sing both,' she says. The next day it's time for some photos, and this is where things start to get surreal. We take the underground and alight at Tiananmen Square. For all of five minutes. Mary-Jess poses jauntily in front of the official portrait of Chairman Mao, before a mad dash to a hilltop pavilion, in Jingshan Park, where she poses jauntily on a wall, overlooking the smog-shrouded Forbidden City, before a mad dash to Ghost Street and its rows of luminous red paper lanterns, where … well, you get the picture. I'm beginning to realise that far from being the young innocent who lacked out, Mary-Jess is an ambitious artist who has planned her career from an early age. Singing was always her main goal, and studying Chinese her backup plan. 'My plan B led to my plan A,' she says. 'I've always wanted to be a recording artist. I've never wanted to be anything else ever. Somehow it worked out.' She would have liked to learn the piano but the family couldn't afford lessons. Her mum, a seamstress and leather-worker, and her father, a carpenter, divorced when she was two. Her 18-year-old sister, Cheri, works as his apprentice. When Mary-Jess was nine her grandmother encouraged her to join the Gloucester Cathedral Youth Choir. Despite being two years under the age limit, Mary-Jess was accepted. Meanwhile her mother, who sings in a covers band, was furthering her musical education in other ways. To raise extra money before Mary-Jess went to university, the pair toured the Gloucestershire pub circuit as a duo. 'I'm a little more classical but our voices really complement each other. My mum's really good at belting out Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston or Tina Turner,' she says. They even auditioned for The X Factor, singing Sarah Brightman's Time to Say Goodbye and Kelly Clarkson's Because of You, after being advised in the first audition to enter as a double act. 'On the third audition there was this quite posh guy and he looked down his nose at us and said, "What on earth made you think that a mother and daughter duo act would actually work?" And we were like, "We were told to do that!" I look back on it and laugh now. I don't know what would have happened if we'd entered as solo artists.' Simon Cowell's loss was China's gain. Back in the hotel, on her laptop, Mary-Jess shows me the only clip she has of I Want to Sing to the Stars, filmed by a friend who pointed her camera at the television set. It's low-budget stuff. Mary-Jess belts out the Sam Brown song Stop! ('All that I have is all that you've given me …') while a male dancer in a stripy shirt shimmies distractingly around her. 'I don't think I was ever actually introduced to him. They were like, "This is your dancer, this is what you're doing,"' she says with a giggle. Aside from her voice, why does she think Chinese viewers connected with her, a foreigner? Was it her ingénue looks? 'Chinese people often buy whitening products to make themselves look more western – it boggles me why they want to do it,' she says. 'All the posters of leading brands tend to use Western women – that's something they aspire to look like. So, yes, they could have liked me because of that, or they might have liked me because I was really making an effort to speak the language.' She started studying Mandarin at 13, as an after-school class, staying the night at her dad's every Tuesday rather than going back to her mum's in Stroud. 'I look back and I think it's quite li hai,' she says, of all the hefting back and forth of heavy textbooks. Quite what? 'Sorry, that's Chinese. When I was in Nanjing we used to substitute words, all the foreign students used to. Li hai means hard-core; it's like if somebody goes out into the cold without a coat, then that's pretty li hai.' The tracks are in the bag, the photos are taken, it's time to get back to England and the life of a diva-in-waiting. Mary-Jess returns to her sofa bed near Watford, but something tells me she won't be there much longer. After we get back, she is announced as the support act for Russell Watson's 23-date British tour, which culminates next Sunday. On her 21st birthday he presents her with a cake, on stage. If that's not an anointment into the crossover hall of fame I don't know what is. Is the world ready for a new Enya? Will li hai ever pass into youth-speak? Will plumbers – and Nick Clegg – erupt into tears when they hear Mary-Jess Leaverland sing? Over to the public vote … Mary-Jess’s debut single, 'Are You the Way Home?', out now, is taken from her debut album, released on 8 August on Decca RecordsBar: For a cocktail befitting of such a stylish scenario, order a Chilled Navan Vanilla Cognac (Stolichnaya vanilla vodka with a splash of Frangelico) or The One (apple and pear vodka with fresh pineapple and lime juice, a touch of cinnamon and clove).Room Service: For a cocktail befitting of such a stylish scenario, order a Chilled Navan Vanilla Cognac (Stolichnaya vanilla vodka with a splash of Frangelico) or The One (apple and pear vodka with fresh pineapple and lime juice, a touch of cinnamon and clove).ChildrenSomewhere so chichi isn't ideally suited to terrorising tots, but so determined is the Hazelton to please its guests, if you do take a little one they even have child-size bathrobes; there is no extra charge for cribs.Packing TipsYour designer-label swimwear. If you forget your Celine handbag or designer cocktail dress you can always pick them up in the boutique, Hazel.What’s more, so brilliantly executed is all this that you feel as though you, too, have shrunk with the 15-year-old. This helps make the subsequent battle between the rats and toy soldiers – which in most productions leaves one craving the interval and a hefty slug of sauvignon — an exciting spectacle. Children in the audience were goggle-eyed, and I wonder if the adults weren’t taken back to those giddily exciting years when they themselves could more or less fit under their own parents’ Christmas tree.In a typically lively overall effort, Carol-Anne Millar makes a delectable Clara, suitably yet un-simperingly girlish in the bosom of her family but powerfully showing innocence ceding to passion when in the arms of her prince (an attentive Jamie Bond). Identically enjoyable is Robert Parker, eyes a-twinkle as the magician Drosselmeyer, with Joseph Caley, Céline Gittens and Laëtitia Lo Sardo also standing out in their various roles.I’d carp that the grand pas de deux between Bond and Nao Sakuma’s sparkly Sugar Plum Fairy was a touch mechanical on Friday, and that the two comedy Chinese in Act II look old-fashioned at best. Still, if you’re going to see only one Nutcracker this season, make it this one. And, should you be unable to make it to its rightful Midlands home, maybe give it a go when it comes to London’s O2 Centre after Boxing Day. If any version of the tale can survive this hangar of a venue, I suspect it is BRB’s.In Birmingham until Dec 11. Details: That was, after all, the guiding principle behind Sarah Brown’s “My husband, my hero” speech about Gordon Brown at the 2009 Labour Party conference: “I know he’s not a saint – he’s messy, he’s noisy, he gets up at a terrible hour – but I know he wakes up in the morning and goes to bed at night thinking about the things that matter.” Mrs Brown might as well have carried on: “Hey, did you get that at the back? He gets up at a 'terrible hour’ because he’s a workaholic, toiling away for Britain plc.”The Obamas, none the less, have been brave enough to suggest that they have had some ferocious marital humdingers. (Barack wrote in his second book of a period when “tired and stressed, we had little time for conversation, much less romance”.) Yet they still seem to like each other, and if watching a couple in the midst of a furious row is inherently depressing, witnessing a couple that has survived furious rows is curiously cheering, like seeing a frail little rowing boat still safely occupied after a filthy storm. Even so, it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said, “You never know anyone until you marry them”, and the truth is that marriages survive on some indefinable mutual secret, the knowledge of both our best and most appalling selves. Despite the political wives’ artful concoctions of grit and honey, the entirety of a marriage is still a truth too complicated for most voters to understand. A writer who couldn’t be wrongerThat there is such a phenomenon as a clever fool has seldom been in doubt. Rarely, though, has there been such a shining example as Richard Millet, an eminent French author and editor who has caused a stir (even in France, where writers are heavily indulged) by describing Anders Breivik’s murder of 77 Norwegians as “what Norway deserved” for its policies on multiculturalism and immigration.Although Millet called the acts “monstrous”, he described them as “formal perfection… in their literary dimension”, and the victims as “mixed-raced, globalised, uncultivated, social-democrat petit bourgeois”. The resulting outcry led him to proclaim: “I’m one of the most hated French authors. It’s an interesting position that makes me an exceptional being.”Millet sounds, not exceptional, but merely unpleasant; erudite, but devoid of human wisdom; and so desperate for attention that he will trample on the memories of dead children and adults to grab it. Of course, literary talent is not always married to decency: one thinks of Céline running around Vichy France viciously stirring up anti-Semitism. Still, how odd that Millet should dare to apply the word “uncultivated” to Breivik’s victims. When I watched their grieving relatives, heart-stricken and dignified in the aftermath of the trial, they struck me as such highly civilised people. One could not say the same of Millet.Foundation for educational chaosThe Government’s decision to strip London Metropolitan University of the right to issue visas to non-EU students has thrown a hand grenade into higher education. The suspicion is that a significant number of such students at London Met, and a handful of other institutions, are using university as a back door to immigration, since many of them neglect to attend lectures or fulfil other requirements. This clampdown will, naturally, worry those non-EU students who are here legitimately and working hard for their expensive degrees. There is also concern that EU students at British universities, who are eligible for loans for tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year, are increasingly unlikely to pay them back. And there are rapidly expanding numbers of courses taught in English at prestigious universities abroad, many charging no tuition fees at all, to which hard-pressed British students might very sensibly apply.For Britain, it’s a long-term recipe for a financial meltdown in higher education and a brain drain rolled into one. I hope that David Willetts, the minister for universities nicknamed “Two Brains”, will devote at least one of them to this disaster in the making.And yet if the "Greek with the squeak" has sold more than 300 million records, recorded more than 1,500 songs in more languages than most of us speak, let alone sing in, served in public life as an MEP, spent the past two years on a farewell tour and last week sold out the Albert Hall to play her last ever London concert… if all of this is true, and to the best of my knowledge it is, don't you think we'd see her on the telly, or read about her in the newspapers, a tiny bit more? For me, her name conjures the image of her – with those heavy black 1970s specs, ironed-straight, centre-parted 1970s hair and russet-coloured 1970s polo-neck – that adorned the grey 1970s eight-track cartridge that fitted into my mum and dad's orange 1970s VW camper van. For another of my colleagues, she was "the boring bit on Morecambe and Wise, wasn't she?" The last time she was the subject of an article in this newspaper – as opposed to a comic aside; she's mentioned as a lookalike for Bono and Ugly Betty – was in 2001. And yet there she is, adored by millions and still performing. She has just (which is how I came to discover she was not only still alive, but the most successful etc) released her autobiography. "Where are you going with this, Leith?" I hear you ask. "Why are you troubling my otherwise pleasant Saturday morning with your hare-brained ruminations on the injustice done to Nana Mouskouri by the lickspittle conspirators of the international media and their sickening running dogs Morecambe and Wise?" Well, bear with me. I am meandering in the direction of a modestly proportioned point. And this point is something along the lines that there are hundreds of Nanas out there. There are hundreds of activities, or people, or areas of life that are all but completely invisible, and yet the popularity of which is enormous. In part, this is attributable to the fact that the day-to-day output of the media tends to be run, on the whole, by university-educated men and women between 30 and 50. They want to put out programmes and write articles about things that they are currently interested in, or remember with fondness, or reckon are cool, or wish they had been involved in at the time. When people of my age and geekiness, for example, started finding their way into those jobs, suddenly the cinema screens and arts pages filled with tights-wearing comic-book heroes and Tolkien tropes. Hallelujah! I thought. Yet there remain these Nanas, as I shall designate them, that are all but ignored: either because they are uncool, or long enduring, or beloved of a different class or generation (younger as well as older – I suspect computer games, for example, are five to 10 years off becoming as visible as they are popular). What are the biggest Nanas of our day? Angling, I suppose, is an obvious one. Country music. South America. Bingo. Knitting. Goldfish ownership? Here – as a representative of exactly the Nana-ignoring demographic I describe – I start to struggle. Tunnock's caramel wafers? Many Nanas, like Ms Mouskouri (I had the good fortune to meet her this week at a lunch in her honour, and she was lovely), seem perfectly content not to be on the cover of every magazine going. Other Nanas may feel neglect as a keen injustice. But they deserve a salute. And when – in the manner of a wee boat bumping gently and, by surprise, against the protruding tip of an iceberg – one runs up against a Nana, it's a useful reminder that the world is larger and more various than we often enough notice. In recent years, Nana has taken to singing My Way on stage. She feels, one of her friends told me, that she's earned the right. Here's to her, and to Nanas everywhere.Nagel was introduced to her first sight of a carpet of wild bluebells in a Sussex wood: “It was early morning, and a light mist still hovered over the plants while shafts of sunlight streaked through the branches, like a Renaissance religious painting.” Down on her knees, she breathed in the cold floral dew, noticing – as the day warmed – that the scent developed spicy, more voluptuous notes. Armed with a notebook full of adjectives – a mind-map of her sensual reaction to the flower – she returned to her office to face the challenge of reconstructing the unfamiliar. Working “like a cook”, she considered “which raw materials could give me these sensations”.This is no white lab-coat, theatrical process, but an intellectual one. A formula is written down – “a gram of this or that” – and passed to her assistant, Richard, to make up. “He,” says Nagel, “is my hands.”Nagel began her interpretation with dewy floral and a touch of clove in the top notes, “exaggerating certain facts – the wet ground against the spiciness, something a bit piquant and characteristic”. Orange flower was used to blend these into the more obviously wild-floral heart of the cologne – jasmine and eglantine with a corresponding dash of tartly fruity persimmon. At the base rests white musk – “the petticoat that holds up the scent, like in Dior’s New Look” – and a tiny amount of amber, “because it melts sensuously on the skin”.All of which results in something clear, discrete and deceptively naïve without being so fragile that it disappears, leaving a trail that is softly lasting without being aggressive. If scents had weight, this is a satin, not a velvet – a wildflower rather than a heady hothouse bloom.In recessions we reach, traditionally, for cocooning scents reliant on warm, woody base notes. Flying in the face of this, and without requiring a single bloom, Wild Bluebell Cologne is overwhelmingly floral. Reminiscent of a walk through ancient woods in spring or being coddled in a cashmere blanket, it brings back memories of childhood.Aware of the native bluebell’s dependence on ancient woodland, Jo Malone London has made a large donation to the Woodland Trust. Nagel hopes her cologne’s success will raise the profile of the plant’s ecological value and its fragile future. “We need to do all we can to preserve the bluebell,” she says.Some of the plotting last night was clever, such as the parallels between Fiedler on the U-boat (Frederick Lau) and William on the Laconia (Matthew Aubrey), both of whom are gawky youths bullied by colleagues – one of several ways Bleasdale aims to show that the British and the Germans have more in common than either would like to allow. Less well handled was the scene of Hollywoodish weepiness in which a woman, treading water amid the Laconia’s wreckage, handed a fellow passenger her wedding ring, begged her to deliver it to her husband in Scotland, then promptly died. I half expected Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On to strike up on the soundtrack. The Sinking is Bleasdale’s first TV drama in 11 years. I wish he’d do more. He wrote some of the finest TV drama of the 20th century. He may yet write some of the finest of the 21st. I just hope his next one feels more like him. But enough of nice Nazis. Back to the nasty ones. The Brain: a Secret History, the first of a diverting new documentary series on BBC Four, recalled an experiment whose results perhaps explain why Germans were so willing to follow the Führer. This was the infamous 1961 test by Stanley Milgram which sought to find how many participants would be so obedient to authority that they would agree to give a lethal electric shock to a fellow human. Milgram had expected the answer to be one per cent. It proved to be two thirds. Of course, some people are quite capable of making peculiar choices of their own free will. Michael Mosley, the programme’s presenter, wanted to teach us about hallucinogenic drugs – so he swallowed one. “I was convinced I could levitate,” he reported, “and fly up to the stars at supersonic speed.” Near the end he met a scientist who claimed to have taught flies to dislike the smell of liquorice. I began to wonder if I’d swallowed a hallucinogen myself. "We're trying to see what's happened with climate change, deforestation and indigenous groups," says Céline. She was nine when Jacques made his famous documentary on the Amazon. It was the same year he taught her to dive off the coast of Monaco. Although, looking back, she recalls he didn't really teach her in the normal sense of the word. "It was a very calm event. It was just a case of: 'Here's your equipment. Let's adjust it. Does it feel comfortable? Good, let's go.' " Once his granddaughter had been introduced to the world beneath the waves, Jacques journeyed from Iquitos in Peru to Manaus in Brazil, documenting the fragile eco-system of this important area. In this, as in so much, he was ahead of his time and his chronicle has proved an invaluable resource for present-day researchers. "There are things that have changed," says Céline, who acted as presenter, producer and also translator when the Cousteaus and their cameras returned to the area. The population of Manaus alone has increased from 400,000 to two million, putting pressure on the local environment. Deforestation has also increased. "It's a very delicate balance right now," she says. "The reality of the world, especially in Brazil and Peru, is that people are cutting down a lot of the forest for soy, cattle and logging. Part of that is economic reality. People need to eat." It's not all bad. There are examples of people living sustainably in the area as well. In Brazil's Mamiraua Reserve, for example, the locals have learnt how to harvest the pirarucu freshwater fish sustainably. It's a project they run themselves and, because they take only 30 per cent of the pirarucu population, the number of fish in the river is increasing. "Although it's a protected area the locals are benefiting," says Céline. She was just a girl last time around and joined the expedition for only two weeks. Consequently, she doesn't recall much about environmental change. What Céline remembers was the excitement of searching in a canoe for piranhas and meeting an indigenous family on the banks of the river. Second time around, she may have approached the area with more expectation, but this trip was also not without its unusual encounters. In the area where Peru, Colombia and Brazil meet, the team was excited to come across a species never seen on the river. But, before they had a chance to grab their cameras, they realised it was the Slovenian swimmer Martin Strel, on his 66-day swim along the river's 3,274 miles. But you don't have to go to the Amazon to experience the thrill of diving. Even the British coast, which lacks the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef, has a series of fascinating shipwrecks. Away from South America, Céline and her oceanographer brother Fabien have notched up some memorable experiences, including filming great whites in a submarine disguised as a shark. Recently, she freedived with humpback whales and she describes the experience as one of her most treasured memories. "It's not work, it's my passion," she says, like a true Cousteau. Although this passion has now taken her all over the world, she confesses she is unlikely to dive in British waters. "Knowing me, I'd want a dry suit. I get cold diving in California."In the interests of leap-year balance, the third couple were Andi and Jade, where Jade did the asking at Liverpool’s football ground. (Some married male viewers may have wondered if Andi’s love of the club will still be encouraged in five years.) The best of the lot, however, featured the sweet and entirely smitten David who wanted to propose from the stage of a West End show. To this end, he was first seen flicking inexpertly through the listings (“Hamlet? Is that romantic?”) and being quite surprised when his requests to theatres were greeted with baffled refusals. At last – and presumably with Channel 4’s help – he got permission from the musical Ghost to come on stage in a Jeremy Beadle-like disguise during the curtain call. From there he addressed a spotlit Kelly in the balcony with impressive aplomb. When she said yes, the couple got more cheers than Ghost itself – and only the stoniest of viewers won’t have wanted to join in. Live International Rugby Union BBC1, 2.30pm; BBC2, 4.55pm A brace of internationals today. First, on BBC1, Ireland play host to Argentina. Later, on BBC2, Wales take on New Zealand and will want to turn the tide after 55 years of defeat at the hands of the All Blacks. The Santa Clause 3: the Escape Clause (2006) Sky Movies Premiere/SMPHD, 6.00pm Tim Allen returns for a third outing as a man forced to become Father Christmas after he inadvertantly kills Santa on Christmas Eve. Now he’s facing another festive season with the added pressure of a heavily pregnant Mrs Clause (Elizabeth Mitchell). But then mean old Jack Frost (a scene-stealing Martin Short) tricks Tim Allen’s Santa into invoking the so-called Escape Clause whereby he can revoke his magical status and return to being a mere mortal – with curious results. Strictly Come Dancing BBC1, 6.20pm With all the top couples plagued by inconsistency, it’s still anyone’s contest as a single step out of line could cost them the glitter ball trophy – although at least it might spare them yet another slathering of fake tan as the make-up girls continue to misunderstand the type of tango required. The Royal Ballet World Premiere BBC2, 7.10pm The Royal Ballet’s resident choreographer, Wayne McGregor, premiered his latest work Infra at Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House on 13 November. This fly-on-the-scenery film followed the making of his new creation, which is showcased alongside two other short works, Voluntaries and The Lesson. McGregor works with contemporary artist Julian Opie and composer Max Richter to create his new opus, which combines dance, music and art. The X Factor ITV1, 7.25pm With front-runners fading fast, the judges seem hell-bent on voting off one another’s strongest acts – so it would serve them all right if they end up with a turkey as the winner. After all, it’s happened before – anyone remember Steve Brookstein? No, really, anyone? Jamie Lee Curtis Biography Channel, 8.00pm It could all be in the genes, but actress Jamie Lee Curtis would surely want to put her success down to more than simply being the child of Hollywood greats Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. With her greatest hits including A Fish Called Wanda, True Lies and Freaky Friday, she’s proven herself a versatile star in a business that loves to pigeon hole. Her life is documented here. The Genesis Songbook Sky Arts 1/Sky Arts HD, 9.00pm Maturing rockers Genesis got together more than 40 years ago. Here, founding members Tony Banks (keyboards) and Mike Rutherford (guitar) are joined by former band mates, including drummer Phil Collins, to discuss the band’s many hits, and explain the creative process that went into songs such as Invisible Touch and I Can’t Dance. Ricky and the Prizefighters: Hatton v Malignaggi Sky Box Office/SBOHD, 9.00pm If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em appears to be the case for Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton. Having lost to Floyd Mayweather last year, Hatton has recruited his vanquisher’s father to train him to face New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi in this light-welterweight championship bout. The trash talk has been flying thick and fast, but Hatton will want to let his fists do the talking by outwitting the wiley Malignaggi, who has only one defeat in 26 outings. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas hosts Hatton once again – although this time he’ll hope to stay on his feet. Sky and Virgin Media customers can order the fight for £14.95 via the pay-per-view options on their remotes or by calling 08705 800 888. Einstein and Eddington BBC2, 9.10pm David Tennant and Andy Serkis star as Arthur Eddington and Albert Einstein in this one-off drama, telling the story of the correspondence between two great minds that shaped 20th-century scientific thinking. With few people willing to listen to a German scientist during the First World War, Eddington championed Einstein’s theory of relativity. Jim Broadbent, Lucy Cohu, Rebecca Hall and Jodhi May also star in this story of two lives that became as intertwined as a matter and energy. SUNDAY Live International Cricket: India v England Sky Sports 1/SSHD1, 8.30am Kevin Pietersen’s side head for Bangalore and the fourth 50-over contest against India. SH Live Super Sunday: Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers Sky Sports 1/SSHD1, 1.00pm Harry Redknapp has won all of his home matches so far as Tottenham boss (including two victories over Liverpool) and he’ll hope for more of the same against Blackburn. SH God Bless America Channel 4, 7.00pm America’s religious right-wing emerged as a significant political force during George W Bush’s presidency, and many pundits predicted that the evangelical lobby would swing this year’s election in John McCain’s favour too. Carl Skaggs’s fine documentary explores why that didn’t happen, looking first at how the religious right fell in, then out of love with Bush, and how his administration failed to cater to a new generation of more socially aware conservatives. Most interesting, though, is the analysis of how Barack Obama’s pursuit of a “faith-friendly” strategy, while McCain’s campaign kept the evangelical lobby at arms’ length, effectively neutralised the Republican party’s hold on the evangelical vote. GO Guinness World Records Smashed Sky1/Sky1HD, 7.00pm Like the long-running Record Breakers on BBC1, this new entertainment show, presented by Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, is about a have-a-go spirit and the breaking of rather pointless “records”. Tonight, former Blue singer Duncan James attempts to sing a duet with as many women as possible in under two minutes, and four men on power stilts somersault over a car. SH Top Gear BBC2, 8.00pm A big night for admirers of the Bugatti Veyron as the Stig, at last, gets the chance to take one round the Top Gear track. Plus, James May tackles his first ever power test in a Pagani Zonda, and all three presenters are challenged to get from Switzerland to the northwest coast of England on a single tank of fuel. GO Divas II ITV1, 8.00pm Following on from last year’s Saturday Night Divas – which featured Celine Dion, Alicia Keyes and Jennifer Lopez among others – ITV1 again brings together top female pop singers to perform in aid of breast cancer awareness. It’s not quite as glamorous an affair second time round but with acts such as Rihanna, Pink, Sugababes, Gabriella Cilmi, Anastacia and Leona Lewis, it is high-wattage entertainment none the less. Top billing goes to the five-time Grammy-winning veteran Dionne Warwick, who treats us to scintillating renditions of What the World Needs Now and That’s What Friends Are For. GO Superbad (2007) Sky Movies Premiere/SMPHD, 8.00pm In the vein of Knocked Up, this insanely funny comedy is about two socially inept teenagers and their obsession with parties, girls and drink. Producer Judd Apatow, director Greg Mottola and co-writer Seth Rogan are old hands at this type of crass comedy; they’re helped by their leads, Jonah Hill as the crude Seth and Michael Cera as sweet-natured Evan. SH Survivors BBC1, 9.00pm A strong cast led by Julie Graham and Paterson Joseph head this gripping six-part re-working of Terry Nation’s very popular 1970s drama series about a rag-tag group of Britons who survive a global catastrophe. Continues on Tuesday. GO Dragons’ Den: Outside the Den BBC2, 9.00pm Of all the Dragons, Duncan Bannatyne’s story is the best known. Not only because of his habit of turning up all over television and radio to tell us about his success, but because hundreds of thousands of people snapped up his two books on the subject. His classic rags-to-riches tale – of a struggling young Scot who saw his chance when an ice cream van came up for sale, and built himself a fortune from it – is kept for last in this series, threaded through with tips on how to ride out the credit crunch plus an update on how the businesses Bannatyne invested in on Dragon’s Den are doing now. GO Herod’s Lost Tomb National Geographic/National Geographic HD, 9.00pm King Herod’s brutal reputation is cemented in the New Testament and the story of the massacre of the innocents, but this documentary concentrates on another side to the ruler of Judea, one which depicts him as an architectural mastermind who rebuilt the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Last year, after a 30-year search, Israeli archaeologist Ehud Netzer discovered Herod’s tomb. Here he explains what the find means. SH Fringe Sky1/Sky1HD, 9.00pm JJ Abrams’s latest sci-fi series may be no Lost, but the mysterious scientific goings-on that drive the plot still provide scope for some clever plot-lines. When FBI investigator Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is faced with the abduction of a musical prodigy,the circumstances reveal a link to the past of maverick genius Dr Bishop (John Noble). SH Mark Lawson Talks to Rolf Harris BBC4, 10.00pm To complete a night of programmes on BBC4 about Rolf Harris, which includes The Queen, by Rolf (9.00pm), in which he painted Her Majesty, Mark Lawson talks to the artist and entertainer. Discussing everything from his early success as an Australian swimming champion to how Animal Hospital changed his life, Harris also teaches Lawson how to play the didgeridoo. SH Citroen C4 dancing robotWhen this advert came out in 2006, everybody seemed to think it was cool and funky. But with just three years of hindsight, it's clear that the concept of a car turning itself into a dancing robot, jiving around in some bland urban wasteland to the world's worst dance track is not just unbelievably retro but also so typically French and uncool that it's a wonder any self-respecting Anglo Saxon ever bought the thing.Renault 21 - The Prisoner homageWhat is it with the French and car adverts? This was supposed to be wacky and sinister. It showed the boxy Renault escaping from the evil clutches of the Danger Man in Portmeirion - along the lines of the 1970s TV series. But the result borders on the ludicrous with the car being pursued by a giant ball. At one point it makes the Renault look like its fuelled by methane in a large gas bag along the lines of Corporal Jones's butchers van in Dads' Army.Celine Dion - 1990 Plymouth Sundance Dodge ShadowIt's French again. Celine Dion performs some weird routine around the blandest car ever built. And what's with the child seat?Michael Barrymore - 1989 Austin MetroWhy did the British car industry fail so spectacularly? Was it the industrial strife of the 1970s? The poor build-quality that plagued the industry for decades after the 1950s? No, it was the sight of Michael Barrymore hopping around like a car dealer on speed trying to promote a pisspoor car that had a rear wash wipe, a sunroof, a radio-cassette and colour options ranging from white to grey.Black Gold Datsun 280The guy with the 'tache, the girl, the kiss... this US advert for a Japanese sports car looks more like soft porn than a serious attempt to sell the vehicle.1986 generic Ford advertDid Ford buy entire advertisement breaks on ITV to show what must have been the most tedious car ad in history? And did anybody actually stay awake to the end to learn that Fords were "cars with a future"?1985 Plymouth Duster advertWe have no idea what is going on here but it's clearly nothing to do with the car. We're told that it is something to do with selling a "lifestyle" around this vehicle but, even though this was the 1980s, we are not aware that anybody actually wore spandex when they nipped out to Costco in their Duster. And the most surreal thing? Surely that cannot be Nik Kershaw on the stairs?Austin Montego 1.6LThe message here seemed to be that Montego drivers are arrogant, pushy misogynists who cruise along the country's motorways looking for attractive women to humiliate at petrol stations. Oh, and they like to play Duel with truckers...1994 Ford Windstar commercialThe car was bad but the ad was even worse. Susan Lucci - the star of a daytime TV soap called All My Children - always wanted to be teleported. Too bad for her that Ford didn't have a licence to blatantly rip off Star Trek and so she only managed to beam to the other side of the studio and too bad for the viewer that the whole shooting match wasn't beamed off planet.1970s generic British Leyland advertThere are so many questions and so few answers - why is the man with the Allegro beside the Eiffel Tower speaking with an Italian accent? Why doesn't the salesman tell the chap in the bow tie to clear off? Was racism considered OK if the noble cause was to save the British motor industry? Did the TR7 really sound that bad? Was the Dolomite Sprint actually slower than some old girl on a bike?Celine and David are looking to spend between £350,000 and £400,000, and will start putting in offers within the next fortnight. "We're renting at the moment so we're not desperate to move, but if we find the right flat at the right price we will." Estate agents John D Wood have told them that two-bedroom flats in Primrose Hill have fallen in price by 10-15 per cent, and will drop a further 5 per cent by the end of the year. "We could wait another six months and prices will have come down further. But if you can get that much off now, you win anyway." According to Tom Hudson, of buying agents Middleton Advisors, lifestyle buyers will characterise the market in 2009. They are financially stable, and moving not out of desperation, but because they want to take advantage of a quieter market to buy their ideal house. "They may be moving for a new job, or want to be nearer a particular school. Or they see now as a good opportunity to buy," says Hudson. "People might have been looking in an undersupplied market for 24 months and want to get on with life. There's a strata of buyers who have September as a cut-off date."Prices are expected to fall another 5 to 10 per cent by the end of the year. But over the past few weeks buying agents have noticed a shift in buyer mentality. "People realise there's still quite a lot of property on the market and it is highly unlikely they will have to bid against a competitive purchaser," says Camilla Dell of buying agents Black Brick. "And sellers are realising that if they hang on, they will only sell their property for less." Ed Mead of London-based estate agent Douglas & Gordon has also noticed a change of mood: "We have now clearly moved on from the market which was characterised by a 75 per cent lack of confidence on buyers' part and 25 per cent funding problems," he says. "Buyers are really out in droves and are willing to buy, at the right prices, but getting a mortgage is best described as a nightmare." For those that can get the finance (or don't need to borrow), there are some attractive offerings, although it's worth taking the time to research where the biggest drops have occurred. Price falls have been geographical: well-heeled parts of London and the Home Counties have been hit hard due to the stockbrokers and bankers affected by the banking crisis. But for many, the dream is becoming affordable: a town house in Belgravia, belonging to designer Jane Churchill, now costs £3.95 million (was £4.5 million), while for under £500,000 you could buy a three-bedroom flat in Chelsea, or a pretty mews house in Battersea. Medium-sized houses, such as Chloé Macintosh's in Fulham, hover around the £800,000 mark, and enormous houses in Hampstead or the nicest parts of Clapham cost about £1.75 million. Further out, a listed country house or rectory need no longer cost more than a million. Although it is still tricky to find a bargain in West Berkshire and Oxfordshire (largely due to lack of supply), in the West Country, the Midlands and the North, and second (or third) home hot spots, properties that would have once sold in two weeks are open to offers from buyers with cash in hand. "By the time the market has bottomed out it will be too late," says Dell. "Our advice to buyers is to get stuck in now."Of course, some clever people will hold out, and buy when prices are lowest. But even so, they cannot expect to capitalise on their investment soon. After prices have bottomed, experts expect them to plateau for a year or more, while excess supply is soaked up. "No one wants to catch a knife when it's falling, but people with cash don't know what to do with it," says Trevor Abrahamson, who has seen three recessions. "I think the window of opportunity will be quite short, adds Camilla Dell. "We might just look back on this time and say it was a good time to buy."Why was he even allowed behind the wheel? It is a question that crops up often when considering the cause of road accidents. In Lincolnshire last week, a 48-year-old epileptic was banned from driving for life after suffering a fit at the wheel and causing a fatal crash. In the incident, a motorcyclist was killed instantly, while his pillion passenger wife broke her pelvis, arm, collarbone, ribs and almost every bone in both her legs. How will she feel when she discovers that the epileptic had suffered fits and caused accidents while driving twice before, yet was still allowed back on the road? In Wales last summer, a lorry driver was jailed for eight weeks and banned from driving for a year for driving erratically while eating a plate of spaghetti. The RAC reports that texting and driving is on the increase. In court, a 21-year-old from Fermanagh admitted killing four friends by dangerous driving. Drunk and speeding when he crashed into a tree, he is the sad embodiment of the stunted thrill-seekers who plague B-roads in the small hours. And while we may have a good road safety record in comparison to other European countries, I suspect this is because there are so many skilled drivers out there, compensating for the wilful blunders of the lunatic fringe. Every day, hundreds of accidents are averted by the sharp responses of careful, alert drivers; the unsung guardians of our national road network. Yet despite their good efforts, the carnage goes on. This is hardly Clarkson's fault, but there is a difficulty about Top Gear that cannot be denied. Its core audience is exactly the kind of young male drivers who are statistically likely to cause most serious accidents, which makes the programme's celebration of speed for speed's sake particularly uncomfortable. In addition, it always looks as if it is filmed in a secret barn deep in a forest, its blokey audience standing around with the sly excitement of those invited to an illegal cockfight. Top Gear, along with car chase movies and anything else that glamorises car violence, accidental or otherwise, are all part of the fast-car culture of our times. In a climate where passengers are to be fingerprinted before boarding aeroplanes, lunatics of any stripe appear to be allowed to climb behind the wheel of killer cars any time they like. Meanwhile, the Government aims to raise taxes for gas guzzlers and plots all manner of irritations for the law-abiding driver. We seem to be punishing the wrong motorists for the wrong things over and over again. Let's get Jeremy on the blower, and hear what he has to say about that. Pity is the least the parents of the murdered or missing deserve It takes a hard heart not to sympathise with the parents of missing or murdered children. The luckless McCanns, the parents of Shannon Matthews, the mother of 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling, raped and murdered in Goa last month; all these unfortunate adults have crossed over to the dark side. For them, the cosy parameters of family life will never be the same again, certainly not while there is an empty little bed upstairs or a mutilated body lying cold in the morgue. Still, sometimes you've got to wonder. Scarlett's mother, Fiona MacKeown, did well to force Indian authorities into treating her daughter's death as a murder. Yet her decision to leave the teenager with new-found friends while she travelled with her other children (she has nine in total) in a neighbouring state seems incredible. Now she is furious with the Indian authorities, which have suggested they may her on charges of negligence, which she denies. They are "trying to change the media focus", complains MacKeown, although, if her own focus on her daughter's wellbeing had been a little sharper, this terrible situation might not have arisen in the first place. "I was naive," she says. Well, that's one way of putting it. Meanwhile Kate and Gerry McCann are in discussion with ITV about appearing in a documentary on missing children. Following the disappearance of Madeleine last May, the McCanns are keen to highlight different initiatives that help the search for missing children, including the creation of a European-wide alert system. The McCanns seem fired by a need to give help, to do good, to do something to assist the recovery of the missing, even in the face of uncomfortable statistics. As time passes, very few snatched children are ever recovered to the safety of the home. The McCanns seem to need to exculpate any possible feelings of guilt by engaging in such large-scale media projects, perhaps because they know that vigilance before, not an initiative afterwards, is what is really most important. In West Yorkshire, the police are still searching for nine-year-old Shannon Matthews, who has been missing since February 19. Some have complained that there has been less coverage of Shannon's disappearance than Madeleine's and little sympathy for her, because she because she is older, less cute and more financially disadvantaged. The chav versus the cherub? Please no, for that is another supposition that is cruel and untrue. Indeed, the plight of Shannon's , who has multiple children by different fathers - but nothing that matches Ulrika Jonsson's tally - has been greeted with widespread understanding and tact. It is obvious that she has had a difficult life and in many respects she has received more compassion than the McCanns ever did. So whatever your feelings, a happy outcome looks unlikely for all parties. If all you can do is feel sorry for them, then do it. Victoria in vogue Victoria Beckham's dream of appearing on the cover of Vogue has finally come true. On the front of the April issue, Posh twinkles in her own magnificent diamonds with the assurance of a girl whose fashion credentials have finally been ratified. But have they really? Inside the magazine, the Vogue editor cannot quite hide her disapproval, noting that, for their first meeting at the Cipriani restaurant in London, Victoria wore a bustier dress, fake tan and body glitter. At lunch! With Vogue! After a lie-down in a darkened medi-spa while nursing staff administered sedatives and Jo Malone's White Jasmine & Mint cologne via intravenous drip, the editor rallies and wastes no time in telling her readers that "I have not been a huge fan of Victoria's particular personal style". Ouch! What a blow to a former Spice Girl now so keen on being a front-row fashionista that she stuffs newspapers into the heels of the latest Louboutins if she can't get a pair in her size. This is a charming image of Victoria, clattering around one of her many mansions like a toddler in mummy's stilettoes, and quite possibly drooling at the mouth as she does so. Still, women are fascinated by her, and appreciate that she has turned herself into a living brand with not much more than willpower, a great pair of legs and the ability not to take herself too seriously. After living in Madrid for some time while her husband played football there, Victoria admits that the only words of Spanish she has learnt are: "Donde Gucci?" Now that's quite funny. Even Vogue had to laugh at that. Keep your hair on, Céline. Or not It is not Madonna who should be having panic attacks on stage, it is poor Céline Dion, whose hirsute legs were unfortunately accentuated in the spotlights on stage in Tokyo. My heart does not go on for the furry diva, it goes out to her. No one is saying that Céline desperately needs beauty help, but the last time I saw thighs that hairy they were on an Irish tighthead prop as he crunched into the scrum. How could she? Women are like ponies, in the sense that we all find grooming a bore and hate it when fat children climb on our backs. However, if you are a pop balladeer about to go on stage in an age-defying miniskirt in front of 50,000 fans and the world's cameras, you cannot afford to be lax about these things. Who could forget poor Julia Roberts, yet to recover from the shame of looking as if she had a tarantula nesting in each armpit at a London film premiere in 1999? Oh, if only Céline had called me first! I could have advised her that the demi-leg wax she favours makes her legs look like pencils that have been sharpened to halfway down, and that it is not a good look. But when is the right time for depilatory appointments when you've got an international tour and a five-octave range to consider? My handy Hair-O-Meter guide should keep her right. Céline, if at bedtime your husband plants his cold feet on your calves and asks: "Have you got socks on?" it is time for a half-leg wax. If he wonders why you are wearing mohair tights under the sheets, book the full-leg treatment. If he gives you a cuddle and wonders what the family dog is doing in bed, you are Helena Bonham Carter (stop it, I mean in Planet of the Apes) and drastic action is needed now.The pilot season in Los Angeles is when would-be child actors hope to get an audition for television. Many families set up home at the Oakwood apartment complex which offers coaching packages and seminars – one mother and daughter have been there three years. It’s a cut-throat business - one casting director says he sees 3,000 pictures to find 100 children for a single audition – but the surprising aspect is the lack of pushiness among the parents.Celine Dion discusses her documentary of her tourCanadian singer stars in Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World, a film following her global tour in 2008 and 2009.Heroes actor Robert Knepper discuss latest series Robert Knepper, best known for his role as T-Bag from Prison Break, discusses his latest character Samuel Sullivan in Heroes.Joseph Kony 2012: online video campaign to bring Uganda war criminal to justice goes viralA video highlighting alleged abuses committed by Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army in central Africa has been shared worldwide as accompanying Twitter campaign gains momentum.Seven albums, singing at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff and being dubbed the new Forces' Sweetheart - the girl from the tiny village of Neath in the Welsh valleys has done well for herself. At the Las Vegas ceremony Taylor Swift was named entertainer of the year for the first time. Miranda Lambert picked up four awards including top female vocalist for her song "The House That Built Me". Citroen C4 dancing robotWhen this advert came out in 2006, everybody seemed to think it was cool and funky. But with just three years of hindsight, it's clear that the concept of a car turning itself into a dancing robot, jiving around in some bland urban wasteland to the world's worst dance track is not just unbelievably retro but also so typically French and uncool that it's a wonder any self-respecting Anglo Saxon ever bought the thing.Renault 21 - The Prisoner homageWhat is it with the French and car adverts? This was supposed to be wacky and sinister. It showed the boxy Renault escaping from the evil clutches of the Danger Man in Portmeirion - along the lines of the 1970s TV series. But the result borders on the ludicrous with the car being pursued by a giant ball. At one point it makes the Renault look like its fuelled by methane in a large gas bag along the lines of Corporal Jones's butchers van in Dads' Army.Celine Dion - 1990 Plymouth Sundance Dodge ShadowIt's French again. Celine Dion performs some weird routine around the blandest car ever built. And what's with the child seat?Michael Barrymore - 1989 Austin MetroWhy did the British car industry fail so spectacularly? Was it the industrial strife of the 1970s? The poor build-quality that plagued the industry for decades after the 1950s? No, it was the sight of Michael Barrymore hopping around like a car dealer on speed trying to promote a pisspoor car that had a rear wash wipe, a sunroof, a radio-cassette and colour options ranging from white to grey.Black Gold Datsun 280The guy with the 'tache, the girl, the kiss... this US advert for a Japanese sports car looks more like soft porn than a serious attempt to sell the vehicle.1986 generic Ford advertDid Ford buy entire advertisement breaks on ITV to show what must have been the most tedious car ad in history? And did anybody actually stay awake to the end to learn that Fords were "cars with a future"?1985 Plymouth Duster advertWe have no idea what is going on here but it's clearly nothing to do with the car. We're told that it is something to do with selling a "lifestyle" around this vehicle but, even though this was the 1980s, we are not aware that anybody actually wore spandex when they nipped out to Costco in their Duster. And the most surreal thing? Surely that cannot be Nik Kershaw on the stairs?Austin Montego 1.6LThe message here seemed to be that Montego drivers are arrogant, pushy misogynists who cruise along the country's motorways looking for attractive women to humiliate at petrol stations. Oh, and they like to play Duel with truckers...1994 Ford Windstar commercialThe car was bad but the ad was even worse. Susan Lucci - the star of a daytime TV soap called All My Children - always wanted to be teleported. Too bad for her that Ford didn't have a licence to blatantly rip off Star Trek and so she only managed to beam to the other side of the studio and too bad for the viewer that the whole shooting match wasn't beamed off planet.1970s generic British Leyland advertThere are so many questions and so few answers - why is the man with the Allegro beside the Eiffel Tower speaking with an Italian accent? Why doesn't the salesman tell the chap in the bow tie to clear off? Was racism considered OK if the noble cause was to save the British motor industry? Did the TR7 really sound that bad? Was the Dolomite Sprint actually slower than some old girl on a bike?Mrs Clinton's rival for the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama, is the subject of an online hit - a YouTube video downloaded one million times which shows a buxom model lip-synching to a racy track called I Got a Crush... on Obama. Mr Obama has denied any responsibility for its creation. The official Clinton website received almost 200,000 votes for songs selected for their uplifting qualities, which included two by U2, The Temptations' Get Ready and Smash Mouth's I'm a Believer. The winner was revealed in a light-hearted online video, which mimicked the unconventional final scene of The Sopranos television series, and employed Bill, her husband and the former president. As voters made their choice, or clicked to find out who had won, they were invited to contribute to the Clinton campaign for the Democrat Party's nomination. Both parties have enjoyed mixed fortunes with campaign songs. Bill Clinton had the crowds routinely clapping along with Fleetwood Mac's Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow) in 1992. But Al Gore's choice of You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet by Bachman-Turner Overdrive turned out to be unfortunately prescient of the controversial and decisive poll in Florida. Ronald Reagan briefly used the anti-war number Born in the USA without permission until Bruce Springsteen, a lifelong Democrat, demanded he stop. Previous research has suggested waitresses could earn more if they acted provocatively or wore more make up than their colleagues. But this study, by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, only changed the colour of the tee shirt. Every other aspect from make up to behaviour remained the same. And the results were stunning. When wearing either black, white, green, blue or yellow tee shirts, the size of the tips from both male and female customers was almost identical. But when they wore red, the size of the gratuities went up by between 15 and 26 per cent from male customers, yet stayed the same from female ones. A total of 272 restaurant customers were studied by researchers Nicolas Gueguen and Celine Jacob for the international journal of the tourism industry. Even as a tee shirt, it shows just how much the colour red is perceived, by men, to increase the physical and sexual attractiveness of women, said the researchers. And yet it did confirm some fears that it would make female customers react negatively and tip less for their gratuities remained at the same level throughout the study. The researchers wrote: "As red color has no negative effect on women customers, it could be in their interest to wear red clothes at work." One answer is: a younger audience. In much the same way that the largely female audience of the Thirties and Forties sharpened the instincts of Hollywood producers to fashion such classics as Jezebel, Casablanca, Dark Victory and Now, Voyager, so the majority of the studios’ talent and technology is being laid at the feet of the under-eights. Small wonder that WALL-E, Up and Toy Story are more moving than their adult equivalents; whether knowingly or not, Pixar has tapped into the same vein of silent stoicism that powered the great weepies, from Brief Encounter to An Affair to Remember. Instead of Trevor Howard’s stiff upper lip, try Mattel moulded plastic. New technologies such as CGI and 3D have changed the way we watch movies and we are less dependent on empathy and more dependent on the upfront thrill of vicariousness. As David Edelstein wrote in New York magazine: “Subjectivity is everywhere in movies, from the limited vantage points of Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity to the narration-heavy Up in the Air. Only a decade ago, first-person voice-overs were rare, a stern taboo in the lectures of screenwriting guru Robert McKee. Then Charlie Kaufman mocked McKee in the self-deconstructing Adaptation and all at once, it seemed, you couldn’t get away from garrulous narration — I went, I thought, I felt, I saw, I blah-blahed. Films became like memoirs. Like blogs.” This has had a profound effect on the psychological make-up of the industry’s storytellers. Old-school empaths such as James L Brooks and Steven Spielberg are an endangered species. The only two A–list Hollywood directors who seem able, or interested, in unzipping the emotions of an audience these days are Clint Eastwood and Ang Lee, their skill at so doing deriving from their own innate emotional reserve; in Lee’s case because the Taiwanese are an emotionally reserved people, and in Eastwood’s case because he is, well, Clint Eastwood. There will always be those — critics, Tarantino fans, Sight & Sound readers — for whom such displays of emotion are not only unbecoming in a serious cineaste but deeply uncool. “For over a century, sentimentality has been the cardinal aesthetic sin,” writes Carl Wilson in his book Let’s Talk About Love, about learning to love Celine Dion. “To be sentimental is to be kitsch, phoney, exaggerated, manipulative, self-indulgent, hypocritical, cheap and clichéd.” The sentimentalist is held up as someone in need of a psychological crutch because he is unable to deal with the world as it really is. “Isn’t it equally plausible that people uncomfortable with representations of vulnerability and tenderness have emotional problems?” Wilson asks. “Between the sentimentalist and the anti-sentimentalist, who is the real emotional cripple?” Just don’t say that to the hot directors in Hollywood, beetle-browed brainiacs such as David Fincher (responsible in the past for such dark-hued offerings as Seven, Fight Club and Panic Room). “I want [the audience] to feel uncomfortable,” he has said. “Some people go to the movies to be reminded that everything’s OK. That, to me, is a lie. Everything’s not OK.” The wonder is that he still thinks there’s a battle to be won. The mainstream Fincher grew up hating has all but disappeared. It’s not exactly raining On Golden Ponds out there. Look at the winners of the best film Oscar in recent years — The Hurt Locker, Scorsese’s The Departed, the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men — and you will see plenty of unsentimental choices, and only two, Slumdog Millionaire and Brokeback Mountain, that made any emotional claim on their audiences at all. Is it any wonder audiences sneak off to get their emotional fix with movies such as The Blind Side or Crazy Heart? It’s like what happened to the sale of alcohol under prohibition. If Hollywood’s A-listers neglect the emotional demands of the audience, the audience will go to the B-list, or if that fails then the C-list. Movies such as The Blind Side are not what you get when Hollywood gives in to the allure of emotion. It’s what happens when they don’t. This year’s Oscar race is already shaping up along similar lines. On the one hand we have The Social Network, Fincher’s masterpiece about the internet entrepreneur who came up with a way of relating to his fellow human beings predicated on never having to actually meet them; on the other we have The King’s Speech, the warm-hearted drama about a king tacking in the opposite direction — breaking free of royal repression to speak the contents of his heart. A classic face-off, in other words, between heart and head: plus ça change. Until you remember which film is British and which film is American, and then you realise that quite a lot has changed in a very short space of time. Love and Other Drugs is in cinemas nowI'm not alone: rinks around the country have reported a big increase in punters since the advent of the show in 2006. Other celebrity-driven entertainment shows, such as Strictly Come Dancing, have also cattle-prodded the nation off its collective sofa. In February this year, health secretary Alan Johnson was sufficiently inspired to announce a working group to increase the availability of dance classes. Of course, nobody becomes Ray Quinn or Strictly Come Dancing champ Tom Chambers overnight. The journey from clumping novice to whirling pro takes longer than anyone would anticipate, and there are unforeseen potholes along the way. For my first week or so on ice, I had to rent the "death welly" skates that punters use at public sessions. Their unforgiving plastic construction gave me bigger blisters than my feet had ever seen, and more of them; I wish I'd had shares in Compeed, the nifty blister plasters. And I endured a bad back and a flare-up of my dodgy shoulder as a result of my tumbles. But these small trials have been more than outweighed by the health benefits. Since I took up skating in January, I've lost 1st 5lb. Skating for an hour doesn't leave me as exhausted and sweaty as 45 minutes on the treadmill, but it's still great aerobic exercise. The skating posture involves a slight crouch and a tense tummy, which engages the abdominal muscles. The fact that I enjoy it so much means I've been much more consistent in getting to the rink than I ever was at turning up at the gym. These days, I spend much of my practice time perfecting new and fiddly manoeuvres: currently, going backwards on one foot, two-foot turns and forward crossovers. Sometimes I just let myself off the leash and swoop round the rink for 10 minutes or so. I've never travelled as fast on my own two feet as when I'm really motoring on the ice. I can feel the breeze in my tracksuit bottoms as well as on my face. It's just glorious, especially if Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On is playing over the sound system and I can become Leonardo DiCaprio, the romantic hero with arms outstretched. There are unforeseen side benefits, too. Every week, my coach, Emma Murphy, teaches me new impossible things – the latest is a backward chassé, in which I have to skate backwards round a circle, pushing off and kicking out with one foot and then lifting the other off the ice. When I'm practising these fiendish tricks, I have to focus fully on what I'm doing. There's no headspace to worry about the office, or that problem I'm having with my BT broadband hub, or any of life's other stresses. The result is an almost meditative concentration, which leaves me genuinely refreshed. The brain-chemical combination of post-exercise serotonin and fear-driven adrenalin isn't half bad, either. Most bizarrely of all, my off-the-ice posture has improved no end. Like many tall men, I've had an almost perpetual stoop, which comes from just trying to hear what the rest of the world are saying to each other in their dwarf-huddle. Now, though, I hold myself proudly upright with shoulders back. Even in the office, I can hear Emma's voice shouting: "Head up!"By the time the next series of Dancing on Ice comes around, I might be just about a credible skater. Now all I need to do is get famous, and they could even ask me to be a contestant. Watch out, Torvill and Dean. The Dancing on Ice national tour arrives in Newcastle tomorrow, with further dates in Birmingham, London and Belfast For skate hire at Alexandra Palace Ice Rink, visit Maartje Paumen converted two penalty corners and a penalty stroke and Lammers scored into the open net in the second half to seal India's fate at 7-1.India coach Sandeep Somesh's explanation of why India started and finished with four strikers was confusing."It was our game plan to play with four strikers but as the Netherlands are the Olympic champions we could not continue to play with four strikers," Somesh said.Dutch coach Herman Kruis acknowledged the importance of winning the first match of the tournament."It was very important for us to win although we were a little nervous in the first half, but after the break we played with a lot of attacking and good defending so we could make seven goals," Kruis said.New Zealand rued missed chances in their 2-0 loss to Germany."It was disappointing to create so many chances and not put them away," said New Zealand coach Mark Hager, who admitted to being gutted by the result.Germany's two goals came in the middle of the first half.Natascha Keller scooped to goal and goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit deflected to Celine Wilde who finished for Germany's first goal.Two minutes later Tina Bachmann converted Germany's third penalty corner chance with a low flick along the pitch inside the left post.New Zealand outplayed Germany in the scoreless second half, creating eight unconverted scoring chances.The Blacksticks suffered a 5-2 drubbing my Germany at their last meeting at the Champions Trophy this year."For us it was an improvement as the last time we played it was 5-2 against us and this time with the score at 2-0 and I think we had a chance to be equal if we could have made the most of our opportunities," Hager said.Germany coach Michael Behrmann praised New Zealand goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit."New Zealand's keeper put in a fantastic performance to prevent Germany scoring more chances," Behrmann said.Australia sprayed scoring chances wide of goal as they struggled to get on top of Japan.Nicole Arrold was just on target with Australia's third penalty corner, mishitting at the battery yet seeing the shot divert off a defender into goal.Madonna Blyth scored for Australia after several chances went begging and Kaori Chiba pulled one back for Japan two minutes later, inside the last 10 minutes for the final 2-1 scoreline to Australia.Australia coach Frank Murray was pleased to scrape a win."I was pleased we got away with the three points and I thought the game was okay because we started to get on top as the game went on and some of the players who had not experienced a world cup before started to find their feet," Murray said.Japan coach Zenjiro Yasuda was pleased with the speed of his team but not the positional play."We need to use our speed around the sides of the pitch to open up the game and improve the positional play of the receivers of passes," Yasuda said.In Pool B on Tuesday, China face England, South Africa meet Spain and Argentina play South Korea. Germany (4)India (13)Japan (9)Korea (11)TBAHolland (1)New Zealand (7)South Africa (12)Spain (8)Number in brackets denotes world ranking16.58 The latest on that Arjen Robben injury: he is set to rejoin the Dutch squad tomorrow, just two days before their first game against Denmark. And so it finishes 1-1 between South Africa and Mexico. Mphela had a golden chance at the end but it wasn't to be.. 16.45 Reality check for Bafana Bafana. Rafael Marquez has equalised. 1-1 at Soccer City. Meanwhile at Kingsmead cricket ground in Durban, where over a thousand Australia fans are camping, came this nugget of a quote. "We're drinking the local lagers, we're smashing them," said 24-year-old Luke Bartolo from Adelaide. 16.40From Steve Hilliard on our "(To the tune of Amarillo) Tshabalalalalala - Tshabalalalalala - Tshabalalala"16.27 From : "The question is....is Siphiwe Tshabalala the first player to score an opening WC goal with FOUR A's in his surname? Answers please...."16.18 Boom! There goes my pessism right out the window. South Africa have just taken the lead through a thunderbolt strike from Tshabalala. It really was a glorious finish. Just marvellous. They have been poor until now but that was a beauty. Feel sorry for Mexico but that's what the tournment needed - something beautiful and special from the hosts. 15.56 Half-time at Soccer City and it's South Africa 0 - Mexico 0. Don't want to be a party pooper but South Africa look a poor side. England flattered Mexico too. I bet France are enjoying this. 15.40Killjoy alert - after banning Twitter, Holland have now banned fans from using vuvuzelas at their open training sessions. Bert van Marwijk, their coach, said: "It was annoying and I could not make myself audible. That way training has no use if I can't address my players." You try live blogging with them on in the background mate. Nightmare. 15.10 Some great quotes coming in from South Africa.. First up is German captain Philipp Lahm who said: "We are not typically German anymore." Right so you're rubbish at penalties, laid-back and a riot at a dinner party? Next it's Diego 'Hand of God' Maradona who says referees should "know the meaning of" fair play and apply it wisely. Have these two been on the klippies and coke? 15.00 The South African national anthem is upon us. Here's the from reggae 'star' Ras Dumisani. 14.57 The World Cup is open. 14.42 Francois Pienaar, is giving us his expert advice, not on the finer points of a rugby union breakdown, but on how to handle the nerves of the first game as hosts. Pienaar and his Boks pulled it off, beating Australia in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Can Mokoena and his boys do it against Mexico? 14.35 Bafana have just received the major tournament kiss of death... The backing of ITV's ...... gulp. 14.19 The tension and expectation is being cranked up inside Soccer City. From inside the stadium: "Rest of the #Bafana team have come down the tunnel dancing and singing and out into a wall of vuvuzela noise."14.08 v team news South Africa: Khune, Gaxa, Mokoena, Khumalo, Thwala, Tshabalala, Dikgacoi, Letsholonyane, Modise, Pienaar, Mphela Subs: Josephs, Masilela, Ngcongca, Sibaya, Davids, Booth, Parker, Nomvethe, Moriri, Sangweni, Walters, Khuboni. Mexico: Perez, Aguilar, Rodriguez, Osorio, Salcido, Torrado, Marquez, Juarez, Giovani, Franco, Vela. Subs: Ochoa, Barrera, Castro, Blanco, Hernandez, Moreno, Guardado, Magallon, Torres, Bautista, Medina, Michel. Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan) 14.05 WORLD CUP BORE: a bluffer's guide to the issues of the day The special relationship The Americans are geared up for the biggest dust up between England and the US since 1783. “Our men are preparing to crush your little boys,” said the decidedly undiplomatic sounding diplomat Alberta Mayberry, USA consul general in South Africa. If the US Soccer Kickball All Stars give England another World Cup bloody nose we may as well pack up and go home. But they won't. Probably. 14.00Telegraph's own betting guru, . He fancies Mexico. For what it's worth I fancy a draw (but this is a man who bet against Liverpool in every round of the 2005 Champions League so probably worth listening to Chris). You can even have yourself just by placing a £5 single bet on football with Ladbrokes. 13.55Now that the singing and dancing is over we can concentrate of the real business of the football. Or, the slightly less real but equally entertaining fantasy football. . Go on, you know you want to... 13.44The feather-light plastic R&B has been dispensed with and we are back to joyous African beats as the fireworks and flag waving steps up a gear. Great stuff. There are a few empty seats in the stadium but if anyone had a ticket for this and didn't use it they are a fool to themselves. As opening ceremonies go to football events this one was a cracker. And short enough to be enjoyed rather than endured - St George slaying a tin foil dragon on the Wembley pitch before Euro 96 anyone? 13.40 On comes the headline act, if you can call him that. R Kelly and the Soweto Spiritual Singers. He doesn't seem dressed for the conditions - what looks like a fire-retardant body suit in deep black complete with heavy duty hood. The music is epic, uplifting and, to these ears, desperate and nauseating. Especially after the cracking tunes that went before. But, not really aimed at these ears. The flags of the competing nations are brought on as Kelly falls to his knees as if he had just scored the winner in the final. To paraphrase Andy Gray: "R Kelly don't take a boo son!"13.35The acts are coming thick and fast, taking in all corners of the African continent. There is a desire on the part of the organisers here to make this event about the whole of Africa. And in the rapid fire turnover of performers they are making a good fist of it so far. 13.30 We are on a tour de force of musical stylings in Johannesburg today. Next box to be ticked is hip-hop, courtesy of local favourites HHP followed by a bangra fusion Arabic inspired ditty that is actually a real toe-tapper. 13.26 A rather less grand boy-band dance routine is up next. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for one, is a fan. Though he's the only one dancing in the VIP area as a number of important suits smile nervously next to him. 13.25The rather grand theme is of 'mankind coming home'. 'We are all sons and daughters of Africa'. 13.23 A massive Jim Henson-style beetle, requiring a team of about six men to operate, crawls its way on to the pitch. And then off again. Before a catchy tune is crashed out to universal appreciation. A 'song of hope' that follows smacks of a Celine Dion power-ballad or a particularly able Britain's Got Talent performance as a map of Africa is laid out in patchwork and a message from Nelson Mandela is played on the big screen. 13.18The stadium looks impressive as each of the other nine stadiums is introduced on the big screen, to a funky traditional African soundtrack . Opening ceremonies for previous World Cups have appeared forced and contrived, something to be ticked off rather than with any particular meaning. But you can't help get a sense that this is different. The music's better for a start. And the colour a joy seems more natural. The crowd are certainly loving it. 13.14 A poet in ceremonial dress is performing a call to Africa with drummers and dancers making their way to join him about where the centre circle is in the impressive Soccer City - 'nine radial lines pointing to each of the other stadiums' apparently. Looks impressive as the music kicks in and the party gets started. 13.07 The opening ceremony is moments away from kicking off and downtown Johannesburg is alive to the sound of tens of thousands of vuvuzelas - five jet fighters flying overhead struggling to make themselves heard. If you imagine being blindfolded and locked in a broom cupboard shortly after a dozen bee hives were broken open in there, the escaping swarm of bees agitated with a sharp stick and told individually that you had perpetrated an unspeakable act against their entire extended family, you get a flavour of the noise. Brutal stuff. 13.00 THE WORLD CUP AT ONECaptain my captain Steven Gerrard has spoken of his pride at becoming England's captain in South Africa. "," said Gerrard, whose burden of trying to carry Liverpool as the club's captain on his shoulders almost broke his back last season. Mandela's personal tragedy Nelson Mandela will not attend the World Cup opening ceremony in South Africa following the tragic death of his great granddaughter in a drink-drive crash. 12.45 JOHN 'STAT MAN' LEY VERSUS THE WORLD The Telegraph's numbers man shares his tips for a World Cup flutter - but will he be any more accurate than my Mum? v : Both nations struggled to qualify but France look edgy. A Uruguay win. What the bookies think: France are clear favourites at 5/4, Uruguay can be backed at 14/5 while the draw is best priced 12/5 My Mum: I used to like that bald man who lost his temper. He was French wasn't he. But is he still allowed to play after what he did to the other one who said something nasty about his sister? Retired? I don't care really, France to win? 12.25 Just as he won't shy away from a tackle, 's Fabio Cannavaro isn’t scared to meet football clichés and national stereotyping head on, too. "A compact defence has always been the basis of Italy's team," he understated, "we'll never (attack) like Brazil or Spain or Portugal — just as they'll never be able to defend like us."12.10 WORLD CUP BORE: a bluffer's guide to the issues of the day Mind your language So Wayne Rooney has been told to cut out the swearing with Fifa rumoured to be giving referees a list of 20 expletives to listen out for. Presumably just in English, meaning England, Australia, New Zealand and USA are the fall guys. Who’s going to know if a Slovenian malcontent has told the referee he ‘politely disagrees with his decision but accepts it nonetheless’ or if he’s said something unspeakable (and unprintable) about his mother? Typical. It's one rule for them and one rule for the rest of us. 11.55There is a distinct lack of family unity between Kevin-Prince Boateng, of , and half brother Jerome Boateng of . After the former ended Michal Ballack's international career he hoped to count on the latter's support as the German media demonised him. But not a bit of it. And now the pair are showing about as much brotherly love as Liam and Noel Gallagher. "Kevin said: 'Each has his own family, you have yours, I have mine'," said Jerome. "That is going too far, it doesn't matter to me at all now what he does, it doesn't interest me in the remotest. I want no contact with him whatsoever." "[Kevin] thinks that both of us should make our own way in life from now on. I would say that we have been doing just that for some time now."11.45 If overtly being online all day following the goings on at the World Cup is compromising your chances of still being in a job come July, ? It goes out at 12 noon starting today - then you can pretend you have a missive from a client to tend to and still get your fix. To quote Des Lynham - we won't tell if you don't. 11.30 So, this new Jabulani ball is an uncontrollable sponge of a thing that is going to make a monkey of even the finest players on the globe, is it? . But then he does bear a striking resemblance to this man . 11.20 THEO WALCOTT'S WORLD CUP DIARY Friday, June 11 At last, . So excited. World Cup 'Come dine with me' on Sky plus then the lads are coming round for a Pro Evo tourny. Bet I win. I always win. Get in! 11.15 There are vuvuzelas and there are vuvuzelas, apparently. The inventor of a locally produced version of the aural menance, in no way influenced by his profit margins you understand, has warned that people using the cheap, Chinese produced imports that sell for less than £2 risk a bloodied mouth should then shun his custom made efforts, retailing at around £5. "Our vuvuzelas have the purest sound and they are the easiest to blow. A two-year-old could play it," said Cape Town-based Neil van Schalkwyk. "Our vuvuzelas also have a much more comfortable mouth-piece. I think at the end of the World Cup we'll see a lot of people with cut, sore lips." 11.00JOHN 'STAT MAN' LEY VERSUS THE WORLD The Telegraph's numbers man shares his tips for a World Cup flutter - but will he be any more accurate than my Mum? v : A draw; the host nation has lost their opening game on only one occasion: Switzerland were beaten by England in 1964. What the bookies think: Mexico, but not by much. The central Americans are a best priced 7/4, South Africa 15/8 with the draw 12/5 My Mum: Why are you asking me? Are you sure you don't want to speak to your father? He's only in the garden. No? Alright. It would be nice if South Africa did well I suppose so I'll say they will win. 10.50 If you see the Mexican squad tucking in to some Peri Peri chicken this weekend it will be a double shame on their house. Aside from the obvious reason, it will raise a doubt that they threw the opening game for a bit of free nosebag. . And in other flavourless fast food World Cup news, Pizza Hut in Ireland are giving away pizzas every time a goal is scored against France. Whether they would cry about it for months and months and try and get the EU to change the rules on free dough-based giveaways if one of those goals turned out to be offside or something is not detailed on. 10.27It's all a bit quiet on the World Cup news front. The calm before the storm. Everyone keeping their powder dry...etc...and so on. So why not take a moment to . If you want any other team to win the thing, be afraid, be very afraid. 10.20 Duncan White's enormous football brain is so crowded with knowledge and trivia you would actually be doing him a favour by letting him release some of it in typed word form this morning. , but you can send them in right now. Go on, you know you want to. 10.10 Not content with having the best team at the World Cup Spain is also home to . And I've seen a few of these in the last few weeks. 09.55 WORLD CUP BORE: a bluffer's guide to the issues of the dayThe ball is round Watch out for this new ball, I tell you, it’s going to be as dangerous for goalkeepers to handle as soap in a prison shower. Will ruin the whole tournament. Why change it? I don't like change. Julio Cesar, Brazil's goalkeeper, says the Jabulani is “like one of those balls you buy in a supermarket”. And it’s not just good goalkeepers who are upset, either. Marcus Hahnemann of the US reckons: “It’s horse s***. It’s the worst soccer ball I’ve ever played with.” Like a ball kids play with on the beach? Brazil’s title it is then. Typical. 09.40 How will France deal with the 'Irish problem'? seems to be the gist of it. 09.27 From : "On safari near #England base...Loads of Geordie horses...lion eating a #hippo (dead)...wildebeests...warthogs..no elephants yet"Think #hippo is a strange use of the hash tag? Get on Twitter and see for yourself, you'll be surprised (the dead element reduces the results, mind). 09.27Nelson Mandela following the death of his great-granddaughter in a traffic accident. 09.05 Trending on Twitter this morning: Nelson Mandela, FIFA World Cup, Karate Kid, Cape Town, Opening Ceremony, #worldcup, Oil Spill, #wc2010, Cup Fever, Bafana. Which begs the question - what the Bok is going on with Karate Kid?. A late call up to the US squad to do a number on Wayne Rooney maybe? 09.00 BEST OF THE WEB: Simon Kuper of the Financial Times reports on how . "Even at a rehearsal for the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra here on Wednesday, most musicians showed up in yellow Bafana shirt." Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reckons any Mexicans thinking they got a bad draw playing the hosts in the opening game should remember . Swings and roundabouts. Kelly Whiteside from USA Today is , saying USA losing to England wouldn't make one jot of difference to the Americans' ambitions. And Dan Silkstone in the Sydney Morning Herald asks if Australia bowing out of the race to host World Cup 2018 is ? 08.57Send any pictures you have of your World Cup experience - be that spotting someone on a mobility scooter dragging a 6x9ft cross of St George along the high street, a lone Honduras fan outside a Dixons shop window watching a game or a World Cup party gone very, very wrong - either direct to me - - or better still, via our . Best ones may win a prize. Though probably not. 08.44 From the Telegraph's last night: "Highlight of Domenech press conf came when Chinese journo compared pressure on him to that of a 'frog in boiling water.'" 08.37 Proof, if it were needed, that the World Cup reaches areas of the world no other event can hope to. In , the prison authorities are relaxing the rules for those doing porridge, or watery noodle soup, whatever, so they can enjoy their team's disappointing first round exit at the hands of and . The lags usually have to be tucked up in bed by 9pm but will be allowed to stay up late and watch South Korea's first two group games, which finish at 11pm local time, as long as they promise not to be cranky the next day. 08.30 In a crazy-eyes stare-off only Marty Feldman and David Moyes could hope to challenge, Pierluigi Collina gives his views on Fabio Capello. Despite what he would have us believe, the England coach is a big softie, apparently. "He has a heart, believe me," says Collina, "the blood is flowing." 08.20 The first morning of the World Cup has opened with some desperately sad news. Nelson Mandela's 13-year-old great-granddaughter has been killed in a car crash after leaving a concert celebrating the start of the World Cup. 08.15 Diego Maradona and Fabio Capello, while sharing contempt for intrusive snappers (though El Diego is more air gun than hot air in his dealings with them) have very different styles on the training ground... 08.00: Not since that ill-fated father and son cub scout jamboree that we never, ever speak about has your correspondent woken so early to be surrounded by so many flags with such an unusual and unsettling knot of something peculiar in the pit of his stomach. But unlike that crazy, lazy summer of '91 in the New Forest, today's feelings of disquiet in the gut have nothing to do with one of the bigger boys sharing his home-brewed firewater round the camp fire and some dangerously undercooked sausages. No. This queasy feeling is not sickness, but excitement. Undiluted, childlike glee at the arrival – finally – of the . And the flags fluttering in the early morning breeze are not those hoisted in homage to Baden-Powell but to this green and pleasant land, Queen and country and, specifically, 23 Englishmen brave and true and one Italian, angry and a bit shouty. Red and white is the colour. Hanging from Luton transit vans, pub beer gardens and detached town houses and towering blocks of flats alike – the good people of Caledonian Road, north London, deserve special praise. I counted 18 off one four-storey block this morning. One JJB-branded effort hung from an area almost impenetrable to human hands. As if God himself had placed the cross of St George in proud display. That’s right. The day is finally here. The phoney war has been won and lost. Or maybe it was a draw. It doesn't matter. There's no extra time. The 200 empty, soulless, unforgiving weeks since the last World Cup have been relegated to history. We’ve made it through the dark times and now step blinking in to the light. And what a bright light it is. Today will see the first ever edition of the greatest show on earth raise its curtain in Africa. Will it live up to the hype? Is it really worth the emotional investment in 22 men kicking a ball around some foreign field? Of course it is. And if it isn’t, it’s too late to change your summer plans now anyway. May as well enjoy the ride. The pre-tournament guides have been digested, the wall charts stuck up and the Black Eyed Peas have done whatever it is they did last night (like a child before Christmas morning the Telegraph team all went to bed early last night to make this morning come even sooner) – now the action begins. Well, will begin in seven hours ... Let us ease you over the last unforgiving period of non-World Cup football and beyond with all the news, views and whimsical musings that we can cram in to one place. And get in touch to join the debate, start an argument or just share a picture of a white van with 193 different flags hanging off it at the same time. The waiting is over. A new day has dawned. At it is good. --- Today’s action: Group A: v , 3pm kick-off Bafana-Bafana get the ball rolling at Soccer City in Johannesburg as they attempt to avoid the ignominy of being the first host nation ever to fail to qualify for the second round. The Mexicans proved in recent friendly matches against England, and that they can play a bit. Will they be the biggest of party propers imaginable or will South Africa raise their game for the big occasion? Bokked if I know... Group A: v , 7.30pm kick-off The bars and clubs of Dublin will be awash with sky blue as Thierry Henry's France (boo, hiss, down with this sort of thing) take their bow in South Africa. Live webchat: Join in South Africa – not literally, via magic on t’interweb – from 11am to discuss the issues of the day. No topic is off limits. Though try and keep it mostly to football and plastic trumpets, eh? --- Last night's action: Carlton Palmer claimed an early victory for England when he beat a stellar cast including Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock and John Fashanu to win the coveted ‘Come Dine with Me’ footballers special. Palmer had the foresight to get some cooking lessons oFf a mate who is a chef, trumping Ruddock's disturbing policy of clothlessness and using two packets of pasta sauce for every guest. Fash, the legend, chilled the red wine and left the white out all night. Awooga! --- What will happen today: The official opening ceremony will be 1 hour and 59 minutes too long (assuming it lasts two hours, anyway). There will be more shoeless South African youngsters and lions prowling across the Veld on our TV screens today than if ESPN classic were running a day long Zola Budd retrospective while BBC Two were playing Big Cat Diary on a loop. What won't happen today:Thierry Henry will try to assuage his guilt by punching the ball slyly in to his own net to give Uruguay a goal start. The South Africans will rise and fall in unison for 45 minutes of the opening game against Mexico, thus appropriating the latest form of that annoying thing that fans do when they’re bored at games. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the Bafana Bounce. --- Must read: . Domenech that is. But, as Ian Chadband finds out, like a Millwall fan, the France manager doesn't care. Must Watch: There have been some glorious opening matches to World Cups past. Senegal's humbling of France in 2002 bettered only by Cameroon's slaying of Argentina at Italia 90. Featuring . Benjamin Massing – tek a boo, son! #5: Beyoncé, with No Reason to Be Angry at Anything, Channels AlanisBy now, Beyoncé fans are familiar with her inner Sasha Fierce—but her inner Alanis Morissette? Both alter egos came out in all their man-eating glory at the Grammys, as the superstar performed a high-energy mash-up of "If I Were a Boy" and Morissette's angry ‘90s hit "You Oughta Know." Beyoncé had little to be angry about by the end of the evening, though: She took home five awards, including Song of the Year ("Single Ladies") and Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Halo").His broadcast studio in London's Soho district is small, but Yegor Shishkovsky's reach is huge and far-flung: at least as many as 1.5 million radio listeners across Russia's 11 time zones. The Russian DJ's weekly hourlong program, "Live From the West" ("Napryamuyu S Zapada"), keeps Russians in touch with the latest music, news and showbiz gossip, drawing 2,000 fan letters a week to his Moscow post-office-box address. The 30-year-old has interviewed pop stars like Robbie Williams and Boy George; some, like Celine Dion, and Robert Smith of The Cure, have even taped endorsements for him--in Russian. On the air for five years, "Live From the West" has been supported by various patrons, the most recent being the British Tourist Authority (until last autumn) and Angell Sound, which owns the sound studios Shishkovsky works out of. But unless he can find another sponsor soon, he's going to be dead air. For the time being, Shishkovsky, a Leonardo DiCaprio look-alike, says his show is "running on love," as he put it in an interview with NEWSWEEK's Ginanne Brownell in London. Excerpts: BROWNELL: What is the appeal of the "Live From the West"? SHISHKOVSKY: The show is quite different, unique. I know that lots of listeners are tuning in especially to listen to this radio show. Maybe the rest of the week they do not listen to the radio at all. It is the only program from the West playing the latest releases--by a Russian, for Russians--and it is like a window to the British and American music market. The other thing is that they probably see me as a Russian guy in London. So Russians can relate to me. I also provide a local angle--what happens in the West through Russian eyes. I think this is quite important--this human aspect. What's your show like? We obviously knew that Russians want to listen to the latest new music, and they do want to know what is going on with the charts. My producer [Paul Leaper] and I knew it would be silly just to play music; we needed to add content and have showbiz news and celebrity interviews. We also knew that people would enjoy descriptions of what was happening in London--just very basic things like the weather and things like traffic jams--things you would talk to a friend about. We have not really gone off that format, [but getting celebrities is very time consuming] and we can't do our [showbiz trivia] competitions anymore because we can't pay for the prizes. So for financial reasons we have had to change some of the format. It must be difficult to continue the show without backing. There was a stage when we thought, "What are we going to do now?" And there was an option either to stop doing the show straight away or try to find another company. It is not easy because of the economic situation out there in Russia. Because of the economic crisis, a lot of Western businesses closed and they no longer wanted to deal with Russia. That has made it difficult to try and sell a radio show because lots of companies do not want to invest in such a volatile market. I am hopeful that with the presidential elections, things will be more settled. How did the idea for the show come about? During the time of Gorbachev, I went to Moscow State University, where I studied journalism. I began working for Radio Yunost [Radio Youth]--they were a megapopular and progressive new station. It was quite amazing because it was the first radio show to play Western music. I was in London on holiday in 1992, and my father [a TV reporter] and I went on a tour of the BBC. I met Paul, who gave us a tour, and we started talking. He said, "Wouldn't it be great to do a show for Russians transmitted from London?" We kept in touch when I went back to Moscow and eventually we decided to do it. So from 1993 to 1995 we had to get everything together--the technology, the money and a station. Is it frustrating to see radio shows that have so much money and support behind them and you have to do your show on £250,000 a year? Actually it doesn't frustrate me because I am very used to the situation in Russia, probably because I grew up there. It is a huge country but quite frankly a very poor country. People cannot afford lots of things, and that is the same thing with the radio stations. They do not have much of an advertising budget and they are struggling to pay their own staff, so I am more or less privileged compared to what is going on over there. Why do you continue to do the program? We do carry on doing the radio show because we think about the listeners. We have received so many supportive e-mails and letters and every time you receive a letter like that, you think, well, it is worth doing it. We have not given ourselves a deadline, but the next few months will be quite important. [Angell Sound] cannot keep doing this as a charity. Even after five years I am still enjoying it. I love radio and this is my personal link to Russia. Plus my mother likes it as well.Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is an american headed to Vienna, and Celine (Julie Delpy) is a French student bound for Paris. Don't hate them because they're beautiful. In Richard Linklater's luminous little romance, Before Sunrise, the pair bond in the lounge car on a train from Budapest. Then, in a come-on of surpassing sweetness, Jesse begs Celine to come check out Vienna, where he has a night to kill before flying home. ("If I turn out to be some kind of psycho, you can get on the next train.") So Jesse and Celine stroll around Vienna, playing pinball, kissing on that Ferris wheel from "The Third Man" and exchanging deep and semideep thoughts about sex, death and cable-access TV. You'd think this wouldn't add up to much. But Hawke, who does a sunny variation on the armchair philosopher he played in "Reality Bites," has a great unwashed charm, and Delpy is just magnificent: she's gorgeous, she's moody and she swears in two languages. Late at night, Jesse and Celine lie in the grass and wonder if they'll ever meet again. It's a nice scene -- unapologetically tender and not encased in all that god-awful Gen-X irony. Linklater, who co-wrote "Sunrise" with Kim Krizan, debuted with the independent movie "Slacker." Since then, he's made deals with big studios, but he remains a conscientious objector, refusing to kowtow to Hollywood's idea of dramatic tension. "Sunrise" is an audaciously talky movie, and it plays out in something approximating real time. We go to the movies to escape real time, of course. But that may be this movie's true contribution: that it picks up the ordinary moment, dusts it off and hands it back to you.Along with Orlando Bloom—who filmed a pair of Ridley Scott movies in Morocco—Binoche was one of the few true A-listers with any real ties to the country. A Grecian-gowned Gwyneth Paltrow had literally just landed from London, Salma Hayek, in Gucci, had simply hopped down from Paris, and Adrien Brody arrived the day before for a spot of furniture shopping. As for Jennifer Aniston—nearly knocked over in her Celine dress by a wayward lamp during an intense paparazzi pounce—she'd toured Morocco back when she was still Mrs. Brad Pitt, but her handlers made it clear that any personal questions might result in deportation.The après-red-carpet scene quickly commenced after the last Gwyneth photo-op. Under a cloudless sky, more than 1,000 guests—served by what seemed like an equal number of La Mamounia staffers—inhaled Gauloises and sipped Champagne as Spanish tenor Jose Carreras performed a few opera classics. They were beautiful and haunting, but felt like a mournful misstep amid La Mamounia's palatial pomp—overshadowed by the towering palms and shimmering surface of the hotel's massive pool and gardens.Both venues served as backdrops for Cirque du Soleil, which performed a brief version of its acrobatic revue complete with fire dancers, illuminated wall climbers, and costumed contortionists, as the crowd grew hungry. Well after 10, the party descended on La Mamounia's four new restaurants—including two by Michelin masters Alfonso Iaccarino and Jean-Pierre Vigato. The fashion crowd, however, clearly preferred to go local, as designer Cynthia Rowley and Harper's Bazaar Editor in Chief Glenda Bailey cozied up in the resort's riad-like restaurant. Meanwhile, back by the pool, chef Michel Roux served a buffet of roasted meats, poached seafood, and fresh pastries.Things have always skewed regal at La Mamounia—which takes its name from the 200-year-old gardens presented as a wedding gift to Prince Moulay Mamoun by his father, King Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, namesake of Morrocco's current monarch. Filled with 400-year-old olive trees, those gardens now sprawl for 20 well-manicured acres, setting the scale for the hotel itself, which opened back in 1923. Equally favored by both noble families and Hollywood royalty, La Mamounia has long served as a formal counterpoint to the hippie-chic vibe espoused by the likes of Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakech's ancient Medina, a short stroll away.Over the past 80 years, La Mamounia has had many celebrity closeups: Hitchcock shot The Man Who Knew Too Much in its lobby; famously tall Charles De Gaulle slept in a specially built hotel bed; Winston Churchill hosted Franklin Roosevelt after the nearby Anglo-U.S. Anfa summit in 1943. Everyone from the Rolling Stones to Nelson Mandela, Doris Day to Tom Cruise eventually passed through this Art Deco landmark. "I've been coming since the '70s," said rock legend Bryan Ferry, a veteran of multiple Mamounia makeovers. "This is my third La Mamounia," he added. "I just hope they don't modernize it too much."Under Garcia's direction, La Mamounia's new mod-Maghrebian aesthetic will likely keep Ferry retuning for another three decades. The hotel has been reappointed with with colonnaded courtyards, mosaic-tiled reflection pools, a massive spa, and a glass cube of a gym. La Mamounia’s room count may have shrunk from 242 to 209, but there is a trio of new ultra-secluded riads with traditional courtyards and private pools. (It was into these palaces of privilege that Jen and Gwyn seemed to disappear barely moments after their red-carpet strolls.)La Mamounia’s glamorous re-opening was a sharp contrast to the orgy of excess that accompanied the opening of the Atlantis Resort in Dubai last year, a $20 million bar mitzvah, complete with Kylie Minogue concert, sit-down dinner for 2,000, the world's biggest fireworks display, and the kind of celebrity silliness you expect when Lindsay Lohan and Mary-Kate Olsen are the big draws.A year on, Dubai is now teetering, making La Mamounia's more modest premiere feel all the more recession-appropriate. Still, even amid economic uncertainty, luxury hotels have rooms to fill. With everyone from the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental, W Hotels to King Mohammed's own Royal Mansour resort now open (or opening soon) in Marrakech, La Mamounia will clearly face competition.But unlike the newcomers, this is a hotel with history on its side—a veteran of emperors and kings, princes and prime ministers. "Those beautiful gardens, the attention to detail—La Mamounia has a tremendous sense of the past," mused Adrien Brody. Like Marrakech itself, the actor added, "it's a very exciting, very sensual place."Plus: .David Kaufman is a New York-based journalist who regularly contributes to The New York Times, The Financial Times, Time International and Wallpaper—and is the charming madness behind the blog .Nothing quite like it had ever been seen before. In the chamber of the Security Council of the United Nations gathered ambassadors, dignitaries, bureaucrats and those who were there simply in the hope of enjoying a really good show. They were not disappointed. Jesse Helms--chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate, veteran conservative Republican, crusty curmudgeon of the tobacco fields of North Carolina, defender of American prerogatives and interests against the never-ending siege of those unfortunate enough to be born in less happy lands--was in New York to give his audience a lesson in language "a little more blunt" than they were accustomed to.And so he did. The United States might be delinquent in its payment of dues to the United Nations, said Helms, but it was not a "deadbeat nation." It was "nonsense" to think that the country would stand by and accept that the international criminal court could assert jurisdiction over Americans. International law--"quote, unquote," added the senator--"has been used as a make-believe justification for hindering the march of freedom." If the United States, as it did during the Reagan years, decided to "lend support to nations struggling to break the chains of tyranny," that was its own, inherently legitimate business. In fact, argued Helms, the United Nations as a whole should be careful that it didn't get, well, too damn uppity. "The American people," said Helms, "see the United Nations aspiring to establish itself [as] the great central authority of a new international order of global laws and global governance. This is an international order the American people, I guarantee you, do not and will not countenance." If the United Nations sought to "impose its presumed authority" on America, Helms concluded, it could face "eventual U.S. withdrawal" from the organization.The members of the Security Council then took their turn. Firmly, they made their points: Like any other country, the United States had obligations of membership. Collective action could achieve much. Multilateralism was not the same as world government. And in the most dramatic moment of the colloquy, Martin Andjaba, the ambassador from Namibia, reminded Helms that under the Reagan doctrine, "some of us who were legitimate and genuine national-liberation movements were called other names--terrorists."It was, in cameo, a demonstration of the way the world is now often supposed to be. Alone stood the United States in the very council where but days earlier France, China and Russia had allied themselves to defeat Washington's plans for a new structure to oversee the continued disarmament of Iraq. Arrayed against it were the other nations of the world, exasperated and offended by America's claim that it could do whatever the hell it liked. It's a familiar script. Ina much-noted article in Foreign Affairs last year, Harvard professor Samuel Huntington dubbed America "the lonely superpower." "On issue after issue," he wrote, "the United States has found itself increasingly alone, with one ora few partners, opposing most of the rest of the world's states and peoples." It's not hard to detect a new and rising anti-Americanism at large. French intellectuals, Malaysian prime ministers, Chinese nationalists, British campaigners against genetically modified food and the death penalty--all seem to have a beef with the United States. If those strands of criticism coalesced, they could form a source of genuine tension and instability in the years ahead.And yet... Truth to tell, there's another way to look at last week's extraordinary session of the Security Council. The mood was candid, certainly; but polite; plenty of the council members found much to agree with in Helms's presentation. For Russia and China both, the chairman's insistence on the importance of national sovereignty as against multilateralism rang happy chords. And at a dinner the following night in honor of Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who had orchestrated the whole thing, Helms and Andjaba greeted each other like long-lost brothers. The simple idea of an America on its own, with the rest of the world throwing rotten tomatoes at it, just looked too--well, simple. And it is. For countless millions of non-Americans, after all, American products, services and opportunities offer illumination of the path to a better life. The whole question of America's relationship to other nations and peoples, in other words, is one of nuance.The old protests against the Vietnam War and nuclear weapons may have gone; still, it's not hard to find examples of traditional attitudes toward America. Since Alexis de Tocqueville first uncovered the anatomy of the young republic, Europeans have been simultaneously bemused and impressed by the raw-boned giant to the west--the land with muscles but no culture. On the streets of Paris last week, Philippe Revert, a bank inspector, caught that mood perfectly: France, he said, "has more history than the U.S., and so we consider them like big kids." In Latin America, the old resentments of Yanqui dominance are always close to the surface, and populist leaders know how to play them like a well-tuned violin. Before the coup in Ecuador last week, students protested that the proposed dollarization of the economy would make them an American "colony"; after December's catastrophic mudslides in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez rejected the offer of American military aid. (Still, Chavez knows on which side his bread is buttered; he may tweak the Americans by saying nice things about Fidel Castro, but his country's earnings from oil exports depend on the U.S. market.)Around the world, there was widespread dismay at the U.S. Senate's rejection last year of the treaty banning nuclear tests, an apparent determination by Washington that the rest of the world could go hang. In Asia, still recovering from a financial crisis that many blame on the way American capitalism was forced on the region, it's not hard to hear complaints. "There is growing resentment all over the world against American hegemony," says Jomo K.S., a professor of political economy in Kuala Lumpur. Both Russia and China saw NATO's war in Kosovo as a willful intrusion of American power into the sovereign rights of independent nations. In Russia's case, Kosovo merely rubbed salt into a wound exposed by the expansion of NATO to the old communist countries of Eastern Europe. In China, the bombing of Beijing's embassy in Belgrade didn't just unleash massive demonstrations against the United States; it also empowered a newly fashionable school of "democratic nationalists" who insist that China should not always dance to the American drum.These are protests against the "hard" manifestations of American might, expressed in geopolitical and military terms. But with the end of the cold war, they have lost some (not all) of their edge. The United States no longer has to defend indefensible regimes simply because they are a bulwark against communism, no longer has to wheel out the cowboys from the CIA to get rid of an awkward customer. Yet the twin phenomena of globalization and the revolution in information technology have helped create a new form of American dominance, one that Harvard's Joseph Nye has christened "soft power." It is the combination of these two sorts of force--one political and military, one cultural and economic--that leads those like French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine to christen the United States a "hyperpower." Peter Preston, a veteran British journalist, says that the roots of anti-Americanism lie less in objections to America itself and more in the fact that it is "so dominant as a country. It's reasonable for people to feel a little swamped." Adds Raymond Seitz, formerly Washington's ambassador to London, "[The problem] isn't so much an imperial America; it's the sheer overwhelmingness of this immense presence."Of course, unease at the cultural and economic power of the United States is nothing new; you can find traces of it as far back (at least) as 1851, when Cyrus McCormick's combine harvesters caused a sensation at London's Great Exhibition. But in today's interconnected world, where ideological cleavages matter less than they once did, America's soft power becomes a ripe target, and not only from French intellectuals concerned that a cartoon mouse and his friends are so powerful that they will pollute the pure cultural stream of Racine, Poussin and Johnny Halliday.Consider two aspects of modern anti-Americanism: the environment and the death penalty. It shouldn't have taken last year's European protests against genetically modified food for Americans to realize that overseas they are regarded as champion enemies of the environment. For greens, says Charles Secrett, the director of Friends of the Earth in London, the United States is a "huge problem... America accounts for just under 4 percent of the world's population but is responsible for 25 percent of emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas." Not only is the United States irresponsible, argues Secrett; it is selfish. Americans have many laws that prevent the despoliation of their own backyard but don't take their good habits overseas. "At home," says Secrett, "[the United States] has a lot which other countries should be jealous of; abroad there is a lot for which they are rightly condemned."Environmentalism as a source of anti-Americanism--especially among the young and well-heeled--has been around for a while. Foreign opposition to America's use of the death penalty is only just beginning to register on the radar screens of policymakers. (Nye recently mentioned the issue in a speech to CIA officers, thinking it might surprise his audience, but they knew all about it. European diplomats, apparently, regularly bring up the subject with their American counterparts.) The United States is the only major, rich nation that still executes people, and does so--or so it seems to the rest of the world--with something like relish. In Western Europe, especially--none of whose nations kill criminals, not even terrorists--America's use of the electric chair, gas chamber and lethal injections is widely seen as barbaric. For Europeans, one of the most salient facts in the biography of Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the leading contender for this year's Republican nomination for the presidency, is that more than 100 men and women have been executed on his watch. Protests against the death penalty are now a staple feature of visits by American leaders to Europe, and the Italian clothes company Benetton is launching an international campaign featuring photos of condemned Americans. The point, says creative director Oliviero Toscani, is to draw attention to the "human rights violations" of the United States.Yet in an important sense, there's less to this modern anti-Americanism than meets the eye. In the geopolitical realm, despite the fears of pessimists like Huntington, there is little sense of any organized opposition to American power. Yes, Russia, China and France may occasionally make common cause in the United Nations, but this, argues Nye, should be considered at the level of an annoyance: "There's nothing there that looks like a serious alliance in the 19th century sense." One day the European Union may turn itself into a political federation with its own substantial military power. But Europeans aren't stupid; few of them outside the editorial board of Le Monde Diplomatique dream of rivaling American military and political power, or would wish to spend the billions of euros on arms that would enable them to do so.Then there's the economy. Yes, the Internet is world-changing; yes, the merger of AOL and Time Warner was a stunning demonstration of the sheer size of American firms and their ambition. But everywhere, the vitality of the U.S. economy has spawned as many admiring glances as resentment. In Japan, which during the bubble years of the late 1980s enjoyed lecturing the United States on the drawbacks of its lazy, unskilled work force, a different tune is now heard: be more like America. Last week a blue-ribbon commission on Japan's goal for the next century issued its report to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. The message: empower individuals, break up the cozy old arrangements that linked big business to the government, relax immigration laws, introduce jury trials, place more emphasis on the teaching of English and the liberal arts. In Europe, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin is an unabashed admirer of America's economic success, based on entrepreneurialism and the rapid application of technological breakthroughs. Daniel Remy, author of a French screed entitled "Who Wants to Murder France? The American Strategy," says, "It's about time the French took a little inspiration from the American model."Similarly, in the field of soft power, all is not what it first seems. For American culture is not sweeping all before it. Last week, for example, Disney announced that it was closing its three retail stores in Germany. Mickey followed a trail blazed by Bugs Bunny; Warner Bros., too, is closing its Berlin store, the first and only of the 13 it originally planned to open in Germany. With the retirement of Michael Jordan, there is at present no global American sports icon (though if golf were less of a rich man's sport, Tiger Woods might be one). Few foreigners could care less about last weekend's American football semifinals: they don't yell "Go Jacksonville!" in Jakarta. Indeed, the most popular sporting franchise in the world (and the most valuable, given the $1 billion that Rupert Murdoch was prepared to pay for it last year) is not American at all. It's a British football team, Manchester United, whose fan club has more than 200 branches in 24 countries. Unbelievable but true: the Thai edition of United's official magazine sells 30,000 copies. Throughout Asia, Japanese pop-culture icons--Pokemon, Hello Kitty--are shoving American ones aside.Anyway, what is American culture? The United States, says Nye, is a cultural "sponge," a syncretic society that can assimilate influences from all over the world and send them back home, subtly altered. Pizza: American or Italian? Tacos: American or Mexican? Celine Dion: American or Martian? Then there's the awkward truth that many of those who supposedly wield "American" soft power do so for foreign masters. Three of the leading "American" music labels--Capitol, RCA/Arista and Sony Music--are owned by firms that are respectively British, German and Japanese. Take videogames-- in the eyes of many foreign intellectuals, almost the quintessential way in which American dreck messes up their kids' minds. Yet the hardware is all Japanese, and some of the most popular software was designed in Britain. Scratch a wonderfully American film like "Leaving Las Vegas," and you quickly discover it was financed in France.None of this means that American culture has lost its power. The real point is more subtle: in a globalized world, all culture is becoming a bit American, even as the United States itself becomes ever more open to influences from other nations. Immigrants from India and France--heck, from everywhere--flock to Internet start-ups and then send their electronic messages around the world. In Seattle, Washington, Starbucks imports Italian espresso machines, makes coffee in great big, Texas-size cups and then sees the fashion imitated in a hundred foreign airports. American sitcoms like "Dallas" and "Dynasty" disappear from German TV, to be replaced by homegrown shows that look like and dwell on the same themes as their American precursors.We can call all these cultural artifacts American if we like; we can deplore them if we must. But as Jesse Helms and the Security Council discovered last week, we all now live on common ground. Here's the message for the new century: those who hate America hate themselves.11/2/07: The song 'My Love' from Celine Dion's new album 'Taking Chances' (Courtesy Columbia Records)The Concorde has long been the preferred mode of transatlantic transport among the world's glitterati. Supersonic fliers regularly rub shoulders with Michael Jackson, Madonna and Sting; two weeks ago Richard Gere and his baby were spotted on board, returning to New York after a Paris holiday. Still, the most frequent fliers seem to be not movie or rock stars, but rather those who clothe them. Thanks to the Concorde, fashion executives, editors, photographers, designers and their models can zoom from fashion hub to fashion hub for shows, shoots and fittings. "It's Fashion Express," says New York PR executive Paul Wilmot. Michael Kors, who designs for Celine in Paris and an eponymous line in New York, uses the fast flight to "get more out of the day." During ready-to-wear and couture show weeks, even Anna Wintour might have trouble getting a seat. "I've been on the Concorde when Karl Lagerfeld was seated across the aisle from John Galliano, where Jean Paul Gaultier was just a row behind and with Donna Karan six rows behind him," says Andre Leon Talley, editor at large for American Vogue.Top models are often flown in from New York to Paris or London for a day's work. As one frequent fashion flier put it, Naomi Campbell "takes the Concorde like you and I take taxis." In May, Victoria's Secret hired a Concorde to fly top models from New York to the Cannes Film Festival for the lingerie show at the annual American Foundation for AIDS Research fund-raiser, hosted by Liz Taylor. "They use it like a shuttle," says one model agent.Will the fashion elite continue to fly the Concorde after last week's crash? Reaction varied widely. Designer Marc Jacobs, who takes the Concorde regularly between Paris and New York and was scheduled to fly the day after the crash, was unfazed by the news. "I'm much more concerned with heel heights than with flying tomorrow," he said. "My assistant wanted to change me to the regular flight. I said, 'OK, make a reservation. If I freak out when I get to the airport, I'll take that regular flight'." But Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld was considerably more shaken. "I would never, ever take it again," he told NEWSWEEK. "[The Concordes] should all go to space museums to show a futuristic dream of the 20th century that could not make it in the new millennium." He'll no doubt find another way; after all, the show must go on.Is there anything more annoying than a smug, self-centered person who comes over to your house and proceeds to tell you all the great things he's done and how important he is? So how come we let Hollywood do that to us every year on Oscar night?Sure, America loves movies and everyone loves the fantasy of watching celebrities don their finest (borrowed) clothes and dance down the red carpet. Nothing wrong with a little of that from time to time. But after paying the stars $20 million a picture, paying the $9.50 for a movie ticket and then the $5.00 for 11 cents' worth of popcorn, haven't we as moviegoers earned the right to demand that filmmakers just shut up already?Is there any single profession more self-indulgent than the movie industry? (OK, maybe news columnists come close, but we are excused because when we're not working, we're usually sitting around some bar complaining about how talentless we are, not draping ourselves in Harry Winston diamonds and telling one billion people how "important" we are). Don't get me wrong, I love a good movie now and again. The problem is that "now" and "again" are separated by an increasingly long period of time.Yet every Oscar night, a parade of filmmakers stand before us and celebrate themselves and their "art," as if making movies is a vital act of national security. So this year, I'm striking back, forming my own "academy"--The Society to Lament Actors' Pretentiousness (SLAP)--and giving out my own awards. And the nominees are...BIGGEST KISS-A-S: Always a powerhouse category, the events of September 11 seemed to propel this area into overdrive, as if even suggesting that the Oscars are self-indulgent and self-congratulatory would be admitting that the terrorists had won. While it would be tough to take down the queen of a-s-kissing, Leeza Gibbons, this year's SLAPPY goes to Chris Connelly, whose interview technique on the red carpet seemed to consist solely of asking nominees, "Isn't...this...just...so...great?!"MOST COMPELLING ARGUMENT TO WATCH THE PROCEEDINGS ON "MUTE": This is always a difficult category, what with the startlingly high number of nominees. And the nominees are: Actress Naomi Watts telling Joan Rivers about how being on a movie set is "like being part of a family." Tom Cruise opening the telecast by claiming that actors' work is important--"Dare I say it? More than ever"--in the wake of September 11. Jennifer Connelly's acceptance speech, in which she needed to pull out a piece of paper to tell us, "By some beautiful twist of fate, I've landed in this vocation that demands that I feel." Please. (Even the producer of "Shrek" found a way to thank his agents, lawyers and managers without a list.) Owen Wilson proving that without a script, some actors are simply unable to even speak. Kevin Spacey announcing that "film freezes life in its finest hour with strength and courage and laughter and joy." And the SLAPPY goes to: Jennifer Connelly, who was not only the most pretentious in a crowded field, but this year's winner of the annual "Feed Me" award.BEST ARGUMENT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF HAIR CARE PRODUCTS: Usually dominated by Sissy Spacek or Celine Dion, this year, there was really only one nominee: "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson. Not to sound superficial, but you'd think that the prospect of being seen by one billion people might have encouraged Jackson to at least trim the mustache hairs that curled over his top lip. I would not have been surprised to discover a family of blackbirds subsisting on the crumbs in that man's beard.THE UNEXPECTED HONESTY AWARD: Every once in a while, in an unguarded moment, an actor will actually admit that the proceedings are monumentally dull, pretentious and overhyped. This year, the nominees are: Maggie Smith, who admitted that she had to call The House of Armani to get the dress she was wearing, rather than the other way around. Helen Mirren, responding to an interviewer wishing her good luck, admitting, "I don't need all the good luck, I've had all the good luck." Julia Roberts confessing to Joan Rivers that she doesn't pick her own roles. "I don't read scripts," she said. Hugh Grant asking Joan Rivers "Are you drunk?" when she asked him a stupid question and telling another reporter that the Vanity Fair party is "actually a bit overrated." And the SLAPPY goes to Hugh Grant, who thankfully sticks a pin into every overinflated Hollywood balloon.FUNNIEST MOMENT: In an otherwise dreary and dull production, there were only three possible nominees: Nathan Lane joking that Walt Disney would be smiling over the addition of a "Best Animated Film" category, "if he wasn't frozen solid"; Woody Allen abandoning a lifetime of Oscar boycotting to stand up for New York; and Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's pre-recorded segment on costume design that quickly degenerated into them mocking each other's on-screen work. "I hear you're doing a sequel to 'Shanghai Noon,' " Stiller joked. "What are they going to call that? 'Shanghai 12:30'?" The SLAPPY goes to Stiller and Wilson. BEST GREAT MUSICIAN IN A SUPPORTING ROLE AS HOLLYWOOD SELL-OUT: Is there a greater symbol of the perniciousness of Hollywood than Randy Newman? After making a name for himself as a genius with a twisted sensibility, the starving artist who wrote bitterly sardonic songs like "Political Science (Let's Drop the Big One)" and "Burn On," Newman is now a hack for hire, cashing in by writing silly, sappy "original" songs that like "You've Got a Friend in Me" ("Toy Story 2") or "If I Didn't Have You" ("Monsters, Inc."). And on Sunday night, after 16 nominations, he finally got his Oscar. But as he stood on the stage with everyone celebrating, I couldn't help feeling that the award was for selling-out. It's bad enough he's cashing studio checks and hasn't written a good song in nearly 20 years, but do they have to give him an award for it, too? And one last thought: What wasthe old bag from "Titanic" doing there? They let everyoneinto these things.Well, that was then. Now, it seems that all the clouds that had loomed over Fox's Idol have returned. Last week, the distant rumblings became a downpour after the dismissal of an early favorite, Pia Toscano. Within moments of the results, an Idol backlash had gathered and burst, as fans and fingers over the .The outcry over Toscano's departure may be overstated—in the end, her robotic performances had as much to do with her fate as anything. But nonetheless, in the fallout, discussion has turned from The Idol Miracle, to Has Idol Completely Lost Its Way (For Real This Time).How could everything that seemed so right suddenly be so wrong? Let us take a look.The ContestantsA much-discussed fact is that Idol has not produced a mega-selling act in what is now a very long time. The last winner who can legitimately claim that status, Carrie Underwood, dates back six years at this point. Chris Daughtry, the . Initially, the goal of this season was to put some teeth back into the original Idol promise to create recording superstars of its champions. With the help of producer Jimmy Iovine on board, it was said they would guide the singers out of the Celine Dion/Whitney Houston big-voiced, circa 1994 balladeering ghetto into more contemporary sounds.Throughout the lackluster night of oldies, the words "perfect" and "beautiful" were invoked over and over like a Buddhist mantra.Half a season later, we've heard a lot of what sounds like familiar Idol balladeering and little that sounds like anything heard on today's radio. The only contestants with real contemporary hit potential seem to be the three operating in the country space (Haley Rinehart, Lauren Alaina, and Scotty McCreary). One of this trio may yet win and could go on to follow in Carrie Underwood's footsteps and become a huge country star, achieving success in that world, but the chances that this season will produce a winner ready to dominate the pop charts looks increasingly slim.Further, as evidenced by the Toscano shocker, the curse on Idol's women has been far from dispelled. It has been four years now since Idol had a female champion (Jordin Sparks), and for the past few seasons, the women have become the show's cannon fodder, dispatched in the early weeks by an Idol electorate heavily dominated (anecdotal evidence suggests) by tween girls who vote heavily for boys—Cute White Boys in particular—creating a Cute White Boy Dynasty that has dominated on the show but struggled on the recording charts.This season, it was hoped that some very strong female contenders would change that. Well, thus far, after the first five eliminations, all five of them been exclusively female, while a fair number of cute, innocuous boys (Casey Abrams, Paul McDonald) remain standing. If the Cute White Boy Dynasty claims another year, and brings with it its tepid sales record, the promise of the Idol narrative is going to become almost impossible to sustain. The JudgesComing into the season, the driving creative agenda behind-the-scenes was to Un-Simon Cowell the show. No slams, no beating up on kids just for the sport of it. In the spirit of executive producer Nigel Lythgoe's other show, So You Think You Can Dance, any criticisms were to be supportive and constructive. The era of reality show cruelty was past, so the thinking went.Last week put that proposition to the test when the judging panel—Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson—went an entire episode with a grand total of exactly one critical remark (an extremely gentle finger wag by Jackson). Throughout the lackluster night of oldies, the words "perfect" and "beautiful" were invoked over and over like a Buddhist mantra.So after half a season living in the era of positivity the results have come in and...the show is boring. Without Cowell's verdict of God, the episodes have become shapeless. Officially, after the cast is chosen, the judges play no formal role in Idol's winnowing process (other than through use of the "save"). They offer advice to voters that the electorate is free to heed or disregard, and even in the Cowell era, the advice was ignored as much as it was taken. But although the show technically could function without any judges at all, from its inception it was felt that as a television event, Idol needed a judging panel to provide instant feedback, so audiences would have a filter through which to consider the performances and to provide some real-time drama before the votes are counted. The wisdom of this choice has been universally replicated across the competition genre.Now, with the judges handing out effusive backrubs like Halloween candy, the value of that feedback has effectively been eliminated. Even on the events (all too rare) when Jackson or Lopez (never Tyler) venture into criticism, the barbs barely break the flesh. No one on the panel has attempted to replicate Cowell's Hammer of God delivery intoning, "That. Was. Horrendous." Without that sword hanging over the rulings, it has become a chore after each performance to sit and watch every contestant be serially complimented.Further, united in positivity, the frisson within the judging panel has evaporated. The famed Paula/Simon good cop/bad cop routine has been replaced by a trio locking arms and beaming in unison. On the one hand, this helps put the spotlight back on the contestants and takes some of the oxygen away from the former scenery chewing panel, on the other hand, we still spend a lot of time focused on the drama-free judges.Worse still, without any Voice of Truth (as wildly off the mark or driven by its own agenda as it may have been), Idol seems to have succumbed to the most potentially threatening of diseases: overhyping. The genius of the Cowell element was that audiences could sit through a night of mediocre performances without feeling cheated or manipulated. Cowell would not only let the audiences know they were right in thinking a performance was off, but would come out and say an entire night was a disaster, something unthinkable for the star of a show pre- Idol and still fairly revolutionary. But now, audiences sit through a lackluster night and hear the show only telling them that it was beautiful and perfect, essentially giving the audiences a message they were all too accustomed to from the entertainment industry, a message that Idol was supposed to be the antidote to: If you think this is bad, it's because you just don't know enough to know how good it was.Once audiences feel like they are being manipulated or hyped, that trust lost can be hard to regain, and in that respect, Idol seems to be treading on dangerous ground right now. The ShowIf there is a sense that the hype machine is being unnaturally churned, some of this year's segments have helped paint that picture. Pre-season, the talk was that Idol, which many felt had become a bloated Godzilla in its three-hour weekly size, would be shrunk down to more modest dimensions. In particular, it was promised that the results shows, always stuffed with Idol's worst filler, would be a mere half-hour this season.Not only do the results shows continue to weigh in at their full hour length, but the time-chewing segments have seemed more pointless than ever. Segments the likes of which haven't been seen since the first couple seasons—the Idols at a photo shoot, the Idols getting makeovers— have been shown. Last week's visit to the TMZ offices for coaching in...how to be stalked by TMZ, seemed an all-time low.Idol is far from doomed. Sitting at the very pinnacle of network television's ratings still, it has miles to fall before it hits the ground, and all that room to correct itself. Yet the problems, for Idol fans, are alarming, occurring as they do in places where the show had been so surefooted in the past.Further, with singing contest competition coming later this month in the form of NBC's Mark Burnett-produced The Voice, followed by the return to the airwaves of Judge Cowell himself with The X Factor this fall, for the first time in its history, it may soon not just be Idol's contestants who are singing for their lives.Plus: .Richard Rushfield is a four-year veteran of the American Idol beat and the author of a memoir, . His new book, , goes behind the scenes of the most popular TV show of the decade.Even after Celine left Las Vegas in 2007, Angelil would come back to Vegas several times a year (he even saw Bette Midler and Cher perform at the house Celine built, The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, but he won’t compare their performances to his wife’s). And every time Angelil strolled through a casino, he says, people would ask “’When is Celine Dion coming back?’ Fifty times a day.” He wanted Celine back in Vegas, too. “Personally, I love Las Vegas,” says Angelil, who frequently tosses gambling metaphors into regular conversation and seems to know about every casino in town (and also where to get the best burgers). He visited Vegas for the first time from Montreal in 1966. He was only 24, and Dion wasn’t even born yet. But he was so smitten by Vegas’s neon, it influenced the rest of his life.Angelil used to have singing aspirations himself—he was a member of a band (“we were like the French Beatles”)—but he mortgaged his house to help produce Dion’s first record after he discovered her in 1981. He says he became a professional gambler when Dion took time off to learn English in the late ‘80s. “That’s how I managed to make an income,” he says. “I had a system at blackjack. We were winning.”He’s been doing that ever since, both backstage (Dion makes an estimated $500,000 per show) and on the casino floor (he raked in $1.6 million at a poker tournament in 2007). He says his love for poker comes from his parents, who played with pennies when he was a little boy growing up in Montreal. “That’s how I got interested,” he says. He’s passed his passion on to his 10-year-old son Rene-Charles. “I’m being very honest with you. He’s great at poker,” Angelil says. “It’s so funny to see him look you in the eye and say, ‘All in!’ I try not to laugh.”Angelil’s most precious Vegas memories weren’t all on the casino floor, though. They were in the showrooms. Vegas was the city that showcased two of his biggest idols, Sinatra and Elvis. He made regular pilgrimages from Canada to see them both in concert. He tells of the time he and his pals cornered Elvis’s manager Colonel Tom Parker for a photo. And the way Angelil talks about Sinatra, it’s as if he’s still performing down the block. “I saw Sinatra many times,” he says. “I saw him at Caesars. I saw him at the Sands. You’d fly in one trip, and you’d win. Then I would lose on the next three trips, but I would remember the time I won. That’s how they get people.”"I understand people who come to see Celine and they cry when they see her," Angelil says. "I was like that with Elvis.” Although Celine sounds nothing like Sinatra or Elvis, Angelil’s affections for those performers have rubbed off on her. About 15 years ago, Angelil introduced Dion to Sinatra. They watched old footage of him on stage, and they were both equally impressed by how he took puffs of smoke between lyrics. “Rene thinks about Sinatra all the time,” says Dion, in her underground dressing room at Caesars after her first preview performance. “I didn’t grow up with the Beatles or Elvis or Frank Sinatra. But it’s OK to borrow from the class and emotion of the music they’ve done.”Dion arguably may be the most powerful woman in music, but she concedes that her husband makes most of her career decisions. It was Angelil’s idea to have Dion backed by a 31-piece orchestra in her Vegas show, a wink to Sinatra’s glory days. He also had Dion sing a duet with a video of Sinatra’s “All The Way” in her last Vegas concert. He even booked her on American Idol in 2007, performing alongside a hologram of Elvis. Some critics were less than thrilled, but Angelil still glows at the memory. “It looked so real!” he says. “It was incredible. I understand people who come to see Celine and they cry when they see her. I was like that with Elvis.”Angelil says that after travelling most of his life, he’s happy to be settling down and living the suburban life in Las Vegas. He talks about how peaceful their home is, 30 miles from the Strip. “You don’t hear a sound in the desert,” he says. The couple had twin boys four months ago (Eddy and Nelson), and Angelil likes taking their older son to baseball practice and bowling. “To me, if we are in Florida, if we are in Vegas, as long as we are together,” he says. Then he adds, with a sly smile, as if he’s about to roll the dice. “As long as I’m with the people I love,” he says, “why shouldn’t it be Vegas?”Plus: .Ramin Setoodeh is a senior writer at Newsweek. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times and U.S. News & World Report, among other publications.For Celine designer Michael Kors, fashion should be logical. "It's not about the three-sleeve shirt," he snorts. "Who can wear that?" On the other hand, women who pay $500 for a shirt or $1,500 for a dress aren't going to settle for clothes that are merely sensible. So when Kors, a 39-year-old native of New York's Long Island suburbs, was hired to modernize the LVMH-owned French fashion house a year ago, he aimed for synthesis. The result, crows Kors, is sportswear that combines "the indulgence of Paris" with "the speed of New York."What does that look like? In Kors's spring-summer collection (presented in Paris last October), it looks like rustic sweaters in linen and silk taffeta and pretty pastel dresses encrusted with rock crystal and amethyst. It also looks like a winner, with critics praising the designer's tale of two cities and (at least by implication) endorsing LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault's strategy for selling more luxury goods in America. "This is French dressing with an unmistakable American accent--and it looks great," opined Women's Wear Daily. Said The Washington Post, "Kors perfectly applied today's buzzwords of elegant, easy, luxurious and youthful."Not to mention salable. At Celine's eight U.S. boutiques as well as at tony department stores, the stuff is flying out the door. Hollywood is hooked, too. Celine Dion wore Celine at last year's Oscars, and Gwyneth Paltrow wore it for the opening of "Shakespeare in Love." "I think Michael has taken this old-lady house with no fashion sensibility and completely updated it without frightening the clientele," says American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who has put Celine on the cover twice since June.Kors, a former child actor, began his fashion career at 16 as a freelance designer on Seventh Avenue. He launched his own label at the age of 21. The company stayed small but his reputation grew, and about five years ago European couture houses started courting him. "I kept thinking, 'Are these people aware of what I do?' " Then Celine called. "It never had a couture collection of phantasmagorical clothes that no one wore," says Kors. "It was a sportswear house with a fabulous tradition of dressing women in real situations. For the first time I thought, 'This makes logical sense'."Kors's boss returns the compliment, praising the designer's businesslike approach. "He talks with his clients to see what works and what doesn't," Arnault told NEWSWEEK. "No European designer does that." The ones who work for Arnault may want to start.The rest of her bio is just as marketable: her mother left her father when she was a toddler because he was violent. She entered young Charice in amateur singing competitions and town fiestas so she would earn some money for the family. By the time she sang on Little Big Star, a local singing show for 6- to 13-year-olds, she had already participated in more than 100 singing contests. It wasn’t easy; the youngster was eliminated in the first round of Little Big Star, then selected as a wild-card pick to come back on the show. She made it all the way to the final before losing in the text-message vote. She is reported to have been so depressed that she thought of giving up her singing career.Macy’s, where the Material Girl line debuted exclusively a few weeks ago, stands by Momsen. Adam Moon, the department store’s fashion director, told The Daily Beast, “Taylor Momsen is the perfect representation of what the Material Girl collection is all about... She is fearless, confident, and has a great fashion sense!”Teenagers are seeing her influence, and any trend in that vein of risqué, a bit differently. Flora Collins, a 16-year-old student at Manhattan’s Chapin School, said, “Sluttiness is definitely out. That's why girls like Miley Cyrus and Taylor Momsen are losing popularity—they're just so trashy! You rarely see girls with tight clothes showing a lot of skin. If you wear tiny shorts, wear a longer top. Shirts are getting shorter and skirts longer. Neon leggings have kind of disappeared, which I'm sad about.”From a cursory glance at a sampling of juniors departments, Collins’ observations appear to be spot-on. Micro-minis are macro-poufy or traditional A-line, hitting just above the knee, and the palette across the board is seasonally drab.During last winter’s Fall 2010 shows, ; ; and .Because everything is eventually imitated, for the coming months juniors departments at various stores have stocked up on non-couture variations of furry jackets, nubby leggings and tights, and plenty of heathery separates. Other items parents should brace their pocketbooks and wallets for: leather jackets, flat motorcycle boots, idiosyncratic accessories, sinewy scarves, and a bit of plaid.Norma and Mary Bryan Barksdale, 17-year-old twins in Mississippi, where the semester has already begun, say they have disparate senses of style but agree that a casual, sedate look will prevail this fall, citing Emma Watson as an example of what looks good. “Everyone is wearing simple, clean things—very toned-down, nothing shiny or sequin-y,” said Norma. Mary Bryan mentioned skin-toned lip gloss as a popular item, and both girls came up with a list of what’s hot and not: out are Ugg boots and bulky coats; in: Toms shoes, Converse sneakers, and strappy Birkenstocks (“not the ones with leather all the way across, though,” said Mary Bryan.)Rounding out the what-to-look-for list is hair. could inspire a league of new Twiggys, but, posits Collins, “With the popularity of Ke$ha and Taylor Swift, curls are coming back in.” The Barksdales also said that girls were wearing their hair “in loose curls, or just long waves.”There’s always a period of trickle-down from the shows to the streets, but nowhere is it digested faster than in the wardrobes of younger generations, who are always borrowing, repurposing, and refashioning—and communicating via text, phone, and email about all of it. Moon said, “Today’s teenager is interested in fast-fashion. They see the newest trends on the runway, street-style or worn by celebrities, and they want to see it in our stores immediately. Our challenge is to constantly refresh our stores with new merchandise to meet this high-speed need, and our response is brands such as Material Girl.”Appearing on-trend does not necessarily mean being a slave to fashion. Individuality in style, as with everything else during that finding-yourself age, is paramount. Tavi Gevinson, the 13-year-old wunderkind blogger, . One of her posts reads, “[Model] Hanne Gaby Odiele makes the Celine bag look like it's from a thrift store. That sounds like an insult, but I mean that she makes it look like a special find, not something from a luxury brand that's been praised by the most commercial of fashion magazines.” (Tavi did not respond to requests for comment.)So whither the kids’ influences? Collins, whose “hands-down” favorite designer is Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia, says she looks for sartorial inspiration everywhere. “It's all about attraction to an outfit. I'll see models in magazines, characters on TV, or even my friends and ‘steal’ some part of an outfit, always trying to make it original of course.”Natasha Colvin, a 14-year-old in suburban New York (and the daughter of this site’s President), cites Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus as popular icons. Though Cyrus has also taken some heat for a particular “ ” get-up this summer, her style was originally innocuous, and Swift is perennially sweet. Colvin says, “I think my friends and I will be following trends like skinny light blue jeans, infinity scarves, long sweaters, wide-necked tops, and skinny tall boots.” All straightforward and unassuming choices, and certainly nothing to throw the P.T.A. into a tizzy.Collins offers up a few other inspirations: “Character-wise, I love the costumes in Sweeney Todd. I've also been watching the TV show and have been attracted to the girls who sing the theme song, The Pierces. They're haunting, melodious, and mysterious—definitely attention-grabbers and stylishly unique.Says Moon, “Celebrities have a major influence on the fashion sensibilities of younger shoppers. Madonna and her daughter Lola [Lourdes’ nickname] are a great example of this. Madonna has been setting style trends for decades, and now Lola is a fashion icon in her own right.” With, no doubt, hordes of teens lining up to follow her every move.Plus: .Claire Howorth is the arts editor at the Daily Beast.So many of Paris's next generation of designers showing in these early days seem stuck in a black hole—offering little but layers of ill-defined tunics, skirts, shirts, and whatever else, all in varying textures of black. Each has something to recommend them. At , designer Limi Yamamoto (daughter of Yohji) this season injects a bit of color into her work, along with references to cafe society, with her rounded-back coats and jaunty hats. Nicolas Andreas Taralis offers distinctively cut jackets with asymmetrical lines that spiral around the torso. And perhaps the best that can be said about Nicola Formichetti at Mugler was that with his black, birdlike runway creatures, he did not reference Lady Gaga. Since he is her stylist, this has been his most pronounced but also his most unfortunate inspiration. This collection—which also emphasized white and included strokes of tomato red and marigold yellow—hinted at strong tailoring but still did not fully commit to the idea of clothes over costume.Many years ago, I interviewed for a job at Rolling Stone, and the managing editor asked me to name the first concert I ever saw. I told him it was a Rush show that I'd seen when I was 15 and I riffed a little about Neil Peart's fanatically precise drumming and about what maniacs Rush fans are, and I didn't get the job--further proof, as if it were needed, that lying is wrong and gets you nowhere. When I was 12, my mom and I went to see Barry Manilow at Boston Garden. It's not important whose idea it was. Looking back, I remember--well, not a whole lot, actually. A big old orchestra. A great many lovelorn ballads. And an old-fashioned showman who knew how to work an audience. "I'm not gonna sing some of the old songs tonight," Manilow told the crowd, setting off a terrible panic and not a few boos. "I'm gonna sing 'em all!"It's been a very long while since I listened to Manilow. Twenty years, maybe. Still, I recently received his new, sky-blue greatest-hits disc, "Ultimate Manilow," and have been, to quote the singer, tryin' to get the feeling again. Manilow has been uncool in certain circles--OK, many circles ... OK, most circles--for ages. But, unlike virtually everyone and everything else in the recycletron that is our culture, his uncoolness has never quite made him cool. My sense is that his fans love him because they love him and not because he's a kitsch icon, though, frankly, it's hard to imagine anyone listening to "Copacabana" these days unless they're on X. What's great about Manilow is that, for a singer and pianist who lives in the land of Big Emotions, he's actually sort of subtle. He knows he's there to serve the song, like Tony Bennett, not to torture it with gonzo vocalizing, like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Sure, Manilow can hold a note like nobody's business, but he doesn't wave it up and down and all around like it's a rubber ball and he's a schoolkid playing keep-away. "Ultimate Manilow" sounds better than I expected all these years later. Manilow's lyricists are nowhere near as idiosyncratic as Elton John's sidekick Bernie Taupin--and, as a result, nowhere near as good--and his orchestras tend to sound generic. But even those weaknesses are touching in a way: Manilow, as a great many of his love songs suggest, really is going it alone.Manilow sings best, and most often, about longing for lovers who are gone--either temporarily or for good. I listened to him years before I got any action whatsoever, so I suspect that his music appealed to me because I was longing for longing itself. My girlfriend hadn't dumped me; she just didn't exist. Same difference, more or less. "Weekend in New England," arguably the tune in which Manilow longs hardest and best, begins with a simple piano figure and a carpet of strings. The lyrics, if you really think about them, are sorta daffy, so the fact that the tune still works so well is a testament to how convincingly Manilow sells it: "Last night, I said goodbye/ Now it seems years/ I'm back in the city where nothing is clear." Are you following this? It's only Monday morning and already he's heartbroken. By the chorus, he's beating his breast full-force: "And tell me/ When will our eyes meet/ When can I touch you/ When will this strong yearning end/ And when will I hold you again?" Jesus, guy, you're going to see her on Friday. She didn't die or anything. Relax.Manilow has always been a better piano player than he lets on. He doesn't show off, like Elton John or Billy Joel do on occasion (or Tori Amos does constantly). He just lays out the chords and gets down to the business of soul-baring. "Mandy" opens with a piano melody that calls some Beethoven sonata or other to mind, and "Could It Be Magic" starts with chords borrowed from Chopin. Both tunes still fly for the same reason that "Weekend in New England" does: they're simple and, if you suspend your cynicism, they're touching. You believe that Manilow knows a thing or two about heartache, even if you suspect he's never really been in love with anyone named Mandy. The only tunes on "Ultimate Manilow" that ring false--or hollow, anyway--are the frisky upbeat numbers like "Copacabana," "Bandstand Boogie" and "It's a Miracle." (Elton John must have had "Miracle" rooting around in his subconscious when he wrote "Philadelphia Freedom," but that's cool: Manilow's "This One's For You" owes an obvious debt to "Your Song.") Other tracks have passages that seem dated, but fortunately they're not bad enough to break whatever spell Manilow is trying to cast. "I Write the Songs," which the singer famously did not write, has a bridge with clumsy lyrics ("Oh, my music makes you dance/ And gives you spirit to take a chance") and a backing track straight out of "Sgt. Pepper's"-era Beatles (the little coronet solo was lifted directly from "Penny Lane"). Still, almost 30 years later, the tune is hard to resist. Manilow's still at it in 2002, of course. Not long ago, he released a "Rent"-ish concept album about a Manhattan apartment building, titled "Here at the Mayflower," and he's currently on the road, preaching to the long-since converted. Manilow is jazzier and more musically adventurous these days, but he's still reeling in the feelings. His steadfastness makes me feel sort of guilty for abandoning him circa 1979--not guilty enough to listen to "Can't Smile Without You" ever again, but still. "I made it through the rain," Manilow sang a couple of decades ago in what may well have been a reference to his critics. "I kept my world protected/ I made it through the rain/ I kept my point of view/ I made it through the rain/ And found myself respected by others who/ Got rained on too/ And made it through." Not everything on "Ultimate Manilow" will soft-rock your world, but what can you do but open your door to a guy who's spent 30 years singing in the rain?As was the case for his patron, , the attacks of , 2001, changed everything for , ramping up his career trajectory from local-boy-makes-good to national hero. His bestselling autobiography, rushed out in November of that year, recounts an inspirational story of “The Lost Son” of a prostitute who—through talent, true grit, and hard work—rose to become New York’s police commissioner. After 9/11, Kerik found himself in the stratosphere—honored by the queen of England, dispatched by the White House to rebuild the Iraqi police force, and, in 2004, nominated by President Bush to be secretary of homeland security. Sadly, Kerik’s downfall was swift. The nomination vetting process revealed him as a dirty cop whose lies and corruption ultimately landed him in prison. After pleading guilty to various felonies including tax fraud and lying to White House officials, he began serving a four-year sentence last summer. Today Inmate 84888-054 writes from the minimum-security facility in Cumberland, Md. —Lloyd Grove Thank you! I swear I get more love for five minutes of playing myself in that than 30 years of character work! [Laughs] I was living in New York at the time, and I’d see Ben out and about quite a bit, and he called and asked if I’d do a cameo. When I was there, it suddenly evolved and all that came out of improv. I love that I was the only one in Derek’s corner. But we did so many different versions of that scene. “Stuff it, Zane!” “Put a cork in it, Zane!” “Save it, Zane!” The fact that he kept saying my name …“Billy Zane’s a cool dude!” He just kept hitting it and I was very embarrassed on the day but have come to be so grateful because I’m constantly met with strangers who claim, “Billy Zane is a cool dude.” I just hope to live up to it. Or I hear, “Save it, Zane!” It’s certainly better than, “You’re the asshole from Titanic!” I’m like, “Come on! I wasn’t the iceberg! I didn’t kill 2,000 people!”They went out just 10 years ago, but it looks like the '80s are already back. Last week at Paris's fall/winter 2000-2001 ready-to-wear shows, houses like Valentino, Celine, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent showed Nancy Reagan-style suits, chain belts and chunky jewelry. Celine went so far as to show its clothes to the "Dynasty" theme song. Break out the shoulder pads.With all of its gratuitous humor, Book of Mormon's artistry is sometimes forgotten. But the costumes are the careful creations of legendary costume designer Ann Roth, who—over her 50-year career—has designed for dozens of films, including Midnight Cowboy, Working Girl, The Hours, and HBO's recent miniseries Mildred Pierce. She's the grand dame of costumery of both the stage and screen—and has been nominated for three Tony Awards and won the Academy Award for her designs for The English Patient in 1996. These days, however, she is focused on Mormons.Book of Mormon follows an ill-matched pair of missionaries to Uganda, where they're confronted with the vagaries of local life: warlords, AIDS, and one man who has raped a baby. After falling in with a troupe of Mormons that would put to shame, Arthur Cunningham (Josh Gad) discovers that the way to save the people is to make the Holy Scripture relatable with topics like men mating with frogs.But when a trio of big kahuna Mormons (think: shoulder pads and helmet hair) arrive in Uganda to bestow special awards on Cunningham and his band of flamboyant proselytizers, the villagers take it upon themselves to perform their adaptation of the Book of Mormon for the group. A disaster of epic proportions soon follows.The costumes, meanwhile, are far from it: They represent a combination of fastidious research, cockeyed humor, and the instinct to trust the recesses of Roth's "sick mind." In a few Book of Mormon vignettes, Jesus appears to Joseph Smith, the Latter-day Saints movement's much-mocked founder. Christ has long blond Texas hair and a flowing white cape piped with LED lights—not unlike those in from the Costume Institute Gala last year. "I wanted Cheryl Tiegs in the '80s," Roth says of Jesus. Similarly, Smith looks like he's ripped from the pages of a Mormon coloring book. "That's Orlando," Roth explains, referencing one character's concept of ultimate paradise—the arches of Disney World. "That's his idea of heaven—and many other people's. It's an accessible visual."Creating clothes for the world of Mormon was a challenge, of course, a first. The costumes needed to capture the middle-finger-to-the-heavens irreverence present in the script—while still retaining historical accuracy. For the village's performance sequence, Roth designed pieces around what she imagined the Ugandans might have found discarded. The Angel Moroni appears with a halo made from the wheel of a baby carriage. The women wear bonnets made out of old soda bottles and feed bags. The Ugandan character playing Joseph Smith wears a shrunken jacket from a downed pilot lost in the jungle.Roth found unlikely inspiration from an executive she sat next to at a country club in Virginia. "This poor guy would die, but he's the president of a major corporation," Roth says of the Mormon costumes' unlikely muse. "He was wearing a pea-green suit of some obscure product. I wanted that super-straight and naïve thing where you're very happy with yourself. You're well-paid, you run a multinational corporation… and that's the suit you like. And the people you travel with wear those suits as well."Roth's attention to detail is apparent in each look as is her thorough period research. She dug to find out what Ugandan boys were wearing in old photographs. And the same methods applied to the 2,000 costumes Roth designed for Mildred Pierce. Designing looks for the title character—a housewife from Los Angeles played by Kate Winslet—involved research into what women wore in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Every female extra wore the right girdle and seamed stockings; every man had the correct length tie. She even put iron marks onto some of the dresses—invisible to the viewer—to make them more historically accurate. Roth's approach is simultaneously complex, yet simple: "I don't like stuff that isn't brilliantly made."Plus: .Isabel Wilkinson is an assistant editor at The Daily Beast based in Los Angeles.Gucci's head designer, Tom Ford, has never been afraid to mix sex with pain. Consider the red patent-leather pumps with five-inch, steel-spike heels that he designed in 1997. But Ford's fall-winter 2000 collection, which debuted in Milan a few weeks ago, went beyond S&M into battle gear. Models in thigh-high anaconda-skin boots, fox bomber jackets and polished-leather breastplates marched ferociously down the catwalk, their pouts replaced with sneers. The clothing screamed war. And Gucci is waging a fierce one as the red-hot Florentine fashion house tries to fend off the sort of Wall Street-style takeover that's becoming increasingly common in the new unified Europe.The battle, launched by French luxury conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has raged for more than two months. But last week the exchange of fire between Gucci CEO Dominique De Sole and LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault could be heard from Avenue Montaigne to Seventh Avenue. Back in January, Arnault, whose company owns high-fashion brands like Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Lacroix, spent $1.4 billion to buy 34.4 percent of Gucci, which went from being a nearly bankrupt leather maker to one of fashion's most successful names after Ford became head designer in 1994. For Arnault, it was a great deal: he would have significant control of a $1 billion-in-sales company that makes clothes worn by Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. The problem was, neither De Sole nor Ford wanted anything to do with Arnault, who is known for buying up companies and running them with an iron fist. De Sole tried to ward off Arnault's "creeping takeover" by creating an employee stock-ownership plan, which diluted LVMH's holdings to 26 percent. Arnault cried foul, and both parties wound up in a Dutch court (Gucci is registered as a Dutch company), where they were ordered to settle their differences.On March 19, De Sole announced that he had found a white knight. Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR)--a French company with holdings like Converse, Samsonite, Christie's auction house and French department-store chain Le Printemps--had invested $2.9 billion in Gucci. Together they would create Gucci Group, a conglomerate that would do exactly what LVMH does--acquire and develop luxury brands. The deal gave PPR 40 percent of Gucci; LVMH's share shrank to 22 percent. It also gave Arnault a formidable new rival, PPR chairman Francois Pinault, France's richest man. De Sole and Ford were gleeful. "This is one of my dreams come true," said Ford. He also pointed out that the Gucci Group could go head to head with LVMH in acquiring family-held fashion houses, like Versace and Armani.Arnault responded by doing something he claimed he never would. The same day Gucci announced its partnership with Pinault, LVMH made a full takeover bid for the company at $81 a share, $6 more than what Pinault had paid. He also took Gucci to court again, this time to annul the deal with PPR and replace Gucci's board with an independent overseer.Arnault's willingness to wage the sort of highly publicized, brass-knuckled takeover battle formerly anathema to European executives has a lot to do with the U.S. market. Until recently, women in Asia spent enough on Vuitton knapsacks and Lady Dior bags to keep LVMH's coffers full. From 1996 to 1997, worldwide sales grew 54 percent, to more than $8 billion. But the Asian financial crisis changed all that. Suddenly, LVMH and other high-end fashion companies had to look west to the American market, where spending on luxury goods is growing four times as fast as overall spending. LVMH's flamboyant couture creations have never been huge hits in the States (even socialites are reluctant to cough up thousands for Lacroix's gauze Gypsy costumes). Gucci's styles are also priced in the stratosphere, but their sleek, urban edge is more popular with America's couture wearers. Gucci's feathered jeans and beaded skirts have been spotted recently on celebrities like Elisabeth Shue and Lauryn Hill. What's more, the company's sales were up 10 percent from 1997 to 1998. Arnault knew that Gucci could help heat up the U.S. market for LVMH.But Gucci is only part of the plan. Over the past year, Arnault installed a trio of bright young American designers to spice up three old LVMH companies: Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton, Narciso Rodriguez (maker of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding gown) at Loewe and Michael Kors at Celine. So far, so good. The first U.S. Louis Vuitton store opened in New York last fall, the buzz on Jacobs's collections is strong and a second store is set to open in Beverly Hills in October. Celine's eight U.S. boutiques are flourishing, and Vogue has put Celine on the cover twice since June.Arnault has also learned the golden rule of American retailing: entertain the customer. He's creating "attraction centers" in Waikiki and Guam, where LVMH products will be showcased next to giant aquariums full of sharks. He's building a new 23-story U.S. headquarters in New York. "People will come to see it," he raves, "like the Empire State building!" He's even hired Pia Getty--one of the famed, blond, well-married Miller sisters--to promote his 14 new Sephora cosmetics stores in the United States. The SoHo outlet in New York is already packed with locals whose perfect blowouts resemble Getty's own coif.But Arnault may have competition from PPR on the beauty, as well as the fashion, front. The same day PPR announced its deal with Gucci, it paid $1 billion for Sanofi Beaute, the French owner of brands like Yves Saint Laurent cosmetics and perfumes. Sanofi makes Opium, a perpetual favorite at the fragrance counter. What makes the purchase so galling to Arnault is that he had tried to buy the company himself back in December, but gave up after weeks of haggling. He was expected to put in another bid, until PPR snatched Sanofi out from under him. Arnault dismissed the purchase, saying PPR had overpaid. But the Sanofi deal only adds to the competitive pressure posed by PPR's offer to Gucci.Dominique De Sole believes that pressure is the only reason Arnault made a full offer for Gucci, rather than continue his creeping takeover. "Arnault is defending his monopoly," De Sole tells NEWSWEEK. "He is the only big luxury group in the industry actively buying companies. The Gucci Group would be a competitor." In many ways, Bernard Arnault and Francois Pinault are cut from the same cloth. Both are highly competitive and have an entrepreneurial bent. Arnault worked in the cut-throat U.S. property-development business in the 1980s before building his empire. Pinault dropped out of high school at 16, and later turned his family's single lumber mill into a multimillion-dollar lumber-distribution network. His business strategy, inspired by French poet Rene Char, is one that Arnault could probably relate to: "Think strategically, act primitively."For the time being, Pinault will have to keep his primitive urges in check. Last week a Dutch court ruled that Gucci must consider LVMH's takeover deal without interference from PPR. But it refused to appoint an independent overseer for the board. The court also upheld PPR's stake in Gucci. Both sides claimed victory. Arnault says he's pleased Gucci has been forced to talk with LVMH. De Sole seems happy that he and Pinault were able to back LVMH into a corner: "Arnault said he would never make an offer for the entire company, and now has an offer on the table." He adds that from here on out, "it really depends on what the shareholders want, if they want to cash in [by selling to LVMH] or participate in the growth of the company [by accepting the PPR merger]."Shareholders will make that decision in the coming weeks, and on April 22 a court will rule on whether Gucci's stock plan is legal. Meanwhile, the sniping between Gucci and LVMH continues. The battle certainly hasn't been bad for Gucci's business: the company's stock has risen more than 20 percent since its close on March 18, the day before the PPR deal was announced. Whether it will stay up if LVMH gets the company is another story. Tom Ford and Dominique De Sole made Gucci what it is, and if Arnault succeeds in his takeover, they have both promised to leave the company. If so, Arnault may trade the sex appeal of the world's hottest fashion house for the pain it cost him to get it.Joffrey Ballet dancers typically wear tights, tutus and pointe shoes. But on a Chicago stage next week, they will be dressed in sweatshirts and sneakers for a sultry pas de deux by "West Side Story" choreographer Jerome Robbins. You'd be forgiven for assuming that the street clothes are beneath ballet dancers. Far from it: along with 14 other dance companies from around the world, the Joffrey will perform at the Jazz Dance World Congress Aug. 3-6.Look for dancers donning sneakers, jazz shoes, even nothing at all on their feet, as 800 students and performers spend the days taking classes and their nights watching a choreography competition and performances by different companies. Masashi Action Machine from Japan will combine jazz with martial arts moves. Other groups will infuse their shows with elements from African tribal dance, hip-hop and tap. "This is really the Christmas for jazz dancers," says Lisa Arnett of Dance Spirit magazine.It's been the case virtually every August since 1990, when Chicago jazz dance legend Gus Giordano started the World Congress. Though the annual event has been held in places like Japan, Mexico, Germany and Costa Rica, its roots are in Chicago--the "nexus of concert jazz companies," says Arnett. Dancers from Russia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Finland and Sweden will descend on the city, bringing their own moves and picking up a few new ones to take back to their parts of the world. "It is a cultural enrichment for my company," says choreographer Vittorio Biagi, who is bringing his Danza Prospettiva company from Rome. "I love the American audience."And the love, believe it or not, is apparently reciprocated: dancers on popular reality-TV competition shows like ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" and Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" infuse their routines with jazz moves. You can see it on Broadway ("Movin' Out") and on the streets (as documented in David LaChappelle's "Rize"). It can include karate kicks, cartwheels, pole vaulting, even hanging from bungee cords. If that all sounds a little random, that's because it is. Jazz dance is "very difficult to define," says Tom Ralabate, director of dance at the State University of New York, Buffalo. "You have to experience it. You have to be there." (Louis Armstrong, when asked to define jazz music, famously said, "Man, if you gotta ask, you'll never know.")As audiences at the World Congress will learn, jazz dance is about breaking the rules. "Jazz breathes more than classical ballet," says Mia Michaels, a judge on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," who choreographed Celine Dion's 54-dancer Las Vegas show. "It's much more free." And much more athletic. "Jazz sometimes gets a bad rap for being not as difficult as ballet, and modern dance sometimes gets the label as being more intellectual," says Sara Bibik of the River North Chicago Dance Company.In fact, jazz dancers typically train in ballet. "It's just like a musician. A jazz musician needs to know how to play classically before [he] can break all the rules," says Michael Williams, a dance professor at the University of Arizona and chair of the jury for the World Congress's choreography competition. Jazz dancers need to know the movement structure of ballet--and then "make it less vertical and much more horizontal," says Williams. Jazz dance isolates body parts--shoulders going in one direction, the head in another, the pelvis in yet another. In other words, "what Elvis did," says Northwestern University dance teacher Laura Wade.Granted, as a movement, jazz dance may have reached its apotheosis decades ago with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire and choreographers like Robbins, Jack Cole ("Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"), Bob Fosse ("Sweet Charity," "All That Jazz" and "Chicago") and Michael Bennett ("A Chorus Line"). But today even Britney Spears and her backup dancers include a "jazz vein," says Giordano. (Although, "it's redundant," she says. "There's no versatility. [True] jazz has huge versatility and huge depth.")Still, purists say jazz dance should be performed to music that includes "swing," repeated riffs and syncopation (emphasizing the weak second and fourth beats instead of a strong downbeat). "Some people will say it can only be to jazz music, 1900 to 1945, and it has to be a certain rhythm or syncopation," says Bibik. But few people today feel bound by those rules. "Jazz is a melting pot," says Joe Tremaine, who trained Paula Abdul and serves as a master teacher at the World Congress every year. "It's a great chance for me to get a thumbnail overview of what's going on in the world."Anyone who can't get that overview from the World Congress can always flip on the new dance TV shows--or head to any of the 125 or so other dance festivals, which usually include at least a small jazz-dance component, held around the country each year (usually during the summer, when students are out of school and many dance companies are on break). There's Jacob's Pillow in Becket, Mass., the American Dance Festival in Durham, N.C., and the St. Louis Tap Festival, to name a few.But for true jazz immersion, head to the World Congress. "The diversity that's going to be on that stage for the show is going to be great," says Whitney Moncrief. She should know: her company, Hubbard Street 2, will perform "Dirti Rok," a hip-hop-style piece, danced to African-influenced music and including martial arts and flips. Makes ballet sound, well, banal."Brooklyn" is that most endangered of Broadway beasts: a musical that's not a revival or a movie knockoff but a real, live, original work. Even more compelling, the show was written by a formerly homeless songwriter and the woman who plucked him off the streets and gave him a home. Shouldn't a show like this win some kind of lifetime-achievement award?Heaven knows it will never win a Tony. "Brooklyn" is one of those play-within-a-play musicals that sound so clever on paper but are totally confusing onstage. It follows a troupe of homeless street singers (in Brooklyn) who re-enact the story of a woman (named Brooklyn) who comes to (yes) Brooklyn in search of the father she never knew. And then the cliches really kick in. The father (Kevin Anderson) is a drug-addicted Vietnam vet who rejects her. Brooklyn (the woman) has a heart of gold--the show's anthem is a sticky-sweet song called "Heart Behind These Hands"--who tries to win him over with her music and stories of how her mother died of a broken heart. Shall we go on? Actually, there's one more thing. For reasons too farfetched to explain, Brooklyn ends up battling a street-tough chick named Paradice (she was born with a "pair of dice" around her neck) in a "Battle of the Divas" at Madison Square Garden. By the time they belt out their Celine-ready anthems, "Brooklyn" has turned into "American Idol" with too much backstory. Where is Simon Cowell when you need him?Which is not to say that "Brooklyn" is without its charms. Eden Espinosa (Brooklyn) and Ramona Keller (Paradice) are rafter-shaking singers who, unlike so many belters in the "Idol" era, know how to heat up a song slowly before letting it boil. They almost make you feel something for their cardboard characters. And their outfits are a hoot. In a nod to the homeless-as-royalty theme, the women wear couture dresses made out of garbage bags--"Salvation Armani," says Paradice. Composers Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson write big, catchy pop tunes with nice bluesy undertones, though their lyrics tend toward "Rent" lite. And trite. It's hard to say what "Brooklyn" is about, beyond some gooey populist notions of how there's no shame in being poor, love heals all wounds and you can't live in the past. Considering the road the formerly homeless Schoenfeld has walked, it feels churlish to criticize him. But while recycling works wonders for those costumes, it turns "Brooklyn" into a throwaway show.You can count on Celine Dion to belt out the good news: the French Canadian songbird announced she and hubby Rene Angelil, 57, are expecting. "There's no hiding happiness," gushed the diva, who couldn't wait to share the good news--the baby's not due until next March. "The dream dearest to our hearts has come true." Somebody cue the background music.Before Dion’s arrival in 2003, Sin City’s musical identity was still tied to Liberace, Elvis impersonators, and, at best, a mustachioed Wayne Newton. But Dion has made Vegas safe again for big-name talent of a certain age. Cher and Bette Midler followed her at the Colosseum, and Shania Twain is in talks to begin her own engagement in the house that Celine built. Sitting backstage in an area designed for a Lion King–sized cast, Barry Manilow, a self-described “guy in front of a band,” says Dion helped make the Strip palatable for a singer of his stature. “She changed the perception of performers here,” says the 67-year-old crooner, who’s about to release his first album of new songs in a decade, 15 Minutes. In 2009, he decamped from the frescoed, pink penthouse he occupied at the Las Vegas Hilton when he first started playing the city in 2005, to a more subdued condo near his new show at the Paris Las Vegas hotel-casino. (Unlike Celine, the star prefers not to live in a city where a volcano erupts every hour, so he commutes for his shows from that other Rat Pack oasis, Palm Springs.) Like Dion, Manilow has proven to be a kind of mini-stimulus program for Las Vegas, funneling an estimated $60 million a year into the economy. But he says his view from the stage hasn’t changed during the city’s doldrums. “We’ve been doing really good business,” Manilow says. “It hasn’t gone downhill for me.”The most surprising thing about Viva Elvis, Cirque du Soleil's latest effort, their seventh permanent Las Vegas show, which opened Friday at CityCenter (the much-marketed $8.5 billion resort of the future), is that this is now the most traditional Vegas production on the Strip. It is a throwback that offers big dance numbers, showgirls galore, and at the end, a stage packed with male and female, short and tall, jump-suited Elvae.Viva Elvis makes no effort to be anything but entertainment—upbeat, gaudy and over-the-top. And it is old school despite the Cirque-scaled budget—$50 million for the show and $180 million to build the theater—that allows the latest technological magic to bring Elvis onto a screen overlooking the action, while sending his powerhouse voice coursing over the audience.In Viva Elvis, critic Mike Weatherford sees Las Vegas’ gilded age of entertainment’s final moment. “You look at the Elvis show and the cast and the overhead and you know that nothing like that is going to come along for awhile.” As separate entities, Presley, more than 40 years ago, and Cirque, more than 15, made it in Vegas as outsiders. Since then, of course, both have become worldwide institutions. Dance heavy and joyously excessive, Viva Elvis is a pat on the back that celebrates itself. From a performance of "Blue Suede Shoes" with a giant blue suede shoe prop slide for acrobats, to a "Viva Las Vegas" number where old-style showgirls in headdresses are arrayed on an extraneous staircase, this show is glorious indulgence—as bejeweled as one of the King's belt buckles.And Viva Elvis is a victory lap for Cirque; even in this economy Cirque has created an expensive show that is a sure thing.As in their hugely successful production Love up the Strip at the Mirage, in which the Beatles provide the soundtrack, Cirque is helped here because they picked an easy commercial target in Elvis Presley. Vegas Happens Here blogger and Las Vegas Weekly columnist Steve Friess had to the artistic value of Viva Elvis, but no doubt about the show's commercial future: "It is bright and colorful. It is clearly going to be a hit."But there are few sure bets in Vegas in 2010. In fact, Elvis, Cirque and Celine Dion, who has announced a return to Caesars Palace starting March 2011, may comprise the entire list. In Vegas, Cirque has never had a show fail. In the middle of a recession that has closed many well-known shows on the Strip—including magician Steve Wyrick's at the Planet Hollywood mall, Follies Bergere after decades at the Tropicana, and Splash and An Evening at La Cage at Riviera—Cirque commercially defies gravity.On the red carpet Friday for Viva Elvis, which was actually blue in honor of "Blue Suede Shoes," Cirque founder Guy Laliberte shrugged off the recession, and, sounding more like a captain of industry than a former stilt walker, volunteered that Cirque could easily do an eighth Vegas show, or even a ninth. "As long as we are capable of bringing distinctive product, we will be OK," he said.Despite the presumed success of Viva Elvis, the financial challenges Vegas resorts face—the two largest casino companies on the Strip, Harrah's and MGM-Mirage, both have billions in debt—may mean that this show marks an end (until Celine and her orchestra return next year) to big money productions in Vegas.The last decade was defined by these sorts of only-in-Vegas expensive shows in custom theaters: the multiplatform, rotating stage of Cirque's KA at MGM Grand; the stadium with the Wolfgang Puck snack bar created to house Celine at Caesars; and the $70 million used to transform a Rem Koolhaas gallery into a theater for Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular at the Venetian."Looking ahead for entertainment, for a longtime it is going to be doing it cheap," said Mike Weatherford, the entertainment writer and critic for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I don't think the casinos are in a position to do anything about that."In Viva Elvis, he sees Vegas' gilded age of entertainment's final moment. "You look at the Elvis show and the cast and the overhead and you know that nothing like that is going to come along for awhile." (According to press materials, Viva Elvis uses 400 costumes with 14,000 components decorated by 100,000 crystals.)Viva Elvis is all easy pleasures—beautiful people, lots of choreography, and plenty of flash. This is an Elvis Presley who never did drugs, got divorced, or even gained weight; throughout the show he is the eternal and feral voice of youth. One number acts out young Presley's superhero fantasies with a total literalness. The entire show presents Elvis in such earnest cleanliness that even Colonel Parker emerges from the bath scrubbed clean of sleaze and gambling problems to narrate the tale of the "boy" he recalls with such loving fondness.Long before Viva Elvis, both Elvis Presley and Cirque made their marks in on Las Vegas as innovators in changing times for the city's entertainment. For Presley's concert comeback in Vegas in 1969, he created a groundbreaking production with himself as headliner rock star. But most important was Presley's decision to pack the stage with a mammoth band, equal to his dramatic, King-sized voice, which included two gospel vocal groups, The Imperials and Sweet Inspirations. Presley's aim was to construct a show in Vegas with the reach and grandeur of all the genres of music that inspired him including gospel, country, and the latest chart hits by the Beatles, including a medley of "Hey Jude" and "Yesterday."In 1993, Cirque's Mystere threw out traditional Vegas notions of mixing showgirls and novelty acts. The Canadian troupe's first permanent production, in a custom theater at Treasure Island, had a ticket price meant to turn a profit. But Mystere also brought to Vegas something Siegfried & Roy never pondered: aesthetic ambitions that were moody, dark, grand and pretentious. And meant for more than sending people back out to the tables ready to play.These days, Vegas is in no position to roll the dice with entertainment. But as longtime headliner Carrot Top notes, stagnation also has substantial risks. "Vegas entertainment used to always be changing," he said Friday. "Every year there was a new landscape for entertainment. I used to hope it didn't change too much, because I'd like to keep my job. But right now I don't know what comes next."According to Weatherford, one thing that will come next are low-cost shows starring a celebrity—like Jason Alexander in Donny Clay at Planet Hollywood, and Chaz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale, which is returning to the Venetian for a second run. "You hope the celebrity will bring the people, and the cost is no more than plugging in a microphone," Weatherford said. Friess agrees, but sees the small budgets as allowing for artistic possibilities shows like Viva Elvis cannot afford to risk. "Shows like A Bronx Tale are emerging as a form of counterprogramming," he said.Standing near the blue red carpet for Viva Elvis Friday, hoping to catch sight of celebrities, Frellie Campos, 36, from Seattle, wondered whether this might be her last visit to Vegas. For the past decade, along with her partner, she has come to Vegas every other year to see shows. "Not headliners," Campos said. "Headliners come to your town. Shows like Viva Elvis. You want to see shows of quality. We are running out of choices. We have seen everything. For us after this show, if there isn't anything new, there isn't any reason to come back to Vegas."To keep tourists like Campos happy, without bottomless budgets or Celine Dion, Vegas is now facing an unfamiliar question now that Viva Elvis has opened: What comes next?Plus: .Richard Abowitz has chronicled the rise and continuing fall of Las Vegas for over a decade. He is the author of hundreds of articles for . Abowitz is perhaps best known for writing the and continuing print column for . In addition to covering Vegas, Abowitz has been writing about music and culture for since 1996. In December 2009, Abowitz launched to be an honest broker reporting on all things Vegas.Let’s face it: If there’s one good thing about the fight for the nomination dragging out on the Democratic side, it’s that we will still get to rock out to “You and I,” that cringe-inducing Celine Dion anthem that serves as Hillary Clinton’s campaign theme song. Ok, we kid. But another few weeks (months?) of this fight between Clinton and Barack Obama must at least promise some totally cheesy celebrity moments on the trail. Case in point: the Clinton campaign announced this morning that Elton John--oops, we mean Sir Elton John--will headline a solo concert (his first in eight years!) in New York City next month at Radio City Music Hall to benefit Clinton’s campaign. The title is priceless--“Elton and Hillary: One Night Only”--but the tickets to the April 9th show are most certainly not. It’s $125 a pop for the cheap seats, $250 if you want to be close enough to maybe, possibly hear Clinton sing along with “Tiny Dancer.” (Or, perhaps more appropriately, “I’m Still Standing.”) “I'm not a politician but I believe in the work that Hillary Clinton does," John says in a press release issued by the Clinton campaign. "I'm excited to support Hillary by performing at what will be a truly memorable night." Ah, can’t you feel the love (tonight)?Carl Wilson's book, Let's Talk About Love, takes a look at why people love or love to hate Celine Dion. Stephen Colbert wants to know what 'horrific experience' results in the former. The full interview is available at .Kanye West was on stage to introduce , who was given the International Award celebrating her work with the Paris-based brand, Celine. Philo has turned the moribund label into a powerhouse of minimalism. But given West’s history there was a good chance that he might take the opportunity to go rogue about how some other designer was more deserving or that he himself deserved the award. Would there be some sort of signature West wackiness? No, no. He was on his best behavior. Indeed, Philo’s skill was dynamic enough that it practically made West go weepy as he shared his love for her work and admitted to even trying on some of her womenswear at the Celine store in Paris, even though he knew he’d have hell to pay on the hip-hop blogs.As if a collection of private planes, fancy cars, yachts and a didn’t satisfy Larry Ellison’s every whim, the Oracle co-founder recently purchased the island of Lanai in Hawaii. Ellison, the sixth wealthiest person in the world, from billionaire David Murdock for an undisclosed price and now owns nearly every single money-maker on Lanai, from five-star hotels and championship golf courses to 88,000 acres of pineapple fields and a solar farm. The biggest question is whether the 2010 America’s Cup and yachting enthusiast will turn the island into a sailing hub. For now, he has yet to appear in public on the island or comment on his purchase, presumably because he is sipping a piña colada under a palm tree somewhere along the 50 miles of beaches he now owns.No acceptance speeches. No sparkly dresses. And, most notably for Hollywood, no applause."America: A Tribute to Heroes," the commercial-free telethon that took over TV for two hours Friday night, was unlike any celebrity spectacle we've seen in recent memory. With its rich color palette and a stage dripping with candles, it felt more like a VH1 special than a significant moment of American cultural history. Call it cheesy-many people did-but getting the tone right had to be tough.Both the musicians and the actors were at their most earnest. The dozen or so performances ran smoothly-it's hard to believe this show came together in less than a week-and the song choices were generally moving. Bruce Springsteen opened the show with "My City of Ruins," a ballad he wrote for Asbury Park, N.J. An energized Wyclef Jean performed Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," Billy Joel did his "New York State of Mind" and U2, beamed in from London, put together a medley that included "Peace on Earth" and "Walk On." Mariah Carey emerged after her breakdown to deliver her signature "Hero" and Celine Dion came out from self-imposed seclusion with a quiet, destined-to-be-classic rendition of "God Bless America." Most notable was Neil Young's cover of John Lennon's "Imagine."Like the musicians, none of the actors received introductions. Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and the rest of the A-listers simply emerged from the darkness to recite (off of TelePrompters) short tales of heroism from in and around the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on the morning of the attacks. Each ended his or her moment with a plea to donate money. The toll-free number (1-866-TO-UNITE) and Web-site address (www.tributetoheroes.org) remained at the bottom of the screen during the entire show. Thankfully, there was no running tab of how much had been raised thus far.The show's stand-out moment was the pairing of Muhammad Ali and Will Smith, who plays the fighter in the upcoming movie "Ali." The ex-heavyweight champion, shaking from Parkinson's, spoke as a Muslim. "I'm against killing and violence, and all Muslims are against it," he said. "I wouldn't be here to represent Islam if it were really like the way the terrorists made it look."Aside from Ali's important remarks, the show's sincerity was a touch tough to swallow. After all, we're not used to taking celebrities seriously. We like to sit back and make fun of these people, with their $20 million salaries and their pet causes, and any self-righteousness on their part on awards shows usually elicits guffaws. But no one's laughing that much right now.At least the "celebrity phone bank" provided a modicum of comic relief. Several times during the program, cameras cut to another location, where some of Hollywood's biggest stars sat in rows at cafeteria tables taking phone calls from Americans pledging money. There was Goldie Hawn, chatting giddily on the horn, as if to a close girlfriend. Also Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg and others-all of them positioned like AT&T operators, standing by to take your call.You couldn't help but giggle. And it's really not such a bad thing. Because if we can't laugh at Hollywood, we may never laugh again.But the view from the red carpet can be deceptive. For in the three years since she departed Caesars Palace, Vegas collapsed. Sky-high foreclosures and epic layoffs torched the working-class dreams of the men and women who create the illusion that is : the cocktail waitresses in their Romanesque miniskirts, the towel boys who work the Bacchus pools, the cooks at Nero's Steakhouse. The mega-resorts along the Strip recently posted an unprecedented two-year loss—with a total bleed north of $6 billion—and the usual gap between the city’s glamour and grit is now wider than at any point in Las Vegas history. Official unemployment is near 14 percent, the nation’s worst rate among big cities, and when you factor in those who have lost hours or dropped out of the labor force altogether, actual joblessness is a Libya-like 26 percent, says Stephen Brown, the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “Could things actually look worse?” Brown asked during a speech to business leaders this winter. “The answer is no.”All of which helps explain why Celine has been cast as a savior as much as a star. “Prepare for the Second Coming,” implored a column in the Las Vegas Sun, dividing the city’s recent history into B.C. and A.C. (for exactly the reason you think). It’s the “Dawn of a New Day,” promised a more sober piece in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, riffing on the title of Dion’s last Vegas show, A New Day. “Can a Singular ‘Celine’ Revive Las Vegas?” queried USA Today, before engaging the president of Caesars Palace on why, exactly, the answer is yes.Certainly Celine has been good for Caesars, and Caesars has been good for Celine—paying her a reported $100 million for 210 shows over the next three years. During her prior run, from 2003 to 2007, Dion sold out more than 700 consecutive performances, smashing local records for total audience (nearly 3 million), and bringing in more than $400 million at the box office, more greenbacks than the Rat Pack, Liberace, and Elvis combined. This time around, she’s being touted as a one-woman stimulus bill—worth at least $114 million a year and thousands of jobs, according to UNLV. But in an $18 billion economy—one so sluggish it was recently ranked among the five worst in the world—can Celine’s return really have an impact? “We are not adjusting our forecast,” says Michael Lawton, a senior analyst for Nevada’s Gaming Control Board, who notes that the Celine effect is just replacing the Cher effect from a season ago.Mayor Oscar Goodman doesn’t seem unduly worried about the underlying desperation in Las Vegas. The politician, a self-described former mob lawyer who now bills himself as “The Happiest Mayor of the Greatest City in the World,” brims with optimism about the town’s prospects.Of course, to presume that a single performer—even one of Dion’s stature—could help Vegas get rich quick is a sucker’s bet. But then, that’s what Vegas has always been about.A crowd of 4,200 fans has packed into the Colosseum at Caesars Palace to get a first look at Celine’s new show. As she takes the stage in her sparkling ivory Armani Privé gown, the audience leaps to its feet. Several fans sob uncontrollably, and the singer fights tears of her own. “I’m so excited to be back in this beautiful theater,” she exclaims as she scans the biggest showroom in Vegas, which was built for her in 2003. “I got to tell you, this is a dream come true for a singer.”Backed by a 31-piece orchestra that brings to mind Vegas’s Rat Pack glory days, Dion launches into a taut 90-minute cycle of her hits (“My Heart Will Go On,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and borrowed classics (from Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” to the Bond theme song “Goldfinger”). For Dion fans, it’s an almost-religious experience, leavened with personal anecdotes and at-home photos with the diva, who gave birth to twins four months ago. “I gained more than 60 pounds,” Dion later says backstage, lounging on a couch in her dressing room and sipping a cup of tea. “When you work hard and breast-feed, it gives you your shape back.”Dion has an endearing way of making her fairy-tale life in Vegas seem ordinary, which is part of the draw. “I know it sounds strange,” she says. “We have an extravagant life, but we’re normal people.” The family’s house, on a golf course 30 miles from the Strip, is a relatively modest four-bedroom affair (although it’s worth noting that they have two other homes, including a $20 million spread in Florida with its own water park, and Dion will be spending only part of her time in Vegas). All the same, Dion says she came here in the first place because she wanted to put down roots, back when her son Rene-Charles—known as “R.C.” and now 10—was an infant. “I don’t want my kids to live in my dressing room,” she says. “I want [R.C.] to go outside. I want him to play baseball.” R.C. has joined the Little League team and bowls near the casino. And Dion turned to the local church when it was time to baptize Eddy (named for the French songwriter who penned her first five albums) and Nelson (as in Mandela).One thing Celine doesn’t do like a local is gamble—although her husband Rene Angelil moonlights as a professional poker player and has already taught R.C. how to play. (“I’m ashamed to say that,” Angelil says.) He won $1.6 million at a tournament just before the couple left Sin City in 2007. “I wasn’t the one who brought my husband here,” Dion quips backstage. “He’s been coming since before I was born. I decide everything in our private life, but in show business, he’s the boss.” After discovering Celine in 1981, Angelil mortgaged his home to produce her first record. “Sometimes when you gamble, you get up from the table with a fortune,” he explains. “That’s what happened with Celine in my life.”What does Dion make of all the talk that she will bring fortune back to Las Vegas? “It’s very touching for me to hear this,” she says. “I think it’s just a coincidence. When we ended the show, the economy just went,” she gestures to the floor and makes the sound of a plane nose-diving.Few people have witnessed the human toll more closely than Sgt. Patrick Geary and his colleague, Dep. Kristy Henderson, in the Las Vegas Constable’s Office. They are responsible for delivering the paperwork of this apocalypse: wage garnishments, foreclosure and eviction notices, and, ultimately, court-ordered lockouts. Paid by debt collectors on a per-action basis—$42 for an eviction, for example—Geary, who began plying his trade in 2007, has been raking in around $80,000 a year. Henderson is a charmer, with blond hair, pink painted nails and gold-rimmed aviator sunglasses, but she is a messenger of doom for many employees of the Strip’s biggest properties: the MGM resorts, Caesars, the Venetian. These days, the companies often tell Henderson that the person she’s looking for no longer works for them. It’s no surprise. Three major casinos have gone bankrupt, and at least six multibillion-dollar resort and condo projects stand idle, monuments to the wild optimism of just a few years past.At the south end of the Strip, near the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, a hidden concrete path leads into a 500-mile warren of wet, trash-strewn drainage pipes that function as an underground shelter for hundreds of the city’s most downtrodden. Several have been laid off from the same well-paid, benefits-packed service jobs that give Vegas its rep as a working-class paradise. The pipes are one of the few places police and hotel security don’t bother to tread, and since the recession, they’ve become increasingly populated, according to Matthew O’Brien, author of a 2007 book about the tunnels, Beneath the Neon.Life here is spare and dangerous. Aside from floods that can fill the space in minutes, there is ever-present crime. Jody Alger, 48, an unemployed casino waitress, guards her tunnel with a BB gun. Another camp has two makeshift barricades at its entrance; inside, its 32-year-old inhabitant huddles on an old bed with a flashlight strapped to his head. In a nearby tunnel, John Tondee sleeps on a sagging leather couch that he found in a Dumpster. His clothes are in a messy pile, and his entertainment is a guitar with a broken string, which he uses for playing country gospel. “I’m at the point of coming out of here,” he says. “I’ve had enough.” Tondee says he’s a former maintenance worker who lost his job a year ago and couldn’t afford to pay the $675 in rent. “I’ll do whatever it takes to survive,” he says. “I’ll go around and wash windows.” At night, he used to dress in drag and walk down the Strip. But someone came into the tunnel and stole his 16 wigs. Now he has only one head of fake black curls left.Mayor Oscar Goodman doesn’t seem unduly worried about the underlying desperation in Las Vegas. The politician, a self-described former mob lawyer who now bills himself as “The Happiest Mayor of the Greatest City in the World,” brims with optimism about the town’s prospects. As he explained recently in his office, which is stuffed with celebrity photo ops and knickknacks from nearly 12 years in the bully pulpit, “I think we’re in good shape… I have no concerns.” He slaps smiley faces over every dire statistic associated with his town, from the loss of 140,000 jobs (“I have no doubt they’ll be back”) to the 2 million-person decline in annual visitors (“Give them time to buy a ticket!”).Even so, the mayor is as happy as anyone to see Celine return—maybe even happier. As he later confides: “I was just praying that she would come back. Thank God she did.” In the minutes after Dion’s first preview performance, the cash registers at the Colosseum gift shop are mobbed. Fans scoop up $65 sparkling Celine flip-flops, $495 Champagne glasses, a $3,000 crystal purse designed by Judith Leiber. “The most popular shirt we have is ‘I Love Celine Dion, and Celine Dion Loves Me,’ ” says Maryann Louder, Caesars’ supervisor for entertainment retail, who sings along to Dion’s tunes in the store. “We also have it in French.” It’s not only about pajamas and mugs—Celine’s branding power reaches to the sky. Last month, Air Canada announced expanded service along its Quebec to Las Vegas route to accommodate Dion’s rabid hometown fans, a quarter million of whom turned out for one of her first post-Vegas concerts in 2008.Dion has been a star in Canada since she was 13. She had four hit French-language albums by age 16, when she saw Michael Jackson on TV and decided to learn English to emulate her idol. Ballads like “The Power of Love” and “Because You Loved Me” propelled her career, and Dion has sold 215 million albums worldwide. She is especially popular overseas—a big selling point for Vegas executives looking to bring in high rollers from Asia and elsewhere. “Our very best customers are planning trips to see Celine,” says Caesars President Gary Selesner. “You can go in any bar anywhere in the world—Tanzania, Shanghai—and that song [‘My Heart Will Go On’] will be playing.” Before Dion’s arrival in 2003, Sin City’s musical identity was still tied to Liberace, Elvis impersonators, and, at best, a mustachioed Wayne Newton. But Dion has made Vegas safe again for big-name talent of a certain age. Cher and Bette Midler followed her at the Colosseum, and Shania Twain is in talks to begin her own engagement in the house that Celine built. Sitting backstage in an area designed for a Lion King-size cast, Barry Manilow, a self-described “guy in front of a band,” says Dion helped make the Strip palatable for a singer of his stature. “She changed the perception of performers here,” says the 67-year-old crooner, who’s about to release his first album of new songs in a decade, 15 Minutes. In 2009, he decamped from the frescoed, pink penthouse he occupied at the Las Vegas Hilton when he first started playing the city in 2005, to a more subdued condo near his new show at the Paris Las Vegas hotel-casino. (Unlike Celine, the star prefers not to live in a city where a volcano erupts every hour, so he commutes for his shows from that other Rat Pack oasis, Palm Springs.) Like Dion, Manilow has proven to be a kind of mini-stimulus program for Las Vegas, funneling an estimated $60 million a year into the economy. But he says his view from the stage hasn’t changed during the city’s doldrums. “We’ve been doing really good business,” Manilow says. “It hasn’t gone downhill for me.”For those celebrities who live here full-time, the devastation is a bit more noticeable. Marie Osmond, who performs at the Flamingo with her brother Donny, describes what it was like trick-or-treating last Halloween. “All the homes were empty,” says the Dancing With the Stars veteran, who lives in a posh gated suburb. “You go up to them and there’s nobody there, there’s a [foreclosure] sign in the window. Even in our neighborhood.” The illusionist Criss Angel says he knew the recession was bad when he saw hotel guests bringing their own six-packs from the gas station down the street. Late last year, Angel launched a powerfully rebuilt show at the pyramid-shaped Luxor (his prior act debuted to poisonous reviews in 2008) and is on track to pump an estimated $150 million a year into the local economy (thanks to four times as many shows as Celine and Barry). “I’m the face of the Luxor,” says Angel, who spends a fair amount of his time between shows in the “Black Room”—his custom-built backstage lounge replete with leather-covered walls and a 26-head marble shower that could accommodate most of Cirque du Soleil. Angel helped bring his ex-girlfriend Holly Madison to Sin City, straight from Hugh Hefner’s mansion. She now headlines in Peepshow, a recession-proof topless musical (don’t even ask about the plot), and stars in an E! Network reality show from the Strip called Holly’s World. When not shimmying at Planet Hollywood, Madison plays in her 5,000-square-foot faux Mediterranean villa, complete with its own backyard water slide. She got a great deal on the place, thanks to the real-estate crash. “I found one that was half price,” she gushes. “I got lucky.”But no one is as lucky as the diva who will be raking in an estimated half-million dollars a show beginning this Tuesday night. “If they ask me to come, it’s because they make money,” Dion says. “How do you think I feel about that? I feel like a winner.” After so much loss, Las Vegas can only pray, “Luck, be a lady tonight.”With Steve Friess in Las VegasTony Dokoupil is a staff writer and editor at Newsweek.Ramin Setoodeh is a senior writer at Newsweek. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times and U.S. News & World Report, among other publications., who were born October 23. The two boys are reportedly named after late songwriter Eddy Marnay, who helped Dion with her first album, and former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.From Celine to Louis Vuitton, minimal new carry-alls are blanketing runways. By Misty White Sidell.“It has to do with part of the functionalism and in a way part of the minimalism that’s going on,” said Valerie Steele, director of the museum at FIT. “If you are getting clothes that are more streamlined, you’re going to choose a bag that mimics or complements that in some way.” Minimalism—a term that’s been excessively evident in the two years since industry veteran was appointed to Celine’s top design spot—has become fashion’s reigning style. Perhaps its classic undertones and reliability have caused the trend’s undisputed lasting power. Alex Rawsthorne wrote in The New York Times’s Style Magazine that Philo’s aesthetic was “a breath of fresh air at a time when fashion needed a respite from recession.”An example of this would be at Paco Rabanne, a house that 40 years ago was known for its futuristic sensibility, particularly its use of chain mail. It has hired, fired, and lost an assortment of designers—including American . It is trying once again to rouse itself from a malaise with Manish Arora, whose own label boasts a certain outlandish stupendousness. When Arora debuted his Paco Rabanne collection at the Pompidou Museum, things looked promising—if only for a moment. There were bold minidresses with molded bodices that exaggerated an hourglass figure. And there were warrior-goddess tops in a jigsaw puzzle of metal—not quite Middle American tastes, but they could find a home on an .from Christian Dior for on Tuesday, rumors are already circulating about who will fill his shoes. The decision is up to Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of Dior’s parent company, LVMH. According to The Guardian, the frontrunner for the position is Riccardo Tisci, the 36-year-old Italian designer for Givenchy, another LVMH brand. Galliano was also at Givenchy before moving to Dior. Other possible replacements from within LVMH include Marc Jacobs, who designs for Louis Vuitton, and Phoebe Philo at Celine. While it is speculated that Galliano’s replacement will come from within LVMH, Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz is also rumored to be in the running.Pity the poor Chrysler execs at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month. They traveled to Germany to show off their steroidal new 300C Hemi luxury sedan and wagon. But the press wanted to talk only about Chrysler's fall from the Big Three after being overtaken by Toyota in August. With microphones shoved in their faces, the Chrysler brass tried to beat back rumors of layoffs, salary cuts and even speculation about the company's demise. "Nobody ever claimed this would be an easy road," a weary Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche told NEWSWEEK during a brief break from the frenzy. At that very moment, back stateside, Toyota execs basked in a two-day lovefest with their dealers at a convention center in Philadelphia. Former president George H.W. Bush was on hand to congratulate them. Ruben and Clay, the "American Idol" duo, serenaded the crowd, too. And for the grand finale, Elton John gave a private concert of his greatest hits. A crowd favorite: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."Toyota's relentless rise is leading to a historic changing of the guard in Motown. Analysts say Toyota will inevitably displace Chrysler from the Big Three permanently (though Chrysler is likely to hold on to the No. 3 slot for this year). And it could get worse. Chrysler "might fall to No. 5 or No. 6 or nothing," says veteran industry watcher Maryann Keller. Chrysler's share of the U.S. auto market is in free fall, slipping to 11.7 percent in August, its lowest in 16 years and down from a peak of 18 percent in January 1999. Buyers are paying almost full price for high-quality Toyotas, while Chrysler desperately revs up the discounts. The problem: those big rebates are vaporizing profits. The automaker lost $1.1 billion in the second quarter--a stunning turn of events for a company that had promised a $2 billion profit in 2003. Now Zetsche is backpedaling on a pledge to boost Chrysler's annual sales by 1 million cars by 2010. "That's more of an aspirational target than a target to be accomplished to the last digit," he told NEWSWEEK.The car company that has made an art of the near-death experience is once again trying to reinvent itself to survive. Zetsche, a former Mercedes exec, believes he can pull Chrysler out of its skid by transforming the pedestrian people-hauler into an upscale car line. He is re-engineering Chrysler by borrowing some Mercedes magic (and Benz bits) from its German parent company, DaimlerChrysler. Many of the 10 new Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler models rolling out by the end of next year will benefit from Mercedes engineering. But it's the Chrysler line that will get the most Benzed. Its racy new $35,000 sports car, the Crossfire, is basically a Mercedes SLK under the skin. (Crossfire ad slogan: "Dreamed in America. Crafted in Germany.") And the 300C Hemi, debuting for as much as $40,000 next spring, will be propelled by a Mercedes rear-wheel-drive transmission. By turning Chrysler into Mercedes-lite, Zetsche hopes he can raise prices and pull out of the corrosive price war, as well as leave behind the sales race with Toyota. "It's the only remedy that exists," he says. "Being the biggest doesn't necessarily mean being the best or the most profitable."But to some, putting Mercedes parts and prices on Chrysler cars is a one-way street to oblivion. "After decades of training consumers that Chryslers are common-man cars, you can't convince them they are worth premium prices," says auto consultant Jim Bulin. "People will say, 'For that kind of money I can buy more prestige in another brand'." And now some of Chrysler's critics see an uncertain future for the automaker. European analysts are predicting that Daimler will cut Chrysler loose after chairman Jurgen Schrempp, the architect of the acquisition, retires in 2005. A new book entitled "The End of Detroit," by New York Times auto writer Micheline Maynard, also paints a dead-end scenario for Chrysler or Ford. Even the dean of the Yale School of Management, Jeffrey Garten, has weighed in, predicting bankruptcy or a bailout for one of Detroit's Big Three. (But don't expect a Lee Iacocca-style rescue for Chrysler this time: U.S. taxpayers aren't likely to bail out a German company.)Chrysler hoped to quiet the doomsayers with its new Pacifica sport wagon, which it hyped as the greatest thing since the minivan. Instead, the Pacifica became the "Gigli" of the car business. It sputtered from the start with moody Celine Dion ads, which showed little of the car, but plenty of the singer in an anguished rendition of "Drive All Night." "One person asked, 'Why is that woman so depressed?' " says Chrysler dealer Bob Shuman. Chrysler was so confident in its upmarket strategy that it initially shipped dealers only fully loaded $40,000 Pacificas, with fancy navigation systems and DVD players. Car buyers accustomed to spending no more than $25,000 in a Chrysler showroom headed for the exits. "I was just stunned," says Kirstie Hague, who refused to even sit in one after she saw the sticker at a St. Louis dealer. "I was very attracted by the looks of that car, but it was a short-lived love affair." To critics, the Pacifica debacle proves Chrysler is suffering from delusions of grandeur. "To go where you've never gone before," says Ford exec Steve Lyons, "is not a winning hand." Chrysler is now boosting Pacifica sales with a $1,000 rebate, and it's rushing out a stripped-down model priced below $30,000. Dion also disappeared from the ads (right around the time Chrysler's marketing chief resigned). Still, the Pacifica isn't hitting its sales target. Chrysler marketing exec Tom Marinelli says: "It's very difficult to move the iron and the brand image at the same time."It's even more difficult for Chrysler to overcome its history of inferior quality. When deep-pocketed Daimler-Benz acquired Chrysler in 1998, the German engineers promised to fix those nagging quality problems. And they are making headway. Chrysler's quality outranked even Mercedes's in the latest J.D. Power survey on long-term dependability. But Chrysler is still miles behind Toyota, which keeps raising the bar. And of course, the premium car buyers Chrysler covets have even more demanding tastes. "Clearly, this is an obstacle we have to overcome," Zetsche admits, pledging that Chrysler will match Toyota's quality by 2007. Car buyers like Bill Barnes won't wait that long. Chrysler lost him when the transmission blew on his Dodge Caravan at 39,000 miles. "I just don't have confidence in Chrysler anymore," says the Florida salesman, who just bought a $29,000 Toyota Sienna minivan. Zetsche may want to repair relations with his minivan owners before he courts the uptown crowd. Otherwise, overcoming history may be the least of Chrysler's problems. It might be history.One of the most controversial issues in this election cycle is the acceleration of super PACs. Tens of millions of dollars are being spent on attack ads and buys on both sides of the aisle. John Avlon and Robert Zimmerman take a look inside these unaccountable organizations. This week: Priorities USA.As a radio personality, Jonathan Schwartz is an acquired taste. For more than 45 years--against the tides of rock--he's played classic show tunes and ballads by America's greatest pop singers, from Sinatra on down. Schwartz, 65, takes his music very seriously: interspersed with the songs he spins is his own pedantic patter, discussing in a deeply resonant voice and almost baroque language the arcana of long-ago recording sessions, or the virtues of, say, one version of "Night and Day" over another. He brings to popular music the kind of mania of a baseball fanatic who remembers every play of every game he's ever seen (Schwartz is one of those, too, as long as the team is the Boston Red Sox). His fans love him for his impeccable ear and nearly flawless taste--playing, as he writes in his memoir, "All in Good Time," "Peggy Lee records in a Celine Dion world."Is the life of a demicelebrity like Schwartz worth reading about? Absolutely. And not just because of his nose-against-the-glass upbringing in Hollywood and New York, where Judy Garland once sang him to sleep with "Over the Rainbow," and Jackie Robinson tossed a ball with him on a golden Connecticut afternoon. Schwartz, as it happens, is a terrific writer (he's published several novels), and his story is simply but vividly told. His father was Arthur Schwartz, a composer for the movies and Broad-way ("Dancing in the Dark" and "That's Entertainment" are among his most famous tunes); his adored mother was always sick, and died when "Jonno" was only 14. In no time, the stepmother from hell took over. Schwartz's childhood was so lonely that he'd creep into houses in Beverly Hills and hide behind a sofa to watch regular families at dinner, "bickering or howling with laughter." Later, in a Manhattan penthouse, he created his first radio show, broadcasting over an early baby monitor, which could reach all the apartments in the building. Even then he refused to play schlocky novelty hits. He called his show "The Best of the Best."Besides that of his often absent father, the longest shadow in the book is cast by Sinatra himself. Schwartz met him only a few times, but he knew his music cold--better than Ol' Blue Eyes himself. First introduced to Sinatra at a party in Paris in 1962, Schwartz blurted out, " 'Why are there two different versions of "To Love and Be Loved"?' 'I don't know,' Sinatra said, correctly sensing one of the music lunatics." Once, Schwartz is invited to dinner by Sinatra at Lord Fletcher's, a roast-beef joint in Palm Springs. Sinatra hints he'd give Schwartz access to write about him. But as the booze flows, Schwartz gets cocky and familiar, and Sinatra disappears. Schwartz is ruthlessly hard on himself when need be. His story is often darkly funny, and often just dark, awash in despair and alcohol. But bless him, there's no big redemption. (He flunks the Betty Ford Center.) Here's a child of showbiz who's made a life, if a somewhat messy one, and he's not whining. Of course, playing behind the scenes of that life is always a gorgeous soundtrack.During his late-night debut two weeks ago, Jimmy Fallon riffed on US troops politely declining the president’s offer to bring them back from Iraq quickly because “the economy’s better over here.” A bit premature, perhaps, but not without a kernel of truth. Iraq is a growth market pretty much any way you slice it, particularly in light of the vast improvements in security and stability over the past two years. A word of advice, though, to erstwhile job-seekers: It’s still not an easy commute.Once, waiting to board an overbooked and hours-delayed flight to the Kurdish northern region, I had the dubious pleasure of competing against my fellow passengers in a steeplechase throughout the Dubai airport as the harried agent ducked in and out of ticket counters, trying to give enough of us the slip so as not to have to deny anyone boarding in person. On another flight, this time to the military side of the Baghdad airport, the pilot extinguished every light inside and outside the plane and made several unexpectedly hard turns just before touching down. In retrospect, these actions were not nearly so disconcerting as their intended purpose—to make it harder to shoot the plane down. I will admit, however, they made for some spectacular views of nocturnal Baghdad in its orange bath of streetlights.In the present economic Ice Age, you might reasonably expect to see people going the extra mile for work, but even those possessed of the most dogged Protestant work ethic raise an eyebrow when I describe my job. In the present economic Ice Age, you might reasonably expect to see people going the extra mile for work, but even those possessed of the most dogged Protestant work ethic raise an eyebrow when I describe my work—namely, finding and funding investment opportunities in Iraq. It's not six miles in the snow uphill both ways like your grandfather used to do; rather it is 6,000 miles into the cradle of civilization, convalescing from decades of war and starting to stand on its own.I travel to Iraq more or less every few weeks for my work with Northern Gulf Partners, which provides asset-management and financial-advisory services focused on opportunities in Iraq. Circumstances vary a great deal; in the Kurdish region, the security situation is such that I can stay in hotels. Security in Baghdad has improved a great deal, though my accommodations there are still in guarded compounds.Working in Iraq requires a great deal of flexibility, and not just in travel plans. The direct-to-the-point efficiency of communication one finds in the American business community can come across as rude and cold to an Iraqi. Conversely, the effusive displays of respect and hospitality common to the Middle East can seem tedious to a Manhattan banker.Nonetheless, there are parts of Iraq that seem familiar to Americans. In Irbil, you can shop at your choice of mini-malls, race go-karts at speeds not likely insurable on US tracks, and even bowl at your choice of two superb alleys. You can, as some Iraqi businessmen friends did, spend ungodly sums on wine and cigars at the grand opening of a ritzy restaurant with an imported Lebanese waitstaff, an imported baby grand piano, and an imported Lebanese man to extract Celine Dion tunes from it through the night.Baghdad offers its own charmed version of normalcy to the American visitor. Recently, hoping to get a glimpse of regular life in Baghdad, I took an early morning tour of the Abu Nuwwas area along the banks of the Tigris and outside the International Zone, where Iraqis have taken to spending their evenings now that it is relatively safe enough for them to do so. An elderly man rode his bike by, smiling, as a young man pulled fish from the river for the traditional Iraqi masgouf dish. But the security detail was never so distant as to allow me to forget the armored caravan that made it possible for me to get there.Yet even if Baghdad is not yet ripe for someone like me to take a stroll on a whim, Iraqis themselves have good reason to be optimistic. Six years on, violence is at its lowest level since the invasion. The January elections suggest a retreat from ethno-sectarian politics. In a few weeks the Iraq Stock Exchange will host its first electronic trades (welcome news for those of us accustomed to filling out paper transaction orders). Sixty percent of Iraqis say they think the country will be better off in a year’s time.They aren’t alone. Gulf investors, Indian commodity traders, Chinese electronics manufacturers, and others are jockeying for position in this attractive economy. The magnetism is truly global: I work with an Iraqi developer who flew a team of Mexicans in from Washington, D.C., to instruct a team of Bangladeshis how to properly construct the curbing at his new American-style residential complex.My interests in Iraq, and the Middle East in general, are originally academic. But it is clear that the Iraqi economy needs outside private sector involvement if it is to be sustainable, and I find it personally rewarding to play a part in that process. A successful economy is a major piece of a successful Iraq, which is good news for everyone—first and foremost, for Iraqis.And of course, there are the Iraqis themselves: tribal leaders metamorphosing into captains of industry; expatriate entrepreneurs, armed with British university degrees and big ideas. Big thinking is percolating through various parts of the Iraqi government. The mayor of Baghdad late last year announced plans to build a subway system throughout the capital, allowing Baghdadis the privilege of squeezing themselves to and from work much as New Yorkers have grown accustomed to doing. Job-seekers, take note: The commute is improving.Kyle McEneaney is a vice president of Northern Gulf Partners, which provides asset-management and financial-advisory services in Iraq. It’s a fair bet that few realize just how many have been killed in that short time since the horrific shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her staff in Tucson. A less-than-radical change in our gun laws could modify the ease by which Americans are murdered—our Andrew Romano and Pat Wingert . It’s an appropriate moment to ask: the 30th anniversary of the attempt to assassinate President Reagan (the subject of this week’s My Turn column), which launched a failed effort to control the gun problem.You envy those long, cold months and that great frontier. And the presidential election just cemented your decision. You want to head north. Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen, authors of "So You Want to Be Canadian," already know that. There are "true blue Canucks," they say, and there are wanna-bes. The book comes as Canadians are reaching out to neighbors with post-election frustration. (Toronto-based This magazine's Web site, marryanamerican.ca, asks Canadians to help "sexy American liberals" immigrate by marrying them.)In their book, Colburn and Sorensen take you on a witty jaunt through the land (Toronto is "London with better teeth," Quebec boasts Celine Dion). The purpose? To reveal your "inner Canadian," says Sorensen, who's from Edmonton, Alberta. And who can really argue with their prowess in music (Corey Hart sang "Sunglasses at Night" in the '80s; need they say more?) or hotties ("90210's" Jason Priestly is among them). But perhaps the piece de resistance is in the, shall we say, unique cuisine, which includes moose stroganoff and roasted beaver tail. Maybe that's why they're known for that beer.In their heart of hearts, most writers would welcome being plagiarized. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then wholesale theft is genuflection. Deep inside, I hoped someday someone would covet my work enough to steal it.I just never imagined it would be Wayne Newton.Actually, I'm going to refuse to use the P word here. I prefer to think of what happened as a tribute, although that's not how the Las Vegas Review-Journal put it when its editors were caught in one of those was-our-face-red moments. "Several paragraphs of concepts and identical phrasing." That's what the clarification regarding Wayne's column said.I know. You're thinking to yourself: Wow! Wayne is a writer, too? The man appearing nightly at the eponymous Wayne Newton Theater at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, the guy who put the head in headliner? Actually, no. But Wayne is a Samaritan, and when columnist Norm Clarke was on medical leave Wayne was one of the local celebrities who filled in on Norm's column, along with Carrot Top and Wolfgang Puck.Wayne wrote in his guest column that he had come to the realization that "some old thoughts are quite poignant." Unfortunately a number of readers noticed that those poignant old thoughts happened to be substantially mine. Like this:Anna's book: "I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back, because I believed in it completely and utterly."Wayne's column: "I learned to look at the good in the world and try to give some of it back because I believed in it completely and utterly."Now, I don't want you to think that Wayne's whole column was refried Anna. The truth is, I did not start "in this wonderful world called show business when I was 4 years old." And it wouldn't really be honest of me to claim that "I cannot express the joy I receive from entertaining our men and women in uniform who pay the ultimate price so we can be free."I know that there's nothing new under the sun, that there's a standard round of column ideas and we've all gone around them. All pundits know that you will write a column about, say, negotiating peace in the Middle East and get three or four letters from writers who have done books on the Middle East and who find it "curious" that you did not mention their work, particularly the book they are currently promoting.Once, when I was writing columns about my two little boys, I got a flurry of communications from a woman who suggested that I was cribbing from her unpublished journal entries. Amazingly her sons, too, were being toilet-trained, playing with Lego blocks and calling one another "big stupid head." Luckily when I gave birth to a third child she did not, or she would surely have said I was stealing the concept that the whole thing was horribly painful.There is a certain specificity to some of what we do, at least in terms of syntax. Siegfried and Roy's guest column discussing Celine Dion's fear of tigers, for example, was pure Siegfried and Roy. But when I read Wayne's column, more than half of it had a peculiar and highly specific resonance. Hadn't I also decried "the manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house," although from what I saw on "MTV Cribs" Wayne and I are on different planets, housewise? Hadn't I also written "Remember that love is not leisure, it is work" in precisely those words? In the argot of another Vegas big shot, the Amazing Kreskin, what a mind meld!Poor Norm came back from medical leave and had to lead off with what he called "a touchy subject." He asked Wayne's flack, who also happens to be Wayne's sister-in-law, about "considerable unattributed material" in Wayne's column. She wasn't what we in the news biz call responsive. "I think we might think twice about writing anything for your paper again," she huffed.Well, I can tell you that that's not Wayne's attitude at all, because I had the opportunity to speak to the man himself. It seems his wife was having some root-canal work done in L.A.--isn't that the way?--when her dentist gave her a copy of my material. Here's what happened, in Wayne's words, not mine: "I loved it. I thought some of the thoughts you had in there were some of my own also."Wayne says there was another page to his column, a page that properly credited me and somehow never reached the editors. "I in no way was trying to plagiarize from anyone," Wayne said. Then, in the kind of smooth move that has earned him the moniker Mr. Las Vegas, he added, "The truth is that if I was going to plagiarize from anyone it would have been somebody like you."Look at those guys in Vegas who dress up as Liza or Barbra. They're not plagiarizing; they're paying tribute. Would it be too much for me to think of Wayne as an Anna impersonator, and to reciprocate? As I load the dishwasher and fold the laundry in the Anna Quindlen Theater at the Heavily Mortgaged Home, where I appear nightly, I croon, "Danke schoen, darling, danke schoen." Ah, this wonderful world called show business. Or words to that effect.In his 10 years as creative director of Gucci, Tom Ford has taken the 80-year-old Florentine leather-goods company from the brink of bankruptcy to the height of success. With his sexy velvet hip-huggers, bad-girl stilettos and cool bamboo-handled handbags, Ford has turned Gucci into the luxury brand of choice for the young and beautiful around the world. In 2002 Gucci's sales were nearly $2 billion--nine times more than when Ford arrived. So why is Gucci letting him go? After a year of tenuous talks with Gucci's majority shareholders, Pinault Printemps-Redoute S.A. (PPR), Ford and CEO Domenico De Sole announced last November that they would not renew their contracts, which expire this spring. On Wednesday in Milan, Ford will present his final womenswear collection for Gucci. And next week in Paris, he'll take his final bow for PPR-owned Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, which he also designs.Ford, 42, who refused to be interviewed for this story, has yet to announce his future plans. Rumors have him doing everything from taking over at Versace to becoming a Hollywood film producer. But the story of his career at Gucci is an illuminating one for the luxury-fashion industry. Indeed, his tenure paralleled a decadelong boom for luxury couture, which now does $100 billion in sales a year. Yet his departure shows that in today's conglomerate-heavy market, being one of the world's most successful designers is no guarantee of a job. As luxury companies grow bigger and bigger, the role of the couturier keeps shrinking. The message: you can be replaced.That's tough love in a business that has always embodied the utmost politesse. But that's what luxury has become: a fiercely competitive, profit-driven global industry of publicly traded corporations that care more about shareholder demands than the ever-fickle fashion set. Since the mid-1980s, tycoons such as Francois Pinault, Patrizio Bertelli of Prada and Bernard Arnault of LVMH have been buying up luxury's most famous names and reinvigorating them, turning small family-run businesses into multinational brands with $1 billion--or more--in annual sales.Along the way, the luxury titans have switched the focus of luxury fashion from the designer to the brand. This allows the bosses to change designers regularly without disrupting the image of the house. Celine, for example, is looking for a replacement for Michael Kors; Bill Blass is on its third designer in four years; Lanvin is on its fourth in a decade, and Givenchy is about to hire its fourth womenswear designer in eight years. "It is such a competitive marketplace that if you take your eye off the ball for a moment, you're out," says Rita Clifton, U.K. chairman of Interbrand, a global-brand consultant in London. "The brand is the most sustainable and important corporate asset."It wasn't always like this. Luxury fashion as we know it was created in the late-19th century by Charles Frederick Worth, an England-born, Paris-based couturier who shifted dressmaking from a made-to-order business to one that provided seasonal collections. By the 1920s, designers such as Coco Chanel and leather artisans like Guccio Gucci had opened their own businesses; as the founders died, the houses either closed or were taken over by heirs.That began to change after Christian Dior dropped dead of a heart attack in 1957. His brand was so strong that the owners appointed his 21-year-old assistant, Yves Saint Laurent, to succeed him. As a protege, Saint Laurent maintained Dior's line. But his tenure came abruptly to an end when he was called to military service--and when he returned to fashion in 1962, it was to open his own house.So it went for a few decades: young designers--such as Oscar de la Renta, Issey Miyake and Emmanuel Ungaro--apprenticed at the grand couture houses, then launched their own labels, which became big luxury brands. In 1984 Arnault bought Dior, followed by Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Kenzo and Celine, and began to build the first luxury megagroup. His method: take an old, classic brand, hire a young, unknown designer and relaunch to a hip new--and richer--customer. Soon CEOs throughout the luxury-fashion business were following this model. It provided a great break for young designers, especially those from New York's dog-eat-dog garment district, like Kors and Marc Jacobs.But at what cost? Many gave up the dream of having their own labels. Others sold their brands to the groups and lost control of their names. The repercussions are still being felt; today it's much harder for new names to launch their own lines. Why should investors take the risk when the biggest brands have not only cornered the market but also swiped all the talent? The luxury-fashion business is now primarily composed of a set number of household brands, very few of which are designed--or even owned--by the name on the label. "From the consumer's perspective... it's the product that counts," says Dana Telsey, luxury analyst for Bear, Stearns in New York. "Designers who can have a following are a rare breed."The biggest cost is creative. Today, when new talents are hired to reinvigorate classic brands, they are bound to the house's signature look. Karl Lagerfeld, for one, is still reinterpreting the 1920s Chanel suit. As Lagerfeld has said, his relationship with Alain Wertheimer, the owner and CEO of Chanel, is "like between the Devil and Faust." Rather than let the designer shape the brand, today's executives want the label to shape the designers. "It's difficult for a brand to find the right designer because the designer has to have, in his own creativity, the creativity of the brand," Arnault says. Until they do, the revolving door keeps spinning.Ford helped cultivate this strategy and then fell victim to it. When he arrived at Gucci in 1990 as womenswear designer, he was fresh off Seventh Avenue. The company had been driven to near bankruptcy by the founders' heirs, the logo so overlicensed you could find bins of Gucci makeup bags in discount stores. Ford's mandate was to restore some sparkle to the label.On his first day he designed the bamboo-handled knapsack, and it quickly became his first megaseller. In 1994 he took over as creative director. When he presented his first Gucci collection in March 1995, he shattered the label's staid, aristocratic image and established a more modern and sexy voice: low-slung pants, sheer blouses, slinky shifts and killer heels. Ford's look lured a new, young, big-spending customer. Sales figures nearly doubled every year. Smaller houses and mass-retail chains like the Gap followed Ford's lead. Gucci's then owner, the Bahrain-based bank Investcorp, floated Gucci on the stock market, making it one of the most successful IPOs in fashion ever. By the late 1990s, Gucci was the hottest name in luxury fashion. But, as at the other major houses--Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy--the average customer had no idea who designed its clothes.In March 1999, after a hostile takeover bid by Arnault, Pinault bought a majority stake in Gucci and helped establish a new luxury conglomerate called Gucci Group, with Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche as its cornerstones. Ford was soon designing both, and then he and De Sole used their Gucci model to turn Rive Gauche into a brand. They applied the same formula to Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and the jeweler Boucheron.Ford and De Sole ultimately left Gucci because they wanted to continue running the company independently. Now PPR plans to fold it into the conglomerate, making it even more corporate and less designer-driven. Who will fill Ford's loafers? The odds are on Stefano Pilati, Ford's No. 2 at Rive Gauche womenswear, to take over there, while Bottega Veneta's creative director Tomas Maier is a leading candidate for Gucci. Though Ford eventually found the spotlight--attending Oscar parties and appearing on talk shows and magazine covers--from PPR's point of view he was merely an employee. In today's luxury market, it's the brands that are the true stars.Ninja met Yo-Landi a decade ago, and they began work on a rap group five years ago, before finally unveiling Die Antwoord in 2008. The following year, they released their debut album, , for free on their website. In early 2010, their wild music videos for “” and “” hit YouTube—the latter causing their site to crash. They were suddenly the toast of the music industry, being courted by record companies, including Interscope, which flew the band to Los Angeles and offered them a $1 million contract. They accepted, and re-released their debut in 2010 on Interscope shingle Cherrytree Records to critical acclaim. ON AN ILL-TIMED TRIP to the loo at this year's Oscars, Barbra Streisand missed her hit song ""I Finally Found Someone,'' from her nonhit movie ""The Mirror Has Two Faces,'' performed by Celine Dion. But Dion, 29, had long idolized Barbra, 55, singing along to her recordings as a child. Last month she blended her voice with Streisand's in a recording studio. The result, ""Tell Him,'' a plaintive paean to romantic love, debuted last week, simulcast by satellite to radio stations worldwide. Included in both stars' November albums, the duet has the sweet sound of middle-of-the-road millions.At Saturday night's , a trippy X Factor-meets- Idol sing-off, performers will compete in one of Europe's strangest annual exports. To catch up on the contest's 54-year history, WATCH VIDEO of the oddest performances yet.Less Cowbell, Please!Since the competition began in 1956, singers chosen by their respective countries have gained notoriety with campy and strange performances on . The Swedish pop group ABBA had its breakthrough moment when it won the with the future hit " ," and later won the for Switzerland before taking the world by storm. While Germany's didn't quite achieve international stardom with his 1998 performance of "Guildo Hat Euch Lieb," aka "Guildo Loves You," he triggered in his home country with the song. In the performance, which took , Horn parades around the stage in a cape, has an interlude in which he plays six cowbells, and writhes along scaffolding on the side of the stage. Now the only question is: Did the audience love Guildo? Katie Fogarty Signed to Next Model Management and scoring the Balenciaga and Miu Miu campaigns for Spring 2009, Katie Fogarty is another girl to watch. Next agent Stephen Lee tells The Daily Beast that along with Myf Shepherd, Missouri-born Katie is at the forefront of new girls introduced to the market by the agency. Walking for Jill Stuart, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, and Ohne Titel last season, Katie made headlines by tumbling in a pair of notoriously high heels at the Prada collection in Milan. The misstep only served to increase her profile as a top newcomer with breakout editorials in British and Italian Vogue, Dazed and Confused and 10 magazine. Katie told The Daily Beast "Fashion week is full of surprises, excitement, fun, adrenaline, and exhaustion. All I have to do is stay awake for it all!"Sarah Maher is a freelance writer, artist, the New York editor of , a regular contributor to , and has been working in the New York fashion industry for 12 years.Anna, England's seventh Duchess of Bedford, is credited with launching the tradition of afternoon tea in the 1840s, when she asked her butler to serve tea and cakes to keep her sated until supper was served, around 9 p.m. More recently afternoon tea has evolved into an indulgence involving posh clothing, poufy sofas and crustless sandwiches. Now that's changing, as hotels give the custom a thoroughly modern twist.Shoppers en route to Harrods in London can check out the season's styles as they appear decorated atop cakes and cookies in the Berkley Hotel's "Pret-a-Portea." There's Alexander McQueen's new silver boot atop a gingerbread biscuit and an Yves St. Laurent smoking jacket trimmed with chocolate sable cr?me. Past collections have included Jimmy Choo boot cookies. The teas include a huge number of herbal and fruit varieties (€68; www.theberkeley.co.uk).At the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, the "Practically Perfect Tea" features Mary Poppins-themed cookies, cakes and tea sets, as well as sing-alongs from Disney's hit Broadway musical (€24 for adults, €14 for kids; waldorf.com).In Paris, models wearing fashions from Givenchy, Chlo?, Celine and Yves St. Laurent mingle at the Bristol among guests sipping tea and champagne and nibbling cakes decorated to match the couturiers' collections (€30; lebristolparis.com). But no one makes pastries like Christophe Michalak at the Plaza Ath?n?e, where treats include a banana-split macaroon and a pineapple and exotic-fruit sorbet assembled to look like an atomic-age concoction (€13 per pastry; www.plaza-athenee-paris.com). There'll be no room left for supper.Like and for updates all day long. Devin Gordon is the editor of Newsweek Digital, the umbrella company encompassing Newsweek's various web properties, including Newsweek.com and Newsweek Mobile. Previously, from June 2007 to June 2009, he was senior editor of the magazine's Periscope section, which was nominated for a National Magazine Award for "best section" in 2008. Previously, he was a senior writer, writing about film, television, sports and popular culture for the Arts and Entertainment and Society sections. He was part of the Newsweek reporting team for the past three Olympic games, including the Salt Lake City winter games in 2002, the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where he covered swimmer Michael Phelps, and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, for which he wrote Newsweek's cover story about skier Bode Miller. During his tenure at the magazine, Gordon has written about everything from HBO's "The Wire" to rock band Coldplay to Oscar-winner film directors Ang Lee and Peter Jackson. He profiled "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator Larry David on the eve of the series' fourth season debut, and "The Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan just prior to the film's record breaking release. For Newsweek's year-end double-issue of 2002, he wrote "The Matrix Makers," (Jan. 6, 2003), a cover story about the two upcoming "Matrix" sequels—the first behind-the-scenes look at the new films by any publication. Gordon joined Newsweek in 1998, after graduating from Duke University. His first cover story was "The Dominator" (June 18, 2001), an examination of what makes Tiger Woods tick. He lives in Brooklyn, NY. For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at BASH, BASH, BASH. EVERYONE LOVES TO gripe about the Grammys (they're boring! a popularity contest! driven by poor taste!). But last week's awards had a faultless theme: decent music. Eric Clapton and Babyface traded bellissimo guitar licks on "Change the World" (song and record of the year). Tracy Chapman turned up the soul heat in "Give Me One Reason" (rock song). Beck, conceivably the hippest guy ever to win Grammys (rock male, alternative), did his slip-slide dance in "Where It's At." Even Celine Dion, routinely slagged off as a studio creation, belted "All by Myself' with genuine flair and won album of the year. Thanking her husband-manager, she gushed, "You always made sure I was surrounded by the right people," as a dozen identically tuxed producers fanned around her. Best performance by a winner: country tot LeAnn Rimes (new artist), who burst into tears upon realizing she'd beaten odds-on favorite Jewel. Worst: Toni Braxton (pop female, R&B female), who pretended she didn't expect to win. It wouldn't be the Grammys if we didn't gripe a little.The scene in Hollywood Thursday afternoon could have been lifted from any number of big-budget thrillers: "Speed," "Terminator 2," "Earthquake." Take your pick. A frantic call to all the big studios from the FBI left movie moguls with the awkward task of figuring out how to defend their lots."We were informed by the FBI today that there is an increased threat of a bombing attack aimed at one or more of the studios," News Corp. chief Peter Chernin told the staff of Twentieth Century Fox in an e-mail yesterday afternoon. It wasn't lost on any of the recipients that the nearby Fox Plaza tower had been spectacularly blown up in the movie "Die Hard."Though the tip to the FBI was uncorroborated, Chernin warned his staff that "we are taking this very seriously and we will be doing everything humanly possible to ensure the safety of all of our Los Angeles-based employees." Not since Jack Warner famously worried that Japanese bombers might mistake his Burbank studio for a nearby Lockheed plant has Hollywood sweated bullets like this. (Indeed, Warner Bros. is going so far as to arm some of its guards).Watching the real-life terror unfold at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon last week, many Americans told themselves "It looks just like a movie." Now all of America-especially Hollywood-is learning the difference. Not only are studios having to beef up security-ID checks and X-ray machines are now the order of the day at many studios-but Hollywood is having to rethink the very meaning of the word "entertainment."For now, it seems, the offerings of pyrotechnic producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and even snarky "unpatriotic" comments by hosts like Bill Maher are out. "Feel good" fare is in. "I'd expect you'll start seeing lots of sweet films like you had in the '50s. Think 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'," says one Hollywood executive. The new ethos means you won't see Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Collateral Damage" or director Barry Sonnenfeld's ("Men in Black") "Big Trouble" in theaters tonight-the studios pulled them from the release schedule after last week's attack. But you will see Julia Roberts and Tom Cruise on the tube in a two-hour telethon, "America: A Tribute to Heroes," which is expected to raise as much as $30 million for relief efforts related to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Celine Dion will be singing "God Bless America."As in the rest of the nation, a New Patriotism has taken over Tinseltown-only with more glitter. George Clooney rides around on his motorcycle, passing out American flags. The citizens of Beverly Hills decorate rows of miniature palm trees on Rodeo Drive with red, white and blue bows. Michael Jackson gathers singers to record "What More Can I Give" (think "We Are the World" redux) in hopes of raising $50 million for survivors and victims. Disney donates $5 million, plus all of this week's proceeds from auctions of its memorabilia on eBay (own the "D" from the Disneyland Hotel sign!). Next Tuesday has been designated "Victims' Benefit Day at the Movies," with 100 percent of all proceeds from ticket and concession sales at most theater chains will be handed over to relief efforts.Meanwhile, the dreammakers are left to go about their business in a world that suddenly seems as dangerous as any disaster film. The difference now is that all of America-not just Hollywood-has its hands in this script.The Academy Awards are just weeks away, but it's hard to sense much excitement building among the visitors at the home of the Oscars.The ceremony moved last year to a new venue, the recently built Kodak Theatre, which is at the center of a giant shopping mall in the heart of Hollywood. But on a warm, sunny Saturday in March, the crowds shopping at the Hollywood & Highland complex are downright sparse. True, small knots of tourists stop and pose for photos with the famous Hollywood sign in the distance. Some pay $15 to tour the Kodak Theatre itself. And newcomers gaze up at the pair of giant white elephants meant to evoke the set of "Intolerance," the 1916 D. W. Griffith epic with a cast of thousands. But as Mike Godley, a convention tourist from New Jersey, notes as he looks down at the half-empty courtyard, massive crowds are exactly what's missing. "I like this place," Godley says. "The facilities are incredible. But where are all the people?"Godley isn't the only one who wants to know. Oscar's return to Hollywood last March 24 was a clear success. "We were very worried about putting on a show in a shopping mall, but it worked out very well," says John Pavlik, spokesman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which signed a 20-year contract to hold the Oscars at the Kodak. The bigger problem now is how to make the complex a winner on the other 364 days of the year.Since opening in 2001, the Hollywood & Highland project has struggled with problems ranging from construction cost overruns to the decline of tourism after September 11. As a result, the complex hemorrhaged red ink for owner Trizec Properties, which announced that it was getting out of the entertainment mall business and selling the place even before it opened. Last year, Trizec wrote down the complex's value by more than two thirds--from $615 million to an anorexic $195 million. However, in recent months, the value seems to have stabilized, and Trizec officials are currently tweaking the mix of shops and services to increase visitors and income. They'll sell when they can get a good price. But as Rick Matthews, Trizec Properties spokesman, admits: "We have lost a lot of money on this project."What ailed Hollywood & Highland was a combination of unfortunate planning and a ghastly run of bad luck. The 645,000 square-foot complex is an ambitious blend of the Kodak arena, giant banquet facilities, a luxury hotel, restaurants, nightclubs and shopping. When planning began in the late 1990s, executives banked on two seemingly impregnable trends. They skewed the mix of stores to appeal to free-spending tourists, particularly well-heeled Asians equally interested in Hollywood mystique and high-end shopping. The idea, more or less, was that a Japanese shopper would check out Bette Davis's dainty footprints at the nearby Grauman's Chinese, then rush over to buy a $400 pair of black pumps. Further skewing the project toward tourists, Trizec hoped to anchor their entertainment complex not with traditional retailers but with the then hypersuccessful studio stores, such as those operated by Disney and Warners.The shopping plan didn't work on either account. The bottom fell out of studio stores even before the project opened, which forced Trizec to go hunting for new anchor tenants. Then, just before the project opened, the 9-11 terror attacks decimated tourism. The result: a mall with no core audience. "They built a center for out-of-towners who didn't come, and geared it for tenants who got out of the business even before the facility opened," says George Lefcoe, professor of real-estate law at the University of Southern California Law School, who studied the project.Trizec scrambled to sign up new retailers that would appeal to locals--like Gap and Banana Republic, Nine West and Express. But the midcourse correction wasn't so easy. The stores that opened up there provided no must-shop experiences. Worse, Angelenos balked at paying $10 for parking, a charge set by the city to make back the $100 million it spent to build the facility's garage. "Whoever thought $10 for four hours was a reasonable price for parking didn't know what they were doing," says city councilman Eric Garcetti, whose district includes Hollywood. Last year, officials dropped parking fees to a competitive $2. But then a competing retail center called The Grove opened a few miles south, vacuuming away local customers.The good news is that, judging by the past few months, the bad news is probably over. The losses appear to have stabilized--and some of the nonretail businesses are doing well. The Kodak Theatre itself has succeeded from the start, winning a prestigious award for great acoustics and design and filling up with 207 bookings last year, including dates for the Latin Grammys, "American Idol" and concert dates by Celine Dion, Paul McCartney and even Barbra Streisand. The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, a former Holiday Inn behind the complex that was renovated and expanded as part of the development, looks great and is doing well. It was 60 percent occupied in its first year, thanks to conventions and meetings from corporations such as Microsoft and Mattel. Overall, the Hollywood & Highland project generated $300 million last year.Now even the retail element shows some hopeful signs. The retail space is 94 percent leased, with upcoming additions like a bar/bowling alley called Lucky Strike, 22,000 square feet of new space given to Wolfgang Puck and a museum featuring a collection of Debbie Reynolds costumes. To attract more locals, mall planners are fashioning promotions such as cheap parking and shuttle rides to the Hollywood Bowl and the nearby Pantages Theatre, where "The Producers" will soon be playing. And some shoppers are buying. Krista McConnaha, 21, who drove down with her family from Bakersfield for the day, sat sipping coffee with stuffed bags from Sephora and Victoria's Secret under the table. "We've been here for hours," she enthuses.Hollywood & Highland has scored in another way, too: it looks like it has finally helped kick-start some redevelopment in the long-downtrodden neighborhood. "The project had a catalytic effect on the rest of Hollywood," says Leron Gubler, president of the local chamber of commerce. "Before, no one was willing to take the risk [of opening anything new here]." Now a half dozen other theater, retail and restaurant projects have opened (or will soon) in the area. Hip clubs are springing up, with more planned. Celebrities aren't exactly strolling the boulevard like they once did, but it may be the beginning of the renaissance that the neighborhood has wanted for decades.And at the complex itself, marketers are working out new permutations to exploit its connection to the Oscars. One recent night, 100 people dressed as reporters and autograph-hounds lined the red carpet leading from Hollywood Boulevard to the mall's Grand Staircase, shouting and snapping pictures of the well-dressed men and women emerging from stretch limos. "What's going on?" asked a bewildered passerby. The reporters and fans were actors, hired to simulate a hyped-up Oscars night crowd. The "celebrities" were out-of-town executives from Best Buy, guests at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel who were on their way upstairs for their own awards banquet. Their limo ride had simply taken them around the block. As they ran the noisy gauntlet, some of the execs looked embarrassed, most amused, and a few even paused to chat with the faux reporters, like they had seen countless celebrities do on TV. Whether they thought the ersatz Oscar moment was cool or camp, it didn't matter. They enjoyed the charade, and it couldn't have been achieved anywhere else.Randy Jackson was a familiar face in the music business long before "American Idol" made him famous across America."I've worked on over 1,200 records," says Jackson, "Dylan, Springsteen, Elton John, Billy Joel, Mariah, Whitney, Celine, Journey, Bon Jovi, 'N Sync, Madonna." He's played bass, written songs and spent 12 years in A&R at Columbia and MCA. "I've been behind the scenes with all these artists," he says. "I've seen celebrity up close, but I've never really lived it." Until now. Jackson is one of three panelists (the others are pop star Paula Abdul and British music producer Simon Cowell) on "American Idol," the hugely successful reality show that offers aspiring stars between the ages of 18 and 24 a chance at overnight fame. Last week, the two-hour premiere of the show's second season became the highest-rated non-sports-related night in the history of the Fox network. How big can this thing get? NEWSWEEK's B. J. Sigesmund spoke with Jackson. Excerpts:NEWSWEEK: We weren't surprised to see that Simon is even meaner this time around, but you and Paula seem to have a little more edge, too.Randy Jackson: Yeah. Paula and I have changed a bit, too. We've raised the bar and said, "Listen, this is not some show you don't know anything about." You've seen someone great win this [Kelly Clarkson, "American Idol's" first winner]. We want the most talented one. There's a new benchmark. These kids know what it takes.Ever feel bad when you make some of your auditioners cry?You know what, I don't feel bad about it. If you or I wanted to be a doctor, we'd have to learn quite a bit of stuff. We couldn't just say, "Yeah, as a kid I played doctor, and you know, I'm just gonna be a doctor. I'm ready to cut. When do we start?" This is no joke of an industry. What makes people think they can come up and say, "OK, I'm a singer." Are you really? Do you have any foreseeable talent? That's the thing that amazes me, man. You wouldn't do this about the lawyer profession. You wouldn't do this about anything else. You know, "I drive my Toyota fast, I'm a race car driver." Where does the mindset come from for these people? This is a hard, tough, tough business. I produced some songs on the new Mariah Carey record. You know, she works her butt off and she's amazingly talented.Some of the kids say harsh things about you in front of the cameras. Does that hurt?This is what honesty gets you. People [those auditioning] will say, "God, you're fat!" I say, "No kidding--are you sure?" People are nuts, man. There was one kid on the Tuesday night show that said, "I don't care about these judges. I hate these judges. Randy, he's fat. Simon's an a--hole, Paula, you're just plain.' And we're like, "Oh, God, we're so hurt." We're just trying to be honest with people. But they get mad because we're being honest with them. We're industry professionals. I think karaoke has done the record industry a huge disservice.Come again?People are taking it too far. They sit in their bars, they get drunk, they have a good time, they sing songs because they've got the words on the thing. And all of a sudden, someone will say, "You know, you're pretty good. You're almost as good as that Mariah. Keep going! You should be out there." Like it's easy.Let's talk about your celebrity and the changes you've gone through over the past year. Do you feel pressure now that you're a public figure?I don't know if there's a lot of pressure, but it's definitely a different life. I've been such a behind-the-scenes guy. I've been working with celebrities, I've been around it forever, so I know what it is. You gotta take it with the territory. I'm happy to be on the show, I'm happy it's a huge success.You've said you think of the show as an alternative to trying to break into the record industry.I look at it as a shot for people to try and get discovered who would probably have a very tough time with it any other way.Talk more about that.In my 12 years of doing A&R, I used to always think, "I'll bet you somewhere out in Portland or Boise, somewhere, there's some great next superstar that's just undiscovered." It's easier now to come on the show and take the ridicule and go through 50,000 or 70,000 contestants to try and win than to try to get a record deal. The music industry is in a really serious slump. Who in the world is gonna give a new artist, unknown from wherever, a hit song? Not [record producer] Jermaine Dupri. Not [producers Jimmy] Jam and [Terry] Lewis. Not any of the major record producers. Even for their stellar premier artists they can't find hit songs. So that's how hard this thing is. So you come to a show like this. You show up with your talent, your uniqueness and your hopefully star-style personality, and you've got a shot.You said 50,000 to 70,000 people auditioned for the show this time. Did the three of you see every one of them?No, no. We had a preselection crew that went through and picked a whole range of kids.So someone listens to everyone who stands in line and waits for an audition?Yes. We see the top 200 in each city. There were eight cities.Is there anything you read about "American Idol" again and again that's wrong? Any misconceptions?Some of the biggest misconceptions are people saying, "You know, it's just this reality show, it's just like 'Star Search,' whatever, whatever, whatever." I think what we're doing here is a reality show, but it's a real reality show. The music business is a real reality.In the months following the collapse of his firm, Dick Fuld, the longtime chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers, did what any self-respecting businessman facing financial ruin would do: He transferred the title of his waterfront home on the tony, exclusive Florida enclave of Jupiter Island into his wife Kathleen’s name for a mere pittance. Now, it seems, the couple is taking their time paying the nearly $212,000 in annual property taxes on the house, although they are still months away from any default for failure to pay.• The transfer of the property to Kathy Fuld made sense, of course, because if Lehman’s forlorn creditors started coming after Fuld for whatever transgressions they perceived him to be responsible for in the wake of the collapse of the firm in September 2008—where shareholders were wiped out and creditors are still hoping to receive pennies on the dollar—at least his Florida home (valued for tax purposes at $13.3 million and probably worth much more) would be safe from their grasp. Florida’s lenient bankruptcy laws make real property beyond the reach of creditors under most circumstances. Fuld completed the transfer of the property, at 265 South Beach Road, on 3.3 acres of land, facing the Atlantic Ocean, on November 10, 2008, near two months after Lehman collapsed. The Fulds bought the house in rosier times—March 2004—from Jeffrey Gelman, a local real-estate developer, for $13.75 million. (Gelman reportedly sold another home recently on the island, for $5 million, after a tough series of negotiations to someone he thinks was acting on behalf of billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates. He also sold a house recently on the island to singer Celine Dion.)Florida’s lenient bankruptcy laws make real property beyond the reach of creditors under most circumstances. After the Fulds bought the house from Gelman, they were then responsible for the annual property taxes. In 2004, that tax bill was $154,028.92, or if paid before it was technically due, at the end of March 2005, the taxes would be $147,867, representing a four percent discount for early payment. The Fulds paid the lower, discounted amount by check, on November 27, 2004 and saved them themselves $6,161. In each of the following years, the Fulds paid the property taxes in November—early—in order to capture the biggest discount since each month that the taxes are unpaid the discount available gets smaller until March, when the full amount is due. (A default is declared if the taxes are not paid by April of the following year.) On November 15, 2008, despite the collapse of his firm two months earlier and just after the title was transferred into his wife’s name, Fuld’s “independent family office,” located in Albany, New York sent a check for $197,193.75 to the Martin County, Florida tax collector, in Stuart, Florida. He saved himself $8,216 in the process.So far in 2009, though, the Fulds have not yet paid their taxes, which is out of step for what they have done since they owned the place. The bill, sent to Kathleen Fuld at the couple’s Greenwich, Connecticut home, was for $218,553.76. If the Fulds decide to pay the bill sometime in December, the taxes would be $211,997.15.The Fulds still should have plenty of money, despite Fuld losing somewhere around $1 billion in paper net worth when his firm collapsed. He still owns his palatial mansion in Greenwich and his elegant spread near Sun Valley, Idaho. In August 2009, the Fulds sold their full-floor 6,200-square-foot apartment on Park Avenue to Glenn Fuhrman, the head of MSD Capital (the investment firm set up by Dell Computer founder Michael S. Dell), for $25.87 million. The Fulds had paid $21 million for the apartment in January 2007 and then gutted and renovated it. They had been seeking $32 million for the apartment. Last November 2008, the Fulds sold a portion of Kathy’s art collection—some 16 pieces—for $13.5 million, below the low-end of the range they hoped to receive. No matter, though. Christie’s had guaranteed that the Fulds would receive $20 million for this small portion of their larger collection, so it was the auction house that suffered the loss, not the Fulds. Kathy Fuld is on the board of trustees of the Museum of Modern Art.As for Fuld himself, he is now working at something called Matrix Advisors, at 780 Third Avenue, in Manhattan. Except for several obvious cameos in Andrew Ross Sorkin’s excellent, Too Big Too Fail, Fuld has spoken to the media only once since his fall from grace. That was last September, when Claire Baldwin, an intrepid reporter at Reuters, tracked him down at his house in Ketchum, Idaho. When Baldwin asked him how he was holding up, he said, “You know Freud in his lifetime was challenged, but you know what he always said, ‘You know what, my mother loves me.’ And you know what, my family loves me and I've got a few close friends who understand what happened and that's all I need.” He could not be reached for comment on this story.William D. Cohan, a former senior-level M&A banker on Wall Street, is the author of , and his new best seller .It's a foot long, six inches wide, and fits neatly under the biceps of the world's richest and most famous women. It's only a handbag, but over the past two years, the Fendi Baguette bag has reached fashion-icon status, having been toted by the likes of Sophia Loren, Madonna, Sharon Stone and Liz Hurley. It comes in more than 400 different styles, and like any great accessory, it can make an outfit. It can make a company too, as last week's estimated $545 million sale of Italian fashion house Fendi proved.Since August, Gucci, Prada, Bulgari, and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton had each been duking it out for a piece of Fendi, the Rome-based house owned and run by five sisters: Carla, Anna, Paola, Franca and Alda. The luxury-goods conglomerates even had competition from an American leveraged-buyout fund, the Texas Pacific Group. For a while it appeared that Gucci had the deal in the bag, so to speak. Late last month Gucci CEO Domenico De Sole bragged that he'd convinced four out of five of the Fendi sisters to sell. But LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, Europe's most aggressive takeover artist, was not to be outdone. He cleverly teamed up with his longtime competitor Patrizio Bertelli, husband of Miuccia Prada and CEO of their Milan-based company, Prada. Together, the pair purchased 51 percent of Fendi--valuing the entire company at nearly $1 billion.It was mostly money that swayed the Fendi sisters. Gucci reportedly offered 25 percent less than Arnault and Bertelli were willing to pay. Of course, some of Fendi's suitors complained that the team paid too much; one told NEWSWEEK, "They're throwing money around like drunken sailors." But Arnault and Bertelli also promised to allow the Fendi family to remain active in the company, in design and managerial posts. That helped cinch the deal. "This was a major stumbling block in the negotiations with Gucci," says Cedric Magnelia, an equities analyst for Credit Suisse First Boston in London. "From the Gucci perspective, running the company efficiently could have been encumbered by this family management structure."In fact, Fendi has long been considered the model for how to run a family fashion house. Founded in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi, the company quietly built up a reputation for high-quality leather accessories and fine furs. Famed designer Karl Lagerfeld, who reinvigorated Chanel, has designed the Fendi ready-to-wear line since 1965. Nicknamed the Sixth Sister, Lagerfeld was consulted by the Fendis during the negotiations and is expected to stay on as designer. But even with such a master at the helm, Fendi had recently begun to show its age. Out of fashion with the hip set, Fendi was clothing mostly aging bourgeois women.Fortunately for Fendi, minimalism is officially over. Accessories are back, and more than 40 percent of Fendi's sales come from handbags, belts and shoes. Over 300,000 Baguette bags have been sold since 1997, helping increase the company's overall revenues 10 percent over the past two years. "We're selling them faster than we can get them in," says Judy Collinson, vice president for women's wear at Barney's in New York. "We had a waiting list 40 people long for the $4,000 needlepoint beaded one." Another American retail executive was so desperate for a Baguette that he traveled to the Fendi showroom in Milan and begged to have a couple to take back in his suitcase. There were none left.Carla Fendi, the company's chairman, attributes the success of the Baguette to its individuality (they come in everything from denim to silk). "You can always see one that you don't have," says Fendi. "There's an exclusivity to it, a couture feel." Still, though the handbag is a raging success, Fendi's sales last year were only $148 million, with a mere $16.5 million in profit, most of which came from the licensing of watches, eyeglasses, perfume and umbrellas. Gucci's annual sales are $1.1 billion and Louis Vuitton's are $1.7 billion.That's where Bernard Arnault comes in. Arnault has a knack for turning brands around (witness his success with Celine and Louis Vuitton). The LVMH chairman also wants to expand the global reach of his French luxury-goods company--and he wants to start with Italy. Last spring he lost his long and highly publicized hostile-takeover bid for Gucci. With the Fendi purchase, Arnault not only got his first Italian company. He got revenge.LVMH and Prada will probably increase their stake in Fendi within the next few months. And Arnault will probably continue his shopping spree. Earlier this month at the Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris, Arnault told NEWSWEEK, "There are a lot of Italian brands that have a great deal of creativity and room to grow." And a lot of couturiers who would like to be as rich as the Fendi sisters now are. on Tuesday after a video of him making drunken anti-Semitic remarks surfaced online, . He has been persuaded by his friends Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss to seek help—and is probably bound for , a rehab center in Wickenberg, Arizona where Elton John and Donatella Versace have been treated, Suzy Menkes reported Wednesday. To fight his case, the designer also has the lawyer who represented Moss when she was accused of cocaine use in 2005. On Wednesday the Paris public prosecutor’s office announced that Galliano will go on over his insults, which are illegal in France.On Wednesday morning, Galliano spoke out for the first time, releasing an : “Anti-semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologise for my behaviour in causing any offence." He also outlined the foundation for a defamation case: “A number of independent witnesses have given evidence and have told the police that I was subjected to verbal harassment and an unprovoked assault when an individual tried to hit me with a chair having taken violent exception to my look and my clothing. For these reasons I have commenced proceedings for defamation and the threats made against me.”But as the news settles, many in the fashion community are trying to make sense of what this means for Galliano’s career—and for the future of Dior. is the most recent to speak out, telling WWD on Wednesday: “"I'm furious that it could happen… It's a horrible image for fashion, because they think that every designer and everything in fashion is like this. This is what makes me crazy in that story." A more immediate question is what will happen in the coming days. Dior is still expected to show at Paris Fashion Week on Friday at the Musee Rodin—and the over how to finish the collection without their leader. And the presentation of Galliano’s eponymous label is still scheduled to take place at an undisclosed location on Sunday. While it is unclear whether Galliano will appear on Sunday, spokespeople maintained that the shows will go on—and continued to confirm seating assignments on Tuesday.But a larger question looms: ? Widely credited with reviving Dior, the designer leaves some big shoes to fill. There is speculation that his successor will be selected from within LVMH, Dior’s luxury parent company. Names circulated include Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci, Celine designer Phoebe Philo, and even Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs, who checked into rehab himself in 2007. Outside LVMH, it is speculated that Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz is also in the running. A bookie, meanwhile, has already , putting Yves Saint Laurent’s Stefano Pilati at 11/8, former YSL designer Hedi Slimane at 9/4, and Kris Van Assche, Dior Homme’s creative director, at 4/1. At this point, it’s anybody’s guess.Galliano’s alleged anti-Semitic remarks at a bar in Paris on Thursday night were met with a mixture of shock, disgust, and sympathy. Then came the release Monday of a video of a separate drunken incident, at the same bar, by the website of the British tabloid . The at a neighboring table’s occupants, who laugh and egg him on. “I love Hitler,” he says. “People like you would be dead…Your mothers, your forefathers…would all be fucking gassed.” , the face of Christian Dior’s perfume Miss Cherie, was quick to condemn the video. “I am deeply shocked and disgusted,” she said. “In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way.”“It’s very common in France,” said Joan Juliet Buck. “But it’s the last thing you’d expect from a wild, English bohemian from Gibraltar. He represented the opposite of the values that are expressed in anti-Semitism.”. After taking the helm there in 1996, he transformed the company from an outdated label into a sought-after global brand. Soon, he introduced silhouettes that conformed to the body, spaghetti straps, and dresses that looked like lingerie. (The first dress Galliano designed for Dior was a that she wore to Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1996.) He famously told : “My goal is really very simple: When a man looks at a woman wearing one of my dresses, I would like him basically to be saying to himself, ‘I have to fuck her.’… I just think every woman deserves to be desired. Is that really asking too much?”Gallery: Studios used to have traditions, and pride in them. MGM had its musicals, and now it's tuneless and hobbling. Warner Bros., once famous for its gangster movies, has become an impersonal corporate giant. But at least one tradition survives in Hollywood. When it comes to animation, nobody's done it longer--or better--than Disney. Though this has been a year in which the fortunes of the Walt Disney Co. have been sputtering-and it's looking as though Disney's "Billy Bathgate" will take a bath-it's safe to say that Uncle Walt himself would have crowed with pleasure at the sight of Beauty and the Beast. It's the company's 30th full-length animated film since "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), and it has the feel of a classic.Ironically, Walt himself, in the early days, considered turning the timeless fairy tale into a film. But the studio was stumped by the static second half, which was just a series of dinners between the imprisoned Belle and the romantically imploring Beast. The current Disney team has solved the problem. Under the direction of Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, and with the talent of songwriters Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, they have turned "Beauty and the Beast" into a resplendent musical. Sophisticated and funny, romantic and scary, the story has been reimagined with a wonderful new supporting cast of characters and witty, memorable songs that put current Broadway fare to shame.The book-loving Belle, burning to escape the provincialism of her close-minded 18th-century village, has a lot more spunk and brains than the traditional Disney ingenue. She's captured the eye of the town's hunk, a hilariously self-enamored macho man named Gaston (the voice of Richard White) who's determined to wed her. The wise Belle has only contempt for this stud with the soul of a newt. Gaston is a triumphantly funny villain, who boasts, in the movie's funniest song, that he uses antlers in all his interior decorating.If some of the finer satirical points will sail over kids' heads, there's plenty for them to relish. Borrowing a trick or two from "Fantasia," the movie creates a marvelous array of animated household objects that serve as the staff of Beast's magical castle. There's Lumiere, a candelabra with the pizzazz of Maurice Chevalier; Cogsworth (David Ogden Stiers), an overwound mantle clock with a taste for puns ("If it's not baroque, don't fix it"); a warm English teapot (Angela Lansbury) and her baby cup, Chip. In the showstopping "Be Our Guest" musical number, they all join forces with the tableware to serve up a rousing Busby Berkeley-style extravaganza.Paige O'Hara is the sterling voice behind Belle, and the fierce, temperamental Beast, a Prince who fears he will be forever trapped in his animal form, is played by Robby Benson, with a rich bass that will startle those who had him pegged as a whispery eternal kid. Their love story has real poignance (has there ever been this sexy a kiss between two Disney drawings?), not to mention a welcome message for kids growing up in our appearance-obsessed culture. "Beauty and the Beast" is 80 minutes of seamless, transporting storytelling.Producer Don Hahn started work on the picture three and a half years ago. From the start, the filmmakers knew they didn't want Belle to be the passive character of the original story or a carbon copy of Ariel in "The Little Mermaid," a creation some critics found cloyingly sexist. With screenwriter Linda Woolverton--who brought to the character her own passion for reading--they devised a plot in which Belle would actively track down her father and bargain with the Beast for his life (in the original her father, under threat of death, trades her to Beast.)But Woolverton had to start all over from scratch when Howard Ashman and Alan Menken ("Little Shop of Horrors," "The Little Mermaid") came aboard two years ago to transform "Beauty and the Beast" into a musical. Ashman, both the lyricist and the film's executive producer, in many ways became the driving force behind the movie. "He was a genius storyteller in knowing where to place songs, in knowing what's important and what's not," says Hahn. "Howard was our simplification police." It was Ashman who realized, contrary to tradition, that this had to be Beast's story. "We didn't agree with him right away. But he was right. The Beast was the guy with the problem."Few knew Ashman was ill from the start. It was not until two days after he and Menken won an Oscar for a "Little Mermaid" song that Ashman told his partner he was sick with AIDS. "Towards the end," Menken recalls, "it became an increasingly remote-control process for him because he couldn't sing, he could barely write ... He was very strongly a participant every step of the way [although] it was an increasingly painful struggle." Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg felt he was an inspiration. "Howard Ashman's fingerprints will be on movies out of this company for years to come." The film is dedicated to Ashman, who left behind songs for a 1992 animated feature, "Aladdin."Watching animated film, you might suppose that the actors come in at the end and dub their characters' lines. The reverse is true: the voices are recorded before the drawing begins, and often the real-life actors' mannerisms are incorporated into the animation. Part of the job of directors Trousdale and Wise was to cast the animators who are each assigned specific characters to develop, matching their personalities and humor to the parts. "We work with the animators the same way that we work with the actors," explains Wise, "They feel as close to the characters that they're portraying through drawing as human actors do ... I think the heart of Disney animation that sets it apart is that individuality to all the characters."In September, "Beauty and the Beast" was shown at the New York Film Festival as a work in progress-roughly 35 percent was still black and white line drawings. The crowd responded with a 10-minute standing ovation. Katzenberg, who was obsessively involved with the project from start to finish, feels that this is his animation team's "greatest artistic achievement" and has let it be known he thinks it should be nominated for a best-picture Oscar. The odds are against it: no animated film has ever been nominated. But as they say at Disney, when you wish upon a star ... A LITTLE SAINT-SAENS, A LOT OF FUN KATRINE AMESThe most delicious musical score of 1991 is Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's "Beauty and the Beast." If the growing armada of titanically troubled Broadway musicals had half its charm and affectionate cleverness, the ships wouldn't be foundering."Beauty and the Beast" has the best songs of any Disney movie since "Lady and the Tramp" (1955) and the best, most sophisticated score since "Sleeping Beauty" (1959)-and that was adapted from Tchaikovsky. Menken and Ashman are not revolutionaries--that's not what Disney is about--but their work is old-fashioned in the most endearing sense. If it weren't the kiss of death, the studio could call "Beauty and the Beast" an operetta: the songwriters did, in fact, cast several big numbers in the style of Romberg & Co.Because the story is set in France, Menken has given the music a French flavor, and not just in the Chevalieresque moments of the irrepressible "Be Our Guest." He is a master of pastiche, and his score shimmers and simmers with Debussy, Saint-Saens, Satie and Couperin; the village girls who ogle Gaston are descendants of a flirtatious trio in Massenet's "Manon." But there are nods to great Americans, too, including Copland and Bernstein. The sensational "Belle," complete with Ashman's sly and quick-cutting dialogue, is reminiscent of Sondheim.The orchestration is lush, too, and despite some requisite Hollywood glissandi, often delightful and surprising. There's some effective use of woodwinds--and when did you last hear a harpsichord in a musical? Throughout, Ashman's lyrics are just right, intricate or simple, sweet and funny. And even the tinniest ear will respond to a rhyme like "fair facade/rather odd." As in all great musicals of the last 50 years, "Beauty and the Beast" has songs that actually advance the plot. It's clear that, unlike many of their contemporaries, Menken and Ashman did not sit down at the piano and say, "Gee, let's put a hit song here." Well, Menken admits, they did do that once. "In all our projects, we had never achieved the liftable ballad. We were determined to have it this time." They achieved it with the title song, which they dared to compose for a teapot. They lucked out with casting: Angela Lansbury can deliver a song more intelligently and intuitively than almost anyone in musical theater. Alas, the reprise is a bleating duet by Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion. They should have trusted the cozy teapot.“When you put it all together like that, you don’t realize within some of those words were happy moments,” DioGuardi said with a laugh after hearing some of that read back to her. “It sounds horrifying!”It really, really does. For one, DioGuardi was unaware that she’d been hired in part, she writes, “to keep Paula in check, since her contract was up in a year.” Abdul was her friend, but DioGuardi found herself in the position of not being able to tell her she’d been cast—instead Abdul was (unpleasantly) surprised that there was a new female judge.“Looking back, maybe I should have called her and said, ‘They’re not going to tell you this, but I’m going to be showing up tomorrow,’” DioGuardi said. But Abdul “probably wouldn’t have showed up. I said in the book that I apologize.”DioGuardi asked to be let out of her own Idol contract last summer after it became clear that the now Cowell-less show was in full reboot mode—there were rumors that she either , anyway. In the book, she presents an email from her manager and work partner to Idol executive producer Cécile Frot-Coutaz, dated Aug. 5, asking that she be released—in case anyone needs you-didn’t-fire-me-I-quit! proof.DioGuardi has come out the other side of the Idol experience, and her days are now filled—again—with her A&R job at Warner Bros. (Jason Derülo is her most recent success) and the songwriter management company, Arthouse Entertainment, that she co-owns. She’ll also soon be featured as the lead judge in Bravo’s new songwriting competition show, , which makes its debut May 30. She lives with her husband, Mike McCuddy—their courtship is detailed in A Helluva High Note—in a jaw-droppingly nice house in the hills of Studio City that has three-and-a-half acres, a pool, a river rock fireplace, and an apiary for the bees McCuddy has recently begun keeping. Leaning back on the couch in her living room, DioGuardi looked around happily, and said, “I sit in my house and go, ‘Wow, I could have really ended up pumping gas.’”Probably not: Her father, , was a Republican congressman from New York and recently ran, unsuccessfully, for the Senate. She went to Duke. But after entering the music business—first by trying to be a singer herself—and thereby avoiding the traditional paths her parents might have wanted her to take, DioGuardi has developed a forceful pragmatism. And her ambition is fueled by a nearly Depression Era-level of fear of failure and pennilessness. “I’ve never in my life bought a big piece of jewelry—like, ‘I’m gonna get myself a big piece of jewelry!’” DioGuardi said. “Songwriters’ lives are unstable and up and down. Even though mine has sort of has followed more of a—” she held her arm up to show a steady ascent—“going toward the sky trajectory.”In one area of her life, though, DioGuardi is experiencing flux: She has struggled to get pregnant, and in the book writes that she unsuccessfully attempted three rounds of in vitro fertilization during her time on Idol—the show’s fans may recall DioGuardi’s to Big Mike singing “A Woman’s Work,” which she attributes to fertility treatments. “I wanted a child,” she writes, “and there was no way I could get pregnant under the stress of 18-hour work days and live TV.” Since leaving the show, she tried it again. “So yeah—it didn’t work,” she said.“When you’re somebody who’s used to making a decision about what they want to do and getting it and achieving it, when your body fails you, it’s a whole other experience,” she continued. “This time around, I see a change in my body from it, which is freaky to me. And it took me longer to come back from it. There was definitely that bloating. Four times. It’s a lot of stuff to pump into you.” (She’s not sure whether she’ll try the IVF route again. “I’m kind of figuring it out,” DioGuardi said.)Despite the personal toll, DioGuardi certainly doesn’t regret joining Idol. It helped her conquer her fear of performing, for one thing. “I can sing in front of people,” she said. “I can go on a TV show, live, and not feel like I’m going to throw up.” By Season 9, her second on the show, she understood better how to articulate her judging critiques, and felt gratified that much of the press criticism reversed. And as far as Cowell goes, DioGuardi said: “I think we got to a place of respect. And I learned probably the most from him. So I have a lot to thank him for.”Having written the book, and now having to talk about it to promote it, DioGuardi wants to be clear—particularly about American Idol. “There were days when I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is hard—I don’t know why I’m doing this,” she said. “But there were also moments of joy as well. And as I say, I’m so glad I did it. It’s literally because I am better for it. I really accept myself more now than ever. Because I’ve had to read things about myself in the press that I went, ‘OK! It can’t get worse than this.’”Plus: .Kate Aurthur is the West Coast editor of The Daily Beast.With shoes, as with hemlines, what goes up must come down. And so when the First Lady began stepping out in her relatively tame kitten heels, I figured the fashion flock would follow. What I didn’t anticipate was the onset of clogs—summer’s ugliest trend. Suddenly, they are everywhere and in every incarnation including sandal-clogs, boot-clogs and what I like to call “clugs” which are a cross between clogs and Uggs. You can get Chanel’s “barnyard” version on the third floor of Barneys for $865 or go for the really freaky looking style from Celine. The latter version doesn’t even resemble a shoe so much as one of those old-fashioned wooden meat pounders—the kind of thing one would use to tenderize a juicy steak for the grill this weekend.We’ve all had our clog moment, but I had hoped that it had passed long ago. Anyone who was around in New York City in the 1970s remembers the bright yellow Olaf Daughter’s shop on Lexington Avenue. You can still buy vintage Olaf Daughter’s at Etsy.com (a black patent pair will set you back $42). “They will massage your feet all day,” the site promises. You can also buy the original thing now being manufactured by the Swedish company, Olsson. Those Olsson folks really know how to spin clogs. On their site they even list the benefits of clogs, which include improving posture, aligning the spine and, expanding social interaction. Huh? According to the site, if you wear clogs “You will make new friends and meet total strangers because whenever you wear clogs people undoubtedly stop you and ask about them.”“Doctors wear them!” “They breathe!” Yet they are still clinically proven to be ugly.I was tempted to stop the trendy woman walking in front of me toward spinning class this morning and ask her why in God’s name she was wearing a hideous pair of “clugs” that reached awkwardly up to mid-calf and didn’t do much for her silhouette. Instead I asked my trendy friend Farnaz what had inspired her to wear clogs—the closed heel kind worn mostly by doctors in the OR. “I got them when I was in medical school but I never wore them,” she said, a little too defensively. “Doctors wear them!” “They breathe!”Yet they are still clinically proven to be ugly.Plus: .Kate Betts is a contributing editor at Time magazine and until this year was also the editor of Time Style & Design, a special supplement to the magazine. Previously, Betts was the editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar and the fashion news director of Vogue. She is the author of the book Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style , due out February 2011.Inside the imaginative portrait issue, Lula depicts , Madonna, Donatella Versace, and even Botticelli’s Venus—all as the idealized modern woman. There are no egos to contend with, no publicists, no schedules, no shoots. Herself exists in a place above a space-time continuum, with current fashion serving as a connective tissue. There are also interviews—some of them made up, like an imagined conversation with , and others actual, such as a conversation with Vogue Nippon’s colorful editor, Anna Dello Russo.For the best that Barcelona has to offer, belly up to Pinotxo Bar, a tiny place with a gracious host. in Barcelona at the Boqueria Street Market. This 12-seat stall has been run Juanita, for more than 50 years. Combine food inspired by one of the top food markets in the world with one of the most gracious hosts I have even had the pleasure of dining with, all while seated at a luncheonette counter. One of the most memorable dishes I have had there is Baby calamari filled with calamari ink, fresh chick peas and chorizo. It is a dish that I love but have never been able to recreate properly because we just cannot get calamari that small over here.This year, photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin photographed each of the nominees and honorees for the CFDA Journal, which will be distributed during Monday night’s event. “We wanted to do really simple and classic portraits,” Trey Laird, graphics creative director of the awards, tells The Daily Beast. “[Inez and Vinoodh] worked to portray each designer in a new way. Marc Jacobs, for example, appears shirtless with tattoos—but also in a suit. “Sometimes people shoot Marc in a sensational way,” Laird says. “So there is something very elegant about these pictures.”After 25 years and nearly 7,000 shows, the CNN host ends his long-running show Thursday. Revisit some of his classic moments, from a miffed Jerry Seinfeld to Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks walkoff. The WikiLeaks WalkoffLarry King, armed with common sense, never backs down from a fight. In October 2010, King was in the midst of asking WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange why he had of an interview on CNN International the previous day after an urgent information dump, when he mistakenly thought the old tape was live footage. Frustrated that Assange had walked off again, King asked why he wouldn’t answer questions about accusations of rape and molestation. “Well, I didn’t walk off, Larry, just then,” Assange replied. “But perhaps I should.” Assange, already known to be somewhat of a hothead, rebuked CNN and King for shameful “tabloid journalism.” But King struck back.What is sin City's most popular parlor game? Speculating on what will replace the Mirage's Siegfried & Roy spectacle: a vacant showroom on the Strip is like undeveloped waterfront property in Miami. After a grace period--an onstage tiger attack Oct. 3 all but ended Roy Horn's career--promoters are flooding parent company MGM Mirage's offices with proposals ranging from a production of "Hairspray" to various Celine-style endeavors. NEWSWEEK has learned that Cirque du Soleil, the human circus troupe that already has three Vegas shows and is opening a fourth this summer, has held meetings to think about a fifth. With Cirque's Vegas track record, that makes sense. But what's puzzling--if not creepy--is why huge Siegfried & Roy marquees still loom around town. Alan Feldman, an MGM Mirage spokesman, says the duo remains a part of the resort's identity. A zoo with their animals is still open, and a cartoon, "Father of the Pride," airs on NBC this fall. Creepier still is the centerfold in the 2004 Siegfried & Roy calendar: a 20- by 24-inch poster of Montecore, the mauler. Feldman says, "If someone wants to be cynical or sarcastic, that's something someone would smirk about."Wanted: 24 women to lie in bed, largely immobile, for 60 consecutive days as part of a test to simulate weightlessness on behalf of the European and French space agencies. Participants cannot sit or stand, and must undergo 40 days of preparation and follow-up. Sounds like some kind of techno-torture, right? Not to the 1,200 mostly French women who recently applied. Many of them were depressed applicants who saw two months in bed as appealing, especially if they'd be the center of a medical team's attentions. "They said, 'I'm really tired, can I come for a rest cure?' " recounts study coordinator Dr. Arnaud Beck. "We had to tell them 'It isn't like it's a vacation'."The study wanna-bes are not the only French people anxious to check out. Several recent surveys show that life in France, of late, just doesn't have the joie de vivre that it used to. While this may not explain why French leaders can be such grumpy allies, it could provide a clue. Denis Tillinac, a close friend of President Jacques Chirac's and author of a just- published book called "The Venom of Melancholy," says the French are depressed because "people sense for the first time that the lives of their children will be worse than their own." National pride has taken a beating. Economic growth has slowed to a crawl. Unemployment remains anchored at about 10 percent. For the past two years the French had found a rare sense of solidarity in opposing the invasion of Iraq and the re-election of U.S. President George W. Bush--but they proved powerless to stop either one.None of that means Gauls are on the verge of collective suicide, and their misery does have company in a few other downhearted European countries. But, says Dr. Matt Muijen, acting regional adviser for mental health for the World Health Organization, "French people consider themselves more miserable than Northern Europeans." According to a Eurobarometer mental-health survey, one French person in four says he or she is unhappy, and lacking in vitality and positive feelings. The French are about twice as likely to consider themselves unhappy as notoriously suicidal Scandinavians (but they are slightly less likely than those bummed-out Brits).In order to cope, the French consume far more medication per capita--mostly tranquilizers, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs--than any other nation in Europe. French people sleep nearly half an hour more than Germans, who suffer harsher winters, according to a survey sponsored by the furniture company IKEA. And the French, long smug about American obesity, now stuff their faces with junk food. One third of the population is considered overweight. A recent poll conducted jointly with the World Health Organization showed that 11 percent of the French reported suffering a "depressive episode" in the two weeks before they were interviewed. (Two weeks!) An additional 12.8 percent said they felt generalized anxiety.And now, winter's here to worsen the discontent. Romantics, philosophers, painters and photographers have all found elegant inspiration in the months when the sun rises as a vague gauzy light through a screen of clouds and disappears eight stingy hours later, but urban 9-to-5ers are less appreciative. "People walk out of their house while it is still dark, and they come home from work, and it is already night. The winter brings a bitter taste," says Paris-based Europe 2 radio journalist Celine Carriere. "I become more alone, more closed off."Other European capitals have shorter days, but none has so many people packed into so little space. Paris is the most densely populated city in Europe. Grand boulevards may get some light, but the many small streets rarely see a glimmer when the winter sun hovers at the sky's edge. The result, according to neurophysiologist Damien Leger at the Hotel Dieu Hospital's sleep institute in Paris, is that people get less sunlight and suffer from "seasonally affected disorder"--yes, SAD. The condition affects about 10 percent of the French population, Leger explains as he leads a visitor on a tour of his clinic. Aware of the problem, the French government subsidizes light treatments aimed at brightening moods. Leger drops in on a dour-looking woman reading a paperback book in front of a large broad-spectrum light. It is her third session. "Feel any better?" he asks warmly. "Not at all," she replies sourly, and turns back to her book. The benefits often come later, Leger explains.As for the weightlessness simulation experiment, the weak and dejected need not apply. It turns out they're systematically weeded out during physical and mental screenings. "Someone who is already quite fragile won't be chosen," Beck says. How depressing.Readers expressed hope for a cure for AIDS amid their sorrow over the high toll the pandemic continues to exact. One said, "Your comprehensive essays [were] tough reading. Tough to learn how far-reaching and devastating this disease has become in 25 years." A lawyer who once defended AIDS victims and is trying to do more to "play my part in prevention, testing and treatment" wrote, "That sense of doom may be lifting if the Clintons and Gateses of this world can lead us to more solutions." And a longtime AIDS sufferer noted, "Although I may not make it, I do know those in the future will be able to overcome this horrible disease and live a normal life." One black woman's sense of urgency echoed those of other readers. "The disease affects so many of us," she said. "I hope the black community can come together to spread awareness and create change like it did when we were fighting for our lives and rights in the 20th century."Your May 15 issue, "AIDS at 25," is one of NEWSWEEK's most important. I grew up in a rural part of Virginia, where HIV/AIDS was, and often still is, viewed as a distant phenomenon that affects those living in the city or across the ocean. My family was like many others, never once thinking that HIV/AIDS could have anything to do with us. My older brother Kevin died of AIDS-related pneumonia when I was 10 years old. I relate this anecdote now in my work as a health educator for Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry, where I manage a program called Face to Face. My program enters local schools, church youth groups, juvenile-detention centers--any place where youth congregate--to teach a message of HIV prevention through education. We put a face to this disease by having those living with HIV or AIDS tell their stories. This enables young people to see that any person from any walk of life could be infected. Many parents take their children out of our program, meaning our educational message of safety and the statistics will not reach their ears. All I can hope is that their parents are educating them at home on these important issues. I believe that, perhaps, if someone had come to speak to my family about HIV, my brother Kevin would still be with us today.Tara Dwyer Falls Church, Va.As the developer of the nation's first home HIV test--1996 on your timeline ("How AIDS Changed America")--I have been a longtime advocate of HIV testing as a way to reduce the spread of AIDS. The only way you know whether you or your partner has HIV is by taking a test. Yet this logical approach to AIDS prevention has been all but ignored for two decades as politics have skewed AIDS-prevention programs to a choice of abstinence or the "Don't ask, don't tell" approach of condoms. It is encouraging that former president Clinton is beginning to provide leadership on this issue and advocate for broad-scale HIV testing. I no longer have any financial interest in AIDS testing, but with 40,000 new cases of AIDS each year in the United States, the time is long overdue for public-health officials to do more than give lip service to the benefits of testing.Elliott J. Millenson Former President and CEO Johnson & Johnson, Direct Access Diagnostics Potomac, Md.The sheer number of people affected by AIDS makes this worldwide disease a worthy topic for an issue of NEWSWEEK. I would have liked to see in your extensive coverage an article about sexual abstinence as a prevention method. Regrettably, we do not want to discuss the possibility of teaching our young people to exercise self-control and to abstain from sexual activity until marriage. Yet if they do and they marry someone who has also abstained and they remain sexually faithful in marriage, their chance of contracting AIDS is 0 percent, and there is not even a need for a condom! Abstinence is smart, totally effective and cost-efficient, but it requires that we challenge people to be self-controlled. America must change its sexual habits before those habits destroy coming generations.James Hansee Cincinnati, OhioThank you for reminding us that AIDS is still taking a toll on our world. As a fortysomething woman who was 21 years old when the first AIDS jokes made the rounds at my sorority house at the University of Texas, I lost countless friends (mostly gay men) in the 1980s and 1990s. I can recall far too many "death watches," and at one time, I even had a "spring funeral outfit" and a "summer funeral outfit." When my best friend, Chip, died of AIDS-related complications in 1994, it shut me down emotionally. I thought I had put the sorrow and memories behind me until last year, when I began doing crisis counseling for part of my master's degree. Something awakened inside of me, and memories of Chip came flooding back, along with brightly tinged memories of happier times. I will never forget Chip, and I hope that people never lose the sense of urgency about AIDS or forget the tragic loss of talent and humanity that the first wave of AIDS brought to our country. I wonder how many other friends and family members are still touched daily, as I am, by their losses.Lea McLeod Matthews Nashville, Tenn.We need to be reminded that we can't look at diseases on an impersonal level. AIDS and HIV are a reality, but in order to make everyone realize that, we must put faces behind those frightening letters. To bring attention to the epidemic, we must bring attention to how close to home it is. And to accept the truth of the virus is to accept the fact that those who have it are not walking diseases. They are people. They are mothers, fathers and, yes, even children. They need love, trust and everything any other human needs. Having a disease makes you no less than what you already were. Thank you for your articles and for continuing to share the truth.Gina Blanchard Santa Cruz, Calif.It is important for your readers to know that Ken Meeks, whose 1986 photo ran with your story "How AIDS Changed America," was much more than a tragic picture representing the devastation of AIDS. Ken Meeks was my best friend. My youngest son is named after him. Perhaps Ken's greatest contribution to AIDS awareness, and action, was his decision to allow "Nightline," hosted by Ted Koppel, to record the final few months of his life in 1986. This was truly heroic. As Ken's health deteriorated, he and his partner took a cross-country trip by train (something Ken had always wanted to do). But the trip was cut short in September 1986 as Ken was much too ill to continue. He was admitted to San Francisco General Hospital and died there a short time later. His final interview with Koppel aired a few days before his death. It was powerful and moving. Ken truly believed it was his mission to educate others regarding this terrible disease about which so little was known. Rest in peace, Ken. Mission accomplished.Art Winters Holliston, Mass. As owners of a small retail chain that caters primarily to the 18- to 30-year-old age group, we were happy to provide to our customers (who wanted them) free condoms that we got from a local HIV/AIDS prevention organization. However, the organization relied on federal funding that was cut after the current administration came into power. It seems that prevention of the world's most devastating epidemic, the strain it inflicts on the health-care system and the deaths it causes aren't as important as a war with no end in sight.Phil and Sandy Azancot Texarkana, TexasThank you for the cover story on AIDS, the scourge that took my husband, Bill, 12 years ago. In the early 1990s, heroic doctors and social workers from the Deaconess Hospital in Boston supported him mightily as his health failed. He was part of a group taking the antiviral drugs experimentally. Bill took each kind separately, before doctors were able to concoct the "cocktail" now keeping AIDS victims alive. Bill's poor mother and father witnessed, six months after his death, the heralding of a "cure for AIDS." We rejoiced for those able to take (and afford) AZT but cried bitterly for our own loss. Three lovely daughters missed having their daddy watch them grow up. To all affected by the NEWSWEEK articles, please join us for the AIDS walks all across the country later this year. Contribute if you can. Let's find a way to stop this plague from continuing to kill our loved ones.Linda Lewis San Diego, Calif.I applaud Melinda French Gates for acknowledging that women need more HIV-prevention tools, yet prevention still "depend[s] on a man's cooperation" ("What Women Really Need"). However, this merely addresses the effect of HIV/ AIDS, not the cause. The cause is the age-old problem that women lack respect in most religious and political structures and organizations. As a result, while platitudes are tossed like doggy bones, there is little substantial movement allowing women a voice, proper education and economic opportunities, thus consolidating power and control within an elite patriarchal system throughout most of the world. Another horrific effect of this system is the objectification of women through the huge money-making schemes of pornography and prostitution. What will it take to eradicate HIV/AIDS at its root cause, namely, lack of respect for women?Dee Warner Wilmington, Dela.Robert Wilder's my turn article, "It Takes a Real Man to Be a Good Mother" (May 15), brought back many memories of my childhood. When my mother died at 34, my father raised two boys and five girls. He lost one son to a farm accident and another to World War II. He was strict and firm in teaching us girls to care for one another while he worked full time as a coal miner and part time as a bartender. Even so, he was always available for us, even though his spare time was limited. And he was such a wonderful father. He died at 48 from black lung and left five well-adjusted young ladies. Thank you for this article.Angelina Quattrocchi RayCorrales, N.M.Robert Wilder's my turn column was the most touching and heartfelt thing I've read in years. His father is truly an inspiration. I hope that I would be that kind of man if circumstances required it. Thank you for publishing this inspiring story.Matt Green Rego Park, N.Y.I read your May 15 issue on Mother's Day, while at the Y on the cross-trainer at 7:30 a.m. Afterward, I went shopping, cleaned the house, ran errands and awaited the return of my three kids, who were with their dad that weekend. Why is it that close to the day we set aside to honor mothers for the hard work they do, the my turn column features a story about a man doing what millions of women do every day? Why is it we lionize men for doing women's work and otherwise take for granted what women do all the time? When I first had kids, my then husband would come home and tell me about the people who fawned over him as he walked the babies in their strollers. No one ever fawned over me for taking my child for a walk. I was invisible. Come on, NEWSWEEK, did you have to take a day set aside for women and use it to honor a man?Pam Van Coevering Arden Hills, Minn.Anna Quindlen's immigration analysis is right on the mark ("Undocumented, Indispensable," May 15). She points to our desire for "cheap houses and ... fresh fruit" and to the government's greed for "taxes from workers whose existence it will not recognize," thus suggesting a compromise solution. Since it is our own failure to control our national borders and our negligence in permitting illegal aliens to remain here undisturbed for years, why not admit our share of the fault? This time, grant them all a clearly defined legal status, thus permitting our farmers and employers to hire them legally, and start to secure our national borders seriously rather than using Band-Aids on a leaking container of acid. If we can continue to spend $200 million a day in Iraq, let us spend what is necessary for our own national security.Fr. Larry N. Lorenzoni, S.D.B.San Francisco, Calif.Anna Quindlen would have us believe that opponents of illegal immigration are xenophobic hypocrites whose disdain rises over the color of skin. She could not be more wrong. While the contribution of immigrants over the years has helped make this country great, it is the rule of law that has made it work. And although dreadfully flawed and in need of significant repair, there is an established system of laws for managing and regulating immigration--as much a matter of safety and security as economics. The issue here is not cheap housing and produce; rather, it is the notion of rewarding lawlessness. The idea that it's better to give in to the demands of illegal aliens because it is convenient, despite the proven negative effects on the economy, reflects the very discouraging reality that America is bound (and determined) to crumble under the weight of its incessant consumption, inexorable greed and pitiful inability to plan for the future.David Givot Lakewood, Calif.Thank you, Anna Quindlen, for suggesting to those Americans "who are really incensed by millions of undocumented immigrants" that they refuse to eat fruits and vegetables harvested by undocumented immigrants and not buy homes built by them. It would be a movement similar to the successful one organized by Cesar Chavez, who led farm workers in the national boycott of grapes in a demand for fair wages and against the indiscriminate use of pesticides in the fields where they labored. A large order for those "incensed" Americans, but it could be so rewarding. My family participated in the Chavez boycott of grapes, and I was never prouder than when my then 3-year-old son finally saw grapes (not on our table) and asked, "What are those?"Celine E. Riedel Avon Lake, OhioIn "How AIDS changed America," we incorrectly reported that Ryan White died in 1991. He died in 1990. NEWSWEEK regrets the error.At the Hermes original flagship store at 24, rue du Faubourg St-Honore, in the heart of Paris, slim saleswomen dramatically unfurl silk scarf after silk scarf for clusters of Japanese shoppers and chic Parisiennes. Tailors take measurements for made-to-order suits and millinery experts size up chapeaus to be worn at the next big wedding or horse race. On the mezzanine, jewelers fit watches or help select the perfect pair of cuff links. In the back, saddlers take orders. To be measured, however, customers must make their way upstairs, where they straddle a leather sawhorse--just as clients have for more than a century--as the man in the worn cowhide apron takes out his tape measure and gets to work.That, in a snapshot, is what sets Hermes apart from its competitors in the luxury business. As its fall ad campaign, shot by the late Richard Avedon, declares: "Nothing changes, but everything changes." More than 50 percent of the products in the company's 225 stores worldwide are new each season--including, this fall, the first women's wear collection by Hermes's newly appointed in-house designer, Jean Paul Gaultier. Yet the handbags and wallets, scarves and saddles, are still made the same way: by hand. "Hermes is the ultimate luxury," says Harper's Bazaar editor Glenda Bailey. "It's sophisticated, yet not pretentious, and there is always an extreme attention to design, quality and craftsmanship."What's given Hermes its lasting power is the fact that it's one of the last family-owned, family-run companies in the luxury business. In the 1980s and '90s, old houses such as Gucci, Fendi and Celine were swallowed up by corporate groups and made beholden to stockholders who expected increased profits with each quarter. To meet that demand, many luxury houses went downmarket and began selling to the masses. Not Hermes. "They haven't sold out," says Rita Clifton, chairman of Interbrand UK, a branding-consultant firm in London. "Hermes is a rocklike beacon in authentic French luxury."It's in the company's blood--literally. Hermes's 66-year-old CEO, Jean-Louis Dumas, is the fifth generation to run the company. As a child, he played beneath the desk of his grandfather Emile-Maurice Hermes, who guided the firm from the tack shop his grandfather Thierry founded in 1837 to an international luxury leather-goods house. During a trip to Canada in 1914, Emile-Maurice came across the zipper, acquired two-year exclusive rights to its use in Europe, and quickly integrated it into many products, including zip-wrist leather gloves. During his nearly 50 years at the helm, he introduced silk scarves based on jockey prints, silk neckties and Hermes's first scent, Eau d'Hermes--all still staples at the house.In 1951, Emile-Maurice's son-in-law Robert Dumas took over, and turned Hermes into the jet set's luxury brand of choice. When paparazzi snapped Princess Grace of Monaco carrying a sac a depeches to conceal her pregnancy, Robert renamed it the Kelly bag, and sales soared. Half a century later, the Kelly, at $6,000 to $12,000, remains one of the most popular items at Hermes. In 1978, Robert's son Jean-Louis became chairman and CEO.Despite his posh upbringing, Dumas remains remarkably grounded. Like his grandfather, he explored the world; in the early 1960s, he and his Greek-born wife, Rena, climbed into a beat-up Citroen and drove down the Silk Road to India, where they experienced firsthand the wide gulf between rich and poor. Dumas has said that the trip opened his eyes and gave him a sense of spiritualism. Later, he went to work as a buyer at Bloomingdale's in New York, where he learned the middle-class retail business. It all has come together at Hermes. Today Dumas is what his co-chairman Patrick Thomas calls "rational and emotional. He dreams all the time, but at the end of the day he does his accounting."Dumas has guided the company with careful attention to detail--and a certain degree of spontaneity. In 1984, he sat next to the actress Jane Birkin on an Air France flight. After watching her spill the contents of her purse, he asked her what would be the perfect bag. He adapted her specs to an old classic design called the haut a courroies and came up with the Birkin. Today, at a starting price of $8,000, it's one of the house's bestsellers. In 1982, he bought John Lobb shoes, and during the last decade, he has taken minority stakes in such luxury companies as Saint-Louis crystal, Puiforcat silversmiths and Leica cameras. The goal, says Thomas, is to invest in "exceptional products that have nothing in common and try to help them to grow."In 1993, Dumas listed 19 percent of the company on the stock market, which gave Hermes some outside pressure to be fiscally responsible. The company's stock has risen steadily ever since. Four years later he hired Martin Margiela to design women's wear, and to everyone's surprise, Margiela--known for radically deconstructed clothes--turned out one discreetly elegant collection after another.Then in 1999, Dumas stupefied both fashion and business establishments by buying 35 percent of Jean Paul Gaultier, the bad-boy French designer best-known for his conical-breasted corsets for Madonna. The cash infusion allowed Gaultier to expand his then 20-year-old company with new lines and move his headquarters into a newly restored city mansion in Paris. When Margiela's contract expired, Dumas asked Gaultier to suggest a replacement. After thinking a bit, Gaultier called back: "What about me?" Dumas agreed. "He gave me carte blanche," Gaultier told NEWSWEEK backstage after his Hermes women's wear show in Paris last week. "The only thing he told me was, 'Jean, I don't want to see logos like we see everywhere else. Hermes is about discretion, refinement and subtlety.' "But that didn't mean the enfant terrible couldn't play. His first order of business was to create new spins on the classics, making a mini Kelly bag and a squat version of the Birkin--both of which became favorites of glossy editors. After Gaultier's wildly lauded second collection last week--light-as-air silk-scarf gowns, skintight glove-leather bodices and handsomely tailored peacoats--the fashion crowd is loudly comparing the powerful pairing to Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel. Today ready-to-wear is Hermes's second largest business after leather goods, last year accounting for 22 percent of sales, or 267 million euro.Hermes is growing in other directions as well. Three years ago it opened a 5,600-square-meter store in Tokyo. In 2002, it launched an e-commerce site in the United States--Hermes.com. The company is developing its arts initiative, with photography and contemporary exhibits in its in-store galleries in New York, Los Angeles and Brussels, and underwriting shows such as "Carried Away: All About Bags," which opened earlier this month at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. This year it's opening two new production sites outside Paris, adding more than 200 leatherworking artisans. "They are willing to invest time in craftsmen in order to maintain their quality," says Dana Telsey, luxury analyst for Bear Stearns in New York. "In the long-term we will continue to see growth."That's certainly what Dumas hopes. These days he's slowing down, easing into retirement. He named Thomas, a longtime Hermes executive, as co-chairman so he could spend more time with his wife at their homes in Normandy and Greece. But with a half-dozen relatives in key positions, there will no doubt be a sixth-generation in the Hermes saddle for years to come."What Drives China": Readers for the most part didn't subscribe to Orville Schell's thesis that because China suffers from a history of humiliation the Olympics should not be marred by political protests. One said, "The Chinese government's serious human-rights violations, against its own people and Tibetans, need to be addressed vigorously without moral cowardice." Another considered China's driven athletes and posited, "No nation suffering from an 'inferiority complex' can succeed in firing up its athletes with that kind of self-confidence." Pride, Protest and the Olympics China scholar Orville Schell's "China's Agony of Defeat" (Aug. 4) was interesting and informative. However, one need not look back 100 years to know that those choosing the Beijing Olympics as an opportunity to protest are in the wrong. The purpose of the modern Olympic Games is to promote competition as an alternative to confrontation as a model for relations among nations. Furthermore, one does not accept an invitation with the intent to be disruptive and insulting to one's host. Such behavior is simply rude. Betty Jo Chang Douglas City, Calif.Orville Schell suggests that the Olympic Games are not the proper arena to address the Chinese government's derelictions. Why? Because the bully might hit you with more force than if you did nothing. What a cowardly view of the situation. The Chinese people are continually being humiliated, as Schell states, but it is the government doing the humiliating. It is time for the global community to say stop. And what better venue than the Olympics? Stop persecuting your people, stop censoring the masses and journalists in particular. Stop funding the aggressors in the Sudan by supplying them with monies. Stop the persecution of anyone who disagrees with your inhumane tactics. One doesn't stop a bully by ignoring him, but by standing up to him. Thank God Gandhi and others like him did not share Schell's philosophy. Raymond Westbrook Pittsburgh, Pa.I cannot find any sympathy for the Chinese "humiliation." The humiliation should be for following a leader who took them backward in time, enslaved and subjugated them, and turned the country into a big prison camp. They were dominated mentally and physically by one of the most regressive and totalitarian regimes in world history. Only when they started to adopt foreign ideas like capitalism that their leaders had demonized did China start progressing economically. The Chinese people should feel humiliated but not for the reasons listed by Orville Schell. Their leaders failed them and the populace didn't have the wherewithal to recognize it. Jeff Cohen Canfield, Ohio Need McCain Be Tech-Savvy? Anna Quindlen says we live in a time of peril and under the shroud of war upon war ("The Techie in Chief," Aug. 4). To stretch her thesis to meet her liberal bias, she then says since McCain is a neophyte, technologically speaking, he can't possibly be a competent and forward-thinking president. For goodness' sakes, she points out the man can't even use a BlackBerry. Odd; when I employ her thesis, I imagine that in times of peril and war, we can't possibly have a president who hasn't seen battle and understood the implications and tragedies connected to war. Lyla Fox Kalamazoo, Mich.John McCain's inability "to use the most sophisticated means of communication available," the Internet, is the least of his inadequacies. He has a twisted sense of humor that found it funny to amend the Beach Boys' song "Barbara Ann" to "Bomb Bomb Iran." The increase of America's export of cigarettes to Iran inspired him to playfully contemplate that it might be "a way of killing 'em." There is nothing amusing about collateral damage; there is nothing amusing about killing. Do we really want a leader who could play "follow the leader" and plunge our country into further world disaster? Celine E. Riedel Avon Lake, OhioAnna Quindlen's "The Techie in Chief" reaches a new low in sarcasm and nitpicking, even for one who has been called "a left-wing idiot." True, the telegraph did help President Lincoln with his prosecution of the Civil War, but he also traveled to review the situation. The fact that John McCain has not taken the time to master the Internet shows that he is not given to spending time being frustrated by this machine, which I still waste lots of time on. I am 76 and "learned" how to use it 10 years ago. The fact that McCain lets others handle the electronics testifies to his good use of time. John McCain probably cannot shoot three-point baskets as well as Barack Obama, either, but neither of these skills will solve the problems of our country. Richard Murray Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Measuring Grief My husband passed away this year. We were married for 51 years. So "Inside the Grieving Brain" (Aug. 4) was of great interest to me. I've always believed that when a loved one dies there should never be a limit on how long to mourn, since we experience loss in different ways. Am I now to understand that if we mourn longer than six months, we're candidates for inclusion in DSM-V, the next edition of the standard textbook on mental illness? Perhaps researchers, in scanning the brain's nucleus accumbens, should look to the heart as well. My sorrow comes from there. Louise R. Travis Northville, Mich. Clarification NEWSWEEK's Aug. 4 story "A $16 Billion Problem" contained an imprecise statement about Chevron's disclosures to shareholders regarding a lawsuit against the company in Ecuador. The story should have said that a recent court recommendation prompted Chevron in May of this year to include details of the suit in a quarterly report, marking the first time the potential liabilities were disclosed to shareholders in a document filed with the SEC. Chevron had previously referenced the suit in proxy statements to shareholders. Correction In the Aug. 4 item "When We Were Kings" in "A Viewer's Guide to Beijing," we reported that the last American Olympian to win a gold medal in boxing was Oscar De La Hoya in 1992. Two Americans—David Reid in Atlanta in 1996 and Andre Ward in Athens in 2004—have won boxing gold medals since De La Hoya. NEWSWEEK regrets the error.Our Oct. 23 Special Report on the Middle East drew many letters questioning NEWSWEEK's coverage of the crisis. Several observers criticized the interviews with Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak as not counterbalanced with stories on the Palestinian point of view. "Please let the Palestinians tell their side of the story," wrote one. Many readers offered suggestions for achieving peace, and an overwhelming number wrote that Israel should make concessions.Musing on Mideast ViolenceYOUR MIDDLE EAST COVERAGE IN THE Oct. 23 issue had no discussion as to why these events are taking place. From the Palestinians' point of view (and the United Nations'), the Palestinians have as much of a right to a viable state as the Jews. They were driven from their lands by ethnic cleansing when Israel was created after the second world war. Also, from the Israeli Arabs' viewpoint, they are in a parallel situation to the blacks in apartheid-era South Africa. These are the forces behind the Middle East conflict, and they demand comment and analysis, a dimension that was absent from your coverage. PAUL EMMERSON LONDON, ENGLANDI FOUND YOUR HEADLINE "THE PRICE of Pride" offensive, as if pride were the main issue (SPECIAL REPORT, Oct. 23). While not overlooking the defects of Palestinian leadership, I believe the main issue is that there are millions of Palestinians who have seen the Israeli leadership play word games. The "violence" here, as anyone can see, weighs on the Israeli side, not the Palestinian. Who are the people being slaughtered? In your interview with Benjamin Netanyahu, he suggested Yasir Arafat could turn the violence off like a fountain. Netanyahu's arrogance and rhetoric were some of the factors that killed the peace process long ago. BOB ROBERTSON AMMAN, JORDANTHE DELIBERATE BRUTAL LYNCHING and mutilation of the Israeli soldiers, Yosef Avraham and Vadim Noveshe, was a horrible act that should be condemned by the world community so that it will never be repeated. ANNE GOLDBERG OSLO, NORWAYYOU CARRY THREE ARTICLES WRITTEN by people With an Israeli bias. To be fair you have to give equal space to Palestinian pictures, articles and interviews. You do it most of the time; why not in this issue? Please let the Palestinians tell their side of the story. SAKINA YUSUF KAGDA SINGAPOREREADING YOUR ARTICLES MAKES ONE think that the Palestinians don't want peace, they just throw rocks and mob Israeli soldiers--the very soldiers who shoot their children, torture their parents and invade their land. NEWSWEEK gives only the Israeli point of view: you interview Netanyahu and Barak and your reporters are biased. What isn't said is that Israel refuses to cooperate with the United Nations, sends soldiers into Palestinian territory and commits numerous human-rights violations. NASSIM KEFI VIA INTERNET I'M ASHAMED OF YOUR APPROACH TO THE Mideast crisis. On the cover there is a terrorist-like black image of a (supposed) Palestinian man bearing a machine gun, but no Israeli tanks or choppers firing against stone-throwing teenagers. No one is innocent and the interests are disparate, but the casualties are about 10 to one, Palestinians to Israelis. Your SPECIAL REPORT begins, "A Palestinian mob killed two Israeli soldiers, then Israel retaliated by bombing a police station." As a Brazilian with an interest in world affairs and no Arab or Jewish connections, I have no sides to take on this issue, but your coverage is revolting to anyone who knows the facts. I have not seen this much bias in recent years in the mainstream press. ROBERTO CATALDO COSTA PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZILDIPLOMATIC EFFORTS BY THE INTERNAtional community may calm the situation in the Middle East. But that would be only a temporary respite. The Palestinian people are fed up after decades of occupation and years of peace talks that have delivered very little. And, contrary to the Israeli government's wishful thinking, Yasir Arafat's resented administration, replete with corruption and multiple security services, will be unable to control the population. True, neither side is innocent, but Israel is in control of all of what was Mandatory Palestine, including the Palestinian- controlled areas, Which enjoy only local autonomy. For peace to be achieved, Israel must give up land. With the backing of the United States, Israel can be uncooperative, knowing it will not be punished. The international community sits idly by, afraid of being labeled anti-Semitic should Israel be criticized. Israel is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, has developed weapons of mass destruction and uses apartheid-like practices against the Palestinians. Other countries have been vilified for far less. Israel must be brought to make concessions regardless of who is to blame for the latest round of violence. MASSOUD DERHALLY LONDON, ENGLAND I BLAME PRESIDENT CLINTON FOR THE unrest in the Middle East. In his zeal for a legacy, he forced Ehud Barak and Yasir Arafat to the table prematurely. Everyone was unprepared. The resulting public statements on Jerusalem reawakened the sleeping giant of Mideast tension. The issues there are too complex and will affect too many people and too many generations to rush a peace agreement. One man covets a Nobel Prize, so a hundred people can die and tens of thousands of expatriate Americans are placed at high risk. Thanks for nothing, Bill. ALLAN C.STOVER JIDDA, SAUDI ARABIAAMAZINGLY ENOUGH, THE JEWISH PEOple have assumed the very same role that they were subjugated under for so many centuries-that of the aggressor. They are suppressing by brutal force a people who value their land, religion and cultural heritage. Israel was founded on dignity, and yet dignity is the very thing they are denying the Palestinians. Concessions to the Palestinians on Eastern Jerusalem might be hard for Israelis, but if it brings about a lasting peace in the Middle East, wouldn't it be worthwhile? SONALINI SAPRA NEW DELHI, INDIAAS LONG AS THE MUSLIMS KEEP ENACTing their jihads or holy wars, promote terrorism against foreign and unsuspecting countries, consider lynching of prisoners to be noble and pride themselves of the blood on their hands, no thinking person in the West will believe the claim that Islam and the Qur'an are synonymous with compassion, mercy, love and civilization. G. IRACI PERUGIA, ITALY HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SO MANY countries are severely punished when they ignore U.N. resolutions while Israel, who is reluctant to obey any of them, manages to get away with it? ANTONIO SOLINO VIDAL PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAINYOU ASKED BARAK WHY THE PALESTINIans have refused his "generous deal." That is exactly the problem. Most Palestinians feel the deal was totally inadequate, not "generous." When reporting on excessive Israeli reactions, such as "gangs of Jews ... rampaged through Arab towns," you excuse them by saying that they were "enraged by the lynching of two Israeli soldiers." But there's no similar downplaying of Palestinian actions by specifically mentioning that outrage at the killing of children like Mohammed al-Dura is a motivating factor. BILL MARTIN ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATESTHE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PRESENT CONflict between the Palestinians and Israelis is the continued illegal occupation by the Israeli Army of Palestinian territory on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. During the 33 years of occupation, the Israelis have built Jewish settlements on Palestinian land (despite the fact that these settlements were illegal under international law), deprived the Palestinian people of access to adequate water supplies, routinely tortured Palestinian prisoners and treated the Palestinians as second-class noncitizens in their own land. If Israel wants lasting peace, it must obey U.N. Resolution 242 and Withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It must recognize the right of the Palestinian people to have a viable state. The establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state comprising all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the only guarantee of peace and stability in the region. The sooner it is established, with full international recognition and support, the better for everyone in the area. MAIRTIN O. GLIOSAIN DUBLIN, IRELANDYOU STATE THAT RAMALLAH IS "AN AFfluent suburb that has benefited from peace and economic integration With Israeli Jerusalem. " By whose standard is Ramallah affluent? While spending time there last year, I met families living in one-room, practically windowless cement-block apartments. I met men who worked as plumbers, mechanics and cabdrivers for $6 a day. I walked on dirt roads that were in horrible need of repair. I saw men and boys out on the streets all day because they had no jobs. I heard about how hard it is to find jobs in the more "affluent" Jerusalem be cause you had to have a permit to travel there; and if you are a male of a certain age you might as well forget it. I visited a day care center with deteriorating walls and almost no toys for the children. So where is the affluence? I would never condone violence, and the violent act in Ramallah against two Israeli soldiers was as horrible as the killing of an innocent 12-year-old by Israeli soldiers. The Arab people there are desperate and out of work and feel they have nothing to lose. It's no excuse for violence, but it does explain their complete sense of hopelessness about their situation. WENDY WONG RICHFIELD, WISCONSINYOU SAY THAT THE VIOLENCE BEGAN With a provocative visit by Ariel Sharon to a Muslim holy site. The two mosques, however, are the only specifically Muslim holy sites on the Temple Mount. Muslims claim the area to be their third holiest site after Mecca and Medina. To Jews the Temple Mount is the holiest point in the physical universe, the site of the sacrifice of Isaac, the place where the first and second temples were built and the focus of prayers for more than a thousand years before Islam came into being. BENJAMIN DANSKER EFRAT, ISRAELMore Computers Than PeopleA HEADLINE IN YOUR OCT. 23 ISSUE ASKS, "Is the PC Boom Over?"(BUSINESS). Hardly. While most households own one, and the remaining houses, as you say, are "a hard nut to crack,"we are still seeing the early days. Recall when Americans were proud to have one telephone or one TV. In many homes, these consumer products now outnumber the people living there. it took years for the industries to mature, and for the market to adjust, but the norm did switch from one to several. Experience lately shows that the digital economy repeats the past, only faster. JOHN L. SHELTON REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIAA World of TroubleAS I READ "AMERICANS UNDER ATTACK..." (SPECIAL REPORT, on a flight to meet a ship diverted to Turkey because of trouble in Israel, I could relate to being on board a ship in a strange port, far from home, both in distance and customs. The photos of the 17 young sailors killed on the USS Cole made me shudder. As investigations continue, maybe we Americans need to ask some questions. Are those in charge weighing all the facts? Should we send forces to known dangerous areas? What risk is worth 17 lives? ROB LOWENBERG FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA THE FACT THAT NO ONE WAS SEARCHING all boats that were going to be within a certain distance of the USS Cole suggests a mind-boggling lapse of security ("A Sneak Attack," SPECIAL REPORT,Oct. 23). JOHN D. MARSHALL HONOLULU, HAWAIITHE USS COLE IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S most sophisticated and formidable warships, but it was a sitting duck when tied up in port, its systems at their least effective. Given that the U.S. Navy has long been the world's most adept sea power at high-speed refueling while underway, there is no defensible reason to have entered Aden to refuel. Refueling should have taken place at sea, using a U.S. Navy tanker. The United States spends billions of dollars equipping ships like the Cole to be able to defend themselves against multiple adversaries, including submarines. How is a decision then made allowing two men in a small boat to "torpedo" our ship at point-blank range? Our sophisticated and formidable ship is reduced to naught, and its crew put in harm's Way for no good reason. ADAM R. TRUPP Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve (Ret.) TOPEKA, KANSASTHERE WERE TWO OBVIOUS AND PRUdent ways to avoid the tragedy of the USS Cole. The first would have been to refuel the Cole at sea, using a U.S. Navy tanker stationed in the gulf area. Perhaps the cost of fielding a tanker was considered too high. In that event, heavily armed picket boats should have been deployed to keep all unidentified craft away from the Cole while in its vulnerable position in the harbor. If picket boats were not allowed in that foreign harbor, the Cole should have been refueled using the tanker scenario. How costly does fueling that tanker look now? RICHARD A. MELLOH JR. CORNISH, NEW HAMPSHIREConserving OilHIGH OIL PRICES SHOULD BE SEEN AS A godsend ("The New War Over Oil," BUSINESS, Oct. 2). How can we affect any pretense of resolve in trying to rid ourselves of dependence on nonrenewable pollutants for energy when at the same time we fret over our economy when we can't get the stuff dirt cheap? If something is too cheap, we will all be like an unsupervised child at the cookie jar and use the oil until it is all gone or we have given ourselves one heck of a global stomachache. The governments that tax oil heavily are taking flak, when logic dictates it should be taxed just as cigarettes are. If more of the tax revenues were used to develop renewable resources, it would be a win-win situation in the long run. JEREMY C. SAGAWA NISHIAIZU, JAPANNamibia's HeroesSORRY, BUT I'M TIRED OF THE CONTINued denouncing of German atrocities--this time against the Herero people in Namibia ("The Forgotten Genocide," WORLD AFFAIRS, Aug. 21). I am tired of the hypocrisy, the double morality, the blackmailing and the moneymaking involved in it. Have the Boers yet presented their bill to the British, who in the Anglo-Boer war (1899-1902) cruelly killed about 30,000 innocent women and children? Has the United States at least refunded the descendants of the black slaves snatched like animals from Africa and then relentlessly exploited for more than 200 years? What about the Indians whose land it took over and whom it tried to extinguish? I am sure the United States compensated the Vietnamese people for the devastating napalm pattern bombing of Vietnam. And what have the British done for the 60,000 civilian victims, mainly refugees, who died in the unnecessary bombing and complete destruction of Dresden, three months before the German capitulation in World War II? They recently erected a monument to the "hero" who executed this inhuman order. Germany has been paying and paying ever since the end of World War I. How long shall this search for historic (money) sources continue? I suppose till the end of the money and the end of goodwill. CELINE NIEHUIS WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA WHILE READING TOM MASLAND'S ARTIcle on the extermination of Herero herders in Namibia, I found myself asking, "Is it that easy to use the word genocide?" For decades Armenian worldwide communities have been campaigning for the recognition of the 1915 genocide in western Armenia, now eastern Turkey. And the Turkish government has been sponsoring a shameful process of denying it, despite the presence of vast documented evidence. This year on April 24, the commemoration date of the brutal annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey, Bill Clinton addressed the American Armenian community, and mentioned only the word "massacres. " Following his approach, a majority of American-based international media avoided the use of the word "genocide." Being an important regional ally and a member of NATO, Turkey has been successful in turning down many attempts for the official recognition of genocide, particularly in the United States, Britain, France and Italy. Thus, only a few American or European news magazines have given some coverage to those events. I want to congratulate NEWSWEEK for breaking the silence over the 1904 genocide of Herero herders. ANNA ABRAHAMIAN ATHENS, GREECEReviewing the OlympicsWHAT A SHAME THAT ANYONE WOULD think the Olympics are overproduced ("The Real Olympics", SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES, Oct. 9). At the age of 85, 1 never miss an Olympics and feel privileged to be able to see and hear the great camaraderie of many nations throughout the world joining together in peace. Winning or losing, the great sportsmanship is a joy to watch ' Shame on those who belittle the primetime shows. Thank you, NBC! Lois P. HALE ORANGE CITY, FLORIDASURE, MARION JONES IS GREAT! ("MARIon Takes to the Air," SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES, Oct. 2). Reading this issue, however, I was left with the impression that there were no other competitors from other nations and that no other noteworthy events occurred in Sydney. Your "Solid Gold" coverage was the worst indeed. BASIL ARVANITAKIS HALANDRI, GREECEA Heart-Rending DilemmaI FOUND YOUR ARTICLE "AN ETHICAL Quandary" (EUROPE, Oct. 2) most thought-provoking. It was great to see that someone cares for children like Mary and Jodie, the conjoined twins. I am sure their parents must have been really confused over what to do, and saddened by the court's decision. PAULINA SEGOVIANO MEXICO CITY, MEXICO’s home on Monday and settled right in. Daniel Bedard, 36, had already helped himself to pastries in the kitchen and was about to relax in the bathtub when the police showed up with a canine unit. Bedard reportedly asked, “Hey, guys, what are you doing here?” They arrested him on the scene and charged him with breaking and entering, property damage, and auto theft, though it’s not clear whose car he stole. At least he was found by the police instead of the Canadian songstress, who was allegedly vacationing with her husband in their Florida home. The media's obsession with famous mommies-to-be is no secret, and is certainly nothing new. But the ever more aggressive, 24-7 coverage of celebrity-bump-watching, by everyone from New York magazine to x17.com, has a far less joyous downside. Because celebs are now in the spotlight virtually from the day they conceive, when things go wrong, that, too, becomes a headline, forcing women to live out a very painful process in the glare of the public eye.Case in point was this month when 25-year-old British pop star Lily Allen suffered a miscarriage (her second), six months into her pregnancy. It wasn't something Allen was necessarily ready to announce, but because she was so far along, her suddenly slim belly immediately stirred rumors, and the press "went berserk," , a London-based obstetrician and gynecologist who specializes in maternal medicine, told The Daily Beast in a telephone interview.Shehata said he received a call asking him to speak about Allen on British television, but declined because "I didn't feel it was right for me."Beyond the fact that Shehata does not know Allen, nor the details of her situation, he also said no because he is aware of how traumatic a miscarriage can be.“As people are getting older and starting to have kids later, there are more fertility issues and more miscarriages, and so that makes people more open to talk about it,” says Us Weekly entertainment director Dina Sansing. “And that’s going on with celebrities, too.” "It's one of the most devastating problems that people come across in their lives," he said. "If a couple loses a pregnancy, especially after they've seen the baby's heart, they crash down big time."I've seen people separate because of a miscarriage," he continued. "Though that's the most extreme scenario. Most of the time, it brings couples closer together."Miscarriages were not always treated so cavalierly. Because they commonly incite unwarranted feelings of shame and a sense of fault in the woman who's lost her pregnancy—as well as discomfort among friends and family members who are unsure what to say or do—they have historically been treated with kid gloves."If you look at older generations, your mother, your grandmother, a lot of them had miscarriages, but people didn't open up about it then. It was taboo," Shehata said.Even today, in a culture where women openly gab about in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, and fertility-boosting pills like Clomid, there is still a lingering sense of stigma surrounding miscarriages.Brooke Shields waited two years to talk about the fact that she'd had one, opening up only in 2003 when there was joyful news to report along with it—i.e., that at 38, she'd had a baby girl. This tactic, which is common, was also taken by Pink, who, when she confirmed her pregnancy on Ellen, brought up a past miscarriage. And the now-pregnant Mariah Carey, 40, was recently on the for a story about her pregnancy struggles, which involved a miscarriage two years ago. (The same issue featured a story on "Lily's Baby Heartbreak.") Carey told Us that back then, she was unprepared to talk about it: "I didn't share what happened with anybody," she said. "Nobody knew." But with a new pregnancy securely under way, she felt more at ease.Dina Sansing, entertainment director for Us, told The Daily Beast that getting Carey to discuss her miscarriage was a "delicate process, but it was something she didn't shy away from. At the end of the day, she's really excited about having a baby, and that was our focus. But her journey is also an important aspect and something that was interesting to us, and something she was willing to talk about."But even when celebs do open up, they tend to not go overboard with details. When 42-year-old Celine Dion—who has a 9-year-old son, but has been trying for years to have more children—was , she kept her answers brief and upbeat when discussing her numerous miscarriages ("It's all right. It's life, you know?"). The singer was not nearly as loquacious as she was on the subject of her son's lost baby lamb toy or the new family puppy."I think part of that might have something to do with the press, who actually only want to talk about miscarriage when there is a good news story at the end," said Ruth Bender-Atik, director of . "And also, if you talk about it even years later, there can often be a tremendous welling up of emotion, and people don't necessarily want to break down. They don't particularly want to go back to that dark place, which is what pregnancy loss is for many people."Still, the fact that so many celebrities are at least talking about their experiences shows progress. "I think it's a reflection of what's going on in society," says Sansing. "As people are getting older and starting to have kids later, there are more fertility issues and more miscarriages, and so that makes people more open to talk about it. And that's going on with celebrities, too."Sansing also said that there has been a ripple effect in that "once one celebrity talks about it, others feel more comfortable."She credited stars like Courteney Cox for being one of the first high-profile women to be candid about the subject. In 2003, Cox, who was then 39, sat down with Barbara Walters and talked at length not just about her "many miscarriages," but the fact that she and her husband (from whom she is now separated) David Arquette, had done in vitro in order for Cox to become pregnant. They had their first child in 2004.Some women have even turned talking about their miscarriages into a kind of crusade. E! News host and reality-TV star Giuliana Rancic, who recently spoke about her miscarriage on The View, has said that she is trying to destigmatize the subject.However a celeb chooses to handle disclosure, however, what's certain is that the spotlight on the issue—and any issue related to babies—is not going away any time soon. As Life & Style Editor in Chief Dan Wakeford said, "Starting a family has always been one of the biggest choices people have to make, so stories about babies are always emotional and expose feelings that the reader can identify with. They've always been popular with readers, stories on babies. They're the biggest sellers, always. It used to be celebrity weddings, but not anymore. It's all about babies."Plus: .Nicole LaPorte is the senior West Coast reporter for The Daily Beast and the author of .Many first-time memoirists are motivated by self-serving desires: to make the world notice them or to make the world like them. Neither can be said of Bill Clegg or Darin Strauss. Both were already successful—Clegg as a literary agent, Strauss as a novelist—when they decided to write memoirs. Rather than polishing their images, their books explore the darkest moments of the writers’ lives. Strauss was a high-school senior when he accidentally killed a classmate named Celine with his car. The aftermath of that tragedy is the basis for , which will be published in September. Clegg struggled with his own secret—the crack addiction that cost him his life savings, his boyfriend, and his business. , his memoir of the weeks leading up to his final crack binge, came out in May. The authors, who are also friends, spoke with NEWSWEEK’s Jennie Yabroff about what they’ve learned from the experience of literary confession. Excerpts from the conversation (download the / for your portable device):I first met Michael when I was in Detroit. He came to Motown, and they were talking about this boy from Gary, Indiana, and the Jackson 5, and everyone was excited. He was a little boy then. He would always come into the studio curious about how I worked and what I did. "How do you do that?" "Why do you do that?"… I remember playing air hockey one time, and we were going back and forth. I play air hockey on the side as opposed to the end of the table because it's more accessible for me to really understand what's happening. He said, "Oh, you're cheating." And I said, "Aw, I'm not cheating, come on." And we went on and on for hours, just playing air hockey and being silly. — "He was 10 years old, and he had just come to Motown, and [Motown artist and Jackson 5 mentor] Bobby Taylor and I used to take Michael to the golf course with us. He would ride around in the cart with us and critique our golf game, and when we'd hit a bad shot, he'd laugh. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I saw how talented he was when he was 10 years old. He was 10, but he was 30! He sang like he was 30, he danced like he was 30. He was awesome." — When I think of him, I think of him as a young boy, this teenager that I first met. This adorable boy that I met who loved to look at my beaded socks, and said to me once, “Cher, do you think we could just go to the movies?” and we looked at each other and said, “Nah, don’t think so.” We talked about, let’s just rent the movie out and we’ll bring all of our friends. A young man that I remember dancing with all night, and going to see Dreamgirls with... I thought: “My God, I’m going to dance with this boy who’s like the best dancer in the world, and I remember one night, we were at a party—I think it was on the Queen Mary—and we danced all night long. And I never even thought about how I wasn’t his equal as a dancer. We were just having a blast. He was a great teenager. He was a great, optimistic, adorable—not very confident though —he was so beautiful and adorable, but he didn’t have any confidence in that. — In 1978, Sidney Lumet pulled me kicking and screaming into doing the music for The Wiz, starring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael as the Scarecrow. Michael dived into the filming, learning not only his lines but everyone else's. There was only one problem: There's a scene where the Scarecrow starts pulling proverbs from his stuffing and talking about Socrates. Michael kept saying "So-crates." It was really interesting to watch; either because of his age or his fame, no one wanted to correct him. After about the third time, I pulled Michael aside and told him the correct pronunciation. He looked at me with the big, wide eyes of a child opening a present under the Christmas tree and said, "Really?" — "He was such a sensitive guy that when we would go out to dinner—he was a vegetarian—he would apologize to each vegetable before he ate it. He ordered steamed vegetables and he literally would say, "I'm sorry, Mr. Carrot" and "I'm sorry, Mr. Broccoli." He was so empathetic to other people and all living things—that's really what I remember most about Michael, even more than his dancing and singing. When you talked to Michael, you really felt he was feeling what you were feeling." — , producer of The Wiz“Every Tuesday night we had dinner. He was passionate about learning and about everything. My father adored him. He knew every word of every song in every film my father ever made. He burst into “Triplets” and three little unexpected children, that thing when he was around my dad. He was so curious. When I took him to Martha Graham's for rehearsal, he was absolutely riveted and we went home, and he wanted to learn all of those steps. So I taught him. He was such a student of everything. The spacewalk was really done in vaudeville, but he took it and changed it and made it his own. If you notice in his early videos, his feet are kind of flat. You know, when he has the diamond outfit on. His feet are kind of flat. As you go on, he took Gene Kelly's socks, threw some glitter on them, and wore those.” — We were at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. There were thousands of people literally crushing us. We had 20 bodyguards, but it was really dangerous. He dropped to his knees and started crawling to the exit. He did it so routinely, I thought he fell. And I said, "Michael, is it always like this?" He goes, "Yeah, this is nothing. Japan is much worse." — Michael Jackson called me up and said, "Spike, I want meet you, I'm coming to New York." I said, "Well where you want to meet?" He says, "I want to come to your house." I live in Brooklyn! He wants to come to my house! So, Michael Jackson came to my house in Brooklyn, New York — this was when I was living in Fort Greene. And he said, I want you to direct a video for me. My new album's coming out, pick a song. So we listened to all the songs and I picked "Stranger in Moscow." And he said, I don't want you to do that one. And I said, "Michael, just tell me which one you want me to do! Why ask me to pick one?" And he laughed and he said he wanted me to do "They Don't Care About Us." That's how it happened. — I have so many memories of him pranking me onstage. Our quick-change tents shared a side, and as we were rushing to change our wardrobe in between songs, invariably, a grape or a carrot would come rocketing over the top at me. I could always hear him giggling through the wall. — ”My husband and Michael came to Las Vegas to see my show, and I was more than honored to have him. He came backstage, and we spent about an hour together. He had a lot of questions for me. He was very, to me, he seemed to me like, “I want to know so much, I want to know how it is to sing every night here. Is it difficult to sing here every night? Is it demanding?” I felt he wanted to know so much. And I wanted to know so much for him. I was amazed to have him in my dressing room. When I said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Michael Jackson is with us tonight, I thought people were going to jump off the balcony. People went crazy.” — “For someone who was so avant-garde in his music, Michael was a traditionalist when it came to painting. He always asked me to find him a William-Adolphe Bouguereau painting of angels and saints. When I did find one, he wanted to know if I could find one with even more angels and more saints.I went to hear him sing in Romania in 1990. When he heard that there was an orphanage filled with children with HIV, Michael began to weep. Whether it was a beautiful painting that made him emotional, or the horror of children's lives which made him cry, Michael felt very deeply about things and wasn't afraid to let that show.”—Barbara Guggenheim, art consultantWe had lunch together about a month ago, and he talked about his ordeal. He felt like he had really been put through the ringer. He said they wanted blood. — “Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general. I can't recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my father’s death. At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, "I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did." I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that.” — After starting his own label at the age of 19, holy crap, Kors sold his first collection at Bergdorf Goodman (hand-delivered from the backseat of his aunt’s Mercedes). In 1997, the legendary French fashion house Ce line wanted the sunny Long Island boy to take over its creative direction. In 2004, after every major fashion designer including Kors himself turned down an invitation to be the host of Project Runway, and after he finally reconsidered and took a risk on the show, reality television made Michael Kors an international superstar.And now, at age of 50, he’ll be the youngest-ever designer to win the CFDA’s lifetime achievement award. “Holy crap!”“I still feel like a kid,” he says. “But at the same time, when the dust settles, I realize that as of next year, I’ll have been doing this for 30 years now.”We spoke while Kors was in transit—he is seemingly always in transit, between the glorious tropical hotspots where he vacations and the major world metropolises where he does business—and, as always, the designer was energetic, charming and sweetly funny; never negative, never unkind. A self-described “beach boy at heart,” he virtually radiates sunshine.In the course of his career, Kors has subscribed to a simple design philosophy: Make people feel confident and comfortable; help women look beautiful. This governing ethos has led to wardrobe upon wardrobe of timeless fashions, to dresses worn by Jessica Simpson, Michelle Obama, and every famous or glamorous woman in between. From his first muse, his mother, on down, women have worn Kors because he designs for them. There will never be giant spikes or unflattering poufs on a Michael Kors dress. It will never land you on the worst-dressed list.“What keeps me kind of going is, number one, I’m a little ADD, quite frankly,” he says. “I get bored quickly so even though I’m consistent and opinionated and I know what I like, I’m always ready for the next thing. Once you get into that cycle, it’s exhausting but at the same time, your adrenaline is pumped.”• And then, a few times a year, it all comes crashing down. “When I collapse, I collapse,” Kors says. “I have no ‘gray’ time. I’m either in full mojo warrior mode or I want to be somewhere where it’s all about recharging myself.” Kors and his partner, who is the creative director of womenswear for his eponymous label, jet off to Capri, Thailand, Bali, Big Sur.Kors’ work, alongside that of Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and the other greats, helped turn “American sportswear” into the category we know today—not as jeans and T-shirts but as a major driver of global fashion.In the last five years, “full mojo warrior mode” has come to encompass not just designing clothes but also judging young designers on the smash-hit reality show Project Runway. Kors took a risk when he joined the show for its first season, when reality television was populated by Real World housemates and women who wanted to marry millionaires. The show could have turned into an embarrassing cheese-fest, but, in part from the heft and levity of Kors’ presence, became a blockbuster instead.“He’s our secret weapon on the show,” says executive producer Desiree Gruber. “His design aesthetic is so incredible, and he also has a kindness to him, so the contestants know he’s honestly there to help.” While his critiques may be as brutal as Simon Cowell’s, they are delivered with wit and compassion, not cruelty.News of his CFDA award has put Kors in a reflective mood of late, sending him off to comb through his past collections (among other reasons, to help pull together that highlight reel). Taking in the sweep of his career, the designer was surprised by the clarity of vision demonstrated throughout. “I was consistently inconsistent” is his modest way of putting it. “I didn’t wince once.”Kors’ proudest moments came from an era when many other designers might wince at some of the clothes they produced. Avoiding the decade’s wildest turns—neon colors, asymmetric cuts, avant-garde styling—Kors maintained his commitment to wearable, flattering, well-tailored clothes, adding in a shoulder pad here or there but mostly making pants, dresses and blazers that flattered the female form. “I was not particularly fond of a lot of things that were happening in the '80s, so I kind of swam in the other direction,” he says. “When I look at them now, I think, ‘Man, I was pretty ballsy. I kind of just stuck to my guns.’”The biggest change between now and then—in fashion and in every other business—is sheer velocity, Kors says. A native of Long Island, he went off on his own in 1981, after studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. He took over as creative director of Celine in 1987 and stayed in the job until 2003. How would the arc of his career been different now, when designers are in Barneys before they’re out of Parsons and tween bloggers fill out the front rows?“In today’s world, I think there’s too much attention too quick,” he says. “It was nice that I kind of really was able to slowly build. I waited three years before I had my first show. Today you’re expected to have your first show right out of college. If I were staring out today, I would probably want to have more experience working for other people. When I opened my own business, I didn’t even know there was UPS.”And how have men and women changed over the last three decades?The truth is, they haven’t—not really. The biggest difference Kors sees is that women are much less concerned with dressing their age. “You don’t hear anyone say, ‘Oh well, that’s great for a girl in her 20s or 30s.’ ‘That would look good on a woman in her 50s,’” he says. “Now those rules are gone. Blake Lively and Blaine Trump will go out wearing the same dress.” Beyond that, a woman is a woman is a woman, he says, (and a man a man). They want to feel confident and look good. And for another lifetime or so, give or take, Kors plans to keep on dressing them.“I think fashion is traditionally about society, worshipping youth,” he says. “But I think the best combination is youth and experience. So right now is a wonderful moment for me. I still feel curious. I still feel excited about what’s next.”Plus: .Rebecca Dana is a senior correspondent for The Daily Beast. A former editor and reporter for the Wall Street Journal, she has also written for the New York Times, the New York Observer, Rolling Stone and Slate, among other publications.If you were to peek inside Sandra Trehub's lab, you might easily mistake it for one of those obnoxious superbaby classes. Beaming 6- to 9-month-olds sit transfixed in a parent's lap as a few seconds of melody pours from the speakers, and become more alert when the tempo or pitch changes. But the University of Toronto psychologist isn't trying to teach infants the finer points of Vivaldi. She is, instead, trying to shed light on whether the human brain comes preloaded with music software the way a laptop comes preloaded with Windows. In one test, Trehub varies the pitch, tempo and melodic contour of music, and finds that babies can detect changes in all three. The infants recognize that a melody whose pitch or tempo has changed is the same melody, for instance, suggesting that they have a rudimentary knowledge of music's components. The real surprise, though, comes when Trehub plays consonant (pleasant) and dissonant passages in an attempt to tease out whether our musical preferences are shaped by culture alone or wired into our brain from birth. Infants, she finds, smile when the air is filled with perfect fourths and perfect fifths--chords or sequences separated by five half steps, like C and F, or seven half steps, like C and G, respectively. But babies hate the ugly tritone, in which two notes are separated by six half steps, like C and F sharp, and sound so unresolved and unstable that in medieval times it was known as "the devil." What seems to be a biologically based preference "may explain the inclusion of perfect fifths and fourths in music across cultures and across centuries," says Trehub.Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, but scientists are finding that it works those charms through the brain. At a recent conference of the New York Academy of Sciences, Trehub and dozens of other scientists interspersed their PET scans and MRIs with snatches of Celine Dion and Stravinsky as they reported on the biological foundations of music. Besides the musical babies, several other lines of evidence suggest that the human brain is wired for music, and that some forms of intelligence are enhanced by music. Perhaps the most striking hint that the brain holds a special place in its gray matter for music is that people can typically remember scores of tunes, and recognize hundreds more. But we can recall only snatches of a few prose passages ("Four score and seven years ago..."). Also, music affects the mind in powerful ways: it not only incites passion, belligerence, serenity or fear, but does so even in people who do not know from experience, for instance, that a particular crescendo means the killer is about to pop out on the movie screen. All in all, says psychologist Isabelle Peretz of the University of Montreal, "the brain seems to be specialized for music."The temporal lobes of the brain, just behind the ears, act as the music center. When neurosurgeons tickle these regions with a probe, patients have been known to hear tunes so vividly that they ask, "Why is there a phonograph in the operating room?" The temporal lobes are also where epileptic seizures typically begin, and for some epilepsy patients "the power of music" is no cliche: music triggers their seizures. But not any music. The seizures are style-dependent. In one patient only salsa triggers seizures; in another, only classical does; in others, only operatic arias or pop tunes do.The most controversial finding about the musical mind is that learning music can help children do better at math. When a researcher at the recent conference in New York brought up these studies, he got an auditoriumful of laughs. Yet the link, reported in 1997 by Gordon Shaw of the University of California, Irvine, and Frances Rauscher at the University of Wisconsin, has held up. Last year Shaw compared three groups of second graders: 26 got piano instruction plus practice with a math video game, 29 received extra English lessons plus the math game and 28 got no special lessons. After four months the piano kids scored 15 percent to 41 percent higher on a test of ratios and fractions than the other kids. This year, Shaw reported that music can help bridge a socioeconomic gap. He compared second graders in inner-city Los Angeles to fourth and fifth graders in more affluent Orange County, Calif. After a year of piano, the second graders who received twice-a-week piano training in school scored as well as the fourth graders, who did not; half of the second graders scored as well as fifth graders.But might music work its magic simply by making school more enjoyable, or because music lessons bring kids more one-on-one time with teachers? If that were so, then music should bring about improvements in many subjects. But it doesn't. Although kids who receive music training often improve somewhat across the board due to the "good mood" and attention effects, finds psychologist Martin Gardiner of Brown University, "they just shoot ahead in math. This can't be explained by social effects or attention alone. There is something specific about music and math." That something might be that music involves proportions, ratios, sequences--all of which underlie mathematical reasoning.The brain seems to be a sponge for music and, like a sponge in water, is changed by it. The brain's left and right hemispheres are connected by a big trunk line called the corpus callosum. When they compared the corpus callosum in 30 nonmusicians with the corpus callosum in 30 professional string and piano players, researchers led by Dr. Gottfried Schlaug of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston found striking differences. The front part of this thick cable of neurons is larger in musicians, especially if they began their training before the age of 7. The front of the corpus callosum connects the two sides of the prefrontal cortex, the site of planning and foresight. It also connects the two sides of the premotor cortex, where actions are mapped out before they're executed. "These con-nections are critical for coordinating fast, bi-manual movements" such as those a pianist's hands execute in an allegro movement, says Schlaug. The neural highway connecting the right and left brain may explain something else, too. The right brain is linked to emotion, the left to cognition. The greatest musicians, of course, are not only masters of technique but also adept at infusing their playing with emotion. Perhaps this is why.Whatever music does to the brain, scientists figured you would have to actually do music to get the effects. Well, maybe not. Researchers led by Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone of Beth Israel taught nonmusicians a simple five-finger piano exercise. The volunteers practiced in the lab two hours a day for five days. Not surprisingly, the amount of territory the brain devotes to moving the fingers expanded. But then the scientists had another group think only about practicing--that is, the volunteers mentally rehearsed the five-finger sequence, also for two hours at a time. "This changed the cortical map just the way practicing physically did," says Pascual-Leone. "They make fewer mistakes when they played, just as few mistakes as people actually practicing for five days. Mental and physical practice improves performance more than physical practice alone, something we can now explain physiologically."Pianists Artur Rubinstein and Vladimir Horowitz were legend-ary for hating to practice. Rubinstein simply disliked sitting in front of the piano for hours on end; Horowitz feared that the feel and feedback of pianos other than his beloved Steinway would hurt his concert performance. But both men engaged in extensive mental rehearsals. "Mental imagery may activate the same regions of the brain as actual practice, and produce the same changes in synapses," says Josef Rauschecker of Georgetown University. Advice to parents trying to get children to practice: keep this to yourself.Celine Dion made this song, originally intended for Meat Loaf, a hit in 1996. He decided to record it for his third album anyway. Courtesy Virgin RecordsLyor Cohen, one of the music industry's most successful and brash executives, is joining Warner Music Group in a top role, abandoning a 20-year career at Def Jam, the rap label he helped to establish as one of the industry's most successful companies. Cohen is stepping into the new post of CEO of Warner Music's U.S. operations. As such, he becomes a chief lieutenant of Edgar Bronfman Jr., the Seagram scion who is spearheading the $2.6 billion purchase of the music company from Time Warner.In opting for the new job, Cohen spurned a $50 million pact to remain at Vivendi's Universal Music Group, the world's largest recorded music company, where he was CEO of the Island/Def Jam division. But his new package is believed to be even larger, including a stake in the soon-to-be independent Warner Music.The weekend announcement instantly propelled ripples across the industry, with speculation raging about Cohen's potential successor. Antonio "L.A." Reid quickly emerged as the top candidate. Reid is one of the industry's top talent spotters, having launched the careers of OutKast, Pink and Toni Braxton, among others. But he was fired earlier their month as CEO of BMG's Arista label, which posted losses of more than $100 million last year. Doug Morris, chairman of Universal Music Group, is said to be negotiating with Reid now for an unspecified post.Cohen, who wasn't immediately available for comment, is one of music's most bankable stars outside of the recording booth. Helping execute the vision of Russell Simmons, hip-hop's pioneering entrepreneur, he has ridden the dominance of rap music almost to the top of the industry. Together, he and Simmons established Def Jam Records, now part of Universal Music Group, as one of one of the industry's premiere labels, launching superstar acts from the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and Public Enemy to Jay-Z, DMX and Ludacris. And in recent years, as boss of Island Def Jam, Cohen has also compiled an enviable record in rock, signing new hit acts like Sum 41 and Saliva.At the same time, however, his aggressiveness has landed him in a mountain of legal troubles stemming from a dispute with an independent label, TVT Records. Last year, Cohen was on the losing end of a lawsuit filed by TVT accusing him of unsavory tactics, including fraud. Although later reduced by more than half, the initial judgment was $132 million; Cohen himself was personally liable for some $54 million. An appeal is pending.And another legal cloud hangs over Island Def Jam because of its co-ownership of The Inc. (until recently Murder Inc.), the rap label that is home to Ja Rule and Ashanti. Federal authorities are investigating the label for alleged financial ties with an imprisoned drug kingpin.Controversy and all, Cohen remains one of the few executives with a bankable track record in an industry that has all but derailed. And the jockeying surrounding his employment is emblematic of the anxious state of play at this moment in the business.With its revenues a third below mid-1990s levels, the music industry is desperately attempting to recreate itself and adapt to the age of digital distribution. The tumultuous shift comes in the wake of rampant online piracy, plummeting sales and controversial CD-pricing practices.On Tuesday, music companies filed yet another wave of lawsuits aimed at halting free online swapping of music-piracy, as the industry describes it-that is all the rage with the industry's core youthful customers. "The industry needs a totally new model," says Simmons. "It has to be totally restructured and refocused."Yet what the new successful model will be--and whether industry insiders like Cohen or outsiders like Apple's Steve Jobs will fashion it--is anyone's guess. For now, no common strategy has emerged among the industry's top companies, beyond a coordinated legal assault on piracy, a belated entry by music companies into the online music business and relentless, demoralizing cost-cutting.Two of the music business's top five, Sony Music and Bertelsmann Music Group, have agreed to merge, and hundreds of employees or more are likely to be fired when or if the transaction wins regulatory approval and is concluded. A third company, Time Warner, is exiting the business with its agreement to sell Warner Music Group for $2.6 billion to an investor group led by Bronfman.For an independent Warner Music to succeed, Bronfman is betting that he purchased at the bottom on the market. In the meantime, he reportedly plans at least $100 million in cost reductions. Meanwhile, Vivendi, whose Universal Music Group is the largest, is attempting to hold out in the music business until the first sign of a rebound. The upshot: an iron grip on the purse strings.Not even the industry's senior-most executives are immune to the hardship. The corporate parents of music companies are firing, recycling and recruiting top executives in a frantic attempt to retool. Last week, BMG fired one of the industry's top talent pickers, Antonio Reid, as CEO of its Arista label (home to Outkast, Pink and Avril Lavigne), which posted losses of $100 million last year. But Reid, who was spotted at Universal Music Group headquarters the very day he departed Arista, may land at Universal Music-possibly in Cohen's job if he should exit, executives familiar with the situation say.Back at BMG, meanwhile, corporate bosses have elevated the legendary Clive Davis, who was toppled from the Arista's top perch in 2000 to make way for Reid, as CEO of its RCA Group (Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews Band and Rod Stewart). Davis reportedly is in line now to reclaim Arista, too. Within the past year, Sony fired Tommy Mottola as chief of Sony Music (Beyonce, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez), and recruited a television veteran, Andrew Lack, as his successor. Within a few months, however, Mottola had landed at Universal Music Group (50 Cent, Eminem, Jay-Z, No Doubt) as the head of a new label, Casablanca.The spotlight has been on Cohen for months, though. Cohen first joined Russell Simmons's upstart Def Jam label in the 1980s. Battling the vanguard of pop and rock, they established rap music as a bona fide new music genre and are as responsible as anyone for hip-hop's rise to mainstream dominance. The label now is part of Universal Music Group, with Lyor as one of the overall company's most successful top executives. Still, the timing of last year's lawsuit against Cohen couldn't have been more inopportune, with his contract ending early this year. The verdict has left Vivendi with potential financial exposure, and it may face additional uncertainties in the Murder Inc. probe. But few music executives can match Cohen's track record. And his immediate boss-Universal Music Group chairman Doug Morris, a veteran of the rough and tumble music world-is more than willing to overlook his legal troubles given Cohen's performance. Executives at parent company Vivendi are said to be more squeamish. And even if Cohen stays put, he will have to adjust to a new era of fiscal constraints under a Vivendi mandate to hold down costs. Senior executives tell NEWSWEEK that the company hasn't extended the contracts for many within their ranks. The typical contract runs three years, including an option year. In the past, Universal has routinely renewed the contract after the first two years. But many executives have now entered the option year, and they fear the company is setting the stage to cut their pay or reduce the workforce further. Demoralized by cost cuts, the boss of Universal Music's German division recently quit.Enter Bronfman. Senior industry executives say Bronfman, who wouldn't comment through a spokesman, can offer Cohen equity and thus a potentially huge upside if the management team of the independent Warner Music Group succeeds. Bronfman, who formerly owned Universal Music Group before selling it and other assets to Vivendi, is said to be a big fan of Cohen. So is Roger Ames, Warner Music's top boss under its Time Warner ownership. One thing is certain: Cohen is one of the few music executives who isn't singing the blues these days.Does it look to you like he's favoring one leg?" I asked our babysitter as my 8-year-old walked down the hall. Our perfectly healthy son, Vincent, began limping four years ago, and the limp never stopped.After pediatricians visits, hot baths and analgesics failed to erase the limp, we entered a limbo of diagnostic tests. It was the inspired hunch of the director of rheumatology at our local children's hospital that ended our anxious uncertainty with a mystery we could name: Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, FOP for short, a rare genetic disorder that replaces muscle and connective tissue with bone.One night after the diagnosis, my husband, Walt, and I sat on the living-room couch, reading chilling scientific studies that spared no detail. We learned that FOP is a nightmarish disease that gradually transforms healthy people into living statues, permanently and painfully fusing every joint. There is, as yet, no treatment or cure.That same night I took the reports and ripped them to shreds. Everything around me was the same--the white walls of our new house, the blue sofas on which we sat--but everything looked different. Something invisible, irrevocable, had lodged itself in our lives."What do we tell Vincent?" my husband and I asked each other, barely understanding the disorder ourselves. No scientific papers could prepare us for what lay ahead.Since the night we sat reading the studies, we have learned that FOP does its work through a skeleton-building gene that normally shuts off in utero. The gene should turn on after birth only to repair or remold bone. Yet in someone who has FOP, it can be activated spontaneously, or by bumps, falls or vaccines, causing ossification at the site of injury or elsewhere in the body. Even slight trauma can incite muscle lesions and painful tumors that swell to massive proportions over weeks--or migrate, shrink and disappear overnight.We have learned the most difficult lessons about the disease firsthand. A year after the diagnosis, I noticed a small bump the size of an apricot pit along the right side of my son's spine."Did you hurt your back, Vincent?" I asked. He shook his head "no." To protect him from trauma, we had placed our son in a sedentary summer program of ceramics, science and public speaking. Over the next few weeks, the apricot pit shifted positions, gradually swelling to the size of a massive hump along Vincent's right side. I could not bear to look at my son's back."Mom, my arm hurts," Vincent would say, walking with an arm held out as if it were suspended by an invisible string. All I could give him were painkillers.The hump disappeared. But it left behind bone crossing Vincent's back and ribs, drastically limiting his right-arm motion. He had to reach for glasses in the cupboard or volunteer in class with his left hand. A year later, Vincent's left side swelled. That time, despite our aggressive efforts, Vincent lost the ability to pull a shirt over his head. He lost his native buoyancy--for a while.Vincent has raged against FOP. "Why me?" he has said when friends go for a bike ride that he cannot take. Our son has sat out school recesses on a bench, fighting pain and solitude. He has responded to the loss of mobility FOP imposes with great sadness--and great grace. In a family of athletes, he sees his brother Brian springing at basketball hoops, his sister Celine racing down soccer fields, his brother Lucas sliding to home base. Still, Vincent cheers from the bleachers, holding little sister Isabel, feeding her M&Ms.The scientists leading the fight against FOP are Drs. Frederick Kaplan and Eileen Shore, at the University of Pennsylvania. Together, they are making significant advances, examining two drugs for treatment and identifying the immune system's tie to FOP. Last year the team began a hunt for multigenerational FOP families: parents and children affected by the disease, who hold vital DNA clues. If they can attract more researchers and research support, then science might advance more quickly toward treating and curing not only FOP but common bone diseases like arthritis.Over a decade ago, a Stanford pediatrician handed us our eight-pound newborn and said, "You have a perfect baby!" We could not have known on the day of his birth that our son's shortened large toe, usually a heralding sign of FOP, was the mark of a disorder that would rear up years later. But we do know that Vincent is a perfect child: bright and loving, freckle-faced, full of plans and poetry, the family historian with an infallible memory. Vincent can no longer comb his hair or tie his shoes. And though he cannot score goals in soccer anymore, I give thanks when he plays at school with his friends, forgetting pain, forgetting FOP. I know God has great plans for Vincent.Late last week Roy Horn was still fighting for his life in a Las Vegas hospital, and experts were debating why a white tiger mauled him onstage on his 59th birthday. The "Siegfried & Roy" show was permanently canceled and its staff dismissed. But Vegas insiders say the show was already on the way out. "Incredibly, 'Siegfried & Roy' wasn't the biggest show at the Mirage anymore," says Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter. "They had their run, they were fabulous, they promoted this city almost like no one before them, but they were on their way to retirement anyway." Singer-comedian Danny Gans might inherit the casino's suddenly vacant Siegfried & Roy Theater, which is larger than his, although Mirage officials insist they haven't decided what to do with the room."Siegfried & Roy" ushered in the trend of big-budget spectacles on the Strip back in 1990, but today's Vegas is all about prepackaged brands like Cirque du Soleil--so wildly popular that they're sold out for months even before they open. "A show is not just a show in the age of corporate Las Vegas," says Vegas4Visitors.com editor Rick Garman. "It's a gift shop, it's T shirts, it's a themed slot machine." Celine Dion is now the queen of Vegas, and when she takes a break she'll be spelled by such superstars as Gloria Estefan (in this week's Q&A) and Elton John, expected to announce later this month that he'll do 150 shows at her theater for $54 million. Michael Jackson is also giving Vegas a look--and vice versa. As always in Vegas, the acts may come and go, but the sequins remain.Q&A: Gloria EstefanLast month Gloria Estefan un-wrapped "Unwrapped," her first album in six years, which she describes as a "musical picture book of my experiences up to this point." This week she's filling in for Celine Dion's gig in Vegas. All that work just to get to talk to NEWSWEEK's Vanessa Juarez?This is a little intimidating. I mean, you're a diva.[Laughs] I'm the anti-diva. I am, I am. I even have a T shirt printed that says anti-diva. I find that word kind of funny. To me a diva is really callous, you know, throwing plates around, yanking people's hair.You've been on hiatus. Is this you "coming out of"... not necessarily "the dark," but--The shadows. [Laughs] The main reason was my daughter. I was set to go out on tour in 2000 and she was set to start preschool. I thought, "Oh, boy, if I take her on the road, by the time she gets back into school she'll be coming in the odd one out." So I go, "Do I really want this for her? Do I really want this for me? I've worked really hard and I'm going to take the time." I took her to school every day, I sat in tae kwon do classes and she would watch me through the mirror to make sure I was watching every move. I enjoyed so much being a mommy.Your son, Nayib, who directed the DVD that comes with your album, is 23 and handsome. Is he single?You looking?Yeah, could you put a good word in for me?[Laughs] Definitely.Would you do a show in Cuba?In a free Cuba, most definitely. That is the one dream really, professionally. Hopefully I won't be too old to do it. [Laughs] Hopefully I won't be in a wheelchair, wheeling around the streets of Havana. Who knows with this guy? Not in a communist Cuba, because first of all, they wouldn't let me in.Last night I was listening to "Unwrapped." I fell asleep and I think I dreamt about you singing, and then in the morning, I turned on the "Today" show and they were playing "Turn the Beat Around," and I was like--"Oh, my God, I'm being bombarded"? You're on Gloria overload. Chill out.She's leaving Las Vegas to sing at the Oscars, but Dion took time to chat with Ramin Setoodeh.Oh, I'm not sure about that. I've been to the Oscars five times.It was definitely very different. For me, it was glamorous. A lot of people hated it.Of course not. This year, my husband, Rene, is going to wear the white hat.The first year, I did 200 shows, five nights a week. I couldn't talk to my husband or son. Two days of taking a break vocally.I don't talk at all. My husband and I communicate on the phone without me talking. [ She starts tapping the phone .] Did you hear that? How many hits mean different things. One means yes, two means no. But I'm not going to tell you all our secret things.I finish the show at 10:30 at night. By the time I take a shower, I have my little snack, I do my drive back home, I never arrive before midnight. I love to sleep late. I can go to bed at 5 a.m. and wake up at 2 p.m.Actually, my 6-year-old son has the same hours as us. Isn't that amazing?He's home-schooled. His teacher comes at 3:30 in the afternoon.He loves heavy rock and the Doors. It's the first song he hummed to me. [ She sings: "Hello, I love you, won't you tell me your name?" ] I think it comes from the videogames. The Wii is the hottest thing on our TV right now.My best friend in the world, Robin, waited in line at 4:30 in the morning.A year ago, Nick Hornby was suffering the agonies of the first-time screenwriter. The film he had spent the last four years writing and rewriting and had watched struggle to find funding, before finding it, losing it, and finding it again, was finally debuting at Sundance. “The first two-thirds contain jokes, and on a good day people laugh at them,” he recorded on his blog. “The last third is more serious, and intended to move an audience. In other words, the last half-hour is an agony of silence. (I often wonder whether I have always written would-be comic novels simply because it helps me ascertain whether people are awake at readings.) Three people leave in the second half of the film. Two of them come back (one of them, I realize, was Carey). I hate the third.” Hornby negotiates the kind of success that would stun a small oxen, without letting it go to his head or give in to the equally treacherous lures of false modesty. The reviews were ecstatic. An Education was picked up by Sony Classics, won the Sundance Audience Award and turned its ingénue, Carey Mulligan, into an overnight star. Hornby even found himself giving a light to Uma Thurman, during one of those sub-zero cigarette breaks that only Sundance facilitates. (He could barely reach; she was “about a meter” taller than him.) The film went on to Toronto, where it gathered ever more ferocious Oscar buzz, and where Hornby was asked for another light, this time by Penelope Cruz. When I met up with him, on the eve of the film’s premiere in New York, he seemed no closer to quitting.“Where’s the incentive?” he said, as we patrolled the streets around Gramercy Park looking for a restaurant. “If I quit, none of the world’s most beautiful women will approach me randomly at parties or press conferences anymore. Somebody is going to have to arrange for the world’s most beautiful non-smoking women to come up to me, punch me on the shoulder, and tell me how well I’m doing.”He goes on about his year: “It’s a bit like going from being a fourth-division football team straight to the first division without anything in between,” he says. “A few weeks after Sundance, I read a blogger who said that since they were doing 10 Best Picture nominations this year it would be good if they included a rank outsider as well as more standard Oscar fare like An Education. We’ve gone from ‘rank outsiders’ to ‘standard Oscar fare’ in the space of a few weeks. You think they’ve all gone mad after a while. We’re like, ‘Look, this one thinks we’re going to win four!’”• “So there’s been Oscar talk in your house?”There’s a long pause before he answers.“Yes, because I think we’d regret not talking about it. More troubling, I think, would be to lend it a seriousness we don’t feel. Bad Karma and all that crap.”A very Hornbyesque adjudication. I’ve known the author for close to 20 years, during which time I’ve seen him negotiate the kind of success that would stun a small ox, without letting it go to his head or give in to the equally treacherous lures of false modesty. It's a tricky maneuver, with no room for error, particularly in England, where we watch each other like hawks for the slightest sign of big-shotism, but Nick has managed to thread the needle every time. When we first met, we were both trying to make a living writing book reviews, meeting up in London pubs to swap book tips and slip American editions across the table, like samizdat. Raymond Carver, Anne Tyler, Tobias Wolff, Lorrie Moore. These days he lives in a bigger house, close to the stadium of his beloved Arsenal, and the authors we once revered are more likely to be found on his dust-jackets, but when we meet it’s always the same. “How’s the smoking?” “What’s the new Nicholson Baker like?” “What are you listening to?” “Seen any good movies?” Culture Nerd Data Transference. If you could fit our heads with Wi-Fi, it would make the whole thing a lot easier, if less fun.An Education is not Hornby’s first brush with the movies. He worked on a rom-com with Emma Thompson for a few years, and also wrote a draft of David Eggers’ A Staggering Work of Heartbreaking Genius. Then there have been the adaptations of his own books, Fever Pitch, High Fidelity, About a Boy, all suspiciously good. The apparent ease with which Hornby’s sensibility has been decanted to the screen has been viewed with suspicion among some literary critics—it’s supposed to be bad books that make good movies, not good ones—thus forcing them to go back to the original books and find them “cinematic.”“It’s not like there’s x-wing fights in them, or dinosaurs, or anything like that,” says Hornby, who is also in town to promote his latest novel, Juliet, Naked. “Maybe the first three pages of A Long Way Down where they’re all on the bridge—but the rest of it is just a bunch of people sitting around in the basement of Starbucks, talking... Of course, I’m influenced by cinema and TV as well as books; you’re not supposed to confess this if you’re a writer but it's sort of about right if you’re a normal person. I’ve been working on this theory that there’s a whole generation of English writers who write the way they do because they weren’t allowed to watch telly.” “I wanted to make [Peter and Carey] the suburban version of Paul Newman and Robert Redford in The Sting.” Nick’s literary and musical tastes are well known—less so his taste in movies. When his first book, Fever Pitch, came out, the screening rooms in Soho where they showed the movie were not far from his office, so we often used to kill afternoons together, watching stuff like Barton Fink, Short Cuts, Dead Man Walking, Apollo 13. We share a devotion to Tom Hanks, particularly the early stuff. (“How many actors have two great movies like Big and Splash to their name? Plus we both know at least 25 people who would mock us for liking him.”) As far as directors go, he loves Mike Leigh, Steven Spielberg, and Robert Altman, having had his world turned upside down in 1975 by first Jaws and then Nashville. ( “I thought it was the best thing I’d ever seen.”) At university, he had his statutory art-house phase, and once sat through Jacques Rivette’s four-hour masterpiece Celine and Julie Go Boating (“My greatest achievement as a filmgoer, or indeed, as a human being.”)Somewhere in there, between Spielberg’s gigoloish devotion toward an audience’s pleasure and Altman’s commitment to disturbing the peace, between Mike Leigh’s peppery truth-telling and Hanks’ sprightly fun, you sense something of Hornby’s own sensibility percolating through— funny, sad, prickly, warm. An Education was adapted from a 20-page memoir that appeared in Granta magazine by the journalist Lynn Barber, about her affair with an older man while still a suburban schoolgirl in the early 1960s. It was, says Hornby, the “first time that I’ve really stuck with a script, coming back to it again and again.”“Why was that?”“Those switches of tone don’t come along very often. You go into a movie and normally within five minutes you can tell whether it’s going to make you laugh or cry. It stays in that groove and doesn’t really shift. If it's funny, that’s all it is. If it's moving, there’s probably not a joke in sight. Lynn’s piece made me laugh but it was also incredibly painful.”Barber’s memoir is a lot angrier than the movie, particularly toward her parents, who she resented for not only sanctioning the affair, but also for encouraging her to drop her application to Oxford and marry the guy.“I was always a little gentler to her dad. I wanted to find the thing that makes you understand him,” says Hornby. “The key to the whole thing was realizing her complicity. And then spooling that back, right to the beginning and have her be in on the deception. I wanted to make them the suburban version of Paul Newman and Robert Redford in The Sting.”The list of novelists who have written successful screenplays is not long. William Faulkner wrote The Big Sleep and a version of Hemingway’s To Have and Have Not for Howard Hawks; Graham Greene wrote the screenplays for Brighton Rock and The Third Man; on the other hand, it's but a short step to Gore Vidal’s Myra Breckinridge and Martin Amis’ misguided foray into science fiction, Saturn 3.“Unlike a lot of novelists who come to the movies, Nick does not overwrite,” says Lone Scherfig, the film’s director. “He’s got a very minimal style, almost musical, with a great sense of timing. He trusts actors.”There have been so many books and movies about “the summer that changed my life,” in which vapid teen heroes experience a life-transforming dalliance with the adult world (Interracial romance! Social injustice! The hypocrisy of their elders!), before mutely processing and repeating the appropriate Life Lessons, that the words “coming of age” are enough to make most of us glaze over. An Education will wake you up. It has all the rapt intensity of youth, raking in fresh experience about the world, and follows its heroine with an unwavering empathy for the messy, miraculous process of growing up: The Carey Mulligan we hear from in the final scene is a very different girl from the one we first glimpsed, drenched in the rain, in the first. No wonder they talk of a star being born.“It’s been amazing to see the whole thing in action,” says Nick. “It became very apparent at Sundance that Carey’s life was about to change. In the course of a single weekend. Within 24 hours she was being described as the ‘Sundance ‘It’ Girl’ and ‘the new Hepburn.’ It was exciting to watch. You also realize how undemocratic the whole process is. You assume that it’s like voting. Someone appears in a movie and if enough people go to see that movie, that person gets to be in another movie. And so on. It's more like betting. Everybody makes a bet, then a bunch of other people make an even bigger bet, and then all bets are off. They’ve done the work for you.”Tom Shone was film critic of the London Sunday Times from 1994-1999. He is the author of two books, (Free Press) and In the Rooms (Hutchinson), his first novel, to be published in the U.S. in 2010. He lives in New York. He blogs at . Ken Starr's four-year investigation may be winding down, but he still has a busy trial schedule. Set to stand trial on various charges: Susan McDougal, March 8 (criminal contempt); Julie Hiatt Steele, March 30 (making false statements and obstruction of justice), and Clinton crony Webb Hubbell, June 14 (lying to bank regulators). In the post-Monica age, it could be tough for Starr to get a favorable jury. Since his team last tried a case in '96, his approval ratings have plummeted. Lawyers in his office know that their adversaries (all of whom strongly deny the charges) will try to make him the issue, a tactic they'll guard against. "You're not going to see Starr in the courtroom, and they're going to make no reference to him," says a jury consultant who has advised Starr's team.Meanwhile, Starr faces other problems, including a looming Justice Department investigation into his handling of the Lewinsky probe. He's firing back, questioning Justice's ability to conduct a fair inquiry. He's even enlisted support on Capitol Hill, dispatching his deputy, Jackie Bennett, to complain to GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch. The senator later publicly questioned Justice's "integrity." A Hatch aide says he didn't act in response to Starr's complaint.NORTH KOREABehind the CurtainA rare refugee memoir obtained by NEWSWEEK shows that indoctrination in North Korea is failing and dissatisfaction with Kim Jong Il is widespread. Ahn Chol, the young North Korean refugee in China who stole back into the DPRK last fall to capture the famine on videotape, has released a 20-page account of his ordeal. His mission was dangerous and discovery would have meant certain execution, yet old friends were surprisingly willing to cooperate in the filming. At one point, Ahn meets an old companion who urges him: "Next time you go to China bring back some guns and I will shoot party leaders." Traveling without a proper identity card, Ahn slept outdoors or stayed with peasants. One couple, he wrote, lived in a shack with no furniture and had a son who was "skin and bones and hadn't bathed for a long time." Their village had electricity for only one hour each day. "What could possibly change this situation?" the father said. "We need Kim Jong Il to step down and let someone else take over."WHAT'S COOL IN ...New York: Kimchi, Color and Kitten HeelsThese days, things are so upbeat in New York--Wall Street's booming, crime is down--that Manhattanites have even started wearing color. Below, our list of what to do, buy, wear and eat in the Big Apple as Peri kicks off a regular look at what's cool in the world's hottest cities. Neighborhoods: Nolita (North of Little Italy) reigns for chic boutique shopping. Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is a new haven for cutting-edge art. Nightspots: Gen-Xers indulge fantasies of Marrakech with a water pipe and apple tobacco at Kush. Food: Trendy palates prefer upscale Indian and Korean, but Belgian frites are just as fab. Fashion: Hemlines are varied, color is in--as are Prada sport shoes and Jimmy Choo kitten heels. Fashionistas raise paddles at William Doyle's vintage-couture auctions. Health and Beauty: Urbanites enjoy standing on their heads at Jivamukti Yoga. The less limber head for Bliss Spa and a 75-minute rub-down or pedicure. Music: Cuban crooners make the Buena Vista Social Club CD a top sell. Also hot: hip-hop music mixed with '70s tunes.BRITAINNazi Chic?It almost makes the days of heroin chic seem tame. Among the 200 men named the "Most Stylish of the 20th Century" in the current issue of British GQ were the Nazis and Field Marshal Rommel, Hitler's general in North Africa. Rommel was tapped as a man who'd retained "style in the face of true adversity." After a firestorm in the British papers, which included complaints from Holocaust groups, Conde Nast dismissed GQ's 33-year-old editor, James Brown. Say company insiders, the gaffe was the last in a series of disputes between Brown and his bosses over what was "edge" and what was over it.MARRIAGEI Do's and Don'tsItalian bricklayers know how to cement a marriage. A recent survey of 1,500 married women by the Milan-based station Radio Montecarlo showed that those married to masons were the least likely to stray: 95 percent said they would not cheat on their husbands. Why? According to the survey, "polished muscles make happy wives." Here's how other husbands fared:MUSICGoing PopTRENDSStaying AfloatThe movie may have come and gone, but Titanic mania is steaming full-speed ahead. Last week the public was treated to two close encounters with the vessel: the Titanic's whistles blew for the first time since the ship sank in 1912, and several artifacts from the ocean liner were auctioned at Christie's in New York.The ship's two 750-pound bronze whistles, plucked from the deep Atlantic in 1993, were sounded at an exhibit of Titanic memorabilia in St. Paul, Minnesota. They're rumored to have blown as the vessel went down.At the Christie's auction, successful bidders walked away with a cast-iron nameplate from a Titanic lifeboat and a letter from Bruce Ismay, the man who urged the captain to attempt a speed record in crossing the Atlantic, among other artifacts. But the pay-load was a disappointment: the auction was expected to pull in between $250,000 and $300,000 but reaped only $206,000. Another letdown: Leo, Kate and Celine couldn't make it.Barack Obama is taking his first foreign trip as president today, heading north for a quick visit to Canada—Ottawa, to be exact, and by golly, are people up there excited. Yet we aren’t joking about that “quick” part. According to the itinerary released in advance by White House officials, Obama will be on the ground about seven hours—just enough time for yours truly, who is fortunate enough to be in the White House press pool today, to make many references to the late great John Candy, originally from Canada, and express her shock, once again, that “You Oughta Know,” that late 90s fem rock anthem by Ottawa native Alanis Morrisette, was written about Dave Coulier from Full House. We know what you’re thinking: Cut…it… out. But seriously, Alanis? Uncle Joey?Of course, we’ll ponder these things to pass the time during what will be pretty important but frankly not terribly exciting talks between the U.S. and our closest ally. Unless he went off on Wolf Blitzer for nothing yesterday, we already know that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is pretty peeved about that “Buy American” provision in the stimulus bill the president signed this week and is going to tell Obama all about it. (Look out Barack!) Other trade issues like Obama's campaign talk about reworking NAFTA will no doubt take up some oxygen, as well as proposals to work with Canada on energy and environmental policies. They’ll also talk about Afghanistan and how the U.S. needs more help over there.But it’s a short one-on-one meeting between Obama and Harper that has caught our eye. All day, they’ll be with their top advisers sorting things out—Harper is bringing his peeps and Obama will be with Jim Jones, his national security adviser; Carol Browner, his energy and climate czar; and economic adviser Larry Summers. But when Obama first arrives at the Parliament building, he’ll meet with Harper alone for about 10 minutes, according to Canadian officials. What in the world will they talk about? We have an idea: Perhaps Obama is negotiating a secret trade agreement to return Celine Dion to Canada. Maybe even the Barenaked Ladies and Howie Mandel, too. We’ll keep William Shatner, Alex Trebek and Michael J. Fox. Heck, we’ll even put up with Shania Twain and Pamela Anderson. But Americans deserve to be freed from “Our Heart Will Go On.” It’s change we can believe in.They were so sure they'd won, David Pelletier kissed the ice and Jamie Sale began to cry. The audience roared, "Six! Six!," indicating that the skating routine had gone flawlessly. But minutes later, the scores came in unexpectedly low. At the event's end, the Russians got the gold. And how did the young Canadians take the news? They shook hands with the winners, smiled big for the cameras and graciously accepted their silver medals. "We're not bitter," Sale said at a press conference two days later. "We're so proud of what we've done." Added Pelletier, "Our own gold medal is winning the hearts of everybody."How very Canadian.But for better or for worse, that's pretty much how we Canadians behave. We're low-key. Generally unassuming. And not up for a big fight. Nature or nurture, I couldn't tell you. It's just the way we are.During this week, I watched the skating scandal grow and explode with a tiny grin. I know in my Canadian heart that the team would never have fought this battle if the American public hadn't egged them on so forcefully. Had the pairs skate not been televised--leading to much watercooler chitchat and more importantly, nonstop media coverage--Pelletier and Sale would be going home with silver instead of the shared gold.But on Monday night, the country saw firsthand what what we Canadians have dealt with for years. Again and again, my people have been burned by the rest of the world. We've been abandoned and, most painful of all, ignored. But it's been happening so long, in fact, we think it's kinda funny.Let's get the celebrity stuff out of the way first. To list the many famous folks who've deserted their homeland for America would not be very Canadian of me, dignified people that we are. But I will briefly indulge. Everyone knows about Michael J. Fox, Mike Meyers, Pamela Anderson and Peter Jennings. But what about Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves and William Shatner? Matthew Perry--heard of him? What about Leonard Cohen? Joni Mitchell, Celine Dion, Alanis Morissette and Shania Twain? For Pete's sake, what about Ashleigh Banfield?Our most famous export, Wayne Gretsky, left us at the height of his career to play hockey for the Los Angeles Kings. Not only that, he went Hollywood at the same time, marrying actress Janet Jones.Hard feelings? A few. But really, not such a big deal.Americans will go to Europe, Australia and the Far East, but rarely even think to go north for a vacation. When I tell people I was born in Vancouver, they'll say they've "really been meaning to get there." Some people tell me they like Montreal, but only because they get to practice their French. Of course, lots of folks have had wild weekends in Toronto. "It's just like New York," they say, "only smaller."The American press has historically paid no attention to Canada. We're only in the headlines after something freakish or scandalous. The Dionne quintuplets of Ontario--the first set of five babies in recorded history to live longer than a few days--caught the world's attention during the Great Depression. In the 1970s, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau gained notoriety abroad for his flashy wardrobe and bachelor lifestyle. (He dated Barbra Streisand for a time and later, his wife Margaret was famously seen dancing at Studio 54 wearing no underwear.) Runner Ben Johnson, who hailed from Toronto, was the most famous Canadian of all time after winning the 100 meter dash at the 1988 Olympics--until the next day, when he tested positive for steroids.But you know what hurts most? Americans don't even make fun of us all that much. The British? They're parodied beyond belief, luv. The French? Le ridicule! But Canadians--most of the time, you don't even know we're alive! And then, even when you do poke fun at us, we love you for it. My entire extended family raced out to see 1999's potty-mouthed "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" because of the hysterical "Blame Canada!" number. All that hoopla a couple years ago over Molson's "I am Canadian!" commercial? We adored the attention. Heck, we didn't even mind that stupid 1983 movie "Strange Brew," which once and forever convinced the world that we all say "aboot," "oot"--and most famously, "eh?"We just don't care to argue about things all that much. We're even too kind to wage battle with ourselves. Some folks in Quebec want to secede. But you don't see us fighting a civil war, do you?The most serious example of our neglect came on Sept. 20, 2001. In the days after the terrorist attacks, Canadians reached out in many ways to their neighbors below the 49th parallel. They flew the American flag, donated money and laid flowers in front of the U.S. embassy. Then, in his legendary speech nine days later, President Bush thanked virtually every country on the planet for their kindness and support. All but Canada.So really, what Canadian would be surprised by the ill treatment that Pelletier and Sale received in Salt Lake City? Ironically, they may just get the last laugh. The two are more famous now than they ever would have been had they got the gold the old-fashioned way. Canada will feel intense pride in celebrating the skaters. Until they move to New York, of course.For someone who hates reporters, Leonardo DiCaprio has certainly made their lives easy. There's always another bar fight, a public make-out session or a night out prowling with his gang, the tastefully named "pussy posse." The gossip machine followed the 25-year-old superstar all the way to Thailand last year, where he filmed "The Beach," which hits theaters Feb. 11. During production, local environmentalists accused the filmmakers of trashing the island where they were shooting, and protested by putting on Leo masks and bloody fangs. (The filmmakers said they left the beach better than they found it.) At the same time, rumors started flying about Leo and his costar Virginie Ledoyen--the most sensational was that he had gotten her pregnant. Both stars have denied having a relationship. But all the publicity has helped make "The Beach" one of the most highly anticipated movies of the season--so anticipated that Fox executives are getting nervous. Even though they shelled out $20 million for Leo (out of the movie's $50 million budget), they don't want anyone expecting "Titanic."Based on Alex Garland's best-selling novel, and produced by the unsurpassingly hip "Trainspotting" team (director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew MacDonald, screenwriter John Hodge), "The Beach" follows a Gen-X backpacker named Richard (DiCaprio) on his search for a secret island paradise he's only heard about. On the way, he falls for a woman named Francoise (Ledoyen), and she and her boyfriend join the quest. They finally reach the perfect beach after a series of cinematic adventures, including a jump off a 120-foot waterfall. They fish, they swim, they smoke a lot of pot. But before long, nirvana unravels; nightmarish violence ensues; "Road Rules" runs smack into "Lord of the Flies."Garland's novel was hailed as a parable about rich, spoiled Westerners who defile the unspoiled Third World every chance they get, an ironic twist that haunted the eco-controversy surrounding the movie. In interviews, Leo has waxed on about the domination of Western culture, and how strongly he identified with Richard's desire to escape a world soaked in American pop culture, movies and television. As king of that world, he should know.Always uncomfortable with the Tiger Beat hysteria that accompanied "Titanic," Leo took almost two years to settle on Boyle's movie--the only one, he's said, that wouldn't bore him. (He flirted briefly with "American Psycho.") "The Beach" harks back to Leo's arty, uncommercial days, when his films ("This Boy's Life," "Basketball Diaries") got good reviews and bad box office. Dark and visceral, "The Beach" is Leo's postadolesent rebellion against his preadolescent fans--a titanic kiss-off to Leomaniacs.All of last year's PR headaches culminated in Leo's parting of the ways with his publicity firm, Baker Winokur Ryder. The story was that BWR had promised Vanity Fair that Leo would be its February cover boy. But in October, Leo overruled his publicist and opted to do the February cover of Miramax-owned Talk magazine instead. (A BWR spokesman says that this incident was not the cause of the split.) "I do whatever the hell I want to do," says Leo in the current Face magazine. "I'm not going to let anyone dictate how I should lead my life." His next film, Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York," focuses on gang warfare in the 1800s. Celine Dion won't be singing along to that one, either.That movie staple, the tire-squealer of cops chasing a getaway car, is fun to watch, but deadly. Some 300 people die in the 30,000 car chases a year. Another one a few days ago in New York, an 83-year-old nun, Sister Mary Celine Graham. She was hurled 15 feet into the northbound lane by a minivan fleeing the police after three men attempted a gunpoint robbery.Everyone is obsessed with technology for entertainment and yakking. I thought of how technology can save lives. OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors—yes, the General Motors we all own—has now thoroughly developed its prototype technology that can reduce the lethality of car chases, if not end them altogether.A driver who has a GM car or truck quipped with OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Slowdown system can get a remote signal sent to his car that interacts with the powertrain gradually to reduce engine power. That means the cops can catch up safely. The signal doesn’t cancel out the power steering or brakes, so the driver can still steer and stop his faltering vehicle.The hijacker at speed in the Chevrolet Tahoe he’d stolen from two men he robbed at gunpoint at Visalia, California, thought he’d gotten clean away. OnStar’s advanced global-positioning technology pinpointed his exact location. Cops were able then to get the speeding Tahoe in their line of sight, the signal went to the powertrain, and the miscreant was stunned to find that stepping on the gas had no effect. When the Tahoe came to a dead stop, he jumped out and was swiftly caught—just 16 minutes after OnStar was activated.Mississippi State Senator Terry Burton hadn’t a clue what had happened to his Impala. OnStar located the vehicle, going like the wind; then cops using SVS slowed it and recovered it. Burton , “I am pleased my Impala returned to me without damage, but even more grateful that no one was injured during the commission of this crime.”The newest generation of the hardware, Remote Ignition Block, ensures that a thief can’t hide the car and reclaim it later. It just won’t start again.SVS is catching on from a slow start. GM is getting about 500 stolen car reports a month. Stolen Vehicle Slowdown technology was launched on select OnStar-equipped GM vehicles and is now standard across the portfolio as part of the latest generation of hardware. Cops were able to get the speeding Tahoe in their line of sight, the signal went to the powertrain, and the miscreant was stunned to find that stepping on the gas had no effect.There’s good news, too, from OnStar Mobile to everyone eyeing the Chevrolet Volt electric car, due to go into production this November. The first smart phone application for an electric car will now allow Volt owners 24/7 connection and control of the Volt’s functions through the Motorola Droid, Apple iPhone, and BlackBerry Storm. Owners will be able to start the Volt remotely, taking power from the grid to precondition the interior temperature and preserve the battery for driving without gasoline. They’ll also be able, manually, to set a grid-friendly charge mode to take power at off-peak times when rates are low.The Volt is designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using any gas or producing tail emissions; that’s long enough for 75 percent of American commutes. When the Volt’s lithium-ion battery is depleted, an engine generator comes on line to extend the driving range to some 300 miles before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery.Maybe our investment in GM will bear fruit in the end.Harold Evans, author of two histories of America, just published his memoir, . Editor at large of The Week, he was editor of The Sunday Times from 1967-81 and The Times from 1981-82, founding editor of Condé Nast Traveler, and president of Random House Trade Group from 1990-97.While these looks were called disasters at the time, they’ve certainly grown more fashionable with age. Looking back on some red-carpet “train wrecks” is a big surprise: these stars were actually more fashion-forward than anyone at the time could have ever imagined. A version of Kim Basinger’s asymmetrical satin ball gown from 1999 popped up on Viktor & Rolf’s Spring 2011 runway—and Chloe Sevigny recently wore a version of Barbara Streisand’s famous 1969 Arnold Scaasi gown. Some of the “worst” red carpet looks of all time, it turns out, were really just ahead of their time.Overall, we’ve lost risk-takers on the red carpet at the Academy Awards. All too often, stars play it safe. This is an homage to the people who gave us something to talk about—and created award-show moments that we’ll never forget.Plus: .Continuing to emerge as one of fashion and entertainment's most engaging talents, Brad Goreski most recently appeared on The Rachel Zoe Project as Style Director. He picked up his first Vogue at the age of 12 and has been enthralled by the world of fashion ever since. Originally from the small Canadian town of Port Perry, Ontario, he has resided in Los Angeles for the past nine years. High points of his career include going to the Academy Awards with Anne Hathaway, being photographed by Terry Richardson, and being featured on the cover of the Styles section of the New York Times in September 2010."There is no question that I will be a better mother today than when I was really young," says Cheryl Tiegs. "I have a lot more patience today." She'd better be. A surrogate mother is carrying twin boys, due next month, for Tiegs, 52, and her husband, Rod Stryker, 42, a yoga master. The '70s supermodel already has a son, Zach, 8, but she spent more than a year trying to conceive this time. So her doctor put her in touch with an unidentified surrogate who's using the model's eggs and Stryker's sperm. Tiegs isn't the only one turning to science to start a family. Canadian megaphone Celine Dion has just undergone two operations to improve her chances of becoming pregnant. You think Tiegs will need extra energy? If Dion's procedures have succeeded in making her pregnant, her husband, Rene Angelil, will be a dad--at 59.If a future Iraqi leader decides that Iran's nuclear ambitions next door mean Iraq should restart Saddam Hussein's nuclear-, chemical- or biological-weapons program, what kind of international monitoring should Iraq be subject to? "The question is starting to bubble up," says a British official who is not allowed by his government to speak for attribution.Demetrios Perricos, head of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, the agency probing Iraq's WMD work before the U.S. -led invasion, raised the issue in the U.N. Security Council in June. France and Russia both indicated that they thought Iraq would need to accept continued special inspections. The United States did not comment because Iraqi politicians are reportedly adamant that the new, sovereign Iraq will accept no special constraints or monitoring. "They are demanding the same treatment as any other nation," says a U.N. official who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of his position.Administration experts privately agree that Saddam's legacy will necessitate closer monitoring of Iraq for some years: Saddam's top weapons scientists--held in a CIA jail in Baghdad--will have to be released sometime. And despite a decade of searches, U.N. investigators never found what they called the cookbooks, the Iraqi manuals laying out how to manufacture WMD. Still, this issue isn't receiving priority status yet--even though the International Atomic Energy Agency has just disbanded its longtime team of experts on Iraq's nuclear-weapons work. "We have enough on our plate in Baghdad without raising that one," says the British official. Says the U.N. official: "It is an issue everyone wants to sweep under the carpet."Iran: America's Patience Is Wearing ThinIran's announcement last week that it was restarting its uranium-enrichment program could accelerate a rift between the United States and Europe over what to do about the hard-liners' nuclear ambitions. A British diplomat tells NEWSWEEK that although the three EU countries involved in nuke talks with Tehran--Britain, France and Germany--were dismayed by Iran's actions, the Europeans believe that the Iranian moves are a "negotiating tactic." EU negotiators, the official says, still hope that they can come up with a package of "good incentives" that could persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear drive.Meanwhile, a U.S. diplomat indicated that Washington's patience is wearing thin. The Bush administration, he says, believes that making further concessions to Tehran would amount to "rewarding counterproductive behavior"--even if Iran's latest moves are only a ploy. The U.S. view is that offering Iran yet more carrots is a nonstarter. Instead, Bush aides are already talking about asking the U.N. Security Council to impose anti-nuke sanctions on Iran. If U.N. sanctions were to be vetoed, the fallback U.S. plan, says the U.S. diplomat, is to try to persuade close allies such as Britain, Italy and Japan to join the United States in imposing their own penalties, thereby at least showing the rest of the world that someone is willing to stand up to nuclear proliferators.Haiti: Operation IneffectiveThe U.S.-led ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in early 2004 was supposed to steer the Caribbean country onto the path to democracy and stability. Instead, under the eye of an undermanned U.N. peacekeeping mission and an inefficient interim government, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation has been moving toward mayhem. Late last year, several policemen were beheaded in what thugs called "Operation Baghdad." Politically motivated violence has left more than 700 dead since September 2004. Since March, an estimated 450 kidnappings have occurred. "There's been a bit of a lost year in Haiti," says Daniel Erikson of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue think tank. And last week's decision to postpone upcoming municipal elections so the country could better prepare for its November presidential vote was hardly cause for optimism. "By moving forward without establishing parties [at a local level]," adds Erikson, "you're flying blind."Due to the fractious nature of Haiti's existing political entities--even Aristide's Lavalas Party is splintered--and lack of candidates with clear platforms, the presidential vote will likely be little more than a "popularity poll," says Robert McGuire, a Haiti expert at Trinity University in Washington. "You can have elections, but will they be viewed as credible and will they solve the problems?" Few believe they will. Even though U.N. peacekeepers have been doing a better job of late, particularly in the riotous Port-au-Prince slum of Bel Air, the fear is that the international community will just use the elections as an excuse to get out while it still can. "A lot of Latin American countries see the elections as an exit strategy," says Erikson. "They can declare 'mission accomplished' and go home." To some, that may sound like Operation Baghdad.FILMS Baby Penguins, Big $The chilly documentary "March of the Penguins" is the summer's hottest ticket. The $1 million film, which follows the mating and birthing season of the emperor penguin, is now the second highest-grossing doc ever, behind "Fahrenheit 9/11." "Anybody who tells you they expected this is on crack," says Warner Independent president Mark Gill, who (with National Geographic Feature Films) bought the movie at the Sundance Film Festival. When Gill first saw the film, directed by Luc Jacquet, it was in French, with a technopop score, and the filmmakers had scripted actual dialogue for the penguins--as if they were animated. So they cut five minutes, ditched the cheesy dialogue, added a classical score, wrote a fresh narration and hired Morgan Freeman to give the film its voice--all for only about $600,000. Still, those fixes alone don't explain why this G-rated film has broken records and has audiences raving. "It's about the most committed parents on the face of the planet," says Adam Leipzig, president of National Geographic Feature Films. "So kids can relate to it and parents can relate to it, and yet it's unlike anything else that people can buy tickets to." And maybe one more little reason: "On a cute scale from 1 to 10, a baby penguin is an 11."Rockin' in The Free WorldJames Blunt is no ordinary singer. For one, he went to Harrow, the prestigious British boarding school more famous for producing politicians than pop stars. He also trained at Sandhurst military academy and served as a peacekeeper in Kosovo. Now the 28-year-old has battled his way to the top of the British charts with his debut album, "Back to Bedlam." His voice, at times reminiscent of a pubescent Rod Stewart, is sexy and sultry; his lyrics, raw and compelling. "I'm a dreamer but when I wake/you can't break my spirit--it's my dreams you take," he sings in "Goodbye My Lover."Blunt has a soft side, too. "You're Beautiful," his debut single, is a ballad on which an acoustic guitar, piano and mellow drums accompany him as he sings: "There must be an angel/with a smile on her face/when she thought up that I should be with you." And on "No Bravery," Blunt addresses what he says is the "the so-called civilization we exist in, the ease [with] which we can go from civilized humans to animals in a flash"--something he witnessed in Kosovo. Thanks to his album's success, he's now seeing how a mere mortal can turn rock star just as fast.A Taste of the Big AppleVegas has its gondolas. Vegas has its Eiffel Tower. Vegas even has its Celine Dion (blame Canada). But what it doesn't have, says developer Mark Advent, is "a real, organic city center where people can gather." His fix? Build one. And make it just like New York's.Meet "East Village." Set to open in mid-2007, Advent's 44-acre, $225 million retail complex will give gritty lower Manhattan a very Vegas makeover. What to expect: a "Grand Central" market, a "Meatpacking District" nightlife zone, cops on horseback, surly hot-dog vendors and a "Diamond District," where shoppers, promises Advent, can "haggle for deals." Not that you'd find any of these (mostly midtown) attractions in the actual East Village. Says partner Mark Vlassopulos: "It's an homage."Sin City has bitten into the Big Apple before: the glam New York, New York resort, also an Advent creation, opened in 1997. But lately Vegas has ditched uptown glitz for downtown cool. With seminal New York punk club CBGB facing an Aug. 31 eviction, owner Hilly Kristal is mulling a move to Fremont Street. "The mayor really wants me there," says Kristal, who has photographed each of CBGB's graffitied walls for later reproduction. "Vegas has sought me out." And on Aug. 27, the musical "Avenue Q" (whose puppet protagonists live on N.Y.C.'s fringe) debuts at the new Wynn hotel. The only thing missing? "Outdoor pickle barrels," says Kristal. "Not in that heat."Q&AIn July, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines came under fire from opponents demanding her resignation for alleged electoral fraud. Former president Fidel Ramos came to her defense, proposing that Congress be turned into a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution and introduce political reforms. With the impeachment case against Arroyo headed to the House of Representatives' justice committee this week, NEWSWEEK's Marites Vitug turned to Ramos for his thoughts:What should be amended?I'd like the constituent assembly to address the parliamentary system, electoral reform, political-party reform to get rid of turncoatism and dynasties, and judicial reform. [But] constitutional reform is not the solution to all of our problems. That must be accompanied by other things. First, consolidate the national team, even the opposition, rebels and overseas workers. We need teamwork. Second, continuity of gains inherited from past administrations, and reforms. [And] clean up the mess in government.Some say the Philippines has the least effective democracy in Southeast Asia.It's the form of government.Not the leadership?There are all kinds of leaders here but they are not trained to be national leaders. In our system, it's not leadership experience that counts, it's popularity--exposure to media.China: Not So FastAll that's missing from the hullabaloo about China's buying spree in America is Paul Revere shouting, "The Chinese are coming!" Indeed, a prominent U.S. law firm last week cited numbers showing that China had announced global acquisitions totaling $23 billion so far this year, up from less than $5 billion the year before. But those figures include both Cnooc's failed bid for Unocal and Haier's failed bid for Maytag. Time for a little perspective. According to numbers prepared for NEWSWEEK by Dealogic, the Chinese M&A invasion looks considerably less dramatic. So far in 2005, Chinese firms have announced 31 foreign mergers and acquisitions valued at a total of $2.3 billion, on pace to match the 54 deals totaling $3.8 billion in 2004, and not dramatically higher than the $2.2 billion total in 2003.That's not to say the Chinese are not coming. Chinese companies are eager to escape their low-margin home market, and to acquire the prestige of owning U.S. brands, says Cameron Fagan of Straszheim Global Advisors. And China shows no inclination to retaliate for the Unocal snub. But it does mean they aren't coming as fast as alarmists suggest.Wall Street: Shifting AllianceLast year, when New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a civil case against former New York Stock Exchange chief Dick Grasso over his $140 million pay package, Grasso blamed much of the mess on H. Carl McCall. McCall escaped charges, even though he was head of the NYSE compensation committee that approved the deal. Like Spitzer, McCall is a key figure in the state's Democratic Party, so it didn't take long for Grasso and another exec charged by Spitzer, financier Kenneth Langone, to point out the A.G. was playing politics with his targets. Grasso filed a lawsuit against McCall, arguing that Spitzer's political ally was the one to blame.But NEWSWEEK has learned that McCall and his adversaries may have something in common. Langone and McCall met at a wedding about a month ago; both agreed they were victims. The real culprits: the Wall Street execs who served on the NYSE board and approved the pay, says a person with direct knowledge of the conversation who asked not to be identified since he was talking about an ongoing legal matter.History: The Grave: The Ultimate House CallIt's not hogwarts and dragon pox. But a recently published paper offers some great scientific wizardry. The subject: King George III--his red urine, his dusty old hair and his madness. For decades, it's been relatively well accepted that the British monarch suffered from a metabolic disorder called porphyria, whose symptoms include abdominal discomfort and dark urine. But was porphyria alone responsible for the king's severe bouts of insanity? Martin J. Warren, a biochemist at Britain's University of Kent, wanted to find out. Using gloves, tweezers and a high-tech spectrometer, Warren and colleagues analyzed five of the king's hair fibers, preserved in an envelope since his death in 1820 and donated by London's Science Museum. The result: staggeringly high levels of arsenic, which Warren believes exacerbated the king's illness and may have triggered the attacks. No, there's no murder mystery here. Instead, an 18th-century medicine contaminated with arsenic and used to treat the king's "evil humors" is the likely culprit. The biochemical treasure hunt? "Good fun," says Warren.George III isn't the only dead person to go in for a physical. Scientists love to dig up old bones and medical records to reassess the health of historical figures. At the University of Maryland School of Medicine's annual Clinicopathological Conference, docs have proposed diagnoses for everyone from Alexander the Great (typhoid fever complicated by Guillain-Barre syndrome) to Beethoven (syphilis), Christopher Columbus (severe arthritis caused by an infection) and Florence Nightingale (bipolar and posttraumatic-stress disorders).There isn't always a consensus. At the first conference, in 1995, a researcher concluded that Edgar Allan Poe had succumbed to rabies. But Philip Mackowiak, the program's director, says that Poe's doctor embellished his medical records. Mackowiak's diagnosis: alcohol withdrawal. Then there's Napoleon. His 1821 autopsy said stomach cancer. In 1961, a Swedish dentist suggested death by arsenic poisoning. A 2004 study blamed overenthusiastic doctors (one problem: too many enemas). Then, just this spring, Swiss researchers reported that they'd studied 12 pairs of the emperor's trousers (worn before and during exile) and calculated a pattern of weight change that supported the initial autopsy: Napoleon's "final defeat," they wrote, was likely caused by gastric cancer.Genomic advances could help solve other cases. Did Abraham Lincoln have Marfan syndrome, characterized by unusually long limbs? His DNA, preserved in 140-year-old bone and hair, could one day provide the evidence, says Dr. Philip Reilly, head of Interleukin Genetics. Until then, may he rest in peace.Nostalgia: Warm Memories of the Cold WarCall it the cool war. In Russia, satellite channels Retro TV and Nostalgia now fill the airwaves with classic programming from the cold war--early morning exercises led by Communist trainers and news broadcasts from the ' 60s, for instance. Meanwhile, classic cold war songs like "Made in the U.S.S.R." are reappearing in the charts. "We are remembering our youth," says Irina Zenkova, Nostalgia's general director.Russians aren't the only ones taking to the old school. Americans can now buy a new CD box setcalled "Atomic Platters: Cold War Music From the Golden Age of Homeland Security," which contains more than 100 songs and public-service announcements from the first half of the cold war. The tracks range from upbeat novelties ("Atomic Cocktail" by the Slim Gaillard Quartette) to acid satires (Sheldon Allman's "Crawl Out Through the Fallout"). An accompanying DVD (there's a coffee-table book, too; it all adds up to $195) has nine government-sponsored films. Most American viewers will recognize Bert the Turtle from 1951's "Duck and Cover," the film strip that told a generation of kids that their desks would protect them from nuclear blasts. What it didn't tell them, of course, was that someday they'd find the material sold as campy entertainment.Ian McKellenIan McKellen plays a creepy shrink in "Asylum" and has just started filming "The Da Vinci Code." He spoke with NEWSWEEK's Nicki Gostin.That shrink is a nasty character.I think he's a bit of a victim. Like all actors, I tend to take sides with the character I'm playing and stick up for them.You do understand I don't think you're nasty.Well, I do think there's good and bad in us all.There's a lot of controversy surrounding "The Da Vinci Code."People are always interested in a mystery, but when it's a mystery that suggests that a major influence on all our lives--the Catholic Church--has perhaps been misleading us all this time, then it becomes spectacularly sensational. The idea that it shouldn't be read, which I think is the official Vatican line, is pretty pathetic.When you came out as gay, were you worried about losing parts?By the time I came out, I was in my late 40s and I was fed up with worrying about what other people thought, and confident enough in my career to suspect that it wasn't going to make any difference at all. I was absolutely wrong.How?I became a better actor, and my film career took off in a way that I couldn't have expected. You can't lie about something so central to yourself without harming yourself. Acting in my case is no longer about disguise--it's about telling the truth, and my truth is that I'm gay. I'm very happy for people to know that."I'M SO SCARED; I'M SO SCARED." T. J. SOLOMON, THE CONYERS, GA., HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT WHO OPENED FIRE AND INJURED SIX STUDENTS, UPON SURRENDERING HIS GUN "It said to me, 'Cleland, we got to do something here'." Georgia Sen. Max Cleland, who, shortly after the Conyers shooting, changed his mind and voted for a Senate gun-control amendment, bringing the vote to a 50-50 deadlock. Al Gore cast the tiebreaker to pass the measure."I urge you to trust and believe in the courage of following your heart and surrendering your fear and anger." Actress Sharon Stone, who turned over four guns she owned to the police in the wake of the Columbine High School massacre"We were singing the Celine Dion song 'My Heart Will Go On,' trying to keep everyone's spirits up." Greg Haywood, an Australian passenger on the luxury cruise liner Sun Vista, which sank off the coast of Malaysia. All 1,104 passengers were rescued in lifeboats."I told him I loved him. I told him he was in the woodshed." GOP presidential hopeful Elizabeth Dole, on husband Bob Dole's comment saying he might contribute to rival Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign"They haven't installed a phone in his woodshed yet, so I haven't had a chance to talk to him." McCain, on whether he had spoken to the former senator since the flap"After three years of constant struggle, my physical and spiritual sources to resist are exhausted." Democratic fund-raiser Yah Lin (Charlie) Trie, after pleading guilty to violating federal campaign-finance laws in the 1996 presidential campaign"No, Mr. Charles de Gaulle... your name doesn't belong to you. It doesn't belong to you to use it to defend ideas and men who for half a century have been the enemies of what General de Gaulle represented." A complaint printed in the French daily Le Monde from outraged family members to the grandson of the late French president General de Gaulle, for joining the ultra-right-wing National Front"I can disagree with doctrines and dogmas and still celebrate them." Madonna, who had her daughter baptized as a Roman Catholic though she herself has rejected the church"It just didn't appeal to me... More attention is paid to a First Lady than to a senator." Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, on why she rejected Georgia Democrats' suggestions that she run for senatorPop/Eclectic U. Penn’s Jennifer Shen, an economics major, enjoys her solid pop hits—with a few oddballs thrown in for edge—while rollerblading and hanging out with friends.“Better to be Apart,” Lee-Hom Wang “Run,” Snow Patrol “Your Guardian Angel,” Red Jumpsuit Apparatus “The Prayer,” Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion Celine Dion married her manager, Ren Angelil, in 1994. They first met when Dion was 12, and she announced ten years later that she had fallen in love with Angelil, 25 years her senior. “Don’t Wait,” Dashboard Confessional “Everything Changes,” Staind “Follow Through,” Gavin Degraw Gavin Degraw first received attention when his single “I Don’t Wanna Be” was chosen as the theme song for CW Teen Drama One Tree Hill. “Diary of Jane,” Breaking Benjamin “Am I Ever Going to Find Out,” Lifehouse “Hurricane,” Something Corporate “Face Down,” Red Jumpsuit Apparatus “Auf Achse,” Franz Ferdinand “Hundred,” The Fray14. “Kill the Messenger,” Jack’s Mannequin Jack’s Mannequin is the solo project of Andrew McMahon, lead singer of California punk band Something Corporate. While producing his debut solo album, McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia. After receiving a bone marrow transplant in August 2005, McMahon is expected to make a full recovery.Chill Out An electrical and computer engineering major at Carnegie Mellon, Jason Hwa plugs into his music to relax, blending rock, acoustics and low-key beats for a mellow mix.“Clarity,” John Mayer “I Did It My Way,” Frank Sinatra “Overkill,” Colin Hay “Over My Head,” The Fray Because the members of The Fray used to have trouble composing lyrics and making decisions as a group, they named themselves by setting out a suggestion bowl for friends. Since then, they say they’ve learned how to compromise. “You’re Beautiful,” James Blunt “Even Rats,” The Slip “Come On Eileen,” Save Ferris The song “Come On Eileen” was originally performed by British band Dexy’s Midnight Runners and was the biggest selling single in the UK in 1982. “Galapagos,” The Smashing Pumpkins “Linger,” The Cranberries “The Suffering,” Coheed and Cambria “Daughters,” John Mayer “You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison,” My Chemical Romance Front-man Gerald Way was moved to start the band in the aftermath of September 11th. “Sleep Now in the Fire,” Rage Against the Machine “Memory,” SugarcultBackground Music Though he studies neuroscience at Duke, Juan Carlos Rosa tries not to put too much thought into his tunes, letting these melodies wash over him without focusing on the lyrics.“In the Arms of an Angel,” Sarah McLachlan “La Valse Des Vieux Os,” Yann Tiersen (Amelie soundtrack) “Ring the Alarm,” Beyonce “Gabriel,” Lamb “Maneater,” Nelly Furtado “She Is,” The Fray “Fix You,” Coldplay “Marching Bands of Manhattan,” Death Cab for Cutie “I Think That She Knows,” Justin Timberlake Back when J.T. was still a member of boyband *N Sync, his half-eaten piece of French toast was auctioned on Ebay and sold for a buttery $3,100. “Pining,” Rebekah “Let Go,” Frou Frou “Beating Hearts Baby,” Head Automatica “Better Together,” Jack Johnson “La Tortura,” Shakira Belly dancing is now a Shakira trademark, but she first took it up as a way to help her overcome crippling shyness.He orders black tea from room service—the hotel is his home for the past few months, it turns out—and wanders through several sets of rooms to his study, a chamber littered with books, papers, and a sofa where he lounges, half on, half off. This is Bernard-Henri Levy, or BHL as he is known, possibly the most famous person in France besides Carla Bruni. I'm here to talk about his new book, .Life has been incredibly kind to BHL, full of privilege and money and early success, but not without its harsh side. He is either loved or loathed, there is no in between. He gets mocked, ridiculed, and even set up by nasty journalists to humiliate himself by (a stunt a journalist cooked up in 2010). One French headline about him declared: "God is Dead but My Hair is Perfect."But despite the drama, and the numerous pages devoted to him in Paris Match, he is, it turns out, incredibly thick-skinned. This is someone who was once accused of having a Google Alert for every time his name gets mentioned in the press (he later denies this). "I don't care," he says of his detractors (and there are many), waving his hands. "It is not real life. Real life is my writing, my family, my work." He also says that if you know your work is good, who cares what other people think?The same person who started that rumor about the Google Alerts also described BHL as "a philosopher without an original idea" who "dishonors even the white shirt you wear"; a Champagne socialist; "an intimate of the powerful who has since childhood wallowed in obscene wealth," and worse, "the creator of the most preposterous film in the history of cinema." The writer of those cruel words is now, bizarrely, one of his closest friends.It is Michel Houellebecq, another French intellectual and writer, now in exile in Ireland, who describes himself in variously as a nihilist, misogynist, and redneck. MH is also not without his own traumas: He has been accused of inciting racial hatred; allegedly plagiarized; loathed by certain critics; accused of writing books that are a cross between Baudelaire and schlock. In short, this is not a man who people have gentle opinions about either. It was only a matter of time before these two enormous egos would clash—and try to slay each other.But before this exchange of letters, the two barely knew each other, although I suspect they might have been jealous of the other. BHL tells me the real story behind the book. "One Sunday, I was exceptionally in Paris. And I had a text on my phone from this man—I hardly knew him, but it was clear he was in despair. It frightened me a little, I felt a man in such distress."BHL proposed a drink, and the two met at the Ritz in Paris for dinner. They were the only clients in the grand, overdone dining room, and as French intellectuals will do, they talked endlessly. "I told him I thought he was brilliant, and he talked of his problems—my wife, this girl, the dog blah blah blah, living in Ireland, whatever, blah blah blah, being fed up with this and that." But the real point of Houellebecq's angst, it turns out was not the recession or his lagging sex drive or writer's block but the fact that "he had no one left to debate with." BHL says this with an air of great sadness, as though it was only he could rectify the dilemma.So BHL replied he could not help him with the wife, girl, or dog issues, but he could help with the debate. "We decided to do it in writing, without the aim of a book, to be honest—it was for the pleasure of writing and debating." They start off insulting each other—Michel being the more cruel, BHL slightly on the defensive—and then ease into philosophy, their life stories (Michel's father was an independent ski instructor as opposed to one registered with the French state which seems to have scarred him for life; Levy was a spoilt brat), Celine, Proust, Romain Gary, Moses, faith. There is practically no subject or left unturned. could only possibly have been written in France, a country where one gets paid to be a philosopher, and can write Profession: PHILOSOPHE on their tax forms, and where intellectualism of the sturdy sort is still taken seriously.Toward the middle of their conversations, when the two started delving into Judaism, the evil critics who torment them both, and mothers, they realized it was time to go to their mutual agent and produce the book. "And that," says BHL, leaning back on some cushions. "Is the real story."BHL's own story is well-known, almost mythic, at this point. Born in Algeria to tremendous wealth—his father, Andre, was a timber multimillionaire who later sold the company to Francoise Pinault in 1997—BHL is a product of France's elite grande écoles and launched his journalistic career writing for Camus' resistance-era newspaper Combat.BHL fell in love with Bosnia. “It symbolizes the crossroads of all my beliefs—multiethnic culture. Sarajevo was like the Spanish civil war. It was a love story.”He taught at the University of Strasbourg, and founded a new school of anti-Marxist philosophers, hung out a lot in Cafe Flore, married several beautiful women (including Arielle Dombasle, the muse of the late Eric Rohmer), and kept writing books. In between books, he found his passionate causes. The man is not without courage. He showed up in the white shirt (and I seem to remember a theatrical cape of some sort) in Sarajevo, starting at the most dangerous period in May 1992 to make documentaries and try to drum into the heads of the pro-Serb French the evils of ethnic cleansing and genocide.And age is not withering him. On the contrary, he seems to be getting younger. He writes for French, , German, Swedish, Italian and English newspapers and keeps going to unknown wars that are off the map. A few years ago, he proposed to the editor of Le Monde to send him to cover stories no one else bothered with. He ended up in Burundi, Angola, Sri Lanka, Colombia, and the Nuba Mountains of Southern Sudan (where, he tells Houellebecq "People hadn't seen a white person since Leni Riefenstahl.")He was headed to Kashmir when a fever knocked him out. Whereas Houellebecq complains about aging ("Well, I'm getting old now, I'm getting weaker. I would like to be happy before I die. So I think I'll go back to Russia."), BHL seems to keep refueling, ready to take on the next assignment."I don't feel particularly old doing this kind of reportage, any older than the soldiers I am with," he says. He tells a story of crossing into Darfur from the Chad side four years ago, when he was 59. Getting into Darfur from that side is not an easy feat, and he was alone with a small group of very young rebels. The only time he felt nervous was when the Janjaweed militia were a few miles off and the rebels casually lay down to sleep. "And what could I do? Sleep? Never! All I could do is pull out my book and try to wait!"Does he ever feel scared? "Of course! The moment I put my feet on the ground I wonder what I am doing here! I remember being in the Eritrean war in 1980 and thinking… how did I get here?" He says he hates all wars. But, like most of us who reported the conflict, he fell in love with Bosnia. "It symbolizes the crossroads of all my beliefs—multiethnic culture. Sarajevo was like the Spanish civil war. It was a love story. My only regret was that I did not get there earlier, before the war, and see it in 1985. My dream would have been to see it in peacetime."Perhaps the real pleasure of is that the true personalities of both of these very strong characters are revealed. The press tortures an anguished Houellebecq, who retorts: "I had sometimes felt like Kurt Cobain telling a tactless interviewer, "I'm homosexual, I'm a pagan, I'm a drug abuser, and I like to fuck pot-bellied pigs! Is that enough?"As for BHL, I left after more than an hour pleasantly surprised at his self-deprecating humor: He may be vain, but at least, as the British say, he knows how to take the piss.Plus: Janine di Giovanni reported on conflict and war for nearly two decades for the Sunday Times and the Times of London. A National Magazine Award winner, she moved to Paris in 2004 and serves as a contributing editor to Vanity Fair. The author of four books, she's at work on a book for Knopf/Bloomsbury about Parisian life.It's an unusually saucy Wednesday night in suburban Salt Lake City. There is talk of ho's and weed and jail and bling. There are well-endowed women in skimpy clothes and men dripping with their best jewelry. And not just onstage. "Utah! Make some noise!" rapper Jay-Z demands as he steps up to the cheers of about 10,000 mostly white fans who've gathered for the five-hour hip-hop extravaganza called Rock the Mic. Desiree Wallace, a 25-year-old UPS worker, has never been to a concert before, but even though money is tight she coughed up $100 for two tickets to see everyone from Snoop Dogg to 50 Cent: "There was no way we were missing this show. We're huge rap fans, and this kind of thing doesn't make it to Utah that often."Or anywhere else. Though hip-hop has dominated the charts for years, the concert arena has remained the province of rock. Despite a few successful rap tours over the years, rappers haven't been able to beat the hair bands when it comes to filling amphitheaters. Jay-Z is out to change that with the 45-city Rock the Mic tour. "I noticed that every year big rock tours were going out, but in rap we didn't have one," says the singer, who wants to turn Rock the Mic into an annual lifestyle festival, hip-hop nation's Lollapalooza.Jay-Z and crew may have arrived just in time. Concert promoters hoped this would be the summer when things turned around after a nearly two-year slump. While it's gotten better, several rock acts have been box-office disappointments. Even Lollapalooza and "Justina" (as some call the popfest with Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera) have fallen short of promoter expectations. And it can't help promoters sleep at night knowing that this season's biggest draws, Billy Joel and Elton John, are geezers in rock years. Sure, they and Fleetwood Mac, Cher and Celine Dion can get Yuppies to fork over $100 a seat, but they aren't exactly teen magnets.Why has it taken so long for hip-hop to come to the rescue? Jay-Z, for one, says he has never been allowed to play some big venues in major cities out of fear that there could be unruliness. "It's amazing. We still can't get Madison Square Garden," he says. Madison Square Garden executive Joel Peresman says that while the venue has had "issues" with hip-hop shows in the past, it considers the risk of every show, regardless of genre. Such concern is not entirely unfounded: at a recent Rock the Mic show in Toronto, a fan died after being shot in the parking lot. "Do you really want to be responsible for promoting a show where someone gets shot? I don't," says Irving Azoff, who manages Christina Aguilera and until recently had a stake in Concerts West. While large promoters buy insurance that covers all their shows at bulk rates, independent promoters can pay upwards of $1 a head to insure a hip-hop show. Rock shows? As little as 30 cents.Even if you can book an amphitheater, it takes more than an emcee with good flow to fill it. It requires "running things like a rock show," says one concert agent. That means making sure the acts actually show up and keep to schedule (hip-hop acts have struggled against a reputation for being disorganized). Then there's the matter of cutting back on "beef," those well-publicized spats between rap stars that can keep big acts from wanting to share a concert bill. The biggest challenge of all, though, may be in making hip-hop as interesting to watch as it is to listen to. Jay-Z and crew have invested in flashy, Broadway-like productions, a rarity in rap. 50 Cent rises from below on a mechanical stage outfitted to resemble a Las Vegas version of his native New York City, while eight dancers prance among pyrotechnics during Jay-Z's time onstage. "I got three clothing changes in an hour, and I've never changed before, ever," Jay-Z says. Sometimes even the hardest gangstas can use a little Madonna.NEWSWEEK'S resident Idol guru and entertainment staff writer Ramin Setoodeh unpacks what might be a very different scenario for the front runner, heading into the final stages of the competition. From left, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Danny Gokey We're down to the wire on American Idol. Tonight it's two songs for each of the final three performers, and the judges will no doubt be pimping out Adam Lambert like crazy. But that still doesn't mean he's guaranteed a spot in the finals. Lambert has been called the best Idol singer in the history of the show, thanks to his Celine Dion-like pipes. But he's also one of the most controversial, thanks to his Marilyn Manson-like wardrobe and his (not-so-)ambiguous sexuality. Entertainment Weekly reported that he might be gay (is he or isn't he?!); he's the first Idol contestant to grace the cover of the magazine alone before we'd even voted for a winner, and he was the subject of a history-of-outing story in The New York Times. He's also the target of Idol's most vitriolic mudslinging campaign to date, after a number of photos leaked that appear to show Lambert making out with guys and dressed in goth attire. All this, and he's still the front runner to win it all. Paula practically gave him the Idol crown the first time he performed. But most of his groupies have overlooked a possible roadblock to the title. Idol is the No. 1 show on TV at least in part because it's so family-friendly, and it also appeals to a large demographic of Christian viewers. These are the same fans who made High School Musical and Dancing With the Stars huge TV hits. Many of Idol's previous winners--Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard--are devout Christians. Coincidence? Perhaps. But we don't know much about Lambert's faith, and that might hurt him with Christian voters. He could be extremely religious, but he's kept his religious beliefs quiet. His two competitors, on the other hand, are a different story. Kris Allen and Danny Gokey both introduced themselves as devout Christians who are very involved in their churches, and both have gotten substantial interest from Christian blogs and websites. In February, multifaith website BeliefNet.com reported that: Before Idol, Danny Gokey was the praise and worship leader at both Faith Builders International Ministry locations, in Beloit, WI, for the morning service and then he headed to Milwaukee for the afternoon service, as well as doing mid-week services. Faith Builders is his home church. Kris Allen has been working with the worship ministry at his home church, New Life Church in Arkansas, on both the Conway and Little Rock campuses since 2007. He is also involved with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries at the University of Central Arkansas. So who goes home tomorrow night? Adam is still the best singer in the competition. But since Idol isn't really a singing competition--despite what Randy Jackson tells you every week--don't be too shocked if there's a shocker elimination this week. Talk about a tough opening weekend. Hollywood & Highland, Tinseltown's much-anticipated $615 million shopping and entertainment complex, debuts Friday. On the surface, the gigantic megamall appears to have everything going for it. Its elegant Kodak Theatre will house the Academy Awards for the foreseeable future. Wolfgang Puck has committed to run the kitchen of the auditorium's ballroom. And nearly 90 upscale retailers have signed long-term leases.But the pricey project, a dozen years in the planning, may be doomed from the start because of the soured economy. "Their timing is, to put it charitably, not exactly what the doctor ordered," says Kurt Barnard, a longtime business analyst and editor of Barnard's Retail Trend Report. "Right now, very upscale luxury products are at best limping. For this mall to even limp, it'll need crutches."It's not just the rotten economy dogging retailers lately. Shop owners know that Americans are also concerned about safety from terrorist attacks in public spaces. And while these problems exist at all malls and retailers across the nation, they're particularly worrisome for boosters of the Hollywood & Highland project. Insiders had hoped the complex would pull this specific area of Los Angeles--a trash-laden, decrepit region of town--out of its 40-year decline.With the Hollywood stars lining the sidewalks and Grauman's Chinese Theater nearby, this district once epitomized the glamour capitol of Los Angeles. But it's been a couple generations since it lured anyone to come and stay other than teenage runaways and junkies. "Tourists would come here to see the Chinese Theater and the footprints but they'd stay for only 15 minutes and get right back on the bus to leave," says Donna Hemer, project manager for Hollywood's Redevelopment Project Area.Indeed, this area of Hollywood has been dilapidated for so long that it's hard to imagine Clark Gable ever spent a moment there. But he did. In the '30s and '40s, stars gathered along Hollywood Boulevard to attend their film premieres in the city's most elaborate movie houses. The Egyptian and El Capitan theaters were extraordinary architectural monuments to the local product--each with rococo embellishments and grand staircases leading to ample balconies. But by the last quarter of the past century, it looked as if many of Hollywood's best buildings would be demolished and sold for scrap.Then in 1985, the Community Redevelopment Agency stepped in and began to plan Hollywood's economic revival. The Egyptian and El Capitan theaters--on the same street as the Hollywood & Highland complex--were refurbished to their original luster. Several grand office buildings were renovated to attract high-rent tenants. Planners wanted the project to serve as the town's social center. By 1998, when the Canadian-based megabuilder TrizecHahn first broke ground on the ambitious mall, it seemed like a brilliant plan. The American economy was hotter than it had ever been.But Friday, as Hollywood & Highland opens its doors and 425,000 square feet of retail space, things look much different.Since Sept. 11, tourism in the Golden State has nearly vanished. State officials estimate California will lose about $2 billion in visitor spending through next June. TrizecHahn had envisioned that half its patrons would be from out of town. Anticipating that many of the tourists would come from the Pacific Rim, the developer lured high-end retailers like Louis Vuitton and Celine. The shopping center's look is Babylonian, with oversized temple columns and two enormous, gaudy white elephants. Come December, a 640-room Renaissance hotel decorated in luxe midcentury modern will open up next door to the complex. But will there be any guests?All this makes retail analyst Barnard wring his hands. "If they were putting in a Wal-Mart, I'd say wowee, they're going to rake it in. But high-end retail right now is down in the dumps."Even if that's true, TrizecHahn is putting on its poker face. "We see Hollywood & Highland as a new American landmark," says Beth Harris, the complex's senior director of marketing. She says they have a firm commitment from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to hold the 2002 Academy Awards there. Several major studios have booked upcoming premiers at the neighboring Grauman's Chinese Theater and their gala after-parties at Puck's ballroom. And a glass-backed television studio in the complex that overlooks the famed Hollywood sign--akin to the one on the "Today" show that overlooks Rockefeller Plaza--has been reserved by a few music-video programs.Redevelopment officials had hoped a very successful Hollywood & Highland would lead to more investment nearby. But they'll have to work fast. Even TrizecHahn itself may not have enough faith in the project. During the last month, it has put the shopping and entertainment mall on the market, saying it wants to move its focus away from retail development and more toward office buildings. What's next, an opening-day discount sale?When your last big hit is the 'Titantic' theme song, how do you prove you're still a hip artist? Try covering an Adele song—and that's just what Celine Dion did.I want to study Middle Eastern studies and conflict resolution. I’m determined to be a bridge. It’s something I felt strongly before prison, and I feel more strongly now. I want so badly for there to be less ignorance on both sides. I think it’s the lack of cultural exchange between the United States and Iran over three decades [that has] led to a point where something like this can happen. We are on the wrong track.With technomusic reverberating off the black-draped art-gallery walls, 800 hip, young Chinese--clad in Dior corset dresses and Armani suits--swilled Chianti, scarfed down carpaccio canapes and mingled with the likes of American actress Mira Sorvino and British socialite Lady Helen Taylor. Their host? Giorgio Armani, in Shanghai last month to celebrate the opening of Three on the Bund, a luxury complex he dominates in a stately colonial building on the city's scenic quay. Inside, in addition to Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani clothing boutiques, shoppers will find Armani Fiori (which sells orchids and calla lilies shipped from the Netherlands) and Armani Dolci (with Italian-made chocolates)--as well as two multibrand high-fashion shops, an Evian Spa, four restaurants (including Jean-Georges Shanghai) and the Shanghai Gallery of Art. "It's the biggest party of the year here," says investment banker Bao-Wen Chen, 41. "Everything is alive. There's a culture of young people who want to learn about luxury and fine dining. Shanghai is not New York or Hong Kong, but it's not far behind."Armani admits he has come a little late to the celebration. Throughout the 1990s he hung back while many of his luxury competitors--including Dunhill, Givenchy and Ermenegildo Zegna--began extending their reach into mainland China. Armani opened his first store in Beijing in the late 1990s. Now he is eager to make up for lost time: he plans to have 10 stores in China by the end of this year, and 30 by 2008. "It's the moment to open here," he says. "You can see things are happening. Last night when we went to dinner here in Shanghai, I was surprised by the way the people were so well turned out. Formidable. Even Paris doesn't have this atmosphere, this spirit."He's not the only one to feel the allure. Over the last few years, luxury's major players have opened modest boutiques in Beijing and Shanghai. Now that the brands are well established, however, they are investing big in those two cities--as well as spreading to the provinces. Celine, which already has three boutiques in China, is adding three more. This spring Gucci opened two new stores, in Hangzhou and Chengdu, for a total of six. Dior is opening a womenswear flagship and a menswear store in Shanghai this fall. And Louis Vuitton, which has nine stores in China already, is currently developing a Shanghai complex similar to Three on the Bund.If they're not seeing a big payoff yet, they should soon. In a study published this spring, Morgan Stanley found that China could be a "very significant market" for luxury companies. According to the report, "If eight percent of the population eventually end up as luxury consumers, that's 100 million consumers"--almost equal to the entire population of Japan. But analysts caution that it will take several years for China to reach just the break-even point for luxury brands. "Uncompetitive prices... high import duties and taxation mean that expansion in China is a brand-building exercise," the authors write. "China will not be a big profit driver for at least five years."Then the country may regain a shade of its former Silk Road glory. For centuries, China was the primary source for silk and cashmere, and its porcelain was once unrivaled. But that came to an abrupt end when the communists took over in 1949. In the 1980s market reforms opened China to the West. At the same time, the luxury business was undergoing a revolution of its own. During the 1990s tycoons such as Bernard Arnault, Francois Pinault and Johann Rupert formed groups by buying up aging European family companies and turning them into global brands. When the Chinese began to show an interest in spending their newfound fortunes on the finer things in life, the West was ready.Unlike the rest of the world, where women are luxury's primary consumers, China is a male-driven market. Government officials in Beijing, bankers in Shanghai and manufacturing entrepreneurs in the northern provinces all turn to Givenchy for smart new suits, Vuitton and Dunhill for briefcases and money satchels, Rolex for watches and Cartier for baubles for their wives and mistresses. Handel Lee, cochairman of Three on the Bund, has seen "wealthy businessmen walk into luxury stores with their Dunhill bags stuffed with cash, their wives or girlfriends on their arms, say, 'Give me the best' and throw down the money."But the Chinese womenswear market is catching on fast. At Celine, which produces only women's clothing and accessories, sales in March were up 60 percent in Shanghai. "Five years ago, someone buying a $1,000 handbag was unheard of," says Angelica Cheung, editorial director of Elle China. "But the economic boom has produced a group of quite well-off people who can afford it." Indeed, the women at the Armani party in Shanghai included executives, bankers, designers, retailers, artists and actresses who obviously devote a fair amount of time and money to their appearance. And thanks to the abundance of Chinese fashion glossies on the newsstands, they can keep up with the latest trends in Paris, New York and Milan. "Women here are very sophisticated and have good taste," says Danglei Zhou, an executive with Shanda Interactive Entertainment. That's what Armani is counting on. "There are tangible signs of the wealthy who want to buy expensive clothes," says John Hooks, the Armani group's commercial and marketing director. "The aspiration is there."For luxury brands in China, the biggest obstacle remains counterfeiting. Though Chinese rarely purchase knockoffs themselves--it's seen as bad form--the bulk of the world's fakes are produced there. Most companies have someone on staff dedicated solely to combating counterfeit manufacturing. If a counterfeiter is caught, the brand has the right to have the machines destroyed. "Eventually it will cost too much for them to keep doing it," says Cheung. Armani believes the way to fight counterfeiting is to "do things that aren't easy to copy" and to change styles often.But there may be another solution: involve the Chinese. Several manufacturers are now investing in state-of-the-art machines and training employees to produce genuine luxury-quality goods. Some companies, such as Coach and Zegna, have started manufacturing a fair amount of their products in China. Armani, who now produces some of A/X, Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani there, is weighing this option as well. "The made in Italy label is very important for the first line because it suggests a certain specialization," he says. "But to manufacture some of our other lines in China... as long as we control the quality, then why not?" By that calculation, the luxury party is only just beginning.Frank. Sammy. Dino. Celine. Celine? Though Celine Dion's Las Vegas show, "A New Day... ," won't open until March 25, it's already touted as the biggest spectacle since the Rat Pack. Consider the Canadian crooner's custom-built, $95 million Colosseum theater at Caesars Palace, or her three-year, five-night-a-week contract that pays about $80,000 a show. And then there's the billboard: it even eclipses the one for Siegfried and Roy. "This lady is like an extraterrestrial," one big-name Vegas headliner told NEWSWEEK, "landing her spaceship here for a few years, sucking up all the oxygen and then flying away. You'll never see her showing up at other people's openers and that sort of thing. She's just not Vegas."While the tight-knit group of current hotel headliners work hard just to keep their names above the $9.99 surf-and-turf specials on the marquee, Dion is waltzing in as the top-selling female pop star in recording history. What's in it for her, besides the money? No grueling tours. She gets to play mom by day and diva by night with a 20-minute limo ride in between. (Plans to commute by helicopter were nixed after neighbors objected.) Celine will fly--OK, there's a cable or two involved--but in front of the world's largest LED screen and above a half-acre stage. And mastermind Franco Dragone, former Cirque du Soleil creator, vows the 90-minute spectacle will "transport viewers to other places."That's what people are worried about. "If this thing isn't knock-you-out amazing, it will embarrass the whole city," said one official with Mandalay Resort Group, which owns five competing hotel-casinos in Las Vegas. "They've got this so hyped that if it's not something out of this world, the media will be happy to tell everyone not to bother coming here." Naturally, the insider criticism and gos-sip irks Robert Stewart, VP for corporate communications at Caesars Palace's parent company, Park Place Entertainment. When asked about current rumors--that Dion may not serve out her contract, that she'll lip-sync parts of the show and that ticket sales have been soft because admission ($90 to $130) is too high--he retorts, "I don't know what cocktail waitresses you've been talking to." Later, he apologizes but notes, "There are always people out there wanting to take shots."Clint Holmes, who does a Sammy-style cabaret act just across the street from Celine, says he bears her no ill will, but wonders how long she'll last. "She's gonna come in with guns blazing," he says. "But it'll be interesting to see if she'll enjoy doing this a year from now." Such performers as Holmes, Sheena Easton and Wayne Newton meet once a month for drinks at a Vegas Ruth's Chris; will Celine be joining the gang? One regular laughs. "We'd love it, but I don't see it happening." Even if she becomes a Las Vegas lifer, Dion probably doesn't, either.the 25-year-old anthem “We Are the World.” That effort, led by mega-producer Quincy Jones and performer Wyclef Jean, featured tens of artists such as Kanye West, Enrique Iglesias, Robin Thicke, Usher, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Lil’ Wayne, Carlos Santana, and Gladys Knight. Video of the recording session, directed by Paul Haggis, of Crash fame, will premiere February 12 on NBC during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.Benjamin Franklin once remarked that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. In that case, someone should immediately dispatch a cadre of psychiatrists to the headquarters of Sony. Its efforts to protect the music it sells have resulted--again--in unmitigated disaster. After infuriating its customers, alienating its artists and running afoul of the Homeland Security Department, Sony last week announced a recall of 52 CD titles--everyone from Dion to Celine Dion--protected with a flawed scheme that left customers' computers vulnerable to viruses and vandals.Sony has been here before. The company invented personal entertainment with the Walkman, but has failed to gain traction against Apple's iPod in part because the initial versions of the Digital Walkman were hobbled by limitations based on fear of piracy. When Sony launched an online music store to compete with Apple's, a similar defensiveness and tough "digital rights management" (DRM) software contributed to a poor start. Since Sony's new CEO How-ard Stringer is a smart guy, one might have assumed that he cautioned the company's music division, which recently merged with Bertelsmann's BMG label, that future efforts should not turn off customers by erring on the side of protection.To the contrary, Sony BMG now is apparently focusing its anti-piracy efforts on the paying customer. The industry has gained some traction against Internet file-sharing services, so the label decided to take on the commonplace practice of friends' making copies of songs for each other. The idea was to lock down music on CDs, just as legally downloaded songs have limitations on how many copies you can make via computers, among other restrictions. (Those who simply played the discs on CD players would see no change.)On one hand this sounds reasonable, but in practice that's not the case. Music fans consider CDs overpriced to begin with. Sony BMG decided to maintain the high prices while devaluing the product. Only if you deconstructed the complicated license agreement that appears on your PC when you loaded the disc could you understand that Sony was complicating the nature of its customer transactions. It specified that you didn't really own the Neil Diamond songs for which you paid $19. You were just buying certain rights to play them, under esoteric terms that Sony BMG specified. (One example: if you declare bankruptcy, you have to delete the songs from your computer.) You could make only three copies. And--get this--you could not play your songs on iPods. (A tedious workaround does exist to fix this.)But the killer for Sony was its horrifically flawed DRM implementation. In its zeal to protect its property, Sony didn't sufficiently evaluate or test its software. In order to rip the songs to your computer, you had to install a program that secretly inserted a "rootkit" into your system. This is a form of spyware potentially exploitable by digital wrongdoers; the Homeland Security Department specifically instructs consumers not to install such software from audio CDs. Now Sony has been forced to recall the discs. (Its public statement says that "we are committed to making this situation right" and adds that "the experience of consumers is our primary concern.") It's taken a drubbing in the press. And its artists are suffering sales hits and bad vibes from fans.The music industry's future lies in encouraging people to get more music legally, by providing more convenience and features. Punishing paying customers by giving them broken product is... insanity.Who knew back in 1981, when Journey released its inspirational, lighter-in-the-air anthem “Don't Stop Believin',” that it would be embraced by gangsters and presidential hopefuls alike? But this month alone the song set the final scene for the final episode of “The Sopranos” and served as the soundtrack for a high-profile spoof on that HBO series finale starring none other than Bill and Hillary Clinton. The latter production, on hillaryclinton.com, was part of a campaign song contest where voters cast online ballots to decide which pop hit should become Hillary's song for the 2008 presidential race. Journey's ubiquitous hit was not chosen, or even nominated, but the band's former lead singer Steve Perry is not complaining. Perry explains to NEWSWEEK's Lorraine Ali why music and politics don't mix, but Journey, baseball, serial killers and the mafia do. NEWSWEEK: Did you know that Hillary was also using “Don't Stop Believin'” as the premier track on her own “Sopranos” spoof? Steve Perry: Not until the last minute. Are you a Hillary supporter? When I vote, it's private. You pull the curtain and nobody needs to know how you voted. I've kept that pretty personal throughout my whole life. How about if I put it this way: is it better that Hillary used your song in her campaign drive than, say, Rudy? I've vacillated back and forth from party to party, but I've just never been excited about the idea of a political party—whoever it is—associating themselves with a piece of music that is free, full of fantasy and for everyone to love in the backseat of their own car. It polarizes that song. Music should stay open and free and not be hijacked. What about the use of the song in the last episode of “The Sopranos”? It was done so well, I loved it. Nothing could make me happier than seeing a resurgence of the music I believe in as much as I did when we were doing it. It knocked me back in an exciting kind of way. But everybody expected some major whacking in the last episode. Weren't you wary about how the song might be used? I held out until I knew how it would be used. It was like, “Is somebody being massacred while the song's being played?” The Thursday before it aired, they finally said, “We'll tell you, but you have to swear not to tell anybody.” When they finally told me how it was going to be used, I thought, that's way beyond awesome. Watching it that night was pretty exciting. Did you really keep it a secret for four long days? I swore not to tell anybody and I didn't. I was at a wedding and a friend of mine was just jacking me up for info. The only thing he got out of me was what song they were using. Then he was like, “Ah Ha!” And he starts coming up with all these scenarios: “That means . . .” I just said, “Stop, you'll never guess.” “Don't Stop Believin'” was already making a comeback of sorts, even before it was used on “The Sopranos.” Yes, the resurrection started with “Monster.” They did a beautiful job making that song represent the hopes and dreams of those characters. Then it went to “Laguna Beach,” then to the White Sox. Why the White Sox? After losing a few games, the team were in a karaoke bar that played “Don't Stop Believin'” and they started singing it. The next day they won the game. So from then on they'd play the song before and after each game. Then they made it to the World Series. That's when they invited me to be a guest of theirs, and it was a thrill. When they won in Houston, I went down the locker room and they all jumped up and down and chanted “Steve! Steve! Steve!” I was in the band in high school. I was not a jock. My body would break too easily. So to be part of that was a long-absent testosterone boost. “American Idol” also used “Don't Stop Believin'” for a sentimental montage of Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee moments. Right. We get requests from them pretty often . . . You've gone silent. Is that a painful memory? I'd love to answer that question but I really shouldn't. Have there been requests for you to sing the song in public again? Yes, and I've respectfully declined at this point. Journey have been performing it with several singers since we parted ways in 1998. I could go out and do it myself if I wanted, but I won't. Why? I want to protect the integrity of the songs, keep them the way they were when we were together. We were good together and what we did was good. That's my timeline of the stuff that matters. Did sales of “Escape,” the “Don't Stop Believin'” album, jump after “The Sopranos” finale? Well, our greatest hits went up 98 percent, and that's unheard of. I owe David Chase lunch and dinner. I'd love to personally thank him for giving such a great emotional interpretation of the song and putting in such a magical place as the last episode of “The Sopranos,” you couldn't ask for a better moment But if you can roll with that song capping a gangster series, you must be able to see the how funny--in an oddball way-- Hillary's parody is? Nah. C'mon. I thought, Hillary, you don't need to do this. But politics has got to have this showbiz quality in recent years, and everybody tries to give off a sense of being loose enough to have a sense of humor about themselves. I think she did accomplish that. Are you glad your song wasn't one of the choices for her campaign song? I personally think “Don't Stop Believin'” is the wrong campaign song for her. Apparently, because they voted for Celine Dion's “You and I” ... And that's OK.Carly Fiorina, CEO of Hewlett-Packard, and Gwen Stefani, superstar lead singer of No Doubt, may seem an unlikely pairing. But there they were, center stage at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, bantering for the audience about the new Harajuku Lovers digital camera, whose exterior was designed by Stefani. Fiorina complimented "our hippest product engineer," and Stefani described her camera fashion accessory as "very, very cute and very Japanese-inspired." HP will introduce it in May with a splashy ad campaign, timed to the release of the video for the next song from Stefani's debut solo CD. To capture the picture-perfect marketing moment onstage, Stefani held the camera at arm's length, leaned in next to Fiorina and snapped a shot.Perhaps the only person flashing a wider smile in the overflowing 1,600-seat theater was Steve Stoute, the hip-hop-attired man in the front row who played matchmaker to these stars and who has built a remarkable record of arranging fruitful marriages between corporate America and pop culture. It was Stoute who linked rapper Jay-Z and Reebok. The result: the white-hot S. Carter Collection of RBK sneakers. He helped McDonald's sign up Justin Timberlake for its "I'm Lovin' It" jingle. Hilfiger's fragrance for Beyonce? Stoute again. Campaigns like these have put Stoute at the forefront of a new field many call entertainment marketing, which is gaining a fast following among artists looking for new revenue streams and corporations seeking the reflected glow of hip stars.Stoute named his firm, fittingly enough, Translation. "He's the conduit between corporate America and rap and the street, and the music industry generally," says Jay-Z. "He speaks both languages." Or, in the words of Dennis Baldwin, Reebok's top marketer: "Steve is credible in the music and entertainment worlds. Then he can switch gears, walk into the boardroom of a Fortune 500 company and speak his ideas in a way they can understand."Credibility in the music business, especially hip-hop, is hard earned. But Stoute, 34, did it--as a top exec at Sony Music and Interscope and as manager to top stars (Mary J. Blige, Nas and superproducers Trackmasters). And he has Madison Avenue credentials; until last year he was a partner with adman Peter Arnell. That varied resume makes Stoute "the right guy for guiding brands in using the record industry to reach youth culture in a credible way," says Jimmy Iovine, CEO of Interscope Geffen records. Recently, Interscope acquired a stake in Translation.Stoute sees himself as more than just a matchmaker with the Who's Who Rolodex; he takes an aggressive role in helping launch brands and generating marketing concepts (Stoute calls it "contemporizing brands"). "He's just constantly figuring out new ways of marketing," says Cammie Dunaway, chief marketing officer for Yahoo, a new Stoute client. After Stoute delivered Beyonce to Tommy Hilfiger last summer to pitch a new fragrance, True Star, Hilfiger asked him for more ideas. Hilfiger quickly acted on one--Stoute's suggestion to sponsor high-school cheerleaders to promote Hilfiger's Tommy Girl fragrances. "Cheerleading is sort of an underground cult for teens," Hilfiger says. Stoute sees it as an "all-American sport that aligns perfectly with the Hilfiger brand."He did more than just align HP with Stefani. "Steve also had a big role in steering us to the camera, which hasn't been personalized," notes Doug Cole, HP's director of entertainment marketing. Also, Stoute instinctively knew Stefani would be willing to help make a digital camera cool, rather than, say, a Big Mac. "He edited out all the other things that didn't make sense," says Jim Guerinot, Stefani's manager.Stoute's work for McDonald's had an intriguing twist. Typically, consumer brands will license a classic hit (the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" for Windows 95). But Stoute lined up Timberlake and superstar producing team the Neptunes to record a single titled--you guessed it--"I'm Lovin' It." Jive Records, the singer's label, released the record to radio. Then McDonald's launched the campaign with ads featuring Timberlake and images from the music video for the single. The campaign is "about music, entertainment, sports and fashion..." McDonald's wrote in its annual report.Stoute's track record isn't perfect. He had a minor role in helping his then partner Arnell land Celine Dion for Chrysler, a debacle that riveted Madison Avenue after car sales failed to hit a high note. Embarrassingly, Stoute himself once provided fodder for the New York tabloids. In 1999, rap mogul P. Diddy bashed Stoute with a champagne bottle in a dispute over a marketing tool--a music video. They soon renewed their friendship, though, and each went on to become a master promoter of hip-hop culture. Last year Stoute helped orchestrate HP's gift of a diamond-encrusted HP iPod that was presented to Diddy at his post-MTV Video Awards party--more buzz for HP.Still, Stoute's misses seem inconsequential in light of his hits. The biggest is Reebok and Jay-Z's S. Carter Collection, which has rung up $100 million in sales for Reebok, according to a source familiar with the business. "Steve understood the synergy between music and sports, athletes and musicians, and knew there was an untapped market for combining the two," says Paul Fireman, Reebok's CEO.Various styles of S. Carter shoes help decorate Stoute's office in midtown Manhattan, along with the other products he's promoting. A humidor is crammed with Zino Platinum cigars, a venture between him, Arnell and high-end cigar maker Davidoff. Dozens of jars, tubes and bottles of beauty-care products by Carol's Daughter stock another shelf behind his desk. The skin creams and bath oils from Brooklyn entrepreneur Lisa Price have a cult following, and Stoute bought a stake in the firm. One recent afternoon he was on the phone trying to persuade Reebok's Baldwin to fly in for a meeting with Pharrell of the Neptunes to talk about Pharrell's new line of Reebok sneakers. "I know how important this guy is," Stoute yelled. "We cannot f--- this up. We have to fight for this deal."Stoute knows that all that fighting pays off with the magic of genuine buzz. Back in Las Vegas, hours after HP unveiled Stefani's Harajuku Lovers camera, organizers of the trade show (not HP) held a panel discussion on marketing to teens. Early in the session, a teenage girl on the panel declared she wanted to buy not just any camera, but Gwen Stefani's. With endorsements like that, Steve Stoute is lovin' it.Used to be, old acts went to die on the Vegas Strip. Now, in the Celine era, there's not ever room there. So Hootie & the Blowfish are exclusive to... the Silverton? The hunting-lodge-themed casino six miles from Celine's Caesars Palace theater renamed its lounge after Hootie and is marking the August debut of the group's CD "Looking for Lucky" with a special menu. Other falling stars:THE LETTERMEN VENUE: Suncoast Hotel & Casino HEYDAY: 1960s CHEAPEST SEATS: $44 DIAGNOSIS: Somehow, still up, up and away. They get more per seat than Foreigner.HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH VENUE: Silverton Hotel and Casino HEYDAY: 1994 CHEAPEST SEATS: $50 DIAGNOSIS: Time, why do you punish them? They used to do the MGM Grand Garden Arena ... Now this?FOREIGNER VENUE: Texas Station HEYDAY: Early 1980s CHEAPEST SEATS: $22.50 DIAGNOSIS: Been waiting ... for another hit.BILLY RAY CYRUS VENUE: Boulder Station HEYDAY: 1992 CHEAPEST SEATS: $25 DIAGNOSIS: Some got all -- at once. Now it's nothin' but achy-breaky hearts.LEE GREENWOOD VENUE: Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino HEYDAY: Sept. 12, 2001 CHEAPEST SEATS: $29.50 DIAGNOSIS: 50 miles from Strip and fans still come. God bless the U.S.A.On Obama's first visit to Beijing, he'll probably eat Peking Duck and climb the Great Wall like on his monumental trip to China in 1972. While Nixon spent his evenings tossing back the local firewater at banquets and then retreating to his guesthouse, Obama will get the chance to see a booming city with thousands of restaurants, bars, and clubs that cater to expats from all over the world. After his meetings with the Chinese, Obama won't be given free reign by his handlers to roam the city, but if he were, here's what he might do. While the White House administration has said they will send an envoy to North Korea, Obama will not dine at Beijing's Silver Bank Pyongyang Restaurant. Ironically enough, the food is delicious, with the mushrooms, soju, dog meat, and English-speaking waitresses all imported from North Korea. If imported Korean dog hotpot isn't your thing (though it's very warming in Beijing's Chicago-like winter), the restaurant makes a great bowl of cold noodles. In its previous incarnation—within sprinting distance of the North Korean embassy—the North Korean Ping-Pong team used to eat there. If Obama braved a visit, he could sing karaoke with Korean officials and indulge them by crooning some of their favorite Western songs, including Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" and Frank Sinatra's "My Way."Although smoking a Cuban cigar is the only appropriate chaser to North Korean karaoke, and although , we can't see Obama visiting Beijing's . Opened by Castro's former Chinese translator, this place offers boxes of hand-rolled Cuban cigars and comfy brown chairs in which to smoke them. Obama could enjoy a Cohiba (which, legend has it, is rolled on the thighs of virgins) and a glass of seven-year Havana Club Rum while admiring a picture of Mao Zedong chomping on his own cigar. And while purchasing Cuban-made products anywhere in the world for Americans, what happens in China stays in China.Seeing that a group of protestors recently in Tehran, would not be the best place to go for a low-profile dessert, even though its coffee and baklava are some of the best in Beijing. Located near the Sanlitun bar district, the favorite drinking area of many expats, this halal joint doesn't serve alcohol but allows diners to bring their own—pragmatism that would make Obama proud.Though Medvedev suggested , Obama probably won't be drinking with the Russians in Beijing. Popular Russian hangouts used to be where bored functionaries could binge on vodka in sanitized settings. , a (literally) underground club near the Temple of the Sun, attracts the new breed of expat, Russian and otherwise, sojourning in Beijing. Featuring floor shows involving stripping nuns, a midget bouncer, walls decorated with copies of Renaissance paintings, and a healthy sense of irony, it's a great metaphor for the gritty, cosmopolitan city that Beijing is becoming. It's almost a shame that Obama will miss it.Fantasies aside, there was, thankfully, some old-fashioned sportswear in Paris. It was back to reality on the Celine runway, which marked former Chloé designer Phoebe Philo’s return to the fashion world after four years off. The clothes were chic and utilitarian, and, according to New York Times critic Cathy Horyn, “put out a mature, confident, and sexy vibe.” Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy, on the other hand, juxtaposed sharp tuxedo jackets with romantic Grecian drapes. “Just about everything in his show was fresh-looking and desirable,” Horyn .Balenciaga reclaimed the streets of Paris with classic modern sportswear. “I wanted to do something urban,” said designer Nicolas Ghesquiére. “No more history for the moment!” And of-the-moment it most certainly was, with hoodie-vests, open-toed boots, and vegetable-dyed leather jeans. Striped mesh tops fell loosely over leather bras, and bold stripes beautifully played off the intricate detailing on jeans and jackets.The look was strictly sharp and sleek at Balmain, where spangled military jackets marched one by one, each with epaulets and flourishes more dazzling than the next. From the revolutionary war references to a gold, armored modern day Athena, Women’s Wear that at Balmain, “no soldierly motif was left unturned.” But Jean-Paul Gaultier took us from the battlefield into the boudoir with black lacy bras under pink silk, garters and high-stockings, and—in a nod to his favorite muse—a Madonna-inspired red leather dress.Plus: .Isabel Wilkinson is an assistant editor at The Daily Beast.A new Republican-financed negative ad is accusing Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry of fleeing to Vietnam to avoid serving in the Alabama National Guard.The ad, airing in most of the so-called battleground states, tries to contrast Sen. Kerry's alleged guard-dodging with the storied Alabama National Guard heroism of the Republican nominee, President George W. Bush.In the ad, a narrator asks, "When the Alabama National Guard called young Americans to serve, where was John Kerry? Thousands of miles away, in Vietnam."The commercial ends with a black-and-white freeze-frame of Kerry, over which the narrator asks, "John Kerry... reporting for duty?"The attack ad is hitting the airways just as an organization of Kerry's swift boat comrades from Vietnam is holding its first annual anti-Kerry convention in San Diego.The organization, The Anti-Kerry Boatmates of America, is believed to number over ten thousand members, all of whom openly despise the Democratic nominee.A spokesman for the Kerry campaign attempted today to discredit the group, saying, "There were a lot of people on John's boat who hated his guts, but not enough to fill the San Diego convention center."Such criticisms aside, the organization is moving ahead with plans for negative ads of their own, including one in which they claim Kerry's swift boat was neither swift nor a boat.Elsewhere, new evidence indicates that two Al Qaeda operatives went to a Las Vegas casino last fall but left in a huff when singer Celine Dion cancelled her show due to a sore throat.Somebody needs to tell Julie Delpy not to be so existential if she wants to make it big in Hollywood. "At some point," she's saying, "you realize the idea of completely merging with someone in a relationship may be impossible. Is there anything worse than being next to a lover and being lonely?" Delpy's talking both about herself--she's 34, single, childless--and her character Celine, whom she first played in the modest 1995 film "Before Sunrise." In case you missed it--millions did--Celine meets Jesse (Ethan Hawke) on a train. After 24 hours of frolicking and philosophizing (this is a European train) he goes back to the United States and she to the Sorbonne, deciding not to exchange numbers or addresses. They agree to meet at the same spot in exactly six months. Romantics in the audience know they will; cynics know they won't.Flash-forward to 2004. Celine and Jesse finally reunite in "Before Sunset," which Delpy co-wrote with Hawke and director Richard Linklater. The movie is an 80-minute tour de force of pure, real-time dialogue, set in a single afternoon in Paris, and it's a joy. OK, a bittersweet joy. Jesse is now a New York novelist, married with a kid and on a book tour. (His novel happens to be about a whirlwind night with a beautiful French girl.) Celine, a Parisian environmentalist, has the obligatory loft and photojournalist boyfriend. Both have forfeited the youthful idealism that fueled their night together a decade before. This movie doesn't need an ill-timed rendezvous on a train platform: the supposedly perfect lives these people have built are messy enough. Would it be different if they were together?Delpy, who's a revelation in the movie, insists it's the question--not the answer--that matters. Needless to say, that's not the formula for a blockbuster. "Before Sunrise" was profitable, but the studio (Castle Rock) didn't beg for a sequel. Still, Delpy, Linklater and Hawke all thought the characters were too rich not to revisit. Linklater's first stab at "Before Sunset" tried it Hollywood's way: it put Celine and Jesse on madcap travels and married them in the end. "I hated that part," says Delpy. "It became just another film about a relationship, and luckily it wasn't greenlighted. No one wanted it. It was too conventional."Over the next two years, Linklater, Delpy and Hawke collaborated on a new script by e-mail. "These characters were still alive in us," Linklater says, "and the three of us were compelled in some form or fashion to try and get this done." Linklater mapped out a budget of less than $3 million--an under-the-radar figure that allowed them creative autonomy. The movie was shot in just 15 days, so every line, every gesture, was meticulously timed to avoid cutting. "Julie and Ethan are really out there naked," Linklater says. "All you're watching is these two people slowly reveal how they feel to one another." And it never would have worked, he adds, without Delpy's "strength, and her almost intimidating intelligence."Golly, just what Hollywood looks for in a leading lady--that and Delpy's experience working with Jean-Luc Godard. Since she moved to L.A. from her native Paris 12 years ago, the closest Delpy's come to blockbusterdom is her role as Chris O'Donnell's girlfriend in the 1993 remake of "The Three Musketeers." "I have no problem with Hollywood films," she says. "I just have to find one I really want to be in. I'm not asking for a masterpiece--just a touch of quality." Next year she hopes to direct a script she's written based on the true story of a Hungarian countess who bathed in blood. (Look, hope is good.) After that she'd like to try a comedy. She could even try a musical--"Before Sunset" has three of her songs. "It's difficult for people to understand that you can do more than one thing," Delpy says. But if all else fails, why not revisit Celine every decade or so? After all, she wrote the part herself, for herself and out of herself. Who says you can't merge with someone completely?CELINE DION AND SHANIA TWAIN are two of the biggest female stars of the '90s, but you won't [find either of them in Rolling [Stone's 30th-anniversary "Women of Rock" issue or Spin's November "Girl Issue." Apparently they didn't qualify. What does it take to be a "Woman in Rock"? After spending some time with these two issues, we constructed a handy quiz to help readers understand the eligibility requirements.(A) The women's movement of the '70s: thumbs up or thumbs down? If you answered "thumbs up," deduct 10 points. According to Spin, "Girl Culture" girls don't necessarily revere the brave women who cleared the path: "Feminism gave women critical tools, but it never offered enough fantasy."(B) True or false: it's a Spice World; we just live in it. If you answered "false," deduct 10 points. Rolling Stone advises a pro-Spice stance for aspiring W.I.R.s: "The Spice Girls might look like pop's latest blowup dolls to some cynical eyes, but for a new, ready-to-bleed, prepubescent, unclean, unholy army of the night, those five women are wailing 'Under My Thumb'."(C) Do you own the albums "Cut" by the Slits and "Pottymouth" by Bratmobile? If you answered "no," deduct 20 points. Spin calls them "essential discs" that "you'll find in most every self-respecting Girl Culture girl's bedroom, right next to the hair mascara." If you don't own hair mascara, deduct an additional 10 points.Did you flunk? Chin up-so, probably, would Shania and Celine. Women in Rock is a concept that's almost as old as rock itself, but in the past two or three years it's become a dizzyingly complex issue. For a long time, W.I.R. was just a straightforward media handle, a way to categorize performers by gender. It was indiscriminately applied to such varied types as new wavers the Go-Go's, punk-metalheads L7 and folkie Tracy Chapman. Lately, though, the phrase has taken on new twists. Women in Rock is no longer a gender-specific term; it's a political one. Being female isn't enough; you have to be correctly female. Do you pledge allegiance to the Spice Girls? Do you accept Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, in all her multidimensional personae? Do you promise to wear torn slip dresses, smeared makeup and a constant expression of Fiona Apple-style fetishistic victimhood? Follow the rules, or you're not in the club. "Touchy-feely consciousness may not be Gift Culture, but the Girls' Aggressive Skate Team is," goes Spin's agenda. "Raising your voice with a thousand other earth mothers to a Holly Near ballad doesn't cut it, but spitting out the sexy-defiant words to an Ani DiFranco song sure does."Under these guidelines, no one is likely to mistake Shania and Celine for Women in Rock. Their politics are all wrong. They do womanhood the old-fashioned, unironic, hyperfeminine way. They comb their hair and flaunt their bellybuttons, and it's not a statement. Their music is unabashedly domestic, without complicated subtexts; rock critics don't often write about them, because there isn't a lot to explain. But out there in the real teenage bedrooms of America, Twain and Dion have had real impact. Dion's last album, "Falling Into You," has sold more than 9 million copies and is still on the charts after a year and a half. Twain's "The Woman in Me" has also sold more than 9 million; it recently surpassed Patsy Cline's "Greatest Hits" to become the top-selling album ever by a female country artist. It's W.I.R. suicide to say so, but in 1997 there's something weirdly refreshing about Dion and Twain's implacable refusal to ride the Girl Power bandwagon, and their unexpected outsider status. It actually takes some guts to be so unapologetically uncool.Dion's specialty is big, divaesque, flawlessly put-together, excessively romantic ballads. She's the female Michael Bolton, the aural equivalent of Linda Evans on "Dynasty." Her forthcoming album, due Nov. 18, isn't weighted with complexity: it's called "Let's Talk About Love," and, well, that's just what she does for 71 CD minutes. Dion loves love in all its stages, from the glorious moments of togetherness to the painful pangs of goodbye, but she spends most of her time assuring her audience that if they want romance badly enough, it will come. Like Bolton, she doesn't hold back emotionally: her voice tumbles and handsprings through ornate melodies, and she clobbers her high notes with a Napoleonic fervor. "Tell Him," the album's much heralded duet with Barbra Streisand, has a message slightly left of Dusty Springfield's not-exactly-progressive 1964 hit "Wishin' and Hopin'. .... Tell him/Tell him that the sun and moon rise in his eyes," they belt in 24-carat harmony. "Reach out to him/And whisper tender words so soft and sweet... Love will be the gift you give yourself."If Dion's album is evening wear, Twain's new "Come On Over" is more like a casual, all-day pantsuit. Her audience isn't sitting home mooning; these ladies hold down jobs and bring home pay, and they have a few needs of their own. "Honey I'm home and I had a hard day/Pour me a cold one and oh, by the way/Rub my feet, give me something to eat," she sings in "Honey, I'm Home" over an irrepressibly bouncy beat, sort of Nashville twang meets "We Will Rock You." Twain's husband/co-writer is former Def Leppard producer Robert John (Mutt) Lange, and "Come On Over" is jammed with weirdly random rock references: "Rock This Country!" steals a guitar solo from the Beatles, while "I Won't Leave You Lonely" hits pretty dam close to the Police's "Every Breath You Take." But there's lots of fiddle and pedal steel, too, and of course Shania puts her cowboy-booted Cosmo-girl stomp on everything she does. In "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!," she presents coloring your hair as an act of empowerment. "That Don't Impress Me Much" drops a Brad Pitt reference so perfectly pegged you kind of wonder if she checked his movie-release schedule before putting the lyric on the album.There's evidence on both "Let's Talk About Love" and "Come On Over" that Dion and Twain have, in fact, heard of '90s post-post-feminist politics. Dion's "Treat Her Like a Lady" (co-written by dance-hall singer Diana King) has a funky sisterhood vibe and a story line about a woman who winds up in jail for taking revenge on a mistreating man. Twain, too, knows her flashpoint issues: "Black Eyes, Blue Tears" is an unexpectedly tender message about domestic violence. But overall, these two singers seem to understand that their audience prefers its heroines apolitical. In this day and age, it's becoming a perversely revolutionary idea. Women singers singing without making an issue of their gender? It could give rise to a whole new genre: Just Plain People in Rock.When Louis Vuitton first opened its store on Nanjing Road in Shanghai in 1995, CEO Yves Carcelle remembers that the traffic was mainly locals on bicycles, and his was the lone luxury brand on the block. Last month Vuitton vaulted Nanjing Road onto the level of such chic shopping streets as Rodeo Drive and avenue Montaigne when it inaugurated a two-story, 1,350-square-meter global store that carries all the company's product lines, from watches to ready-to-wear. With its 10-meter-high checkerboard glass facade and its walls covered in a double-layer screen of aluminum monograms, the store is the most dramatically designed retail space in China today. For years, recalls Christopher Zanardi-Landi, Vuitton's general manager for China, when analysts spoke of the mainland's luxury market, "everybody said, 'In the future, in the future.' Now there's been a change in tense. Now we are here."Indeed, the Chinese appetite for luxury goods is ravenous, and it's only going to grow. LVMH, the luxury group that includes Vuitton, Givenchy and Celine, expects sales to increase by more than 50 percent in China this year and to double over the next three years. Meanwhile, Cartier and Zegna are opening flagships in a restored regal 1920s bank on Shanghai's Bund in December; Prada is scouting locations in Shanghai and Beijing for one of its Rem Koolhaas-designed "epicenter" stores.With the government's plans to move 300 million Chinese from the countryside to the cities in the next decade and China's rocketing GDP growth--the world's strongest, at 9 percent in 2003 and holding steady--luxury sales figures are sure to soar. What's more, the number of Chinese going abroad--24 million this year--has already eclipsed luxury's longtime top traveling clientele, the Japanese (14.6 million this year). Analysts believe that number will reach 50 million by 2010 and 100 million by 2015. Will the Chinese replace the Japanese as luxury's No. 1 customer? "No one knows for sure," says Carcelle. But with 13 stores in China and more on the drawing board, Vuitton will certainly be ready.Will Chris Brown and Rihanna record a song together? Reports are conflicting, but let's just say theirs would hardly be the most misguided duet in music history. Here are nine of the all-time worst.William Shatner and…William Shatner Whether William Shatner was in on the joke of this 1978 cover of Elton John’s “Rocket Man”—from the split screen Shatner-versus-Shatner to the irony of the Star Trek guy singing “Rocket Man”—doesn’t stop this solo duet from boldly going where no man should ever go again.It was safe to assume that by now there would be numerous reinterpretations of the abrupt, clipped-off final scene of “The Sopranos.” It begs to be manipulated, mashed-up and parodied by the video-savvy merrymakers of the YouTube generation. But who could have predicted that presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton would be among those with her own Web riff?Clinton’s campaign took to the Internet yesterday with a short spoof of the “Sopranos” scene, tailored to the former First Family. Hillary sits in a booth at a diner, mulling over the offerings in the booth’s jukebox. Bill breezes in and joins her, then is disappointed to learn that when she announces that she has “ordered for the table,” she’s referring to a basket of carrot sticks, not onion rings. All the while, there are cuts to the other customers in the diner, suggesting that they’re all waiting breathlessly for Hillary to find the right song. Naturally, this all leads up to that polarizing black screen, and viewers are told to hop over to Clinton’s campaign site to see which song she selected. (For anyone who cares, it’s Celine Dion’s slightly creepy “You and I,” an Air Canada jingle in a former life.)Clinton’s video did precisely what a Web video is supposed to do—create buzz—but that attention won’t necessarily work in her favor. The era of Internet video offers presidential candidates an unprecedented opportunity to meet potential voters on their levels, and do it in a way that’s far more cost-effective than traditional advertising venues. The problem is that when candidates go the Web video route, it opens new channels of criticism that might not have existed otherwise, and a candidate’s efforts to appear loose, personable or self-deprecating can backfire.Mitt Romney, for example, has “The Decision,” a mercilessly long documentary-style video of the Romney family during their Christmas vacation, narrated by Romney’s wife, Ann. The family is shown doing what any family would do during a vacation, and Ann goes into extreme detail about meeting Mitt, their marriage, and the family’s everyday life (they use a task wheel to divvy up chores!). This all leads up to what we’re told is an unscripted conversation among the family about Mitt’s decision to run for president. Mitt takes notes on a legal pad and directs the conversation as though he’s leading a focus-group discussion about a new bathroom cleaner, taking the family’s consensus on whether or not they think he should run. Surprise, they do. Says son Tagg: “It’d be a shame to not at least try, and if you don’t win, we’ll still love you!”The goal, one would presume, of offering such a video is to show Mitt as a family man, allow viewers to connect with his family and show that Mormons are just like the rest of us. They even have a Christmas tree that looks about 30 feet tall. Unfortunately for Mitt, the video is labored and wooden, so instead of thinking Mitt is just like me, I now think he might be a robot, longing for a squeeze of oil on his hinges and longing to understand this thing we humans call love.Herein lies the inherent problem of the Web video. The conventional wisdom on politicians is that they’re phonies, snake-oil salesmen and double-talkers. Yet being “real” doesn’t work for politicians, simply because when they try to cut loose—like Howard Dean’s banshee scream following the 2004 Iowa primaries—it’s grist for the mill for opponents and pundits. So political Web videos, nearly all of which are corralled at YouTube’s channel, are the worst of both worlds. They attempt to be real, but instead, since we know reality exists in small doses in the all-spin-all-the-time world of politics, they don’t come off real, they just come off more fake.Hillary’s “Sopranos” takeoff is actually not that bad. Sure it’s cheaply made and a little stilted (don’t expect to see Bill guesting on “Grey’s Anatomy” anytime soon) but it does pull off a few smiles, if not outright belly laughs. But did it succeed at showing Hillary in a new light? Did it convince anyone that she’s got an honest-to-goodness sense of humor, or that just maybe she’s got her finger on America’s pulse? I seriously doubt it. It seems naive to think that a modest YouTube video could accomplish such a feat, but judging from the rate at which they’re proliferating, ’08 candidates have taken the lyrics of Tony Soprano’s Journey swan song to heart. They won’t stop believing.A Star Is Conceived Egg Freezing: Maria Menounos The 33-year-old Extra co-host brought her parents on television last September and told them she was freezing her eggs. Gestational Carrier: Nicole Kidman In January 2011, a woman gave birth to the star's second child with husband Keith Urban—genetically theirs, but carried by someone else. Surrogate: Neil Patrick Harris The sitcom star and his boyfriend had twins, each with sperm from one father, in October 2010. IVF: Celine DionThe Titanic crooner gave birth to twins in 2010, at the age of 42, using eggs she had frozen. Adoption: Sandra Bullock America's Sweetheart became a single mother at the age of 45 when she adopted son Louis from New Orleans. Correction:In “A Star Is Conceived," we stated incorrectly that Celine Dion had conceived twins through IVF using donor eggs. She conceived through IVF using her own eggs, which she had frozen. Madonna's Self-Absorbed TributeWe miss Michael Jackson. And we like Madonna. But as far as tributes go, wasn't this one at the September 2009 MTV Video Music Awards a bit too much Madge and too little Michael? That being said, she did share the odd details of a 1991 dinner and movie date between the two icons, where, as Madonna said, "It felt like he was looking for a friend more than a romance." Michael Jackson's This Is ItIt was a bittersweet moment at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards: at the show's close, MTV premiered this trailer for Michael Jackson's documentary, This Is It. The film, which was released on October 28, 2009, tells the story of what would have been Jackson's farewell tour. With a worldwide gross of $260 million, This Is It is now the highest grossing concert movie and documentary ever. 3-D Michael Jackson TributeIt's tough to say what was stranger about this Michael Jackson tribute at the 2010 Grammy Awards: Deciding to show the trippy yet boring forest scenes from This Is It, or the fact that the entire performance was only watchable for those wearing 3-D glasses. (For everyone else, it was a big, blurry question mark.) Although the all-star ensemble of Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, and Smokey Robinson did wow with their performance of the King of Pop's "Earth Song."Travel: Play Princess For a Week By Sandy L. Edry If you've always dreamed of living like royalty, now you can--at least while you're on holiday. Historic castles and palaces around the world offer accommodations as grand as any top hotel but with atmosphere and views fit, well, for a king. Several "new" destinations and itineraries are now available, joining a bevy of majestic accommodations around the world.The most recent addition is Mar Hall (slh.com/ marhall; $250-$880 per night), a beautifully restored castle near Glasgow, Scotland, that opened earlier this month. Fifty-three princely suites have been carved from this 164-year-old edifice; amenities include an Aveda Concept Spa, formal gardens and several restaurants for your sumptuous feasts.The worldwide tour company Globus (globusjourneys.com) added several new escorted trips this year focusing on castle hotels, including a week's stay at the romantic medieval Rheinfels Castle & Villa on the Rhine ($1,493). For a more Moorish take on palatial living, the company is offering its Andalusian Luxury trip to the 14th-century fortress Parador de Carmona in Spain, which includes sightseeing in Seville and Cordova ($2,000; nine days).In Ireland, several companies including CIE Tours (cietours.com) offer self-drive trips with several knights--oops, nights--at places such as Kilkea Castle and Dromoland Castle, both of which feature 18-hole golf courses and leisure centers ($120 and up).Europe doesn't corner the market on lavish living. The Samode Palace (samode.com; $88-$485), located 42km northwest of Jaipur, India, is a meticulously restored example of Rajput-Mughal architecture where you can enjoy the desert province's natural beauty and rich history. Or try La Mamounia (mamounia.com; $260-$3,400), set in the gardens once belonging to Prince Moulay Mamoun, son of a 17th-century sultan of Marrakech. And in the United States (yes, America has castles!), consider a visit to The Castle on the Hudson (castleattarrytown.com; $310-$750), a Norman-style castle--complete with wood-burning fireplaces and manicured grounds--but located only 30 minutes north of Manhattan.If you prefer not to stay with the great unwashed, you can even rent an entire castle for you and your royal court. A self-catered week at the Chateau de la Guillonniere (a-castle-for-rent.com) near France's Loire Valley starts at $3,500. And that doesn't even include use of the indoor swimming pool and fitness room. After all, you might not need to be a prince to stay at these castles, but you can't really be a pauper either.TRAVEL FRANCE'S PORT OF PRIDE The French national anthem is named after Marseilles, the country's oldest city and biggest port. It's also one of France's most cosmopolitan towns.Visit the Panier, the city's oldest neighborhood, which includes a maze of narrow streets and steps. Stop by the museum La Vieille Charite to see antiquities like shrunken heads from the Pacific islands (2 rue de la Charite, 011-33-491-145880).See Chateau d'If, a 16th-century fortress on a small isle where Alexandre Dumas's Count of Monte Cristo was incarcerated.Drink local aniseed liqueur,pastis, served at Le Bistrot Plage, a waterside bar (60 Corniche Kennedy, 011-33-491-318032).Eat fresh shellfish or hot pizza at Chez Jeannot in the teeny Vallon des Auffes Harbor, full of brightly colored fishing boats (011-33-491-521128).Sleep at Le Petit Nice-Passedat, on the cliffs of Corniche Kennedy. It has a gorgeous patio and plunge pool overlooking the Mediterranean islands. --Michelle Jana ChanTECHNOLOGY COOKING SHOWS Remember when a refrigerator with a built-in icemaker was the height of luxury appliances? Now the hot new item on every homemaker's wish list is a refrigerator with a built-in television. The TV fridge is great for someone trying to maximize space in the kitchen, usually the most-trafficked area of the home. LG's TV Refrigerator has a 34cm LCD screen in the door, and an FM radio, a TV tuner, two built-in speakers and a cable hookup. The model, currently available in South Korea, Mexico, the United States, Spain and England, sells for $3,149. Samsung has introduced a more-amped-up model, the HomePAD, for a whopping $4,999, which allows you to surf the Internet (look up recipes!), leave voice, text and video memos (a grocery list perhaps?), watch TV and even take digital pictures or display your digital album. Who needs refrigerator magnets to hold up photos anymore? --Karin BennettSOUVENIRS OLYMPIC DESIGNS If a simple Olympics cap, button, mug or T shirt is just too lowbrow for your taste, luxury-goods makers may have just what you need. The Sarantis cosmetics company, for one, has produced a special line of scents called Olympic Spirit, featuring sage, laurel, cedar and freesia. Men can smell like Heritage or Fair Play, while women's fragrances are called Celebration and Participation (22 euro, 75ml bottle; Olympic Store, Athens).Clotheshorses have been snapping up the contemporary yet classically inspired Olympic designs--like draped dresses, tops and skirts--of Sophia Kokosalaki, a young, high-end London designer of Greek heritage ($300 and up; Sophia Kokosalaki, London). (Olympic organizers have also commissioned her to come up with costumes for the opening and closing ceremonies in Athens next month--but they remain a secret.) The French luxury company Celine, a member of the Louis Vuitton group, is providing its own kitschy line of Olympic goods: printed T shirts, shoes, swimsuits and sporty handbags feature the colors of the Olympic rings and symbols such as laurels and the year 2004 ($200 and up; Celine, Paris). Too bad shopping isn't yet an Olympic sport. --Alexandra A. SenoSTYLE CATCH THE WAVE If you love the '80s, you'll be happy to know that perms have returned. "They are back, but in a totally different way," says colorist Carolyn DePalma of New York's Frederic Fekkai Salon and Spa. While the '80s were about height and volume, today's look is a soft, romantic curl. Wavy-haired celebrities like Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (right) inspired the trend, and DePalma now gives two to three perms a day, up from just five a month last year. For curls circa 2004, not 1984, make sure to show your stylist photos of the look you want, ask him not to roll the curlers to the root and never perm dry, damaged hair. But don't take the '80s revival too far: a mullet is still a mullet. --Anne TaulaneTupac rose from the dead and stole the show at , performing alongside Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. “What the f- is up, Coachella?” a hologram of the rapper, who died in 1996, the audience. The walking-and-talking projection is estimated to have cost and took four months to complete. It was a team effort by Dr. Dre, Digital Domain, and two imaging companies. But how did the digital Tupac work? Although it is being called a hologram, it was actually a . Just before Tupac’s appearance, a transparent screen descended across the stage. The images of Tupac were projected from above onto a reflective surface, which then reflected them onto the giant screen. The screen was angled in such a way that the audience could watch Tupac performing but could not see the screen itself. Dr. Dre how he got Tupac’s voice to sing the songs and say the word “Coachella.”The media -- and, oh yeah, the 20+ million YouTube clip viewers -- are all enchanted with erstwhile church-choir singer Susan Boyle, the small-town Scottish biddy who got famous this week on UK reality show "Britain's Got Talent" when she sang a "Les Miserables" showtune -- and betrayed some seriously powerful pipes. The only problem? Haters are saying her Frida Kahlo browline and granny-chic attire make her more likely to see William Hung's fame arc than, say, Celine Dion's. Why all the haters? Click the player to see the NEWSWEEK satirical video team's mash-up of all the Boyle-dissing! by Raina Kelley I may be tanking my own career by concentrating on the resurrection of Whitney over all of the other work I have to do, but I don’t care. Here’s my recap of what happened on day two of Oprah’s much-hyped interview with Whitney. 3:59 p.m.: Still excited. Still think I may be losing my mind. 4: Oprah is setting up the drama. Whitney’s daughter Bobby Christina will be on the show. There will be singing and screaming and surprises. Oprah is tooting her horn again. It was a great interview but not because of her. Hearing WH say “you sprinkle the base in with the weed” was enough for me. 4:01: How Whitney left Bobby: She said I’m going out for sugar and milk and never came back. She went to Los Angeles. That is so bad-ass. Then she put their house on the market and sold all the furniture and cars. 4:03: Oprah stills seems shocked that Whitney didn’t care about being famous. What part of drug-addicted and miserable doesn’t she understand? Whenever a woman has to say; “Mommy has to go,” as WH did to her daughter Bobby Christina, the recording studio can wait. 4:07: Oprah is still hawking this really big surprise. It better be an actual surprise and not just WH singing. 4:11: Whitney’s last straw was finding a counselor who helped famous people find their way out of this madness and then her daughter discovered her Dad’s cheating on the internet and told her mother to get a divorce. “She was far more intelligent than I could imagine.” 4:15: Whitney expressing love for God again. And you know what? I’m kinda feeling it. But the whole moment is ruined because Oprah would not let WH get off the subject of love until she said she loved Oprah, too. 4:20: Whitney Houston on Michael’s death: “Devastating.” What else was she going to say? But I do love that WH admits that looking at Michael was like looking in a mirror. 4:23: Oprah congratulating herself for doing this interview. 4:25: Oprah asking and answering her own questions about why Whitney left Bobby. 4:26: Piece of advice: when you’re holding on to your marriage out of habit as Whitney says she was, it’s over. 4:28: Oprah mentions she’s meditated to a WH song today (“I Turn To You”). And I care, why? 4:29: Best part of the interview. Oprah says: “You knew when you were doing it that this was going to be my favorite cut.” Seriously, does she even hear herself? 4:30: Watch out Rihanna! Bobby Christina is starting to sing really, really well. 4:33: Whitney announces herself drug-free. But, she adds, “I do have a drink every now and again. Don’t get me wrong.” 4:35: Yuck and yuck … now they’re both talking about how they prayed for each other this morning at the same time in the same hotel. It’s not the sentiment I dislike, just the self-indulgence. I hope this isn’t the surprise. 4:40: The Voice sings. (WH looks great by the way.) 4:41: Yes, her voice isn’t what it was; but her arrangements are smarter and when she sings, her instrument expresses something deeper and better than that pop-nonsense I loved when I was 13. 4:42: Oprah reaction shot No. 1. 4:43: Oprah reaction shot No. 2. 4:44: Oprah reaction shot No. 3 and No. 4 and No. 5. 4:45: Oprah and Whitney hug. Whitney’s back is to the camera. 4:48: Oprah tells us how she couldn’t sleep the night after the interview because they had such a powerful connection. Can we move on ladies? 4:51: Bobby Christina on her mother: “Words can’t describe how proud I am of my Mother.” I don’t think it’s fair to ask a 16 year old what she thinks about her parents’ marriage and divorce. 4:52: Commercial break. Where’s my surprise? 4:54: Jennifer Hudson on video proclaiming Whitney her hero. 4:55: Oh wait. This is a video homage starring Celine Dion, Dionne Warwick, Christine Aguilera, Clive Davis and Jennifer Hudson, all praising. Is this the big surprise of the interview? 4:57: This is really weird. I guess the surprise is that Whitney didn’t know her album was opening at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. How does revelation make any difference in my life? Nonetheless, congratulations to WH on her triumphant return. She rocks but I’m a little worried about O. Over the course of her six-year stint on "Saturday Night Live," Ana Gasteyer created sketch comedy staples like NPR radio host Margaret Jo and middle-school music teacher Bobbie Moughan-Culp--that is, when she wasn't delivering deadly impersonations of Martha Stewart and Celine Dion. But having grown tired of the confining nature of sketch comedy, Gasteyer left the show in 2002. Unlike her SNL peers Jimmy Fallon (whose new movie "Fever Pitch" opens this weekend) and Will Ferrell (who is in, well, everything), Gasteyer has had a handful of smaller film roles, tending instead to stick to her on-stage roots. In 2003, she played Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and has more recently been sporadically performing her one-woman show, "Ana Gasteyer: Let It Rip! An Evening of Song," in New York and Los Angeles. She was also just cast as Elphaba in the Chicago production of "Wicked."Gasteyer returns to the small screen this month in Showtime's campy satirical remake of the unintentionally hilarious and stunningly inaccurate 1936 anti-marijuana propaganda film "Reefer Madness." She plays Mae, a drug pusher's moll with a heart of gold (and occasional black eye). The slapstick-kitschy flick lifts lines and plot twists from the original, recasting it as a musical with its tongue surgically implanted in cheek. It may not be for everyone, but it will have fans of the cult classic--and dorm-room stoners--giggling through their munchies. Gasteyer recently spoke with NEWSWEEK's Brian Braiker about "Reefer Madness" and life after "SNL." Excerpts:NEWSWEEK: So I watched "Reefer Madness," as well as the original, which is hilarious.Ana Gasteyer: I am totally impressed that you sat through the old one. That's a stinker. It is hilarious. It's so awful.Do you think they thought it was good when they were making it?It is my understanding from that the original creators of the film were a Christian church group. The actors had a minor sense of the irony about what was happening because they were Hollywood aspirant actors, but the actual filmmakers believed what they were doing, in the propaganda. The original Mae was this actress named Thelma White, who passed away last winter, and she actually attended the L.A. stage production and thought it was very funny and a send-up. And she indicated apparently that they knew it was a little OTT [over the top]. I'm sure they were all partiers themselves.So did you do any method acting for this movie.You know, it's not my bag, believe it or not.Sure, I believe it.You do? You know, I'm such a speed-up kind of gal and it's a slow-down kind of drug. That's what's so funny about it. They portray it like it's a speedball or cocaine, over-the-top crystal meth. I don't enjoy anything that renders me verbally useless.There are some direct lines and scenes from the original that have ended up in this remake.It definitely begins as a parody and turns into a musical. It's a little bit of both. That's what made it fun to perform: it covered a lot of territory from an acting standpoint and a comedy standpoint--between pure '30s dialect and parody and glamour. And frankly, the female characters in '30s films tend to be more exciting than a lot of what you see today. It's just fun to play these tortured archetypal heroines.You did your own singing?Oh yeah, we all did our own singing.You were just cast in "Wicked." It sounds like life after "SNL" is going pretty well.The first preview is June 24 in Chicago. Tickets went on sale yesterday; I was in Chicago and it actually really was exciting. I drove by and there was a line around the block. It was really cool. So far so good. I really put my mind to diversifying. Granted, sketch is an extremely diverse art form--you have to do something different every day--but I wanted to improve the more disciplined parts of what I do. Singing requires enormous discipline. I studied voice in college.You even performed at Lilith Fair, didn't you?I did, isn't that wild? I love that you know that. But not as me, as Cinder Calhoun, my folk-singer character.Were you nervous at all leaving "Saturday Night Live"? The track record of people going on to have healthy long careers is spotty.I wasn't because there isn't a track record for women so far. It's just unique to the performer and what they want to pursue. People say "whatever happened to blah-blah-blah?" But they aren't very aware. Some people can have a pretty vibrant life in the theater or they can have a voiceover career people don't know about. If it's not like the big-boy $20 million movie world, people seem to forget that there are a lot of other options in the arts. Besides that, I wasn't nervous about it. I was anxious to go on and grow and develop as an actor.Also, just being on that show must take a real toll.It definitely does. It's physically, emotionally exhausting, which is documented everywhere. More than that, depending on who you are, you come to a point where a three-to-five-minute container for my comedy or performing was starting to feel restrictive. To me it's logical that I jumped into theater, because I instantly dove into this situation where I can play one character over two-and-a-half-hour time every day for eight shows a week for a sustained period of time. You're kind of in suspended animation while you're on "SNL" because you're just generating a lot under pressure and in that context it's not always easy to garner new resources. You're pulling it off a lot.You were even pregnant during your last season.I was way pregnant my whole last season. She'll be 3 in June. So far she's a gypsy child. She has been everywhere and she is very open to the whole thing. She wears ruby slippers to sleep at night, so I thought it was a good sign.Or a terrifying sign.Either one, yeah. I don't know, it's a pretty good life we live, we actors. I wouldn't mind if she became one.I have never heard an actor say that about their child.I confess that I poached that from [comedienne] Andrea Martin, who I met doing a benefit. She's right. It's sort of this popular idea to roll our eyes and say "God I hope she doesn't become an actor." But we have such a great life! I've seen the whole country. I hang out with people who sing and dance. A former therapist of mine told me that people who sing every day are statistically happier. It's just a happy bunch of people, and it's a creative outlet and I wouldn't mind at all if that's what she wanted to do. I'm not going to push her into Pampers commercials, though.NEWSWEEK recently did a Q&A with Gene Wilder who said that comedians are like needy children.I would agree with that. "SNL" drew its own kind of damage. There's an amazing Herculean athletic discipline to comedy, it depends on the person. I do think that our era of "SNL" tended to draw a few more comedic actors than comedians, per se, so the crazy factor was slightly dissipated. But on the whole it's not the healthiest bunch of people. In the movie, we all were obsessed with "Young Frankenstein," we were all camp obsessed. It's funny that you talked to Gene Wilder, because our goal was to have it be somewhere between "Evita" and Mel Brooks. Hopefully we achieved it.I did like it even though I really wasn't expecting to.There's a little something for everyone. One of the things I feel proud about is that there's kind of something for the musical-theater lover and there's also something for the musical-theater cynic. You have to be pretty cognizant these days that there are a lot of people who find musicals corny. And because it's a modern take on an old, old movie, there's a little wink about what it's doing.Tom Ford has never been afraid to mix sex and pain. Consider the red patent-leather pumps with the five-inch, steel-spike heels that he designed for Gucci in 1997. But when Ford debuted his fall-winter 1999-2000 collection on the runway in Milan last week, he went beyond his hallmark S&M-tinged style and into battle gear. Models clad in thigh-high anaconda-skin boots and fox bomber jackets marched ferociously down the catwalk, their usual pouts replaced with sneers. Some wore polished leather breastplates that could have deflected a speeding bullet. They were ready to fight. And so, it seemed, was Gucci. Since early January the company has been under assault by LVMH, Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the French luxury-goods conglomerate run by Bernard Arnault. LVMH, which already owns Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Lacroix, Kenzo, Celine and Loewe, has spent $1.4 billion buying 34.4 percent of the red-hot Florentine fashion house. It's a lot, but Gucci is worth it. Once known mostly for sturdy wallets and shoes, Gucci now makes some of the sexiest clothes on the planet, worn by the likes of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. Credit for the turnaround goes largely to Tom Ford, who left Perry Ellis for Gucci in 1990, becoming head designer there in 1994. The problem is, neither Ford nor Gucci's capable CEO, Domenico De Sole, is happy about the prospect of a new boss. De Sole has called the LVMH purchases a "creeping takeover," and claims that LVMH simply doesn't want to buy the company outright and pay a fair price. He's also incensed that Arnault didn't call him before purchasing the stock. Arnault says he has no desire to alienate Gucci's management. But by suing Gucci for diluting its stock in an attempt to ward off a takeover, that's certainly what he is doing.This is all very bad news for Arnault, who hopes to use the $1 billion-in-sales Gucci--one of the world's most profitable luxury-fashion companies--to spearhead its vital expansion in the United States. Until recently, there were enough extremely rich women outside the States--particularly in Asia--to keep LVMH growing smartly. They craved accessories, LVMH's specialty, and snatched up Vuitton knapsacks and Lady Dior bags so fast that the stores couldn't keep them in stock. From 1996 to 1997, LVMH's worldwide sales grew by 54 percent, to more than $8 billion. But Asia's financial crisis changed all that. Many luxury-fashion companies saw their sales drop by 40 to 50 percent practically overnight; LVMH's diversity was somewhat of a buffer, but even it suffered a sales drop of 5.4 percent from 1997 to 1998. In wealthy America, though, spending on luxury goods is growing four times as fast as overall spending. For LVMH, the States had never been a strong market. But Arnault, who cut his corporate teeth in the U.S. property-development business in the 1980s, was determined to make LVMH an American success. First he would freshen the brands he already owned. Then he would acquire others with proven U.S. appeal--including Gucci.Last year Arnault began implementing part one of his plan. He installed a trio of bright young American designers to head up three old LVMH companies: Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton, Narciso Rodriguez at Loewe and Michael Kors at Celine. Their mandate? To come up with youthful, desirable clothes and accessories that will attract a bevy of new customers--preferably young, rich and American. The first U.S. Louis Vuitton store opened last fall in New York and will be followed by one in Beverly Hills in October. Celine's eight U.S. boutiques are flourishing (next story), and plans are underway to open several more.The plan extends beyond fashion. Arnault also opened 14 U.S. outlets of Sephora, his cosmetics-and-perfume chain, in 1998; he will launch 50 more this year. He wisely hired Pia Getty--one of the famed blond, well-married Miller sisters--to be the chain's U.S. ambassador. The SoHo outlet is now packed with locals whose perfect blowouts resemble Getty's own coif.In America and beyond, good retailing requires a splash of entertainment, and there again Arnault is finally on top of things. In places like Waikiki, he has turned his duty-free shops into "attraction centers" that showcase LVMH products. He is most excited by the one in Guam, scheduled to open this summer. "It's a big mall," he told NEWSWEEK, "with an aquarium filled with fish. And not small fish. Sharks! It's very big, and you walk through a tunnel surrounded by big fish--sharks to your right and left!--and when you come out, you're in Louis Vuitton!" The underwater gallerias will be surpassed only by Arnault's new American headquarters: a 23-story skyscraper on East 57th Street in New York. "People will come to see it," he said, beaming, "like the Empire State Building."As for part two of his U.S. strategy, Arnault made a bid last year for the perfume-and-beauty division of the French pharmaceuticals group Sanofi S.A., which includes fragrances by Oscar de la Renta and the house of Yves Saint Laurent. By Christmas, negotiations had broken down--sources claim Arnault didn't want to pay Sanofi's $1 billion-plus asking price. But rumor has it he will launch another bid soon.More important, Arnault has entered into talks with Giorgio Armani, the designer of choice for Wall Street dealmakers and Hollywood players. When Arnault sat down in the front row of the Armani menswear show last January in Milan, the fashion industry began to buzz. Arnault denied his interest in the company for weeks. Finally, in mid-February, Armani CEO Pino Brusone told the Italian press that he was indeed talking to Arnault about selling him a stake in Armani. A day later Arnault told NEWSWEEK that he hoped the deal would come through. "It is an extraordinary brand," he said, "a $1 billion company that is very profitable."Armani has sizzle, all right. But Gucci and Tom Ford are a five-alarm fire. Gucci would heat up LVMH's American business in a hurry--provided, of course, that Arnault can win the company without losing its cachet. Since that would be easier with Ford, the task is a tricky one. Ford distrusts Arnault, and has for years. Back in 1994 Arnault spoke with the Bahrain-based Investcorp, then owner of Gucci, about buying the company, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. Ford reportedly cringed--he knew Arnault's history of gobbling up fashion houses and strong-arming the creative types. He is said to have told friends he wanted nothing to do with Arnault. Eventually, Arnault pulled out of the deal, telling Gucci executives that he thought the company was going nowhere.Today Ford has a change-of-control clause in his contract, which allows him to leave the company if any one shareholder purchases 35 percent of Gucci. If Ford goes, De Sole may, too. The CEO was furious when Arnault suggested back in January that Yves Carcelle, the head of leather goods at LVMH, take a seat on the Gucci board (Gucci and Vuitton vie for the same retail space and share customers). Arnault later offered an outside candidate. But De Sole didn't bite. He did tell Arnault that if LVMH made a "fair" offer for the rest of Gucci's shares, he and Ford would stay. If Arnault did not want to make a 100 percent purchase, then De Sole wanted Arnault to sign a "stand-still" agreement guaranteeing Gucci's independence. Arnault did neither.LVMH stopped legal actions against Gucci in the United States when it learned that the rule it claimed Gucci broke applied only to U.S. companies. But last Wednesday the company asked the court in Amsterdam to freeze the voting rights of the Gucci ESOP and annul the plan. Instead, the court suspended voting rights of both LVMH and the ESOP pending a review of the case. A hearing is set for April 22.Whichever way the trial goes, Arnault has lost something. If he wins and continues the "creeping takeover," Ford (and probably De Sole) will flee the minute he crosses 35 percent. De Sole still says that if Arnault makes a fair offer to all shareholders, he and Ford will stay. But LVMH would have to pay a fortune for the remaining stock. In any case, Arnault will probably lose the Armani deal. Sources close to Armani and Brusone say that Arnault's headline-making fight has rattled the ever-conservative Armani. A confidant of Brusone's told NEWSWEEK, "Arnault can kiss Armani goodbye."Tom Ford, meanwhile, may have said his goodbye last Tuesday in Milan. Those combative models marched to a specially recorded soundtrack of American hits from the 1970s, including "Last Dance" and "Endless Love." Those in the audience who understood wept. Ford would surely be sad to leave Gucci, but it would not destroy his career. Indeed, when he cashes in his stock, he will be a very wealthy man. Friends suspect he and De Sole might launch their own company. But Ford has said that he would someday love to become a movie director. Perhaps he will follow a string of fashion models and another celebrity designer--Isaac Mizrahi--into the film business. If so, he should feel right at home. Hollywood is probably the only place with more drama than the world of fashion. In Butter you play a freakishly talented butter carver in Iowa. Do you have any skills that are similarly impressive without being remunerative? I am not burdened with a skill set. Acting was my only way to make a living. Everything else had been eliminated through a long process of failure and firings. You grew up in a small town in Oregon. Did the characters in Butter seem real to you? My grandfather was a farmer in Oregon, and he's partly why we moved out to this town of 200 people. When you get out there, the things that people get...Rescuers recovered the last of the 18 students’ remains early Friday, about 18 hours after the landslide smothered the Tiantou Elementary School and three farmhouses and damaged six other homes and farmland in Zhenhe village, the Yiliang County government said on its website. It said a person from one of the houses was missing, and a heavily injured person was in a hospital in stable condition.(PHOTOS: )The landslide dammed a river, causing its water to pool 15 meters (45 feet) across and 7 meters (21 feet) deep around the buried area, hampering rescue efforts and forcing the evacuation of 800 other people, the government said. Rescue teams removed the blockage and the water was subsiding, it said.While officials have yet to give a cause for the landslide, the corner of Yunnan province has been lashed by rain in recent days and is prone to earthquakes. A series of quakes last month left 81 people dead and devastated parts of Yiliang county, which are still recovering.Though Thursday was a holiday across China, the students who were killed had been attending school to make up for days missed after the quake, Yiliang officials said. Their school had been damaged in the quake and they were sent to Tiantou temporarily, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Insurgents on Saturday killed two American troops in eastern Afghanistan, an area that has seen heavy fighting in recent months, the U.S. military said.No other information about the deaths was disclosed, pending notification of family members.But a U.S. military official said two U.S. special operations forces were killed by small arms fire in Wardak province, southwest of Kabul.(PHOTOS: )The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose information about the deaths.So far this year, 296 international troops, including at least 257 Americans, have been killed in Afghanistan.In the south, an Afghan policeman was killed and another was wounded when a remote-controlled bomb planted on a motorbike was detonated in Sangin district of Helmand province, according to provincial spokesman Ahmad Zarak.In neighboring Kandahar province, a roadside bomb killed another Afghan policeman in Kandahar city, said provincial spokesman Ahmad Jawed Faisal.(NEWPORT, R.I.) — The bodies of three women were pulled Friday from a car that had been in Newport Harbor for hours after it plunged off a pier and landed on its roof, police said.Part of the Hyundai Accent was sticking out of about 4 feet of water when it was discovered around 6:30 a.m. at the Newport Shipyard, a privately owned marina near several of the tourist city’s largest hotels and vacation condo complexes, Newport police Capt. Fred Gonsalves said. A fuel deliveryman saw the car and alerted authorities, Gonsalves said.He said police are still investigating when the car went into the water and why, but said they did not suspect foul play.The car had Rhode Island plates, and Gonsalves said he did not know whether it was a rental car or was owned by one of the women in the car.The car was hauled out of the water by a crane around 8:30 a.m.(VIDEO: )Newport police Capt. Russell Hayes told The Newport Daily News that one of the victims was from New York state and the two others live overseas. He said emergency personnel were notifying the victims’ families and no other information was available.The driver apparently missed a right-hand turn, Hayes told the newspaper.“I’m not sure if they intended to take the turn here and missed it because it was dark and because of weather conditions,” Hayes told the paper.A dense fog advisory was in effect in Newport until 9 a.m.The car went into the water near an area called the Travelift pit, the place in the marina where boats are lifted in and out of the water. Among the services the shipyard provides are dockage for luxury yachts and sailboats, as well as services for their owners, such as showers and workout facilities.Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan O’Hare earlier said that the car had been in the water for at least several hours. Newport Fire Department Deputy Chief Frank Young said firefighters wearing wetsuits and goggles discovered the women inside the car in the shallow water.The shipyard is open 24 hours, and a security guard is posted at the entrance at all times.A spokeswoman for the shipyard referred all questions to police.By ERIKA NIEDOWSKI and MICHELLE R. SMITH() — An extremist Egyptian-born preacher entered a U.S. courtroom Saturday for the first time to face multiple charges, complaining that his prosthetic hooks, medication and special shoes were taken away from him. The preacher was one of five terror defendants rounded up in Britain and extradited overnight to the U.S.Abu Hamza al-Masri was surrounded by several marshals in a Manhattan courtroom as he faced charges he conspired with Seattle men to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon and helped abduct 16 hostages, two of them American tourists, in in 1998.The 54-year-old, white-haired Al-Masri exposed both of his arms through his short-sleeved prison shirt. His court-appointed lawyer, Sabrina Shroff, asked that al-Masri, indicted under the name Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, have his prosthetics immediately returned “so he can use his arms.”In the 1990s, al-Masri turned London’s Finsbury Park Mosque into a training ground for extremist Islamists, attracting men including Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and “shoe bomber” Richard Reid.(MORE: )Al-Masri — jailed since 2004 in Britain on separate charges — was flown overnight to New York from London along with four others accused of U.S. embassy bombings in Africa and with helping terror operations in Afghanistan and Chechnya. The men, who could all face life in prison, have been battling extradition for between eight to 14 years.U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara called the extraditions “a watershed moment in our nation’s efforts to eradicate terrorism.”“As is charged, these are men who were at the nerve centers of al-Qaida’s acts of terror, and they caused blood to be shed, lives to be lost, and families to be shattered.”In New York’s federal court, Khaled al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul Bary, entered not guilty pleas to charges that they participated in the bombings of embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998. The attacks killed 224 people, including 12 Americans. They were indicted in a case that also charged Osama bin Laden.In New Haven, Conn., Syed Talha Ahsan, 33, and Babar Ahmad, 38, entered not guilty pleas to charges that they provided terrorists in Afghanistan and Chechnya with cash, recruits and equipment.Al-Masri, a one-time nightclub bouncer, entered no plea, saying only “I do” when he was asked by U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas whether he swears that his financial affidavit used to determine if he qualifies for a court-appointed lawyer was correct.(MORE: )Shroff told Maas that al-Masri needed use of his arms. “Otherwise, he will not be able to function in a civilized manner.”She also asked for a dictating machine, saying he can’t take notes, the return of his diabetes medication and special shoes that prevent him from slipping. She said he will need a special diet and a full medical evaluation in prison.Al-Masri peered through glasses as he consulted with Shroff and another court-appointed lawyer, Jerrod Thompson-Hicks, in a proceeding that lasted less than 15 minutes.Al-Masri has one eye and claims to have lost his hands fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. His lawyers in England said he suffers from depression, chronic sleep deprivation, diabetes and other ailments.“I don’t think he slept at all” on the overnight flight and hadn’t eaten since arriving in New York at 2:40 a.m., Shroff said outside court. Still, she added, “He seemed very much like a gentleman.”Shroff and Thompson-Hicks also represented al-Fawwaz, 50, a citizen of Saudi Arabia. Thompson-Hicks said he was concerned whether his client would be properly treated for hypertension and high blood pressure. Attorney Andrew Patel, representing Bary, 52, an Egyptian citizen, said his client needed asthma medicine and treatment for other medical issues.Patel, who declined to comment afterward, told Maas that Bary reserved the right to request bail in the future.Four others who were tried in 2001 in the August 1998 bombings in Kenya and Tanzania are serving life sentences.(MORE: )Ahsan, 33, and Ahmad, 38, were kept detained while they await trial in Connecticut, where an Internet service provider was allegedly used to host a website. Their lawyers declined to comment.Ahmad made efforts to secure GPS devices, Kevlar helmets, night vision goggles, ballistic vests and camouflage uniforms, prosecutors said.Al-Masri is not the first Egyptian-born preacher to be brought to Manhattan for trial. A blind sheik, Omar Abdel-Rahman, is serving a life sentence after he was convicted in 1995 in a plot to assassinate then-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and in another to blow up New York landmarks, including the United Nations and two tunnels and a bridge linking New Jersey to Manhattan. Abdel-Rahman has numerous health issues, including heart trouble.The overnight trip to the United States came after a multiyear extradition fight that ended Friday, when Britain’s High Court ruled that the men had no more grounds for appeal and could be sent to the U.S. immediately.“I’m absolutely delighted that Abu Hamza is now out of this country,” British Prime Minister David Cameron said. “Like the rest of the public, I’m sick to the back teeth of people who come here, threaten our country, who stay at vast expense to the taxpayer and we can’t get rid of them.”“I’m delighted on this occasion we’ve managed to send this person off to a country where he will face justice,” he added.Al-Masri has been in a British jail since 2004 on charges of inciting racial hatred and encouraging followers to kill non-Muslims.While al-Masri has been portrayed in the British media as one of the most dangerous men in the country, the case against Ahmad in Connecticut has raised concerns among legal experts and human rights advocates.Some lawyers and lawmakers have expressed concerns because Britain agreed to extradite the London computer expert even though his alleged crimes were committed in Britain; British courts declined to prosecute him for lack of evidence. Ahmad and Ahsan are accused of running websites to support Afghanistan’s ousted Taliban regime, Chechen rebels and associated terrorist groups.By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN and LARRY NEUMEISTERWhen Windows 8 launches on Oct. 26, expect to see lots of that combine a tablet and a laptop into a single, convertible device.Acer’s Iconia W700 is an example of something different: the tablet-desktop hybrid.(MORE: )Included with the W700, which starts at $800, is a cradling station that has three USB 3.0 ports — the tablet itself has another — and can prop up at either a 70-degree or 20-degree angle. Of course, it charges the device as well. The tablet also has a Micro-HDMI slot for connecting to an external monitor, and it comes with a Bluetooth keyboard.Acer isn’t the first company to announce a Windows 8 tablet with a docking station. Dell’s will have a dock with four USB ports, an Ethernet jack and a full-sized HDMI slot. The dock for HP’s will have all those connectors plus a VGA port and audio line out.But Acer’s Iconia W700 puts me in the desktop hybrid mindset for a couple reasons: Its display is larger than those other tablets, at 11.6 inches instead of 10 inches, and the tablet uses Intel’s more powerful Core processors, rather than the Clover Trail chips found in thinner and lighter machines. It also has a higher screen resolution of 1920-by-1080, which isn’t even supported by Clover Trail-based tablets.I think the idea could grow beyond a simple set of extra ports. I’d love to see a dock with extra storage, especially because the solid state drives inside tablets are too skimpy for vast media libraries. A dock that had its own discrete graphic card would be even better, allowing the device to play PC games or handle extensive photo or video editing. And just maybe, it’d be cool to see a dock with its own larger, integrated display.A man can dream. For now, at least, Acer’s planted the seed of an idea. The W700′s other specs include 4 GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 720 front-facing camera. The basic $800 model has a Core i3 processor and 64 GB of storage, but there’s a 128 GB version for $900, and a $1,000 model with 64 GB of storage and a Core i5 chip.MORE: When trying to understand a strange action by the U.S. government, I have found it's usually best explained by incompetence rather than conspiracy. Republicans have claimed that the Obama Administration deliberately deceived the American public about the terrorist attack in Benghazi by describing it as a spontaneous mob uprising rather than a planned operation. But if the Administration knew from the start that it was a terrorist attack, did it really think that it could conceal this from the world? That the Libyan government would make no investigation? That there would be no eyewitnesses in a public place where hundreds had gathered? A far more plausible explanation is that in the chaotic aftermath of the attack, the Administration--too hastily and without proper analysis--put out the reports it was receiving. That's clumsy, but it's not treason. The larger issue that the attack raises, however, which is fair game for a campaign conversation, is what the events in Benghazi tell us about terrorist organizations, in particular al-Qaeda. After years of being in retreat, is al-Qaeda back? After 9/11, we all worried about the spread of al-Qaeda and its ideology. There were attacks in Bali, Madrid, London, Riyadh and Istanbul. But in fact, governments around the world had begun taking the group seriously, tracking its money, chasing its people and attacking its bases. Soon al-Qaeda was unable to carry out its signature operations--against high-value U.S. targets like ships and embassies and other government installations. So instead of striking where it wanted, al-Qaeda--or groups operating in its name--attacked where possible. This meant hitting nightclubs, cafés, train stations and hotels. And that meant killing locals, not Americans. All of a sudden, Muslims, who had not been too exercised about al-Qaeda, began distancing themselves from it, especially in places like Saudi Arabia that had been critical sources of funding for the group. Meanwhile, the pressure intensified. The Obama Administration dramatically ramped up counterterrorism in Afghanistan--and more important, Pakistan--and destroyed the top leadership of the organization, including, of course, Osama bin Laden. Facing this onslaught, al-Qaeda has been shattered and has become less a coherent, centrally controlled group and more a brand, lending its name--and perhaps a little know-how--to militants in other countries. There is, however, a danger of overreacting to these new "al-Qaeda" offshoots. Remember bin Laden's words: "All that we have to do is to send two mujahedin to the furthest point east to raise a piece of cloth on which is written al-qaeda in order to make the generals race there to cause America to suffer human, economic and political losses." The strongest of the new groups was al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), based in Yemen. Newer branches have sprung up in Somalia, Mali and now perhaps Libya. The group that appears to have planned the Benghazi attack seems to have a very tenuous connection to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) but not al-Qaeda central. In all these cases, however, the militants have followed a similar path: find a weak state and operate within that territory, claiming a link to al-Qaeda. The lesson of Libya is that as states fail, terrorists succeed. Re "Flash Point" [Sept. 24]: The blaming of the U.S. for the production of the Innocence of Muslims is symptomatic of an animosity toward a country that, while believing itself to be the bastion of democracy, has stirred up hatred among less developed countries. This hatred has many roots, chief of which are jealousy and intolerance. Were this amateur film produced in any other nation, the reaction would definitely not have been as strong, but it would still have confirmed the danger that religion poses to our planet. Jon Ralph, CAPE...Toys R Us, Walmart, Best Buy, and other stores have recently announced their latest guarantees to match prices offered by competing retailers this holiday season. These guarantees sound terrific for consumers, and at first glance, it would seem like price matching is a smart response to the , in which shoppers scope out merchandise in person in stores before purchasing online for less money. But these guarantees come with plenty of fine print, and the result is that price matching doesn’t work in the way shoppers might expect. Today’s shoppers compare prices across a broad array of outlets—major brick-and-mortar retailers, online giants like Amazon, and all manner of smaller stores and websites. A true price-matching guarantee from a retailer would match pretty much any price a shopper can find for an identical item.That’s not how these guarantees work, however. Here’s one section in the FAQ for , which reveals that the retailer doesn’t have to match many kinds of prices readily available to consumers:Does Best Buy match the prices of Internet retailers? No. Best Buy does not match the prices of Internet-only retailers or the website prices of our local retail competitors’ stores.(MORE: )Likewise, “Internet pricing” is one of the categories for prices it does not honor. Same thing for , though it does say it’ll match online prices “from selected national competitors” for some baby merchandise.The truth is that these policies aren’t really price-matching guarantees, but “ad-matching” guarantees instead. (That’s what Walmart calls them, appropriately so.) Retailers will generally match prices only if the shopper presents a valid print advertisement from a competing store, with the exact item and a lower price clearly presented.What these stipulations mean to consumers is that, in nearly all cases, retailers will not match the prices from websites, including those of the largest e-retailer of all, Amazon. This is annoying for shoppers. And it would seem to be unwise for retailers: Why, after all, wouldn’t they be willing to match Amazon’s prices, thereby battling back against showrooming and negating the main reason consumers turn to Amazon in the first place? As , it would seem especially necessary for Best Buy to do all it can to compete with Amazon.(MORE: )Retail experts say that it’s problematic for brick-and-mortar operations to try to match prices with Amazon, however. “Companies know that retailers advertising in newspaper circulars have restrictions around them—expiration dates, guarantees of product availability, or limitations explicitly around it,” says Sucharita Mulpuru, a . On the other hand, “the web is a dynamic pricing engine, especially Amazon, so to match the price of an item during one hour yesterday isn’t the same as matching Walmart’s circular for a price they’re committed to for this week.”Shoppers may wish that the lowest price period they can find will be matched, but the Web represents “the Wild West in pricing,” as Mulpuru puts it. “Retailers are protecting themselves, rightfully so, by excluding this type of price matching,” she says, and stores “are just a little nervous that they may be giving their shirts away if they don’t put that restriction out there first.”Whether a retailer guarantees to match prices or not, there is good reason for shoppers to mention to sales staff that they’ve found the item they want for less money elsewhere. “In most cases, what we’re seeing is that retailers are empowering employees to match prices, or at least knock a few percentage points off of prices, because you don’t want that shopper leaving the store emptyhanded,” says Alison Paul, . By being negotiable, rather than “becoming a lawyer in the middle of a transaction,” says Paul, the retailer “buys a lot of goodwill with customers. These are people who are far more likely to talk about their experience. It’s great marketing for the store.”(MORE: )It’s also a way for the business to see its profit margins shrink. Thom Blischok, , says that while it’s necessary for retailers to have competitive prices, it’s not necessarily essential to have the rock-bottom lowest price. “We’ve taught people for years that deals are the way to shop,” says Blischok. While deals sometimes come in the form of cheap prices, they can also take shape via bundled packages, service extras, unexpected perks, or just plain trustworthy advice and guidance from sales staffers. “The job of the retailer is to convince the shopper he’s getting a great value, not just a great price.”Just how many shoppers engage in price-matching anyway? It’s hard to say, but it’s certainly only a small portion of consumers. “From my experience in retail, you’d easily see 5-10% of transactions during the holiday ask for some price match,” says Mulpuru, “and that’s just people trolling Sunday circulars and looking for better deals.”(MORE: )“Price-matching is believed to bring people in,” says Blischok. “But it’s just one tactic in the retailer’s arsenal to drive traffic into the store.”Brad Tuttle is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at . You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s and on Twitter at . Don't even think that you have a more difficult job than Tom Horton. Although some airline bosses can still seem besotted with this once glamorous business, at ground level it's an industry that has lost more than $60 billion in the past decade, erasing every penny earned in its 80-year existence. An industry whose combined market value, below $30 billion, is less than that of Starbucks, one of its vendors. One with irrational competition, uncontrollable fuel costs, a feckless regulator, and jets and airports filled with people who don't like you--and not just the passengers but your employees too. Beyond that,... One night in 1961, Andy Williams heard a ballad that Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini had written to be performed by Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. The singer loved the song, but his record label wouldn't release it as a single, fretting that homespun phrases like "my huckleberry friend" would baffle the kids. So Williams moved to Columbia Records and put the number on a 1962 album, Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes. The song won an Oscar, and the American midcentury's most amiable pop baritone, who died of bladder cancer Sept. 25 at 84 at his...( CITY) — The discovery of a tomb that experts believe might be that of a great Maya queen could redefine the understanding of women’s political roles during the Classic Maya period, experts said Thursday.A team of U.S. and Guatemalan experts led by anthropologist David Freidel found a stone jar at a burial chamber in northern Guatemala that led them to believe it is the burial site of Lady K’abel, considered the military governor of an ancient Maya city during the 7th century.“Lady K’abel was buried 11 meters down from the surface in a temple near a stairway,” Freidel said. “K’abel was not a regular person. To put her in that location means that it was important; it means that people continued to worship her after the fall of the dynasty.”The team working in the royal Maya city of El Peru-Waka also found other evidence, such as ceramic vessels, jade jewelry, thousands of obsidian blades and a large stone with carvings referring to Lady K’abel.(MORE: )The alabaster jar showed the head and arm of an aged woman emerging from the opening and glyphs pointing to the name of the queen, Guatemala’s cultural ministry said in a statement Thursday.“The royal tomb shows that women have been leaders in the past and we must now assume and exercise political participation to strengthen the role of women in the new era,” Rosa Maria Chan, deputy minister for cultural and natural heritage, said in the statement.K’abel, considered the greatest ruler of the Late Classic period, ruled with her husband, K’inich Bahlam, for at least 20 years in the 7th century, Freidel said. She was the military governor of the Waka kingdom for her family, the imperial house of the Snake King, and she carried the title “Kaloomte” — translated as “Supreme Warrior,” higher in authority than her husband, the king.Freidel, who is from Washington University in , said the findings at the ruins of El Peru-Waka were “serendipitous.”“In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense that the people of Waka buried her in this particularly prominent place in their city,” Freidel said.(MORE: )For Marcello A. Canuto, director of the Research Center of Central Tulane University in , the alabaster identifies the tomb as that of the “Lady of Kaan” and noted there is a stela erected in her honor at the archaeological site.“She has been given all the honors a male king would have been given,” Canuto said. “It’s not the first such tomb discovered, but it gives an idea of the important role women played in forging dynastic alliances, and the status they enjoyed.”Traci Ardren, associate professor of anthropology at the University of Miami and a Mayan archaeologist specializing in gender relations, said the traditional belief that Maya men occupied a more important place than women has to do with the amount of images in Mayan art that show men in positions of authority.“People like Lady K’abel show there were examples of extraordinary women that were able to position themselves in powerful roles, were incredibly successful and were accepted by society,” Ardren said.By ROMINA RUIZ-GOIRIENA Arthur Ochs "Punch" Sulzberger is most celebrated--and rightly so--for his decision in 1971 to publish the Pentagon Papers, an archive detailing how the government had lied to the American people about the Vietnam War from the start. Punch was not a gifted journalist or a great editor. He was, however, something out of a Frank Capra movie--a man with a deep sense of decency and profound common sense who also had guts. It took great courage to publish the classified documents in defiance of the government, which was a seminal moment for American journalism. Sulzberger, who died Sept. 29 at 86,... Raised in rural Kentucky and trained as a biologist, Barbara Kingsolver was perhaps destined to write Flight Behavior, her new novel about a young woman in backwoods Tennessee whose life is upended by ecological disaster. Why did you choose to make climate change such an important part of Flight Behavior? I live in southern Appalachia, and I'm surrounded by farms and coal mines. Our agriculture here has gone through one disaster year after another, so climate change is not some kind of abstract future threat. The people most affected by climate change already are people among whom I live: rural, conservative... "Dr. Commoner, are you a serious candidate, or are you just running on the issues?" So went a reporter's question to the biologist, environmentalist and chronic gadfly during his quixotic presidential campaign in 1980. Commoner, who died on Sept. 30 at 95, won just 234,000 votes, but he was never afraid of long odds and never shied away from the issues. His work on the dangers of atmospheric radiation helped spur the 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and he was a key figure in the first Earth Day, in 1970. As a teacher and activist, he helped create the modern environmental...Ai Weiwei helped inspire the geometrical design of the celebrated "Bird's Nest" that helped symbolize the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In background and bottom: images of the Olympic Stadium, 2005-08; from left to right, Divina Proportione, 2006; F-Size, 2011. Making serious movies for serious adults isn't a great business strategy. That's because there aren't that many serious adults left. Ben Affleck is one of the few directors who treat their audience like adults, figuring they're smart enough to follow along. Argo (in theaters Oct. 12) is very adult. The real-life story it tells is complicated: after the Iran hostage crisis erupted in 1979, the CIA financed a cheesy sci-fi movie as a cover to disguise six escaped U.S. diplomats as Canadian filmmakers and ferret them home. For this plot-heavy film, Affleck somehow uses far less exposition than I just did.... If you ever wonder what kind of economic development might be accomplished in this country with more bipartisan cooperation, consider Columbus, Ohio. This low-key, Middle American metropolis of about 800,000 is becoming something of a celebrity city, talked up in a recent New York Times Magazine piece on the success of Ohio and visited more than a dozen times by presidential and vice-presidential candidates. No wonder. After taking a dive during the recession, Columbus has roared back, with the metro area creating more new jobs than any other city in Ohio over the past two years. In many ways, it's a... I don't think it's especially ungallant of me to have doubted J.K. Rowling. Like a hundred million or so other people, I have a genuine love for Harry Potter, but I wanted to be realistic: a lot of young-adult authors have tried their hands at literary fiction, and unless my literary sabermetrics are off, not a lot of them have succeeded. Not even Roald Dahl could switch-hit. But when I read Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, I was surprised not only by how good it was but also by the way in which it was good. I suppose I'd expected a kind... Imagine chick lit gone country, with cosmopolitans replaced by shots of rum, Louboutin shoes by muddied boots, and corporate ladders by regular ones that actually reach past the ceiling. It turns out that city girls are starting to love the idea, at least in Australia, where what's known as farm lit or chook lit, chook being Australian slang for a chicken is publishing's latest phenomenon, with rural romances outselling other fiction.Farm lit is not entirely virgin territory. Colleen McCullough's 1977 antipodean saga, The Thorn Birds, sold 30 million books and birthed a miniseries....(LOS ANGELES) — A Boston man has won an online competition to become the first male model in “The Price Is Right” history.The long-running CBS game show said Friday that viewers had chosen Rob Wilson from among a trio of finalists who also included Clint Brink and Nick Denbeigh.Wilson begins his weeklong stint alongside the ladies on Oct. 15.(LIST: )The contest was announced in August. Hundreds of he-man hopefuls showed up at the open call in Los Angeles, where they had a chance to strut their stuff for the show’s producers and the female models the show is well known for.The show has been on the air since September 1972.“The Price Is Right” is hosted by Drew Carey. It airs weekdays at 11 a.m. Eastern time.MORE: With land wars wrapping up, the Army is doing what comes naturally – setting up a new office to ensure it’s not ignored as the Pentagon pivots toward the Pacific and begins pumping money into globe-girdling air and naval forces.The Army – the biggest and most like America of all the services – will never admit this, of course. With Americans a “great deal” of confidence in the U.S. military, including soldiers – triple that of, ahem, the press – this would hardly seem to be the time that buffing and burnishing the Army’s reputation is necessary.But that misses this point: budget wars are looming, the Army has benefited, financially, from 12 years of war, and President Obama wants to project power toward the Pacific. Time to circle the battlewagons!That’s why the Army formally stood up its Army Marketing and Research Group on Oct. 1, conveniently the first day of the 2013 fiscal year. The next day, an outfit calling itself Army Marketing and Research Group Public Affairs issued a detailing its mission:The United States of America exists because there is a United States Army, which is arguably the best land force in the world…Today’s Soldiers are strong, decisive, technologically savvy and morally and ethically steadfast. Soldiers get things done — no matter where or how difficult, Soldiers always accomplish the mission…Is this what the average American thinks and feels when he or she sees a Soldier? Over time, through periods of transition and potential negative events, is this the underlying truth the nation continues to believe about their Army? Do Soldiers, civilians and Army families believe and communicate this about themselves and the institution?…The answers to these questions and how the Army is explained to the American public are vital to ensuring the Army sustains its connection with the American people and receives the support it needs to deliver on its promise to defend the American Constitution and American way of life, according to Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Marketing Mark S. Davis, and director of the newly formed Army Marketing and Research Group, or AMRG.Well, that’s quite an assignment.Key phrase in the article: receives the support it needs. Translation: receives the support it wants.The shop seems redundant. After all, the non-profit is the service’s official cheerleader in Washington (all the services have such outfits). AUSA says its mission is “fostering public support of the Army’s role in national security.”The press release points out that the new outfit is “formed from efficiencies gained by the inactivation of the U.S. Army Accessions Command,” without explaining that Accessions Command was last year at 9 years of age because it was redundant. Yet the Army Marketing and Research Group rises from its ashes. No wonder it’s so tough to kill anything at the Defense Department – it enters its own witness protection program and comes back under a new name, albeit smaller. As of now.“The Army brand is really the ongoing dialogue we have with the American people,” Davis said. “It enables our communication and marketing efforts.”Perhaps so. Branding, after all, is all the rage in marketing circles these days.But the notion of the Army as a “brand” somehow seems a bit off. The U.S. Army isn’t a cookie (think ) hair tonic (think ) or a new car (think ). It embraces branding at its peril. The public, after all, is fickle. What if it wakes up tomorrow and decides to trade its in for that snazzy ? 'The door may be closing, for good.' 1. BAN KI-MOON, U.N. Secretary-General, warning that the continued growth of Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territory "seriously undermines efforts toward peace" 'I can't get fined if I'm saying that the refs did a great job...so, they did a great job.' 2. GREG JENNINGS, wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, after a muddled referee call, now known as the touchception, cost his team a game against the Seattle Seahawks 'You want to try it? Get in the ring.' 3. ANN ROMNEY, addressing her husband Mitt's detractors in a much ballyhooed segment on Radio...(WAYNE, N.J.) — A tour bus from Canada carrying about 60 people bound for New York City overturned on a highway exit ramp in northern New Jersey early Saturday, slid down an embankment and landed on its side, injuring 23 people on board, authorities said.The driver, who suffered a gash in his arm, told state police that he was cut off by another vehicle, though it was not immediately clear whether that caused the crash around 7:30 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 80 in Wayne.Some windows burst during the crash and their frames pinned three people, but they were quickly freed and taken to hospitals with the other injured. The bus had been chartered by a church group.Eight of the injured passengers were admitted in critical condition, hospital spokeswoman Liz Asani said. Further details on their injuries were not disclosed. The rest of the injured, including two young children, were being treated for minor injuries at two other hospitals.State police have said none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.(MORE: s)“It was terrifying,” Norma Cumberbatch, 66, of Toronto, told The Star-Ledger of Newark. Cumberbatch, who was traveling with her 68-year-old sister, Marjorie, said she struggled to free her legs from fallen luggage and other debris before trying to find her sister.“I just took my leg out and then said, ‘Where’s my sister? I want my sister.’”Marjorie Cumberbatch said she heard “thump, thump, thump. Then I looked up and I saw people over me screaming and crying.”Passengers who were unhurt were put on another bus and continued their journey, authorities said.The coach bus was from Toronto-based AVM Max 2000 Charter Services Inc., state police said. The phone for AVM Max rang unanswered Saturday afternoon, and the company did not respond to an email Saturday.The crash was the latest of several coach bus accidents over the past few years on American highways. Last year, a bus carrying gamblers from a trip to a Connecticut casino struck a guardrail as it entered New York City, then toppled over and hit a signpost that sliced off the top of the bus. Thirteen people were killed. A manslaughter trial for the driver began last month.Saturday’s accident backed up traffic in the area for hours while law enforcement officials and emergency services vehicles attended to the scene. Several highways connect there, and the area is known locally as the “spaghetti bowl,” according to The Record.VIDEO: () — Californians woke up to a shock Friday as overnight prices jumped by as much as 20 cents a gallon in some areas, ending a week of soaring costs that saw some stations close and others charge record prices.The average price of regular gas across the state was nearly $4.49 a gallon, the highest in the nation, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge report.In Southern California, the price jumped 20 cents a gallon overnight to $4.53 in Ventura. And in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area prices went up 19 cents to nearly $4.54. And it wasn’t any better to the north, as a gallon of regular gas in San Francisco averaged nearly $4.60.In many areas, prices have jumped 40 cents in a week as refinery problems have created shortages and helped send wholesale prices soaring. Some stations ran out of gas and shut down Thursday rather than pay those costs.Even Costco, the giant discount store chain that sells large volumes of gas, decided to close some stations, the Los Angeles Times (lat.ms/OGwEV2) reported.“We do not know when we will be resupplied,” read a sign at one Southern California Costco, according to the Times.Other gas stations charged more than $5 a gallon. The Low-P station in Calabasas charged $5.69 Thursday. The pumps bore hand-written signs reading: “We are sorry, it is not our fault,” the Times said.While have spiked around the nation, refinery outages and pipeline problems have added to woes in California.Among the recent disruptions, an Aug. 6 fire at a Chevron Corp. refinery in Richmond left one of the region’s largest refineries producing at a reduced capacity. A power failure in Southern California has affected an Exxon Mobil Corp. refinery, and a Chevron pipeline that moves crude to Northern California also was shut down.The national average for gas is about $3.79 a gallon, the highest ever for this time of year. However, gas prices in many states have started decreasing, which is typical for October.But in California, gasoline inventories are the lowest in more than 10 years — a situation made worse by the state’s strict pollution limits that require a special blend of cleaner-burning gasoline during hot summer months.Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.com, said he is seeing the highest prices in the state around Los Angeles, where on Thursday at least five stations have crossed the $5 a gallon mark, including $5.29 in Burbank and $5.11 in Norwalk.Prices will keep rising, he says, because in the past week wholesale gasoline prices have jumped $1 a gallon, but average retail prices have increased only 30 cents.“This is one of the easiest forecasts: Retail prices are going to skyrocket,” DeHaan said.The jump in wholesale prices can be particularly tough on independent gas stations that often pay more for their gas because they are not part of a larger chain.Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service, said he’s heard of a few California station owners shutting their pumps rather than charging the $4.90 a gallon or more necessary to break even.“Wholesale price increases lead to retail price increases,” Kloza said. “But there is some restraint among companies who do not want to exercise their current pricing power and irritate their customers.”Some analysts think prices nationally will begin to decline soon but say California could see a longer spike given its unique fuel requirements.“Nationally, I believe most prices will wobble to and fro for the next week or so, with an eventual slow but steady attrition in retail gas prices, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast,” Kloza said. “California is a wild card.”By Jason Dearen AP Energy Writers Jonathan Fahey in New York and Sandy Shore in Denver contributed to this report. I have a promise to break. Like any self-respecting writer visiting Bhutan, I solemnly swore on a stack of travelogues to avoid clichéd references to Shangri-la, the mountain paradise of James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. So sue me: Bhutan, a nation of 700,000 souls in the lap of the Himalayas, is the closest thing to Shangri-la I've ever seen.In a week of traveling through Bhutan, my wife and I have trekked up 3,100 m to an ancient Buddhist temple complex perched on the side of a mountain; we've shot arrows from...Move over, pumpkin. There’s a new taste in town that’s turning up in everything from booze to bagels: candy corn. Yes, that waxy, tri-colored childhood favorite is this season’s “it flavor.” Nabisco kicked off the corn-y trend when it released limited-edition candy-corn Oreos last month. The cookies, sold exclusively at Target, have vanilla wafers and yellow-and-orange cream filling. There were reports of sellouts shortly after the cookies made their debut, but if you’re curious and missed the launch or don’t live near a Target, there’s a brisk secondary market for the cookies on Amazon.com.(DAMASCUS, Syria) — A car bomb exploded Sunday near the police headquarters in central Damascus, killing at least one person and damaging nearby buildings, Syria’s state-run news agency said.The blast is the latest in a series of bombings and suicide attacks targeting security personnel and government institutions as Syria plunges deeper into chaos. Damascus, in particular, has become a frequent target for car bombs and suicide blasts, but there have been several massive bombings in the northern city of Aleppo and others cities across the country as well.Residents reported hearing a huge explosion that rattled the Syrian capital just after sundown Sunday. Another explosion was heard shortly after the first, but the nature of that blast was not immediately clear.A Syrian government official told The Associated Press the first blast was caused by a car bomb in the Fahameh district near police headquarters. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy, said the explosion damaged nearby cars and buildings. He did not say whether the police headquarters was among them.(PHOTOS: )The official SANA news agency said one person was killed, and Syrian state TV described the blast as a “terrorist” attack. Syrian authorities deny there is an uprising in the country and blame the conflict on “terrorists” and “armed gangs” acting out a foreign conspiracy to destabilize Syria.The Syrian opposition denies any links to terrorists, but a Sunni extremist group called Jabhat al-Nusra has claimed responsibility for bombings in the past.Explosions in the capital have become increasingly common as Syria’s civil war escalates. On Aug. 18, rebels carried out a sophisticated bombing of a regime security building that killed four members of Assad’s inner circle.Last week, four bombs tore through a government-held district in Syria’s commercial and cultural capital of Aleppo, killing more than 30 people and reducing buildings to rubble.The uprising against Assad began in March 2011 and gradually became a bloody civil war. The conflict has killed more than 30,000 people, activists say, and has devastated entire neighborhoods in Syria’s main cities.By ALBERT AJI(WASHINGTON) — A new estimate puts the deficit for the just-completed 2012 budget year at $1.1 trillion, the fourth straight year of trillion dollar deficits on President Barack Obama’s watch.The result was a slight improvement from the 2011 deficit of $1.3 trillion.The bleak figures from the Congressional Budget Office, while expected, add fodder for the heated presidential campaign, in which Obama’s handling of the economy and the budget is a main topic. Friday’s release came as the government announced that the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent last month, matching the rate when Obama took office.(MORE: )The administration will release the official deficit numbers around mid-October, but they should line up closely with the CBO estimate, which showed that the government borrowed 31 cents for every dollar it spent.The CBO estimate predicts a modest 3 percent increase over 2011 in both income tax and payroll tax receipts, reflecting the sluggish economic recovery. Corporate income tax receipts are way up — almost 34 percent — but most of that is a result of tax rules governing write-offs of business equipment.Spending fell across a broad array of categories, the CBO said, but not Social Security and Medicare. Social Security payments rose by 6 percent, while Medicare grew by 3 percent, slightly less than in prior years.Lower war costs meant a 3 percent decline in defense outlays, however, and the cost of unemployment benefits dropped 24 percent because fewer people have been receiving benefits recently. Medicaid costs dropped as well, because the federal government stopped paying a higher share of the program’s costs.Obama inherited an economy in recession and a deficit in excess of $1 trillion. He promised to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term, but deficits have instead remained at eye-popping levels, including a record $1.4 trillion deficit in 2009 and deficits of $1.3 trillion in each of the past two years. The 2012 deficit was 7 percent of the size of the economy, an unsustainably high level.(MORE: _In Wednesday night’s debate, Obama said he has a budget plan to shave $4 trillion from the deficit over the coming decade, but he counts $1 trillion from savings already accomplished in budget deals with Republicans last year and $848 billion from winding down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney promises to balance the budget within eight to 10 years, but hasn’t illustrated how he would do so. His budget claims are suspect as well since he promises to cut the overall budget by about $500 billion in 2016 alone, while also promising to sharply boost military spending and restore more than $700 billion in Democratic cuts to Medicare over the coming decade. Romney has ruled out increasing taxes. – By ANDREW TAYLOR(ATLANTA) — Health officials say the death toll in a rare fungal meningitis outbreak across several states has risen to seven.In updated figures posted to its website Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak has spread to more than 60 people across nine states. The latest cases have been confirmed in Minnesota and Ohio.The outbreak has been linked a steroid produced by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts. The steroid has been recalled, and health officials have been scrambling to notify anyone who may have been injected with it.The New England Compounding Center has said it is cooperating with health investigators to determine the source of the infections.(ATLANTA) — Health officials say they have now confirmed more than 90 cases of a rare fungal meningitis that has been linked to a steroid commonly used to ease back pain.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted updated figures to its website Sunday. The death toll stood at 7, the same number as a day earlier. The outbreak is spread across nine states, the same states reported Saturday: Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.The CDC figures show there are 91 cases in the U.S. altogether.The steroid linked to the outbreak has been recalled, and health officials have been scrambling to notify anyone who may have received an injection of it. The Massachusetts pharmacy that made it has said it is cooperating with investigators.MORE: MORE: File under the strangest of unintended consequences. As states throughout the U.S. have slowly moved toward relaxing their marijuana laws, there has been a disturbing surge in the number of incidents involving pets ingesting marijuana, either accidentally or after it’s fed to them by their owners. (There’s even a surprising number of YouTube video results for the search term “dogs getting high.”) Now several veterinarians have come out to warn against the dangers of dogs ingesting cannabis after seeing a spike in sick animals in Colorado.(MORE: )Speaking with CBS 4 in Denver, veterinarian Dr. Debbie Van Pelt that she has seen “huge spikes in the frequency of marijuana ingestion [among pets] in places where it’s become legal.” Seventeen states across the U.S. have approved the regulated use of medical marijuana, although few states have embraced the trend as much Colorado; by one count .In many instances the dogs appear to have eaten their owner’s stash. The affects are far from pleasant for the animals, who start to stagger and vomit and can even lapse into a coma. to Dr. Pelt: “They basically [lose] a lot of their fine motor control, they have a wide-based stance and they are not sure on their feet.”(MORE: )While in most cases the effects are short-lived, vets have reported some fatalities as a result of ingesting marijuana. Dr. Stacy Meola, a vet at Colorado’s Wheat Ridge Clinic, that she saw two dogs die after ingesting baked goods containing medical marijuana.Meola has organized a five-year study looking at the number of dogs that fall ill as a result of the drug. She found that the number of cases of dogs getting high had quadrupled since Colorado legalized medical marijuana in 2000.MORE: It was the second launch of a Dragon capsule to the orbiting lab by the California-based SpaceX company. The first was last spring.This time was no test flight, however, and the spacecraft carried 1,000 pounds of key science experiments and other precious gear. There was also a personal touch: chocolate-vanilla swirl ice cream tucked in a freezer for the three station residents.The company’s unmanned Falcon rocket roared into the night sky right on time, putting SpaceX on track to reach the space station Wednesday. The complex was soaring southwest of Tasmania when the Falcon took flight.Officials declared the launch a success.(PHOTOS: )In more good news, a piece of space junk was no longer threatening the station, and NASA could focus entirely on the delivery mission.NASA is counting on private business to restock the space station, now that the shuttles have retired to museums. The space agency has a $1.6 billion contract with SpaceX for 12 resupply missions.Especially exciting for NASA is the fact that the Dragon will return twice as much cargo as it took up, including a stockpile of astronauts’ blood and urine samples. The samples — nearly 500 of them — have been stashed in freezers since Atlantis made the last shuttle flight in July 2011.The Dragon will spend close to three weeks at the space station before being released and parachuting into the Pacific at the end of October. By then, the space station should be back up to a full crew of six.None of the Russian, European or Japanese cargo ships can bring anything back; they’re destroyed during re-entry. The Russian Soyuz crew capsules have limited room for anything besides people. Technologies Corp., or SpaceX — owned by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk — is working to convert its unmanned Dragon capsules into vessels that could carry astronauts to the space station in three years. Other U.S. companies also are vying to carry crews. Americans must ride Russian rockets to orbit in the meantime, for a steep price.Musk, who monitored the launch from SpaceX Mission Control in Hawthorne, Calif., called the capsules Dragon after the magical Puff to get back at critics who, a decade ago, considered his effort a fantasy. The name Falcon comes from the Millennium Falcon starship of “Star Wars” fame.An estimated 2,400 guests jammed the launching center to see the Falcon, with its Dragon, come to life for SpaceX’s first official, operational supply mission.It was no apparition.“Just over a year since shuttle retirement, to be able to do that is, I think, what people are very excited about,” said NASA’s deputy administrator, Lori Garver.Across the country at SpaceX headquarters, about 1,000 employees watched via TV and webcast.SpaceX is shooting for its next supply run in January.Another company looking to haul space station cargo, Virginia’s Orbital Sciences Corp., hopes to launch a solo test flight in December and a demo mission to the station early next year. I hate meetings like this!" illinois Congressman Joe Walsh shouted in frustration. A small-business man named Ted Kozlowski, a defense contractor, was explaining how he'd had to lay off nearly half his workforce because funding for one of his products, a machine-gun cradle, had been mysteriously suspended in February. "It's ridiculous what Washington is doing to you," Walsh went on to say. "They change the rules of the road every six months." A small problem here, though: Walsh, one of the more flagrant members of the Tea Party caucus, lives at ground zero of the congressional mess. He has proudly opposed every attempt at a budget compromise that would clarify the status of Kozlowski's funding. He told me he would continue to vote against any deal that raises tax rates. If he is re-elected. That could be a problem too. After he was elected in 2010, Walsh embraced the notion that he was a poster boy for the Tea Party, and there was a fair amount of truth to that: he had won a shocking victory over a Democratic incumbent in the Chicago suburbs, in the heart of blue-state Illinois. He proceeded to make a lot of noise, with an untoward candor that was less outrageous than that of another Tea Party poster child, Representative Allen West of Florida (who is also in trouble this year) but still offensive enough to women, homosexuals and Muslims to make national headlines. The question is, Will Walsh be a Tea Party exemplar of a different sort this year? If he and West and some other high-profile Tea Partyers lose, will the Republican Party take a moderating lesson from that--even if, as is likely, it retains control of the House? The deck is certainly stacked against Walsh. His district has been redrawn by the heavily Democratic Illinois legislature. It now includes a significant minority population. And he has a formidable opponent: Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq-war veteran who lost both her legs when the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Walsh has continued to make a fool of himself during the campaign, at one point saying Duckworth wasn't a "true hero" because she talked about her service all the time and real heroes don't do that. He also warned that Muslim terrorists were in the district--he specified three towns--looking to kill Americans. He told me he was talking about a national problem, but there were several attacks on local Muslim sites in the days after he made his comments. "When you say radical things," Duckworth says, "radical things can happen." Walsh does have a few advantages, though. He has become a superstar of super PACs in this race, four of which have put up ads supporting him, and together they are outspending Duckworth significantly. He's also a natural politician, fearless and gregarious, with the courage of his extreme convictions--and a few policy surprises. He told me, for example, that while he would oppose any budget deal that raises tax rates, he does support the complete elimination of such popular tax loopholes as the mortgage-interest and charity deductions. He has also favored cutting the Pentagon budget and wants an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan. "He's a very charismatic and appealing guy," Duckworth told me. It might be counted as a minor miracle that Emma Donoghue sold more than a million copies of her disquieting 2010 novel Room, which is narrated by a 5-year-old boy held captive with his mother by her kidnapper and rapist. Donoghue's ambitious new collection, Astray, isn't exactly a beach read either. Its array of characters--a pet elephant cruelly sold off to the circus in 1882, an attorney taken for a ride by a con woman in 1735, a Texas slave who absconds with his master's wife in 1864--includes wanderers and bunglers, victims and outcasts. (The stories are all inspired by true...David DeCesare grew up in northern New Jersey in the 1960s with a love of the new music and dreams of being a drummer in a rock band. Fate, disguised as failure, intervened, and DeCesare eventually became known as a writer-producer for The Rockford Files, the creator and guiding light of The Sopranos, and David Chase.All this time, though, Chase husbanded his memories of his early manhood: the aches and epiphanies, the family tensions and pretty girls, and of course the songs. He hatches them in his first feature, Not Fade Away, which receives its world premiere Sat. evening as the Centerpiece of the New York Film Festival. Chase is 67 now, but the movie has the raw, artless, tell-all feel of a twentyish writer’s first novel — a disgorging of the good-bad old days in the transparent mask of fiction. For admirers of Chase’s achievement in turning The Sopranos into one of the zestiest, most impressive TV epics, Not Fade Away is likely to be a big disappointment.(SEE: Where The Sopranos falls on )The blurred, black-and-white TV image of a New Jersey rock group, Joey Dee and the Starliters, performing “The Peppermint Twist” is interrupted censoriously by a sign reading “Please Stand By.” The emergency-warning beep accompanying the message gives way to the opening bass line of the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” — Chase’s clever visualizing of the Plato observation, cited later in the film, that “When the mode of the music changes, the walls of the city shake.”That certainly applies to the walls of the suburban New Jersey homes that teenage Douglas (John Magaro) shares with his truculent dad Pat (James Gandolfini) and exasperated mom Antoinette (Molly Price). Doug, in solidarity with many kids of all generations, believes he’s a prisoner of conscience in a Stalin gulag, with his parents as the uncaring guards. The emergence of the Beatles and the Stones allows him to express his protest as a fashion statement — poodle hair and Cuban heels — which suit his status as drummer for a local band, called The Twylight Zones, that includes lead singer Eugene (Jack Huston) and guitarist Wells (Will Brill).Movies have provided stories of bands that hit the top (Backbeat, about the formation of the Beatles) and of one-hit wonders (Tom Hanks’s That Thing You Do). Not Fade Away, as Doug’s kid sister clues us early in the film’s fitful voiceover narration, is about a group that became a no-hit wonder. The members practice, they play a few gigs, they debate who should be lead singer. Doug goes off to college — which, he father complains, is costing him $2,000 a year! — and finds an ideal snuggle partner in Grace (Bella Heathcote, the moon-eyed Australian lovely from Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows). Many screenwriters of less than hunky aspect, like Woody Allen, have paired their screen selves with dreamy girlfriends; and Grace is exactly that wish-fulfillment goddess in a grubby milieu. The prize daughter of a wealthy WASP family, Grace is, frankly, too good for Doug and too pretty for Jersey.(MORE: )Actually, the Twylight Zones are a no-hit no-wonder, since there’s not much musical distinction in their cover versions of Rolling Stones covers of American blues songs, and zero chemistry among the bandmates. Magaro, who looks a bit like Stones bass guitarist Bill Wyman, gives viewers little reason to watch him except that he’s the movie’s main character. Huston, the grandson of director John Huston and a recurring player on Boardwalk Empire, attracts the eye with his Jimmy Fallon vibe but never sparkles. In fact, no one in the band seems to be having a great time. They bend to their work, or what they call their art, like wage slaves on a North Korean assembly line.The one scene of musical magic in the movie (which is named for a 1957 Buddy Holly song revived seven years later by the Stones) comes from a clip of the Stones on a 1964 episode of Hollywood Palace, when Mick Jagger coos Willie Dixon’s “I Just Want to Make Love to You.” In that moment Jagger parades the danger, showmanship and bisexual startle that made people want to watch the Stones. And not the Zones.(LIST: Find Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones on )The challenge for the teller of any story set in the ’60s is to overcome the familiarity of the time; even those who didn’t live through the decade have had its signature events, moments and music drummed into their brains. Matthew Weiner, the Sopranos producer who created Mad Men, mostly avoids the period italicizing on that ’60s show. Chase, though, thinks everyone needs to be reminded that national leaders were killed and young men went to Vietnam. Aside from the plush carpet of ’60s songs (chosen by Steven Van Zandt, the E Street Bandsman and Sopranos cast member), Not Fade Away takes the laziest way of evoking the past: name-dropping and TV clips. The tragic, heroic journey of African-Americans through the decade is clumsily encompassed in one black man, a fellow ditch-digger on Doug’s day job, who talks of Martin Luther King and the other troubles he’s seen and Doug hasn’t.The young actors never experienced those woes, and those of the people they play. They spend most of their times semaphoring their emotions with cigarette flourishes worthy of Bette Davis and trying futilely to creep into their characters. For all the research they must have done, studying ’60s moods and mannerisms, they can’t persuasively inhabit the period; they only counterfeit it. The past, this particular past, is a foreign language they have learned phonetically.That leaves to the adult actors the job of bringing to life the characters they play. Gandolfini, Chase’s Tony Soprano, is utterly convincing, and not just because most of us lived with him and his family (and his Family) on 86 Sunday nights over eight-and-a-half years. An Italian-American store owner who sometimes badgers his son with sitcom-dad lines (“You ‘n me are gonna tangle, my friend”), Pat has come to realize that middle age is the time when dreams and illusions die. In a brief, wordless scene, he is alone, stringing lights on the family Christmas tree; one string shorts out, and his sigh suggests that this is the lives of grownups. When father and son finally convene at a dinner for two, Pat pours out his molten heart — and can barely command Doug’s attention. If only this dad could put his declarations in the form of a guitar solo…(READ: Jams Poniewozik on ) The next great plague is out there, probably in a chimpanzee or a chicken, waiting to make the leap to humans. In his new book, Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic, science writer David Quammen patrols the boundary between animal and human health, where microbial threats are emerging faster than ever TIME: Why are we so transfixed by the threat of emerging diseases? Quammen: Well, we know that previous big ones have been very big. There are so many humans on the planet now--7 billion of us--and we live interconnected with one another. If we're pressing ever more insistently... If Mitt Romney is to mount a robust comeback, he'll need a strong series of debate performances, starting Wednesday in Denver...He's spent a lot of time sparring in private with Ohio Senator Rob Portman, who has portrayed President Obama in debate practice sessions...A Romney revival would require many changes. Foremost, the candidate must improve his personal performance, both on the stump and in the debates; he needs to stop making errors, sharpen his message and deliver something more nourishing in TV interviews...Obama remains vulnerable on what he would do with a second term, but Romney hasn't filled in the details of his own plans...If Romney continues to claim his campaign is on track--or is not seen to be fighting for the job--his chances of victory will become even more remote...Increasing the number of campaign events per day would reach more voters and add a required sense of urgency. But Romney will also need some luck...Improving economic conditions and a rising confidence in Obama's ability to turn things around are compounding the Republican's problems...Romney's daily hopscotching from one message to another is baffling GOP pols...Meanwhile, large polling deficits in battleground states are leading many voters and Republican strategists to doubt that the challenger has any chance to win the race...Another headache for the GOP: weakness at the top of the ticket could mean the return of Nancy Pelosi to the House speakership, and Democrats could actually gain a seat or two in the Senate, with genuine prospects for victory in Massachusetts, Nevada, North Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, Indiana and Arizona. FIELD OPERATIONS Topical landscapers have combined two autumnal mainstays--the corn maze and the presidential election--to create a new rural attraction: waves of grain from Arkansas to Idaho (pictured above) sport the faces of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. "This year's such an important year that everybody go out and vote," says Teresa Summers Greenwood, who carved portraits into her 13-acre Maryland spread. "We're trying to remind everybody." It's certainly something to stalk about. MAZES WITH A MESSAGE [The following text appears within a map. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual map.] Meridian, Idaho New Carlisle, Ohio Winterset, Iowa Frederick, Md. Springdale, Ark. THE TALLY AUG. SEPT. 8 Number of days the U.S. Senate has convened since Aug. 3. A slightly harder-working House has met on 10 days in that time. Legislators broke for another recess on Sept. 21, making this the longest pre-election hiatus since 1960 URBAN AGRICULTURE Ready to taxi: Chicago's O'Hare airport plans to use goats, sheep or other grazing stock to consume heavy brush on part of the city's property The rise and fall of Edwin Wilson, a former CIA agent and businessman who died Sept. 10 at 84, has all the makings of a spy thriller. The "ice-man" of the CIA, a nickname TIME reported in 1981, Wilson made a mint setting up businesses as covers for the agency's dealings and was accused of arranging the killings of prosecutors, witnesses and his own wife. Convicted of shipping explosives to Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and scheming to murder federal prosecutors in 1983, Wilson went from a life in luxurious villas to solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison. Then in 2003, Wilson obtained... Facebook. Amazon. Apple. Not too long ago, these were the companies upending the status quo--unleashing provocative business models that changed our daily lives even as they transformed entire industries. (See: bookstores, record labels.) Now it's their turn to face the newbies. Buoyed by rocketing investor enthusiasm--venture-capital funding hit $28.4 billion in the U.S. last year, up 22% from 2010--the next class of start-ups aims to disrupt the disrupters. "Are we worried about iTunes? Of course," says Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, a much hyped app that offers streams of songs legally and free. "But our goal is to be the best...Looking for ways to motivate your employees?Consider some tips from a recent book on how to motivate software professionals. They might not work for everyone, but Mickey W. Mantle and Ron Lichty, authors of “Managing the Unmanageable: Rules, Tools, and Insights for Managing Software People and Teams,” clearly understand how to manage software professionals, who tend to be an inquisitive and high-minded lot.Emphasize big-picture ideas. People want to think they’re making a difference.Stay above board. Ethical management keeps employees feeling engaged.Educate yourself. Be sure you know what you’re talking about.Praise publicly. Reprimand privately.Convey interest. Get to know your employees as people.Don’t forget the magic words. Say “thank you” at least 10 times a week.Be a coach, not a manager. Help team members grow.Don’t sweat the small stuff. Focus on what employees contribute, not on how they do it.Adapted from at CIO Insight.Sunday marks the beginning of the ‘s 12th year in .It ain’t quite the , but 12 years is 20% of this particular Battleland correspondent’s life.Eleven years ago today – October 7, 2001 — also was a Sunday. I was at the , along with scores of colleagues, gathering whatever scraps of news we could. We’ve been doing it ever since.Four thousand and eighteen days. Two thousand and forty-four Americans , one every other day for 11 years straight. Historically, it’s not a lot, as wars go, unless it’s your son. About a dollars.Two months after the war began, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld me this campaign marked the return of American military might to the world stage:When I took this job I had a visit with the President shortly thereafter, and we talked about the situation that a lot of the people in the world had come to conclude that the United States was gun-shy. That we were risk-averse. And that there had been a series of things that had led people to believe that, and that the cumulative effect of it was to weaken the deterrent effect of the U.S. threat, if they do things that are harmful to our country’s interest, and that that was unhelpful to have that deterrent effect weakened, and that I wanted him to know and we discussed it and he and I concluded that whenever it occurred down the road that the United States was under some sort of a threat or attack, that the United States would be leaning forward, not back.Less than a year later, 9/11 happened. President Bush and his war council met at Camp David the next weekend. Rumsfeld continued:Tommy Franks, the general, the combatant commander, proposed a plan, it was discussed, it was agreed to, it was put in place, and it involved putting pressure on the Taliban and the al Qaeda and recognizing that some of what was going on would be visible, some would not be visible, and that we needed to be patient and that it would take some time, and that the world was expecting an explosion of cruise missiles on television and that they would have to have, that we would have to manage those expectations down. And we did do that. As people started worrying about the fact that we were on a track where the Soviets had been, or that some people in neighboring countries were characterizing it as being bogged down, and people in the press were characterizing it as a quagmire, the President was very firm and very stiff and said, `Look, we’ve got a plan, it’s a good plan, we’ve agreed to it, leave it in place,’ and General Franks encouraged him to do so, and that is exactly what happened.Two months later, in February 2002, I asked Franks, an Army four-star general, about the challenge of waging war in Afghanistan as we sat in his office at U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa., Fla. He responded with a recollection:On the day of [Afghan President Hamid] Karzai’s inauguration…one of the opposition group leaders, with whom we had worked earlier in the fight, walked up to me from across the room, hugged me and said, `Who do you want me to fight now?’ That’s instructive, because there’s a lot of that inside Afghanistan.Despite such concerns, the U.S. would soon decide that kicking the Taliban out of power for providing the sanctuary al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden needed to plot the 9/11 attacks wasn’t sufficient. Washington concluded that nation-building was the way to go, in a faraway land of tribes and warlords, as Franks acknowledged. Afghanistan had never had a strong central government — or even a nation, as most Americans understand the word.Rumsfeld and Franks have retired from running the war, where U.S. combat troops are slated to fight for another two years.Surprisingly, the anniversary appeared to pass without notice on the websites of the , , or the U.S.-led running the war in Afghanistan.The lone U.S. government-funded acknowledgement seemed to crop up in a Voice of America news on the anniversary, which concluded:Coalition troops have begun pulling out of Afghanistan. All foreign combat troops are scheduled to be gone by the end of 2014. The U.S. and NATO say Afghan forces will be capable of taking over the fight against the Taliban after 2014. However, many analysts predict a bloody new multi-factional civil war.The Taliban also took :With the help of Allah, the valiant Afghans under the Jihadi leadership of Islamic Emirate defeated the military might and numerous strategies of America and NATO alliance. And now after eleven years of unceasing terror, tyranny, crimes and savagery, they are fleeing Afghanistan with such humiliation and disgrace that they are struggling to provide an explanation.That may be a stretch. But you know what they say about who writes history. Check back in 11 years. When Eric Hobsbawm died on Oct. 1 at 95, he was eulogized even by his ideological foes as the greatest historian of his time. Though the Cambridge-educated Briton was an unrepentant Communist who refused to quit the party even after the horrors of Stalin became clear, his work showed little trace of dogma. As a historian, he was interested less in the actions of great men than in the lives of ordinary people. Their struggles are at the heart of his most famous work, the best-selling four-volume Ages series chronicling the period from the French Revolution to 1991. Hobsbawm's histories, always...French special forces shot and killed suspect Islamist extremist Oct. 6 in an exchange of gunfire during in the eastern city of Strasbourg. The action was as part of a daybreak series of sweeps targeting alleged Salafist radicals, and followed an investigation into the of a Kosher grocery store in a suburb that occurred amid international outrage among Muslim fundamentalists to a mocking film and French caricatures they called blasphemous to Islam.But the police action also came amid continuing debate about and other irregularities that may have allowed self-proclaimed Toulouse jihadi Mohammed Merah to execute his March, 2012 that left seven people dead. Though French counter-terrorism officials have recently told TIME they’ve seen no signs of imminent terror planning by extremists since Merah’s death, Saturday’s multiple sweeps may be indication that security forces and political leaders are learning the lessons of the Merah case by moving early and emphatically against any suspected radical considered even a potential threat. Though details of Saturday’s sweeps were still sketchy ahead of a press conference planned by justice authorities later in the day, the fatal Strasbourg raid is known to have been part of a coordinated series of moves on suspected extremists. Those raids occurred in Nice, , and locations around Paris, resulting in the arrest of 10 people. It now seems clear officials were justified viewing some suspects as security threats. During the raid of a , the suspect unloaded his .375 Magnum revolver on advancing police forces before being killed in return fire. Three police officers were slightly injured in the exchange, including one who took direct hits to anti-ballistic gear protecting his head and chest. In a coinciding operation near Paris, a suspect that in some reports termed “dangerous” was taken without violence, but found in possession of at least one gun.The raids came as French counter-terror authorities continue their investigation into the of a kosher shop serving the large Jewish population in Sarcelles, a disadvantaged and ethnically diverse suburb north of Paris. One person was slightly injured in that strike when an explosive device was thrown inside the store. That attack came amid the surge of anger and violence among Islamist militants around the globe in reaction to a California-made film denigrating the Prophet Muhammad and French print media caricatures mocking Islam—a wave of fury that now appears to be subsiding.Despite those apparently calming tempers France’s leftist government is signaling that it will tolerate no defiance or challenge from Islamist militants—even if that comes in response to provocation. France’s Socialist Interior Minister Manuel Valls banned demonstrations by groups denouncing the film and caricatures that they consider blasphemous to Islam. Furthermore, on Sept. 27 Valls —in Strasbourg, as it happened—to put militant Salafists and fellow traveling fundamentalists on notice that he’d brook now challenge to French laws or secular traditions.“I will not accept behavior by Salafists or any other group that defies the Republic,” Valls warned during Strasbourg mosque inauguration. “The Republic will be intransigent with anyone who seeks to challenge it.”That hard line is in part an effort by French Socialists who took control of government in elections last May and June to disprove accusations from ousted conservatives that the left is soft on crime and security. It’s also a reflection of the reputation Valls earned as mayor of a disadvantaged and troubled Paris suburb for being tough on law-and-order issues–a stand so rigid that some disapproving leftists accuse him of being a conservative in all but name. But the intransigence with suspected Islamist extremists and sympathizing enablers also marks a move by Socialist President François Hollande to learn from in the Merah case to prevent future terror activity.French intelligence services continue facing accusations they repeatedly overlooked evidence Merah was a dedicated jihadi determined to carry a strike in France. In that process, detractors say, intelligence officials not only passed up opportunities to unmask and arrest Merah before he went into action, but were then slow to consider him as a suspect once he had. On at least one occasion, those services also ignored–inadvertently, it seems–information provided by other security forces about Merah’s radical associations and potential as a threat.Those allegations also carry a degree of political accusation. French security officials tell TIME France’s domestic intelligence service was given its dominating role in France’s anti-terror effort–often to the expense or exclusion of the nation’s other specialized units–by former conservative President . Shortly after his election in 2007, Sarkozy not only combined several parallel and at times competing intelligence units into the bigger, far more powerful outfit it is now–but also tapped some of his most trusted allies to run it.Since Hollande’s victory, the security officials say, moves have been made to bring the full range of specialized intelligence, investigative, judicial, and police services back into what has been France’s unique and centralized anti-terror model since the 1990s. As a result, that broader perspective and diverse experience may be coming up with different analyses and strategies of how to best fight the terror threat–including views about moving on people some units identify as even potential dangers earlier in the game. If so, Saturday’s raid may be both a reflection of that change–and an indication no one in France’s security or political system is willing to brave future accusations of having of being slow on the uptake or tardy to act again.MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Soaring high above the ocean, tethered to a boat, a parasail ride is at once exhilarating and peaceful, even quiet. But every year, there are accidents.The Parasail Safety Council, which tracks injuries and deaths nationwide, reports more than 70 people have been killed and at least 1,600 injured between 1982 and 2012, out of an estimated 150 million parasail rides during those 30 years.That’s a casualty rate of about one per 90,000 rides. In comparison, the chance of being seriously injured at an amusement park is about one in 9 million rides, according 2010 data from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.Despite parasailing’s inherent risk, few federal or state safety regulations exist for it. In , which has by far the largest number of parasail operators at about 120, repeated efforts to enact new rules following fatal accidents have gone nowhere. Florida is seen by safety proponents as a national bellwether because of parasailing’s popularity in a state highly dependent on tourist dollars.The lack of safety regulations frustrates Shannon Kraus, mother of two girls who crashed into a Pompano Beach hotel roof in 2007 when their parasail line snapped during a storm. One of the girls, 15-year-old Amber May White, later died of her injuries, while her sister Crystal, then 16, has had a long road to recovery from head injuries.“Nobody has listened to me from day No. 1,” Kraus said. “I’ve just been shoved aside. I’ve kind of been ignored and I’m pretty angry about that.”Crystal White, now a mother of two herself and a massage therapist, said most people who sign up to parasail have little idea it’s less regulated than the average carnival ride.“They just need to know that if they go up, and something bad happens, there’s nothing they can do about it, because there are no laws, or rules, or regulations,” she said.Indeed, five years after the girls’ accident just off the same beach, a Connecticut woman died when her harness gave way and she fell about 150 feet into the ocean. The Aug. 15 death of 28-year-old Kathleen Miskell has prompted the first National Transportation Safety Board investigation into a parasailing fatality. Safety advocates hope Florida lawmakers will give the issue a fresh look.Mark McCulloh, who runs the Parasail Safety Council, said in the U.S. and its territories about 620 vessels offer parasail rides to about 4 million people a year. He said only and have relatively comprehensive regulations, while the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Coast Guard oversee some limited aspects of the activity.In Florida, state Sen. Gwen Margolis, a Democrat, said the proposed regulations would include inspections of parasailing equipment, new rules restricting rides during certain weather conditions and prohibitions against parasailing near fixed objects such as power lines. The proposal would also require operators to buy insurance.Margolis said past efforts have run into opposition by parasail operators and a general anti-regulation attitude among many lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature.“When you get onto anything that’s recreational, you assume that somebody’s inspected it and everything’s OK. And you can’t assume that,” she said.Most parasail operators, however, are willing to submit to safety regulations as long as they are sensible, said Dan Breitenstein, who runs Miami Beach Parasail.“If you have someone who has never been on a parasail boat or doesn’t know the workings of it, if they’re making up rules that would have little effect on what we do” it wouldn’t make sense, Breitenstein said. “There’s definitely things we can do.”People who sign up for Miami Beach Parasail generally pay about $75 for a 15-minute ride that can take them as high as 350 feet in the air. They sit in swing-like harnesses attached to a tow bar, which is connected by ropes to the kite-like parasail above and a winch in the boat below.As the 33-foot “High Anxiety” boat moves across the water, the parasail passengers are slowly lifted into the air and the line is let out. After the ride, the boat is slowed gradually as the line is brought in so parasailors land back on the boat on their feet.It all seems fairly safe, and you can’t beat the view, which on one recent day featured an umbrella-dotted South Beach and, beyond, its famed Art Deco hotel and entertainment district, with the greenish-blue Atlantic Ocean below.The lack of regulation, however, means no one is looking over the operator’s shoulder to make sure ropes damaged by sun and salt water are replaced. There are also little or no rules regarding age limits or experience for “spotters” who observe the riders.And there’s nothing beyond common sense to prevent an operator for taking people up windy weather, which many people say is the one variable that can most often lead to an accident.Breitenstein, who has radars on his boats, said he maintains a five-mile buffer from any nearby bad weather. But he said in Florida, storms can develop quickly offshore — and sometimes operators might be tempted to take a little risk to make more money.“Weather is our biggest, toughest thing,” he said. “Taking chances, that’s a bad habit to get into.”By Curt Anderson() — A preliminary investigation has found friendly fire likely was to blame in a shooting that killed one federal agent and wounded another along the Arizona- border, the said Friday, shaking up the probe into an incident that reignited the political debate over border security.“There are strong preliminary indications that the death of United States Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J. Ivie and the injury to a second agent was the result of an accidental shooting incident involving only the agents,” FBI Special Agent in Charge James L. Turgal Jr. said in a statement.Turgal didn’t elaborate on the agency’s conclusions but said the FBI is using “all necessary investigative, forensic and analytical resources” as it investigates the Tuesday shooting about five miles north of the border near Bisbee.(MORE: )Ivie was killed after he and two other agents responded to an alarm triggered by a sensor aimed at detecting smugglers and others entering the U.S. illegally.One of the other agents was shot in the ankle and buttocks, but was released from the hospital after surgery. The third agent was uninjured.The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, which is assisting the FBI in the probe, said federal investigators used ballistic testing to determine the shootings likely were the result of so-called friendly fire among the agents.Jeffrey D. Self, commander of Customs and Border Protection’s Joint Field Command-Arizona, said investigators were making progress and noted the initial findings that the shootings appeared to be accidental didn’t diminish the fact that Ivie “gave the ultimate sacrifice and died serving his country.”“The fact is, the work of the Border Patrol is dangerous,” Self said during a news conference Friday in Tucson.(PHOTOS: )While federal authorities declined to offer details of the shooting, George McCubbin, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said the three agents split up as they investigated the sensor alarm, noting they all fired their weapons.“Coming in from different angles, that is more than likely how it ended up happening,” McCubbin told The Arizona Republic of the shootings.A Mexican law enforcement official said Thursday that federal police had arrested two men who may have been connected to the shootings. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information, said it was unclear if there was strong evidence linking the men to the case.Mexican authorities on Friday didn’t immediately respond to telephone messages from The Associated Press.After a meeting of border governors Friday in Albuquerque, N.M., Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer stood by the criticism she leveled earlier this week in response to the shootings in which she said a political stalemate and the federal government’s failures have left the border unsecured and Border Patrol agents in harm’s way.(MORE: )“It’s the federal government’s responsibility to secure our border, and they need to do that, and then we can deal with all the other issues that have come about because our border hasn’t been secured,” said Brewer, who plans to attend Ivie’s funeral Monday in Sierra Vista.The Border Patrol couldn’t immediately comment on the frequency of friendly fire shootings involving its agents. But such incidents appeared to be extremely rare, if they’ve ever occurred at all.“I know of absolutely none in the past, and my past goes back to 1968,” said Kent Lundgren, chairman of the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers, citing the year he joined the agency. “I’m not saying it never happened. I’m just saying I’ve never heard of it.”Also Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano traveled to Arizona to express her condolences to Ivie’s family and meet with authorities. The family did not return calls from The Associated Press on Friday.Ivie’s death marked the first fatal shooting of an agent since a deadly 2010 firefight with Mexican bandits that killed U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010 and spawned congressional probes of a botched government gun-smuggling investigation.Terry’s shooting was later linked to that “Fast and Furious” operation, which allowed people suspected of illegally buying guns for others to walk away from gun shops with weapons, rather than be arrested.Authorities intended to track the guns into Mexico. Two rifles found at the scene of Terry’s shooting were bought by a member of the gun-smuggling ring being investigated. Critics of the operation say any shooting along the border now will raise the specter that those illegal weapons are still being used.Twenty-six Border Patrol agents have died in the line of duty since 2002.By JACQUES BILLEAUD and PETE YOSTIt’s October, which means it’s race season. Many runners are amping up their for big runs this fall, including the New York City marathon in early November and various half-marathons leading up to it.Loyal Healthland readers know that we’ve been following , who have been training all summer to run half-marathons this month. Our first contender is Liz Grover on TIME’s Imaging Desk, who is running her first half-marathon on Sunday, Oct. 7, in Staten Island, N.Y. “My ultimate goal isn’t to kill myself running this half-marathon, but finish knowing I can run another,” she says.That’s the right attitude, and there are some key final-week training techniques that can help runners like Grover cross the finish line in their fastest time — but safely. For advice, we enlisted Robert Forster, founder and CEO of Phase IV and Forster Physical Therapy, who works with professional American athletes and several Olympic medalists, including London 2012 gold medalist sprinter Allyson Felix.(MORE: )Forster met with Grover and immediately recommended that she practice tweaking her step count (see below), even during her final training week. “Running correctly will prevent injuries and improve your run overall,” he advised. Perfecting form is vital, and so are these five other tips from Forster for runners on their last leg of race training:1. Taper your training workload. If you’ve been training successfully so far, Forster says it’s better to be fully recovered than to sneak in hard workouts at the very end. You’re last long run — which is about 10 miles for a half marathon and more than 15 for a full marathon — should be done three weeks before a full marathon and 10 days before shorter races. This allows your body to recover fully and reap the fitness gains from the long-run training.About three weeks from race day, Forster recommends reducing mileage by 25%, then cutting back to 50% the following week, and then running 25% of your usual mileage in the final week. Your last few weeks of training should have shorter workouts with more “speed play,” like increasing your pace for a mile at a time during runs. “Be sure to be well rested for race day,” says Forster. “There’s no fitness value to be derived from hard training the last five days before your run. There’s just not enough time for recovery.”(MORE: )2. Work on running mechanics. “It’s never too late to improve mechanics and your economy of motion,” says Forster. In your last weeks of training, focus on these three form cues:(MORE: )3. Develop your nutritional plan: As you complete your last few longer runs, play around with meals to figure out which foods you tolerate best. This way, you can plan your ideal dinner and pre-event meal. “If solid foods don’t sit well with you, investigate the best shake or meal replacement drink you can tolerate without GI distress, like bloating, gas and cramps,” says Forster. And, remember, have your pre-race meal 90 minutes before the start of the event so you have adequate time for digestion.4. Replace your shoes, if they’re in rough shape: Replace your running shoes if they’re broken down. Examine the wear patterns on your old shoes and twist each shoe from toe to heel. Bend each shoe at the forefoot to compare the rigidity against a new pair of the same model shoe. You will be able to tell if your shoes have lost their support function. Before using your new pair on long runs, Forster recommends breaking them in by wearing them for a few hours each day for two or three days and during short runs.(MORE: )5. Practice starting slow: On race day, you want to avoid getting too caught up in the excitement and running too fast in the beginning. Practice starting at a pace at least 30 seconds slower than your overall race pace goal. “If you feel good after the first few miles or at one third of the race, pick up the pace and try to hold it with good form,” says Forster. “Your race mantra should be: arm swing, knee rise and quicker steps. When you feel fatigued, swing your arms harder and they will bring you home.” Since the day he started at the National Football League as an office intern, no one has been more zealous about "protecting the shield" than Roger Goodell. The shield is marketing jargon for the NFL logo. On his way up the NFL ranks, Goodell worked relentlessly to make it a symbol of integrity, appointment television and sporting success. That's why, upon being named league commissioner in 2006, he took a hard line against player misconduct. That's also why, with science revealing that the NFL's relative ambivalence toward concussions was at best misguided and at worst negligent--as the more than 2,000 ex-players... I expect people to see the good in me even when there isn't any. So when I volunteered to become a founding parent of a charter school in Los Angeles, I imagined getting a lot of kudos for my effort to improve my community, which I planned to do mostly by naming things or making speeches. I didn't really know what a founding parent did. But I did know that being one meant my 3-year-old son Laszlo would get priority when we enroll him in kindergarten--my real motivation. Sending Laszlo to public school is important to me because private school is...Mars Incorporated has proclaimed that “Chocolate is better in color” with its M&Ms. But French beekeepers may beg to differ on that.Since August, beekeepers near the town of Ribeauville, in the northeastern region of Alsace, have been reporting their bees are producing blue and green honey, according to . And they’ve traced the cause back to a biogas plant that processes waste from an M&Ms factory.(PHOTOS: )Bees are apparently picking up vibrantly colored, sugary waste from the plant, operated by the company Agrivalor some 2.5 miles away from their apiaries. A statement from Agrivalor that appeared in the French newspaper said the company would clean its containers and store waste in airtight containers to prevent bees from reaching it.“We quickly put in place a procedure to stop it,” Philippe Meinrad, co-manager of Agrivalor, told Reuters.France generates 18,330 tons of honey per year, making it one of the largest honey producers in the European Union. In Alsace alone, about 2,400 beekeepers manage 35,000 colonies, which produce about 1,000 tons of the stuff per year. However, France hasn’t been spared by the largely unexplained decrease in the world bee population in recent years, Reuters reported.Gill Maclean, a spokesperson for the British Beekeepers’ Association, told the that the harsh winter of 2011-2012 may have affected bees’ ability to forage. This could be a reason why the bees sought out the alternate sugar.“Bees are clever enough to know where the best sources of sugar are, if there are no others available,” Maclean told the BBC.Rest assured: Consumers won’t see blue honey on store shelves anytime soon. Alain Frieh, president of the apiculturists’ union, told Reuters the only similarity between regular honey and their bees’ M&M-tainted byproducts might be taste.“For me, it’s not honey,” Frieh told Reuters. “It’s not sellable.”WATCH: 5:55 am ET: “Campaign Gains a New Intensity in Debate’s Wake”: “Mitt Romney Must Prove That Debate Performance Was the Real Him”: “Romney Presses Edge After Obama Stumble”: “Romney’s Medicare Plan Raises Cost Questions”: “Inside the Campaign: Reinventing Romney”: “Dems Hope Biden Can Blunt Romney Momentum Post-Debate”(MOBILE, Ala.) — Classmates and friends are questioning why a police officer fatally shot a University of South Alabama freshman who was naked and had been banging on a window at police headquarters.Campus officials didn’t give any indication that Gil Collar, 18, of Wetumpka had a weapon when he was shot. A university spokesman said he was fatally wounded about 1:30 a.m. Saturday after an officer heard a bang on a window and went outside to investigate.A statement issued by university spokesman Keith Ayers said Collar, who wrestled at Wetumpka High School before enrolling at South Alabama, assumed a “fighting stance” and chased an officer before being shot. The officer tried to retreat numerous times to defuse the situation before opening fire, the school said.(PHOTOS: )But sophomore Tyler Kendrick said campus authorities haven’t provided any satisfying answers about why Collar was killed.“Really, it just upsets me that there’s no other way to apprehend an unarmed student rather than shooting him. I don’t understand that,” Kendrick said.Student Joshua Frye said it seemed the officer could have used something other than a firearm to stop Collar.“What I feel is that a cop has more than a gun,” he said.The officer was placed on paid leave, and an autopsy will determine if drugs or alcohol were involved.Campus officials said the confrontation was recorded by security cameras. The video and other information has been turned over to the district attorney and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, which will review the shooting.(MORE: )Colgan Meanor went to high school with Collar and then enrolled at the same college.“He was a great, loving guy who always made people smile,” she said. “He’s not the kind of guy that people knew him and said he would do something like this.”Collar was the second person killed on the South Alabama campus since last year.A university freshman was charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of another teenager who was slain in an on-campus apartment in July 2011. The victim was a visitor to campus and was not enrolled, authorities said.Ayers said South Alabama, located near downtown Mobile, was still “a very safe campus,” despite Collar’s death.In September, Amy Huynh, a recent high school graduate who was accepted to Colby College in Maine, visited some of her childhood friends during move-in weekend at UCLA. They’re newly minted freshmen, ready to embark on an exciting college career. But Huynh is beginning a different adventure: instead of attending Colby, she’s mentoring middle schoolers in southern Los Angeles for a year.“A lot of people did not agree with what I was doing,” Huynh says of her decision to defer college enrollment. “College is getting so expensive now, so I said, Why not? College isn’t going anywhere.”Huynh is a corps member in City Year, a service organization that places young people between the ages of 17 and 24 in urban schools to work with teachers and mentor students. She’s also one of the thousands of members of the high school class of 2012 who chose to take a break from school — a so-called gap year — instead of immediately enrolling in college.(MORE: )About 1.2% of first-time college freshmen choose to defer enrollment for a year, according to the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. What these students choose to do with their time varies widely, from expensive study-abroad programs to volunteer programs like City Year to staying at home and saving up for college.“In 1980 no one was talking gap year,” says Holly Bull, president of the Center for Interim Programs, a company that offers parents and students consulting in choosing the appropriate gap-year program. “I’ve watched this whole concept go basically from its inception to present day. I wouldn’t call it mainstream, but there’s way more awareness and support and colleges are now beginning to endorse it as a really positive thing.”With over 20 years of experience researching gap years, Bull has seen students work everywhere from outdoor-education centers to Scottish castles to elephant sanctuaries. She says the students that go to her are often looking for a break from the academic grind. The gap year can provide young people with an opportunity to learn what type of adult they want to be. It can also help them gain more focus so they don’t have to spend extra years — and tuition dollars — figuring out the answer to that question on a college campus. “I’m definitely hearing from families that it’s harder to consider these colleges’ tuitions with a student who seems so uncertain,” she says.(MORE: )For Huynh, the decision was about both personal development and economics. While some gap-year programs can cost tens of thousands of dollars, City Year is free and provides a living stipend. She’ll get a $5,000 scholarship for participating in City Year that she can apply to her Colby expenses. She also plans to write the school and ask them to join the , through which schools provide scholarships to City Year corps members. “That would be awesome,” Huynh says.Melanie Brennand Mueller, vice president of City Year’s recruitment and admissions, says about 10% of corps members are high school graduates taking gap years, and they hope to recruit more in the future. “They’re idealistic, they’re highly talented and they’re excited to do something meaningful before college,” she says. Other volunteer programs, like the and , also offer students a way to experience different parts of the U.S. or the world on the cheap.Bob Clagett, a former director of admissions at Middlebury College, says taking a gap year can help students gain a renewed focus on academics. “By stepping off the treadmill, they frequently remind themselves of what their education is all about,” he says. “They kind of reinvent themselves.”He’s done research to back up the claim. At Middlebury, students who took gap years were found to have higher GPAs than those who didn’t, even when controlling for things like wealth and high school achievement. A study at the University of North Carolina yielded similar results.Huynh, for one, thinks the experience will help her when she finally arrives on campus. She wakes up at 6 a.m. each day to deal with rambunctious preteens — and at times during the school day is the only adult in the classroom. “I’ve personally become more driven,” she says. “Being in a high-stress environment especially, I think that it forces people to grow up really fast.”(MORE: )Selective schools typically allow accepted students to defer their enrollment for a year or two, so it makes sense for high schoolers to explore college and gap-year opportunities concurrently. Some schools are now even offering formalized versions of gap-year programs. Princeton’s , for instance, allows selected students to participate in a nine-month community-service program abroad. Other schools are partnering with service organizations like City Year and offering scholarships to students who participate.Some students also use the gap year as a way to bolster their résumé, reapplying to colleges with some post-high-school experience under their belt. “It’s not a guarantee in terms of getting into college, but it has certainly helped a number of schools in the past,” Bull says. She mentioned one student who was initially waitlisted from Brown University but then was accepted during her gap-year teaching in Costa Rica and Argentina.The idea that formal education has to be a sprint from age 5 to 21 seems to be changing. Says Clagett: “Getting a job for a year, even if it’s flipping hamburgers, still can be a productive experience and can help students just do something other than think about what they have to do to get into college.”SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google and major book publishers have settled a lengthy legal battle over digital copyrights, but a bigger dispute still looms with thousands of authors who allege that Google is illegally profiting from their works.The truce announced Thursday ends a federal lawsuit filed in 2005 by several members of the Association of American Publishers after Google Inc. began stockpiling its Internet search index with digital duplicates of books scanned from libraries.Google has maintained that its scanning is covered by fair-use provisions of copyright law, although it offered to remove specific books from its index upon request. It also showed only snippets of the copyrighted books unless permission was given to show more.Publishers and authors, however, insisted that Google needed explicit permission from them before making the digital copies, let alone showing even snippets of text from the books on Google’s website.Google worked out a $125 million settlement with publishers and authors in 2008, only to have a federal judge in New York reject it after the U.S. Justice Department and other critics contended that it would thwart competition in the rapidly growing digital book market and flout U.S. copyright law.One of the reasons that settlement unraveled was because it would have given Google broad authority to copy books, unless an author or publisher notified the company not to make the duplicate.Terms of the new settlement weren’t divulged, but it won’t require court approval because its reach will be limited to the parties signing on.The scaled-down agreement with publishers is likely to make more copyright-protected books available online. Most of those will be sold through Google Play, a digital store. Publishers will have the right to release digital copies of their books in Google Play or remove them from Google’s search index entirely.That’s not a major change in how Google has been handling matters with the lawsuits pending, but publishers now feel comfortable enough with the system to set up an official framework, Tom Allen, president of the publishers’ group, said in an interview.Google, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., will also provide publishers with a digital copy of a scanned book upon request.The settlement “shows that digital services can provide innovative means to discover content while still respecting the rights of copyright holders,” Allen said in a statement.Both Google and the publishers may have been more motivated to figure out a way to work together with so many more people reading books on digital devices than just a few years ago. Google has been playing a more important role in that transition since it started selling a tablet computer, the Nexus 7, in July. The tablet is set up to download books and other digital content from Google Play.Although the sparring over Google’s effort to create the world’s largest digital library appears to be over on one front, a lawsuit filed by the Authors Guild remains in the way of Google’s ambitious plans to digitize more than 130 million of books sitting on library shelves around the world.The authors’ suit, which came before the publishers’ complaint, raises thornier issues and threatens Google with a huge bill. The authors are seeking $750 in damages for every copyrighted book that Google has scanned over the past eight years.Despite the lawsuits, Google has made digital copies of more than 20 million books so far. The copyrights on many of those books have already expired, making them fair game and not part of any infringement damages that might be awarded. Even if just one-quarter of the books scanned so far by Google are protected by copyrights, the company would be liable for nearly $4 billion if a court sides with the authors.“The publishers’ private settlement, whatever its terms, does not resolve the authors’ copyright infringement claims against Google,” the Authors Guild said in a statement Thursday. “Google continues to profit from its use of millions of copyright-protected books without regard to authors’ rights, and our class-action lawsuit on behalf of U.S. authors continues.”In an interview, Authors Guild lawyer Michael Boni said the publishers agreement made him “cautiously optimistic” that a settlement of his case could be reached before it goes to trial.But he also stressed the authors’ issues are much different than the publishers’ concerns. “We’re really on a separate motor at this point,” Boni said.Google, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., declined to comment Thursday on the legal dispute with the authors.In May, U.S. District Judge Denny Chin in New York granted the authors’ lawsuit class certification, meaning the case would cover all authors, even if they are too small to hire their own lawyers to sue Google. Chin also rejected Google’s attempt to get the case thrown out.The authors’ suit is in a holding pattern until an appeals court rules on Google’s attempt to strip the authors of their status as a united class.One of the biggest sticking points in the authors’ case revolves around the rights to millions of out-of-print books that are still protected by copyright but whose writers’ whereabouts are unknown.The prospect that Google could gain a digital monopoly on these so-called “orphan works” was one of the main reasons that the Justice Department and other objectors urged Chin to scotch the earlier $125 million settlement with publishers and authors. Chin rejected the agreement in 2010.Google’s stock rose $5.55 to close Thursday at $768.05.The publishers who brought the lawsuit were The McGraw-Hill Cos.; Pearson PLC’s Penguin Group and Pearson Education; John Wiley & Sons Inc. and CBS Corp.’s Simon & Schuster.BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE AND LARRY NEUMEISTERNeumeister reported from New York. Liedtke is an AP Technology Writer.DETROIT — U.S. safety regulators are investigating older Honda Odyssey Minivans and Pilot SUVs because they can roll away after drivers have removed the ignition key.The probe affects more than 577,000 vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years with automatic transmissions.A mechanism that locks the key in the ignition until the vehicles are shifted into park can fail. Complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say drivers can remove the key without shifting into park. That could cause vehicles to roll off unexpectedly.Owners have filed 43 complaints that include 16 crashes. Two people said they were hurt while trying to stop rolling vehicles. One suffered a broken leg, while another injured a knee.Investigators will decide if the problem is widespread enough to warrant a recall.Japanese researchers have produced mouse eggs from that bred healthy offspring, a breakthrough that may one day help treat human infertility.Researcher Mitinori Saitou and his team from Kyoto University in used two different types of stem cells during their research: embryonic stem cells — a controversial technique since scientists must destroy embryos to cultivate them — and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which are adult cells, such as skin cells, that are reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state. Producing healthy eggs from iPS cells is potentially even more exciting than using embryonic stem cells, since iPS cells sidestep the ethical issues that plague those derived from embryos and because the resulting eggs would contain the same DNA as their donors.Stem cell experts greeted the work with praise. “They’ve gotten to what was our Holy Grail, which is making eggs,” George Daley, a leading stem-cell scientist at , . “It’s like cellular alchemy. I mean, they can turn lead into gold here. They can turn skin cells or blood cells into eggs.”(MORE: )In previous efforts, scientists — — have been able to create sperm and egg cells in the lab, but they weren’t able to produce healthy offspring from those cells. In the current study, in the journal Science, the researchers first added growth factors and proteins to the stem cells to turn them into primordial germ cells. These cells were then combined with somatic cells from mouse ovaries to make “reconstituted ovaries,” which they transplanted into the mice. Four weeks later, the scientists removed them again, isolated immature egg cells from the ovaries and allowed them to mature in a dish. The mature eggs were fertilized with mouse sperm in a test tube and the resulting embryos were transferred into female mice, leading to the birth of healthy, fertile pups that went on to reproduce themselves.It’s not at all clear whether the procedure would work similarly in humans, but the researchers if it does, it could revolutionize treatment for infertile couples and for older women who want children. “Now is the time for society to think about this,” Amander Clark, a stem cell scientist at UCLA, the Los Angeles Times. “If we want to use stem cells to treat women who are older, we have to decide what the parameters are. Should this be available for women who are 40 to 50 years old? How about 50 and above? These shouldn’t be questions for scientists to decide alone.”Indeed, such an advance would lead to a thicket of ethical questions: would you allow the use of tissues from a dead person to create new life, for example?(MORE: )The researchers said the lab-created egg cells led to healthy pups less frequently than did natural mouse eggs, which were also fertilized and transferred to female mice in a control group. Mice impregnated with embryos created via in-vitro fertilization with natural eggs produced healthy offspring 13% of the time, compared with 3.9% for eggs created from embryonic stem cells and 1.8% for eggs made using iPS cells.Nevertheless, the advance sheds light on how precursor cells eventually develop into sperm or egg cells, a scientific understanding that could in itself aid infertility treatments. That’s encouraging for the many women who struggle with fertility: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10% of America women have problems getting pregnant or staying pregnant. Daniel Kiviat is a courteous and fastidious gentleman who designs clothing for the so-called forgotten woman. His specialty is comfortable garments, immune to the tastes of the day, that in his words "cover you everywhere you want to be covered." They're exactly the kind of ensembles one might expect to find on a home-shopping network. That was why Kiviat was one of the first people fired when Mindy Grossman took over HSN. Grossman, now 55, became CEO of the TV station cum mall in 2006. She was the eighth boss in 10 years and--despite the fact that the home-shopping customer base...As in the international edition of TIME, and as Girish Gupta last week on TIME.com, Venezuela’s burgeoning violent crime will be a key factor in the Oct. 7 presidential election. The baffling inability of socialist President Hugo Chávez, who controls the world’s largest oil reserves, to rein in a murder rate that by some estimates is four times higher than when he took office 13 years ago, including some 50 homicides a week in Caracas, has rankled Venezuelan voters. Chávez wasn’t helped last Sunday when two supporters of his centrist challenger, Miranda state Governor Henrique Capriles Radonski, were shot and killed in Chávez’s home state of Barinas, allegedly by Chávez backers who were blocking a Capriles campaign caravan.A third victim, also a Capriles supporter, is in critical condition. Chávez urged Venezuelans to “confront each other with votes, not violence,” but he just as quickly took the polarizing low road and blamed his “bourgeois” opponents for the deadly confrontation. The Capriles camp was angered again on Wednesday when a judge in Barinas, where Chávez’s elder brother Adán is Governor, inexplicably released two of the shooting suspects.Chávez, who is battling cancer, is certainly favored to win re-election this Sunday. But the Barinas episode is a reminder of why he’s no longer considered an overwhelming shoo-in – and why a Capriles victory is no longer unthinkable. More and more, Chávez’s left-wing revolution is marked by the kind of dogmatic denial and bullying bluster that has left Venezuelans like Luz Marina Morón, a nurse I recently interviewed in the poor Caracas barrio of Catia—a cradle of el presidente’s political support—feeling “harta,” as she told me, or fed up. Doctors at the hospital in Catia say 80% of trauma cases are gunshot wounds; Morón’s son was gunned down a few years ago in Catia by a street tough who wanted his tennis shoes. To her, the homicide plague spotlights the paradox of Chávez’s long rule: How his welcome anti-poverty mission has been undermined by his mismanaged socialist mission—how crises like crime, inflation and corruption have become as much a part of the revolution’s landscape as new health clinics and defiance of the U.S.(MORE: )But whether Chávez wins or loses, his revolution’s decline is a reflection of a larger malaise among the Latin American left after a decade of robust resurgence. Chávez’s two Achilles heels going into Sunday’s vote are crime and inflation, which at 28% last year was the world’s highest. In Argentina, meanwhile, demonstrators have been taking to the streets en masse in recent weeks, banging pots and pans, to protest leftist President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner—and their two biggest complaints are crime and inflation. Argentina, according to the Organization of American States, has the highest armed robbery rate in the western hemisphere; and inflation, pegged at close to 25% by independent analysts, has prompted Fernández to impose tight currency controls that have all but barred Argentines from buying dollars.Like Chávez, Fernández has amassed a surfeit of authoritarian power that often blinds her to flaws in her populist crusade. But with economic growth projected to be negligible this year, government deficits ballooning and her Vice President embroiled in a major corruption scandal, Fernández’s approval rating has free-fallen from 64% last autumn, when she won re-election by a landslide and economic growth was running at 8.9%, to 24% now, according to the Argentine polling firm Management & Fit. Moody’s Investment Service downgraded Argentina’s risk rating last month, while Fernández railed at the International Monetary Fund for demanding more reliable economic data from her government. The Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, sets inflation at a highly questionable 10% or less—and actually fines anyone who publishes contrarian figures.The IMF is certainly no saintly institution; critics say its fiscal rigidity helped bring on the epic financial collapse Argentina suffered a decade ago, which Fernández and her late husband and presidential predecessor, Néstor Kirchner, are credited for fixing. But Fernández didn’t find much global sympathy last month when IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde warned that she would issue no more “yellow cards,” as she said in soccer-ese, and that Argentina must produce accurate data by Dec. 17 or face the unprecedented red card of IMF censure if not expulsion.Fernández rejected Lagarde’s notice as an affront to Argentina’s sovereignty. But many Argentines seem weary of her Cristina-against-the-world act, which hit a crescendo this year when she peremptorily expropriated Spanish petro-giant Repsol’s $10 billion controlling stake in Argentina’s largest oil company, YPF. As a result, they seem far less enthusiastic about her not-so-veiled bid to change the Constitution so she can run for a third four-year term in 2015.(MORE: )In Ecuador, President is also favored to win re-election on Feb. 17. But he may not have the resounding support of el pueblo that he assumed. Between corruption allegations—there is growing clamor inside Ecuador’s Congress to investigate hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable no-bid government contracts handed out by Correa’s government, including big ones to his brother—and Correa’s own authoritarian bent, most evidenced by his crackdown on media and free speech, Correa (who also WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange asylum this year) may face strong enough opposition to force a second-round runoff. One of his main challengers, centrist congressional deputy César Montúfar, just had his candidacy suddenly disqualified by Ecuador’s Correa-friendly election council for lack of petition signatures, even though his bid was already certified in July.Oil wealth-generated corruption—a pestilence that Chávez came to power decrying—is a key issue for Venezuelan voters, too. But as with crime and inflation, Chávez barely mentions it, insisting only that he’ll double down on his socialist agenda if he wins another six-year term, even though foreign investment has all but dried up. His officials, in fact, outright dismiss the problems. Chávez’s Information Minister, Andrés Izarra, once began laughing uncontrollably on CNN en Español in an attempt to mock another guest who argued that Chávez’s failure to reduce the spiraling murder rate hurt the poor, who are by far the majority of victims.Izarra’s unseemly mirth—and the Chávez government’s refusal to release violent crime data in recent years, apparently believing the problem will go away if it’s not acknowledged—are symptoms of a larger arrogancia that seems to be catching up with the Latin American left. Whatever Sunday’s outcome, Chávez’s movement isn’t laughing so loudly anymore.MORE: Yemen Fights Back I am amazed by your cover story's headline, "The End of al-Qaeda?" [Sept. 17]. If this were the title following Osama bin Laden's death, it would have made more sense. But eliminating an odd leader in Yemen means nothing at all. Al-Qaeda is more of a cult, and we in Pakistan are suffering directly because it helps any organization that can further its expansion. A. Rahim Yousefzai, IslamabadUpon seeing "The End of al-Qaeda?" it struck me that TIME had a similar headline on its Dec.... MAIL Glass Half Full Bill Clinton has a masterly way of making an issue clear without making it simplistic ["The Case for Optimism," Oct. 1]. I appreciated the information as well as the positive tone. Yes, we have much work to do, but it's not all gloom and doom. Ann Johnson, OAKLAND, CALIF. There was a great deal of talk in Bill Clinton's cover story about green energy, middle-class expansion and the empowerment of women. Nowhere was birth control mentioned. President Clinton's optimism may be unrealistic without significant advancement in third-world birth control. Andrew Colyer, BEL AIR, MD. Big Coal Fights... In 2009, shortly before the release of the xx's self-titled debut album, its management called the band in for a chat. It was a conversation aimed at preparing the painfully shy, strikingly young London trio for the reception that awaited its hip-yet-seemingly-uncommercial brand of understated electronic indie rock."They said, 'It's only your debut album,'" remembers singer-bassist Oliver Sim. "'Don't be disheartened if this record doesn't take you to a huge place.' "Three years and over 1 million worldwide record sales later, such pessimism... MOST VIRTUOUS 1 Andrew Weil TRUE FOOD: SEASONAL, SUSTAINABLE, SIMPLE, PURE Weil, the M.D. and best-selling health expert, is part owner of True Food Kitchen, which bills itself as one of the healthiest restaurants in America. Its namesake cookbook features global cuisine (citrusy tabbouleh, garlicky soup fortified with a medicinal herb) that derives flavor from spices, not fat. 2 Magnus Nilsson FAVIKEN Just 28, Nilsson is routinely counted among the world's greatest chefs. He opened Faviken on a remote Swedish farm near the Arctic Circle in 2008. Primarily interested in vegetables, Nilsson creates recipes that are as strange, intricate and wonderful...() — Israeli warplanes swooped low over Lebanese villages Sunday in a menacing show of force apparently aimed at the Hezbollah guerrilla group after a mysterious raid by an unmanned aircraft that was shot out of Israeli skies over the weekend. was still investigating Saturday’s incident, but Hezbollah quickly emerged as the leading suspect because it has an arsenal of sophisticated Iranian weapons and a history of trying to deploy similar aircraft.The Israeli military said the drone approached Israel’s southern Mediterranean coast and flew deep into Israeli airspace before warplanes shot it down about 20 minutes later. Israeli news reports said the drone was not carrying explosives and appeared to be on a reconnaissance mission.Military officials would not say where the drone originated or who produced it, but they ruled out the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by , a group not known to possess drones. That left Hezbollah as the most likely culprit and suggested the drone may have flown with the blessing of Iran. Tensions are high between Israel and Iran over Tehran’s suspect nuclear program.(VIDEO: )“It is an Iranian drone that was launched by Hezbollah,” Israeli lawmaker Miri Regev, a former chief spokeswoman for the Israeli military, wrote on her Twitter feed. “Hezbollah and Iran continue to try to collect information in every possible way in order to harm Israel.”She did not offer any further evidence and was not immediately available for comment.Hezbollah officials would not comment on speculation that the group had launched the drone.The Israeli dailies Yediot Ahronot and Maariv published maps based on military “estimates” that claimed to show the route taken by the drone.The maps said the aircraft took off south of the Lebanese coastal city of Sidon, headed south and then turned east over the Gaza Strip and into Israel. Yediot also claimed the drone was made in Iran.The Israeli military said it began tracking the aircraft over the Mediterranean but waited until it was over an empty, desert area to bring it down in order to avoid casualties on the ground.Sunday’s Israeli air raids, buzzing over pro-Hezbollah villages in southern Lebanon, appeared to be aimed at reminding the guerrilla group of Israel’s air superiority.At times of heightened tensions, the Israeli air force often carries out mock raids over Lebanese territory. Israel has U.S.-made F-15 and F-16 warplanes, but it was not clear exactly what type of planes were flown Sunday.Lebanon’s national news agency said the planes flew low over the market town of Nabatiyeh and nearby villages.(PHOTOS: )With a formidable arsenal that rivals that of the Lebanese army, Hezbollah is already under pressure in Lebanon from rivals who accuse it of putting Lebanon at risk of getting sucked into regional turmoil. Confirmation that Hezbollah was behind the drone would put the group under further strain internally.Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite group committed to Israel’s destruction, has long served as an Iranian proxy along Israel’s northern border. The two sides fought a brutal, monthlong war in mid-2006. Hundreds of people were killed, and Hezbollah fired several thousand rockets and missiles into Israel before the conflict ended in a stalemate.Hezbollah has attempted to send unmanned aerial vehicles into Israel on several occasions dating back to 2004. Its leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, has claimed that the group’s pilotless aircraft were capable of carrying explosives and striking deep into Israel. The last known attempt by Hezbollah to use a drone took place during the 2006 war, when Israel shot down an Iranian-made pilotless aircraft that entered Israeli airspace.Since the fighting ended, the sides have been locked in a covert battle against one another.“The war between Hezbollah and Israel was not extinguished at any moment, be it in the media or at the intelligence level,” said Ibrahim Bayram, an expert on Shiite affairs who often writes about Hezbollah for Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper.“Israel is always trying to breach Hezbollah’s security and in return Hezbollah is also working day and night to breach Israel’s security,” he added.Hezbollah has accused Israel of assassinating a top Hezbollah operative in 2008 in Syria. The group and Lebanese officials say they have broken up several Israeli spy rings inside Lebanon over the past few years.Israel, meanwhile, believes Hezbollah, with Iranian backing, is behind a string of attempted attacks on Israeli diplomatic targets in India, Thailand and the former Soviet republic of Georgia, plus a deadly bombing earlier this year that killed five Israeli tourists in a Bulgarian resort. Last week, Israel announced the arrest of an Arab citizen it accused of spying for Hezbollah, the latest in a string of such cases.Many speculated that the aircraft was trying to gather intelligence on Israel’s secretive nuclear reactor in the southern desert town of Dimona. Foreign experts believe the facility houses an arsenal of nuclear weapons, a claim that Israel neither confirms nor denies.(MORE: )“It’s quite a long distance, indicating a high level of sophistication,” said Shlomo Brom, a retired Israeli general who is now an analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli think tank.The drone flight also came against the broader backdrop of rising tensions between Israel and Iran.Israel accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, which it believes would threaten its existence, given the repeated calls by Iranian leaders for the destruction of Israel. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.Israeli leaders have repeatedly held out the possibility of attacking Iranian nuclear facilities if they conclude that international sanctions and diplomacy have failed to curb the Iranian program.Iran, in turn, has threatened to retaliate if it is attacked, raising the possibility of Hezbollah unleashing more rockets and missiles into Israel. Hezbollah has not said how it will react to an Israeli attack on its benefactor.Iran recently claimed it now has drones capable of carrying missiles as far as 2,000 kilometers, or 1,250 miles, putting much of the Middle East, including Israel, within distance. The aircraft appeared to be similar to the American RQ-170 Sentinel, one of which went down in Iranian territory last year. Iran said it was building a copy of the RQ-170 in April.Iran frequently makes announcements about its strides in military technology, but it is virtually impossible to independently determine the capabilities of its weapons.Yiftah Shapir, another analyst at the INSS, said Saturday’s incident may have been meant as a warning to Israel.“The drone could be a message that they have the capability to pull this off, and do so perhaps with weapons,” he said.He said Israel likely allowed the drone to fly so far into its airspace, instead of shooting it over the sea, in order to analyze its capabilities before taking it down.By JOSEF FEDERMAN and ZEINA KARAM(JERUSALEM) — Israeli jets scrambled to intercept a drone that crossed into Israeli airspace Saturday from the Mediterranean Sea, bringing it down without incident in the south of the country, a military spokeswoman said.Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich said Israeli systems on the ground alerted the air force to the drone Saturday morning. She said it flew over the Gaza Strip but did not originate from the Palestinian territory. She said Israel didn’t know the drone’s starting point and an investigation was under way. Nobody was hurt in the incident.Leibovich did not give more details, but Israel media reported that it might have been an intelligence gathering drone and was not carrying explosives.(VIDEO: )Leibovich said the operation was successful and the military was in control throughout.“We had monitoring contact from the ground and from the air. We alerted jet planes that escorted the unmanned aerial vehicle and due to some operational considerations we decided to intercept the unmanned aerial vehicle in the northern Negev area, which has no population, Leibovich said.It’s not the first time that Israel has shot down drones entering its airspace. The Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah has launched several into Israel over the past few years.In the 2006 war, Hezbollah launched an Iranian-made drone capable of carrying explosives into Israel that was shot down. Another one launched two years earlier crashed in the Mediterranean.(PHOTOS: )Israel and Iran are bitter enemies and tensions are high over Tehran’s nuclear program, which the West believes is intended for atomic weapons. Tehran insists its atomic program is for peaceful purposes only.Israel has hinted that military action should be taken to prevent Iran from getting nuclear bombs.Leibovich would not elaborate how the unmanned vehicle was brought down. She said troops were searching for debris from the drone.Defense Minister Ehud Barak congratulated the military.“We view this incident of attempting to enter Israeli airspace very severely and we will consider our response later,” he said in a statement.By IAN DEITCHWant to make good on your threat on skipping town if your candidate loses in the election?JetBlue is offering 1,006 “winners” and their chosen companions free roundtrip flights out of the country to any of the airline’s international destinations, most of which are in the Caribbean. Participants have to pick their candidate on JetBlue’s before Election Day, and your candidate has to lose on the big day before you’re eligible. Think of it as a consolation prize; and hey, no one’s forcing you to use that return leg ticket, are they?(MORE: )“We’ve all heard it said before: if my candidate does not win, I’m leaving the country,” said JetBlue marketing executive Marty St. George in . “Fun is one of our five founding values, and in this spirit we decided to give people a chance to recover from the political noise and follow through on their claim to skip town if their candidate comes up short.”And just to shake things up a little bit, the Election Protection website also polls participants on which destinations they prefer and shows how those preferences break down along party lines. Not that it really seems to matter: both Republicans and Democrats seem to prefer the tropical blue waters of St. Maarten pretty equally. At least that’s something they can agree on.MORE: Erica Ho is a contributor at TIME and the editor of . Find her on Twitter at and . You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s and on Twitter at .It’s been a wild few months for Community, the cult NBC comedy about a ragtag bunch of community-college students. First, show runner Dan Harmon was fired. then Chevy Chase said doing the show was “a big mistake.” Now, in advance of the fourth season premiere (Oct. 19 at 8:30 p.m. E.T.), star Joel McHale breaks it all down with TIME.TIME: This is the first season of Community without Dan— Joel McHale: It is. Unless he’s there secretly.Hiding under a couch? Monitoring from afar? You never know.So what’s changed? Boy, let’s see. Well, we don’t have to wear the uniforms anymore. And the lobster buffets are gone, because it’s the only meat he’s not allergic to. Very convenient, a weird allergy.Oh, yeah?All right, I’m just making stuff up. Really, not much has changed. A lot of writers stayed, so they know the spirit and tone of the show. And it’s our fourth year, so we have a good sense of our characters. The main difference is he’s not physically there.I only ask because after he got fired, you and your castmates were pretty vocal about what a comic genius he is, and how he’s such an integral part of the show. Are you worried it’ll suffer creatively?What is so genius about Dan is that these characters are incredibly well-drawn. They’re very much based in real people, but the world is fantastical a lot of the time. I always end up comparing it to something like Shaun of the Dead. In that Simon, what’s his name, the lead in that movie—what’s his name?Hang on, I can Google it.No, now I’m pissed. I can’t believe myself. Simon Pegg! You know, he’s crying real tears in that bar when his girlfriend’s dumping him. But around him is a zombie world. That’s like Community. So in that sense, I think people were worried the show would become normal or something, or subdued. I don’t know if you’ve seen the photos of my character and The Dean [Jim Rash] in a dress, doing the tango, with two men dressed as unicorns behind us…That’s actually my desktop background. Well, as far as the story and the fantasticalism—wow, don’t print that, find out what the word for that is—it’s all still there. if we lost our uniqueness, we’d lose the show.(MORE: )So your co-star Chevy Chase has been sharing a lot of opinions recently…No! What?He called sitcoms like Community “the lowest form of television.” What’s the deal? I will tease Chevy about that stuff, and then he always goes, Oh, I was just joking! and then I’ll say, a) Hilarious, hilarious! and b) You should soak your dentures. It’s like, Chevy, why are you here? This is not a tour of duty. You are not going to be sued. And then he’s like, well you know, I like it here, I do. And I’m like, alright, well then stop saying stuff. Or, I guess, say whatever you want, but I’m gonna make fun. It gives the whole cast fodder to make fun of him.That seems fair.I would love to do a group interview with us doing Chevy and Chevy doing us. And we’re all just like [alters voice to mock Chase], Raaaaahh, I’m just here for the money! I love it! I love the money!Sounds like you guys have a fun dynamic on set.Yeah, if we’re putting in that many hours, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be on a set where people hate each other. We get along really well. I mean, other than when Chevy’s raving about how he just wants the money.Let’s talk about your other job, hosting E!’s TV clip round-up The Soup. Do you actually watch any of the shows you mock?Uh, no. I mean, yes, but no, I can’t watch them all. In our first season it was me and four other guys and a gal and we watched all of television. And it got downright depressing. I remember getting to the end of watching six hours of television and then I had two more hours of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and I was just like, I’m gonna kill myself. But thankfully, they have hired more and more people, so I can choose the shows I like to watch.Which ones do you choose?Honey Boo Boo. I know everyone’s saying it’s the end of everything, but I don’t think it’s as bad as Jersey Shore. It’s definitely not as scripted. I also like The Ultimate Fighter. In a singing competition, contestants get criticized for being off-key. In this one, if you mess up, your face is bashed in. So that is an honest show.Which show gives you guys the most fodder?I cannot stand stuff like Bad Girls Club, where people are put together and plied with alcohol so they fight. Or Big Brother, where it’s just conspiring and whispering, conspiring and whispering. I truly believe that’s like a glimpse of hell. But one show that’s giving us a lot of clips right now is the flameless candle show on HSN.The flameless candle show?It’s on Home Shopping Network out of Tampa. They do an hour of this thing on the flameless candle, which is just a light shaped like a candle. But they will spend the whole time telling you why they’re better than regular candles, and how classy they are. We love it.(MORE: )Anything else you can share about the new season of Community?We have our Halloween special, where we go to—I don’t know if I can say this, but I’m gonna say it—Pierce’s mansion. And it is haunted, basically. Something has happened. Also, Chang is back. But it is not what you would expect.Dun dun dun.Dun dun dun! He’s a Komodo dragon. He’s turned into a dragom. Into a huge lizard! No, really, it’s great to be back with the cast. We only have 13 episodes this season, so we have to swing for the fences and make them as good as we can.Well, good luck. And thanks for the interview!Sure. And please, when you write this—every single critic writes, “the ratings-challenged Community.” And I always go, well, yes we were, but we beat American Idol in the demo when we came back after our forced hiatus [in March].You did?No one remembers that! And we were the number one comedy on NBC for that month. So whenever I hear that, I’m like, addendum to your claim! Or at least many critics. Not Time magazine critics. You know, you write for something reputable.Consider it noted.Thanks!VIDEO: Viraj Puri climbs three floors of a gritty industrial building in Brooklyn to the daily grind of his early-stage start-up--negotiating deals with big customers, keeping up with new technology, meeting with investors and making plans to expand. But Puri's 20 employees aren't trying to build the next big social-media or clean-energy company. Instead, on a rooftop in the Greenpoint neighborhood, they run a small urban farm, Gotham Greens, a sleek and sunny oasis of leafy lettuces and herbs. At the company's 15,000-sq.-ft. hydroponic greenhouse Gotham Greens grows plants in mineral-infused water instead of dirt, using software that closely controls temperature, irrigation... A year ago, he came home a hero. But that was a year ago. Then, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian National Authority President, stood at the green marble rostrum of the U.N. General Assembly and asked for something he knew he could not get--full membership in the U.N. for a country, Palestine, that did not yet exist--and the room went wild. A year later, on Sept. 27, Abbas stood in the same place and asked for something he can quite easily get--not full membership but a status packing similar legal power. Yet in downtown Ramallah, the West Bank city where trucks mounted...3:10 pm ETMy Take with Andrea Mitchell on her eponymous MSNBC program on Mitt’s calibration:ANDREA MITCHELL: This move to the center, there’s no complaint from conservatives. Is it that they are so eager to defeat President Obama that they, right now, say, anything that works is okay with them?MARK HALPERIN: Well, Romney has had, as you know, a troubled relationship with certain elements of the right. Even after he picked Paul Ryan, there was a brief honeymoon period there, people held their tongue for a while but then the criticism started again. I think, certainly, the conventional wisdom amongst the chattering class now is the debate performance will quiet critics on the right and he can get away with saying things, moving more to the center. I think two things about that. One, I think it’s being overstated how much he’s actually changing positions or even rhetoric from some of the things he’s previously said, for good or for ill. But, I just don’t see the cosmic switch to the center as much as some others do. And the other thing is, I think, if he has a bad debate in two weeks, I’m not sure the right will be silenced all the way through election day. He’s got a tentative hold there, just as he does on the “new Romney” meme that is helping him right now.…MARK HALPERIN: I agree there’s some tonal shift. I’m saying the issue positons I don’t think are changed as starkly. And keep in mind, what did he do yesterday besides a rally in Virginia? He went to a CPAC meeting in Colorado, got the NRA endorsement, which they rolled out, and did an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox. So, if there’s a pivot to the center, it’s not unidirectional.2:40 pm ETMy Take on the upcoming town hall format from MSNBC’s “Andrew Mitchell Reports”:ANDREA MITCHELL: What do you anticipate coming up now? Next we’ve got the two vice presidents, the Vice President and his challenger, Paul Ryan there. And how about the town hall format for Barack Obama? The conventional wisdom has been, because everybody has Bill Clinton in their mind, that the Democrat, President Obama, will do better in the town hall at relating, and empathizing, and showing he connects to people. I’m not so sure about this President.MARK HALPERIN: Well, I’m not so sure. Although both of them will be, I think the thing through. I’ll tell you, the strongest Mitt Romney’s been, in my experience, as a presidential candidate, beyond the debate the other night, was the events he did in both cycles — both the last campaign, 2008, and this one — his so-called “Ask Mitt Anything” events, where he did take questions from people. He showed humor and the kind of fluidness and personality that he showed in the debate in those events. And I think the people who think this format clearly favors the President, I don’t think are right. DIED Griffith Edwards, 83, British psychiatrist and addiction specialist who helped pioneer the science of addiction medicine and the treatment of substance abuse. RULED By the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is immune from liability for flood damage from 2005's Hurricane Katrina. OPENED The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, new home of the Brooklyn Nets; its opening week featured shows by hip-hop star (and Nets co-owner) Jay-Z. DIED Henry Champ, 75, Canadian journalist who covered wars and Washington for more than 40 years for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and NBC News. WON The Emmy for... Mormon bishop Robert Nelson of Chevy Chase, Md., isn't exactly sure how to handle the casserole question. You see, his church is run by volunteers, and every member has a calling: teaching Sunday school, managing church finances, organizing food drives, visiting the sick. So when I asked Nelson who would bring the requisite casserole to Ann Romney if she were to get the flu in the White House, he paused and chuckled. "I can imagine wanting to bring the casserole, but then you have to go through security, and at some point you go, The casserole just isn't worth it. Call...Landslide Buries Children — Rescuers dig out 18 bodies of elementary school children killed by a landslide in southwest , according to . Though Thursday was a national holiday, the students in Yunnan province were studying to make up for the days they had missed during a September earthquake, which killed at least 80 people. A rescuer said that by the time his team arrived, an avalanche of mud had hid the school from plain sight. By Friday afternoon, the body of a missing villager was found in the landslide, totaling the number of death to 19. on Board — The Moroccan authorities barred a ship that provides abortion services from entering into its port, BBC. A Dutch group called “Women on Waves” has been traveling in a ship to countries — such as , Portugal, Ireland and Poland — where abortion is illegal. The group anchors the ship in international waters near these countries to give women abortions or advice. Its visits have sparked protests from anti-abortion groups. Morocco is the first Muslim country the group tried to enter.Gunfire Exchanged — An American tourist in Israel stole a gun from a security guard and started firing shots in a hotel in the city of Eilat, killing one man on Friday, according to . The police cornered the shooter in the hotel’s kitchen and killed him there. The man has been identified as an American Jewish man in his 20s. The hotel spokesman said the man had worked in the hotel kitchen in the past. Some Israeli news sources report that the shooter had a personal dispute with the man he killed.Jordan’s King Dissolves Parliament – King Abdullah of Jordan has decided to dissolve the country’s chamber of deputies and will call for early elections before the end of the year. The announcement was made 24 hours before the Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s main opposition group, holds a rally in Amman, the capital city, Aljazeera. A demonstration to be held in favor of the king has been called off amid fears of clashes between the two protests. Numerous demonstrations have taken place in Jordan since January 2011 calling for political and economic reforms and an end to corruption.South African Strikes – Shell in South Africa has announced that it cannot guarantee the delivery of fuel around Johannesburg. The statement signals the start of a two-week strike by more than 20,000 truck drivers, Reuters. “There is fuel available across the country, so the issue is not fuel supply, but the challenge is delivering it safely to our retail sites,” Shell said. The country’s mining sector, which makes up about 6% of the GDP, has been hit by numerous strikes and walk-outs in recent weeks. Reports have also surfaced overnight of the death of a miner in clashes with police in the platinum belt of the mining sector.Turkey and Syria Clash – Turkey has fired across the Syrian border after a mortar shell killed five people in a Turkish border town on Wednesday, the Associated Press. The Turkish government has approved future reprisals in such circumstances, but Turkey has assured its neighbor that this is not a declaration of war and Syria has offered a rare apology. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the conflict began in early 2011.Thursday morning I bounced out of bed early and yelled “Oh my gosh!”I never get up on time and certainly never bounce. But this morning I knew that I would be headed to California for the TAPS .I went to work — my elementary school where I teach third grade — and taught my lessons…but couldn’t hide my excitement over my pending trip.So at noon Texas time I darn near bolted out of the elementary school and ran home to grab my suitcase.It may seem strange to have been so excited to be headed to a suicide-survivor seminar, but it felt like going to a family reunion.I boarded my plane in DFW and prayed that the flight would hurry up. Once I arrived in San Diego, I grabbed a taxi and headed out to the Paradise Point hotel. Then it hit me…Oh my gosh I’ve flown across the country alone, a widow, and no one I know is there yet. I told myself: “You’re strong, you’ve come so far, you can do this, Ian will help you get through this.”I made it through the hotel check-in. As I was sitting in the hotel golf cart heading to my room and about to answer the “Why am I here?” question I heard a scream. My fear instantly vanished when I saw the precious face of Petra Peterson, a fellow survivor and panelist from June’s Defense Department-VA suicide prevention …she was jumping up and down and yelling at the driver to stop!I jumped from the golf cart – it was still moving! — and ran to hug her. I instantly felt safe and at home. This is what TAPS is all about.As I type this I am sitting in my hotel room feeling content, comforted, and peaceful. It has been an incredibly painful and terrifying six-month journey getting here, and I struggle daily to understand how to live this life without my Ian. Yet, I am still standing, due to the love and support of my God, family, friends, and heroes at TAPS.My connection with TAPS was made the night before my husband’s unit memorial.I had survived discovering his body, his funeral and burying him. I was feeling like I could not face another service, and was looking for support from someone who “got it.”A dear professor from my graduate school had given my father TAPS’ phone number – 800-959-8277 — and it had been sitting on my nightstand for two weeks. Somehow I felt that if I called them, it would all be real.Still, I choked back the fear and tears and made the call. TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll answered the phone. The second I heard her voice I knew I had done the right thing.I flooded her with my story and she listened, empathized, and reassured me. She made sure I was in a safe place and then told me about a woman named Kim Ruocco. Bonnie told me that Kim’s husband, also a helicopter pilot, had died by suicide and that Kim would want to talk to me. I hung up with Bonnie and awaited Kim’s call.Then she called. I struggle to put this into words because our connection was so other-worldly.Kim was truly sent by God. She listened to my awful story, the whole time saying “Oh, honey” in this wonderful Massachusetts accent. She shared her own story and promised me that I would survive this, and that she was going to be there for me the whole way.Kim pulled me from a dark and lonely place and inspired me to face another day. That was day one. Six months later she has kept her promise. She has supported me more than I ever imagined, as well as introducing me to other TAPS heroes along the way.My respect and love for this organization goes beyond words. They are incredible people and true heroes. I feel so blessed to be here for this memorable weekend. It is unbelievable and commendable that Kim and the TAPS team provide this seminar to survivors at no cost. Their effort attests to their dedication to military survivors.I west to bed Thursday night with a grateful heart and look forward to seeing even more of my precious TAPS family in the morning.Rebecca Morrison of Texas was one of two widows Time featured in its July cover on the surge in Army suicides. Her husband, Captain Ian Morrison, an AH-64 helicopter pilot, died in March. In The Signal and the Noise: Why Most Predictions Fail--But Some Don't, the election-forecasting savant (of the New York Times' FiveThirtyEight blog) looks at how to separate good guesses from bad in an information-saturated world. What's the most common misperception about prediction? People sometimes think that when you make a prediction with a percentage attached to it, it means you're hedging your bets--like I'm 80% confident in it, which is not what it means. If 80% were just a euphemism for "Obama's the big favorite, but I don't want to say it's in the bag yet," then I would have the...(SEOUL, South Korea) — A North Korean soldier killed two of his superiors Saturday and defected to South Korea across the countries’ heavily armed border in a rare crossing that prompted South Korean troops to immediately beef up their border patrol, officials said.The soldier shot his platoon and squad leaders before crossing the western side of the Demilitarized Zone at around noon, a Defense Ministry official said, citing the soldier’s statement after he was taken into custody by South Korean border guards.The official, who declined to be named because questioning by authorities was ongoing, had earlier said one of the killed North Korean troops was a company commander but later corrected it, saying the information was mishandled in the first couple of hours of the development.(PHOTOS: )He said South Korean guards heard six gunshots before the North Korean soldier crossed the border. He also said the soldier used a loudspeaker to let South Korean guards know his intention to defect after the killings. The official said the motive behind the defection was unclear.No unusual military movement was detected from the North Korean side of the border after the crossing, but South Korea immediately instructed its border troops to step up their guard, a South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official said. He also declined to be named, citing office rules.There was no immediate comment from communist North Korea’s state-run media.Defections across the land border are rare, though North Koreans occasionally come to the South by boat. Last year, a North Korean civilian defected to the South across the land border. The last defection across the Demilitarized Zone by a North Korean soldier occurred in 2010, officials said. Another soldier and an officer also defected to the South across the border in two separate crossings in 2008.(MORE: )The vast majority of North Koreans fleeing their homeland travel through China and Southeast Asia before arriving in the South.More than 24,000 North Koreans have arrived in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.The area where Saturday’s defection took place is along the route to a South Korean-financed industrial complex in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, officials said.Border security has been tighter than usual along the border in the past few years as military and political tensions between the rival Koreas soared. In 2010, a South Korean naval ship sank and 46 of its sailors died in an incident blamed on North Korea, though Pyongyang denies involvement. Later that year, North Korea bombarded a South Korean front-line island, killing two marines and two civilians.By HYUNG-JIN KIMMORE: As I lay out the clothes and review the checklist for our trip Friday, I can’t help but reflect on what — Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors — means to me and my children.Not everyone finds TAPS right away.Some of the military services have an agreement where TAPS is connected to survivors asap. But, I’ve heard that isn’t the case for my late husband’s branch of service, the Army.I had been a military wife for 11 years and I had never heard of the organization. Honestly, perhaps as an act of emotional self-preservation, I had never allowed myself to give much thought about what happened to “survivors of military loss.” I certainly never allowed myself to think about being a suicide survivor.When I arrived in Hawaii to make end of life decisions for my husband, Captain Michael R. McCaddon, M.D., I felt terrified and completely alone.I had no idea what to expect, and there was a large part of me that feared it would be the Big Scary Army vs. little powerless me.So, I reached out (like all military wives learn to do–whether it be for babysitting or a cup of milk) to my girlfriends. My sisters, as I have now come to understand them to be. And they went to work on my behalf. They researched the questions to ask and the organizations available for support.One of my friends called TAPS. A few hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, I heard a calming voice on the other end of my cell phone. “Leslie,” she said. “This is , from TAPS.”From that moment forward I have never felt alone in this journey.In those early days, Kim (and a team of tireless volunteers and employees at TAPS) became my lifeline. They were a source of information and comfort. They did this in person, through email, and eventually in person. Kim Ruocco is so committed to the cause, and to survivors (she is a suicide survivor herself) she flew from Boston to New York to help get me home after Mike died.I had to fly to New York because my car had just arrived there. But, I was in condition to drive the five hours home alone. Kim came prepared with a box of tissues, mints, water bottles and wealth of personal experience attached to her Masters in social work.On that drive we role-played breaking the news to my kids, discussed financial fears and details, and had a tender cell phone conversation with TAPS founder .These incredibly dedicated and strong women inspired me to understand that I could and would be OK.They reassured me that I was not powerless. They helped me find my voice so I could share our story. And Kim told me: “Mark your calendar right now for May. You are coming to the National TAPS Conference in D.C.”Two months later, when most expected me to still be in bed with the covers over my head, I was on an airplane with three young children on our way to the nation’s capital.Connecting with TAPS is by far the best thing that has happened to our family since Mike died. Our weekend in D.C. provided each of us with friendships that I have no doubt will last a lifetime. Make no mistake, it was emotional and raw and difficult. But, it was also immeasurably comforting and empowering.Today — Friday, October 5 — is a little more than six months since Mike died by suicide.We will board another airplane bringing us back to the welcoming embrace of that support and community.This time it is a only of suicide survivors — parents, siblings, widows, children and friends of military service members who died by suicide.There will be the Good Grief Camp for the kids (which, by the way, makes me smile every time my kids scream it with glee — truly an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one!).We aren’t thinking twice about taking a six-hour flight from Massachusetts to California (generously donated through TAPS by ), because we know that our TAPS family will be there waiting for us.We know we are likely to sleep very little and cry a little more than usual. But we also know we will laugh and hug and return home with our tanks refilled, ready to keep walking this journey — most importantly, never alone.Leslie McCaddon of Massachusetts was one of two widows Time featured in its July cover on the surge in Army suicides. Her husband, Dr. Michael McCaddon, an Army captain, died in March.(FLINT, Mich.) — A man charged in a series of fatal stabbings in in 2010 will face no additional trials in the state unless his first murder conviction is overturned, a prosecutor said Friday, citing the high cost of bringing each case to court.The decision was a practical one: Elias Abuelazam already is serving a life sentence, and additional trials would cost “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said.“We have him life without parole. You can’t do any better than that,” Leyton said outside court.Abuelazam was convicted last spring of fatally stabbing a man after the Israeli native tricked the victim into believing he needed help with his car. Two more murder cases and six attempted murder cases were pending in Flint, 60 miles north of .Those cases now are suspended. Leyton and assistant prosecutor Tamara Phillips will bring Abuelazam to trial again only if the Michigan appeals court or finds fault with the first murder conviction and upset that guilty verdict.The agreement was signed by defense attorney Ed Zeineh and presented to a judge Friday. Abuelazam, who was transported from prison for the brief hearing, said he understood the deal.“In the interests of justice, this is appropriate,” Zeineh told the judge.Abuelazam, 36, was linked to 14 stabbings in and around Flint in summer 2010, although he was not charged in every incident. Five people died.He presented an insanity defense at his first trial, the death of Arnold Minor, but the jury rejected it. In Toledo, Ohio, where Abuelazam faces a separate attempted murder charge, Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates said she would review her case for possible extradition.Leyton said his decision to suspend the remaining Michigan cases was supported by the victims he was able to reach. But not everyone is satisfied. Natashi Brown, whose son, Etwan Wilson, survived a stabbing at age 17, said “it’s a shame.”“My son is still recovering; mentally he’ll never recover,” Brown said. “If he’s going to keep having nightmares, he can at least have one last encounter with Abuelazam in court and the nightmares might stop.”Velma Marshall, the mother of murder victim Darwin Marshall, said she understands the decision but still feels a bit incomplete.“We have to roll with the punches. … If I could get my hands on him,” Marshall said of Abuelazam. “But I know that is not the correct way. We’re Christians.”Leyton had been signaling for months that many trials seemed unlikely. Four survivors were allowed to describe their attacks by testifying against Abuelazam at the first murder trial. When Abuelazam was sentenced to life in prison in June, the prosecutor said he hoped the result would satisfy the victims.Abuelazam was a drifter with ties to Virginia and Florida. He settled in Flint, where an uncle lived, in spring 2010 and got a job managing a liquor store at night. Police soon received reports of stabbings in the wee hours. Survivors said a muscular man would stop pedestrians and ask for directions or help with his Chevy Blazer before plunging a knife into them.Authorities had strong evidence against Abuelazam: The blood of victims was found on his shoes and in the Blazer. He was arrested in August 2010 while trying to flee to Israel.Abuelazam told mental-health experts that he was a paranoid schizophrenic under the spell of demons when he attacked. But experts testifying for prosecutors said they found no mental illness.By Ed White Associated Press Writer Tom Sheeran in Cleveland contributed to this report.() — A month before Election Day, President ‘s campaign and Democrats posted an impressive fundraising haul, easing the party’s concerns that he would face a significant money disadvantage against his well-financed Republican rival in the crucial closing days. Romney shrugged off a drop in unemployment, an issue at the heart of the race, contending it’s “crystal clear” a crisis endures.Bolstered by the Democratic National Convention, Obama and his party Saturday reported a combined take of $181 million for September, their best fundraising month of the campaign and just short of their record of $190 million in the 2008 campaign, also in September. Romney’s campaign has not released its report for the month yet.It was oddly quiet one month out. Obama took time off for a 20th anniversary celebration with his wife, Michelle, postponed from the day of the first presidential debate last week, while Romney devoted time to preparing for the next debate, Oct. 16 in Hempstead, N.Y., before a Saturday evening rally in Apopka, Fla.(MORE: )But the money machine was grinding relentlessly. Republican running mate Paul Ryan scheduled an evening fundraiser in Milwaukee, Wis., and neither party let up in their appeals for cash for the frantic final weeks ahead. Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden go head-to-head in a debate Thursday in Danville, Ky.“There is exactly one month left to go until Election Day,” Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in an email pitch. “The stakes are too high for us to take our foot off the gas now.” The president was scheduled to launch a lucrative and celebrity-studded fundraising swing to Los Angeles and San Francisco on Sunday and Monday followed by a campaign rally in battleground Ohio.Republicans and Romney himself have seemed invigorated by his spirited leadoff debate performance against a subdued president, which played out for a huge national TV audience, estimated at more than 67 million, just as voters at-large are tuning in to the campaign.But then came the report Friday showing unemployment fell in September from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent, marking the first time the rate dipped below 8 percent since the start of Obama’s presidency. Obama seized on the good news, “a reminder that this country has come too far to turn back now,” while Romney had little choice but to play down its significance.(MORE: )“By any rational measure, it’s crystal clear we’re in the middle of a jobs crisis,” Romney said in a fundraising message to supporters. “My priority is jobs. And from Day One of my presidency, I will lead us out of this crisis.”Defensive after the debate, Democrats contended Romney talked a good game but at the expense of the truth. A new TV ad by the Obama campaign, called “Dishonest,” carries on the post-debate theme that Romney grossly misrepresented his own positions as well as Obama’s on taxes. Online videos were posted by the campaign with the mantra, “Romney won’t tell the truth,” about Medicare, energy, taxes and more.The latest fundraising report showed Obama and the Democratic National Committee improving on their take of about $114 million in August, when Obama gained a narrow edge in the money race after trailing Romney and Republicans for three straight months.The Romney campaign has refused to release its September fundraising numbers, which are due Oct. 20, or say if they will make them available early as has become custom.Aides have suggested that fundraising suffered in the final weeks of the month as polls found Romney falling behind Obama. Following Romney’s debate performance, they were privately optimistic the numbers would improve to help fuel a television advertising blitz over the campaign’s final month in as many battleground states as possible.(MORE: )The president said in a series of messages on Twitter, the online social network, that more than 1.8 million people donated last month, including about 567,000 who had not given money before in 2008 or 2012. About 10 million people have donated to the campaign. Obama’s campaign, the DNC and various fundraising entities supporting the president have now raised about $835 million, putting the campaign in striking distance of raising $1 billion for the season.The Romney campaign was releasing a TV ad featuring a woman who says she voted for Obama in 2008 but is supporting the Republican today. “Why Mitt Romney?” she asks. “Being a woman, you think about your children, and you think about their future. And what I want to think about is a future that has jobs. That our economy’s growing again. That’s important to women and it’s important to me.”Romney argued Friday that the change in the unemployment rate was nothing to celebrate given the millions of people in part-time jobs, those seeking better jobs and those who remain out of work.“This is not what a real recovery looks like,” Romney said shortly after the Labor Department released its report.By KEN THOMAS A glamorous model clumps down the runway. Photographers snap. Fashion editors applaud. And for a moment, it seems as if all eyes in the couture world are on ... Knoxville, Tenn.? Such is the burgeoning business of smaller-town fashion weeks. For decades, the world's clothing trends stemmed from seasonal spectacles in just four cities: New York, London, Milan and Paris. But in recent years, Dallas, Istanbul, Knoxville and others have launched alternatives to hype local models and retailers--and secure a fraction of the $865 million that New York Fashion Week generates for the Big Apple each year, according to Mayor Michael... This is going to be a rocky path," Barack Obama told 60 Minutes, referring to the turmoil in the Middle East. "There are going to be bumps in the road." The President was talking about the long-term struggle to move a region of historically repressed and undereducated people toward freedom, but long-term thinking is impermissible in presidential campaigns, and Mitt Romney called him on his bumps: "We had an ambassador assassinated. We had a Muslim Brotherhood member elected to the presidency of Egypt. Iran is that much closer to having the capacity to build a nuclear weapon." For good measure, the Romney campaign chided the President for appearing on The View but not meeting with foreign leaders during U.N. General Assembly week. These pokes, along with a smooth appearance on 60 Minutes, were part of a micro-renaissance Romney was experiencing as a candidate--several days without a goof--that perhaps only the press noticed as the Republican's poll numbers plummeted in crucial states. Obama's response to the Romney jabs came in an address to the General Assembly, one of the better speeches of his presidency. He celebrated the life of Ambassador Chris Stevens, by all accounts an exemplary man whose relentless humanity, as the President said, represented the exact opposite of the values embraced by his murderers. This was a "teachable moment," and Obama used it to explain what free speech--an absolute necessity for democracy--is all about. "As President of our country and Commander in Chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day," he said, to laughter, "and I will always defend their right to do so." He also condemned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's annual Holocaust-denying clown show and warned the Iranians about their nuclear program in a way that even neoconservatives might consider acceptable. Obama's path through the Arab Spring has indeed been bumpy; any President's would have been. The days when the U.S. could manage events in the region through a network of local autocrats are over. But I found myself thinking that while Romney's nostalgia for a hegemonic past was clearly implausible, the President's patient hope for democracy might be overly optimistic as well. There is another possibility: regional chaos and, ultimately, a redrawing of the national borders that were imagined by Europeans at the end of World War I.(WASHINGTON) — There were all the trappings of a high-octane presidential debate: the over-the-top declarations, the pre-practiced zingers and the schmaltzy appeals to America’s truest values. But the presidential candidates were nowhere to be found.In their place Saturday were two celebrity gabbers who have claimed their stakes to the polar opposite ends of the political spectrum: Bill O’Reilly and Jon Stewart. The political odd-couple came to Washington ready to tangle in an event mockingly dubbed “The Rumble in the Air-Conditioned Auditorium.”Choice words not suitable for the faint of heart dotted the 90-minute exchange between the Fox News anchor and the star of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” who bantered aggressively but good-naturedly over birth control, President George W. Bush and the so-called “War on Christmas.”(WATCH: )Stewart came prepped with a mechanical pedestal he used to elevate himself in the air, making the height-challenged comedian appear taller than the lanky O’Reilly when he wanted to drive a point home.“I like you much better that way,” O’Reilly quipped at one point as he gazed up at his ideological foe.The political feud between the two caffeinated TV personalities dates back more than a decade. Much like family members who just can’t resist pushing each other’s buttons over Thanksgiving stuffing, Stewart and O’Reilly love to disagree, but appear to hold nothing against each other once the latest spat has run its course. The two have appeared on each other’s programs since 2001, but the face-off Saturday at The George Washington University marked their first head-to-head debate.Appearing wholly presidential in dark jackets and face makeup under a sign reading “Yum, this banner tastes like freedom,” the two quickly turned to talk of government spending and the 47 percent of Americans that Republican Mitt Romney said in a video are dependent on government.Stewart, defending government involvement in health care and social programs, said the U.S. has always been an entitlement nation.(WATCH: )“We are a people that went to another country, saw other people on it and said, ‘Yea, we want that,” Stewart said. “Have you ever seen ‘Oprah’s favorite things’ episode?”Asked who he’d like to see as president, O’Reilly dead-panned: “I’d have to say Clint Eastwood.”“Well why don’t we ask him,” said Stewart, mocking the Hollywood actor’s widely panned speech in August at the Republican National Convention by getting out of his chair and staring at it while the crowd erupted in laughter.In an apparent show of bipartisanship, Stewart even got on O’Reilly lap at one point. “And what would you like for Christmas, little boy?” O’Reilly said slyly.“The display that you saw tonight is why America is America. Robust, creative, no holds barred,” O’Reilly told reporters after the debate. “You can call it whatever you want, but you wouldn’t see this in a lot of other countries. That’s for sure.”Organizers said about 1,500 people attended the event, but the main audience was intended to be online, where the event was live-streamed for $4.95. On Twitter, viewers complained they missed the event when the video servers crashed. Organizers said video will be available for download and that those who experienced errors will be eligible for a refund.(TANK, ) — The Pakistani military blocked a convoy carrying thousands of Pakistanis and a small contingent of U.S. anti-war activists from entering a lawless tribal region along the border with Afghanistan on Sunday to protest American drone strikes.The group, led by star turned politician Imran Khan and his political party, was turned back just miles from the border of South Waziristan. After an hour of fruitless negotiations, Khan announced that the caravan would backtrack to the city of Tank, about 15 kilometers (nine miles) away. There, he delivered a speech to the crowd of about 10,000.Khan has harshly criticized the Pakistani government’s cooperation with Washington in the fight against Islamist militants. He has been especially outspoken against U.S. drone strikes targeting militants and has argued that the country’s alliance with Washington is the main reason Pakistan is facing a homegrown insurgency. He has suggested before that militant activity in Pakistan’s tribal areas will dissipate when the U.S. ends the war across the border in Afghanistan.(PHOTOS: )“We want to give a message to America that the more you carry out drone attacks, the more people will hate you,” Khan told the crowd.The anti-American sentiment, always high in Pakistan, was evident in the crowd that waved banners saying “Down with America,” and “The friend of America is the traitor of the nation.”Pakistan’s tribal regions, such as North and South Waziristan, border Afghanistan and serve as bases for militant groups such as the Taliban to stage raids across the border into Afghanistan.The protest convoy of about 150 cars set out on Saturday from the capital Islamabad, traveled 400 kilometers (250 miles) and then stopped overnight in the city of Dera Ismail Khan. The plan for the second and final day was to travel another 120 kilometers (70 miles) to reach Kotkai in South Waziristan. But the military stopped the convoy in the town of Kawar.Khan told the rally that they wanted to continue their journey to Kotkai, but the army said it was too late, and going inside South Waziristan at night was dangerous. Khan said he didn’t want to put his supporters in danger, so he turned the rally around to Tank.Regardless of whether he was able to enter the tribal region, Khan portrayed the two-day motorcade as a success.(MORE: )“We have taken the voice of the people of Waziristan to the world,” he said.Thousands of supporters had turned out along the route to cheer on the convoy, which stretched about 15 kilometers (9 miles), including accompanying media. Some of those packed into the vehicles waved flags for Khan’s political group and chanted: “We want peace.”Video on Pakistani media showed barricades with hundreds of police in riot gear, a sign of concerns that the motorcade would be attacked or become unruly.Around three dozen Americans from the U.S.-based anti-war group CODEPINK joined Khan for the march. The American protesters say the U.S. drone strikes, contrary to the claims of American officials, have terrorized peaceful tribes living along the border and killed many innocent civilians — not just Taliban and al-Qaida fighters.The convoy aimed to throw a spotlight on the drone attacks, which many Pakistanis oppose as violations of the country’s sovereignty that often kill civilians. The U.S. says its drone strikes are necessary to battle militants that Pakistan has been unable or unwilling to control.Critics denounced the rally as a piece of cheap theater designed to drum up votes for Khan’s political party ahead of next year’s elections.“A made-for-TV dog and pony show that will be high on drama and low on substance will resonate with Khan’s base,” wrote Pakistani newspaper columnist Cyril Almeida in the English-language newspaper Dawn Sunday.The rally was originally intended for South Waziristan, a tribal region where the Pakistani military has been battling a violent uprising by the Taliban, and factions of the Taliban threatened to attack the march. On Saturday, a statement from a Taliban faction said to be based in eastern Punjab province warned that militants would target the protesters with suicide bombings.The main faction of the Pakistani Taliban, which is based in South Waziristan, issued a statement Friday calling Khan a “slave of the West” and saying that the militants “don’t need any sympathy” from such “a secular and liberal person.”The former cricket star long had a reputation as a playboy, but in recent years he has said he has grown stronger in his Muslim faith. He also has used attacks on the U.S. drone program as a means of gaining attention and esteem in Pakistan. His popularity surged in recent years in Pakistan, where the government, led by the Pakistan People’s Party of Asif Ali Zardari, has disappointed many.By ISHTIAQ MAHSUDThe parents of a Rutgers University student who killed himself after his roommate used a webcam to see him kissing another man have decided not to sue the university or anyone else involved in the case, preferring instead to focus their energies on the foundation started in his name.“They’re just in a spot now where they have this opportunity because of the fact that the media has made this case so well known to do some very good things through the foundation,” Paul Mainardi, an attorney for Joseph and Jane Clementi of Ridgewood, N.J., said Friday.The couple had accused New Jersey’s flagship public university of failing to prevent their son’s suicide in 2010, which occurred just days after the webcam spying, and had filed court papers preserving their right to sue.(MORE: )But Mainardi said the Clementis feel Rutgers has been “very responsive” and the school is working with The Tyler Clementi Foundation on a number of projects. “They’ve met with us a number of times at the highest level. They have undertaken a lot within the university system to respond to this voluntarily, responsibly,” the attorney said.Rutgers changed its housing policies after Clementi’s suicide, allowing opposite-sex roommates, with the idea of making gay and lesbian students more comfortable.The Clementis’ foundation has been a co-sponsor of an academic conference at Rutgers on social media.The family has said it wants the foundation to teach responsible use of social media and increase acceptance of gays in schools, communities and even churches.(MORE: )Tyler Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge. His roommate, Dharun Ravi, spent 20 days in jail last year after being convicted of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and witness tampering. He’s appealing.Ravi was not charged with causing Clementi’s death, but his family has said they believe his behavior was a factor, especially in light of tweets he made and which were part of the case against him.One of them read, in part: “I saw him making out with a dude. Yay.”Clementi had told his parents he was gay before leaving college, three weeks before his death. But they believe that learning about the webcam recording in his dorm room humiliated him and made him realize that being out as gay on campus would not be so easy. MORE: When it comes to politics, believing is seeing. Partisan Republicans see Barack Obama as dishonest; partisan Democrats see Mitt Romney the same way. Voters see candidates they support as truth tellers; they regard candidates they oppose as shadier. We are suffering from a national case of confirmation bias, the idea that we lend credence to information that confirms our opinions and ignore evidence that doesn't--even in the face of facts. Michael Scherer's smart and insightful cover story on the fact wars suggests that truth in the 2012 campaign is in the eye of the beholder. To say that the candidates are... EMMY EDITION GOOD WEEK/BAD WEEK Mandy Patinkin Got a "holla" during Homeland co-star Claire Danes' acceptance speech Jon Hamm Was denied Best Actor honors for Mad Men--for the fifth time BOOKS Food Porn Mustard spanked chicken! Dripping thighs! Holy hell wings! No, we're not talking dirty to you. We're naming actual recipes from Fifty Shades of Chicken, a cookbook parody of E.L. James' hit trilogy (out Nov. 13). Spatula whip, colander chains and cheese-grating handcuffs sold separately. HIDDEN TREASURE At Amsterdam's inaugural Unseen photo fair, low profiles reigned supreme: emerging artists displayed their work alongside lesser-known prints by masters like Edward...() — The pope’s butler was convicted Saturday of stealing the pontiff’s private documents and leaking them to a journalist in the gravest Vatican security breach in recent memory. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but the Vatican said a papal pardon was likely.Judge Giuseppe Dalla Torre read the verdict aloud two hours after the three-judge Vatican panel began deliberating Paolo Gabriele’s fate. Gabriele stood impassively as it was read out in the tiny wood-paneled tribunal tucked behind St. Peter’s Basilica.The sentence was reduced in half to 18 months from three years because of a series of mitigating circumstances, including that Gabriele had no previous record, had acknowledged that he had betrayed the pope and was convinced, “albeit erroneously” that he was doing the right thing, Dalla Torre said.(MORE: )Gabriele was accused of stealing the pope’s private correspondence and passing it on to journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, whose book revealed the intrigue, petty infighting and allegations of corruption and homosexual liaisons that plague the leadership of the Roman .He has said he leaked the documents because he felt the pope wasn’t being informed of the “evil and corruption” in the Vatican, and that exposing the problems publicly would put the church back on the right track.In his final appeal to the court Saturday morning, Gabriele insisted he was no thief.“The thing I feel strongly in me is the conviction that I acted out of exclusive love, I would say visceral love, for the church of Christ and its visible head,” Gabriele told the court in a steady voice. “I do not feel like a thief.”Gabriele’s attorney, Cristiana Arru, said the sentence was “good, balanced” and said she was awaiting the judges’ written reasoning before deciding whether to appeal.(MORE: )Nuzzi’s book, “His Holiness: ‘s Secret Papers” convulsed the Vatican for months and prompted an unprecedented response, with the pope naming a commission of cardinals to investigate the origin of the leaks alongside Vatican magistrates.Arru said Gabriele would return to his Vatican City apartment to begin serving his sentence. He has been held on house arrest there since July after spending his first two months in a Vatican detention room.Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the possibility of a papal pardon was “concrete, likely” and that the pope would now study the court file and decide. He said there was no way to know when a papal pardon might be announced.Gabriele was also ordered to pay court costs.In something of a novelty in jurisprudence, the pope was both victim and supreme judge in this case. As an absolute monarch of the tiny Vatican City state, Benedict wields full executive, legislative and judicial power. He delegates that power, though, and Lombardi said the trial showed the complete independence of the Vatican judiciary.In reading the sentence, however, in a courtroom decorated with a photograph of Benedict on the wall opposite Gabriele, Dalla Torre began: “In the name of His Holiness Benedict XVI, gloriously reigning, the tribunal invoking the Holy Trinity pronounces the following sentence…”In her closing arguments, Arru insisted that only photocopies, not original documents, were taken from the Apostolic Palace, disputing testimony from the pope’s secretary who said he saw original letters in the evidence seized from Gabriele’s home.She admitted Gabriele’s gesture was “condemnable” but said it was a misappropriation of documents, not theft, and that as a result Gabriele should serve no time for the lesser crime.By NICOLE WINFIELDToys R Us, Walmart, Best Buy, and other stores have recently announced their latest guarantees to match prices offered by competing retailers this holiday season. These guarantees sound terrific for consumers, and at first glance, it would seem like price matching is a smart response to the , in which shoppers scope out merchandise in person in stores before purchasing online for less money. But these guarantees come with plenty of fine print, and the result is that price matching doesn’t work in the way shoppers might expect. Enda Kenny is due to attend the Sept. 20 opening of the new premises of Arvato Finance, a German-owned billing and payment-services company, in Dublin's docklands, but has delayed his convoy to take a call. Conversations with Ireland's Prime Minister are often pleasantly discursive; if words were money, Kenny could have easily cleared the national debt since coming to power in February 2011. And so, at the appointed hour, he finds himself gridlocked in traffic, facing the skeleton of a building that was to have housed the headquarters of Anglo Irish Bank, the country's third largest lender until red...Korean rapper Psy promised to give his fans a free concert in Seoul if his song reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Well, he hasn’t quite reached that milestone, but he decided that being second best was good enough.(MORE: )Thursday night’s concert lasted two hours — yes, he has many more songs than “Gangnam Style” — and attracted thousands of fans to Seoul Plaza, in the heart of the South Korean capital, with thousands more spilling out into surrounding streets.Media reports said the crush of people swelled to 80,000 as Psy took the stage. Oddly, the concert was rather far — a 5-mile, 45-min. train ride away — from Seoul’s now famous Gangnam district, the neighborhood Psy mercilessly mocks.(MORE: )At the Thursday show, Psy downed an entire bottle of soju (Korean rice liquor) in one gulp, proclaiming, “This is for Korea!” He also sprinted up and down the runway that stretched out into the crowd. And he even kept his promise to perform the invisible horse dance without a shirt on.According to his agency, the concert was organized “to return the encouragement domestic fans have been giving to Psy.” He had just returned to Korea after spending several weeks in the U.S. on a rolling media tour that saw him appear on numerous television shows, from to Saturday Night Live — and even .(WATCH: )The U.S.-educated musician (he studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston) has been famous in South Korea since 2001, when he released his first album, which also containing satirical lyrics and outlandish dances. Since then, he’s released five more, with another on the way later this year. Many of his songs have been chart toppers in South Korea, but “Gangnam Style” is the first to become a worldwide hit.MORE: British psychiatrist and Big Pharma gadfly David Healy is so controversial amongst his colleagues that some have tried to have his medical license revoked — but there he was on Thursday, speaking at the American Psychiatric Association’s second largest annual meeting at a well-attended session on conflicts of interest.“It’s a miracle that I was asked along to give a talk [here] and I’m extremely grateful,” Healy said.His disquisition was perhaps less humble. Arguing that his profession is “committing professional suicide” by failing to address its dangerously close relationship with the pharmaceutical industry, he likened psychiatry’s attitude toward its faltering legitimacy to the Vatican’s widely derided response to its child sex abuse scandal by priests — essentially that psychiatry is brushing off justifiable concerns as hype instead of dealing with the source of the problem.Few experts believe that psychiatry’s relationship with the drug industry is healthy. While several speakers at the session pointed out that other specialties are similarly entangled with industry, “everyone does it” is generally not a valid defense where conflicts of interest are concerned.(MORE: )The conflicts throughout medicine — not just in psychiatry — are clear. In 2004 alone, pharmaceutical companies spent about $58 billion on marketing, 87% of which was aimed squarely at the roughly 800,000 Americans with the power to prescribe drugs. The money was spent mainly on free drug samples and sales visits to doctors’ offices; studies find that both free samples and sales calls increase prescribing of brand name drugs and raise medical costs without improving care.Moreover, nearly half of all continuing medical education classes are sponsored by industry. By their third year of medical school, 94% of psychiatrists in training have already accepted a “small non-educational gift or lunch” from a drug company, according to Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a past president of the APA and director of Columbia’s Division of Law, Ethics and Psychiatry, who spoke on the panel with Healy.And while only 34% psychiatrists believe that receiving food or gifts affects their own prescribing patterns, 53% believe that it influences that of their colleagues, according to a study cited by Appelbaum. Research shows that this type of thinking — “Everyone else is prone to biases and social factors, but not me!” — is common and confounds attempts to address conflicts. “At least some of our colleagues are wrong,” Appelbaum said drily of the study.Healy’s jeremiad was more severe and sharply worded, but it seemed to be well received by the psychiatrists assembled in the audience. Many even asked questions that suggested they, too, were troubled by the status quo.“I’m going to argue that we need you to be biased. We want you to be biased by treatments that work,” Healy told his colleagues. “I don’t mind if you’re my doctor and you’ve given talks for industry. My concern is not that you’ve been paid by industry, but that you’ve been fooled by industry. The key conflict is whether people are hiding data from you.”(MORE: )Healy went on to discuss how drug companies have repeatedly concealed important information about the risks of their medications, whether by hiring ghostwriters to spin the results of scientific studies and then getting renowned experts to put their names on the published papers; by employing tricks in clinical trials like using inadequate doses of comparison medications to make the company’s own drug look better; or by simply keeping unfavorable data out of the public domain.Healy himself has also been targeted directly by drug companies who haven’t been happy with his critiques. In fact, he’s to have lost an academic job offer at the University of Toronto as a result of one such critical lecture. At the session on Thursday, one slide in his presentation contained information he sought via a Freedom of Information Act request detailing drug maker Eli Lilly’s strategy for shutting Healy down. To counter his public insistence that drug companies reveal hidden drug data, Lilly proposed doing things like planting confederates in the audience of his presentations to ask questions that support industry’s view.Healy also described how in his own attempts to publish formerly hidden data — which all now reside in the public domain — he encountered legal issues with journals, which ultimately resulted in rejection of publication. The clinical trial data in question in this case showed a greater risk of suicidal acts associated with antidepressants than had previously been revealed.Healy also referenced hidden data from trials of the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa. “None of them mentioned [that the drug could cause] or [had] the highest suicide rate in clinical trial history,” he said. Although drug companies are now required by medical journals to register all of their clinical trials with the National Institutes of Health if they wish to publish them — including those that never end up being published — this is not a legal requirement. They can still hide relevant data from the by not disclosing trials that they never attempt to submit to a journal.Healy noted further that when data surfaced showing a link between antidepressant use and risk of suicide in children, the APA issued a statement proclaiming that “we believe that antidepressants save lives.”“What I believe they should have said is that the APA believes that psychiatrists can save lives because it takes expertise to manage the risks of risky pills,” he said; if psychiatrists’ only role were to dole out drugs, then less-trained physician’s assistants could easily replace them, he noted.(MORE: )But when a questioner, claiming himself “speechless” in the face of Healy’s arguments, asked whether he should just stop prescribing antidepressants, Healy said no. Healy prescribes them himself, but believes that the role of the doctor is to manage risks, not view drugs as harmless. “Medical treatment is poison and the art of medicine is trying to find the right dose,” he said.As for what could be done to disentangle medicine from industry, Healy wasn’t entirely pessimistic. “The key issue in the short term is access to data. We have to insist on that,” he said. “We let industry come to our meetings and let them talk in our programs. I don’t think it’s huge problem that they get paid. The big problem is that if you ask for data, they can’t give it to you. That’s not science, that’s marketing masquerading as science.”But what of the issue of doctors being visited by paid industry types — or being paid by industry themselves? The panel’s organizer, Dr. Daniel Carlat, director of the Pew Prescription Project, noted a new disclosure law, passed as part of President Obama’s health-reform bill in 2010. Under the legislation, drug companies must reveal which doctors have taken any payment or gift from them worth more than $10, and describe the exact amounts taken and the purpose for them on a publicly available website. (Unfortunately that website will not be up and running until 2014 at the earliest.) All of the panelists agreed, however, that while public disclosure is good, it is not enough.Dr. Roy Perlis, who heads the Center for Experimental Drugs and Diagnostics at Massachusetts General Hospital, cited research showing that disclosure can actually backfire in unexpected ways. In one study, for example, people were asked to estimate the number of coins in a jar and provided an “advisor” to help them guess. Unbeknownst to them, the advisor had been paid to try to push people to make higher estimates than they otherwise might.In one condition of the trial, participants were told in advance that the advisor had this bias, but that made matters worse. Under this circumstance, the advisor encouraged participants to make even higher estimates than in the situation without disclosure.(MORE: )“There are two different mechanisms” to explain the phenomenon, says Perlis. “One is strategic exaggeration: ‘I know you’re going to discount what I say, so I deliberately will be more effusive and tell you a higher number.’ The other is so-called moral licensing: ‘I’ve disclosed my conflict, therefore I’m allowed to be biased.’ This very thing may well also play out when disclosing conflicts of interest in medicine.”Maran Woolston, a woman with multiple sclerosis, also spoke on the panel about how betrayed she felt when she learned her doctor had referred much of her care to a drug company subsidiary — but had not revealed it to her — and had also taken $300,000 in funding from various drug makers.“In my opinion, transparency isn’t a silver bullet,” she said. “My ideal solution — and this may be naïve — is that [doctors should] accept no payments whatsoever because then there can be no conflict of interest.”Maia Szalavitz is a health writer at TIME.com. Find her on Twitter at . You can also continue the discussion on TIME Healthland’s page and on Twitter at .Ai Weiwei is . As such, he is constantly at odds with the government of his homeland, the People’s Republic of . The contentiousness has been highlighted by Beijing’s refusal to return Ai’s passport to him, making it impossible for him to travel to the U.S. for the Oct. 7 opening of a major retrospective on his art at the Hirshhorn Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. It was confiscated — illegally, he says — after he was during a crackdown on dissent. The government has also rejected his appeals against $2.4 million in back taxes and penalties levied on Ai’s company, Beijing Fake Design Cultural Development. After submitting a $1.33 million deposit, Ai says he won’t pay anything more. The artist spoke to TIME’s Austin Ramzy about his upcoming show, his political activism and how the closely the government is watching him. (PHOTOS: )What things would you like to do when you get your passport? If a person has any freedom, then freedom to travel is part of it. If you have nothing to charge me with, you have to give it back to me. The police also said we understand this is not legal.If you were given your passport and allowed to travel, do you worry about being able to return? There are so many cases of people being blocked from returning. I always prepare for the worst, but I also try to act according to what is possible. I always think: Why should [the government] do that? It is not good for them, it is not good for anybody. I think maybe they would change. Every decision I make, I always try to say the [government] has the possibility to change. Otherwise, why would you still fight? So that would bring me into many, many difficult circumstance. Because I’m always willing to test and to say: What could happen? Or say: just because it happened last time, does that mean it will happen again? So I can’t say what will or will not happen.There are many cases where there are things that you fought for and that your side ended up having a victory of sorts. There were the Green Dam censorship software that the government wanted to install on Chinese computers and the research into the names of students who died in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Green Dam was blocked, and eventually, the government was forced to release a total of the student deaths. Looking at that, do you see any potential for, if not exactly change in the system, at least movement or response by the government to the interests of the public? I think so. Gradually, under pressure from not just me but from different points. I think the pressure is getting stronger, you can see it every day. I always jump to the other side, to think about it from the view of the government. You can see the Internet discussion. So far, it is the strongest force to deliver the pressure to the government and make people’s voice be heard. It happens everywhere. Sometimes it doesn’t have an immediate effect. Like the Beijing flood this summer, to name those names [of the dead], it was quite difficult, but they had to do it. If they didn’t do it, people will start to research on their own. That will cause the government much more problems.The government [knows] … many issues need to be faced and answered. And they know the sooner they answer, the less cost and less damage. But who is going to do it? I think the pressure still need to come from the civil movement. After 63 years, [the government] cut out all the possible interests groups or different kind of discussions. They don’t exist. The whole nation becomes very simple. The master gives the order ruthlessly. The civilians just have to obey it. There’s no space for discussion, no structure, etcetera. No way to even to evaluate the damage. There is no true communication.Like my case, it is so politicized. They can just tell you’ve been arrested or you are released or you’re free now or you cannot have the passport. I said: Can I have any communication of what is going on? Can you ask me some questions or I ask you any questions? Most cases in China are handled this way, not just my case. If you look at the case or his wife’s case or the case of Wang Lijun, there are so many holes in the whole procedure, but none of them will be answered. How can they maintain a society with no sense of trust or justice? This is the question, How come in such [a] large civilization and one-fifth of the human population, [there is] no sense of justice, … no clear measurement of right or wrong? It [is] a very primitive … level, nobody can give you a clear definite answer. Nobody can clearly say that they have to protect the constitution of China. According to constitution, these are violations by government, but can anybody openly discuss those?(MORE: )You recently posted some photographs of the anti-Japan demonstrations. You were also a photojournalist for a while in your U.S. days, photographing the Tompkins Square Park riots among other things. I actually never stopped. So many things are worth recording. It’s worth it to see it twice. It’s worth paying attention and looking at something twice. It is an intelligent act. So I think that it is very important, just a simple few seconds. I turned on the video because there was a demonstration in front of the U.S. embassy, which surprised me.The slogans [declared] that the U.S. is behind the Japanese [claim to disputed islands in the East China Sea]. And they said, “Return our money.” The U.S. never borrowed money, China bought the bonds from the U.S. But you can see this kind of hatred. That tells you about the kind of rationality of the [regime] old-timers, who are trying to integrate people’s anger into modern foreign affairs. It is a pity because we all know if [the] government wants, it will not allow you to take one step outside your door. There are so many people still living in detention. To have large demonstrations in 50 cities, you don’t have to say who it is organized by. Then I see the [U.S.] ambassador’s car; it was very obvious, it had the flag in front. I was very surprised because I had been to that area for a year and never seen the ambassador’s car at that gate. The people started to stop the car, [pulling] the flag. That was interesting, so I put it on the Internet.When you say it is clear that the protests were organized, you mean by the government? Oh, yeah. There is nobody in this whole society would question that. This is a society fully surveilled and regulated by the police. Our conversation, whoever comes in here, it will all be recorded. I mean I can’t step out without being noticed.In the catalog for the Hirshhorn exhibition, there are things I had not seen before: the Sichuan rebar piece and also the crabs. Can you tell me a little bit about them? Both works are being shown for the first time to the public. The rebar comes very obviously from [the 2008 Sichuan earthquake]. When I started, we had the investigation [into the number of students who died in collapsed ], there was such frustration. It was such a tragedy and so many lives have disappeared. We never had a moment of explanation or just some regret from the official side. It is always very harsh, very bitter. I was beaten and almost lost my life. The names we found out, you can also see them in the show at the Hirshhorn. When you go up the elevator, the whole wall [is] covered by 5,200 names of students. We have [the] sound of those names pronounced by people [over the] Internet. Over 10,000 people participated in this sound piece.I used that as the beginning of the show and the end of the piece is the Sichuan rebar. The rebar is from the ruins and took us a long time to take back. We bought it secretly, and then we didn’t know what to do with it. It really becomes so [emotionally] heavy because it was from those ruins and there are still so many people under the ruins. They didn’t touch Beichuan [a town buried in the 2008 earthquake]. And we didn’t touch it. I thought, How can I still [raise] the same questions [about the government’s refusal to acknowledge the earthquake victims] but not disturb the form [of the rebar], which reflects or continues the demand for the facts? So we gradually just spread it out and bent it. We made it like the ones [fresh] out of the factory, and it took a lot of people years to clean [the rebar] off because it was all so curved. To make it straight took hundreds of blows to straighten. Then at last it becomes a pile of rebar exactly like what comes out of factory. It has no history to it. You could never tell that it comes from the ruins. Everything has been cleaned up. The effort itself makes that a stronger question.(MORE: )Can you tell me a little bit about the pattern of the rebar? I had a map, a Chinese map, the borderline, the pattern a little bit reflects that. Because the metal is of different thickness and lengths, so we have to put it in order, otherwise you will not have a pattern. So the pattern automatically come out from the arrangement of the order.That is a last piece of exhibition. Over 40% of the works are new. Another new work is about river crabs. It is about how the Shanghai government destroyed the studio that they invited me to build [for the 2010 Expo]. At last I said it has to be destroyed. For China to destroy a house is not a big deal. You shouldn’t dramatize it, just [accept] it. But I said I would [throw] one party. So many people wanted to see the work; it is [a] beautiful architecture piece. We had over a thousand people register to come from different parts of China, about 20 different provinces. They brought their children or husband or wives or even parents. That was in the season you eat river crabs. And you know [the word for] river crabs is hexie. [NOTE: hexie is a pun on the word harmonious, which has become a synonym for censorship, part of the government’s goal of a “harmonious society.”] That party was forbidden, so I made the crabs for the show.You lived in U.S. for 12 years before returning in 1993. How did the U.S. change you and how did it affect your art? It is very strange. When I was there, I desperately trying just to survive, and of course, I experienced and learned so much through art on the Lower East Side or demonstrations or even the Iran Contra scandal. All those things I watched. I never [thought] there was an influence … until I was in detention and the police asked me the same question. Because they had have to find out why this man relentlessly criticized the government. He’s psycho, why is he doing this? What is the fundamental change? … At the beginning, when I talked with them, they said, ‘Ha ha, you must watch too many Hollywood movies.’ I said, ‘Yes, I love Hollywood movies.’ I still can be touched if I watch movies. I started to realize I have changed. The American experience quite influenced my understanding of individuality, about basic human rights, about the rights of freedom of expression and the rights and responsibility of citizens.Then later I learned everything from the Internet. I learned to discuss, to communicate, to make a point through modern technology. So maybe there are three parts in my life — earlier background living in exile in Xinjiang in a very political circumstance, then later the United States from 24 to 36 years old. I was quite equipped with liberal thinking. Then the Internet. If there is no Internet, of course, I cannot really exercise my opinion or my ideas.You said that after you arrived in New York, you began to understand the work of Jasper Johns. What did you take from him? When I just started to study art, a very well-known Chinese translator Yang Xianyi, who translated almost every top piece of Chinese literature for the West, gave me a book of Jasper Johns’ paintings and I could not understand it. The painting is about red, yellow and blue and some brushes and some containers. So I threw it away. I gave it to friends and they also [didn’t] want it. Then after I went to Parsons [School of Design], I looked at Andy Warhol, because he is so easy to understand. And then I realized Andy Warhol made some points about Johns and [Robert] Rauschenberg, because he always wanted to be accepted by Johns. He would always pop up and Johns [would be] very cool to him. And he didn’t recognize Warhol that much.So I looked at Johns and realized he is really an artist for the artist. He is really concerned about very essential language and the meaning of interpretation and the way really to look at [Ludwig] Wittgenstein and [Marcel] Duchamp. So Johns allowed me to take another step to look at what Duchamp did, which is the intellectual part of art, concept and language. That is why I do feel quite grateful for what Jasper Johns did, and that is why the title [of the Hirshhorn retrospective] uses one of his one of his works, “According to What.”In the Hirshhorn show, there is a quote: “This so-called contemporary art is not a form but a philosophy of society.” What do you mean by that? I think very often we see art as artwork or art objects but [do not] emphasize the mind of the people or the movement behind it. I think that can very much lead to misunderstanding and it can be misdirected to the commercial side of art. Today we see changes at all levels, politics and economics and culture. We can see a new definition and new possibilities to give a new look to art and a new understanding of why we need art in today’s society.MORE: MORE: (LONDON) — Britain’s High Court is due to rule on whether radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terrorist suspects can be extradited to the United States — judgments the government hopes will clear the final hurdle to their removal after years of legal wrangling.Judges Duncan Ouseley and John Thomas are handing down judgment Friday in the case of al-Masri, who turned London’s Finsbury Park Mosque into a training ground for radical Islamists and is wanted in the U.S. on charges that include helping set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon.Al Masri and the four other men have been fighting extradition for years, and both British and European courts have ruled that they can be sent to the U.S. to face charges.They applied to the High Court for a last-minute halt, with al-Masri’s lawyers saying his deteriorating health means it would be “oppressive” to send him to a U.S. prison.(MORE: )Lawyers for the preacher, who has one eye and hooks in place of hands he claims to have lost fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, said he suffers from depression, chronic sleep deprivation, diabetes and other ailments and is in need of medical tests. Al-Masri has been in jail in Britain since 2004.Also learning whether they can be extradited are Babar Ahmad, Khaled al-Fawwaz, Adel Abdul Bary and Syed Ahsan.Ahmad has fought for almost a decade to avoid being sent to the U.S., where he is accused of running terrorist-funding websites. Ahsan faces charges of supporting terrorism and conspiring to kill or injure people in a foreign country.Bary and al-Fawwaz were indicted with others, including Osama bin Laden, for their alleged roles in the bombings of two U.S. embassies in east Africa in 1998. Al-Fawwaz faces more than 269 counts of murder.The various extradition bids have dragged on for as long as 14 years amid wrangles over whether the defendants’ human rights would be respected by U.S. authorities.Government lawyer James Edie said this week that no further appeals would be possible if the High Court judges ruled against the suspects.He said in that case the government would be entitled to “move instantly” to deport the men.by JILL LAWLESSIt’s one of those rare times that — just maybe — it’s possible to turn $5 into $300,000. A rare bill that was proudly displayed in one family’s house in Pasadena, Calif. for decades is being put up for sale and is expected to fetch a whopping six figures.The extremely rare, century-old bill features an image of former U.S. President Benjamin Harrison, who served from 1889 to 1893. The $5 bill is incredibly rare: out of the entire country, it was only issued by three banks in Alaska, for a brief period at the turn of the century. The note will go to auction through Heritage Auctions in Dallas and online as part of an event being sponsored by the American Numismatic Association.(LIST: )In 1905 the bill was presented by the First National Bank in Alaska to Charles W. Fairbanks, Theodore Roosevelt’s vice president, who was best known for negotiating the end to a border dispute between Canada and the U.S. Since then, it’s been passed through several generations and is now in the hands of Charles Fairbanks IV, the great-grandson of the former statesman.As the reports:According to [the auction house director], the Fairbanks bill was just one of four notes of its kind in the $5 denomination that were issued in 1905 by the Alaska bank, which was acquired by KeyCorp and became part of KeyBank. One of those bills sold 15 years ago for close to $100,000 and the market has “really picked up for the rarest pieces,” he said.(MORE: )A third pristine bill is reportedly in storage at the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks — a the town named for Charles Fairbanks IV’s ancestor. According to Angela Linn, a collections manager of ethnology and history, the bill being currently auctioned off by the family is also in excellent condition, although some minor restoration work had been done.Erica Ho is a contributor at TIME and the editor of . Find her on Twitter at and . You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s and on Twitter at .7:10 am ET: “Romney Claims of Bipartisanship as Governor Face Challenge”: “Fall in Jobless Rate Strips Romney of an Argument”: “Romney Gets Post-Debate Jolt”: “Key to Florida Victory Might Be Jacksonville Area”: “How Obama Reset His Campaign”: “Dems Say Romney Lied During Debate — And It Will Cost Him” The stories we read to frighten ourselves say a lot about what we want and what we fear. What the big horror books of the moment imply is that we hope for long relationships with fictional characters, especially if they're teenage girls; we prefer evil to be uncomplicated and unspeakably awful in familiar ways; and above all, we long to go to the movies. Two of this season's paranormal novels--Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys (the first of a four-volume series of young-adult books) and Justin Cronin's The Twelve (the second volume of a trilogy, following 2010's The Passage) are built on...VOICEOVER: “This was dishonest.”MITT ROMNEY: “I’m not in favor of a $5 trillion tax cut.” VOICEOVER: “Romney’s being dishonest here too:”VOICEOVER FROM ROMNEY AD: “According to an Independent, non-partisan study, Barack Obama and the liberals will raise taxes on the middle class…”VOICEOVER: “The Chairman of that so-called independent group is from Romney’s former company. Dick Cheney’s on its board. Newt Gingrich was there too. It’s not independent. It’s just not true.”VOICEOVER: “President Obama continues to distort Mitt Romney’s economic plan. The latest? Not telling the truth about Mitt Romney’s tax plan. The AP says doesn’t add up. ABC News: mostly fiction. Even the Obama campaign admitted it wasn’t true.”STEPHANIE CUTTER: “Well, okay, stipulated, it won’t be near $5 trillion.”VOICEOVER: “Obama’s plan? $4,000 more in taxes on the middle class. We can’t afford four more years.”MITT ROMNEY: “I’m Mitt Romney and I approve this message.”MELANIE MCNAMARA: “I’m disappointed in Barack Obama as my president. Because he promised to bring us all together and we’re all going to be able to prosper. I don’t see the prospering. In 2008, I voted for Barack Obama. He doesn’t have my vote this time. Why Mitt Romney? Being a woman, you think about your children and you think about their future. And what I want to think about is a future that has jobs. That our economy’s growing again. That’s important to women and it’s important to me.”MITT ROMNEY: “I’m Mitt Romney and I approved this message.”MITT ROMNEY: “The question Ohio families are asking is who can bring back the jobs? Under President Obama, we’ve lost over half a million manufacturing jobs, and China has passed us in manufacturing. I’ll stand up to China. I have a detailed plan to create 12 million new jobs including producing our own energy, in the ground, in Ohio. I’m Mitt Romney, and I approved this message because Ohio families can’t afford four more years like the last four years.”One of them used to call himself Superman. Then the new kid arrived, started calling himself Superman, ticking off the older kid.“I’m Superman.” “No, I’m Superman.” “No, I’m Superman.”We’re not talking about some schoolyard squabble between impulsive 8-year-olds. No, we’re getting at the heart of the psychodrama between two 7-ft., mammoth, millionaire players: Shaquille O’Neal, who loved referring to himself by a variety of nicknames throughout his playing career — Shaq Diesel and Superman among them — and Dwight Howard. In the past few years, O’Neal has gone out of his way to criticize Howard, who like Shaq began his career in Orlando, like Shaq is very fond of Superman and, like Shaq, headed to Hollywood to try to win a title with the Los Angeles Lakers.“Copycat!”(MORE: Now Shaq has the latest salvo: during a chat with fellow TNT analysts, O’Neal said Howard did not rank among the top centers in the NBA:We, as players, we always watch people before us. When I came in, it was Patrick Ewing and , guys who played like true centers, who played inside. What we have now are centers that are going to the European style, which is a lot of pick-and-roll. Dwight Howard, who’s a pick-and-roll player, some people say he’s the best center in the league, but me being an old-school center, I’m going to go with and Andrew Bynum because they play with their back to the basket.O’Neal was actually referring to Robin Lopez’ twin brother Brook, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets. Brook Lopez has averaged 17.4 points in his career, while Robin, of the New Orleans Hornets, has scored 5.8 points per game. Since the Nets coveted Howard to help open their new arena in Brooklyn and spent a season trying to move Lopez in a deal for him, Shaq’s take was pretty surprising.On the other hand, it wasn’t all that shocking, given O’Neal’s history of putting Howard down. Seriously, the is a sticking point. At his retirement press conference in Orlando, Shaq handed out T-shirts that said “The Real Superman” — a shot at Howard in his then backyard. After Shaq criticized him on earlier this year, Howard replied, “He’s mad about Superman.”When asked about Shaq’s latest comments, Howard I don’t care what Shaq says. Shaq played the game. He’s done. He’s gone. It’s time to move on. He hated the fact, you know, that when he played, the older guys were talking about him and how he played, and now he’s doing the exact same thing. Just let it go. There’s no sense for him to be talking trash at me. He did his thing in the league. He’s one of the most dominant players that ever played the game. Just sit back and relax. You did your thing. Your time is up.Howard has admitted he was initially reluctant to join the Lakers because the move would spark ceaseless comparisons of him to O’Neal. Shaq clearly enjoys getting under Howard’s skin, and now that Howard is trying to fill Shaq’s enormous shoes in L.A., the barbs will be flying all season. Howard may not win a title this year. But if he continues to dismiss O’Neal’s criticisms and take a more dignified approach, at least he’ll win the schoolyard battle with Shaq.MORE: (HARRISBURG, Pa.) — should be sent to prison for life when a judge sentences him Tuesday, according to several of the jurors who convicted the former assistant coach of molesting several boys over a period of years.None of the jurors interviewed by The Associated Press said they have had second thoughts about their June verdict, and several plan to attend the sentencing.“There isn’t a sentence that I believe is harsh enough for what he has done and how it has affected the university,” said Joan Andrews, a juror who has worked for Penn State for 41 years and held football season tickets since 1969. “I don’t think there’s been one individual in this entire campus that has not been affected by this.”(LIST: )Four jurors said they plan to be in the courtroom when Sandusky, 68, learns the penalty for sexually abusing boys he met through a charity for at-risk children. Sandusky’s own attorney expects his client to be handed a long sentence from Judge John Cleland after conviction on 45 counts.Although a list of jurors has not been released by Cleland, the AP was able to contact five of them. They said they recently received a letter from the court informing them about the sentencing and offering to have a court official meet them outside the courthouse.A court system spokesman said the jurors are guaranteed a seat but won’t necessarily be sitting together.Only one of the five, retired Penn State soil sciences professor Daniel D. Fritton, said he would not attend.“I’d just like to stay out of the limelight, for one thing,” Fritton said. “I figure I could read in the paper what happens.”Gayle Barnes, a homemaker and former school district employee, said she thinks a lot about the victims, particularly the eight who testified against Sandusky and provided what she considers the critical evidence of guilt. She said he deserves life in prison.“I do still feel good, what we as jurors did,” Barnes said. “I didn’t go there saying off the bat he’s guilty. I needed to listen to every single thing that was said.”(PHOTOS: )Barnes said she has been in touch with a fifth juror and an alternate juror who also plan to attend the sentencing.High school science teacher Joshua Harper, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State, said that he takes pride in having served on the jury, and that the guilty verdict was not a close call. He wants Sandusky “put away for the rest of his life, really.”“This is what prisons are for, you know,” Harper said. “I mean, I don’t think you let a guy loose like that.”He also felt the victim testimony was pivotal.“It was such a consistent pattern of behavior,” Harper said. “It was just so solid. The defense was just so thin. There was no evidence that these kids were lying. Even the minor inconsistencies that the defense tried to bring up — and did bring up — that made it more convincing.”Through a relative, juror Ann T. Van Kuren said she also plans to attend.Barnes and Harper both said they hoped to learn more about what Penn State officials did or did not do in 1998 and 2001 after getting complaints about Sandusky showering with boys. That was a major theme of the report issued to Penn State this summer by Louis Freeh, the former FBI director, and is likely also to arise during civil litigation by Sandusky’s victims against the university.(MORE: )“We don’t know the whole story to this whole thing yet,” said Barnes, a Nittany Lions fan who felt so strongly that ‘s statue should remain in place that she went to the scene outside Beaver Stadium the day it was removed in July, about a month after the verdict. “I just felt like they jumped ship, they didn’t do the right thing, that they needed more information. What’s going to happen if Curley and Schultz are found not guilty?”Tim Curley, the school’s athletic director on leave, and Gary Schultz, a retired vice president, are awaiting trial on charges they did not properly report suspected abuse and lied to the grand jury that investigated Sandusky. Paterno, the school’s Hall of Fame coach, was fired after Sandusky was arrested in November and died of lung cancer in January.The names of Curley, Schultz and even Paterno did not come up in deliberations, Andrews said.“I don’t know what to think about Curley and Schultz,” she said. “I think Joe Paterno was and is and has been falsely accused of many things. I don’t think the man was informed of the detail for him to understand how serious this was.”Sandusky’s sentencing on Tuesday will begin with Cleland determining whether he qualifies as a sexually violent predator, a status that would require lifetime registration if he is ever paroled.By MARK SCOLFORO Fifteen-year-old Taylor Santos let a classmate copy her homework, and she learned the hard way never to do it again. Santos, a student at Springtown High School in Texas, was punished by a vice principal with a swift swat to her bottom using a wooden paddle. The spanking left blisters and forced her to sleep on her side that night. As upset as Santos' mother was, however, it wasn't the spanking, which she had consented to, that led her to complain to the school board. It was the severity of the punishment and the fact that it was delivered by a...One of the more interesting nuggets in the is this: In 1982, nine members of the inaugural class of the richest Americans owned sports teams. In this year’s gilt grouping, the number is 32. That’s quite a jump, one that likely says more about the rise in value of all things sports-related over the past decades—teams, stadiums, broadcast rights, salaries, ticket prices, merchandise sales, sponsorships, ad rates—as it does about upper crust interests or hobbies. But considered alongside some other bits of news, the Forbes 400 factoid makes you wonder if we might be reaching a market top on sports team values.It goes without saying—but we’ll say it anyway, because the truism trumps everything else on the topic—that any discussion of team values comes with a caveat: No matter the economics, there always seems to be someone willing to pay top dollar for the right to say he (and yes, it’s usually he) owns a team.That won’t change any time soon, especially given the distinct advantage sports has over its rivals: Individual games, matches, and bouts are by definition unique, and audiences prefer watching them live to an extent unrivaled by any other forms of entertainment. As a result, rights fees for sports properties across the spectrum of media platforms—TV, cable, radio, digital—have risen dramatically in recent years, fueling the jump in franchise values.(MORE: )Still, there are reasons to think we might at least see a slackening in the pace of franchise-value acceleration. These among them:1. Prices look bubbly. According to Forbes, in the world are worth $16 billion, up 11% from a year ago. That seems frothy given the generally weak-to-poor state of the global economy, which explains the head-scratching and carping that occurred when a Magic Johnson-led consortium paid $2.3 billion for the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this year, nearly tripling the previous highest-price-paid-for-an-MLB-team mark ($845 million for the Chicago Cubs in 2009).2. Some smart money has started selling. News broke last month that Philip Anschutz—whose Anshutz Entertainment Group owns NBA, NHL and MLS teams in L.A.—is looking to sell. This follows Randy Lerner’s August sale of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns (for $1 billion), not to mention rumors that Red Sox (and Liverpool) owner John Henry is mulling a sale of his baseball team (which he denies). All three men are thought to be among the savviest of current or recent owners, so any profit-taking from the likes of them is worth noting.3. The workers are uneasy. For all the money generated in American pro sports, the relationship between management and labor is among the . In the 40 years since the MLB became the first league in the modern era to lock out its players, there have been more than two dozen work stoppages of one kind or another (strike or lockout) in the Big 4 sports, with three in the past eight years. (And one, in the NHL, happening now.) Poor labor relations does not an attractive acquisition candidate make.(MORE: )4. TV money is not immune to gravity. Rights fees are high because cable and broadcast networks have been willing to keep paying more and more money for sports programming under the assumption that a) they can keep charging consumers more and more money to watch their games; and b) they can keep charging advertisers more and more money to reach those consumers. Despite some recently signed long-term deals, neither status quo is a sure bet to remain that way. For one thing, there is always a chance that Congress or other market forces will impel the cable industry to , which could easily change (for the worse) the economics of big rights buyers like ESPN.For another, as marketers inevitably become more sophisticated in their understanding of viewer habits and ad effectiveness, the pace of price hikes they’ll be willing tolerate will surely come under pressure to slow. Smarter people than me are : At Advertising Week in New York recently, there was a panel titled “Sports Rights On Television: Can The Marketplace Afford Sports Anymore?” As Leo Hindery Jr., who helped build the highly profitable Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, told the in September: “It’s that assumption of perpetual ups in traditional media that’s a fallacy. It can’t be proven to be true.”Does any of this mean that 2042′s Forbes 400 won’t have ballooned to include 90 pro teams? No, of course not. But it might mean that a lot of those franchises won’t be worth quite the fortunes their then-owners will have expected.PHOTOS: The serial Novel--fiction delivered in installments instead of a single volume--harks back to Charles Dickens, who popularized the format in 1836 with The Pickwick Papers. The tradition survives today as the e-serial: a story broken into episodes, downloaded to a digital reader and retailed for usually about $2 per hit. But if you ask e-serial publishers to describe the lure of the format, chances are they'll invoke the likes of Walter White or Tyrion Lannister over Samuel Pickwick. Byliner, a prestigious source of short-format e-books, is publishing Margaret Atwood's dystopian Positron under its Byliner Serials imprint; editor in chief Mark Bryant...(NEW YORK) — As the tally from a deadly meningitis outbreak rose Friday, health officials identified the medical clinics across the country that received steroid shots for back pain now linked to the illnesses.Authorities took the step to help identify everyone who may have gotten sick — or may still get sick — in the outbreak.“All patients who may have received these medications need to be tracked down immediately,” said Dr. Benjamin Park of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“It is possible that if patients with infection are identified soon and put on appropriate antifungal therapy, lives may be saved,” he said in a statement.(MORE: )The CDC said the number of cases of the rare fungal meningitis reached nearly 50 cases, and spread to a seventh state Friday. The number of deaths in the outbreak remained at five.Investigators have focused on a steroid medication made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts. All the outbreak patients had gotten shots of the steroid for back pain, a common treatment, and inspectors found at least one sealed vial contaminated with fungus.On Friday, officials said they have found fungal infections in nine sick patients. They weren’t able to identify what types of fungus in every one of those patients, but did distinguish at least two types — Aspergillus and Exserohilum.In all, 47 people have contracted fungal meningitis, the CDC said. Michigan became the seventh state to report cases, with four. Tennessee’s cases now total 29; Virginia, six; Indiana, 3; two each in Maryland and Florida and one in North Carolina.Three people have died in Tennessee and one in Virginia and Maryland.The first known case in the meningitis outbreak was diagnosed about two weeks ago in Tennessee, and the steroid was recalled last week by the pharmacy, New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass.About 17,700 single-dose vials of the steroid were covered in the recall. On Friday, the government released the names of about 75 facilities in 23 states that got recalled doses between July and September.(Q&A: )It’s not clear how many were sent to clinics, how many were used, or even whether everyone who got one will get sick. Once infected, it can take as long as a month for symptoms to appear.At the prompting of government officials, clinics are notifying all the patients who got shots from the recalled lots.“There’s a massive effort to contact all the patients,” said Marsha Thiel, the chief executive officer of MAPS, a company that owns surgery center clinics in Minnesota.She added, “If there’s any question at all, they’re being directed to go to their physician.”As a precaution, the Food and Drug Administration urged doctors not to use any of the company’s products, and released a list Friday that included other steroids, anesthetics and a blood pressure medicine. The company, which is now closed, said in a statement Thursday that despite the FDA warning, “there is no indication of any potential issues with other products.”The steroid is known as preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate, which the compounding pharmacy creates by combining a powder with a liquid.There are FDA-approved versions of the drug, sold by the brand name Depo-Medrol, in good supply. So patients who need the medicine should not encounter a shortage, the FDA said Friday.Most of the anxiety now involves patients who got steroid shots for back pain and are worried about becoming seriously ill.“Our phone is ringing off the hook this morning. Patients are calling. Of course, they’re concerned,” said Paulette Fry, practice manager at Wellspring Pain Solutions in Columbus, Ind., about 40 miles south of Indianapolis. She said the clinic was sending out letters to about 300 patients who received spinal injections with the drug.Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include severe headache, nausea, dizziness and fever.Fungal meningitis is not contagious like the more common forms. The types of fungus linked to the outbreak are all around, but very rarely causes illness. Fungal meningitis is treated with high-dose antifungal medications, usually given intravenously in a hospital.By MIKE STOBBEMORE: Cosmic Comics A quartet of graphic novels explore song craft, soldiers and a sinister future 1 C. Tyler YOU'LL NEVER KNOW, BOOK THREE: SOLDIER'S HEART Soldier's heart is what people used to call PTSD, and the final volume of Tyler's exquisitely painted trilogy explores how her father's World War II experiences have reverberated in her family. The book is as much about empty spaces--in history and on the page--as it is about the details she can fill in. 2 Chris Ware BUILDING STORIES This is more than a book; it's a profusion of printed paper: a box full of pamphlets, comic...What would happen if women at risk for unintended pregnancies received the birth control of their choice — especially the more effective kinds — at no cost?The national abortion rate would plummet, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology on Thursday.The researchers enrolled 9,256 women from the St. Louis region into the Contraceptive Choice Project between August 2007 and September 2011. The women were aged 14 to 45, with an average age of 25, and many were poor and uninsured with low education. Nearly two-thirds had had an unintended pregnancy previously. Participants were either not using a reversible contraception method or willing to switch to a new one.(LIST: )Researchers provided free, FDA-approved birth control to the women for three years. The women were given their choice of contraception, including oral birth control pills and long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods like implants and IUDs. The researchers specially briefed the participants on the “superior effectiveness” of LARC methods — the T-shaped IUD, or intrauterine device, has close to 100% effectiveness and can last five to 10 years, for instance — and 75% of women chose those devices over the pill, patch or ring.Over the course of the study, which lasted from 2008 to 2010, women experienced far fewer unintended pregnancies than expected: there were 4.4 to 7.5 abortions per 1,000 women in the study, after adjusting for age and race — much fewer than the national rate of 19.6 abortions per 1,000 women and lower also than the rate in the St. Louis area of 13.4 to 17 abortions per 1,000 women.The effect of free contraception on the teen birth rate was remarkable: there were 6.3 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 in the study, compared with the national rate of 34.3 births per 1,000 teen girls.(MORE: )The findings come amidst contention over President Obama’s health-care law, which offers women FDA-approved birth control without a copay. for women signing up for new health insurance plans or renewing their existing plans.“[C]hanges in contraceptive policy simulating the Contraceptive Choice Project would prevent as many as 41% to 71% of abortions performed annually in the United States,” the study’s authors wrote.Nearly half of the more than 6 million pregnancies that occur each year are unintended, and about 43% of them end in abortion. Further, about 1 million births are unintended, costing U.S. taxpayers about $11 billion a year in associated expenses. Low-income women with less education are far more likely to have an unintended pregnancy than their wealthier, educated peers.About half of unplanned pregnancies occur in women who are using no contraception; in other cases, women may be using short-acting contraception, like condoms or pills, which can fail if not used properly. In contrast, methods like IUDs, which are fitted into the uterus, or hormonal implants, which are surgically placed under the skin of the upper arm, can be placed and then forgotten about — no need to remember to refill a prescription or take a pill at the same time each day.(MORE: )Women who choose long-acting contraception are more likely to stick with it as well: in the study, 85% were still using it a year later, compared with 35% of those choosing pills or other short-acting forms of birth control. “Because LARC methods have been shown to have higher continuation rates than other reversible methods, the number of adolescents and women using no contraception would decline, further decreasing the unintended pregnancy rate,” the authors conclude.Yet American women use LARC methods at far lower rates than in other countries. In large part, that’s because of cost: , which requires a doctor visit, can total $500 to $1,000, for example. Over a decade, however, birth control pills can cost just as much. American doctors also tend not to recommend long-acting birth control to women as often as they do the pill or patch, though IUDs and implants may be up to .That’s why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists doctors to recommend IUDs and implants as “first-line” contraceptive choices to their teen patients.7:05 am ET: “Error and Fraud at Issue as Absentee Voting Rises”: “Capitol Assets: Congress’s Wealthiest Mostly Shielded from Effects of Deep Recession”: “Romney Shows Softer Side; Obama Raising More Cash”: “Boehner Wary of Lame-Duck Deficit Deal”: “Mitt Romney Seizes Momentum with 30 Days Left Before Election” The Washington nationals entered the late-September stretch run with the best record in baseball. That means the nation's capital will host postseason play for the first time since 1933, when FDR was tossing first pitches. But in the tradition of Washington's tortured baseball history--the Nationals have struggled since arriving from Montreal in 2005; the old Washington Senators stank for decades before leaving D.C., twice--success comes with a cruel twist. The Nats will enter the playoffs without one of their star players--by choice. Starting-pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg was benched in early September, having neared his preassigned limit of 180 innings of work...A visitor rings the doorbell to a large gated villa in Benghazi, and a gardener slowly opens the heavy metal door. He welcomes guests with a big smile, offering them tea before giving them a guided tour of the sprawling grounds with its swimming pool and hefty trees, which obscure the view from prying eyes. But the villa is not just another secluded house owned by a wealthy Libyan seeking privacy. It is the most sensitive crime scene in the world.For each day of the past two weeks, TIME has visited the American consulate in Benghazi where the ambassador and three others were killed on Sept. 11th. And with the passing of every day, people cart off more and more evidence and sensitive information that couldendanger the lives of Americans still in , and impair the investigation into the attack just now getting underway.(MORE: )After 23 days, Libyan authorities finally cordoned off the consulate Thursday and prohibited people from entering it as American investigators made their first brief visit to the site. For weeks, has said it was too dangerous to send FBI agents to Benghazi. But now, they may be too late to piece together the clues to the attack. A number of Libyans and foreigners have visited the compound, according to the gardener Idris Muhammad Juma’a. “Every day people come and look around,” Idris told TIME, sitting in a plastic chair under a palm tree on Tuesday. “The other day some Turks came and took a big painting.”But it is not the disappearance of paintings that should disturb American investigators and intelligence officials. Large white boards listing names and numbers of U.S. military and diplomatic installations abroad have vanished. Documents with detailed accounts of previous attacks against the consulate have disappeared as well. “It’s not our job to stop people from taking things,” Idris says. “We are just gardeners.”Though Idris and his companion are tending to the grounds, the Americans have not secured the compound. Idris saysAmerican officials only visited the consulate once around Sept. 24. “They came with some translators and took some pictures. They left after 10 minutes.”It is not only the consulate the FBI has neglected. Libyans guarding the compound the night of the attacknote they have not been contacted by Americans since the incident. “I thought they would want to speak to us,” says Muhammad, who saw some of the attackers. “But no one has called us.”In such investigations, it is routine for FBI agents to wait until they can interview people directly, according to Ali Soufan, the lead FBI agent in the inquiry into the 2000 USS Cole attack. “You don’t collect intelligence over the phone. It must be face to face, not over Skype.” Soufan, who detailed his role in the Cole investigation and his part in uncovering the men responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks in his book The Black Banners, notes that there are several things that have delayed the FBI’s arrival in Benghazi. “You need a country clearance. If you don’t have a [local] partner to work with, how are you going to interrogate?”But with a Libyan central government too weak to stabilize the country, it has to rely on local militias to protect the consulate and provide security for the FBI. Since each brigade is led by a different man, the Libyan government has had to coordinate FBI visits with a number of individuals. And because the FBI needs a “significant team that includes different specialties ranging from forensics teams to communication specialists” according to Soufan, the group needs a level of security no one in Benghazi can provide.“It’s just not safe for the Americans to come now,” says a leader of one of the brigades in touch with the American embassy in Tripoli.In the interim, evidence at the consulate has been tampered with. It is clear that rubble in the annex where Ambassador Chris Stevens took refuge has been moved. “Securing the crime scene is very important to prevent contamination,” says Soufan. But with so many people rummaging through the consulate in the past three weeks, ranging from curious visitors to possibly the attackers themselves, the compound is being compromised daily. And that will make the FBI’s job all the more difficult when it finally pursues its investigation in earnest.MORE: Bookish dilemmas, solved in handy chart form [The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.] START DO YOU OWN A DOG? YES HAS YOUR DOG REACHED HIS GOLDEN YEARS? YES Jessica Pierce's THE LAST WALK is a heart-wrenching yet practical-minded guide to easing your pet's journey to the great dog park in the sky NO The heart of J.R. Ackerley's darkly enchanting WE THINK THE WORLD OF YOU (newly reissued by New York Review Books) is a German shepherd named Evie NO DO YOU OWN A CHILD? YES IS THIS CHILD MYSTERIOUS TO YOU?...5:05 pm ETIn a total reversal of what prevailed for the entirety of the last six months, now it is clear what message Mitt Romney wants to run on until Election Day, but/and it is not clear what the President wants to say.Romney: Why would anyone expect the next four years to be better than the last four years if Obama wins re-election?Obama: Big Bird? Romney’s a liar? Romney is out of touch? Romney put his dog on the roof of his car?This dynamic could, of course, change again. But one of Chicago’s biggest advantages for months was message clarity, while Romney slipped and slid from one theme to another.Not to overstate the case, but, post-debate, advantage Romney on this vital score.Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Theresa Richards impresses a young girl after giving her a piece of candy in Farah province on Sept. 29.Tinseltown’s most iconic landmark is having some work done.The legendary, if faded, white Hollywood sign set in the hills of Los Angeles is getting its first makeover in roughly 35 years this week as crews have started an eight to 10 week effort to completely spruce up the most famous nine letters in Southern California.(LIST: )The sign gets repainted periodically — the last time was in 2005 — but this project is far more ambitious. Workers will strip off all the old paint and add a protective layer consisting of 110 gallons of acrylic primer and a sparkling coat of 275 gallons of white exterior paint.A local Los Angeles commercial painting crew will handle the job, sponsored by Sherwin-Williams and the Hollywood Sign Trust — not quite as exciting as when mules hauled the original 43-foot-tall metal letters up Mount Lee as an advertisement for a real estate development called Hollywoodland in 1923.In its initial heyday, 4,000 20-watt bulbs kept the “holly,” “wood” and “land” portions of the sign blinking in true look-at-me-now fashion. In 1949 the “land” portion came down, leaving the “Hollywood” that we know today. The sign sank into disrepair for the next three decades, , losing almost an entire “O” and much of the “D.” Termites gnawed away at the rest.In 1978, Hugh Hefner stepped in and convinced celebrities to sponsor the refurbishment of the sign, at $27,500 per letter, and after three months and 194 tons of concrete, enamel and steel later, the current sign was finished.In the current sprucing up, crews will pressure-wash the corrugated metal, sanding and stripping it of all the weather-beaten paint before a glimmering coat of paint makes the old sign look new again. How fitting. This is Hollywood, after all.PHOTOS: The air is electric at this posh London casino, where a beautiful woman has been losing big at chemin de fer. How can the stranger across the table keep drawing better cards out of the shoe? Desperately, she borrows more to cover her bets, and the stranger says, “I admire your courage, Miss . . .”“Trench,” the brunette answers. “Sylvia Trench.” She appraises her rival with an envy edging toward lust. “I admire your luck, Mr. . . .”“Bond.” The silver cigarette lighter snaps shut to reveal a face of elegant cruelty: dimples welded like scars, incredible long whips of eyebrows, a full mouth ready for any challenge — to spit out a witticism, to commandeer a kiss, to sip from the cup of revenge. To say his name: “James Bond.”Moviegoers first heard that terse exchange in a London theater on Oct. 5, 1962. That same week, Johnny Carson became host of The Tonight Show, and Pope John XXIII adorned the cover of TIME. In two weeks, Khrushchev and Kennedy would go eyeball to eyeball in a dispute over Cuban missiles. So who cared about the world premiere of Dr. No, the first film made from Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, or about the introduction of Sean Connery as Her Majesty’s hunkiest secret servant? Who knew?(LIST: )Fifty years later — also nine Presidents, four Popes, two Tonight Show hosts and some 2,500 issues of TIME — the Soviet Union has disappeared, depriving the West of its long-time world threat, and Bond of his favorite nemesis. The entertainment landscape has changed, as most people see movies on home video or personal computers. Fleming himself died in 1964, having written 12 Bond novels and eight short stories. Yet the Bond films abide, in movie theaters, on DVD and as spinoff animated series and video games.Before sequels became the most reliable way to make a buck, Bond set the standard for lavish serial adventures. Before Hollywood found gold in multimillion-dollar adaptations of comic-book characters — in the Superman, Batman and Spider-Man blockbusters — Bond was the movies’ first big-budget franchise superhero. Spanning fully half the century of English-language feature films, Bond is also the longest-running continuous movie series. Things change, including the actors who play him, but Bond goes on saving the world from megalomaniac crime masters, heartless femmes fatales and indifferently prepared vodka martinis.This multimedia legend has also weathered many changes of leading actors. Bond was first played on American television, in a one-hour adaptation of Casino Royale on the 1954 anthology series Climax!, by Barry Nelson. (Peter Lorre was the villainous Le Chiffre.) In the 1967 spoof version of the same novel, at least four actors — David Niven, Peter Sellers, Terence Cooper and Ursula Andress — laid claim to being 007.But in the official Bond films supervised by Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, and then by Barbara Brocolli and Michael G. Wilson, so far, there have been a half-dozen: Connery in six films (Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever; the Australian model George Lazenby in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; Roger Moore in seven (Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy and A View to a Kill); Timothy Dalton in two (The Living Daylights and License to Kill), Pierce Brosnan in four (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day); and Daniel Craig (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall).(READ: Coverage of a in London)Bond is a 50-year family business: Barbara Brocolli is Cubby’s daughter, Wilson his stepson. And over the decades, the creative team has remained remarkably consistent. Richard Maibaum wrote or cowrote 13 of the first 16 films; Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have written or cowritten the last five. Composer John Barry, production designer Ken Adam and Maurice Binder, who created the swirling opening-credits sequences, stayed with the franchise for a generation or more.Directors have been chosen usually from the middle rank of the British pack; the Broccolis, who run this producers’ franchise, haven’t followed the trend of Marvel comics movies, where quirky auteurs like Sam Raimi and Joss Whedon get to stamp their personalities on blockbuster projects. When they needed a new face behind the megaphone, the Broccolis would often promote from within: Peter Hunt, who served as editor on the first three films, directed On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; and the editor of that film, John Glen, helmed five other Bond features. This family loyalty extends to the supporting cast. Only three actors (Bernard Lee, Robert Brown and Judi Dench) have played Bond’s spy boss M; only two (Desmond Llewelyn, John Cleese) have played the gadgetmaster Q. If actors are replaced, it’s often because they’re deceased.The series is big business too. The first 22 Brocolli Bonds have earned something like $5 billion around the world. (Broccoli did not produce the 1967 Casino Royale — the team would finally film that property in 2006 — or Connery’s free-lance return to the role in the 1983 Never Say Never Again.) In “real dollars,” the series has earned much more; the 1965 Thunderball took in today’s equivalent of $1.1 billion. Nor has the series suffered a slump in audience esteem: each of the last six installments has grossed more at the North American box office than its predecessor. The tap keeps flowing with the Nov. 9 release of the 23rd episode, Skyfall, which serves as the capstone of a year celebrating the Bond movies’ golden jubilee.HOW BOND WON THE COLD WARMoney’s nice, and if Bond hadn’t made a bundle he wouldn’t still be around. But the true measure of the franchise is its cultural and political impact. Begun in the deep freeze of the Cold War, as the world suffered its worst case of the nuclear nerves, the Bond films lifted grim reality airborne into wish-fulfillment. It could almost be said that this fictional British spy changed the world as much as any actual secret agent. The great Soviet bear had missiles and tractors; the Anglo-American alliance has missiles — and James Bond.Any actual MI6 operative in 1962, a year after the Berlin Wall went up, might have been underground in the U.S.S.R. or the German Democratic Republic, matching wits and fists with representatives of the Soviet spy syndicate known as SMERSH (a Russian acronym for “Death of Spies”). The agency figures importantly in Fleming’s first three Bond novels: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die and From Russia, With Love. Yet SMERSH is mentioned in just two of the Broccoli-Bond films, Dr. No and the 1987 The Living Daylights (and in the 1967 non-Broccoli Casino Royale). In the entire Bond canon, only scene is set at the Berlin Wall — at the beginning of the 1983 Octopussy, released six years before that Cold War fixture crumbled. Otherwise, Bond left the grittier aspects of British spying to the films made from John Le Carré and Len Deighton novels.The Broccolis always had sharp business instincts. They realized that, with a worldwide audience lapping up the franchise, it would be fiscally irresponsible to write off the whole Communist world by casting Soviets as bad guys. So Bond found villains in rogue warriors, not cold warriors. In six of the first seven installments, Bond grapples with the international conspiracy known as SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion), a clear inspiration for the League of Shadows in Christopher Nolan’s recent Batman films. Throughout the Bond series, the Soviet Union remained an irrelevance, occasionally a gruff ally. Indeed, in A View to a Kill — released in 1985, two years before Ronald Reagan went to Berlin and challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to “Tear down this wall!” — “Comrade Bond” was awarded the Order of Lenin.(READ: by subscribing to TIME)“Make no mistake,” real-life U.S. secret agent Valerie Plame wrote in Variety, “Bond is an assassin, as his special ‘00’ number indicates. His job isn’t to form relationships but to end them.” Yet in the permanent fantasy land of popular entertainment, this assassin gave the traditional action hero modern attitudes and equipment. He brought a killer’s lightning instincts to Sherlock Holmes, a suave caress to crude Mike Hammer, the microchip age to Dick Tracy’s gadgets. His films were comic strips with grown-up cynicism, Hitchcock thrillers without the artistic risks.Bond, especially Connery’s Bond, was an existential hired gun with an aristocrat’s tastes — just right for a time when class was a matter of brand names and insouciant gestures. “My dear girl,” Bond tells a new conquest in the 1964 Goldfinger, “there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above a temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.” Minutes later the dear girl’s body is lacquered to death by Auric Goldfinger’s Korean manservant. But death doesn’t shake Bond’s assurance in his infallibility — or in his mandarin musical prejudice against Britain’s other great cultural export of the 1960s.To an empire that had seen its realm shrink with the loss of the Indian subcontinent, and its secret service embarrassed by the Burgess-Maclean and Profumo scandals, the notion of an agent from the U.K. saving the free world was an intoxicating tonic. Britain mattered. Britain was cool. (And the U.S., as epitomized by Bond’s CIA ally Felix Leiter, was just a sidekick.) If the Beatles made England swing for the young, then Bond was a travel-poster boy for the earmuff brigade. The Bond films even put a few theme songs, such as Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die,” on the pop charts.In its first flush of fame, the Bond series spawned a whole genre of superspy imitators: Matt Helm and Harry Palmer in ’60s movies, Maxwell Smart and the men from U.N.C.L.E. on TV. The Beatles shot part of their second movie, Help!, in the Bahamas simply because they heard that the latest Bond film, Thunderball, had gone there for location work. The upstarts were following the big boy.Later a young generation of filmmakers found inspiration in the series’ success. You hear its echoes in hundreds of high-tech adventure movies, from Star Wars (with Darth Vader as a more sepulchral Dr. No) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (007 as an archaeologist) up to The Dark Knight Rises (superhero vs. maniacal, aphorism-spouting villain). Some of the influence was direct: John Stears, the effects wizard of Star Wars, supervised the visual tricks on six early Bonds. Other directors learned just by watching, as enthralled kids who grew up to bring their own spin to the brut effervescence and special-effects expertise bottled in Bond.THE BOND WOMENJames Bond could have been Jane Bond. In 1955, shortly after the publication of Casino Royale, the Russian-born producer-director Gregory Ratoff optioned the book and hired the young Lorenzo Semple, Jr. (who later did the screenplay for Never Say Never Again) to write a script. Neither man thought much of the main character. “Frankly, we thought he was kind of unbelievable and, as I recall, even kind of stupid,” Semple recalled in Variety. “So Gregory thought the solution was to make Bond a woman — Jane Bond, if you will — and he even had a plan to cast Susan Hayward in the role.” The notion of a top dramatic actress from Brooklyn to play the veddy British, Type-A male 007 came to naught, and a few years later Broccoli and Harry Saltzman snagged the rights to most of Fleming’s Bond books.As the first two decades of Bond films made celebrities of his enemies (Oddjob, Rosa Klebb, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Jaws), so they incited schoolboy snickers with the names of his women. Pussy Galore and Octopussy! Kissy Suzuki and Plenty O’Toole! Mary Goodnight and Holly Goodhead! They were as indispensable and interchangeable as 007’s other accessories, the Walther PPK and the Aston Martin. In the early ’60s the Fleming books enjoyed a boost in popularity when President Kennedy sang their praises in Life magazine. The endorsement was apt, for Bond in the early Connery years comprised equal parts Jack Kennedy’s playboy glamour and Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Philosophy.(READ: Corliss on )In that man’s-man’s world, women were to be valued as playmates, as allies or adversaries, and mostly as ornaments. Goldfinger’s Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) might be a judo expert who could toss Bond like a crepe, but he would pin her with a wolfish double entendre: “We must have a few fast falls together some time.” Or, as he says when his bed time with another Goldfinger lovely, Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton), is interrupted by an urgent phone call from Leiter, “Not now. Something big’s come up.” Back in 1964, Bond’s allusion to his tumescent member earned a gasp or a giggle. That suited 007’s suave satyriasis; recall that most films gave him two “Bond girls” (the blond, the brunette) to tangle with. The playboy would enjoy his sport with them and move on.His roving eye was in part a function of a spy’s globetrotting itinerary. Other movie superheroes could form lasting domestic partnerships — Superman / Clark Kent with Lois Lane, Batman / Bruce Wayne with Rachel Dawes — because they lived and worked in one city (Metropolis, Gotham). For all their preternatural skills, they were tethered to their jobs as, respectively, reporter and philanthropist: essentially working stiffs. Bond was always working, and often stiff, but his jet-set escapades virtually demanded that he get in bed with the enemy. That job requirement would put a crimp in any affair back home with, say, Miss Moneypenny.Yet, even at the start, the Bond girl was as clever, efficient and often ruthless in combat as she was in bed — a Jane Bond, if you will. And though the series never deserved a citation from Ms. Magazine, it gradually insinuated a certain furtive feminism. Bond was still susceptible to European beauties of no fixed abode or accent, but he began to rely on their intelligence and independence. They could fight manfully; he could fall in love. He married one of them, Tracy Di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg) in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, which of course meant she had to die violently.More than a few Bond girls had the IQ and skills set to match his: ace pilot and former CIA operative Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) in Licence to Kill; rocket scientist, also ex-CIA, Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) in Moonraker; nuclear physicist Christmas Jones (Denise Richards) in The World Is Not Enough. Some overage boys could drool as Andress emerged from the sea like Aphrodite in a bikini in the 1962 Dr. No, or 40 years later when Halle Berry reprised that scene in The World Is Not Enough. Others could cheer the high kung-fu kicks of Michelle Yeoh’s Wai Lin in Tomorrow Never Knows, or lose their hearts to Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd in the 2006 reboot of Casino Royale.BOND TIMES SIXAsk Bond-watchers of a certain age about the six actors who have slipped into Bond’s Savile Row suits in the Broccoli franchise, and they might say it’s really Connery and five other guys — since he, being first and being Sean, stamped the role with his sulfurous masculinity. When Connery tired of the role (and it showed), Broccoli cast Lazenby in the installment where Bond became a husband and a widower. In the game of casting roulette, it was Lazenby who disappeared as Connery returned for one more film.Then Moore took over for seven episodes. Amiable and reliable, he nonetheless walked through his part like a waxwork on casters, like Bond embalmed, and left most of the heavy work to stunt doubles. The best of his films, The Spy Who Loved Me, succeeded without serious intervention from its star. Most of the other Moore Bonds were bloated fantasies, heavy on the double entendres; the series was in danger of becoming a travelogue with gadgets and a smirk.(SEE: )The list of actors who have played 007 multiple times has alternated between Rough Bond and Smooth Bond. Dalton, a West End stage luminary with heartthrob looks, played Bond with the ironic scowl of a killer who was battle-ready yet war-weary. Dalton did a lot of his own stunts, and he cut a smart figure in a tuxedo — especially the one with the Velcro lapels, in The Living Daylights, that could fold over to give him the guise of a priest-assassin. But he seemed to be performing under protest, and after two films he broke out of Bondage and went back to the theater.Paging a Smooth Bond: the puckish Irishman Brosnan, who imported his blithe persona from the Remington Steele series. Radiating TV-star warmth rather than movie-star heat, Brosnan escorted the series into middle age, through the 2002 The World Is Not Enough. Still immensely popular, the Bond films had become increasingly irrelevant, a chipper anachronism in a decade of tortured heroes from comic books (Nolan’s Batman Begins) and spy fiction (Matt Damon’s films as the amnesiac secret agent Jason Bourne).Bond needed a makeover, and goy it in the 2006 Casino Royale. The movie showed a perfect figure rising from the sea — lubricated and lubricious, like Andress in Dr. No — but this body belonged to Daniel Craig, with Sisyphus shoulders and pecs so well defined they could be in Webster’s. If Craig spent more time with his shirt off than all previous Bonds combined, it was to make the point that this secret agent was his own sex object. In any romance he had with a shady lady, he seemed to be cheating on himself.Figuring that modern audiences preferred murderous fights to martini-sipping, the Broccoli brain trust made Craig’s 007 a working-class bloke, as much thug as thinker. Instead of the 007 of the Fleming canon — a tough but smooth gentleman spy, schooled at Eton and Cambridge — Craig is nearly a cyber- or cipher-Bond, with a loyalty chip implanted in a mechanism that’s built for murderous ingenuity. In lieu of the bons mots assigned to Connery, Moore and Brosnan, Craig communicates in grunts and sullen, conceivably soulful, laser stares. For this 007, spying is no game; it’s a job that has become a compulsion. Craig’s 007 is a brute: Rambo with muscles bulging through his tux and, even more so, a Bourne-again Bond.Rather than losing faith in the traditional Bond by jolting 007 into gritty modernism, the Broccoli team is simply showing the adaptability that has sustained the series for a half-century. The Craig Bond could be what the Connery Bond would have been if the franchise had started from scratch now. Movie heroes no longer sit in tuxes and smoke cigarettes at a chemin-de-fer table; the fights are longer and more vicious, and every entendre is single. The Broccolis were right to bring 007 into the 21st century, rather than serve as curators of the James Bond Museum. After all, that archive is kept faithfully in the memories of millions of fans.LIFE’s new book, 50 Years of James Bond, is available . For all of history, humor has been wielded by unattractive, skill-less men in their desperate effort to reproduce. Do you think there were any handsome court jesters who were also really good jousters and lute soloists? To answer that question, try to remember the guys from high school who could juggle. But now everyone has to be funny. The new vocabulary of texts, tweets, Facebook updates, Instagram pictures and YouTube videos--the entire reductive discourse of the information era--seems to require that all information be conveyed in jokes. That's because jokes are the most memorable packet of information we have that doesn't... On the eve of America's bicentennial in 1976, a leading authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rose to speak at the Mormons' biannual General Conference in Salt Lake City. "Can we maintain our basic freedoms, peace and prosperity for another 200 years?" he asked, rhetorically, before continuing, "The answer to this question is yes, if we shall individually repent and conform to the laws of the God of this land, who is Jesus Christ." The sermon that followed was titled "America's Destiny." Its preacher was Marion G. Romney, a member of the Mormon elite and cousin of...The Navy’s new (LCS) is not only staggeringly overpriced and chronically unreliable but — even if it were to work perfectly — cannot match the combat power of similar sized foreign warships costing only a fraction as much. Let’s take a deep dive and try to figure out why.The story so far:– Congress has funded the LCS program since February 2002. Its publically stated purpose was to create a new generation of surface combatants able to operate in dangerous shallow water and near-shore environments.– By December 2009 the Navy had built two radically dissimilar prototypes, the mono-hulled USS Freedom (LCS-1) and the trimaran-hulled USS Independence (LSC-2).– A year later it adopted both designs and decided to award block buy construction contracts for five more ships of each type.– Since neither design had yet proven either its usefulness or functionality it seems that the Navy’s object was to make the LCS program “too big to fail” as soon as possible.– It may be working: the 55-ship fleet is to cost more than $40 billion, giving each vessel a price tag north of $700 million, roughly double the original estimated cost.Both LCS designs were supposed to be small (about 3,000 tons displacement), shallow-draft coastal warships that relied on simplicity, numbers and new technology to stay affordable and capable throughout their service lives.The new technology was mainly robotics (unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles) and modular weapons and sensors. The modular systems were a series of or modules; each designed to fit a common cargo/weapons bay or slot and focus the ship on a specific mission.When the ship’s mission changed it could quickly swap its current module for one that supported the new mission. This was a way to combine the advantages of both single and multi-mission platforms.Foreign navies had already applied the concept successfully. The Danish Navy’s “” series of weapon modules had in particular grabbed the U.S. Navy’s attention.Each LCS also has a flight deck and hangar able to accommodate up to two H-60 helicopters or up to four MQ-8B helicopter drones (one helicopter and two to three drones would be a typical mix). In addition, an LCS can carry and operate surface and sub-surface drones. Current modules in development are for mine warfare (MIW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASUW).The MIW and ASW modules are mostly sensors with only drone or helicopter launched weapons. The ASUW module is focused mainly on defeating speedboats and offers only two and some short-ranged low payload missiles. None of these modules will even be testable until well into FY13 and none will be operational before FY16.Outside of the modules an LCS has a permanent armament of a 57mm MK-110 , some 0.50-caliber machineguns and a close defense missile system ().Even with its modules the LCS compares poorly with similar-sized but much less expensive ships in foreign navies.The new Russian -class frigate, for example, is (at 2,200 tons) about 30% smaller than an LCS and cost only 20-25% as much. Yet, it carries a 100mm automatic gun, 14.5-mm machineguns, close-in defense “Gatling gun” systems (AK-630), medium range surface to air missiles (S400 series), SS-N-25 anti-ship missiles (sub-sonic and shorter ranged than the US Harpoon but far more capable than the Griffin), 533-mm (21”) torpedoes, 324mm anti-submarine torpedoes and a helicopter. The ship is not only in production for the Russian Navy but also for the navies of Algeria and Indonesia. A version is also being built for China.The Swedish -class corvette was one of the models on which LCS was based. It carries the same 57mm gun plus antisubmarine rockets and torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, a radar-deflecting hull, and a helicopter pad (but no hangar, apparently). It can also reach 35 knots but it is only a fifth as large.The Chinese have more than 80 -class fast-attack boats in service. Each costs only $40 million to build and displaces only 220 tons (one-fifteenth as much as an LCS). Yet they carry C-801 series anti-ship missiles that greatly outrange any weapon the LCS has.About the only threat the LCS might handle is the “swarms” of Iranian machinegun and RPG-carrying speedboats in the Persian Gulf. Apart from the fact that the Iranian crisis will have been resolved for better or worse before most of the LCS fleet can be built, these Iranian small craft lack weapons big enough to menace any serious warship.However the LCS itself may be more vulnerable to these speedboats than the ships it is protecting from them. This is because the ballooning LCS construction costs caused the Navy to try to save money by ordering that future ships be built to commercial standards.This will reduce their level (protection of ship, crew, and vital systems) to (or below) the lowest level (of three) the Navy recognizes. Survivability testing has been cancelled, as it would cause too much damage to the test ship. Instead, the LCS is rated as not survivable in a “.”Worse, the Navy has admitted that, unlike the foreign systems they were modeled on, LCS modules will not be swappable within day or two as originally envisaged. Instead, the process . Practical and political limitations on storing modules and supporting them overseas are likely to make module swapping possible only in U.S. shipyards. An LCS entering a combat theater will have to be in a single “come as you are” configuration that cannot adapt to mission changes.The LCS does lead its foreign competitors when it comes to speed. At the Navy’s insistence, each LCS carries a set of diesels for cruising. It also has a suite of gas turbines that can at least for short spurts propel it at speeds as high as 50 knots.By contrast the LCS’ foreign competitors rarely exceed 35 knots (the heavily-armed Steregushchy is only good for 26). However, speed at sea is a terribly expensive capability. Except for large nuclear-powered ships, very high speeds are only possible for limited times and in good weather. Incremental speed increases require geometric horsepower increases. Gas turbines generating more than 100,000 horsepower and their associated fuel tanks must leave the LCS little space for armor, weapons, sensors or crew accommodations. Though the Navy has not said so, it is likely that these gas turbines have been the source of many of the LCS’ mechanical problems.Why is high speed so important? Even high-speed minesweeping does not require more than 25 knots or so. For chasing small boats the LCS’s size advantage will let it catch nominally faster craft if any kind of sea is running. If this is not enough, the LCS has its helicopters and drones. The LCS may need speed to deploy quickly over long distances but is unlikely to need it for tactical maneuver. Without its gas turbines the LCS could be small (and cheaper), like the Visby, or powerfully-armed, like the Steregushchy. Instead, it is neither.When asked why the LCS has sacrificed so much for speed, Navy spokesmen tend to become vague. In a recent , Rear Admiral Thomas , the Navy’s chief of surface warfare, could only explain the LCS’ speed requirement with clichés such as “speed is life” (is the LCS really an airplane? Does it outrun cruise missiles?) or “more is better” (more speed but less of everything else?). He even quoted John Paul Jones asking for a fast ship to go “in harm’s way.” Such fatuous statements might satisfy a fourth-grade civics class but this contemptuous dismissal of legitimate taxpayer concerns speaks volumes about what the Navy thinks of the people who ultimately pay its bills.The surface-warfare chief went on to say that the Navy had yet to settle regarding missions, tactics and the design features to support them. In a sane world, such issues would have been ironed out before any ships were built. Once they are settled, the results will have to be applied to existing ships (to the extent that is possible) at enormous cost. Such are the effects of a “build first, design later” shipbuilding policy.The level of incompetence the Navy has displayed with the LCS is truly breathtaking.The LCS was supposed to be small and cheap, able to relieve larger more expensive ships of secondary tasks and to dominate coastal “brown water” environments. Yet, it is not cheap. Construction costs have to more than triple their original estimates. It is incredibly extravagant for some of its missions (those than any Coast Guard cutter could do), and very inadequate for most of the others. Its MIW and ASW capabilities are only those of the aircraft it carries. Even with its ASUW module, its firepower falls far short of one-fifth the size. Its RIM-116 lacks the range to protect other ships. Its 57mm gun is short-ranged and cannot support troops ashore.Taxpayers – and Navy personnel, past and present — may better appreciate the scope of the LCS disaster when reminded that current plans call for these pseudo-warships to comprise more than a third of the Navy’s surface combatants by 2020.Nevertheless, the Navy is not worried. Congress will bail them out and ensure the LCS program yields some sort of product, even if it is a terribly overpriced and only marginally meets program requirements.Meanwhile, foreign — not necessarily friendly — navies are building and cheaper ships.John Sayen retired from the Marine Corps in 2002 as a lieutenant colonel. He currently works in the defense industry and occasionally writes on current and historical military and naval issues. What appeared to be an almost certain Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate a year ago is now in serious doubt as Democrats in red and purple states, along with suddenly safer incumbents in Ohio and Florida, look to hold their thin majority in the upper chamber. Republicans must net four new seats to gain control if Obama wins or three if Romney prevails. VIRGINIA Former governor TIM KAINE (D.) vs. former governor and Senator George Allen (R.) Two popular men with encyclopedic familiarity with their state face off in the new Old Dominion. The battle to replace retiring Democrat Jim Webb has been as closely fought as it has been expensive, but Kaine's fortunes in state polls have risen of late, along with Obama's. MONTANA Senator JOHN TESTER (D.) vs. Congressman Denny Rehberg (R.) The Democrat was targeted early on as an endangered species--a member of Barack Obama's party in a super-red state. But as the race has gotten nastier, with negative TV ads and barbed rhetoric, Tester has proved to be a survivor who has created enough distance from the Beltway to hold on. MISSOURI Senator CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D.) vs. Congressman Todd Akin (R.) Once given up for dead by many Democrats, McCaskill got 2012's biggest political gift when Akin made inexplicable remarks about rape that sent most national Republicans fleeing. Akin declined to step down and has kept the race closer than expected, but McCaskill remains the solid favorite. WISCONSIN Congresswoman TAMMY BALDWIN (D.) vs. former governor Tommy Thompson (R.) Baldwin's bid to keep the seat now held by retiring Democrat Herb Kohl is infused with history: she would be the nation's first openly gay Senator. Thompson's years away from the campaign trail (and time as a D.C. influence peddler) have equalized a race once regarded as a GOP cinch. NORTH DAKOTA Former state attorney general HEIDI HEITKAMP (D.) vs. Congressman Rick Berg (R.) Berg should be walking away with the race to replace Democratic Senator Kent Conrad, who defied the state's red tilt with a frank and confiding down-home style. But the well-liked Heitkamp has campaigned hard and well and been buttressed by winning TV spots and some Berg missteps. CONNECTICUT Congressman CHRIS MURPHY (D.) vs. businesswoman Linda McMahon (R.) In the rare race that is moving in the GOP's direction this year, pro-wrestling executive McMahon has done well in her second bid to take a Nutmeg State Senate seat. The fight to replace the retiring Joe Lieberman may come down to McMahon's deep pockets vs. the state's deep blue leanings. INDIANA Treasurer RICHARD MOURDOCK (R.) vs. Congressman Joe Donnelly (D.) In a nightmare for Republicans, a once safe seat held by retiring GOP wise man Richard Lugar is very much in play. The disciplined Donnelly has pulled even or ahead in polls, and Republicans are pouring in cash to try to save Tea Party darling Mourdock. MASSACHUSETTS Senator SCOTT BROWN (R.) vs. Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren (D.)9:55 pm ETMeet the Press — . .Face the Nation — . .This Week — . .Fox News Sunday — . .State of the Union — . . There has never been a shortage of bereaved mothers in the sprawling, violent Caracas barrio known as Catia. But these days the sidewalks seem haunted by legions of women like Luz Marina Morón. In recent years, Morón has seen her brother-in-law, niece and 23-year-old son Roger murdered on Catia's streets the latter shot in the face by a gangbanger who wanted Roger's New Balance tennis shoes. "Have you seen our homicide statistics?" Morón, 53, a nurse, asks me as we sit down for a guayoyo, a Venezuelan-style cup of coffee. "We might as well be in...Shannon, Tim and John.These names, prior to our trip to the TAPS National Military Survivors Seminar in , D.C., in May were not names I heard spoken in our home. Now, they receive nearly daily mentions and are always accompanied by big grins on my three children’s faces.TAPS provides Good Grief Camps for children who have experienced the loss of a military family member (usually a parent or a sibling). These camps are offered on the same days and at the same times as the children’s parents are receiving support through educational and sharing seminars throughout the day.The organization offers open arms to those affected by : “You are warmly invited to join TAPS for a special program of comfort and support for all those grieving the suicide loss of a loved one who served in the Armed Forces,” it on its website.I decided to ask my daughter, Madeleine, 8, about her experience at the Good Grief Camp last May as we traveled on an airplane to the in San Diego. This is what she shared with me:Before you arrived at the Good Grief Camp last year, how did you feel about going? I was nervous and excited. I was nervous to meet the new kids and the new mentors there to help. I thought we would play games and talk all day.What did you do all day at Camp? Was it just games and talking? No! We made crafts that were about our dreams or about our memories. We took a walk downtown Washington, D.C., got to sit on motorcycles and a had big balloon release sending letters up to our Moms and Dads who had died.One night we had a great big party with bounce houses, laser tag and face painting! Sometimes we talked about Dad. It helped to talk about him because I already missed him a lot. The other kids there understood how I felt.What was it like to meet your mentor, Shannon, and get to know her?It was really exciting to meet her because people told me before she got there “Oh! She is really nice!” Shannon and I got along great! Shannon has her own little girl and I really liked meeting her, too.Shannon taught me what she does when she gets mad or something. She throw a pillow on the floor or lays in her bed and screams into a pillow. I’ve tried it now. It helps a little!What would you tell another kid who is sad because their mom or dad just died?I would say, I know you are sad and I know how you feel. I would comfort her and tell her it is going to be OK. I think TAPS would be a good place for her to go to talk about her feelings and make new friends.What are you excited most about for this new TAPS experience in San Diego?I am excited to meet new friends, see old ones and get a new mentor! Shannon won’t be there, but we are still friends. I like it that I’ll have two mentors now!Leslie McCaddon of Massachusetts was one of two widows Time featured in its July cover on the surge in Army suicides. Her husband, Dr. Michael McCaddon, an Army captain, died in March.When Enda Kenny became Prime Minister of Ireland in February 2011 he inherited a mess. The country was staggering under an enormous debt load and facing rising unemployment. Kenny took over from Fianna Fail, the party that had been in power for 14 years and was most closely associated with overseeing economic policies that produced what became known as the Celtic Tiger — a period that saw remarkable economic growth in the previously struggling island country on the westernmost edge of Europe. That growth bubble, which was fueled by increased access to cheap money and an unsustainable property boom, began to burst shortly before the global economic crisis of 2008. The country’s rapid dive toward caused Ireland to seek a bailout from the and the in November 2010.Currently the longest-serving member of Dail Eireann (the House of Representatives), Kenny has pressed on with the sort of cuts in government services that have brought protesters onto the streets of Greece and Spain, countries that are faced with similar debt burdens. Kenny, however, has not had to deal with as many public protests over austerity measures, and that has given him more political room than his Greek and Spanish counterparts. Many voters and commentators have long considered Kenny to be a lightweight figure in the Irish political scene, but with Ireland’s GDP beginning to sneak upward once again Kenny may prove himself anything but the “fool” that his predecessor called him in 2010.(MORE: )TIME’s Europe editor Catherine Mayer met Kenny that year for the first time. She had encountered him twice more before she spent time with him in Dublin in September while reporting for her magazine story on Ireland’s economic fight back. TIME spoke with Mayer to get the story behind the story.Why were you interested in interviewing Enda Kenny in the first place? Enda Kenny is somebody who has a gulf between the way he’s perceived in his home country and the way he is perceived abroad. Also because Ireland, as the second country to ask for a bailout, is quite far along in the process of dealing with the ramifications of what went wrong. I was looking for a way to look at some of the wider European issues, and Ireland’s story seemed to me a good starting place.(MORE: )And why do you think a gulf exists between the Irish and international perceptions of Kenny? Politicians are often more popular abroad than they are in their own countries. That’s partly because familiarity breeds contempt. You could say it’s because the Irish know him better. But it’s also because the Irish focus on the smaller picture, and sometimes you really can see things better from a distance. It’s exactly the same if you think about what goes on in Washington or Westminster.Kenny has a reputation for being very likable in person. Is that reputation deserved? He’s extremely likable, that did not surprise me at all because that is very much part of his image. What I was really trying to see was what was behind that likability. In small groups he is much more fluent and compelling than he would appear to be were you to judge him from his big media set pieces. When cameras train on him he seems to freeze up, which is an interesting problem for somebody in that position. But when he’s relaxed he’s interesting and has a lot to say.(MORE: )His predecessor Brian Cowen called him a fool. Did he have any foolish moments when you interviewed him? He didn’t do anything that one would think of as particularly foolish. He’s certainly endearing and has a slightly childlike quality to his enthusiasm. There was a moment, when he was showing me around his office and showing me absolutely everything, including all his photos, where you found yourself thinking that he was sweet. But that is combined with a real sense of shrewdness, and that is the thing that doesn’t come across when you see him at a distance.How genuinely sensitive do you think he is to the financial woes of Irish people? I think all politicians are far too insulated from reality but in Ireland they are actually less so than in other countries. I mention in the piece that Enda Kenny walks to and from work, and he does actually have regular direct contact with people who tell him exactly what they think. You may wonder how much that actually means to him because he has a job and is being paid for his work. I suspect that in Ireland more politicians know people who are themselves directly in trouble than is the case in many of the more featherbed capitals of the world. So he’s not himself directly suffering but I’m pretty sure he does know what’s going on.(MORE: )What is your experience of reporting from Ireland? I’ve been covering Ireland for years but mostly covering Northern Ireland because that was such a big story for so long. I first visited Dublin in the early 1980s and was absolutely fascinated and slightly shocked to find myself traveling backward in time. It was like a time warp in comparison with London — a place where everywhere shuts down at night, and young women with small babies sat begging on the pavements. I didn’t really understand at that stage what was holding back Irish development. I then got to know the Republic of Ireland really well, but as I say I spent a huge amount of time north of the border right through the 1990s covering the conflict.Do you think Kenny can stem the emigration of educated young people to countries like Australia? While I was in Dublin I spoke to the [Economic and Social Research Institute], and one view they gave on the current outflow of young people is that it’s not necessarily a bad thing for Ireland. These people go abroad and gain experience but the moment the economy begins to recover they’ll come back again like homing pigeons bringing new skills with them. They also bring links from abroad, and given that Ireland’s such an open economy and relies so much on its trading routes, that’s not a bad thing. What worries me about Ireland, and what would circumscribe anything that Enda Kenny or any other politician could do, is that the euro-zone crisis is horribly interconnected. How well things turn out for Ireland will affect all of us and not just the Irish people. We will just have to wait and see what happens unfortunately.MORE: Who is Telling the Truth? The Fact Wars Oct. 15, Related Categories:Who is Telling the Truth? The Fact Wars Oct. 15, Related Categories:(SANTA CLARITA, Calif.) — Authorities say a commuter train carrying more than 200 passengers struck a semi that was stalled on the tracks in northern Los Angeles County, leaving three people with minor injuries.The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department says the crash involving a Metrolink train and the truck hauling automobiles occurred about 9:30 p.m. Saturday in Newhall near Santa Clarita.Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Bill Weiss says the semi driver was able to get out of the truck before the crash.The department says three of the train’s 220 passengers had minor injuries and were treated at a hospital. No one else was hurt.Weiss wasn’t sure how fast the train was going, but says the truck was heavily damaged and spilled diesel fuel. The train did not derail but remained at the scene.The rail line provided buses for the passengers to continue their journeys.MORE: (LONDON) — Radical preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terror suspects can be extradited immediately to the U.S. to face charges there, Britain’s High Court ruled Friday.Judges John Thomas and Duncan Ousely rejected last-ditch applications by al-Masri, Khaled al-Fawwaz, Babar Ahmad, Adel Abdul Bary and Syed Ahsan. Thomas said these are the final proceedings in the suspects’ years-long battles to avoid going to the U.S.Britain has said it will act right away to remove them.Al-Masri, who turned London’s Finsbury Park Mosque into a training ground for radical Islamists, is wanted in the U.S. on charges that include helping set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon.(MORE: )Al Masri and the four other men have been fighting extradition for as long as 14 years, and both British and European courts have ruled that they can be sent to the U.S. to face charges.They applied to the High Court for a last-minute halt, with al-Masri’s lawyers saying his deteriorating physical and mental health means it would be “oppressive” to send him to a U.S. prison.Lawyers for the preacher, who has one eye and hooks in place of hands he claims to have lost fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, said he suffers from depression, chronic sleep deprivation, diabetes and other ailments.The Egyptian-born former nightclub bouncer used north London’s Finsbury Park Mosque as a base to persuade young Muslims to take up the cause of holy war. The mosque was once attended by Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and “shoe bomber” Richard Reid.(MORE: )He is wanted in the U.S. on multiple terrorism-related charges, including helping abduct 16 hostages, including two American tourists, in Yemen in 1998 and conspiring to set up a terrorist training camp in Bly, Oregon, between 2000 and 2001.He has been in a British jail since 2004 on charges of inciting racial hatred and encouraging followers to kill non-Muslims.Ahmad has fought for almost a decade to avoid being sent to the U.S., where he is accused of running terrorist-funding websites. He and Ahsan both face charges including using a website to provide support to terrorists and conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim or injure persons or damage property in a foreign country.Bary and al-Fawwaz were indicted with others, including Osama bin Laden, for their alleged roles in the bombings of two U.S. embassies in east Africa in 1998. Al-Fawwaz faces more than 269 counts of murder.MORE: (SEOUL, ) — The United States has agreed to allow South Korea to possess longer-range missiles that could strike all of , officials said Sunday, a development expected to draw an angry response from the North.Under a 2001 accord with , South Korea has been barred from developing and deploying ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) and a payload of more than 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) because of concerns about a regional arms race.The restriction has made South Korea’s missile capability inferior to that of rival North Korea, and some key military installations in the North have been out of South Korea’s missile range.(PHOTOS: )South Korea announced Sunday that the U.S. accord has been altered to allow the South to have ballistic missiles with a range of up to 800 kilometers (500 miles) to better cope with North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.Under the new agreement, South Korea will continue to limit the payload to 500 kilograms for ballistic missiles with an 800-kilometer range, but it will be able to use heavier payloads for missiles with shorter ranges, senior presidential official Chun Yung-woo told a news conference. The heavier a payload is, the more destructive power it can have.“The most important objective for our government in revising the missile guideline is to contain North Korea’s armed provocation,” Chun said.The Defense Ministry said in a statement that it will greatly increase its missile capability under the new accord, adding that South Korea will be able to “strike all of North Korea, even from southern areas.”(MORE: )U.S. Defense Department press secretary George Little said the agreement resulted from a South Korean-requested discussion on ways to respond to North Korean missile activities.“These revisions are a prudent, proportional, and specific response to the (North Korean) ballistic missile threat,” he said.The deal also will allow South Korea to operate drone aircraft carrying payloads of up to 2,500 kilograms (5,510 pounds) with a range of more than 300 kilometers (186 miles). It places no restriction on payloads for drones with a flying distance of less than 300 kilometers, officials said.South Korea can also possess cruise missiles with an unlimited range as long as their payload is less than 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds). Media reports say the South has deployed cruise missiles with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) but defense officials have refused to confirm that.Cruise missiles fly at a lower altitude and slower speed than ballistic missiles, making them easier to intercept, although they are considered more accurate.North Korean state media didn’t immediately respond to the announcement, but analysts expected they would issue a harsh statement.(MORE: )“North Korea will say South Korea’s missile development is a preparation for war. It will likely warn that South Korea cannot avoid a nuclear disaster if it moves to attack North Korean missile bases,” said analyst Baek Seung-joo of the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul.North Korea has missiles that can hit South Korea, Japan and the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, according to Seoul’s Defense Ministry. In April, the country conducted a long-range rocket test that Washington, Seoul and others called a cover for a test of long-range missile technology. North Korea says the rocket, which broke apart shortly after liftoff, was meant to launch a satellite.North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, but experts don’t believe it has yet mastered the technology needed to mount a nuclear weapon on a missile.The Korean Peninsula remains officially at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The U.S. stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea as deterrence against possible aggression from North Korea.By HYUNG-JIN KIM(UNITED NATIONS) — The U.N. Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaeda removed a Saudi businessman from its blacklist Friday.The committee chairman, Germany’s U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig, said that Yasin al-Qadi had been de-listed, following a recommendation by the blacklist’s ombudsman to remove him.Al-Qadi filed a lawsuit in 2009 in Washington, D.C. to be removed from a U.S. list of people accused of financing al-Qaeda.Al-Qadi’s charitable Muwafaq foundation was identified by the U.S. Treasury department as an al-Qaida front and placed on a terror list in October 2001. Al-Qadi, 57, has denied the accusations and has said that the foundation was closed even before the hijackings.The U.S., European Union, Switzerland and Turkey all took action against al-Qadi. Over the past several years, a team of lawyers has worked successfully to overturn the decisions against al-Qadi in Turkey and Europe.In 2009, the Security Council established an independent ombudsman to deal with requests to get off the U.N. blacklist.Last year, the council strengthened the role of the ombudsman, presently Canadian lawyer Kimberly Prost. If the ombudsman recommends delisting, the person or entity will be taken off the sanctions list in 60 days unless the sanctions committee agrees by consensus to maintain sanctions.PHOTOS: With the first presidential debate behind us, and the election just a month away, we have come upon that magical time of the year when the media filters each new datum through the lens of the election horse race. And so goes the Employment Situation Report — an estimate the Labor Department issues every month of how many the American economy has added and what percentage of the labor force is unemployed. These estimates come with massive margins of error and are thusly absorbed with an appropriate degree of skepticism by market participants and economists, but the political punditry have no time for such subtlety. Therefore the monthly jobs report — especially in times of economic malaise — has taken on an aura of extreme importance, a hard number by which we can judge the President’s handling of the economy. showed that the economy added an unremarkable 114,000 jobs, but that the unemployment rate actually fell by three-tenths of a percent to 7.8%. The new jobs number was almost exactly in line with economists predictions of 115,000, Dow Jones Newswires, but the drop in the unemployment rate was a surprise.So why are these numbers giving us seemingly contradictory evidence? The first thing one must understand is that these two numbers are drawn from two different surveys. The new jobs number is rendered from the establishment survey, whereby the Labor Department surveys employers to determine how many new jobs they’ve added. The unemployment rate, on the other hand, is determined by a survey of households, in which the government asks individuals whether or not they and those in their household have jobs. So, the first reason why these two numbers appear to be at odds is that they are pulled from different estimates, each with its own margin of error.Second, when the Labor Department releases its estimate for each month, it actually releases revised estimates for the previous two months — and the job market in July and August was apparently healthier than we had previously thought. The Labor Department revised job gains in those months from +96,000 and +142,000 to +141,000 and +181,000, respectively. In addition, a recent yearly revision by the Labor Department showed that job growth between April of 2011 and March of 2012 was much more significant than we thought. With these revisions in mind, the drop in the unemployment rate makes more sense.Another piece of good news found in this month’s numbers is that the labor force participation rate — or the percentage of working age people who are working or actively looking for work — actually grew by 0.1%, representing a growth in the labor force of 418,000 people. For demographic reasons, the participation rate had been steadily declining since before the , but that decline accelerated in its aftermath, reflecting what many argued was a feeling of hopelessness that caused workers to give up looking for work altogether and drop out of the labor force.Though this report is undeniably positive, it’s not a game changer. It doesn’t alter the fact that the American economy remains in a slow growth period that is typical following debt-fueled financial crises. However, it may very well change the trajectory of the upcoming presidential race as the candidates and their surrogates fall over themselves to spin the numbers as best they can. President Obama will point to the decline in the unemployment rate as evidence that his policies are working, and that America is slowly but surely getting back to work again. and fellow Republicans will have a bit harder time using the report to their advantage, given the large drop in unemployment and the rise in the participation rate. But the fact remains that 115,000 new jobs is nowhere near the pace of job growth needed to bring the country back to full employment anytime soon. And even if that number is revised up in coming months as many of the previous estimates have been, we’re still not seeing anywhere near the kind of rapid job growth that has accompanied past recoveries.I’ll leave it to the to handicap which of these arguments will resonate with the American people, but it seems to me the more important question is which candidate has the better plan to promote future job growth. And in this context, neither candidate is inspiring. President Obama for a further round of economic stimulus, but it is timid in scope and has little chance of overcoming a Republican filibuster. Mitt Romney’s plan — short on details as it is — calls for a simpler tax code and less regulation. But find me anybody in Washington who doesn’t want to streamline the tax code. And sure, a simpler tax code would likely promote economic growth, but once the tax debate truly gets underway, special interest lobbyist will descend on Washington like a swarm of locusts, to gut — if not completely scuttle — any proposed reform.Considering Washington’s current aversion to further deficit spending, the best case scenario — regardless of who is in the White House — is that the so-called fiscal cliff (a set of spending cuts and tax increases due to go into effect at the end of the year) is averted and a more gradual austerity package is put into place at the same time that the tax code is simplified. And then we have to hope that these gradual tax increases and spending cuts, whatever their magnitude, won’t slow down economic and employment growth.Paolo Gabriele, the former butler to who was convicted Saturday of leaking the pontiff’s personal papers, has been sentenced to year and half in prison–but he’s unlikely to serve any time. Minutes after prosecutors declared Gabriele guilty of aggravated theft, Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesperson, told journalists assembled for the trial that a pardon by the Pope was a “likely hypothesis.” He added, “I can say this without fear of being contradicted.”It was a trial in which the pontiff was at the same time the victim, the person in whose name the crime had been committed, the authority under which the proceedings were being held—the judgment was delivered “in the name of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, gloriously reigning” — and the ultimate arbiter of whether the sentence will be carried out.(MORE: )With Gabriele having confessed, the outcome of the case was never really in doubt; expectations of a conviction followed by a papal pardon were widespread even before the trial began. Dressed in a light suit, the former butler showed little emotion during the last day of the week-long proceedings. “Nobody knows what he’s feeling inside, but externally he was impassive,” said one of the eight journalists who were admitted to courtroom on behalf of the assembled press corps, on the condition that they remain in their personal accounts. At the end of the trial, the president of the court asked the former butler whether he felt innocent or guilty. Gabriele responded, “The thing that I feel strongly inside me is the conviction of having acted out of exclusive—I’d say visceral—love for the church of Christ and its visible head [the Pope]. … I don’t feel like a thief.”In his closing arguments, the Vatican prosecutor Nicola Picardi urged that Gabriele be sentenced to three years in prison and banned for life from employment in any office where he could commit a similar crime. In her response, Gabriele’s attorney Cristiana Arru sought to cast doubt on the rigor of Vatican investigators. The butler, she argued, had only photocopied documents—he hadn’t removed them from the control of their rightful owners—and thus could not be guilty of theft. But the real mitigating factor, she argued, was that Gabriele had been acting in good faith. “You could see that his motivation was to do something positive for the church, not damage it” she said. “He thought that the holy father wasn’t sufficiently informed.” She closed by requesting that the charges be reduced to misappropriation or that failing that, that Gabriele be given the minimum sentence. “What he did is condemnable,” she added.” But he was compelled by the evil that he saw.”(MORE: )Speaking to journalists after the trial, Lombardi twice stressed that despite statements by Gabriele before his arrest that “at least 20 people” were involved in the scandal, Picardi had found no evidence that the butler had acted in concord with others. “The important thing is that there was no proof of accomplices,” said Lombardi. Only one other person is currently facing charges in relation to the case, a computer specialist employed by the Vatican named Claudio Sciarpelletti, who stands accused of harboring documents and giving them to the butler. Lombardi said he expected his trial would take place in November.The judges deliberated for two hours before returning with the sentence: three years in prison, reduced to one and half. Among the mitigating factors cited was Gabriele’s clean record, his years of previous service and his motivation for acting, which “though erroneous,” contributed to the reduction in his sentence. Gabriele was also ordered to pay the court costs.Gabriele is to remain in house arrest during the three days in which his lawyer can appeal the ruling. In closed circuit footage piped into the room in the Vatican where journalists were watching the sentencing, Gabriele could be seen being led from the courtroom. As he passed in front of the camera, there was a moment when he seemed to turn towards the public and smile.MORE: Tensions rose in the bitterly divided country while an undetermined number of voting stations remained open after the official 6 p.m. closing time, with not a single result announced nearly three hours later.Chavez, a socialist who has ruled for nearly 14 years, called on Venezuelans to await results patiently, speaking briefly Sunday night by phone during a news conference held by his campaign chief.Electoral officials gave no indication of when they might begin releasing first returns. Exit polling is forbidden in Venezuela.The electoral council’s president, Tibisay Lucena, said any stations where voters had not cast ballots would remain open. Meanwhile, bands of red-shirted pro-Chavez motorcyclists, honking horns, roved central Caracas ensuring that such stations stayed open.While not accusing the government of an intentional delay, challenger Henrique Capriles complained via Twitter that most voting stations lacked lines and that the government should get on with the vote-counting.(MORE: )Capriles spokesman Armando Briquet demanded that all motorcycle traffic be banned. In the past, gangs of red-shirted motorcyclists chanting pro-Chavez slogans have intimidated people.Chavez’s campaign manager, Jorge Rodriguez, told reporters there were no such plans. “This country has freedom of circulation,” he said at a news conference.Capriles has united the opposition in a contest between two sides that distrust each other so deeply that some expressed concerns whether a close election result would be respected.If Chavez wins, he gets a free hand to push for an even bigger state role in the economy, further limit dissent and continue to befriend rivals of the United States.With a Capriles win, an abrupt foreign policy shift can be expected, including halting preferential deals with allies such as Cuba, along with a loosening of state economic controls and an increase in private investment. A tense transition would likely follow until the January inauguration because Chavez’s political machine thoroughly controls the wheels of government.“We will recognize the results, whatever they are,” Chavez told reporters after casting his vote in Caracas. He said he was pleased by the “massive turnout.”The stakes in the country with the world’s largest known oil reserves couldn’t be higher.(MORE: )Just as polls closed, one of several dozen young red-shirted Chavistas on motorcycles said they were ready to begin celebrating.“Let them accept defeat,” one of them, Kleiver Gutierrez, said of the opposition.One pro-Chavez voter, private bodyguard Carlos Julio Silva, said that whatever his faults, Chavez deserves to win for spreading the nation’s oil wealth to the poor with free medical care, public housing and other government largess..“There is corruption, there’s plenty of bureaucracy, but the people have never had a leader who cared about this country,” Silva said after voting for Chavez at a school in the Caracas slum of Petare. “That’s why the people are going to re-elect Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias.”At many polling places, voters started lining up hours before polls opened at dawn, some snaking blocks in the baking Caribbean sun. Some shaded themselves with umbrellas. Vendors grilled meat and some people drank beer.Maria Leonis was selling CDs of Chavez’s campaign theme music on a sidewalk next to a polling center. “Today I’ve sold about 100 CDs, just Chavez’s song,” Leonis said, adding that she supported Chavez because “I want to keep seeing change.”(PHOTOS: )Chavez’s critics said the president has inflamed divisions by labeling his opponents “fascists,” ”Yankees” and “neo-Nazis,” while Chavez’s loyalists alleged Capriles would halt generous government programs that assist the poor.“I’m really tired of all this polarization,” said Lissette Garcia, a 39-year-old clothes seller and Capriles supporter who voted in the affluent Caracas district of Las Mercedes. “I want to reconnect with all my friends who are ‘Chavistas.’”Violence flared sporadically during the campaign, including shootings and rock-throwing during rallies and political caravans. Two Capriles supporters were shot to death in the western state of Barinas last weekend.Troops guarded thousands of voting centers across the country.Defense Minister Henry Rangel Silva said as he voted that all had been calm and he hoped that would continue. He said if any groups try to “disturb order, they should know there is an armed force prepared and equipped and trained … to put down any attempt at disturbances.”He didn’t identify the groups to which he was referring.Chavez’s opponents mounted a noisy protest in Caracas and other major cities Saturday night, beating pots and pans from the windows of their homes to show displeasure with the president — and also their hopes for change. Drivers on downtown streets honked horns, joining the din.The 40-year-old Capriles, a wiry former governor affectionately called “Skinny” by supporters, infused the opposition with new optimism, and opinion polls pointed to him giving Chavez his closest election.Some recent polls gave Chavez a lead of about 10 percentage points, while others put the two candidates about even.Chavez spoke little during the campaign about his fight with cancer, which since June 2011 has included surgery to remove tumors from his pelvic region as well as chemotherapy and radiation treatment. He has said his most recent tests showed no sign of illness.“Chavez is going to fight until his last breath. He doesn’t know how to do anything else,” said Antonio Padron, a bank employee backing the president. Padron expressed optimism that the 58-year-old Chavez would win but predicted a close finish: “It’s a tough fight. The opposition has never been this strong.”Chavez won the last presidential vote in 2006 with 63 percent of the vote.A former army paratroop commander first elected in 1999, Chavez has presided over an oil boom and has spent billions of dollars on social programs ranging from cash benefits for single mothers to free education.But he has suffered declining support due to one of the world’s highest murder rates, 18 percent inflation, a deteriorating electrical grid and a bloated government accused of endemic corruption and mismanagement.(MORE: )While his support has slipped at home, Chavez has also seen his international influence ebb since he emerged in the mid-2000s as leader of a like-minded club of newly elected Latin American leftist presidents.Chavez accumulated near-absolute power over the past decade thanks to his control of the National Assembly, pliant institutions such as the Central Bank and friendly judges.Capriles said Chavez has stirred up hatred, hobbled the economy by expropriating private businesses and squandered oil wealth. He criticized Chavez’s preferential deals supplying oil to allies, including one that lets Cuba pay with the services of Cuban doctors.At one voting center in western Zulia state, in the municipality of Santa Rita, voters said some people had actually formed two separate lines — one with Chavez supporters and the other with Capriles supporters. Elsa Gutierrez, a housewife and Capriles supporter, said it was wrong to have two lines and feared it could lead to conflicts.“This situation can’t be permitted,” Gutierrez said, adding that she voted for Capriles “because I want this division in my country to end.”Political analyst Ricardo Sucre said he expected the election to show “two halves, more or less even.” Regardless of the result, he said, Venezuelans are likely to remain deeply divided by politics for years to come.By FRANK BAJAK, IAN JAMES Associated Press writers Fabiola Sanchez, Christopher Toothaker, Jorge Rueda and Vivian Sequera contributed to this report.A San Francisco-area Boy Scout says he has been denied the organization’s most prestigious award because he is gay, Seventeen-year-old Ryan Andresen’s troop leader informed him that despite completing the requirements to be an Eagle Scout, he could not earn the honor because of his sexual orientation, Andresen’s mother told Yahoo. Andresen said his troop leader was aware of his orientation before he began applying for the rank.“He had been telling me all along that we’d get by the gay thing,” Andresen told Yahoo. “It was by far the biggest goal of my life. It’s totally devastating.”Andresen joined the Boy Scouts when he was six years old, but on Monday he will turn 18—the cut-off age for receiving the Eagle Scout award.In order to earn the distinction, scouts must reach five ranks, obtain 21 merit badges, maintain a leadership position for six months and complete a service project. For his project, Andresen worked with students to construct an anti-bullying “Tolerance Wall” at his local middle school, which comprises 288 ceramic tiles depicting acts of kindness, Yahoo notes.(MORE: )Andresen’s mother launched a petition on Change.org to convince her son’s scoutmaster to change his decision before Andresen’s birthday. The petition has over 150,000 signatures as of Friday afternoon.“It hurts me so much to watch Ryan suffer for being who he is, because to me, he’s perfect,” she wrote on the website. “Ryan has worked for nearly 12 years to become an Eagle Scout, and nothing would make him more proud than earning that well-deserved distinction.”Deron Smith, the national spokesman for the Boy Scouts, said on Thursday that Andresen does not abide by the organization’s religious principles.“Recently, a Scout proactively notified his unit leadership and Eagle Scout Counselor that he does not agree to Scouting’s principle of ‘Duty to God’ and does not meet Scouting’s membership standard on sexual orientation,” Smith wrote in a statement to Yahoo News. “While the BSA did not proactively ask for this information, based on his statements and after discussion with his family he is being informed that he is no longer eligible for membership in Scouting.”In July, a committee of BSA leaders concluded unanimously that the organization of excluding homosexuals. The policy was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2000, but many companies have cancelled donations in protest.(WATCH: )Andresen came out to his troop in a letter he wrote in July to address a bullying incident because he “thought he could help,” . Andresen himself had been bullied, and after he left the Boy Scouts for a few months because of the vicious teasing, his scoutmaster, Rainer Del Valle, encouraged him to return and complete his service project. Now, however, Del Valle will not provide the final signature for Andresen’s award, ABC News reports.Meet Louise, the Eurasian eagle owl, and Annie the bird dog. They didn’t watch the presidential debate. They paid no attention to Justin Bieber’s , nor do they have any desire to watch Obama and Romney’s Gangnam-style . There is only their love.In this YouTube video, Louise gently pecks Annie with kisses and strokes her hair with its claw. Toward the end, Louise seems to be whispering something to the dog, as if to declare that nothing was between them but sunshine and grass. At around 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 24, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's bespectacled visage popped up in the Twitter feeds of his 231,902 followers. "In a growing economy, there is enough space for big and small to grow," his missive read. He was touting his government's recent decision to pave the way for more foreign investment in retail, a long-awaited move that its supporters say promises to create millions of jobs, increase farmers' profits and decrease prices for consumers. Minutes later, Singh got his first reply: "@PMOIndia: can we also have clean toilets...“In recent years, Azerbaijani-Mexican relations have been developing dynamically,” wrote the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in a to Mexican President Felipe Calderón on the occasion of Mexico’s Independence Day on Sept. 16. Many Mexicans however, particularly the residents of Mexico City, might be surprised to realize how warm and fuzzy relations are between the two countries — and by the arrival of a new statue in Mexico’s Reforma Boulevard.(FROM THE MAGAZINE: )The life-size bronze statue happens to be of Heydar Aliyev, the former ruler of the oil-rich, ex-Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan (and the father of Azerbaijan’s current President). It sits in the newly renovated Azerbaijan-Mexico Friendship park in Mexico City — a renovation that Azerbaijan , to the tune of $5 million in total for two parks and two statues in the city. (The second statue, a memorial to the victims of a 1990s massacre that Azerbaijanis as a genocide, sits in Tlaxcoaque Park in downtown Mexico City.)(MORE: )But the Soviet-style bronze of Aliyev has raised eyebrows among bewildered Mexicans as well as human rights groups. The monument sits on the City’s Reforma Avenue, home to statues of foreign leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and Gandhi.For human-rights groups, the placement of Aliyev — who is accused of stifling dissent as the former Soviet republic’s Communist Party boss during the Cold War, and then as President from 1993 to 2003 — among such company is disconcerting, to say the least.(MORE: )Human rights group Azerbaijani-Americans for Democracy has written to the Mayor of Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrard expressing their dismay. “Heydar Aliyev was not a noble man that deserves to be honored in public parks and squares,” :“Having his monument erected in Mexico City is an affront to the Azerbaijanis that suffer at the hands of his corrupt dictatorship and it can only be an insult to Mexicans who value their own nation’s long-established traditions of freedom, human rights and dignity, and justice.”Statues of the Order of Lenin recipient have popped up in other countries, although Mexico is the first Latin American nation to receive one. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has compiled an keeping a track of the statues erected in Aliyev’s honor so far, most of which are dotted around Central and Eastern Europe. (Mexico’s special treatment is partially down to the fact that it was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan following its break from the Soviet Union in 1991.)(MORE: )Many Mexico City residents, however, appeared to be oblivious to the issue, the BBC. “He who pays, gets to choose,” a car washer who works near the park the broadcaster. “I don’t think it’s a particularly good idea but what can we Mexicans say? We have to bite our tongues, as it’s their money which paid for all this.”Mayor Erbrard, who has kept quiet so far in the face of the criticism, did during the unveiling of the statue in August that Mexico City had not received an investment this large from a foreign government before.Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Mexico to the AP that the monument was not “intended to improve anybody’s reputation, because the world’s perception of Heydar Aliyev does not require any rescuing.”PHOTOS: Like most professional opinion havers who watched Wednesday’s debate, I thought , but I was puzzled by his volunteering that he wants to end government funding for public broadcasting.I wasn’t surprised that he said it; it’s been a conservative goal for about as long as there’s been PBS and NPR. But I was surprised by how he said it, as he was speaking to Jim Lehrer (ironically, of PBS): “I’m sorry, Jim. I’m going to stop the subsidy to PBS. I’m going to stop other things. I like PBS. I love Big Bird. I actually like you too. But I’m not going to — I’m not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from to pay for it.”I’ve been covering the waxing-and-waning threats to cut public-media funding long enough to know one thing. It’s the defenders of public money who bring up Big Bird — and Elmo and Arthur — whenever this happens. It personalizes the debate. It gets people worried about their favorite characters and educational TV for their kids; it conjures the specter of heartless politicians killing Big Bird.And if you’re a conservative budget cutter or culture warrior, you do whatever you can not to cite Big Bird, or Sesame Street, or any cuddly figure that millions of people love. You talk about Bill Moyers, or a documentary you charge with liberal bias, or the elitism of NPR executives, or . You tell voters that coastal socialist elites are taking your money to undermine your values! You only mention Big Bird, if you must at all, to say that government money or no, Big Bird will be fine.Which is more or less true: popular shows like Sesame Street and Arthur can get a lot of money from licensing. I in a post that goes into it in a lot more detail, but the real disaster would be for local PBS stations in small markets — often in rural red-state areas — that provide an expensive service in poor regions. Big Bird won’t get fired; the question is whether you’ll still have a local station to bring you Big Bird. (I will, regardless, as will the Romneys and Obamas, because we’re all pampered coastal elites.)In any case: crying “Big Bird” is usually a way of muddying the issues over public-broadcasting defunding, which would have very real but very different effects. And it usually works, which is why the government still funds public broadcasting.So why would Romney invite Big Bird’s name into the discussion on purpose? Off the bat, he opens himself up to loaded attacks. Almost immediately, someone created a “” parody account on Twitter. The head of PBS against Romney’s proposal. And Barack Obama, diffident at the debate, was using it Thursday for : Romney was “finally getting tough on Big Bird … he’ll get rid of regulations on , but he’s going to crack down on Sesame Street.”But what Romney said was not a slip-up or gaffe. It wasn’t even new. Since the primaries, he’s . It’s an interesting tack: Romney is essentially saying, “Hey, I like the things you like too. We just can’t afford them.” It takes the debate out of the usual culture-warrior frame (liberals are using our money to undermine our values!) and puts it in a dollars-and-cents frame. (Speaking of that frame, it is true that $400 million–plus for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a teensy slice of the deficit, but that’s another, long-running argument.)I’m not sure it’s actually a good political strategy, given that it’s set up his opponents with a fight on their preferred terms. But it’s an interesting way of changing the strategy anyway — seeing if he can win the argument by confronting the we-love-Big-Bird sentiment directly.And it’s worth noting that the old conservative tack — NPR is liberal, Elmo will be fine — has never actually succeeded in ending public-radio and TV support. I’ve always doubted it was ever really meant to, so much as it was a reliable way to whip up the base by bundling budget anxieties and the culture war in one overblown package.Romney’s angle may not work, and of course I don’t know who’s going to win the election. But it could be a sign that — more than past politicians demagoguing the no-tax-money-for-PBS argument — he actually intends to do it if he gets the chance.Update: Here, my standard disclosure: I voted for Obama in ’08 and plan to do so again in ’12. To paraphrase Walter Mondale: most people who write about politics have voting preferences; the difference is, they won’t tell you theirs and I just did. To read my fuller thoughts on political writing and disclosure, .There aren’t really many occasions in architecture for breaking news alerts—it’s hard for a building to sneak up on people—but this is pretty close: a hitherto little-known house . Its future is in doubt. But perhaps the real newsflash is: There are Frank Lloyd Wright houses that nobody knows about? How does that happen?The house, in a neighborhood of known as Arcadia, was originally designed by Wright for the architect’s son, David. This may go some way towards explaining the obscurity. David and his wife Gladys, who passed away in 2008, would have been fully aware of the perils of living in an architecturally significant home: namely, FLWpilgrims. Students and fans of architecture go to great lengths to see actual buildings; after all there’s only so much you can learn from photographs and plans.Wright’s more famous home, , in receives hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Phillip Johnson’s in New Canaan, Conn. got so many visitors when it was still a private home that sightseers sometimes had their tires let down by way of discouragement. (Nowadays it’s open to the public. )So Wright’s son can be forgiven for not widely publishing the existence or address of his residence, especially since , another Wright building is only a few miles away. Who wants their home to become part of a tour?But the fact that this was Wright’s house for his son makes it particularly worth saving, and not just for nostalgic reasons. Since it’s probable that the architectural fees Wright charged for his services were minimal and the client had several other reasons to not argue with his architect, Wright pere would likley have had a pretty free rein on the home and could use it as a kind of model/laboratory for ideas he was noodling.And indeed that’s what the house seems to be. Much of the home comprises a circular spiraling ramp that would be echoed in Wright’s New York City museum, which was completed seven years later. This is also an early instance of Wright’s use of concrete blocks rather than wood or stone, his preferred materials.The current owner, Steve Sells, who with John Hoffman is co-principal of 8081 Meridian, the developer that applied to raze the house, could not have been expected to know this. He told the that he was unfamiliar with Wright’s work until this year. Reports are that 8081 Meridian bought it for $1.8 million. (That a Frank Lloyd Wright house can be had for the price of a three-bedroom apartment in Manhattan is also something of a newsflash). Several people have offered to buy the house, including, reportedly, at least one Hollywood Celebrity (best guess: Brad Pitt)—he says he needs at least $2.2 million to cover his legal fees. That mean seem cheap to some, but a warning to buyers: celebrity homes are like celebrity marriages. They take a lot of work.Over at CNET, Casey Newton and Roger Cheng have a good story on .Every few months, it seems, we hear a new version of an old story: the maker of an expensive smartphone announces it won’t be upgraded to the latest version of Android, and consumers cry foul.But this one is different. First, Motorola told customers they would upgrade the phones for 18 months after they came out, a statement that drove sales of the devices. Second, Google owns both Android and Motorola, making it all the more puzzling why the business units didn’t work together to make an upgrade happen.Finally, there are signs that for some Android devotees, Motorola’s abandonment of its year-old phones is the last straw.To me, the interesting part of this isn’t Motorola breaking its promise — although I’d be plenty steamed if I’d bought a phone based on it — but the obvious technical difficulty of updating a phone that uses one version of Android to a new version. If it were easy, we wouldn’t have the .Google has gone from saying that to to . But for now, when you buy an Android phone, you shouldn’t assume anything at all about when, or if, you’ll get an upgrade. And most of the time, most new phones aren’t running the latest version of the software. (At the moment, that’s Jelly Bean — if Motorola had gotten its 2011 phones to run Ice Cream Sandwich, they’d still be out of date.)I understand that getting an operating system to run on hundreds of phones from a bevy of manufacturers is far tougher than making it run only on hardware you build yourself. That’s why iPhone buyers know they’ll get updates the moment a new version of iOS is ready, while Android buyers don’t know what to expect. But as I , I don’t think that Google and phone makers have the option of ignoring the problem. The longer it festers, the more often it’ll come back to bite them, and their customers.I mean, it can’t be good for Motorola to tick off customers so badly that they go out of their way to avoid its products in the future, can it? In the 13 months that Mohammed Abdel-Rahman has been protesting outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo, he has become so familiar to American officials that they sometimes stop at his small open-air sit-in to exchange pleasantries with him. Never mind that he is the son of Omar Abdel-Rahman, better known as the Blind Sheik, jailed in North Carolina for his role in a plot to bomb several targets in the U.S., or that Mohammed himself was captured in Afghanistan 10 years later and imprisoned in Egypt until the fall of 2010, or even that he is a prominent member of the... Beeshu has issues. the neglected son of a megalomaniacal dictator, trapped in a presidency he never wanted, surrounded by sycophants, loathed by his people, afflicted with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and a debilitating lisp it's enough to make you feel sorry for the guy. And that's the point. Beeshu, the paranoid finger puppet that stars in the underground online parody series Top Goon: Diaries of a Little Dictator, is a caricature of Bashar Assad, the President of Syria. With his outsize ears, ill-timed giggles and penchant for bad jokes, Beeshu invokes laughter, anger and pity. But never fear. "For so long,... Can the People Beat the Militias? 1 LIBYA The Sept. 11 assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, which led to the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens, exposed the fragile reality of Libya a year after the fall of the dictatorship of Muammar Gaddafi. The fledgling democratic Libyan state is at the mercy of numerous armed militias, many of which subscribe to extremist ideologies at odds with the government. Across the country, both secular and Islamist militias have taken over buildings, confiscated private and public property and routinely clashed with rival brigades. Ten days after the attack, though, the citizens... To find the origins of Yale university, don't go to New Haven, Conn., the New England city where this hallowed American institution of higher learning sits. Instead, head to the old British redoubt of Fort St. George in Chennai, India. This was where, in the late 17th century, a certain Elihu Yale made his fortune as a top official of the East India Co. His riches enabled him to eventually donate a carton of books and cloth in 1718 to an obscure college across the oceans in colonial Connecticut. Those items, summarily sold for the kingly sum of £562,... I am amazed by your cover story's headline, "The End of al-Qaeda?" [Sept. 17]. If this were the title following Osama bin Laden's death, it would have made more sense. But eliminating an odd leader in Yemen means nothing at all. Al-Qaeda is more of a cult, and we in Pakistan are suffering directly because it helps any organization that can further its expansion. A. Rahim Yousefzai, ISLAMABAD Upon seeing "The End of al-Qaeda?" it struck me that TIME had a similar headline on its...$50 million worth of moviegoers can’t be wrong. The critics gave Taken 2 a ferocious pummeling — a 20% score on the Rotten Tomatoes aggregate-review site, meaning that four-fifths of them dumped on the film — but Liam Neeson rose from the beating to kick beaucoup d’ass where it counts at the box office. The PG-13-rated action film earned a slam-bang $50 million, according to early studio projections, to win the weekend at North American theaters. If that conveniently round number holds, Taken 2 will be the first movie to hit the $50-million weekend mark since The Dark Knight Rises opened in July.And what was the first $40-million opener since the caper-capper? That came last week, with Hotel Transylvania. Hollywood has shaken the late-summer blahs and lured audiences back to theaters by offering, what else?, what has worked before: an animated comedy voiced by brand-name actors (Adam Sandler, Kevin James) and a revenge drama with a 60-year-old Irishman who, for now, is the movies’ top action star. This sequel to Neeson’s 2009 hit, which earned $145 million at the domestic box office and another $82 million abroad, succeeded by attracting a broad swath of moviegoers — 52% male, 65% over the age of 25 — who gave the film an OK B-plus rating as polled by the CinemaScore survey firm.(READ: Corliss’s )In the first installment, an ex-CIA operative (Neeson) came to to track down the white slavers who had kidnapped his daughter (Maggie Grace). The new chapter moves the location to and makes the spy and his ex-wife (Famke Janssen) the captives, while the daughter tosses grenades on Istanbul rooftops and drives madly through the streets. It’s not much of a SPOILER ALERT to mention that Grace has a boyfriend to whom Neeson eventually warms up — virtually guaranteeing a Taken 3 with the kidnapping of the daughter and her beau. Maybe they’ll have a baby by then, which could make Taken the Fockers of action-movie franchises.(READ: )As hostile as most reviews for Taken 2 were, that’s how supportive the critical response (85% favorable) was for Frankenweenie, Tim Burton’s stop-motion expansion of a 29-min. live-action film he made in 1984, when he was a young animator at Disney. The brass shelved the movie — about a boy who brings his dead pit bull terrier back to life, Frankenstein-style — and fired Burton, who did plenty well on his own. The director returned to the studio a quarter-century later to make Alice in Wonderland and earn Disney a billion dollars at the worldwide box office.(READ: Corliss’s ) Frankenweenie might not rack up a twentieth of that bonanza. The black-and-white 3-D feature — Burton’s third stop-motion movie, after The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride, and the third set in a cemetery — opened to a moribund $11.5 million. That’s less than half of what Hotel Transylvania, another animated comedy about the undead, grossed in its second weekend. Parents and kids chose bright colors and broad humor over artful atmospherics and subtler wit.(READ: Corliss’s )The Frankenweenie opening was weak even for a stop-motion movie — well below the $19.3 million for Burton’s Corpse Bride in 2005 and the $14.1 million for the recent ParaNorman, and just about even with the $11.1 million cadged this April by Aardman Studio’s The Pirates! Band of Misfits. The CinemaScore rating for Burton’s movie was B-plus — suitable for an action film like Taken 2 but abysmal for an animated feature, which is usually awarded a more generous A-minus (Transylvania, Ice Age 4, Puss in Boots), a full “A” (Brave, The Lorax, Madagascar 3) or even an A-plus (Tangled). Disney is unlikely to fire Burton again, but they may discourage him from making stop-motion cartoons set in graveyards.(READ: Mary Pols’)Elsewhere, the college musical — one of this week’s rare top-10 movies in which no human or pet dies or is already dead — earned a harmonious $14.7 million in its first weekend of wide release. In Indieland, , a lubricious heap o’ Southern grits starring Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey and Nicole Kidman, snatched a hot $110,000 on 11 screens. , in which Leighton Meester cuddles up with a man Hugh Laurie) old enough to be her best friend’s father — in fact, he is — opened in 10 times as many theaters as The Paperboy but took in just $180,000, for a pathetic $1,636 per-screen average. Andrea Arnold’s rough-hewn version of (her Heathcliff is black) found a chilly reception: $8,800 on a single Manhattan screen.Here are the Sunday estimates of this weekend’s top-grossing pictures in North American theaters, as reported by :1. Taken 2, $50 million, first weekend2. Hotel Transylvania, $26.3 million; $76 million, second week3. Pitch Perfect, $14.7 million; $21.6 million, second week4. Looper, $12.2 million; $40.3 million, second week5. Frankenweenie, $11.5 million, first weekend6. End of Watch, $4 million; $32.9 million, third week7. Trouble With the Curve, $3.9 million; $29.7 million, third week8. House at the End of the Street, $3.7 million; $27.5 million, third week9. The Master, $1.8 million; $12.3 million, fourth week10. Finding Nemo, $1.6 million; $39 million, fourth week of rereleaseThe atmospherics in Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights are such that you may walk out of the film expecting your hair to be damp and windblown and perhaps find a dead rabbit in your satchel. For its two-hour plus duration, it’s like going on Outward Bound: There are moody teenagers learning bird species on the moors. There is the sense of virtuousness that comes with deprivation, although in this case, it’s not going without walls and flush toilets but enduring a film without engaging dialogue and strong performances. And yet the movie, as flawed and wild as Heathcliff himself, gets under your skin.That’s why, while it is tempting to mock this often patience-trying Wuthering Heights from here to kingdom come, I can’t do so in good conscience. Or at least not without mercy, because there are elements of Arnold’s film that aggravate in a good way. Like most film adaptations of Emily Brontë’s lone novel, first published in 1847, it focuses on the romantic aspect of the story, the abandoned child Heathcliff, who falls in love with the daughter of the man who rescues him. Cathy loves him too but marries Edgar Linton, the rich boy next door, and Heathcliff goes off to make his own fortune and plan his revenge. Arnold has all but abandoned the second half of the book, in which Cathy is dead, the passions are far less pretty and the focus on vengeance plays out in the next generation. At the painstakingly slow storytelling pace Arnold established for herself, doing so might have made for a six-hour movie.(SEE: Where Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights landed on .A primal sexuality permeates the movie: shots of horse’s rumps, young Cathy and Heathcliff rolling in the dirt together, feathers touched to skin—all set only to ambient sounds and shot in what looks like natural light. I haven’t seen a movie that paid this much loving attention to the flora and fauna since 2009’s I Am Love. Much will be made of all the animals that are slaughtered on screen, including various bunnies, a goose and a lamb. Apparently it’s all faked, so this is not technically a bunny snuff film, but it certainly feels like one. The act bothered me less than the repetition; by the time we got to the goose, the point about how fragile and easily extinguished a life is had been amply made.Arnold’s boldest move is to use two young black actors to play Heathcliff, and she should be lauded for taking such an exciting approach. Solomon Glave plays Heathcliff at 12 or so, the one Mr. Earnshaw (Paul Hilton) brings home with him after he finds him on the streets of Liverpool. James Howson takes over the role in the movie’s second half, when he’s fully grown. Is this a stretch? The Heathcliff in Emily Brontë’s book was a gypsy, a vagabond, an ill-mannered street child, regularly described as “dark” but in at least one passage as not “a regular black.” That suggests some leeway, that Heathcliff could have been of mixed race, part Gypsy, part black, part anything but white, a perspective that’s not new to literary scholarship even if the most notable cinematic Heathcliffs have been lily white types like Sir Laurence Olivier and Ralph Fiennes.(READ: TIME’s )In Brontë’s pages, the good-hearted servant Nelly tells Heathcliff, “Who knows, but your father was Emperor of China, and your mother an Indian queen, each of them able to buy up, with one week’s income, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange together?” Arnold and her co-writer Olivia Hetreed play with those words and put them in the mouth instead of flirtatious younger Cathy (the freckled, rounded Shannon Beer). “I bet your mother was an African Queen and your father a Chinese emperor,” she tells him, eliciting the fraction of a smile from this justifiably gloomy kid, who is regularly abused by Cathy’s brother Hindley (Lee Shaw). What’s unarguable is that Brontë posited Heathcliff as an “other,” a man tormented by his outsider status. Trying to create a sense of that otherness in the 21st century, is it reasonable for Arnold to use a black actor? Absolutely.But it would also be reasonable to find an actor who can act. Arnold famously plucked Katie Jarvis, the star of her gritty 2009 film Fish Tank, off a railroad platform, but you couldn’t tell from watching her that she was a complete novice. Howson is a total contrast, so wooden he’s only effective when he’s not talking. Neither he nor Kaya Scodelario, who came to the part of the older Cathy with British television experience and a small role in Clash of the Titans, attempt any kind of period speech, and the sparse dialogue Arnold and Hetreed have written for them doesn’t help. “I’ll just go get my stuff,” Cathy says. There are moments when they seem like a pair of very contemporary young adults (although if they were texting each other, there would be no LOLs or hahas). He’s beautiful, she’s beautiful, but their chemistry isn’t as powerful as it should be. Arnold’s aim for a naturalism on the moors and in dank houses is noble and likely, rendered far closer to Brontë’s original vision than most filmed Wuthering Heights, particularly the classic 1939 Olivier-Merle Oberon version, with its soundstagey moors. There’s nothing genteel or Masterpiece Theater about her viewpoint. But it’s also pushy; Arnold’s Wuthering Heights doesn’t just immerse you, it holds you under. Her over-done naturalism, with those endless shots of grass growing and moth wings flapping, becomes its own form of artifice.In the news release, Crain's New York Business Announces 2008 '40 Under 40' Winners, issued 03-Mar-2008 by Crain's New York Business over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that there are numerous factual errors in the original text. The complete, corrected release follows:New Yorkâ€™s future leaders profiled in March 3 issueNEW YORK, March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Crainâ€™s New York Business today announced its much-anticipated list of 2008 â€œ40 Under 40â€? honorees, which recognizes the top young rising stars in the New York City business community. This yearâ€™s class hails from a diverse range of industries including finance, music, technology, retail, healthcare, and real estate. A list of winners, along with a personal profile for each, appears in this weekâ€™s Crainâ€™s and on crainsnewyork.com/40under40.2008 marks the 21st year that Crainâ€™s New York Business has compiled the â€œ40 Under 40â€? and with each succeeding year, the competition has become increasingly intense. The 40 business people profiled in this section join a growing rank of people across many different industries, backgrounds and experiences connected by one common thread: success in New York business at a young age.A sample of the 2008 winners includes, John Caplan, 37, CEO of Ford Models Inc.; Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss, 32, President of Shoshanna; Michelle Peluso, 35, CEO of Travelocity; Dylan Lauren, 33, CEO of Dylanâ€™s Candy Bar; Frederic de Narp, 38, CEO of Cartier North America and Jesse Itzler, 39, Co-founder, Marquis Jet.â€œOur annual 40 under 40 issue has been a staple of our editorial coverage and one that we are extremely proud to produce,â€? said Jill Kaplan, publisher of Crainâ€™s New York Business. â€œWe consistently hear from past 40â€™s that being named to this elite group has had a profound affect on their lives and careers.â€?The 2008 designees follow in the footsteps of such notable prior winners as David Bouley, chef/owner of Bouley, Bouley Bakery and Danube; Liz Lange, founder and president of Liz Lange Maternity, Brian Cashman, Senior VP & GM of the New York Yankees; Andrea Jung, Chairman & CEO of Avon Products Inc. and designer Marc Jacobs, to name a few. The Crainâ€™s editorial team closely scrutinizes each applicant, and leverages its comprehensive, multi-disciplinary knowledge of New Yorkâ€™s business, culture and politics.The 2008 â€œ40 Under 40â€? Winners include:-- Michael Aiello, 37, Partner, Weil Gotshal & Manges-- Maryam Banikarim, 38, Chief Marketing Officer, Univision Communications Inc.-- John Caplan, 37, Chief Executive Officer, Ford Models Inc.-- Kathryn Carter, 38, Executive Vice President, Soccer United Marketing (business office of Major League Soccer)-- Joe Chan, 36, President, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership-- Ken Davenport, 35, Founder, Davenport Theatrical Enterprises-- Frederic de Narp, 38, Chief Executive Officer, Cartier North America-- Nancy Dubuc, 38, General Manager, the History Channel-- Charissa L. Fernandez, 33, Chief Operating Officer, The After-School Corp.-- Evgeny (Gene) Freidman, 37, Chief Executive Officer, Taxi Club Management Inc.-- James Gersten, 38, President, Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges-- Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss, 32, President, Shoshanna-- Pilar Guzman, 37, Editor-in-Chief, Cookie-- Scott Hagedorn, 37, Managing Director, East Coast, OMD-- Robert Hammond, 38, Executive Director, Friends of the High Line-- Matthew Higgins, 33, Senior Vice President of Business Operations, New York Jets-- Jason Hirschhorn, 36, President, Sling Media Entertainment Group-- AsunciÃ³n C. Hostin, 39, Managing Director, Kroll Inc.-- Jesse Itzler, 39, Co-founder, Marquis Jet-- Sarumathi Jayaraman, 32, Co-director, Restaurant Opportunities Center United-- Mikael Johnson, 38, Global Chair of Alternative Investments, KPMG-- Khajak Keledjian, 35, Chief Executive Officer, Intermix-- Maggie Kwan, 39, Director of Structural Systems, Tishman Construction Corp. of New York-- Ian Laird, 36, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield-- Dylan Lauren, 33, Chief Executive Officer, Dylanâ€™s Candy Bar-- Chris Lighty, 36, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Violator Management/ Brand Asset Group-- Michael MacDougall, 37, Partner, TPG (formerly known as Texas Pacific Group)-- Dionne Mack-Harvin, 35, Executive Director, Brooklyn Public Library-- Maurizio Miglietta, 38, Director, Trauma Surgery, NY-Presbyterian/Columbia-- Mark Mason, 38, Chief Financial Officer, Citigroup Global Wealth Management-- Susan Moss, 38, Partner, Chemtob Moss Forman & Talbert-- Evgeny Nudler, Ph.D., 37, Professor of Biochemistry, NYU School of Medicine-- Michelle Peluso, 35, Chief Executive Officer, Travelocity-- Mark Pitts, 37, President of Urban Music, Jive Records/Zomba Label Group-- Sara Queen, 39, Senior Asset Manager, Brookfield Properties Corp.-- Celine Rattray, 32, Partner, Plum Pictures-- Carley Roney, 39, Editor-in-Chief, The Knot Inc.-- Philip Shawe, 38, Co-Chief Executive Officer, TransPerfect Translations-- Michael Steib, 31, Director of TV Advertising, Google-- Jane Wheeler, 39, Senior Managing Director, Evercore PartnersAbout Crainâ€™s New York BusinessCrain's New York Business provides you news, information and connections on all facets of New York through the prism of business. Crainâ€™s is available on Mondays with a circulation of more than 59,000 and online at crainsnewyork.com. Crainâ€™s also publishes two newsletters including the Crainâ€™s Insider, a political newsletter and Crainâ€™s Health Pulse, a health care industry newsletter.About Crain Communications, Inc.Crain Communications Inc is one of the largest privately-owned business publishers in the U.S. with over 30 leading business, trade and consumer publications in North America and Europe. As an authoritative source of vital news and information to industry leaders and consumers worldwide, each of the companyâ€™s newspapers, magazines and electronic news sites have become required reading in their respective sector of business and consumer market.SOURCE Crain's New York BusinessWe're not saying that these are terrible songs (okay...we're not a fan of the "Chicken Dance"), but you might want to put these 15 songs on your do-not-play list.1. "Celebration," Kool &The Gang Why to Skip It: Unless you want your wedding to have something in common with every eighth grade graduation that's ever taken place in a dingy school gym, tell your DJ to skip this one.2. "Cha Cha Slide," DJ Casper Why to Skip It: We're guessing you and your guests have the ability to come up with your own dance moves, so let's nix this step-by-step group dance lesson.3. "We Are Family," Sister Sledge Why to Skip It: It's your wedding...we know your family is there. Plus, it'll be stuck in your head for weeks and weeks after the wedding (and not in a good way).4. "Hot in Herre," Nelly Why to Skip It: This is a stand-in for all the overplayed, inappropriate club songs that have a tendency to creep into weddings. As a general rule, avoid songs with references to "juice" and stripping (unless you have the world's most open-minded grandparents and ultra-mature flower girls).5. "I Gotta Feeling," The Black Eyed Peas Why to Skip It: After two years of being played at every Sweet 16, bar mitzvah, and prom, we're betting even Fergie would agree that it's time to put this one to bed.6. "YMCA," Village People Why to Skip It: The fact that everyone knows the words, everyone knows the dance, and that this song fits lots of occasions -- between innings at a baseball game, for instance -- does not automatically qualify it as a must at your wedding.7. "Chicken Dance" Why to Skip It: At a wedding, everyone's dressed to the nines and feeling festive. Is this really the best time to flap your arms like a chicken in front of that cute bridesmaid/groomsman/new spouse? Didn't think so.8. "Every Breath You Take," The Police Why to Skip It: The Police are legendary, but the tune is a little high school dance-ish, and the line "Every move you make...I'll be watching you" is a little stalker-ish.9. "Macarena," Los Del Rio Why to Skip It: You may know how to do the dance -- but do you really want to? Besides, everyone has a few certain relatives they'd rather not see get down with that hip-swivel move.10. "Stayin' Alive," Bee Gees Why to Skip It: There aren't too many people who know more than one line and one dance move to this song -- leave "Stayin' Alive" to the Saturday Night Fever reruns.11. "Total Eclipse of the Heart," Bonnie Tyler Why to Skip It: This song is worth skipping if only to avoid any guest from reenacting the profanity-laced rendition made famous from Will Ferrell's wedding in Old School.12. "My Heart Will Go On," Celine Dion Why to Skip It: We're not passing judgment on Celine Dion, but Titanic propelled this song into the realm of romance cliche. Besides, remember that Leo died in the movie -- a bit tragic for a wedding.13. "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)," C+C Music Factory Why to Skip It: There's a dance floor, there's music, and it's a wedding. Your guests will know that it's time to dance -- there's no need to weave it not-so-subtly into the lyrics..14. "Love Shack," the B-52s Why to Skip It: If the super-repetitive chorus of this song isn't enough of a reason to put this song squarely on your blacklist, its "overplayed to death" status definitely will.15. "Mony Mony," Billy Idol Why to Skip It: Not sure what Billy Idol is singing in this song? Most other people don't know, either, and when that's the case, a good 10 percent of sing-alongers will find a way to say something objectionable.© 2011 The Knot Inc. All rights reserved. -- The Knot By Daisy WhitneyIf you're single, Valentine's Day does not have to be the day to tuck your head under the pillow and hibernate for 24 hours. Instead, celebrate your love for you, says Jerusha Stewart, author of "The Single Girl's Manifesta." Here are her suggestions that don't involve crying yourself to sleep, mooning over a past love, or eating all the chocolate by yourself. Not that there's anything wrong with that.And if you just don't feel like going out, being bubbly or seeing anyone, Judy Carter, author of "The Comedy Bible," offers this tip: "Stay in and rent a movie, but stay away from sappy romance movies. They will just make you more miserable. Watch ‘Fatal Attraction' again. That will make your feel better. You might be alone, but at least no one is making soup out of your pet rabbit," she says.STOCKHOLM (AP) - Agnetha Faltskog, one of the former members of Swedish pop band ABBA, is preparing for a comeback and has returned to the recording studio after more than eight years of musical silence. The singer's spokesman, Staffan Linde, told The Associated Press Thursday that the 62-year-old Faltskog is working alongside Swedish songwriter Jorgen Elofsson, who has previously penned and produced tunes for megastars including Britney Spears, Celine Dion and boy band Westlife. He could not say when the new album will be released. After ABBA split in the early 1980s, Faltskog pursued a solo career for a few years, but then went into a music hiatus for most of the 1990s. Her last album, "My Colouring Book," contained cover songs and was released in 2004. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Alliance for Veteran SupportConcert Fundraiser to support veterans' organizationsNEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Veteran Support (AVS) will present its second annual Initiative at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum (Pier 46 at 700 W. 46th Street at West Side Highway) honoring the U.S. veterans community on September 20th, 2012 at 8PM. The star-studded event - featuring headlining artists Grammy-Award winning R&B artist Ne-Yo and alternative rock group Third Eye Blind – brings together the New York financial community to benefit The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Wall Street Warfighters Foundation, the American Widows Project, the Center for Veterans' Mental Health within the Program for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Studies at the Weill Cornell Medical College's Department of Psychiatry, and the Veteran/Amputee Skin Regeneration Project at the Department of Dermatology at John Hopkins Medicine."We are always looking for ways to honor our servicemen and women," Omar S. Itum, Chairman of the Alliance for Veteran Support, Inc. said. "This event is a great way of saying thank you – a concert in their honor that also benefits amazing organizations."General Wesley K. Clark (Ret.) will present keynote remarks before Ne-Yo and Third Eye Blind take the stage. Ticket prices are General Admission $250. VIP tickets are $350. To purchase tickets go to .About ALLIANCE FOR VETERAN SUPPORT The Alliance for Veteran Support, Inc. (AVS) (501(C)(3) status pending) was created in 2011 by Omar S. Itum to provide fiscal support to organizations and research benefitting the veterans' community. The premiere benefit for AVS raised $1,000,000 for the Wounded Warriors Family Support Initiative. For more information: .About NE-YO Grammy-Award winning singer, songwriter, composer, & producer, Ne-Yo has produced three No. 1 albums, sold more than 10 million copies worldwide & collaborated with everyone from Michael Jackson to Tim McGraw. He has penned number one hits for Beyonce, Rihanna, & Mario, & chart toppers for Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, & more. Ne-Yo's albums have gone platinum & produced a slew of top 10 hits. Hollywood has also embraced him. He has written music for films like "The Princess and the Frog" and "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" and has appeared in films including "Stomp the Yard" & "Save the Last Dance 2". For more information: About THIRD EYE BLIND Since 1997, San Francisco's Third Eye Blind (3EB) have recorded three best-selling albums & assembled one career retrospective. Led by Stephan Jenkins, 3EB won wide success during a tumultuous period when the major-label recording industry was losing its grip on an enterprise that for decades it had dominated. 3EB, however, have gained artistic clarification and a fan base larger than ever. 3EB now write, tour, record, and communicate in a fluid new world where their music continues naturally to evolve. Their exchange with their audience is unfiltered. ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE AEG LiveSEASON SEVEN WINNER OLATE DOGS AND TOP FAN-FAVORITE PERFORMERS JOIN HOST TOM COTTER FOR THE EXCLUSIVE EIGHT-WEEK RUN IN THE PALAZZO THEATERTICKETS ON SALE NOW LAS VEGAS, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Following weeks of heavy competition and breathtaking performances on NBC's #1 hit television show America's Got Talent, this season's winner Olate Dogs and other top performers, along with fan-favorite special guests, will perform together live in a one-of-a-kind production exclusively at The Palazzo Theatre in Las Vegas. The live show, produced by FremantleMedia Enterprises and presented by AEG Live and The Palazzo Las Vegas, kicks off an eight-week limited engagement, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 26th. America's Got Talent Live In Las Vegas will feature season seven winner, Olate Dogs. Led to first place by champion trainer Richard Olate and his son Nicholas, the high-energy act features magnificently coached dogs performing remarkable routines with exceptional agility. Richard, a third generation circus performer, was born in South America to a life of struggle. Performing since the age of 12, his hard work and perseverance brought him to the United States, where he and his son won the hearts of America's Got Talent judges and audiences, capturing first place and a one-million dollar grand prize. America's Got Talent Live In Las Vegas will be hosted by season seven runner-up, Tom Cotter. Originally from Rhode Island, Cotter is a veteran stand-up comedian who has performed for over 23 years and has won several comedy competitions including the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. Other fan-favorite performers will include:Joe Castillo – Astonishing creative artist who tells stories in a unique way with sand, a light table and music as a medium. William Close - Innovative musician and inventor of the Earth Harp, the longest stringed instrument in the world, with strings that extend up to 1,000 feet in length.Lightwire Theater – Spellbinding group of performers who use electro-luminescent wire to create characters designed to combine dance, puppetry and a glow-in-the-dark show. Recycled Percussion – AGT Alumni and "Junk Rock" group featuring gritty musical assaults on buckets, power tools or anything else they can get their sticks on. Spencer Horsman– The world's youngest escape artist extraordinaire who defies odds with his daring and impressive artistry. America's Got Talent Live In Las Vegas will perform six shows per week. Show times are: Tickets for America's Got Talent Live In Las Vegas are on-sale now and can be purchased at any VenetianPalazzo Box Office, online at Venetian.com and Palazzo.com or by phone at 702.414.9000. The new stage show marks a return to The Palazzo for America's Got Talent, which was home to the show's televised "Vegas Week" earlier this summer, along with sister property The Venetian.America's Got Talent returned this summer with the hottest performers from across the country competing in the blockbuster reality show's seventh season. Bringing the variety show format back to the forefront of American culture each week, the show features a colorful array of hopeful future stars -- singers, dancers, comedic performers and unique acts of all ages. While each contestant has the chance to strut and perform in front of a panel of celebrity judges including Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne, the eventual winner is chosen by the television viewing audience. Since launching in 2006, America's Got Talent has been sold in over 100 countries, with localized versions of the hit being produced in more than 40 countries around the world. Social Media: Twitter Hashtag: #AGTLive Twitter Handles: @VenetianVegas, @PalazzoLasVegas About FremantleMedia North AmericaFremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon American Idol (FOX), The X Factor (FOX), America's Got Talent (NBC), Family Feud (syndicated), The Price Is Right (CBS), Let's Make A Deal (CBS), Total Blackout (Syfy), Final Offer (Discovery), The Pet Collective (YouTube) and the first scripted series The Wedding Band (TBS, premieres November 2012).About Fremantlemedia Enterprises & FremantlemediaFremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 per cent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia's worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Original Productions, @radical.media and Ludia amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 9,200 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.About AEG LiveAEG Live, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance. AEG Live is comprised of touring, festival, exhibition, broadcast, merchandise and special event divisions, fifteen regional offices and owns, operates or exclusively books thirty-five state-of-the-art venues. The current and recent concert tour roster includes artists such as Taylor Swift, The Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Justin Bieber, Leonard Cohen, Wisin & Yandel, Kenny Chesney, P!nk, Enrique Iglesias and Paul McCartney. The company is also currently producing residency shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas including Celine Dion, Rod Stewart and Shania Twain opening in December and is the exclusive promoter at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. AEG's exhibition portfolio boasts the most successful exhibition of all time, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, which has attracted more than 8 million visitors since 2005. AEG Live is also the largest producer of music festivals in North America from the critically acclaimed Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival to Stagecoach Country Music Festival and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. About The Palazzo Las VegasWith more than 3,000 spacious suites, luxury shopping, world-class dining and entertainment, the $1.9 billion, Silver LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified Palazzo Las Vegas literally takes luxury to new heights. Ranked as one of the top 25 hotels in the U.S. and Canada in Travel + Leisure "World's Best Awards" for two consecutive years, the AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Four Star-Award winning resort is highlighted by a flagship 85,000-square-foot Barneys New York. The Shoppes at The Palazzo® feature more than 60 luxury boutiques, including 20 remarkable stores and couture brands making their Las Vegas debuts at The Palazzo including Chloe´, Tory Burch, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, and Van Cleef & Arpels. The all-suite resort offers plush and opulent suite accommodations ranging from a Luxury Suite at an unprecedented 720 square feet to the 8,000-square-foot Chairman suite with private terraces and plunge pools. The Palazzo also offers a variety of cuisines from a collection of award-winning chefs such as Carnevino by Mario Batali, CUT by Wolfgang Puck and Table 10 by Emeril Lagasse. Other unique offerings include the chic dining and nightlife hotspot, LAVO; the world's largest Canyon Ranch SpaClub®; the ultimate sports bar, sportsbook and restaurant on the Strip, Lagasse's Stadium; and Prestige at The Palazzo – an exclusive space designed to offer the sophisticated traveler an elevated level of services and amenities including private champagne check in, packing and unpacking services, exclusive bath and pillow menus, complimentary cocktail reception and more. Guests can earn points while they eat, sleep, shop and play with Grazie, the premiere loyalty program, which rewards guests with the ease and usability of just one card and one program. The Palazzo and its famed sister resort, The Venetian Las Vegas, are the first-ever Alliance Resorts in the InterContinental Hotel Group global portfolio. For additional information, visit The Palazzo website at palazzolasvegas.com, follow on Twitter @palazzolasvegas and interact on Facebook at facebook.com/palazzolasvegas. ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Hollywood Film AwardsHOLLYWOOD, Calif., Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Times, is pleased to announce that three-time Academy Award nominated actress, Amy Adams will be given the "Hollywood Supporting Actress Award;" editor Dylan Tichenor, A.C.E., will receive the "Hollywood Editor Award;" and production designer Sarah Greenwood, A.D.G., will be given the "Hollywood Production Designer Award.""We are very proud to recognize the films and work of this talented actress and accomplished artists," said the Founder and Executive Director of the Hollywood Film Awards.The 2012 Hollywood Film Awards has also announced that it will honor director David O. Russell with the "Hollywood Director Award," Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro with the "Hollywood Supporting Actor Award," Academy Award-winning actress Marion Cotillard with the "Hollywood Actress Award," producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner with the "Hollywood Producers Award," writer/director Judd Apatow with the "Hollywood Comedy Award," actor John Hawkes with the "Hollywood Breakout Performance Award" for "The Sessions," and Quvenzhane Wallis with the "New Hollywood Award" for "Beasts of the Southern Wild." Other honorees include cinematographer Wally Pfister and visual effects supervisors Janek Sirrs and Jeff White. In addition, director Peter Ramsey's "Rise of the Guardians" will be honored with the "Hollywood Animation Award," along with additional honorees to be announced in the coming weeks.The Hollywood Film Awards Gala Ceremony will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on October 22, 2012. The event honors cherished stars and up-and-coming talent, and traditionally kicks off the film awards season with the biggest stars and top industry executives in attendance."We are very appreciative to be the first stop of the awards season. In the last nine years, a total of 85 Oscar nominations and 32 Oscars were given to the honorees of the Hollywood Film Awards," said de Abreu.Last year's awards show reached a total TV audience of more than 41 million media impressions, in addition to more than 300 million online and print readers' impressions.Aside from celebrating accomplishments on screen, the Hollywood Film Awards established the "Hollywood Gives Back" program to expand and continue highlighting and assisting important local and national charities to raise funds. Over the years, the Hollywood Film Awards has contributed to such charities as the following: The Art of Elysium, Artists for Human Rights, Artists for Peace and Justice, MatchingDonors.com, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, the Enough Project, and Variety The Children's Charity of So. CA, among others.Further, the Hollywood Film Awards selects individuals to be recipients of their "Hollywood Humanitarian Awards" in recognition of their contribution to the betterment of their communities or society at large. Prior recipients include Nobel Peace Prize winner and ex-President of East Timor, Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, Father Rick Frechette, and actor and activist Sean Penn.ABOUT AMY ADAMSA three-time Academy Award-nominated actress, Amy Adams can currently be seen starring in Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master," opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The critically acclaimed film broke art house box office records in its opening weekend. Adams can also presently be seen in Robert Lorenz's "Trouble with the Curve" opposite Clint Eastwood. Later this year she will have a cameo in director Walter Salle's adaptation of Jack Kerouac's seminal beat generation novel, "On The Road," and in 2013, Adams will be seen in Zack Snyder's "Superman" reboot for Warner Bros., "Man of Steel" where she will play "Lois Lane," as well as the "Untitled Spike Jonze Film."Adams previously starred in David O. Russell's "The Fighter," opposite Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. The role garnered Adams Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA nominations, as well as her third Academy Award nomination in five years. Her previous Academy Award-nominated roles include John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt," opposite Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Phil Morrison's "Junebug." Adams is also noted for her performances in box office hits, including "Julie and Julia," "Enchanted," and "Sunshine Cleaning." Behind the camera, Adams has teamed with Maven Pictures' Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray to produce "Object of Beauty," which she is also set to star in.ABOUT DYLAN TICHENOR, A.C.E.Academy Award-nominated editor Dylan Tichenor, A.C.E., most recently worked on John Hillcoat's prohibition drama, "Lawless," Ben Affleck's "The Town," which earned him a Satellite Award nomination, and Drew Barrymore's "Whip It." He recently completed work on Kathryn Bigelow's upcoming "Zero Dark Thirty" for Sony.Tichenor served as editor on Warner Brothers' "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," starring Brad Pitt and directed by Andrew Dominik, and the Miramax drama "Doubt," for director John Patrick Shanley. His work on Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" garnered him both an Academy Award and A.C.E. Eddie Award nomination. His past editing credits include Ang Lee's acclaimed drama "Brokeback Mountain," which earned him nominations from BAFTA and the American Cinema Editors Guild, Mike Figgis' thriller "Cold Creek Manor" and Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums," for which he received his first American Cinema Editors Award nomination.Tichenor also worked on three films with Paul Thomas Anderson, beginning as post-production supervisor on "Hard Eight" before editing the award-winning "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia." His other credits as film editor include Brad Silberling's Academy Award-winning "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable," and Anthony Drazan's "Hurlyburly."ABOUT SARAH GREENWOOD, A.D.G.Academy Award-nominated Production Designer Sarah Greenwood, whose work will be featured this year in Focus Films' "Anna Karenina," will receive the Hollywood Film Festival's Hollywood Production Designer of the Year Award at the Festival's October 22 Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony. She was similarly honored four years ago for her work on "The Soloist" and "Sherlock Holmes."Greenwood was nominated for an Academy Award in 2006 and for an Art Director Guild Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction for "Atonement." She also received a British Academy of Film and Television Award (BAFTA) and an Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Technical Achievement, both for "Atonement." She was nominated for an Academy Award in 2006 for her work on "Pride & Prejudice." In previous years, she has been nominated for two other BAFTA Awards for "The Last King" (2003) and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" (1996). Greenwood's additional credits for production design include: "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day," "Starter for Ten," "Charles II," Bodily Harm," and "Born Romantic."ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES TIMESThe Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 1.6 million and 2.7 million on Sunday, more than 16 million unique latimes.com visitors monthly and a combined print and online local weekly audience of 4.4 million. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times has been covering Southern California for more than 130 years.The Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG) businesses and affiliates include the Los Angeles Times, The Envelope, Times Community News and Hoy Los Angeles and reach approximately 5.2 million or 39% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. LATMG also owns and operates California Community News, as well as Tribune Direct's west coast division and is part of Tribune Company, one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information is available at .ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD FILM AWARDSThe Hollywood Film Awards were created to honor excellence in the art of filmmaking, both in front of and behind the camera, and launch the awards season. The criteria is: recipients are selected to be honored for their body of work and/or a film(s) that is to be released between January 1 and December 31 by an advisory team. In addition, for the recipients of our "film awards craft categories" (aside from evaluating their body of work), our Advisory team takes into consideration the recommendation of their guilds/societies. Last year alone, our recipients received 12 nominations and 5 Oscars. In the last 9 years, a total of 85 Oscar nominations and 32 Oscars were given to our honorees.The Hollywood Film Awards are presented in conjunction with Presenting Sponsor the Los Angeles Times, Premier sponsors ArcLight Cinemas and Hollywoodnews.com, exclusive Regional Print Media sponsor Los Angeles Confidential and trade Media sponsors the Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Special support is provided by American Cinema Editors - A.C.E., American Society of Cinematographers - A.S.C., The Art Directors Guild - A.D.G., Celebrity Services, The Casting Society of America - CSA, Costume Designers Guild - CDG, Columbia Pictures, Creative Artists Agency, DreamWorks Animation, Entertainment Tonight, Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, ICM, ILM, Motion Picture Editors Guild, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., The Weinstein Company, WME. Getty Image is the Official Photography Agency.Festival and Awards Contact: Hollywood Film Awards® Ph: 310.288.1882 433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 600 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. WASHINGTON, June 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Andrea Bocelli will give his first concert in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, on July 5 at the opening of Khan Shatyr center, kicking off festivities for Astana's 12th anniversary. Kazakhstan's ambassador to the U.S. Erlan Idrissov noted: "We are looking forward to Maestro Bocelli's visit. I am certain that he will be impressed by our warmth, hospitality and musical heritage."The performance in Astana by the world's renowned tenor will mark the artist's first visit to Central Asia. Andrea Bocelli said, "As an artist, I am mainly looking forward to the warmth of the audience, I hope I'll leave a nice memory of myself and my music, which I'll bring from my country to Kazakhstan." Andrea Bocelli will perform in Astana before taking center stage at the FIFA World Cup Grand Finale in South Africa.With one of the world's most recognizable voices in music, Andrea Bocelli continues to defy categorization, age barriers and labels of all kinds. A global household name, he has sold over 70 million albums to date. Opera represents only one side of his musical persona, as Andrea Bocelli fares equally well as a pop singer, having recorded duets and performed on stage with Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman, and Eros Ramazzotti. Amongst the multitude of acknowledgments received in his career, Maestro Bocelli was honored with seven World Music Awards including "World's Best Classical Artist" in 2010.SOURCE Press-service of Astana akimatInformation contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Andre Rieu ProductionsLONDON, October 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Violinist and conductor André Rieu has been awarded the Classic FM Album Of The Year at the BRIT awards for his album "And the Waltz goes on". He shares the award with Silence Of The Lambs star Sir Antony Hopkins, who wrote the title track of the album especially for Rieu. Rieu attended the ceremony together with Hopkins. Other nominees for the prestigious prize were Andrea Bocelli, Hayley Westenra and Russell Watson among others.At the ceremony that took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Rieu dedicated his award to Hopkins: "He is the greatest actor we have now on this planet. Tony, thank you for this fantastic waltz and thank you for your friendship!" For the Dutch Maestro it's his second Brit award in a row. Last year he won the award for his Album Moonlight Serenade.Breaking recordsSo far 2012 was a very successful year for the violinist. Rieu gave a record breaking series of 30 sold-out concerts in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is nominated for a prestigious Mexican Luna award. And with his first tour in Brazil Rieu reached the #1 position in Pollstar's Box Office Chart of highest grossing tours in July. Leaving behind artist like Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Radiohead, Coldplay, Celine Dion, The Black Keys and Pearl Jam.UK/Ireland Tour 2012André Rieu and his Johann Strauss orchestra new UK and Ireland tour will start on December 7 in Glasgow. Due to 7 sold-out concerts, he added an extra concert in Manchester on Thursday 13 December and a third show in Birmingham on Thursday 20 December. Tickets are on sale now.©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. LOS ANGELES, June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Among other artists, theAmerican singer Lenna will be once again on the scene this Saturday, June 21,2008 at 6:30 pm, at the Los Angeles convention center for a benefit concertorganized by World Peace For Life, a non-profit organization that has the goalto promote peace and conciliation across the planet and to help to raise moneyto build schools, education centers, hospitals. The concert will be simulcast via television, radio and Internet and isaiming to reach and touch millions of people to spread out a powerful messageof peace and unity through the Universal language of music. There will beartists, politicians, motivational speakers, and other dignitaries from everyculture on earth. Israelis, Arabs, the East and the West will be uniting onone stage for one night. Lenna will use her voice and her pop/rock rhythmic to show people thataccepting each other's differences is a crucial issue in today's world. Notonly is she an ambassador of peace, she is a woman gifted with multipletalents: singer, musician and composer. She describes herself as an "ideabased writer." Lenna has been surfing between pop, rock and electronic music,which gives her songs a special spark. Lenna has been mesmerizing audiences all over the world ever since herfirst billboard success with the remix of her pop song "So American." Withinthe last year Lenna has had two successful chart hits "Evenly" and her currentremix pop song "I can hear the money," with a number 1# hit song in theNetherlands "Flying Blind," her fans will be waiting anxiously to see her nextlive performance. Lenna's success is recognized worldwide. A while ago she was performingin Luxemburg, Vietnam, China ... she is now back to Los Angeles for the firstWorld Peace For Life event. Prince Ali, a prince from Afghanistan and amusician himself, is the founder and CEO of the non profit. His goal is toreach 3-4 billion people by 2010. The shows will be directed by Tom Trbovichthe legendary director of "We Are The World" and will aim to accomplishbringing the world together by holding a series of concerts in major citiesaround the world. Among the confirmed artists and personalities who will be part of the June21, 2008 event are: Brandy, Christina Applegate, Israeli Hip Hop group Vokcal,Black Cats (Legendary, multiplatinum Iranian group), international singerPrince Ali, Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith (Founder and leader of AgapeInternational/ creator of the "Secret"), Howard McCrary (Grammy Awardnominated/Legend of Gospel & Jazz), Kenny O'Brien (Five times Latin GrammyAward-winning/ producer for Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Christina Aguilera,Enrique Iglesias, etc.), Rouben Hakhverdian (Armenian singer, Twice BestArmenian Male Singer) and many others. Contact: ESPR, Eve Schwartz http://www.worldpeaceforlife.com http://www.lennamusic.comSOURCE World Peace For LifeInformation contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Caesars PalaceThe celebrated chef increases his stake in Las Vegas with his second restaurant opening and an all-new conceptMichelin Star Chef @GordonRamsay01 will open Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, his second Vegas restaurant, inside @CaesarsPalace late 2012LAS VEGAS, July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Caesars Palace is pleased to announce internationally renowned Chef Gordon Ramsay will expand on his relationship with Caesars Entertainment and open his second Las Vegas restaurant, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, in late 2012. The new contemporary yet casual restaurant and bar will serve lunch and dinner and will be located in the heart of the resort adjacent to the premier entertainment venue, The Colosseum, replacing Bradley Ogden restaurant.(Photo: ) (Logo: ) Michelin Star Chef Gordon Ramsay, known not only for his superior cuisine, but also his popular TV personality on the FOX Network programs "Hell's Kitchen," "MasterChef" and "Kitchen Nightmares," has emerged on the Las Vegas culinary scene with rave reviews at the newly opened Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas. Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill will provide his fans another outlet to enjoy the chef's award-winning skills in a lively and approachable English pub-style setting, offering the finest casual food utilizing the freshest ingredients."Like many others, I've followed the accomplishments of Chef Gordon Ramsay for years at both his restaurants and on TV, and I am honored to welcome him into the Caesars Palace family of acclaimed chefs," says Gary Selesner, Caesars Palace regional president. "With its prime location near the Forum Shops and across from the Colosseum, convenient parking for locals, and menu of familiar and casual food, presented in a style fitting of Ramsay's unique flair for cuisine, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill will be a lively new restaurant concept to offer our Caesars Palace guests."The menu at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill will be comprised of items consistent with British pub food-bangers and mash, fish and chips and roasted chicken-as well as some of Ramsay's favorites like London broil prepared on a wood-burning grill, all part of a rustic menu that will change seasonally. Paying homage to a true pub, the new restaurant will feature a wide selection of craft and microbrews from around the world, offering beer enthusiasts more than 40 beers on tap."I am overwhelmed by the support Gordon Ramsay Steak has received by guests and our Caesars Entertainment partners, and I'm excited to now bring some more of my favorite cuisine and an authentic pub experience to Caesars Palace with Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill," said Ramsay. EDG Interior Architecture + Design will create a space that is welcoming, high-energy and comfortable utilizing distressed woods with cheeky references to historic and iconic events throughout the space. The centerpiece of the space will feature a striking bar with an array of beer taps on display and the backdrop inspired by traditional London red telephone booths. Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill will take advantage of its location with a patio area extending onto the casino floor where guests can be in the middle of the action. Kegs will serve as a major part of both the dining experience and the design while pop culture relics from both England and the United States will fill the walls. The 290-seat restaurant will include an impressive bar, a vintage-style lounge, a series of casual dining rooms and a private dining room, giving guests a variety of culinary experiences to fit any mood.GORDON RAMSAY Scottish by birth, Gordon Ramsay was brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. With an injury prematurely putting an end to any hopes of a promising career in football, he went back to college to complete a course in hotel management. His dedication and natural talent led him to train with some of the world's leading chefs, such as Albert Roux and Marco Pierre White in London, and Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon in France. In 1993 Ramsay became chef of Aubergine in London. Within three years, he was awarded two Michelin stars. In 1998, at the age of 31, Ramsay set up his first wholly owned and namesake restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which quickly received the most prestigious accolade in the culinary world – three Michelin stars. Today, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is London's longest-running restaurant to hold this award, and Ramsay is one of only four chefs in the U.K. to maintain three stars. Now internationally renowned, Ramsay has opened a string of successful restaurants across the globe, from Italy to the United States. The group continues to grow with recent openings such as Bread Street Kitchen in London's City district; two ventures in Doha, Qatar; Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas; and the eagerly anticipated opening of The Fat Cow in Los Angeles later this year. Ramsay received an OBE (Order of the British Empire awarded by Queen Elizabeth II) in 2006 for services to the industry.Ramsay has also become a star of the small screen both in the U.K. and internationally, with U.K. shows such as GORDON'S GREAT ESCAPES and GORDON RAMSAY: SHARK BAIT, as well as three top-rated FOX shows that air in more than 200 countries worldwide: KITCHEN NIGHTMARES, HELL'S KITCHEN and MASTERCHEF, not to mention his latest FOX series premiering this summer, HOTEL HELL. He is also a published author of a number of books, many of which have become bestsellers around the world, most notably his autobiography, Roasting in Hell's Kitchen. Ramsay has a global partnership with WWRD (Waterford, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton), which offers quality home and lifestyle products, and he also has brought out a range of Seriously Good sauces for the charity Comic Relief.He lives with his wife, Tana and four children, along with their bulldog Rumpole and two cats. He divides his time between Los Angeles and South London. CAESARS PALACE Reigning at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace features 3,960 hotel guest rooms and suites, including the brand new Octavius Tower and 180-room Nobu Hotel set to open in 2012; and 25 diverse restaurants and cafes, including the 24-hour cafe Central by James Beard award-winning Chef Michel Richard. The 85-acre resort offers nearly 129,000 square-feet of casino space including a 14,000 square-foot poker room; a five-acre Garden of the Gods pool complex showcasing eight pools and two gardens; the 50,000 square-foot award-winning Qua Baths & Spa and Color Salon by renowned celebrity colorist Michael Boychuck; five elegant wedding chapels and outdoor gardens; 300,000 square-feet of premium meeting and convention space; and The Forum Shops at Caesars, an acclaimed 683,000-square-foot shopping plaza offering more than 160 boutiques and dining establishments. Caesars guests enjoy Cascata, one of the world's most exclusive golf courses; and the 4,300-seat Colosseum spotlighting world class entertainers such as Celine Dion, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld and Shania Twain (beginning Dec. 2012). For more information, please visit or to access media materials and request high-resolution images. Find Caesars Palace on and follow on .This release includes "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements contain words such as "may," "will," "project," "might," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," "plan," "continue" or "pursue," or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. In particular, they include statements relating to, among other things, future actions, new projects, strategies, future performance, the outcomes of contingencies. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified and, consequently, the actual performance and actions of Caesars Palace and Caesars Entertainment Corporation and its subsidiaries may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following factors: that all the conditions to completion of the project are met under the definitive agreements with Gordon Ramsay; the effects of local and national economic, credit and capital market conditions on the economy in general, and on the gaming and hotel and restaurant industries in particular; construction factors related to the project, including delays, increased costs of labor and materials, availability of labor and materials, zoning issues, and building permit issues; the ability to timely and cost-effectively integrate the project into our operations at Caesars Palace; changes in laws, including increased tax rates, smoking bans, regulations, third-party relations and approvals related to the project and Caesars Palace; and our ability to recoup costs of the capital investment of this project through higher revenues.Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. Caesars disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release.©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. (NBC) - After undergoing six grueling fertility treatments, five of which failed, singer Celine Dion recently announced that she and her husband are now expecting twins.She credits acupuncture with making the difference in her sixth IVF attempt and her statement is sure to raise interest in acupuncture among couples trying to conceive.But exactly how does it work, and is it for you?In 2008, a scientific review of seven independent studies on acupuncture showed that overall, women who got the treatment were 65 percent more successful in getting pregnant than women who didn't get acupuncture.Acupuncturists say the key is to get checked out by an OB-GYN before turning to acupuncture for fertility help.Also, make sure the acupuncturist is licensed and specializes in fertility.Pam and Tim O'Friel know the agony of infertility first-hand."We went through six cycles of fertility treatments, and that's a lot of medication, injection, emotion," Pam recalls.Unsuccessful for two years, they decided to stop In Vitro fertilization, but continued with acupuncture.Two months later, she got pregnant.Acupuncturist Mike Kim says inserting the needles at key points increases the flow of chi, the body's vital energy, resulting in healthier eggs, more blood flow to the uterus and healthier sperm in men."It actually harmonizes your whole body so your whole body is ready to conceive," Kim explains.Kristen Maturo also credits acupuncture with helping her conceive her twins."For me there really was kind of that mind-body connection," she says.Still, as much as people swear by it, there is no proof that acupuncture actually helps a woman get pregnant.In fact, most of acupuncturists interviewed for this article say half of their patients are ultimately unable to conceive.Corey Rubin is such a patient.After four years of acupuncture and fertility treatments she and her husband decided on adoption."I think sometimes it gives false hope and you think it's going to be the magic bullet, the thing that makes it happen," she says.At $50 to $200 per session, it's also pricey, but besides your pocketbook, almost no research seems to suggest that acupuncture will harm, and if it helps, the result can be priceless.Copyright 2010 NBC. All rights reserved.Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.Vancouver's Liz Gleadle proves it's more than OK to 'throw like a girl'VANCOUVER, July 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian record holder Liz Gleadle is headed to London to represent Canada at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Gleadle is the first Canadian woman to throw the javelin at an Olympics since Montreal's Celine Chartrand competed in Seoul in 1988, the year Gleadle was born.After picking up the javelin in high school, the road to the Games has been paved with countless throws, hundreds of exhausting weight training sessions and becoming 'queen of the ice bath', but it has paid off. Today, the 6'1" Gleadle is 185lbs of solid muscle, and she throws javelin better than any woman in Canada. She has continually climbed the ranks of competitive javelin since breaking the Canadian Youth Record at championships in 2005, and holds the women's Canadian record today.To gain her competitive edge leading up to the Games, Gleadle took a year off her studies in kinesiology at UBC to focus on her sport, and moved to Lethbridge to work with throws coach Larry Steinke. Despite being troubled with injuries over the last few months, Gleadle qualified to compete in London by meeting the IAAF's B standard twice, and then meeting the 61.00 metre A with a Canadian record toss of 61.15m at the Harry Jerome meet at Burnaby's Swangard Stadium on June 10. She overcame an ankle injury on June 29 to win the Canadian championships at the Olympic trials in Calgary with a throw of 60.13m, which firmly cemented her place on the Canadian Olympic Team.In the weeks leading up to the Games, Gleadle is training in Lethbridge, and then will finish preparation in Austria. Gleadle is ready to give it her all to represent her country in the London 2012 Olympic Games in August. Visit , the main website for the London 2012 Olympic Games, where information can be found about current news, schedules, and resultsLearn more about Liz Gleadle at and follow Gleadle's updates on Twitter @lgjavelin.SOURCE Liz Gleadle, Canadian Olympic TeamImage with caption: "Liz Gleadle is ready for the Games. Photo credit: Andy White (CNW Group/Liz Gleadle, Canadian Olympic Team)". Image available at: ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE The Colosseum at Caesars Palace29 New Shows Announced in Celebration of 100th Sold Out PerformanceTickets go on-sale Friday, August 17 at 10 a.m.LAS VEGAS, Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh off the heels of a hugely successful run of sold-out summer shows and following the 100th performance celebrated on Sunday, Aug. 12, Celine has announced the addition of 29 more performances from Dec. 28, 2012 to March 16, 2013. Show dates are: (Photo: )Ticket prices are $55, $95, $140, $175 and $250 (plus applicable fees) and may be purchased beginning Friday, August 17 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Box Office, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., by calling 877-4CELINE (877-423-5463) or by logging on to or keyword "Celine Dion." All Ticketmaster orders may be subject to additional service charges and fees. A variety of exclusive VIP ticket packages are also available on Ticketmaster. For groups of 10 or more, call 1-702-946-4799. Celine at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is a glamorous show, directed by famed Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich, that features a 31-piece orchestra and band and includes Celine's biggest hits mixed with timeless classics that pay tribute to some of the most celebrated songs and artists of all time. Video clips and photos of the show can be found on Celine's official website, . Fans can also take a peek at the behind-the-scenes action at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Travel Channel's new show, Trip Flip. Host Ben Kreischer surprises two vacationers with tickets to Celine's show and a backstage tour including a visit with Celine! Don't miss the Las Vegas episode of Travel Channel's Trip Flip on Thursday, August 16 at 9/8c. For additional show and ticket information, visit , become a fan of or follow updates from . ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Columbia RecordsTORONTO, Sept. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "Unfinished Songs," a new song from and songwriter Diane Warren, was written and recorded for the upcoming British film Song For Marion. Written and directed by Paul Andrew Williams, Song For Marion will be closing the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Saturday, September 15. The song will be included on Celine's upcoming English-language album, Water And A Flame, to be released this coming November.(Photo: )"Song For Marion is a beautiful film," commented Dion. "It's a story that everyone will relate to. I cried a lot, but I laughed a whole bunch too. I'm very proud to be a small part of it, with the song that Diane Warren wrote, and it's been great working with her again." Starring Terence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave, Song For Marion is a comedic drama, about a shy, grumpy pensioner Arthur, who is reluctantly inspired by his beloved wife Marion to join a highly unconventional local choir. The Weinstein Company film also stars Gemma Arterton and Christopher Eccleston and was produced by Ken Marshall and Philip Moross. Moross, CEO of Cutting Edge (the company responsible for the film's music supervision), worked very closely with Diane Warren and Sony Music on "Unfinished Songs," the film's end-credits track.Not only does "Unfinished Songs" bring Celine back to the world of cinema, it also reunites her with the talented Diane Warren. Warren, who has been writing songs for Celine for two decades, wrote the #1 single "Because You Loved Me," which was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and four Grammy Awards. "Because You Loved Me" won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media as well as the ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year. Warren has written more than a dozen singles for Dion including the hits "If You Asked Me To," "Water From The Moon," and "Love Can Move Mountains." In speaking with Variety Magazine Warren said, "We go way back and I think we're a good combination, particularly for this song. She had done her show from 7:30 to 9:30 that night and then recorded between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. That's why Celine is Celine -- she really has an amazing work ethic."©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. NEW YORK (AP) - Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Usher will pay tribute to the late Whitney Houston in a one-hour TV special. "We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston" will tape Oct. 11 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live and will feature performances by Dion, Hudson and Usher. It will air Nov. 16 on CBS. The Recording Academy announced Thursday that the special will also include Houston's "most memorable performances" and interviews with various artists. More performers will be announced. Tickets for the event go on sale Thursday. Houston died at age 48 in February. Authorities called her death an accidental drowning, complicated by heart disease and cocaine use. The compilation album, "I Will Always Love You - The Best of Whitney Houston," will be released on Nov. 13. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 1983, at the tender ageof 12, Kara DioGuardi took to the Waldorf-Astoria stage and belted out aseries of songs at the Columbus Citizens Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner:Oscar Hammerstein's "Getting to Know You," Bette Midler's "The Rose" and "TheWind Beneath My Wings," and John Kander and Fred Ebb's "New York, New York." The crowd of nearly 1,000 people -- including dignitaries from Italy andSophia Loren, the Grand Marshal of New York City's Columbus Day Parade thatyear -- showered the performance with cheers of "Brava!" On October 6, Ms. DioGuardi will return to the Waldorf-Astoria GrandBallroom. But this time, she will be part of the audience as Honoree of theColumbus Citizens Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner. The artist singing onstagewill be American Idol star Katharine McPhee, who will be performing standardsas well as a song Ms. DioGuardi wrote. Ms. DioGuardi is BMI's Pop Songwriter of the Year. Her songs are on over100 million records, including performances by Celine Dion, Faith Hill, andChristina Aguilera. Her creative gifts have led to collaborations with performers who work inan exceptionally wide range of styles, from Latin crooner Enrique Iglesias andPop goddesses Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani to soulful rockers CarlosSantana and Avril Lavigne and peaches and cream Disney stars Hilary Duff andHannah Montana. Ms. DioGuardi's success in so many styles is unusual in the musicindustry. "I love all kinds of music," she said. "It's easy to stay inspiredwhen you jump from genre to genre and project to project. Every day is achance to create something unique." In addition to her songwriting, Ms. DioGuardi is co-owner of ArthouseEntertainment, where she develops and mentors fellow writers, producers, andartists. Founded just three years ago, Arthouse Entertainment has been onBillboard's chart of Top-Ten national music publishers for three consecutivequarters. Ms. DioGuardi still does what she did at the Waldorf-Astoria 29 years ago-- sing. Her performances highlight the backgrounds on multi-platinumrecords, and she is continuously behind-the-scenes, vocal producing the mega-stars who have made her songs among the most widely-known in the world. Not only will Ms. DioGuardi return to the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom,but she also will be marching in New York City's Columbus Day Parade, thelargest celebration of Italian-American heritage in the world, on October 8.The parade is organized by the non-profit Columbus Citizens Foundation, whichholds events celebrating Italian heritage and raises scholarship funds forneedy and deserving students. In 2007, it is providing financial aid to 849students. "It's a thrill to go back to the Waldorf," said Ms. DioGuardi. "Iremember watching the Columbus Day Parade when I was growing up and being inawe of people like Sophia Loren, who is such an amazing person and actor.It's amazing to realize that what I've been able to do in my life is a sourceof inspiration for others. I feel like I've barely gotten started."SOURCE Columbus Citizens FoundationInformation contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Coty Inc.Partnership Promises Joint Benefits to Coty and LG H&H in Both Companies' Increasing Ambitions to Further Make Their Strategic Mark on Korean Cosmetics MarketNEW YORK, July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Coty Inc., the new emerging leader in beauty, along with Korea's leading cosmetic company, LG Household & Health Care ("LG H&H") are pleased to announce the creation of Coty Korea, a joint venture established to expand the presence of both companies in the Korean cosmetics market. The partnership marks an important move by Coty to further increase its presence in Asia and strategically build its cosmetics and skin care business worldwide. While for LG H&H, the partnership demonstrates further enhancement in LG H&H's leadership in Korean consumer market, which was built on nonstop organic growth and a continuous stream of acquisitions and new ventures. Coty Korea will be led by a Coty executive as CEO of the new venture."Korea is a key emerging market for the beauty industry, and our respective organizations have worked together extensively in our plan for success there," said Michele Scannavini, President, Coty Prestige. "On top of growing Coty's presence in Asia, this partnership represents an important step toward our ambitious goal of expanding our cosmetic business across the globe. Our 'Faster. Further. Freer.' culture, combined with LG H&H's dynamic leadership in the marketplace, will allow us to fulfill the innovative vision we've set forth for the company." "We are very excited to be the strategic partner for Coty Inc., and be a part of Coty's first steps in expanding its cosmetics product portfolio into this growing market. This partnership will also further increase LG H&H's leading presence in Korea," said Suk Cha, CEO of LG H&H. "We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Coty, which is also a major global player in beauty. It is a company whose culture and goals are complementary to our own and with whom we can potentially discuss other common projects abroad."This fall, Coty Korea will kick off its efforts by introducing iconic beauty brand philosophy into the Korean marketplace. Best known for its lines of inspirational beauty products, the philosophy brand will play a key role in the expansion of Coty's portfolio of products, particularly its skin-care structure throughout Asia. The importance of skin care products cannot be overestimated in the Asian marketplace -- particularly in Korea, China and Japan, where skin care is valued over color cosmetics by women who are looking for flawless skin.i Beyond the launch of philosophy, Coty Korea will continue to look for opportunities to further expand and enhance its presence in the market.For complete information on philosophy and all of Coty's brands, please visit . About Coty Inc.Coty was created in Paris in 1904 by Francois Coty, who is credited with founding the modern fragrance industry.Today, Coty Inc. is the new emerging leader in beauty with annual net sales of $4.5 billion. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, passion, innovation and creativity, Coty Inc. has developed an unrivaled portfolio of notable brands and delivers its innovative products to consumers in over 130 countries and territories worldwide.The Coty Prestige brand portfolio is distributed in prestige and ultra-prestige stores and includes Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Chloe, Chopard, Davidoff, Jennifer Lopez, Jil Sander, JOOP!, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Cole, Gwen Stefani, Lancaster, Marc Jacobs, Nikos, philosophy, Roberto Cavalli, Sarah Jessica Parker, Truth or Dare by Madonna, Vera Wang, Vivienne Westwood and Wolfgang Joop.The Coty Beauty brand portfolio is more widely distributed and includes adidas, ASTOR, Beyonce Knowles, Celine Dion, David and Victoria Beckham, Elite Models, Esprit, Exclamation, Faith Hill, GUESS?, Halle Berry, Heidi Klum, Jovan, Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Manhattan, Manhattan Clearface, Miss Sporty, Nautica, N.Y.C. New York Color, Nicole by OPI, OPI, Pierre Cardin¹, Playboy, Rimmel, Sally Hansen, Stetson, Tim McGraw, TJoy and Tonino Lamborghini.Coty and Puig S.L. have a strategic partnership for the distribution of the perfume lines of Antonio Banderas, Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, Prada, Shakira and Valentino in the United States and Canada.For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit .1. Not available in North AmericaAbout LGLG is a global company with annual net sales of $124 billion. The company has a workforce of over 210,000 people around the world and over 70% of total annual sales are generated from overseas operations.For additional information about LG, please visit . About LG H&HLG Household & Health Care, Ltd., founded in 1947, is a subsidiary of LG. The Company is the biggest FMCG company in Korea. For additional information about LG H&H, please visit .i ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. New Yorkâ€™s future leaders profiled in March 3 issueNEW YORK, March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Crainâ€™s New York Business today announced its much-anticipated list of 2008 â€œ40 Under 40â€? honorees, which recognizes the top young rising stars in the New York City business community. This yearâ€™s class hails from a diverse range of industries including finance, music, technology, retail, healthcare, and real estate. A list of winners, along with a personal profile for each, appears in this weekâ€™s Crainâ€™s and on crainsnewyork.com/40under40.2008 marks the 21st year that Crainâ€™s New York Business has compiled the â€œ40 Under 40â€? and with each succeeding year, the competition has become increasingly intense. The 40 business people profiled in this section join a growing rank of people across many different industries, backgrounds and experiences connected by one common thread: success in New York business at a young age.A sample of the 2008 winners include, John Caplan, 37, President and CEO of Ford Models Inc.; Shoshanna Gruss, 34, Designer and President of Shoshanna; Michelle Peluso, 35, President and CEO of Travelocity; Dylan Lauren, 33, CEO of Dylanâ€™s Candy Bar; Frederic de Narp, 38, President and CEO of Cartier North America and Jesse Itzler, 39, Co-founder and Vice Chairman, Marquis Jet.â€œOur annual '40 under 40' issue has been a staple of our editorial coverage and one that we are extremely proud to produce,â€? said Jill Kaplan, publisher of Crainâ€™s New York Business. â€œWe consistently hear from past 40â€™s that being named to this elite group has had a profound affect on their lives and careers.â€? The 2008 designees follow in the footsteps of such notable prior winners as David Bouley, chef/owner of Bouley, Bouley Bakery and Danube; Liz Lange, founder and president of Liz Lange Maternity, Brian Cashman, Senior VP & GM of the New York Yankees; Andrea Jung, Chairman & CEO of Avon Products Inc. and designer Marc Jacobs, to name a few. The Crainâ€™s editorial team closely scrutinizes each applicant, and leverages its comprehensive, multi-disciplinary knowledge of New Yorkâ€™s business, culture and politics. The 2008 â€œ40 Under 40â€? Winners include: -- Michael Aiello, 38, Partner, Weil Gotshal-- Maryam Banikarim, 38, Chief Executive Officer, Univision Communication Inc.-- John Caplan, 37, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ford Models Inc.-- Kathy Carter, 37, Executive Vice President, Soccer United Marketing (business office of Major League Soccer)-- Joe Chan, 36, President, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership-- Ken Davenport, 34, Theater Producer, Davenport Theatrical Enterprises-- Frederic de Narp, 38, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cartier North America-- Nancy Dubuc, 38, General Manager, the History Channel-- Charissa Fernandez, 33, Chief Executive Officer, The After-School Society-- Evgeny (Gene) Friedman, 37, Chief Executive Officer, Taxi Club Management Inc.-- James Gersten, 38, President, Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges-- Shoshanna Gruss, 34, Designer and President, Shoshanna-- Pilar Guzman, 37, Editor-in-Chief, Cookie-- Scott Hagedorn, 37, US Director, OMD Digital-- Robert Hammond, 38, Co-founder and Executive Director, Friends of the High Line-- Matthew Higgins, 33, Senior Vice President of Business Operations, New York Jets-- Jason Hirschhorn, 36, President of Sling Media Entertainment Group, Sling Media Inc.-- Asuncion Hostin, 39, Managing Director, Kroll-- Jesse Itzler, 39, Co-founder and Vice Chairman, Marquis Jet; 100 Mile Man Foundation; Sports Marketing Hop-hop Artist-- Sarumathi Jayaraman, 32, Co-founder and Co-director, Restaurant Opportunities (ROC NY)-- Mikeal Johnson, 38, Partner, KPMG-- Khajak Keledjian, 33, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Intermix-- Maggie Kwan, 38, Director of Structural Systems, Tishman Construction Corp.-- Ian Laird, 36, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield-- Dylan Lauren, 33, Chief Executive Officer, Dylanâ€™s Candy Bar-- Chris Lighty, 36, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Violator Records/Management & Brand Asset Group-- Michael MacDougall, 35, Partner, TPG (formerly known as Texas Pacific Group)-- Dionne Mack-Harvin, 34, Executive Director, Brooklyn Public Library-- Dr. Maurizio Miglietta, 38, Chief of Acute Care Surgery, NY-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center-- Mark Mason, 38, Chief Financial Officer, Citi Global Wealth Management-- Susan Moss, 37, Founder of divorce law firm; Divorce lawyer to the stars; Frequent expert guest on CNNâ€™s Headline News-- Evgeny Nudler, Ph.D., 37, Professor of Biochemistry, NYU School of Medicine-- Michelle Peluso, 35, President and Chief Executive Officer, Travelocity-- Mark Pitts, 37, President of Black Music, Jive Records/Zomba Music Group (Sony/BMG)-- Sara Queen, 38, Senior Asset Manager of US Commercial Operations, Brookfield Properties (Landlord Side)-- Celine Rattray, 31, Co-founder, Plum Pictures-- Carley Roney, 39, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Knot Inc.-- Philip Shawe, 38, President and Chief Executive Officer, TransPerfect, Inc.-- Michael Steib, 31, Director of TV Ads, Google-- Jane Wheeler, 38, Senior Managing Director, Evercore PartnersAbout Crainâ€™s New York BusinessCrain's New York Business provides you news, information and connections on all facets of New York through the prism of business. Crainâ€™s is available on Mondays with a circulation of more than 59,000 and online at crainsnewyork.com. Crainâ€™s also publishes two newsletters including the Crainâ€™s Insider, a political newsletter and Crainâ€™s Health Pulse, a health care industry newsletter.About Crain Communications, Inc.Crain Communications Inc is one of the largest privately-owned business publishers in the U.S. with over 30 leading business, trade and consumer publications in North America and Europe. As an authoritative source of vital news and information to industry leaders and consumers worldwide, each of the companyâ€™s newspapers, magazines and electronic news sites have become required reading in their respective sector of business and consumer market.SOURCE Crain's New York BusinessInformation contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE DFS HawaiiHONOLULU, July 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DFS Hawaii, which opened its doors at Honolulu International Airport 50 years ago, is celebrating its anniversary this month with meetings of its board of directors and its worldwide executive committee in Waikiki. A special event for all its employees and retirees took place July 10 at the Waialae Country Club.(Photo: ) Hawaii has played a very special role in the company's history. First, it was the fledgling company's first experience in dealing with Japanese and other international travelers. Second, it is home to the company's largest single store and one of its largest airport concession leases. And, the DFS Galleria Waikiki is the company's only large store that caters to both duty free and duty paid (open to all) shopping.Setting the template for its expansion into other locations, the owners quickly realized the need to set very high service standards and to appreciate the particular customs and shopping patterns of each nationality, beginning with Japanese – the majority of the Hawaii Division's customers, even today."Most recently, we have seen a surge in the numbers and spending of customers from China," said David Charles, managing director of the Hawaii Division. "Korean and Japanese customers remain very important to us, of course. However, thanks in part to the APEC meeting in Hawaii and to the hard work of the travel industry, we are pleased to see Chinese customers in growing numbers and with a seemingly insatiable desire for certain high-end luxury goods.""While there is no specific way to verify the data from other retailers, we believe that in terms of sales volume, DFS Galleria is the largest single retail 'door' in the State," Charles added."With two-thirds of our space devoted to non-duty free shopping and therefore open to all customers – whether or not they are flying internationally – we hope to attract Hawaii residents to our store. Few people realize that we have the largest beauty department in the state and we are home to many brand boutiques that are only available with us, including, but not limited to Celine, Dunhill, Loewe and Marie-Chantal."As part of the celebration, DFS Galleria Waikiki is featuring works by host-culture Hawaiian artists and artisans in its lobby level. In August, DFS will hold its second annual Art of Hawaiian Coffee event, a celebration and recognition of Hawaii's unique history as a coffee producer. The event includes coffee growers from around the state, a historic exhibit, music, children's activities, a barista latte art competition and a staff-built coffee mosaic.To mark its 50th anniversary in Hawaii, retailer DFS Group donated $10,000 to each of five nonprofit organizations: Aloha United Way, Assets School, The Honolulu Museum of Art, Waikiki Community Center and Washington Place Foundation.In addition, DFS, in the name of Peter Fithian, is endowing a $50,000 scholarship at the School of Travel Industry Management (TIM) at the University of Hawaii. Fithian, founder and owner of Greeters of Hawaii, was instrumental in helping establish the first DFS (then Duty Free Shoppers) store at Honolulu International Airport in 1962. "We are so pleased to be able to honor Peter in this way and we thank him for all he has helped us with in Hawaii over the years," said Robert Miller, one of the DFS founders and an owner of the company along with LVMH."DFS has been extraordinarily fortunate to have grown with Hawaii over the years, and we are honored to be a member of this community. We are proud to be part of one of the most important travel destinations in the world and want to continue to do our part to ensure the health and well-being of this state," said David Charles, managing director of the DFS Hawaii Division.Community giving has played a major role in DFS' success in Hawaii. Over the years, DFS has contributed to many charities. Those selected for the gifts announced today are charities with a long association with the company's corporate giving programs.About DFSDFS Group Limited, headquartered in Hong Kong, is the world's largest luxury travel retailer. With more than 200 airport stores and 14 large Galleria stores, most in cosmopolitan and resort locations throughout Asia-Pacific. DFS Galleria Waikiki is the largest DFS store in the world.©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Atlantic City Alliance"DUALITY" SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED; LABOR DAY WEEKEND THROUGH 2 A.M. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "Duality," the popular 3D light and sound show projected onto the facade of Atlantic City's iconic Boardwalk Hall, will run throughout the month of September, with showings beginning at 8:30 p.m. every half hour every evening for the first two weeks of the month. Starting on Monday, September 17, "Duality" will begin showing at 8 p.m. each evening.Through Labor Day weekend, on Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2, the final showing of the night begins at 2 a.m. For the remainder of the month, the final showing each evening will be at midnight. Noted adjustments to the scheduled show airings in September will be due to events being held in or around Boardwalk Hall. Created by Moment Factory, a Montreal-based new media and entertainment studio, the 3D projection show includes surround sound, theatrical lighting and the latest architectural video mapping technologies to bring Boardwalk Hall's historic facade to life every night. Moment Factory has completed more than 300 projects for clients like Cirque du Soleil, Jay-Z, Disney, Celine Dion, and Microsoft, as well as Madonna's new MDNA world tour.For a complete schedule of "Duality" please visit About the Atlantic City Alliance (ACA) The ACA is a recently established New Jersey not-for-profit corporation whose primary mission is to develop and implement a full-scale, broad-based, multi-year marketing program for Atlantic City. The ACA will work with the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to market and promote the Tourism District via a public/private partnership. The ACA also works with local and state government, the private sector and other organizations to further enhance the marketing program.CONTACTS: Melanie Sole Genevieve Grdina Phone: 212-277-3762©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Comite Bellecour and Prestige et TraditionComite Bellecour and Prestige & Tradition Present: La Grande Decoration/French Art de VivreNEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Comite Bellecour of Lyon and Prestige et Tradition of Paris, French associations of luxury-goods makers – announce an October exhibition in New York. La Grande Decoration / French Art de Vivre is a three-day event hosted by the Consulate General of France in New York, showcasing the unique savoir-faire of French companies working in fields as diverse as Interior Design, Interior Decorative Arts, Interior Fabrics, Landscape Design, Couture, Wedding Couture, Jewelry and others. Each enterprise will exhibit masterpieces especially made for this event. The honorary President of Comite Bellecour is Chef Daniel Boulud, proprietor of Michelin Award-winning restaurant Daniel, as well as Cafe Boulud, and twelve other restaurants around the globe. La Grande Decoration / French Art de Vivre opens to the public on October 23, 24 and 25 from 9am to 6pm at the Consulate General of France in New York, 934 Fifth Avenue (74th and 75th Streets). To schedule solo appointments with exhibitors call: 212.247.7194. For general press inquiries contact Betsyann Faiella/Savoy PR at 310.283.2415. For more information, visit: ."I've always been proud of maintaining my Lyonnais roots. Lyon's centuries-old reputation for artistry and fine craftsmanship - not just in cuisine - remains vital and vibrant today. The Comite Bellecour and its diverse members truly exemplify Lyon's standing as a city where beautiful handmade objects are still a dearly held tradition. We are happy to partner this year with our Parisian colleagues of Prestige et Tradition to bring a larger collection of French luxury goods to La Grande Decoration / French Art de Vivre this fall." - Daniel BouludComite Bellecour and Prestige et Tradition were founded to champion the elegance of artistic and artisanal trades for which France is world renowned. For additional information about French Art de Vivre, Comite Bellecour or Prestige et Tradition contact: Marie Claude Delaveau at: La Grande Decoration / French Art de VivreHonorary President of Comite Bellecour 2012 Chef Daniel BouludExhibition Design Pierre Court Design Sponsors La Maison Giraudet Vins Guigal Comite Bellecour Expo Marbre: Marble, Stone, Granite, Glazed Lava. Max Chaoul: Couturier. Joia: Jeweler Ateliers Charles Jouffre: Custom Upholstery, Window Treatments, Wall Decor Laurence Oppermann: Jeweler Joel Orgiazzi: Wrought Iron Art ROURE: Jeweler Rouveure-Marquez: Plaster, Stucco Decorative Sculpture Tassinari & Chatel: Custom Loomed Silk Interior Fabrics Tournaire: Jeweler Jeito: Fabric Jewels Associates BonChic, BonChien de Celine Boulud: Canine Couture Jean Charles Maina: Sculptor Prestige et Tradition Delisle: Bronze, Iron Lighting Meriguet-Carrere: Decorative Painter, Gilder Remy Garnier: Decorative Locks,Hardware Francois Goffinet: Landscape Architecture Asselin: Custom Cabinetry, Timberwork, Ironwork Ets Maleville: Custom Cabinetry Bernard Pictet: Engraved Glass Atelier Midavaine: Decorative Laquer Ateliers Duchemin: Stained Glass Press Representative: Betsyann Faiella, Savoy PR Phone: 310.283.2415 or For a photo gallery and more information, visit: Contact: Betsyann Faiella/Savoy PR Phone 212.222.2466 or 310.283.2415 This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit . ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. By THOMAS ADAMSON AP Fashion Writer PARIS (AP) - True style doesn't try too hard. That was the statement at Paris Fashion Week, alarmingly simple, but proved in a number of ready-to-wear presentations Sunday which heralded a move towards clean, simplified elegance. Celine designer Phoebe Philo - at the top of her game - produced a chic display, effortlessly. Three years after the lauded Briton's Celine debut, she delivered a strong show, which evoked her boho-bourgeois style in soft silhouettes with subtle architecture. Another of Paris' influential designers, Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy, presented a new vision of style Sunday. Again, Tisci channeled a clean look, simplifying the house silhouette in a less elaborate yet sophisticated collection. Hermes - the house of the jet-setting fashion buyer - served up the elegance in its usual cocktail of travel, silk, leather and exotic cultural references. Summing up his show, the house's designer Christophe Lemaire said it represented "a clean, sharp, modernist traveler." Monday's highly anticipated shows include Stella McCartney, Chloe - and the hottest ticket of the week - Hedi Slimane's debut outing as designer for the rebranded Saint Laurent. ___ CELINE Spring is about gentle contradictions, not color, Phoebe Philo seemed to say: Shown through a muted palette of black, white, navy and gray. The real point of the show was the gentle play on contrasting lines, then textures, then form. Loosely hanging silhouettes - often with attention to neck details in high necks, bands and twists - came in column or boxy shapes, with a couple of black A-line tuxedo-dresses for good measure. The gloss of sheeny silks whispered a contrast against matte fabric. Philo has often been noted for her chic "utilitarian tailoring," which she delivers with uncanny ease. Here we saw it used artistically in hemline frays which turned into tassels, and twisted fabric that wrapped round the back sewn crudely together in a lump. It's a style that wouldn't look out of place on Juliette Binoche, for example, who accepted a best-actress award at Cannes in 2010 in custom Celine. The house is right in fancying themselves as Paris calendar's arty side. When fashion insiders asked to see the mandatory program notes, there were wry smiles as they were handed a text-free book of collage pictures. ___ GIVENCHY Trend-setting designer Riccardo Tisci changed the direction of Givenchy's ready-to-wear Sunday. He simplified the silhouette to a more flattened and spread out front-and-shoulder emphasis in 37 black, white and gray looks. A strong voice in the fashion conversation, Tisci's tailoring influences designers far and wide. Last spring, for instance, he brought back the peplum. Now, hardly a collection goes by without one cropping up. The wilder bondage-gear touches that added spice to last season's equestrian-inspired trip, were gone here, in a less elaborate display - but which had its moments of clean elegance. A great feature was the clean, descending ripples in many of the looks which are sure to spread into other collections like wildfire. But for a designer who likes to live dangerously, this more saleable collection- though a departure from last season - felt at times like he was playing-it-safe. ___ HERMES The fashion crowd got their summer holidays early - flown first class across a vibrant mix of Polynesian prints and color-rich baroque foulard motifs. Several of the models carried hang luggage. The mascot of the house, after all, is an airborne messenger. The looks stopped off at every fabric under the sun: in full grain leather woven in silk, washed silk twill, plunged lambskin, satin piping and lovely indigo denim linen. Colors too, were diverse in cappuccino, terracotta, sulphur, emerald, cobalt and -the palette's most beautiful - celadon. The flight this season stopped off at the Netherlands and Germany- with tinges of the geometry and graphics of 1930s. "I'm a modernist at heart," Lemaire said following the show, hosted next to Paris' Tuileries gardens. This idea was worked into the collection's best looks with a feel of famed Dutch painter Piet Mondrian - who used geometric shapes and blocks of colors that could be seen in several of the final looks. Printed geometric floaty silk blouses and slightly jarring assorted pants made bold statements. They also featured the slight play on masculine styles that Lemaire likes to toy with periodically: A cotton wool cravate appeared on most of the looks as a man's tie, tucked into a hoop. The result was pure luxury, air delivered as only Hermes can. ___ KENZO Kenzo headed back to the Southeast Asian jungle Sunday in a vibrant, fun collection that picked up their last menswear theme: A rainforest trek. After just one year at the helm, the hard work of designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim has paid off: They've managed to re-stamp the brand with a cool, populist edge. But they're serious about their work in other ways too: Fashion insiders had to live the catwalk theme - literally - by trekking to the far-flung venue, the Maison de Judo, on the Paris city limits. In bold - sometimes purposefully garish - orange vermilions and greens, the collection threw up some great wide pants and boxy-shaped jackets as well as a lot of safari-style street wear. Though some of the jungle printed ensembles looked overly busy - a beautiful camouflage print made up for it with images of flowers that looked like leopard. But there was art in the detail too, with the designers showing a flair for tailoring in great utilitarian features. _____ Thomas Adamson can be followed at http:/ /Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE ReportlinkerNEW YORK, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: http://www.reportlinker.com/p0459170/Global-Fragrances-and-Perfumes-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Fragrance This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Fragrances & Perfumes in US$ Million by the following Product Segments: Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances & Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2009 through 2017. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report profiles 236 companies including many key and niche players such as Avon Products, Inc., Bulgari SpA, Chanel SA, Coty, Inc., Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, Inc., Gucci Group NV, Gianni Versace S.p.A, Liz Claiborne, Inc., L'oreal SA, LVMH Group, Procter & Gamble, Puig Beauty & Fashion Group S.L, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, and Revlon, Inc. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are primarily based upon search engine sources in the public domain.I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONSStudy Reliability and Reporting Limitations I-1Disclaimers I-2Data Interpretation & Reporting Level I-3Quantitative Techniques & Analytics I-3Product Definitions and Scope of Study I-31. Women's Fragrances & Perfumes I-42. Men's Fragrances & Perfumes I-43. Unisex Fragrances I-4II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW II-1Snapshots II-1Global Fragrances, and Perfumes Industry: A Primer II-2Recession Impact on the World Fragrances and Perfumes Market II-2Table 1: Customer Purchasing Criteria for Fragrances andPerfumes During Recession (2009): Percentage Breakdown byNumber of Consumers for US, Europe and Japan (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) II-3Brand and Segment Analysis II-3Effect of Recession on Raw Material II-4What's in Store? II-4Pure White Transparent Fragrances Gain Momentum II-4Popularity of Celebrity Perfumes Increases II-4Dark, Luxurious Fragrances Find Favor II-5Customized Fragrances at Affordable Prices Climb PopularityCharts II-5Need of The Day: An Overhaul of the Fragrances Business Model II-6Internet Retailing: A New Avenue for Growth II-6New Perfumes with Skin and Mood Enhancers II-7Exotic Middle East Fragrances to Re-Enter Western Markets II-7Women's Fragrances Get the Floral Touch II-7Celebrity Scents Impact on Men's Fragrances Market II-7Men's Fragrances Savor Gourmand Notes and Luxurious Ingredients II-8Where the Opportunities Lie? II-9Table 2: Global Market Penetration of Fragrances, andPerfumes: Percentage Breakdown by Women and Men'sFragrances, & Perfumes (includes corresponding Graph/Chart). II-10Fragrance Industry: Consumer Driven II-11Market Share Statistics II-11Table 3: World Fragrance Market (2010): Percentage ShareBreakdown of Value Sales by Major Players - Coty Inc, L'OréalS.A., Puig Beauty and Fashion and Other (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) II-11Table 4: Global Flavor and Fragrances Market (2010):Percentage Breakdown of Market Share by Leading Manufacturers- Givaudan, Firmenich, IFF, Symrise, Takasango, SensientTechnologies, Mane S.A., T. Hasegawa, Frutarom, Robertet S.A.and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-12TABLE 5: Global Perfume Market by Product Category (2010):Market Share of Prestige women's, Prestige men's, Prestigeunisex, Mass-market women's, Mass-market men's, and Mass-market unisex (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-12A Recent Past Perspective II-13Table 6: Global Premium Fragrances Market (2006): PercentageBreakdown of Value Sales for Major Players- LVMH MoetHennessy Louis Vuitton, L'Oreal Groupe, Coty Inc and Others(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-13 Table 7: Global Mass Fragrances Market (2006): PercentageBreakdown of Value Sales for Major Players- Avon ProductsInc, Natura Cosmeticos SA, Coty Inc and Others (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) II-13Table 8: Leading Brands of Perfumes and Fragrances Worldwide(2005): Market Share of Avon Products, Chanel No5, Pleasures,CK One, Charlie, Happy, Trésor, Beautiful, Eternity, Privatelabel, and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-14Demographic Trends II-14Men: A Practical Lot II-14Men's Fragrances in Fine Fettle II-15The Olfactory GAP II-15Fragrance Houses Target Toddlers II-15Fragrances No Longer a Dispensable Grooming Accessory II-16Table 9: Per Capita Expenditure on Fragrances in SelectRegions (2005) - North America, Latin America, WesternEurope, Eastern Europe, Africa & Middle East, andAsia/Pacific (In US$) (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-16 Table 10: Per Capita Expenditure on Fragrances in SelectCountries (2005)- United States, Canada, Switzerland,France, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Italy, China, India,and Australia (In US$) (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-17Market Trends & Issues II-17Teenagers - New Market for Premium Fragrances II-17Global Fragrance market for Teenagers II-17Tracking the Fragrant Trail II-18The Floral Edge II-18New Ingredients for the Modern Freethinking Independent Woman II-18Summer Fragrances: Significant Demand During Travel Time II-19Custom Fragrances: A Promising Segment II-19Fragrances & Perfumes: Attracting Fashion Designers &Hollywood Stars II-19Endorsements Drive Growth II-20Top Brand Honchos Don a New Look II-20Changing With Changing Times: The Magical Talisman II-21"Talking Profits" II-21Making the Right Cuts II-21New Players Foray Into the Perfume Industry II-22Brand Image Deters Small Players II-22Developing Nations: Key Thrust Areas II-22Colognes: Need Expansion in Product Focus II-23Advertising - A Vital Affair II-23Packaging: Crucial Component II-23Specialty Stores Outshine Chain Drug Stores & Supermarkets II-23New Product Launches: Low Success Rate II-24Counterfeiting Hampers Growth of Prestige Fragrance Sector II-24E-Business in Fragrances II-25Product Innovations II-25Sluggish Trends Ignite Creative Incandescence II-25Uncovering the Mammothian Catch Between the Fine Print II-25Restoring the Element of Luxury: Making the Right Moves II-26"Need of the Hour" II-26Regional Trends II-27Celebrity Fragrances Drive the Women's Fragrance Market inthe US II-27Looking East for Growth II-272. END USER PROFILE II-28Women's Fragrances II-28Scent of a Woman II-28Classification of Women's Perfumes based on Olfactory Feature II-28Celebration of Femininity II-29Growth Factors in Women's Fragrances II-29Vital Statistics: A Historic Perspective II-29Table 11: Leading Manufacturers of Women's FragrancesWorldwide (2005): Market Share of Coty/Unilever, ElizabethArden, Parfum De Coeur, Revlon L'Oreal USA, Private Label,and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-29 Table 12: Leading Manufacturers of Premium Women's Fragrance(2005): Percentage Market Share Breakdown by Value Sales forEstee Lauder, L'Oreal, Unilever, LVMH, Chanel, Gucci, andOthers (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-30Men's Fragrances II-30Emerging into a Dynamic Sector II-30Classification of Men's Perfumes based on Olfactory Feature II-30A Hint of Masculinity II-31Young Customer Base II-31Travel Fragrances II-31Fragrance Habits II-31Duty-Free Benefit II-32Table 13: Breakdown of World Duty Free Perfume Market byRegions (2008): Market Share of Europe, Asia and Oceania,North & South America, and Africa (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) II-32Steady Male Mass Fragrance Segment in Europe and the US II-32Fragrance Penetration II-33Table 14: Mass Fragrance Penetration among Men in SelectRegions (2008) - US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and UK(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-33Unisex Fragrances: For "Him" & "Her' II-333. PRODUCT OVERVIEW II-34Definition II-34Historic Facts About Fragrances II-34Latest Developments in Fragrances II-34Making of Perfumes II-35Harmful Effects II-35Industry's Defense Statement II-35Fragrances and Perfumes - An Indispensable Aspect of Life II-36Fragrances - A Backdrop II-36The Art of Perfuming II-36The Chemistry of Perfumery II-37The Art of Blending II-37Types of Fragrances II-37Applications of Fragrances II-38Cosmetic Fragrances (Perfumes, cologne, essential oils) II-38Household Fragrances II-38A Sniff Into the Past II-38History of Perfumes II-38Fragrances: Elicit a Range of Emotions II-39Distinction Between Fine Fragrance and Mass Fragrance II-40Fragrance Materials Market II-40Aroma Chemicals Industry II-40Types of Aroma Chemicals II-40Production Methods II-41Synthetic Aroma Chemicals II-41Select Fragrance Materials II-41Potpourri II-41Essential oils II-41Incense II-41Aroma candles II-41 4. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW II-42New Perfume Technologies II-42Fragrance Encapsulation Technology II-42Fragrance Technology II-425. SELECT PRODUCT LAUNCHES-2007 & 2008 SNAPSHOTS II-43 6. PRODUCT INNOVATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS II-60Renowned Perfumer Robert Piguet to Launch Calypso II-60Jo Malone to Introduce English Pear & Freesia II-60Adidas to Introduces Adidas Fresh Escape II-60Victoria and Albert Museum to Launches Diaghilev II-60Loriblu Introduces Sensual Seduction II-60Brooks Brothers Introduces Black Fleece in UK II-61Lancome Launches O d`Azur II-61Nicolas Ghesquière Unveils Balenciaga Paris II-61Moschino Introduces Toujours Glamour II-61Diptyque Introduces Vetyverio II-61La Senza Unveils La Seduction: Intimate Seduction II-62Demeter Fragrance Library Introduces Frozen Pond II-62Aftelier Unveils Trèvert II-62Chloé Introduces Collection of Floral Fragrances II-62Salvador Dali Unveils Little Kiss Me II-62Givenchy to Introduce Dance with Givenchy and Eaudemoiselle II-63Palm Beach Beauté Introduces Kanøn Norwegian Wood II-63Kenneth Cole Launches Vintage Black for Men II-63M&W Prestige Cosmetics Launches Strellson No. 1 II-63Inter Parfums Rolls Out Burberry Women and Men Summer Fragrances II-63Halle Berry to Unveil Pure II-63Coty Prestige and Joop Introduces Fragrances for Men II-64Italian Fashion House to Launch Costume National Homme for MenRasasi Unveils Al Wissam II-64Dover Street Market Launched Unisex Perfume II-64Lalique Parfums to Introduce Encre Noire Pour Elle for Women II-64Salvatore Ferragamo Introduces Fragrance for Men II-64Banana Republic Launches Republic Collection for Women and Men II-64Korres Introduces Three Fragrance Editions II-65Parfumerie Simes Launches French Perfumes for Men II-65Donatella Versace Unveils Versense II-65Marc Ecko Launches Ecko for Men II-65Brioni Unveils Brioni II-66bebe Stores Unveils New Fragrance Through In Store DeliverySystem of Prolitec II-66Halston Re-Launches Halston Man and Halston Woman II-66Carolina Herrera Introduces 212 On Ice II-67Nautica and Coty Beauty Unveils Oceans II-677. PRODUCT LAUNCHES: A HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE BUILDER II-68Oriflame Launches S8 Night II-68Space NK Unveils New Collection of Four Fine Fragrances II-68Esteban Introduces Les Orientaux II-68d'Armando Martinez Launches Silver Lining, BoHo and Les Fauves II-68Avon to Introduce Ironman Triathlon II-68Estee Lauder Introduces Pure White Linen Light Breeze II-69Coty Enters into a Licensing Agreement with Playboy II-69Godrej-Sara Lee Introduces Fresh Series of Fragrances II-69Body Shop Launches New Fragrance Range II-69Beckhams to Unveil New Fragrance Line II-70IBI Launches World's First Spiritual Perfume, Virtue II-70Studio at Fred Segal and Victoria's Secret Jointly Create NewFragrance and Body Products II-70Yves Rocher Launches New Fragrances II-70Pure and Petal Introduces Hair Fragrance Line That ProvidesFreshness II-71Ayala Moriel Introduces New Tirzah Fragrance II-71Oxbow and Lorience Set to Introduce New Fragrance II-71Scent Systems Introduces 5 Floral Fragrances in Parfum(Extrait) Concentration II-71Fragrance For You Introduces 'Perfumes of Zodiac' II-72Shiseido to Launch Perfumes Worldwide II-72Boticario Launches Fragrance and Color Line II-72Avon Collaborates with Christian Lacroix and Interparfums II-72Cofinluxe Unveils New Parfums Ailleurs Fragrance Brand II-73Aramis and Designer Unveils New Fragrance II-73Calvin Klein Rolls Out Fragrance Duo, CK IN2U II-73S&G Hampton Sun Introduces Privet Bloom II-73Versace Launches New Versace Fragrance II-74Beauté Prestige to Launch Narciso Rodriguez for Him II-74Dana Launches English Leather Black II-74Ann Taylor Introduces Fresh Beauty Range II-74Rasasi Introduces Ettr Al Mahabba II-74 8. RECENT INDUSTRY ACTIVITY II-75Liz Claiborne to Be Known As Fifth & Pacific Companies II-75BCBGMAXAZRIA and New Wave Fragrances Ink Licensing Agreement II-75Brand Matter and Palm Beach Beaute Sign Licensing Agreement II-75Vince Camuto Partners with Parlux II-75Gigantic Inks an Agreement with Lucien Lallouz II-76Elizabeth Arden Inks an Agreement with John Varvatos II-76Artifacts Enters into Joint Venture with StrApp II-76Elizabeth Arden Inks an Agreement with Kate Spade II-76Jimmy Choo Signs an Agreement with Inter Parfums II-77Sarantis Partners with Estee Lauder II-77Elizabeth Arden Inks an Agreement with Liz Claiborne II-77Coty Signs Agreement with Gemini II-77Azelis Signs Partners with International Flavors and Fragrances II-78Inter Parfums Signs an Agreement with Montblanc II-78Puig to Acquire License from P&G II-78Ellen Tracy Inks a Deal with Palm Beach Beauté II-78Paris Perfumes Rolls Out Betty Boop Fragrances II-79New Men's Launches Will For Men II-79Agent Provocateur Sings a Deal with Designer Parfums II-79Bottega Veneta Partners with Coty II-79Inditex Obtains Approval from FIPB for Joint Venture with Trent II-80Frutarom Takes Over Oxford Chemicals II-80Symrise Inks an Agreement to Acquire Futura Labs II-80Beauty Perfumes Merges with Beauty Encounter II-81CPL Aromas Takes Over Hagelin and Company II-819. STRATEGIC CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS - A HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE BUILDER II-82Parlux Inks Global Licensing Agreement with Marc Ecko II-82Coty and Playboy Sign Licensing Agreement II-82Perfume Holdings to Purchase Majority Stake in SelectiveBeauty Holdings II-82Louis Vuitton to Acquire Stake in JSC Edinaya Evropa II-82Oriflame Collaborates with Marie Salamagne II-83Sai Gon Cosmetics Inks Contract with Musketeers II-83ScentAir Merges with EnviroScent II-83Takasago Acquires Wessel II-83Symrise Takes Over Manheimer and Intercontinental Fragrances II-83Perfumania Holdings Acquires Model Reorg II-84Art & Fragrance Acquires Lilaque II-84Coty Partners with Puig II-84Jimmy Choo Inks an Agreement with Inter Parfums II-84Kanoria Chemicals Enters into Joint Venture Deal with Soluciones II-85Parlux Acquires Licenses from Iconic Fragrances II-85ScentAir Inks an Agreement with DMX II-85Balenciaga Partners with Coty II-86Coty Enters into a Licensing Agreement with Playboy II-86Avon Collaborates with Emanuel Ungaro II-86Avon Enters into a Collaboration with James Bond Franchise II-87Avon Partners with Patrick Dempsey II-87Coty Enters into a Partnership with HSN II-87Parlux Fragrances Collaborates with Natori Company II-88L'Oreal Enters into an Agreement with Airness II-88LVMH to Construct New Perfumes R&D Center II-88Scorpio Signs Accord with L'Oréal, Elizabeth Arden and L'Occitane II-88L'Oréal to Acquire YSL Beauté II-89Investindustrial IV LP to Acquire Selective Beauty II-89Alcome Perfumes to Enter Indian Market II-89P&G Establishes New Fragrance Plant in Singapore II-90Marionnaud Makes Entry into Asia with New Perfumery II-90Elizabeth Arden Signs a Licensing Agreement with AEFFE II-90Liz Zorn Changes Name to Soivohle' II-91L'Oréal Partners with Maison Martin Margiela II-91Givaudan Inks an Agreement with Colgate Palmolive II-91Elizabeth Arden Ties Up with Liz Claiborne II-91Parfum d'Image Acquires Latitudes International II-91Blyth Divests HomeScents to MVP II-92Coty Unveils Fragrance Bay Retail Kiosk II-92Selective Beauty Partners with Zac Posen to Develop New Fragrance II-92Nicole Inks International Licensing Agreement with Parlux II-92Revelations Perfume Enters into an Agreement for 3121 Fragrance II-93Parlux Fragrances and Camuto Group Sign Agreement with JessicaSimpson II-93Ferragamo Selects Selective Beauty as Distribution Partner II-94Ascendia Completes the Acquisition of Calgon and HealingGarden Brands II-94Frutarom Acquires Abaco II-94Cream Perfume Company Signs Distribution Agreement for Nuts® II-95Inter Parfums Takes Over Lanvin Brand II-95Coty and Karl Lagerfeld Enter into a Licensing Agreement II-95Frutarom to Acquire Blessing Biotech and Gewurzmuller II-96Lornamead Takes Over Woods of Windsor II-96Clive Christian Takes Over The Crown Perfumery II-96Jaeger Signs Agreement to Produce Fragrances II-96Avon Products Collaborates with Christian Lacroix II-96Prince Partners with Revelations Perfume and Cosmetics II-97Coty and Kate Moss Partner for New Perfume Line II-97Henkel Completes Divestment of Fine Fragrance II-97Morris Profumi Announces the Acquisition of Atkinsons II-97Modi-Revlon to Commence Perfumes Manufacturing in India II-97Stella McCartney Enters into an Agreement with Lane Crawford II-98Takasago to Enhance Business in China II-98Thailand and France Collaborate to Develop SMEs in Thailand II-98Symrise Reopens Singapore Research Center II-99Lifestyle Introduces Perfume Department at Sharjah City Center II-99Drom Takes Over Quorum Holding II-99Jimmy Choo Partners with Selective Beauty to Unveil New Fragrance II-100Givaudan Completes the Acquisition of Quest International II-100 10. FOCUS ON SELECT GLOBAL PLAYERS II-101Avon Products, Inc. (US) II-101Bulgari S.p.A (Italy) II-101Chanel SA (France) II-102Coty, Inc. (US) II-102Elizabeth Arden, Inc. (US) II-102Estee Lauder, Inc. (US) II-103Gucci Group NV (Italy) II-103Gianni Versace S.p.A (Italy) II-103Liz Claiborne, Inc./ Fifth & Pacific Companies (US) II-104L'oreal SA (France) II-104LVMH Group (France) II-105Procter & Gamble (US) II-105Puig Beauty & Fashion Group S.L (Spain) II-106Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (US) II-106Revlon, Inc. (US) II-10711. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE II-108Table 15: World Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forFragrances & Perfumes by Geographic Region- US, Canada, Japan,Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East & Africaand Latin America Markets Independently Analyzed with AnnualSales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2009 through 2017(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-108 Table 16: World Historic Review for Fragrances & Perfumes byGeographic Region - US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific(excluding Japan), Middle East & Africa, and Latin AmericaMarkets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures inUS$ Million for Years 2003 through 2008 (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) II-109Table 17: World 15-Year Perspective for Fragrances & Perfumesby Geographic Region- Percentage Breakdown of Dollar Sales forUS, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia- Pacific (excluding Japan),Middle East & Africa, and Latin America for Years 2003, 2011,and 2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-110 Table 18: World Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forWomen's Fragrances & Perfumes by Geographic Region- US,Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), MiddleEast & Africa and Latin America Markets Independently Analyzedwith Annual Sales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2009through 2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-111Table 19: World Historic Review for Women's Fragrances &Perfumes by Geographic Region - US, Canada, Japan, Europe,Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, & Africa andLatin America Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual SalesFigures in US$ Million for Years 2003 through 2008 (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) II-112 Table 20: World 15-Year Perspective for Women's Fragrances &Perfumes by Geographic Region- Percentage Breakdown of DollarSales for US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excludingJapan), Middle East, & Africa and Latin America for Years2003, 2011, and 2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-113Table 21: World Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forMen's Fragrances & Perfumes by Geographic Region- US, Canada,Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East &Africa and Latin America Markets Independently Analyzed withAnnual Sales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2009 through2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-114 Table 22: World Historic Review for Men's Fragrances &Perfumes by Geographic Region - US, Canada, Japan, Europe,Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, & Africa andLatin America Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual SalesFigures in US$ Million for Years 2003 through 2008 (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) II-115Table 23: World 15-Year Perspective for Men's Fragrances &Perfumes by Geographic Region- Percentage Breakdown of DollarSales for US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excludingJapan), Middle East, & Africa and Latin America for Years2003, 2011, and 2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-116 Table 24: World Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forUnisex Fragrances & Perfumes by Geographic Region- US, Canada,Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East &Africa and Latin America Markets Independently Analyzed withAnnual Sales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2009 through2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-117Table 25: World Historic Review for Unisex Fragrances &Perfumes by Geographic Region - US, Canada, Japan, Europe,Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, & Africa andLatin America Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual SalesFigures in US$ Million for Years 2003 through 2008 (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) II-118 Table 26: World 15-Year Perspective for Unisex Fragrances &Perfumes by Geographic Region- Percentage Breakdown of DollarSales for US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excludingJapan), Middle East, & Africa and Latin America for Years2003, 2011, and 2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-119III. MARKET 1. THE UNITED STATES III-1A.Market Analysis III-1Snapshots III-1US Fragrances Market Impacted by Global Recession III-1Declining North American Fragrances Market Takes Major BlowFrom Recession III-2Beauty Product Sales Witness Decline III-2American Buyers Prefer Cosmetics to Perfumes III-2Competitive Landscape III-3Table 27: Leading Players in the US Fragrance Market(2008): Percentage Share Breakdown of Value Sales by CotyInc., Estee Laude Companies Inc., L'Oréal S.A. and Others(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-3Competitive Factors III-3Table 28: US Fragrance Market By Product Type (2009):Percentage Share Breakdown for Women's colognes andperfumes, Women's gift sets & skin care packages, Men'scologne/lotion, After-shave cosmetics, Men's gift sets &travel kits, Pre-shave cosmetics, and Children's cologne &gift sets (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-4End-User Profile III-4Women's Fragrances III-4An Overview III-4Leading Brands and Player Statistics in the Past III-5Table 29: Leading Producers of Women's Fragrances in theUS (2004-2005): Percentage Share Breakdown for Coty,Elizabeth Arden, Parfums de Coeur, Revlon, Loreal SA, andOthers (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-5Table 30: Popular Fragrance Brands for Women in the US:Market Shares of Calgon, , Parfums de Coeur , Jovan,White Diamonds , Celine Dion, The Healing Garden ,Charlie, Davidoff, Red Door , Jean Nate, and Others for2005 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-6Highlights III-6Competitive Scenario III-6Key Players and Brands III-7Table 31: Breakdown of US Female Fragrances by ProductCategory (2009): Percentage Share Breakdown by Sales forFine Fragrances and Mass Fragrances (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-7 Table 32: US Women's Fragrances: Percentage Of HouseholdsBuying From Different Retail Outlets For The Year 2008(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-7Table 33: US Women's Fragrances: Annual PurchaseOccasions By Households Buying From Different RetailOutlets For The Year 2008 (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-8Trends/Issues III-8Celebrity Fragrances Drive the Women's Fragrance Marketin the US III-8Floral Fragrances Make Resurgence in Women's Category III-8Increasing Predominance of Sister Fragrances III-9Return of Romance III-9Touch of Exclusivity III-9Gift Sets - A Round-the-Year Business III-9Flankers: Reviving Sales III-10Fuzzy Lines between Bath, Body, and Perfumes III-10Demographic Trends III-10Fragrance Usage among African-American Women III-11Generation Y Shows High Potential III-11Fragrance Shopping Habits of Teens III-11Perfumes and Teen Girls III-12Aromachology in Women's Segment III-12New Aromatherapy-Based Perfumes III-12Aromatherapy Enhances Fragrance Sale III-12Role of Internet III-12Men's Fragrances III-13An Overview III-13Men's Fragrance Sector on Upsurge III-13Highlights III-13Competitive Scenario III-14Table 34: US Male Fragrances by Market Type (2009):Percentage Share Breakdown for Fine Fragrances and MassFragrances (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-14 Table 35: US Men's Fragrances: Percentage Of HouseholdsBuying From Different Retail Outlets for The Year 2008(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-14Table 36: US Men's Fragrances: Annual Purchase OccasionsBy Households Buying From Different Retail Outlets ForThe Year 2008 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-15Men's Fragrance Market: A Historic Review III-15Popular Brands of Men's Designer Mass Market Fragrancesin the US (2005): Ranking of Curve, Drakkar Noir, CoolWater, Tommy, Eternity, Nautica, Obsession, Polo, Hugo,and Halston Z-14 III-15Table 37: Leading Manufacturers of Male Fine Fragrancesin the US (2005): Percentage Share Breakdown for L'Oreal,Coty/Unilever#, Estee Lauder, Coty, Liz Claiborne Inc,Proctor and Gamble, and Others (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-16 Table 38: Leading Manufacturers of Male Mass Fragrancesin the US (2005): Percentage Share Breakdown of RetailSales for Coty/Unilever, L'Oreal, Procter and Gamble,Colgate Palmolive, The Gillette Company, Antonio Puig,and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-16Fragrance Penetration among US Men III-16Table 39: Factors Impacting Men's Fragrance Prior toPurchases (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-17Table 40: Factors Impacting Men's Fragrance Purchases inStores (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-17Trends/Issues III-17Excellent Prospects III-17Younger Customers III-18Brand Preference III-18Favorite Scents III-18Distribution Trends III-18Table 41: US Fragrances Market By Distribution Channels(2010): Percentage Dollar Share Breakdown for DepartmentStores, Specialist Stores, Supermarkets/hypermarkets andOthers (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-18Table 42: US Women's Fragrances and Perfumes Market ByRetail Outlet (2008 & 2009): Percentage Dollar ShareBreakdown for Discount Stores, Chain Drug Stores,Food/Drug Combination Stores, Independent Drug Stores,Supermarkets (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-19 Table 43: US Women's Mass Market Fragrances for The Year2009: Percentage Dollar Sales Breakdown By Retail Outlets(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-19Table 44: US Perfumes/Colognes Market by Retail Store(2010): Percentage Dollar Share Breakdown for Discounters,Drug stores, and Food stores (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-20 Table 45: Mass Market Sales of Fragrances by Store Type inthe US (2009): Percentage Share Breakdown for Drug stores,Supermarkets, and Other Mass Stores (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-20Mass Retailers: Open-Sell Designer Fragrance ProgramsRevive Sales III-20Chain Drug Stores Achieve Greater Gains III-21Direct Mail and Fragrance Strips III-21Promotional Activities III-21Regulatory Scenario III-22Chemical Use in Perfumes III-22B.Market Analytics III-23Table 46: US Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forFragrances & Perfumes by Product Segment - Women'sFragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances & Perfumes, andUnisex Fragrances Markets Independently Analyzed with AnnualSales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2009 through 2017(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-23Table 47: US Historic Review for Fragrances & Perfumes byProduct Segment - Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men'sFragrances & Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances MarketsIndependently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in US$Million for Years 2003 through 2008 (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-24 Table 48: US 15-Year Perspective for Fragrances & Perfumesby Product Segment - Percentage Breakdown of Dollar Salesfor Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances &Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances for Years 2003, 2011, and2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-252. CANADA III-26A.Market Analysis III-26Market Demographics III-26Market Leaders III-26Table 49: Canadian Fragrances Market (2008): PercentageShare Breakdown of Value Sales by Leading Players- CotyInc., L'Oréal S.A., Procter and Gamble Co. an Others(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-26Industry Association III-26B.Market Analytics III-27Table 50: Canadian Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forFragrances & Perfumes by Product Segment - Women'sFragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances & Perfumes, andUnisex Fragrances Markets Independently Analyzed with AnnualSales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2009 through 2017(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-27 Table 51: Canadian Historic Review for Fragrances & Perfumesby Product Segment - Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men'sFragrances & Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances MarketsIndependently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in US$Million for Years 2003 through 2008 (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-28Table 52: Canadian 15-Year Perspective for Fragrances &Perfumes by Product Segment - Percentage Breakdown of DollarSales for Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances &Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances for Years 2003, 2011, and2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-29 3. JAPAN III-30A.Market Analysis III-30Snapshots III-30Trends and Issues III-30Fragrance Market to Register Decline in Sales III-30Plagued By Economic and Cultural Problems III-30Japanese Consumers Get Acclimatized to Fragrances III-30Fragrances for Relaxation and Healing III-31Popularity of Low Fragrant Products III-31Perfume and Cosmetics Market Influenced by Younger People III-31Preferences for Fragrances Versatile III-31New Deodorizing Preparations Arouse Consumer Interest III-32Consumer Behavior Trends III-32Demographic Trends III-32End-Use Profile III-33Women's Fragrances III-33Table 53: Women's Fragrance Market in Japan by ProductCategory (2010): Market Share of Fine Fragrances and MassFragrances (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-33Player Statistics in the Past III-33Table 54: Major Manufacturers of Women's Fine Fragrance inJapan (2005): Market Share of Shiseido, Chanel, LVMH,Antonio Puig, Wella, Cofci, Procter & Gamble, Gucci, EsteeLauder, and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-33Table 55: Major Manufacturers of Women's Mass Fragrance inJapan (2005): Market Share of Shiseido, Kanebo, Wella,Mandom, Avon, and Others (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-34 Table 56: Leading Manufacturers of Men's Fine Fragrance inJapan (2005): Market Share of LVMH, Chanel, BPI /Shiseido, Coty/ Unilever, Parfums Givenchy, L'Oreal, andOthers (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-34Table 57: Leading Manufacturers of Men's Mass Fragrance inJapan (2005): Market Share of Kanebo, Shiseido, Mandom,Pola, and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-34Competitive Scenario III-35Distribution Scenario III-35Women's Fragrances III-35Table 58: Women's Fragrance Market in Japan (2010):Dollar Share of Department Stores, Specialist stores,Perfumeries, Drugstores, and Others (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-35Men's Fragrances III-35Table 59: Men's Fragrance Market in Japan by ProductCategory (2010): Market Share of Fine fragrances and Massfragrances (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-35Major Distributors III-36Table 60: Leading Distribution Channels of Male Fragrancein Japan (2008): Market Share of Department Stores,Specialist Stores, Perfumeries, Drugstores, Others(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-36Competitive Scenario III-36Table 61: Leading Producers of Fragrances and Perfumes inJapan (2005): Market Share of Shiseido, LVMH, Chanel,Coty/Unilever, Antonio Puig, and Others (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-36Density-Based Segmentation of Fragrances in Japan III-37Import-Export Scenario III-37Great Popularity of Imported Perfumes III-37Import Regulations III-37High Pressure Gas Safety Law III-37Plant Protection Law III-38CITES III-38Fragrance Ingredients III-38Table 62: Fragrance Market Mix by Major Ingredients-CitrusBased, Green Based, Floral Based, and Other (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-38Regulations III-38B.Market Analytics III-39Table 63: Japanese Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forFragrances & Perfumes by Product Segment - Women'sFragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances & Perfumes, andUnisex Fragrances Markets Independently Analyzed with AnnualSales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2009 through 2017(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-39 Table 64: Japanese Historic Review for Fragrances & Perfumesby Product Segment - Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men'sFragrances & Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances MarketsIndependently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in US$Million for Years 2003 through 2008 (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-40Table 65: Japanese 15-Year Perspective for Fragrances &Perfumes by Product Segment - Percentage Breakdown of DollarSales for Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances &Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances for Years 2003, 2011, and2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-41 4. EUROPE III-42A.Market Analysis III-42Overview III-42Trends and Issues III-42Premium Fragrance Market in Europe Flourishes DespiteRecession III-42Eastern Europe: The most Lucrative Market III-43Small Sized Products Drive Demand III-43Looking East for Growth III-43Fragrance Renaissance III-44Natural Fragrances: The Future III-44Retail Scents Acquiring Importance in Fragrance Portfolio III-44Brand Attitude Among Europeans III-44Fragrance Flankers in Europe III-45Focus on Perfume Safety in the EU III-45Ethanol- Key Ingredient for Fragrances III-45Use of Diethylene Glycol & the Menace of Counterfeit Products III-45Men's Fragrances in Europe Put Up a Fine Show III-46A Different Beat III-46German & Italian Men Staunchly Loyal III-46Market Share Scenario III-47Table 66: Leading Fragrance Players in Europe (2008):Percentage Share Breakdown of Value Sales of Procter andGamble, Puig Beauty and Fashion, L'Oréal S.A. and Others(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-47Table 67: Western European Fragrance Market By ProductCategory (2009): Percentage Share Breakdown for Premiumfragrances for men, Premium fragrances for women, Premiumunisex fragrances, Mass-market fragrances for men,Mass-market fragrances for women, and Mass-market unisexfragrances (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-47Fragrances Market - A Recent Past Perspective III-47Leading Female Fragrances in the European Market for theyear 2004: Breakdown by Country - France, Germany, Italy,Spain and the United Kingdom III-47Table 68: Leading Fragrance Brands in Eastern and WesternEurope (2005): Percentage Dollar Share Breakdown for Avon,Oriflame, adidas, Gillette Aftershave Splash, J'adore,Chanel N (degrees) 5, Charlie, Yves Rocher, Old Spice, DiorAddict, and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-48 Table 69: Leading Fragrance Companies in Western Europe(2005): Percentage Dollar Share Breakdown by Sales for LVMHMoet Hennessy Louis, L'Oreal Groupe, Coty/Unilever, CotyInc, Estee Lauder Cos Inc, Chanel SA, Procter & Gamble Co,Antonio Puig SA, Gucci Group NV, Avon Products Inc, Privatelabel, and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-49Table 70: Leading Fragrance Brands in Western Europe(2005): Percentage Dollar Share Breakdown for Chanel N(degrees) 5, Allure, Avon, adidas, J'adore, Angel, cK one,Hugo, Fahrenheit, Boss Bottled, and Others (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-50 Table 71: Leading Producers of Fragrances and Perfumes inEastern Europe (2005): Percentage Share Breakdown forProcter & Gamble, L'Oreal, Beiersdorf, Chanel,Coty/Unilever, Sanofi, and Others (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-51End-User Profile III-51Women's Fragrance III-51Market Highlights III-51Market Scenario III-51Men's Fragrance III-52B.Market Analytics III-52Table 72: European Recent Past, Current & Future Analysisfor Fragrances and Perfumes by Geographic Region - France,Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Rest ofEurope Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual SalesFigures in US$ Million for Years 2009 through 2017 (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-52Table 73: European Historic Review for Fragrances andPerfumes by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK,Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe Markets IndependentlyAnalyzed with Annual Sales Figures in US$ Million for Years2003 through 2008 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-53 Table 74: European 15-Year Perspective for Fragrances andPerfumes by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown ofDollar Sales for France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe Markets for Years 2003,2011, and 2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-54Table 75: European Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forFragrances & Perfumes by Product Segment - Women'sFragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances & Perfumes, andUnisex Fragrances Markets Independently Analyzed with AnnualSales Figures in US$ Million for Years 2009 through 2017(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-55 Table 76: European Historic Review for Fragrances & Perfumesby Product Segment - Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men'sFragrances & Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances MarketsIndependently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in US$Million for Years 2003 through 2008 (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-56Table 77: European 15-Year Perspective for Fragrances &Perfumes by Product Segment - Percentage Breakdown of DollarSales for Women's Fragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances &Perfumes, and Unisex Fragrances for Years 2003, 2011, and2017 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-57 4a. FRANCE III-58A.Market Analysis III-58French Fragrance Market in the Face of Recession III-58France and Fragrance: Intertwined III-58Market Structure III-59Table 78: Major Fragrance Companies in France (2005):Percentage Share Breakdown by Sales for LVMH, L'OrealGroupe, Chanel, Gucci Groupe Clarins, and Others (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-59Distribution Trends III-59Table 79: Leading Distribution Channels in the FrenchFragrance Market (2010): Percentage Share Breakdown forPerfumeries, Grocery, Department Stores, Specialist Stores,and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-60Women's Fragrances III-60Mass and Fine Fragrances III-60Table 80: Women's Fragrance Market by Product Category(2009): Percentage Share Breakdown for Fine Fragrances andMass Fragrances (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-60Fragrances Player Shares in the Past III-61Table 81: Primary Manufacturers of Women's Fine Fragrancesin France (2005): Percentage Share Breakdown for LVMH,Chanel, L'Oreal, Gucci, Clarins, BPI / Shiseido, AntonioPuig, PBS/Pacific, Wella, and Others (includescorresponding Graph/Chart) III-61Table 82: Primary Manufacturers of Women's Mass Fragrancesin France (2005): Market Share of L'Oreal, Chanel,Overall, Ulric de Varens, Laboratoires Sarbec, Coty,Shulton, and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-61Leading Companies III-61Men's Fragrances III-62Mass and Fine Fragrances III-62Table 83: Men's Fragrance Market in France by ProductCategory (2008): Percentage Share Breakdown for FineFragrances and Mass Fragrances (includes correspondingGraph/Chart) III-62Fragrances Player Shares in the Past III-62Table 84: Leading Manufacturers of Men's Fine Fragrance inFrance (2005): Percentage Share Breakdown for LVMH,Clarins, Procter & Gamble, Antonio Puig, BPI / Shiseido,Jean Patou, Chanel, Gucci, FFI, Caron, L'Oreal, and Others(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-62 Table 85: Major Manufacturers of Men's Mass Fragrance inFrance (2005): Percentage Share Breakdown forCoty/Unilever, L'Oreal, Henkel-Schwarzkopf, Chanel, SaraLee, Shulton, Ulric de Varens, Gillette, and Others(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-63Major Distributors III-63Table 86: Leading Distribution Channels for Men'sFragrance in France (2010): Percentage Share Breakdown forPerfumeries, Grocery, Department Stores, SpecialistStores, and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-63Competitive Scenario III-64Fragrance Penetration III-64Exports of Perfumes III-64Select Regional Player III-64B.Market Analytics III-65Table 87: French Recent Past Current & Future Analysis forFragrances & Perfumes by Product Segment - Women'sFragrances & Perfumes, Men's Fragrances & Perfumes, andUniseTo order this report:: More Check our Contact Nicolas Bombourg Reportlinker Email: US: (805)652-2626 Intl: +1 805-652-2626©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Global Poverty ProjectPerformances By Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Band of Horses and K'Naan; Hosted by Katie Couric, Jeffrey Sachs, Jack Dorsey, Olivia Wilde, Minka Kelly, Sophia Bush, Selena Gomez, Katharine McPheeHistoric Event & Ongoing Online Campaign Aims to End Extreme PovertyNEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Poverty Project is proud to announce that their upcoming Global Citizen Festival, produced by AEG Network LIVE and delivered by AEG Digital Media, will be live streamed and broadcast by an impressive list of media partners. The simultaneous distribution of this historic event allows the world to "attend" the festival, which will bring together leading non-profit organizations, musicians and notables in Central Park on September 29, 2012 as part of a mass movement to end extreme poverty.Leading broadcast sponsor Australian technology company, Vividas, along with premier online distribution partners include VEVO, YouTube, AOL/ Huffington Post, Yahoo!, VH1.com, and NYTimes.com all plan to stream the event live. In addition, television partners AXS TV Palladia, Globo Brazil, and Fuse, will carry the live program. This first-of-its-kind collaboration between online and broadcast outlets worldwide will include the full performances and remarks from the day's luminary line-up.Bunim/Murray Productions will also help co–produce online creative social media and fan interaction features and interstitials to give fans everywhere a constant stream of live content via AEG Digital Media's Live Experience Platform, consisting of the Tremolo Video Player, The MC and The Hawk."The Global Poverty Project is proud to have such partners to help carry the message of the Global Citizen Festival around the world," said Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of GPP. "This is a chance to take action towards ending extreme poverty in our generation.""I've always been fascinated by the way art and music can bring people together," says Ryan Gall co-founder and Executive Producer of the Global Citizen Festival. "This event is a way to take that collective energy to create positive social change.""AEG Network LIVE is honored to be producing a live event that has such massive distribution on a global level for a good cause such as the Global Poverty Project," said John Rubey, Executive Producer of the broadcast and President, AEG Network LIVE. "We are proud to have such an extensive collection of talent on board and are grateful to all our production and distribution partners in helping us make this happen."As previously announced, The Global Citizen Festival will include performances by Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Band of Horses and K'naan, talent arranged by AEG LIVE Goldenvoice. The event's Host Committee includes Katie Couric, Jeffrey Sachs, Jack Dorsey, Selena Gomez for U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Minka Kelly for The World Food Program USA, Sophia Bush for Pencils of Promise, Olivia Wilde for Half the Sky Movement, Katharine McPhee for Malaria No More, and Erin Heatherton. The event will celebrate achievements and create awareness around the UN General Assembly in New York when world leaders will convene to debate the Millennium Development Goals and make commitments to end extreme poverty.The broadcast will air live on at Saturday, September 29, 2012 starting at 4:00PM EDT and again 12:00AM and 8:00AM EDT globally for the worldwide audience to view in their respected time zone. The event broadcast is generously supported by Vividas and Max Sound (MAXD).ABOUT THE GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL: The Festival is produced by Goldenvoice and supported by a range of Foundations, private donors and businesses. The Pratt Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, David Leppan and Billionaire.com, and Capital for Good have provided generous support for Global Citizen and the Global Citizen Festival. The event is only possible because of critical funding from the Sumner Redstone Foundation. Art and other creative elements of the festival will be produced by Milk Studios and the HOPE Campaign.Tickets can be earned online at where performing actions and sharing information allows the user to log on, get involved and earn tickets. The site contains messages about international health and development issues and showcases the nonprofit partners, social entrepreneurs, academics, writers, host committee members and artists involved in these particular issues. A small number of VIP tickets can be purchased, all net proceeds go to the charity.ABOUT THE GLOBAL POVERTY PROJECT: GPP is an international education and advocacy organization working to catalyse the movement to end extreme poverty. An Australian grown project, The Global Poverty Project creates campaigns with the purpose to increase the number and effectiveness of people taking action to end extreme poverty, with the vision of a world without extreme poverty, within a generation. Join the conversation on Facebook, follow@TheGPP and visit: ABOUT AEG NETWORK LIVE: AEG Network Live is the industry's premier provider of live, digital and 3D entertainment, offering fans unparalleled access to the artists they want-when and how they want it-via broadband, TV, radio, wireless, theatrical and retail. AEG Network LIVE has completed successful tour and album launch campaigns for AEG Live clients including Katy Perry, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Prince, Linkin Park, Usher, Garth Brooks, and many others. More information on AEG Network Live can be found at .©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. DOHA, QATAR, March 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- International governments today failed to grant trade protection to the unique and valuable red and pick corals (Coralliidae) used in jewelry and home decor, despite sound science showing that regulation is needed for their continued survival. SeaWeb, an ocean conservation organization whose campaign Too Precious to Wear had called for governments to protect Coralliidae under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), called the decision "a major step backward for the long-tem survival of red and pink coral and the industries that depend on them." Intensive lobbying by coral industry interests occurred in the days leading up to the vote.The vote to protect red and pink coral failed to receive the two-thirds majority needed at the 15th Conference of Parties of CITES (64 countries voted in favor, 59 against and 10 abstained), and comes just three days after a proposal to protect bluefin tuna was overwhelmingly defeated by delegates after intensive lobbying by fishing interests. The sought-after Appendix II listing for Coralliidae would have required countries wishing to export these species to prove that trade is not harming their continued survival. Trade in red and pink coral will now continue unchecked, with no guarantee as to its sustainability or the industries that depend on this resource. The United States and European Union, who put forward the proposal, have the opportunity to bring the issue back to a plenary vote on Thursday, but it is unclear whether or not this will happen. "For the second time in three days, governments have put short-term political and economic interests ahead of sound science - first with bluefin tuna and now with red and pink coral," said Kristian Teleki, vice president of science initiatives for SeaWeb. "Coralliidae are in desperate need of a mechanism that controls the immense trade in these species. CITES could have provided that, but today the representatives failed to heed the science showing these populations are in steep decline. It is now up to the jewelry and design industries, and their customers, to act where governments have failed." SeaWeb's Too Precious to Wear campaign is calling on jewelers and designers to refuse to use or purchase red and pink coral until sound management is in place and populations of these long-lived, slow growing species have recovered. Red and pink coral are among the world's most valuable wildlife commodities but have been intensively fished for centuries to meet consumer demand for jewelry and curios. These long-lived species support some of the slowest-growing fisheries in the world. They grow less than one millimeter a year and can live to more than 100 years old. Research shows that for populations to be sustained indefinitely, red coral should not be fished until it is 98 years old. Current practice is to remove colonies 7 to 10 years of age. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's data, more than 30 to 50 metric tons are taken from the ocean each year, but unlike other coral species in trade, Coralliidae receives no international trade protection. The United States alone imported 28 million pieces of red and pink coral between 2001 and 2008. A finished red coral necklace can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co., jewelry designer Temple St. Clair, ocean conservationist Celine Cousteau and many others supported the United States and European Union's proposal to protect red and pink coral under Appendix II of CITES."The irony is that the Italian artisans who work in coral and helped create this resistance to an Appendix II listing feel that it would threaten their livelihood," said jewelry designer Temple St. Clair, who has lived and worked in Italy for over 25 years. "As we know, the real threat to their livelihood is not protecting these corals. If they stay on their current track, there will be no more coral for them to harvest. It's now up to the jewelry and design industry to stop buying and using this coral so populations can recover. If consumer demand is lessened, perhaps governments and the coral industry will get serious about protecting these precious animals for future generations," St. Clair added.Conservationists have decried the decisions at the Doha CoP, with bluefin tuna and now red and pink corals failing to receive trade protection, despite showing clear populations declines due to overharvesting. Protection for eight species of sharks will be voted on in the coming days.SeaWeb staff are in Doha at the 15th Conference of Parties, providing real-time updates as decisions are made from the conference at http://seawebvoicesinaction.blogspot.com/ For further information relating to the red and pink coral proposal, visit http://www.seaweb.org/markets/cites.phpFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/SeaWeb_CoralFacebook: Too Precious to WearYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SeaWebOrgSeaWeb, founded in 1996 to raise awareness of the growing threats to the ocean and its living resources, is a communications-based nonprofit organization that utilizes social marketing techniques to advance ocean conservation. By increasing public awareness, advancing science-based solutions and mobilizing decision makers around ocean conservation, SeaWeb brings together multiple, diverse and powerful voices for a healthy ocean. www.seaweb.orgToo Precious to Wear is a SeaWeb campaign to create a demand for coral conservation. The campaign raises awareness of the need for coral protection among the fashion, jewelry and design industries and addresses the threats posed to coral by the often-unregulated and illegal trade in these species. The campaign is seeking an Appendix II listing for red and pink corals (Coralliidae) under CITES. Coralliidae are the most valuable and widely traded of all precious coral species (called precious because of their use in jewelry and home decor), but they are among the least protected. www.tooprecioustowear.org. SOURCE SeaWebInformation contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Safilo Group PADUA, Italy, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hugo Boss Group, one of the world market leaders in the premium fashion and luxury segment of the apparel market, and Safilo Group, the worldwide leader in premium eyewear, announce an early renewal of their license agreement with a term until 2020 for the design, production and worldwide distribution of BOSS Black, BOSS Orange and HUGO frames and sunglass collections.Claus-Dietrich Lahrs, Chairman of the Managing Board of Hugo Boss AG, said: "We are delighted to continue our long-term successful story in the eyewear category with Safilo. Hugo Boss is moving forward with the partner who is best suited to implement our brand strategic vision, which ranges from contemporary and modern elegance to sportswear and casual wear, and to meet our requirements for innovative design, qualitative products, distinctive communication and worldwide distribution. We are confident that our renewed agreement will continue to ensure to our brands a leading and successful journey in the eyewear category".Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of Safilo Group, said: "We are extremely pleased to announce the early renewal of the partnership with Hugo Boss Group. Our license agreement with a term until 2020, with such a successful and professionally managed Company further endorses Safilo Group as a trustworthy and successful partner, capable of effectively supporting the diversified high-profile portfolio of brands of a leading company such as Hugo Boss. The great working relationship that we have developed with such a fantastic group of people at Hugo Boss makes us believe that the turnover of the Hugo Boss brands in the eyewear category will cross the 100 million Euro revenue milestone at full potential".Safilo GroupThe Safilo Group is worldwide leader in the premium eyewear sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. With an international presence through 30 owned subsidiaries in primary markets – in America, Europe and Asia – and exclusive distributors, Safilo produces and distributes its house brands – Safilo, Carrera, Polaroid, Smith Optics, Oxydo, Blue Bay – and the licensed brands Alexander McQueen, A/X Armani Exchange, Balenciaga, Banana Republic, Bottega Veneta, BOSS Black, BOSS Orange, Celine, Dior, Emporio Armani, Fossil, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, HUGO, J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Liz Claiborne, Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Max&Co., Pierre Cardin, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tommy Hilfiger, Yves Saint Laurent. For further information ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. By THOMAS ADAMSON AP Fashion Writer PARIS (AP) - Coco Chanel once said: "The most courageous act is still to think for yourself." Day five of Paris Fashion Week showed that even today the legendary fashion designer's words ring true. Saturday presented a gold mine of eclectic and individual shows: Each one with a unique stamp of their designer. London-based Vivienne Westwood led the crowd, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, but travelling - as she did - via Japan, Russia, Spain and Africa. Westwood is the only designer on the Paris fashion calendar - or perhaps anywhere - who can cross the globe and several centuries, mixing up Bangkok-style catwomen, Chinese tea prints, tropical cowboys, Velasquez wenches, the Ballets Russes, and still produce a coherent and unified show. Viktor & Rolf, meanwhile, went back to their signature plays on oversized proportion to produce a glitzy show - as they prepare to celebrate 20 years since they founded the label. The epitome of femininity, Cacharel, explored spring through the natural colors of mother nature, in a trademark delicate display. Sunday's shows include Kenzo, Celine and Hermes. ___ VIVIENNE WESTWOOD "Global exotic," is how English designer Vivienne Westwood described her brilliant and wacky spring-summer 2013 show, hosted on terra mater in Paris' British Embassy. Disparate encyclopedic fashion references gelled together - amazingly - owing to her own, very British, eccentricity. Westwood cited Sergei Diaghilev's "Ballets Russes" - the early 20th century's most famous ballet company - as a key inspiration. The influential troupe used exotic styles with billowing trousers and turbans - which was evoked in many of the baggy globe-trotting looks. One of the nicest looks came in a series of modified Japanese kimonos. One in light gray silk, with wide bateau collar, had fluttering hoop panels that fluttered by. Above all else, Westwood - who's 71 - has lost none of her humor. There was a special guest star - a model portraying Queen Elizabeth II. She clutched a handbag in a crown and demure gray silk dress. In this cameo, unlike in the Olympic Games opening ceremony in which a queen look-a-like parachuted into the main stadium, the model just walked in through the embassy door. ___ VIKTOR & ROLF Viktor & Rolf were feeling reflective, looking back on almost two decades since founding their fashion house, and that was evident Saturday in their oversized spring-summer ode to 70s pleated glamor. "We were in a reflective mood..." said Viktor Horsting, one half of the famed Dutch design duo which is approaching its 20th anniversary. Not ones to normally take things quite so literally, the inseparable Viktor and Rolf channeled mirrors in their oversized spring-summer show. The designers, who founded their Amsterdam-based fashion house in 1993, sent models through a reflective tunnel onto a catwalk wearing mainly black, white and silver ensembles that featured blinding mirror appliques on sumptuous silks. Oversized proportion - a signature mark - produced some hits. Giant bows in soft pink and purple were used high or low on the waist to sumptuous effect. But there were some small misses in proportion, too: One tubular floor-length skirt had rose-shaped mirror appliques whose size competed with the model's head. ___ CACHAREL Cacharel perfectly captured the fresh mood of spring, in a feminine collection - typical of the popular French house - that brought aquatic life to the catwalk. Free hanging A-line slip dresses and gently flaring peplums and skirts Saturday, floated alongside prints of goldfish skin, anemones and underwater tea flower bloom. This spring-summer 2013 collection was also a celebration of the natural world in its careful palette the Cerulean blue of sky, orange of sea coral and tea green. But perhaps nature is in the house DNA: After all, designer Jean Bousquet who founded the house in 1962, named it after a small, beautifully striped dabbling duck with the same name. Today's designers Ling Liu and Dawei Sun keep these codes, therefore, adding this season a touch of contemporary graphic prints. The gentle blurring made this collection a visual treat. ___ MARTIN GRANT Australian Martin Grant is not a household name, but he has a solid reputation in the fashion world and a string of celebrity followers like Juliette Binoche, Kate Hudson and Cate Blanchett. Saturday's clean and on-trend collection proves it's little wonder. "I wanted to play with volumes," Grant said backstage, referring to the many looks which had elongated peplums and jacket-skirts, twinned with black shorts - as seen in Raf Simons' show for Dior. Black and navy was used well in A-line with trapeze silhouettes, and accentuated midriffs - one of the big parts of this season's fashion conversation -which nicely nipped the silhouettes. One of the colors of the season, vermilion, was used perfectly as shards of color, or completely covering dresses. ___ Thomas Adamson can be followed at http:/ /Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Hollywood Film AwardsHOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Times, announce that Academy Award winning actress Marion Cotillard will receive the "Hollywood Actress Award" for her distinguished performance in Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone," a Sony Pictures Classics release, at the Hollywood Film Awards Gala ceremony on October 22."We are honored that Ms. Cotillard will be the recipient of this year's 'Hollywood Actress Award.' It is a privilege to honor her great talent, as well as her outstanding performance in "Rust and Bone," said awards founder and executive director, Carlos de Abreu.Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard is internationally renowned for her unbridled commitment to her art, challenging herself with each new role.This November, Cotillard will be seen starring in Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone," alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Bouli Lanners and Celine Sallette. The film was co-written by Jacques Audiard and Thomas Bidegain and adapted from the acclaimed book of short stories by Craig Davidson. The film will be released by Sony Pictures Classics on November 23, 2012, in New York and on December 7, 2012, in Los Angeles.Cotillard recently wrapped production on director and co-writer James Gray's "Untitled James Gray Project," starring opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner. The film focuses on 'Ewa Cybulska,' (Cotillard) and her sister, 'Magda,' who sail to Ellis Island in the early twentieth century, only to be separated when Magda falls ill. With nowhere to go, 'Ewa' quickly falls prey to 'Bruno' (Phoenix), a charming but wicked man who forces her to perform in his nightly burlesque show. There she encounters the dazzling 'Orlando the Magician' (Renner), who sweeps her off her feet and may be her only chance to reunite with her sister and escape the nightmare. Additionally, she also completed production on Guillaume Canet's "Blood Ties" opposite Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, Mila Kunis, and Zoe Saldana. Set in 1970s Brooklyn, the film explores organized crime and the relationship between two brothers on either side of the law who face off against each other.In 2008, Cotillard became the second French actress to ever win an Oscar®, and the first to win an acting award for a performance in the French language. The worldwide critical acclaim came for her riveting portrayal of legendary French chanteuse, Edith Piaf, in the film "La Vie En Rose."Cotillard's credits include the successful French "Taxi" film series, written by Luc Besson, Yann Samuell's "Love Me If You Dare," and Tim Burton's "Big Fish." She garnered her first Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "A Very Long Engagement." Following that, she went on to star in Ridley Scott's "A Good Year;" Michael Mann's "Public Enemies," and Rob Marshall's "Nine," the screen adaptation of the hit musical. Her performance in the film brought her Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award nominations, and she also shared in a SAG Award® nomination for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast Performance. Additional credits include Christopher Nolan's "Inception," Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris," Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion," Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises," and Guillaume Canet's "Little White Lies."The 2012 Hollywood Film Awards has also announced that it will honor producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner with the "Hollywood Producers Award," writer/director Judd Apatow with the "Hollywood Comedy Award," actor John Hawkes with the "Hollywood Breakout Performance Award" for "The Sessions," and Quvenzhane Wallis with the "New Hollywood Award" for "Beasts of the Southern Wild." Other honorees include cinematographer Wally Pfister and visual effects supervisors Jane Sirrs and Jeff White. In addition, director Peter Ramsey's "Rise of the Guardians" will be honored with the "Hollywood Animation Award," along with additional honorees to be announced in the coming weeks.The Hollywood Film Awards Gala honors cherished stars, filmmakers and up-and-coming talent, and traditionally kicks off the film awards season with the biggest stars and top industry executives in attendance."We are very proud to be the first stop of the awards season. In the last nine years, a total of 85 Oscar® nominations and 32 Oscars® were given to the honorees of the Hollywood Film Awards," said de Abreu.Last year's awards show reached a total TV audience of more than 41 million media impressions, in addition to more than 300 million online and print readers' impressions.Aside from celebrating accomplishments on screen, the Hollywood Film Awards established the "Hollywood Gives Back" program to expand and continue highlighting and assisting important local and national charities to raise funds. Over the years, the Hollywood Film Awards has contributed to such charities as the following: The Art of Elysium, Artists for Human Rights, Artists for Peace and Justice, MatchingDonors.com, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, the Enough Project and Variety The Children's Charity of So. CA, among others.Further, the Hollywood Film Awards selects individuals to be recipients of its "Hollywood Humanitarian Awards" in recognition of their contribution to the betterment of their communities or society at large. Prior recipients include Nobel Peace Prize winner and ex-President of East Timor, Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, Father Rick Frechette and actor and activist Sean Penn.ABOUT THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES"The "Los Angeles Times" is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 1.6 million and 2.7 million on Sunday, more than 16 million unique latimes.com visitors monthly and a combined print and online local weekly audience of 4.4 million. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times has been covering Southern California for more than 130 years.The Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG) businesses and affiliates include the "Los Angeles Times, " The Envelope, Times Community News and Hoy Los Angeles and reach approximately 5.2 million or 39% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. LATMG also owns and operates California Community News, as well as Tribune Direct's west coast division and is part of Tribune Company, one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information is available at .ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD FILM AWARDSThe Hollywood Film Awards were created to honor excellence in the art of filmmaking, both in front of and behind the camera, and to launch the awards season. The criteria is: recipients are selected to be honored for their body of work and/or a film(s) that is to be released between January 1 and December 31 by an advisory team. In addition, for the recipients of our "film awards craft categories" (aside from evaluating their body of work), our Advisory team takes into consideration the recommendation of their guilds/societies. Last year alone, our recipients received 12 nominations and 5 Oscars. In the last 9 years, a total of 85 Oscar nominations and 32 Oscars were given to our honorees.The Hollywood Film Awards are presented in conjunction with Presenting Sponsor the "Los Angeles Times," Premier sponsors ArcLight Cinemas and Hollywoodnews.com, exclusive Regional Print Media sponsor "Los Angeles Confidential" and trade Media sponsor the "Hollywood Reporter" and "Variety. "Special support is provided by American Cinema Editors - A.C.E., American Society of Cinematographers - A.S.C., The Art Directors Guild - A.D.G., Celebrity Services, The Casting Society of America - CSA, Costume Designers Guild - CDG, Columbia Pictures, Creative Artists Agency, DreamWorks SKG, Entertainment Tonight, Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, ICM, ILM, Motion Picture Editors Guild, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney/Pixar, The Weinstein Company, WME. Wireimage is the Official Photography Agency.Awards Contact: Hollywood Film Awards® Ph: 310.288.1882 433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 600 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Lexicon Public RelationsTORONTO, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Celebrity jewelry designer Mark Lash () is excited to announce his sponsorship of this weekend's Fashion Cares 25: A Night of Glitter and Light event hosted by Elton John.Mark Lash Jewelry will donate a breathtaking custom vintage style diamond pendant set with 7.62 carats of white diamonds (valued at $25,000) to be auctioned off, with proceeds to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the AIDS Committee of Toronto, which will distribute funds nationwide.Lash says, "It is my privilege to be a part of this extraordinary event. I have profound respect for Elton John, M-A-C Viva Glam and A.C.T. for their amazing work on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS and those who love them."Linda Evangelista and Dean / Dan Caten will help host the charity gathering on September 9th at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Scissor Sisters, Janelle Monáe, Sky Ferreira and other musical acts from around the globe will join Elton John to perform.For more information and media inquires: Zack Teperman - Lexicon Public Relations: ABOUT MARK LASH JEWELRY ()For over 25 years, celebrity jewelry designer Mark Lash has brought glamour and sophistication to women and men all over the world. Lash has adorned numerous entertainers in both the United States and Canada, and on every major red carpet event in both nations. Among the notables who have worn Mark Lash Jewelry include: Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Michael Buble, Cee Lo Green, Drake, Taylor Hicks, Naya Rivera, Cheryl Hines, Dianna Agron, Rachel Bilson, Frieda Pinto, Eva LaRue, and Heather Tom.©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Safilo Group PADOVA, Italy, July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Safilo Group, worldwide leader in the premium eyewear sector, has appointed Massimo Renon Head of Business Region EMEA. Massimo Renon will assume the role in September, reporting directly to Roberto Vedovotto, Chief Executive Officer of Safilo Group.Massimo joins Safilo from Ferrari, where he held the role of Global Head of Sales and After Sales.He previously gained over 10 years' experience in Luxottica, where he successfully held several positions of increasing responsibility in Italy and internationally, becoming New Europe Region Director before leaving.Roberto Vedovotto, Chief Executive Officer of Safilo, stated: "I am extremely proud to announce the appointment of Massimo Renon as the Head of our business in Europe, Middle East and Africa. With a turnover of about Euro 460 million, the EMEA region is at the heart of Safilo's global presence in the markets. The competitive scenarios and growth challenges that characterize this huge area of potential consumers have led us to join forces with Massimo for a path of future growth, which, thanks to his personal and professional background, will certainly be a great success. His leadership combined with a deep knowledge of the industry and his unparalleled expertise in the development of premium/luxury brands will further strengthen our Senior Management Team. I am pleased to give Massimo a warm welcome and best wishes in his new role."The Safilo Group is worldwide leader in the premium eyewear sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. With an international presence through 30 owned subsidiaries in primary markets – in America, Europe and Asia – and exclusive distributors, Safilo produces and distributes its house brands – Safilo, Carrera, Polaroid, Smith Optics, Oxydo, Blue Bay – and the licensed brands Alexander McQueen, A/X Armani Exchange, Balenciaga, Banana Republic, Bottega Veneta, BOSS Black, BOSS Orange, Celine, Dior, Emporio Armani, Fossil, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, HUGO, J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Liz Claiborne, Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Max&Co., Pierre Cardin, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tommy Hilfiger, Yves Saint Laurent. For further information Contacts:Safilo Group Investor Relations Barbara Ferrante ph. +39 049 6985766 Safilo Group Communication Department Cristina Andresano Milan – ph. +39 02 00615382 Padua – ph. +39 049 6985322 ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. LAS VEGAS, Sept. 4 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Thanks to an all-star talent list headed by Celine Dion and a quarter of a million dedicated volunteers across the country, the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon set a record in contributions and pledges. As MDA's 41st Telethon ended at 6 p.m. EDT today, the tote board showed an all-time high of $61,013,855 for the voluntary health organization's programs of research and services to benefit people with neuromuscular diseases. "I'm deeply gratified by the generosity of the American public," MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis said. "They never fail to come through for 'my kids' who have muscular dystrophy and other conditions that waste muscles and too often shorten lives." Lewis, 80, returned to star in the Telethon despite a heart attack in June. He has never missed a Telethon. This year's show was dedicated to longtime MDA President & CEO Robert Ross, who died in June. Returning to "the entertainment capital of the world" after 12 years in Hollywood. The 211/2-hour live Telethon originated from the South Coast Hotel in Las Vegas and was broadcast nationwide and in Canada on the 190 stations in MDA's "Love Network." Lewis announced Monday that the Telethon would return to the South Coast Hotel in 2007, soon to be renamed South Point Hotel. America's best "sidekick" Ed McMahon returned as the Telethon's anchor, while Jann Carl of "Entertainment Tonight"; Tom Bergeron, host of "America's Funniest Videos" and "Dancing With the Stars"; popular talk show host Larry King; "General Hospital" star Kelly Monaco; Billy Gilman, award-winning singer; and comedians Norm Crosby and Bob Zany assisted Lewis as co- hosts. This year's Telethon talent included appeals from the country's most popular actors, singers and TV personalities. Live and taped performances ranged from musical guests in country, pop, rock, gospel and variety acts. Some of Broadway's best casts were also showcased. In addition to the tote board figure, which reflects pledges and donations, a number of MDA sponsors presented checks representing their year-round fund-raising efforts for MDA. Leading this group was a record contribution of $23.5 million from the International Association of Fire Fighters, the highest yearly contribution ever from any MDA sponsor. Profiled and interviewed on the Telethon were several families living with neuromuscular diseases. The Telethon drew international viewers via its live Webcast at http://www.mda.org through streaming media provided by RealNetworks. "This remarkably successful effort will mean the world to the tens of thousands of individuals and families who are fighting neuromuscular diseases," Lewis said. "I'd like to thank everyone involved in making this really terrific show the best Telethon ever." EDITORS: Photos of this year's Telethon can be downloaded at http://www.mda.org/telethon/media. PHOTO AVAILABLE: A high-resolution, publication-quality photo supporting this story is available for free editorial use at http://photos.usnewswire.com.Contact: Bob Mackle of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 520-529-5317, 520-465-3076 or bobmackle@mdausa.org/© 2006 202-347-2770/Make Mom the Star of a Free March of Dimes E-Card WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This Motherâ€™s Day give Mom the coolest e-card on the Web - available free and exclusively from the March of Dimes. The e-card, which can be found at http://www.MomYouRock.com, can be personalized by uploading Momâ€™s photo - or maybe a photo of yourself or her favorite pet - and adding a thoughtful or funny message. The card portrays Mom in her rightful positions -- star of the show. She is the star of a rock band, playing all the instruments as the crowd chants: â€œMom, You Rock!â€? Kids of any age, dads, grandchildren or anyone else can send the e-card, designed by MushyGushy, to the most important women in their lives. The e-cards are available now for Motherâ€™s Day, but they can be sent any time of year, for Momâ€™s birthday, to celebrate an achievement, or to say thanks for just being mom. But donâ€™t stop with Mom, let your - and her - siblings in on the fun by forwarding them the cards, too. The cards are free, but both the sender and the recipient can choose to make a donation to help support the March of Dimes lifesaving research and educational programs in communities nationwide. â€œMarch of Dimes champions the needs of all babies - those born healthy as well as those who need help to survive and thrive. We want the same thing all moms do - a day when every baby is born healthy,â€? said Patricia Goldman, vice president and chief marketing officer for the March of Dimes. â€œJust as in her daily routine Mom juggles many different roles - doctor, chef, chauffeur, coach and more - in our e-card, Mom is the star.â€?The e-cards are just one of several items available from the March of Dimes that can be sent as gifts for Motherâ€™s Day. â€œStork Tunes," a new compilation CD celebrating motherhood, birth and babies will be released in May. The CD features Norah Jones, Billy Joel, Celine Dion, the Dixie Chicks and other top artists. The â€œStork Tunesâ€? CD can be purchased online by visiting http://www.storktunes.com. All net profits, equaling a minimum of $5.00 per CD, will support the March of Dimes research and other mission related programs to prevent birth defects, premature birth and other leading causes of infant death and disability.ProFlowers will contribute $10 to the March of Dimes for purchases made through http://www.proflowers.com/marchofdimes, and Shutterfly is offering a free 16x20 print to those who purchase an "Every Baby Has a Story" tile from the March of Dimes at http://www.everybabyhasastory.org.The March of Dimes is a reliable, unbiased source of medical and practical information for women, whether they already are moms, pregnant or thinking about having a baby. The March of Dimes uses new media to distribute its information so women can choose a method - whether itâ€™s e-mail, podcasts, text messaging or brochures - thatâ€™s convenient for women and fits their lifestyle.The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies(sm), the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. SOURCE March of DimesInformation contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Neiman MarcusDALLAS, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- announces Erik Madigan Heck as the photographer in The Art of Fashion campaign for Fall 2012. The campaign includes 27 images of Fall fashions and will appear in the September edition of the . (Photo: )(Photo: )Debuting nearly 20 years ago, The Art of Fashion was a revolutionary step for a retailer as the campaign was designed to feature cutting-edge fashion and provocative photography. Designer merchandise featured in the Fall 2012 campaign includes: Gucci, Valentino, Tom Ford, Oscar de la Renta, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Celine, Dolce & Gabbana, Jil Sander, The Row, Etro, Akris, Alaia Paris, Proenza Schouler, Haider Ackermann, Burberry Prorsum, Lanvin Paris, Chanel, Mary Katrantzou, Jason Wu, Fendi, Lanvin Paris, Peter Piloto, Charlotte Olympia and Nancy Gonzalez.Erik Madigan Heck is the youngest photographer ever chosen to shoot The Art of Fashion for Neiman Marcus. Other notable photographers have included Richard Avedon, Arthur Elgort, Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz, Lillian Bassman and Paolo Roversi."We wanted to pair up this season's exquisite fashions with a true creative visionary," said Eddie Nunns, Vice President, Neiman Marcus Brand Creative. "Erik Madigan Heck's work blurs the lines between photography and art, and through his illustrative approach he created stunning images that differentiate this campaign from any other."In addition to the photography for The Art of Fashion, a trio of short films was shot and will be available at . Two original Erik Madigan Heck prints from The Art of Fashion portfolio will be auctioned October 20, 2012, in conjunction with the Two x Two for Aids (2x2online.org), a 13-year-old fundraiser that has raised over $34 million for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Dallas Museum of Art's Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund. Watch for details in the next issue of the book.The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. operations include the Specialty Retail Stores segment and the Direct Marketing segment. The Specialty Retail Stores segment consists primarily of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores. The Direct Marketing segment conducts both print catalog and online operations under the Neiman Marcus, and brand names. Information about the Company can be accessed at . Keep up with the latest news and events happening at Neiman Marcus by becoming a fan on , following us on , and subscribing to our blog, ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. New Episodes of JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU: OCEAN ADVENTURES,FRONTLINE and NOVA Focus on the EnvironmentARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PBS will celebrate Earth Day 2008 with a slate of new programs about global warming, environmental change and green technology, airing in late March and April. Highlights are a new two-part episode of JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU: OCEAN ADVENTURES that explores the Amazon River and the rapidly disappearing rainforest that surrounds it and a FRONTLINE documentary that takes a look at what big business is doing to solve the worldâ€™s climate problem.(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061106/DCM029LOGO-c )Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, travels the Amazon River basin with his children Fabien and Celine in JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU: OCEAN ADVENTURES â€œReturn to the Amazon.â€? His discoveries are both inspiring and shocking. Edward Norton hosts NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICâ€™S STRANGE DAYS ON PLANET EARTH, which examines how over-fishing is affecting life far beyond the shoreline and other environmental mysteries. Other highlights include the investigation of green technology by Tom and Ray Magliozzi, of NPRâ€™s â€œCar Talk,â€? in NOVA â€œCar of the Future,â€? and NATURE â€œWhat Females Want and What Males Will Do,â€? which takes a look at the animal dating game.PBS KIDS is celebrating the earth with â€œPBS KIDS Share the Earth Day,â€? a special programming and online event on Tuesday, April 22 (check local listings). On the PBS KIDS preschool block, Miss Lori and Hooper teach children how to recycle their trash at home, and new stories from Dotâ€™s Story Factory show how kids at home can celebrate the planet. Earth Day-themed episodes from CURIOUS GEORGE, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG and ITâ€™S A BIG BIG WORLD will air alongside themed music videos from the award-winning kidsâ€™ rock band Milkshake. PBS KIDS GO!(sm), for elementary school kids, celebrates Earth Day with themed programming from ARTHUR, MAYA & MIGUEL and CYBERCHASE. Throughout the late afternoon programming block, PBS KIDS GO! presents creative ideas for kids to take care of the environment by recycling, cleaning up their neighborhoods and more.The following is a list of programming airing late March and April devoted to the changing environment and the natural world. Full program descriptions, press materials and photos are available on PBS PressRoom at http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/pbs_environmental_and_science_programming__april_2008 . Additional information is also available on pbs.org at http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20080225_earthday.html .Broadcast Premieres-- JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU: OCEAN ADVENTURES â€œReturn to the Amazonâ€?-- FRONTLINE â€œHeatâ€?-- NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICâ€™S STRANGE DAYS ON PLANET EARTH -- NATURE â€œWhat Females Want and Males Will Doâ€? -- NATURE â€œThe Gorilla Kingâ€? -- NOVA â€œCracking the Maya Codeâ€? -- NOVA â€œCar of the Futureâ€? -- INDEPENDENT LENS â€œKing Cornâ€?-- THE RETURN OF THE CUYAHOGAPBS KIDS Episodes for Tuesday, April 22 (check local listings):-- CURIOUS GEORGE #220 â€œThe Times of Sandâ€?-- CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG #131 â€œDoggie Garden/Captain Birdwellâ€™s Treasureâ€?-- IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD #124 "Fish Out of Water/Burdetteâ€™s Nest"PBS KIDS GO! Episodes for Tuesday, April 22 (check local listings): -- ARTHUR #1004 â€œFeeling Flushâ€?-- CYBERCHASE #504 â€œEcoHaven Oozeâ€?-- MAYA & MIGUEL #163 â€œEvery Day Is Earth Dayâ€?About PBSMore information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet. More information about PBS KIDS is available at www.pbskids.org. SOURCE PBS SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Amazon: The most powerful ofthe world's rivers, its rapid transformation will alter the global climate.Emptying into the great Atlantic Ocean, it flows through the world's largesttropical rainforest, the vast, natural theater where evolution has gone wild,creating the greatest biodiversity of any area on the planet. Twenty-fiveyears ago, Jean-Michel Cousteau explored this fabled region with his father,the legendary Jacques Cousteau. Since then, an area the size of Texas hasbeen deforested. With an intimate look at recent changes, Jean-Michel returnswith a new expedition for the signature PBS environmental series, Jean-MichelCousteau: Ocean Adventures. Combining science and discovery with expertstory-telling and astonishing footage, the new season premieres nationallywith Return to the Amazon, airing in two parts on April 2 at 8pm, and April 9at 8pm (both 60 minutes), and is narrated by the acclaimed actor, DelroyLindo. Traveling down the Amazon River basin with Jean-Michel are his childrenFabien and Celine and his crew of adventurous oceanauts. Over the course often months, through wet and dry seasons, in the water and on land, the teamencounters debilitating challenges and uplifting discoveries throughout themultiple expeditions and forays into both wild and developed regions. Allexperienced ocean divers, they now have the unique experience of investigatingthe murky waters of the Amazon basin, where there are more species of fishthan there are in the entire Atlantic Ocean! The team encounters manyunusual, rare species and surprises, including swimming with an anaconda, theworld's largest -- and perhaps most dangerous -- snake; going nose-to-nosewith the jacare, the Amazon version of the crocodile; and playfully swimmingwith beautiful pink river dolphins. Over 4,000 miles long, and without a single bridge crossing it, this isthe world's longest and widest river. Negotiating it is not easy. Coveringan area larger than the continental United States, the team travels togetheron long river passages and also breaks into small, mobile groups, sendingFabien and Celine on trips to investigate more leads. From the Brazilian cityof Manaus -- a hub of commerce on the main Amazon tributary, the Rio Negro --to protected areas in the Amazon like Xixuau and Mamiraua SustainableDevelopment Reserve, they investigate projects and places that are findingsolutions to the destruction of the land and river. From the mouth of theAmazon at the Atlantic Ocean to a glacier in the Peruvian Andes, they exploreincredible natural phenomena and the catastrophic consequences of climatechange and deforestation. Issues, challenges and problems that exist in the Amazon have a directconnection to the rest of the world, especially through global commerce.Expansive soy farms, lumber companies, commercial fishing, illegal animaltrafficking, and more come under close scrutiny, but the Cousteau family andOcean Adventures team uncover both inspiring and shocking stories throughoutBrazil and Peru. They investigate the crucial role of native people insustaining the natural rainforest and river system, and visit indigenouspeoples in small, remote villages, as well as in large, protected reserves.New business models such as ecotourism, fish farms, organized fish monitoringby markets and fishermen, and developing and exporting sustainable rainforestproducts and medicines are all examples of potential solutions to globalissues, as clear progress is made in the Amazon. From this region of urgency and conflict, where human enterprise andexpansion not only compromise the health and ecology of the river andrainforest basin, but truly inflict consequences on a global scale, come newbeacons of hope and sustainability. The fight for the future of the Amazonand its people is underway, and Return to the Amazon presents solutionsalready in motion for keeping the forest alive and thriving. Return to the Amazon is shot in high-definition and is narrated by DelroyLindo, the Tony award-nominated actor whose films include "Malcolm X,""Crooklyn," "Get Shorty," "Romeo Must Die" and "The Cider House Rules." Hemost recently starred in the 2007 holiday hit, "This Christmas." Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures is produced by KQED and OceanFutures Society. The exclusive corporate sponsor is The Dow Chemical Company. About KQED KQED (http://www.kqed.org) is a service of Northern California PublicBroadcasting, Inc. (NCPB). KQED Public Television 9, one of the nation'smost-watched public television stations during primetime, is the producer oflocal and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; JacquesPepin: Fast Food My Way; and Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures. KQED'sdigital television channels include KQED HD, KQED Life-Encore, KQED World,KQED Kids and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED PublicRadio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is themost-listened-to public radio station in the nation with an award-winning newsand public affairs program service (88.5 FM in San Francisco and 89.3 FM inSacramento). KQED Education Network brings the impact of KQED to thousands ofteachers, students, parents and the general public through workshops,community screenings and multimedia resources. KQED Interactive offers videoand audio podcasts and live radio stream at http://www.kqed.org, featuringunique content on one of the most-visited station sites in publicbroadcasting. About Ocean Futures Society Ocean Futures Society (OFS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Withthe motto, "Protect the ocean and you protect yourself," the mission of OFS isto explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout theworld to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the criticalconnection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean's vitalimportance to the survival of all life on our planet. OFS is based in SantaBarbara, California, with offices in Paris, Lucca, Italy, and Sao Paolo,Brazil. For more information, visit http://www.oceanfutures.org. About PBS PBS is a media enterprise that serves 355 public noncommercial televisionstations and reaches nearly 73 million people each week through on-air andonline content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet,PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, andconsistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is aleading provider of digital learning content for pre-K-12 educators and offersa broad array of other educational services. PBS' premier kids' TV programmingand Web site, PBS KIDS Online (http://www.pbskids.org), continue to beparents' and teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. Moreinformation about PBS is available at http://www.pbs.org, one of the leadingdot-org Web sites on the Internet. About Dow Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power ofinnovation, science and technology to constantly improve what is essential tohuman progress. The Company offers a broad range of products and services tocustomers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything fromfresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal careproducts. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow hasannual sales of $49 billion and employs 43,000 people worldwide. References to"Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidatedsubsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow canbe found at http://www.dow.com.SOURCE KQEDAgain-Janet Jackson All I Want Is You - U2 Be My Baby - from "Dirty Dancing" Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion Breathe - Faith Hill Can't Help Falling in Love With You - Elvis Presley Endless Love - Lionel Richie (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams Every Breath You Take-Police From This Moment On - Shania Twain and Bryan White Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman - Bryan Adams I'll Be - Edwin McCain I'll Make Love To You - Boyz II Men I love you - Sarah McLachlan I Swear - John Michael Montgomery I will always love you - Whitney Houston Let's Get It On-Marvin Gaye Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks My Girl-The Temptations My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion One in a Million-Aaliyah Save The Best For Last - Vanessa Williams Something - The Beatles Songbird-Fleetwood Mac Sweet Thing-Chaka Khan Take My Breath Away - Berlin True Colors-Cyndi Lauper You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers Unforgettable - Nat King Cole Vision of Love - Mariah Carey When I Fall in Love - Natalie Cole / Nat King Cole When You Say Nothing at All - Keith Whitley With or Without You-U2 Woman - John Lennon Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton Your Song - Elton John Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Safilo GroupPADUA, Italy, July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Safilo Group informs that, together with the Unions, it has signed, at the offices of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security in Rome, the solidarity agreement in order to best manage the redundancies due to the non-renewal of the Armani license, announced on 11th May 2012.The agreement fully reproduces the contents of the preliminary agreement signed and announced on 15th June 2012, and further illustrates the related operational details, with specific regards to work organization and the way in which the reduction of working hours and shifts will be implemented.The agreement, based on the principle that "Made in Italy" is and will always be a fundamental part of Safilo's DNA, calls for an extensive use of solidarity contracts for a period of 24 months, and foresees a considerable increase in levels of flexibility and a recovery of production efficiency achieved through training programs, requalification of the workforce and a selective investment program.Roberto Vedovotto, Chief Executive Officer of Safilo Group, commented: "The signing of this agreement represents an important step for Safilo and for all its stakeholders, as it allows the Group to address the unavoidable difficulties arising from the non-renewal of such an important license with a solution that satisfies both the social implications, above all with reference to maintaining jobs, and the company requirements of competitiveness, efficiency and value creation."The Safilo Group is worldwide leader in the premium eyewear sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. With an international presence through 30 owned subsidiaries in primary markets - in America, Europe and Asia - and exclusive distributors, Safilo produces and distributes its house brands - Safilo, Carrera, Polaroid, Smith Optics, Oxydo, Blue Bay - and the licensed brands Alexander McQueen, A/X Armani Exchange, Balenciaga, Banana Republic, Bottega Veneta, BOSS Black, BOSS Orange, Celine, Dior, Emporio Armani, Fossil, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, HUGO, J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Liz Claiborne, Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Max&Co., Pierre Cardin, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tommy Hilfiger, Yves Saint Laurent. For further information Contacts:Safilo Group Investor Relations Barbara Ferrante ph. +39 049 6985766 Safilo Group Communication Department Cristina Andresano Milan - ph. +39 02 00615382 Padua - ph. +39 049 6985322©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE UBM AsiaThe world's number one fine jewellery eventHONG KONG, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The mega show highly anticipated by the world's jewellery trade - the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, organised by UBM Asia Ltd (), kicks off today at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) and will run until Sunday, 23 September. Exhibitors of diamonds, pearls, coloured gemstones, and equipment and packaging products are the core attractions at this venue, while the fine finished jewellery exhibitors will have their turn when the Fair at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) opens on Friday, 21 September. (Logo: )The Fair takes another stride forward on its 30th edition with the highest number of participating exhibitors ever. More than 3,520 exhibitors from 48 countries and regions will showcase different categories of products, from fine finished jewellery to polished diamonds and gemstones, as well as all varieties of pearls, jade and jadeite, jewellery timepieces, jewellery packaging and display materials, and jewellery-making equipment, tools and machinery. This further strengthens the Fair's position as the world's number one jewellery fair. Fair organiser UBM Asia Ltd expects more than 51,000 buyers from around the world to create busy traffic in the two venues' exhibition space totalling about 130,000 square metres. "The jewellery exhibition industry is very competitive. To lead the industry, continual improvement and innovation are indispensable, which is why at this edition we are celebrating our two new industry initiatives - the IU Awards that we piloted with the International Colored Gemstone Association - and the JNA Awards," said Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs for UBM Asia. She continued: "The 30th anniversary of the Fair is an important milestone that could only have been achieved with our accumulated experience and professionalism plus great support from the industry. The September Fair provides a timely opportunity for global jewellers to source the latest products for the subsequent year. This single event, infused each year with a vibrant business atmosphere, provides the greatest product range for buyers worldwide. We also know for a fact that it is at this fair that exhibitors from around the world make serious money. As organiser, we do everything possible to create more business opportunities for all participants in our fairs."Ingredients that make the September Fair the world's leading jewellery fairExciting special eventsPress ConferenceThe press conference for the Fair will be held on 21 September from 11:00am to 12:00noon in Meeting Rooms S226-227 of the HKCEC. The chairmen of six jewellery associations will share their views on developments in the jewellery trade, while the Senior Vice President of UBM Asia will announce the latest developments in UBM's jewellery fairs business in global markets.Fair Receptions1) AWE Welcome Reception - Organised by UBM Asia and co-organised by the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI), the Fair Reception will be held on 19 September from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the ARENA KITCHEN at AWE.2) HKCEC Welcome Reception - Another reception will be held on 21 September from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Grand Foyer of HKCEC to celebrate the 30th edition of the Fair. The Fair organiser will present loyalty awards to exhibitors who have participated in the Fair's 30 editions. At the reception, winners in the inaugural IU Awards - the world's first international gem-cutting and jewellery design competition - will be awarded their prizes. The winning entries and the finalists will take centre stage in a jewellery parade.Pearl AuctionsTwo world-renowned pearl auctions, the Robert Wan Tahiti Perles Auction and the Paspaley South Sea Pearl Auction, will be held from 17 to 18 September and from 24 to 26 September, respectively, at HKCEC. Admission is by invitation only. Seminars and other special events A number of seminars and special events discussing a wide range of industry issues will be hosted by leading international jewellery organisations and companies. Hosts include:Jewellery DisplayDuring the Fair, there will be special display of jewellery pieces organised by local and international trade associations, including:For more information about the September Fair, please visit .Industry Support Advisory Board:Sponsors:International Sponsors:Notes to Editors1. About UBM Asia () Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 240 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia, we stage the leading events of their kind across the region. Our 200 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant market news and industry trends, and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have over 1,100 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.2. About UBM plc () UBM plc is a leading global company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,500 staff in 40 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.For press enquiries, please contact:Jennifer Law, Director of Corporate Marketing & Communications, UBM Asia Tel: +852-2516-1691 Fax: +852-3749-7342 Email: Elsie Hui, Corporate Marketing & Communications Executive, UBM Asia Tel: +852-2516-1679 Fax: +852-3749-7342 Email: ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. By Carey Moss From One of the best things about summer is the more laid-back approach to fashion. There aren't as many layers and everything is just a bit breezier. But that doesn't mean you should take the beach look to the boardroom or even date night. Here, some key looks and quick tips to looking chic and cool. Jumpsuits Step one: Stop the voices in your head saying, "Seriously, jumpsuits?" We promise you don't have to be Jennifer Lopez to pull them off. The fact is that a dressy pant is always office-appropriate. Add in the all-in-one aspect and you've got a simple dressing option. But we'd advise staying away from the metallic versions for day. To dress it up for evening, add high wedge sandals and perhaps a chunky bangle. Maxi Skirts This season, skirts are longer and fuller than ever before. The key to making this style work if you're not supermodel height? You just have to own it. Personalize this style with the tops you choose: Go with a crisp button-down top for day and switch to a more revealing tank in the evening. For a little celebrity inspiration, look no further than boho style queens Kate Bosworth and Rachel Bilson. Wide-leg Pants When we first saw wide-leg pants strut down the runway at shows like Celine, Derek Lam and Dries van Noten, we were ecstatic at the return of one of our favorite '70s trends. It's all very Jackie O and Ali MacGraw and sexy in a way that doesn't involve flashing a lot of skin. Try khaki or denim for day and dress it up for evening with a bold statement necklace. And yes, you're going to have to embrace high shoes with this look. Perhaps one of the season's hot "flatforms"? Stripes The easiest trend to embrace this summer is definitely stripes! There's something out there for everyone, and at every price point. The classic navy nautical stripe has been popping up on tanks and tees around the country, which just so happen to pair nicely with wide-leg pants and maxi skirts. But we also highly suggest trying out some of the colorful striped dresses out there. Remember how fun and playful Hailee Steinfeld looked in her multicolored dress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards? That could be your go-to look for an outdoor cocktail party this summer.More on from our sponsor. Carey Moss is a Los Angeles-based beauty and fashion writer. Copyright © 2011 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE The VoiceMONTREAL, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - The Voice, the TV phenomenon that took the United States by storm since 2011 and got adapted worldwide, notably in Germany, France, Australia, Belgium, and even China and Thailand, now comes in America for the first time in French, on the TVA Network, #1 French broadcaster in America!Quebec's very own version, La Voix, will be produced by Productions J, a Montreal entertainment company, which is behind, among other major productions in North America and Europe:La Voix is now looking for talents all over America. You think your voice has what it takes? Seize the opportunity to become North America's La Voix! Singing in French is not a must, but could raise your chances. There are only four days left of preauditions. It's now or never!_________________________________________________________La Voix's preauditions will be in Montreal, On October 3, 4, 6, and 7, At Hôtel Gouverneur Place Dupuis. 1415 St-Hubert Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2L 3Y9 _________________________________________________________ Hosted by Charles Lafortune, one of Quebec's favourite TV personas and winner of 7 Artis awards (Quebec's Emmys), La Voix will rely upon four coaches amongst the leading singers in French music: Ariane Moffatt, Marie-Mai, Jean-Pierre Ferland, and Marc Dupré.La Voix's preauditions: Your golden opportunity to be noticed! Twitter: / Hashtag: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PARTICIPATE TO LA VOIX'S PREAUDITIONSMONTREAL Hôtel Gouverneur Place Dupuis 1415, Saint-Hubert St., Montreal, QC, H2L 3Y9 Always from 8am to 8pm Wednesday October 3 Thursday October 4 Saturday October 6 Sunday October 7 What you need to know to participate!Everyone who will come will be heard (if they meet La Voix's participation criteria).To audition, participants must:During these first casting sessions, participants must sing a song:©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.SOURCE Live NationMELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LIVE NATION is thrilled to announce the iconic Barry Gibb will return to Australian shores in February 2013 as he launches his MYTHOLOGY TOUR. Touring in tribute to the unparalleled lifetimes in music created by Barry and his brothers, Maurice and Robin, this is sure to be a magical and emotional concert experience, drawing from every era of the timeless catalogue and huge international success achieved by Barry and his brothers.With Australia being the initial port of call for the tour, the first concert has been confirmed for February 8 at Sydney Entertainment Centre, followed by Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on February 12 and Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 16.Tickets will go on sale 9am Friday, October 5. Live Nation members can secure tickets first during the exclusive pre-sale commencing midday Friday, September 28. Register at In February this year, Gibb gave the first hint of a potential concert tour, making his inaugural U.S. solo appearance on stage at the Hard Rock Live Arena in his hometown of Miami, Florida, and he recently made his debut on the stage of the famed Grand Ole Opry, performing alongside bluegrass king Ricky Skaggs. Currently the Bee Gees 2004 compilation album Number Ones is Number 5 on Billboard's album charts, marking a 45-year span of Top 10 albums for the trio.The Australia tour will feature Barry Gibb with his incredible band that includes his son, guitarist/vocalist, Stephen, Maurice's daughter, Samantha, and Beth Cohen.Commented Gibb, "As the place where we started so many years ago, we have always viewed Australia as our home so it is only fitting that we will be kicking off our Mythology tour there." With a career that has spanned more than five decades, Barry Gibb stands as one of the most prolific singer/song-writer/producers of the modern era.As the eldest brother and creative leader of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb, along with his brothers Maurice and Robin, represent one of the most successful vocal groups in rock and roll history. With their signature vocal style and blending of musical influences, the music of the Bee Gees has crossed all musical genres from Pop and R&B to Country and Rock-n-Roll.As a songwriter, Barry Gibb is hailed with contemporaries such as Lennon and McCartney, enjoying the most consecutive Billboard Hot 100 Number Ones of any songwriter, with six; and he is the only songwriter to have written or co-written five songs that were simultaneously in the Top Ten. Throughout his illustrious career he has written, produced and performed with the best of the best, taking production credits on Barbra Streisand's two 'Guilty' albums, Dionne Warwick's 'Heartbreaker', Kenny Rogers' 1983 long player, 'Eyes That See In The Dark' and Diana Ross's 'Eaten Alive', as well as three number one hits for his younger brother Andy Gibb; and has had his songs recorded and/or performed by artists such as Roy Orbison, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Destiny's Child, Celine Dion, Michael Buble, the Gatlin Brothers, Al Green, Elton John, Tom Jones, Janis Joplin, Olivia Newton-John, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Nina Simone, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Conway Twitty, and Ricky Skaggs.The Bee Gees music was born in Redcliffe, Queensland. The enduring legacy of the Gibb family and their special relationship with Australia, the nation that fostered their early development, exists to this day, the driving force behind the decision to launch the tour in Australia.The Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997, and have accumulated sixteen Grammy nominations, with nine wins.To accompany the tour, Warner Music Australia will release the Mythology Box Set on October 5th.For complete tour and ticket information, visit About Live Nation Entertainment: Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world's leading live entertainment and ecommerce company, comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster.com, Live Nation Concerts, Front Line Management Group and Live Nation Network. Ticketmaster.com is the global event ticketing leader and one of the world's top five ecommerce sites, with almost 27 million monthly unique visitors. Live Nation Concerts produces over 22,000 shows annually for more than 2,300 artists globally. Front Line is the world's top artist management company, representing over 250 artists. These businesses power Live Nation Network, the leading provider of entertainment marketing solutions, enabling nearly 800 advertisers to tap into the 200 million consumers Live Nation delivers annually through its live event and digital platforms. For additional information, visit For media information please contact: . ©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved. By Liz Raftery, daughter auditioned on Wednesday's episode of , and vowed to not use her father's name or connections to give herself an advantage.But as soon as the 19-year-old walked on stage in San Francisco and introduced herself (as "Sophie Tweed-Simmons"), perked up. "That's where I know you!" she said, pointing. "You're Nick's sister ... Gene Simmons' kid."Whoops.Tweed-Simmons' face fell as the rest of the judges panel-- , and -- confirmed that she was, in fact, the child of the legendary lead singer of ."It's hard," she said of her family connections before her audition. "It's a big shadow. I really just want to step out of being the daughter of the guy from KISS. I want to be my own person, and hopefully this is a way to just show the world who I am."Tweed-Simmons received tepid feedback after her rendition of Adele's "Make You Feel My Love," but made it through the auditions with three yesses. (Reid was the only holdout.)She'll have at least one fierce competitor. Vocal coach Tara Simon shot dagger eyes at Tweed-Simmons in the backstage area and was filmed talking to other contestants about how she only made it through because of her father. Simon made it through with four yeses, but not before Simon told her to "shut up and start singing" in the middle of her overconfident introduction.Elsewhere during the night, Providence, R.I., proved to be a goldmine, with the unanimous "Yes" votes having to be rolled into one long montage as singer after singer wowed the judges. Highlights included Arin Ray, 16, who competed in Season 1 of the show as a member of the group InTENsity. Ray performed an original R&B song called "Count on Me," and received four emphatic yeses from the panel. "I don't know what's happened to you in the last 12 months, but something's definitely happened, because you're a different person," Simon told him.And then there was Changyi Li, an unemployed 52-year-old who's lived in America for 14 years. In her pre-performance interview, Li said she wanted to be a "superstar" like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston or Lady Gaga. For her song, Li chose Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" and delivered a version that left audience members looking like they would rather be ... well, on a sinking ship. "The good news is ... if they ever remake the film, you could replace the iceberg," Simon told her, before sending her off the stage with four nos.Wednesday was also the Night of the Heartthrobs, with 20-year-old janitor Nick Youngerman prompting Britney to get out of her seat and dance during his performance of "Ice, Ice Baby," and 16-year-old Austin Corini already being approached by girls asking for his autograph (and a hug) in the contestant waiting room. After giving him a fourth yes, however, Cowell told the blonde, mohawked Corini that he'd have to rely on more than his looks if he's going to make it to the finals. "You've got to be remembered not for your hair, but for your voice," Cowell stressed.And the night ended on a cliff-hanger, with enthusiastic contestant Trevor Moran, 13, appearing to pass out on his mother's lap just before his audition-- after killing time in the waiting room by making an online video with another hopeful dancing and lip-syncing to "Call Me Maybe." Whether or not he'll actually make it on stage will be revealed when the live auditions continue on Thursday's X Factor, at 8/7c on Fox.View original at Related Articles on TVGuide.comOther Links From TVGuide.comLOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Lionsgate has bought the distribution rights to the Toronto buzz title "Imogene." The sale was announced on Monday at the Toronto International Film Festival by Lionsgate President and COO Steve Beeks, and Roadside's Co-President Howard Cohen. With the film, the indie darlings, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini ("American Splendor") return to the world of dark comedy with a Saturday Night Live star as their lead. Kristen Wiig plays Imogene, a once promising young New York playwright whose potential has fizzled, thanks to a crippling crisis of confidence. The film will be a joint theatrical release by Lionsgate and partner company Roadside Attractions. It is the first film produced by Celine Rattray ("The Kids Are Alright") and Trudie Styler under their Maven Pictures banner, with Alix Madigan and Mark Amin. Michelle Morgan, an SNL pal of Wiig's, wrote the screenplay.30th Free IVF Donation Marks Anniversary of Fertility Clinic’s Charitable InitiativePRWeb– to couples/individuals who have a medical need for it. The seminar will be held at Spring Valley Hospital and will begin at 6:00 PM.The Giving Back initiative was officially established in 2009, but Sher Fertility Institute doctors have been donating their time and services through various charitable programs to deserving couples for more than 20 years. The donated IVF treatments are just one component of the Sher Institute "Giving Back" Program, which includes the following components: At this seminar, Dr. Geoffrey Sher, founder and Executive Medical Director of Sher Fertility Institute, will lead a presentation on , diagnosis and treatment options, followed by a question/answer session where he will take questions from audience members. Ray and Leslie Carlisle were recipients of free treatment in 2011. After struggling for two years to conceive, but without the means to pay for IVF, they attended a Sher Fertility seminar in March of 2011. They were drawn as the winners of that night’s IVF donation and they began their treatment in the Summer of 2011. The treatment was successful and Leslie gave birth to a baby boy in April of this year. Leslie was on hand (eight-plus months pregnant) at Sher Fertility Institute’s March 2012 seminar to draw the winning ticket for that night’s IVF treatment. The winners were Scott and Ana Nicolas, who underwent their donated IVF treatment this month and just received the exciting news that Ana is pregnant.Sher Institute has long been a proponent of wider access to fertility treatment for couples struggling to conceive. The Institute donates its services on a regular basis to patients without the financial means to access treatment, which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. The purpose of the seminar is to educate people as to their options for treatment and empower them to make the best decisions for their particular situation. “Everyone deserves to have access to services that allow them to achieve the basic dream of having a family,” said Dr. Sher, “One component of this is the knowledge and empowerment to take charge of their own treatment, which we try to provide at these seminars. The other component is the financial aspect. Since many deserving couples don’t have the means to pay for treatment out of pocket, we are happy to be able to donate treatment to a number of those couples.” Fertility treatment has been in the media spotlight recently with celebrities like Khloe Kardashian, Celine Dion and Giuliana Rancic struggling with infertility. But while stars may not flinch at the $15,000+ price tag of IVF treatment, the cost puts it beyond the reach of most average couples. It was these couples that the Sher Fertility Institute had in mind when they created the Giving Back initiative. For more information on the seminar, please visit the Sher Fertility Institute website at . About the Sher Fertility Institute The Sher Fertility Institute is a national network of fertility clinics focused on leading-edge medicine, ongoing research, and compassionate, personalized care. Founder Geoffrey Sher, MD opened the first private In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) clinic in the United States. Dr. Sher and his colleagues have been influential in the development of dozens of important breakthroughs in the field of reproductive medicine. Over the last thirty years, Dr. Sher and the Sher Fertility Institute have donated IVF treatments to hundreds of couples from all over the United States.Lisa Stark/Director of Communications Sher Fertility Institute 702-374-1573 Copyright © 2012 Yahoo! Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Yahoo! News NetworkABBA's Agnetha Faltskog planning comeback with Britney Spears' lyricistBy ANI ANI– on Twitter andDiscover Yahoo! With Your FriendsExplore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.Agnetha Faltskog, one of the former members of Swedish pop band Abba has returned to the recording studio after more than eight years of musical silence.Her spokesman, Staffan Linde, said the 62-year-old is working alongside Swedish songwriter Jorgen Elofsson who has previously penned and produced tunes for megastars including Britney Spears, Celine Dion and boy band Westlife.He could not say when the new album will be released.After Abba split in the early 1980s, Agnetha pursued a solo career for a few years, but then went into a music hiatus for most of the 1990s.Her last album, My Colouring Book, contained cover songs and was released in 2004.[ [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], '27013743', '0'],[ [['keyword', 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ]][ [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], '27013743', '0'],[ [['keyword', 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ]]For her performance as Jane Bingum, a brilliant, thoughtful but shy lawyer, with the spirit of Deb Dobson, a vapid, outgoing model wannabe inside her in the beTV hit series Drop Dead Diva, Brooke Elliot has received the 2010 Gracie Award for Female Rising Star in a Comedy Series and been nominated for a 2011 PRISM Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Series.“Very challenging,” admitted Elliot in a recent tele-conference with Conversations (the only Philippine newspaper participating) together with journalists from three other Asian countries. “How did the two characters get inside one body? Well, through a heavenly mix-up,” added Elliot with a laugh, thankful that the series gives her a chance to showcase her singing talent.The fourth season of Drop Dead Diva started airing last Monday, Oct. 1. Stay tuned for more exciting surprises. Among the guest stars are Kim Kardashian, singer Ian Gomez (of Cougar Town), singer Brandy Norwood and Serena Williams.Born on Nov. 16, 1974, in Minnesota, Elliot graduated from Western Michigan University with an AB Fine Arts (in musical theater performance) degree. She has starred in the Broadway musical The Pirate Queen (from the writers of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon) and Taboo (composed by Boy George and produced by Rosie O’Donnel), and was also included in the national tours of Beauty and the Beast and Wicked (original cast). Before Drop Dead Diva, she was featured in an episode of the TV series Law and Order: Trial by Jury and did a cameo in What Women Want (with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt).How’s Deb Dobson so far?“She has spent so much time thinking about how to get her old life back and how everything in her new life is pretty unacceptable to her. And we see her through Season 2 and 3, and definitely 4, she really begins to embrace who she is and that life. The only thing that really drags her back a lot is Grayson (Deb’s fiancé played by Jackson Hurst). Other than that, she embraces this new life she’s in and she finds herself beautiful. She finds herself excited about being a lawyer and getting to live this life. It’s fun through the seasons to watch her kind of learn self-acceptance.”Can you discuss further details of this season particularly about the love angle and the interesting cases that we are to see?“This season is a lot of fun because there comes a little bit of a love triangle between Grayson and Owen (Jane’s new beau played by Lex Medlin of Southland), the judge and Jane. Jane isn’t aware of any of this. It’s the first time that we’ve seen Grayson pining after Jane, which I think is really fun. We spent three seasons watching Jane come to or pining over Grayson who doesn’t really know that she’s there. So, it’s kind of fun to have Grayson looking at Jane and have Jane not even noticing because she’s with Owen. It causes a lot of drama. There are great court cases as we always have so many great ideas. We have a woman, who eats her fiancé’s ashes — that’s kind of a crazy one but it’s really interesting. I think people are just going to love Season 4 because it’s a lot of fun.”Is your role in Drop Dead Diva more challenging than the previous ones and which one of the two personalities, the lawyer or the wannabe-model, do you identify with? “It is more challenging than any other role I’ve played because of how specific it is and how detail-oriented the play of character. The character really played close attention to what would she know, what she doesn’t know, how much is Jane influencing her behavior right now, how much is Deb completely taking over. That is actually my favorite part of playing the role — it’s that challenge involved which I never had that opportunity in my previous job. It’s a lot of fun.“I guess I would say that I am a little bit of both which is probably helpful in playing the role. There are certain things that I can identify with Deb. I can identify with her girly-side, the make-up and the hair and clothing, that sort of thing. But her shallow and self-involved side, I’m not really identifying with. And then, Jane, I can understand being good in school. I can understand having moments of insecurity. I think we all have moments in our life that we go through that. I can understand both characters and I take that as a blessing because that helps me play the role.”When you get your scripts, I mean in relation to the lady who eats the ashes of her late husband, are you still surprised by the ideas that come up?“Certainly, I’m surprised. You know the eating of the ashes, I was shocked like, ‘Oh goodness,’ which I would think that the audience felt the same way because it’s a shocking story. I am sometimes shocked by them and sometimes even moved by them.”Obviously, you’re such an inspiration to a lot of women out there, have you ever felt pressured to change your work and what drives you to push on to stay the way you are? “Yeah, I felt pressured. I don’t think you can be a woman in this society without feeling that pressure. If there is someone, I’d love to meet them. I don’t think any of us can escape the magazines, and the pressure and what we’re told we’re supposed to be especially when I was younger. I tribute a lot to my parents; they gave me such a great sense of worth but that doesn’t mean I haven’t struggle with the pressures. It’s that somehow, deep down inside, they have given me a sense of worth and that I’m great the way I am.“I think women receive so much pressure; it makes me want to fight for their right to be who they are even more. I feel like women are up against such a tight thing sometimes. We’re constantly told that we’re just not good enough, we’re not fit enough, we’re not pretty enough, not smart enough or not good enough mothers. It’s constantly that message that’s just being given, and so, what I love playing about this role is that finally I get to be part of a message that is sending positivity to them saying, ‘You are great, you are wonderful, just be happy, live your life and you have every right to do that.’ So, I love that. Hopefully, I am being part of the positive as opposed to the negative.”For those who haven’t watched the previous season, do you think they would still be able to enjoy this season? What will you say to people asking why they should tune in to this season? “I think those who haven’t watched the previous season can still enjoy it. We recap what happened in the beginning of every episode. So, you get filled in on the character that I’m playing — a model inside a lawyer. I definitely think that people can jump right in with what’s really great about this show. Hopefully, they would fall in love with the characters as quickly and easily as everyone else. We have such great characters. I think they’d be pulled in with the comedy of it and by how heartwarming it is as well. That’s also why I love the show. We have this beautiful heart-warming moments that will bring you to tears and then we have these great physical comedy moments that people would love.”Which of the two characters do you think would men find more attractive — the lawyer or the wannabe-model? And if you ever get mixed up in real life, who would you like the other personality to be and why?“I hope that men would be attracted to the new Jane. I think she is confident, sexy, beautiful, kind, loving and strong which I think are wonderful qualities. I don’t know if you’re asking about what body types. I’m assuming men would be attracted to different types of body. I think Deb, before she was in Jane’s body, had a lot of unattractive qualities. I think she was quite shallow and close-minded and she never fought for anything because she didn’t have to because everything came quite easily for her. To me, that’s not that attractive, but I don’t know what men would say.“I think that Deb and Jane’s body is a beautiful woman. I think Jane, before she had Deb in her, just didn’t have the confidence to know that she’s beautiful. Beauty is not just in whatever physical. It’s about how you feel about yourself. It is how you see your own beauty — your physical beauty and inside beauty. I think that’s what makes Jane and Deb’s body so beautiful that she does see how beautiful she is.” How was working with Kim Kardashian? If Lady Gaga showed up on the set, how would you react? “Kim was very nice on the set. I didn’t work with her as much because she worked more with April Bowlby (who plays Stacy) but she was very kind and very low maintenance which was lovely. Most of them I know who’s coming. Sometimes I get so in the peak of shooting, I won’t realize that someone is playing a role until that day.“If Lady Gaga showed up on the set, that would be amazing. She is amazing. I think she is fantastic. I think she is smart and creative and she’s so good at what she does. I would love to have her on our show.”You were on Broadway before this. Do you have any plans of returning to Broadway?“I’d love to. We always have our eyes and ears out. You know looking for the right part and the right timing. I am a real believer that things come along exactly when they’re supposed to. I’m just hanging tight until the right project comes along.”Jane looks so chic and confident. Do you share this same fashion forward sense? What is your own fashion sense? Maybe you could share with us some brands that you know? “I’m pretty casual, in my own life. I’m like in jeans, a T-shirt and some boots. I love that the winter is coming and the fall. I’m a fall and winter girl. I don’t care for summer wardrobe. I love jeans, boots, a sweater, a T-shirt or little jackets. I love stuff like that. I don’t shop at high-end places that often. I’m a real Target girl — Banana Republic and Gap, even Old Navy. I’m really kind of casual in my own style. I don’t really wear a lot of what Jane wears. She wears a lot of business suits and that’s not quite my style.”You started singing at the age of three, would you remember the first song you ever sang and who are the musical influences in your life?“The first song that they had me record is You Light Up My Life. When I was growing up…I’ve said this before…I thought I was going to be Barbra Streisand. I’d love to be Barbra Streisand! I thought I would just grow up to be her. She was a big influence. Even Whitney Houston was. She’s so amazing. I’m attracted to the sound of a big voice — Celine Dion with that big voice. But yes, Barbra Streisand mainly.”Drop Dead Diva boasts of a talented cast. Who’s the biggest diva among them?“Oh gosh, I don’t even know how to answer that.” (Laughs)(E-mail reactions at You may also send your questions to For more updates, photos and videos visit or follow me on ) - CONVERSATIONS With Ricky Lo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com) There was a new dawn in fashion today in Paris; a new era of proportion, led by the house of Celine, whose latest collection was the freshest take on modern dressing seen so far this season - a poetically evocative affair. In fact, Celine's creative director, Phoebe Philo, has become the most important women's designer capable of creating both sought after runway clothes and accessories while also seriously addressing women's practical needs. As is her wont, Philo gave each guest her mood board, a carefully selected catalog of interior photographs mostly culled from Casa Vogue and the World of Interior telegraphing her cocooning frame of mind. A melange of hippie Victoriana and decayed modernism, they elegantly illustrated the mysterious connections in Philo's imagination. The show, on Sunday, Sept. 30, was also all about the new sense of proportion seen across Paris runways - displaced oversized pockets or chess piece shaped tuxedo dresses and coats. Celine's new voluminous one button blazer had an intriguing '70s air and certainly lots of room to hide a baby bump or some extra pounds. And, to inject fashion buzz, there were lots of couture knots, most memorably in twisted knot blouses. And by knots we mean football sized versions in silk or leather, used in cool, intriguing blouses. "It's a about femininity, being gentle and support. Yes, support is really key, as I was having a baby when making this collection, and support means a lot then," Philo said backstage. One thing is for sure, this is the first runway in which a Baby Bjorn to hold an infant has served as inspiration for one of the world's most anticipated runway shows. Apart from making trendsetting clothes, Philo is also delivering in the accessories department. In a season when shoes seam to be the new handbags, she put Birkenstock-like shearling sandals in black and purple mink pumps on her catwalk, which are sure to be a bestsellers. Coming from a designer who has taken her bow in New Balance sneakers before, this is a statement from a woman who knows how to give comfort to her customer. But not only women would like to have these well-tailored luxury clothes. There have been rumors that a men's line is in the planning as soon as Philo can devote more time to the project after just having had her third child.MONTREAL - Celine Dion saluted the victims of Quebec's election-night shooting by opening a benefit concert Monday night in their honour.Dion, Arcade Fire and Ben Harper headlined a show at the Metropolis in Montreal — the same venue where Denis Blanchette was fatally shot on Sept. 4."I want to offer my sincere condolences to Denis' whole family," an emotional Dion told the crowd before singing the first song of the show.Funds raised from the concert supported a trust fund for Blanchette's young daughter.The 48-year-old lighting technician was killed when he was struck by a single bullet at the Parti Quebecois victory rally.Donations were also collected for Dave Courage, the other man hit by the same bullet.After her song, Dion touched her heart and waved to loved ones of the shooting victims, who watched from balconies above the stage.About half a dozen other Quebec musical acts performed after Dion.Premier Pauline Marois also attended the concert.Marois was giving her victory speech on the Metropolis stage when Blanchette and Courage were shot outside the venue — just metres away from her.A man arrested in connection with the shooting is to reappear in court on Oct. 11.Richard Henry Bain faces 16 charges, including first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and arson.[ [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], '27013743', '0'],[ [['keyword', 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ]][ [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], '27013743', '0'],[ [['keyword', 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ]]NEW YORK, N.Y. - Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Usher will pay tribute to the late Whitney Houston in a one-hour TV special."We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston" will tape Oct. 11 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live and will feature performances by Dion, Hudson and Usher. It will air Nov. 16 on CBS.The Recording Academy announced Thursday that the special will also include Houston's "most memorable performances" and interviews with various artists. More performers will be announced.Tickets for the event go on sale Thursday.Houston died at age 48 in February. Authorities called her death an accidental drowning, complicated by heart disease and cocaine use.The compilation album, "I Will Always Love You - The Best of Whitney Houston," will be released on Nov. 13. Céline Dion performs her job quickly and professionally to make time for her children.The French Canadian singer is mother to 23-month-old twins with her husband René Angélil.Céline headlines a Las Vegas show currently and when she gets offstage she goes straight back to her abode to care for her tykes.“I come here [to Caesars Palace], focus and do my job as professional as I can and go home to be a mom as quick as I can,” she told Extra.Being a judge on a TV talent competition does not appeal to Céline.She’d much rather be hanging out at home with her children in her pajamas.“I do love sweats, yes, but I love fashion a lot as well… on my days off I like to be in my PJs as long as I can,” she explained.“[I have thought about] being with Mariah Carey and doing something with her, yeah, definitely, but to join American Idol and be a judge kind of thing… no. I have too much on my plate… and the time off I have, I’m not looking for a job. I really want to be home with my kids.” © Cover MediaCéline Dion, Arcade Fire to head benefit for PQ rally shooting victimCBC– Elizabeth Olsen says her sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley always looks “awesome”.The 23 year-old actress discussed what it is like to be related to the twins behind couture fashion label The Row, as well as the Elizabeth and James, Olsenboye, and StyleMint collections. Elizabeth is in awe of the stylish pair."They have the most amazing wardrobes," Elizabeth explained to British Vogue. "If I borrow something, then they let me keep it. They always look so awesome in everything. And I love wearing The Row. Not every design fits - like any label - but I love it for downtime."Elizabeth is carving out a successful career in the movie industry for herself. The 23-year-old has starred in films Silent House and Martha Marcy May Marlene, and says being recognised for her own achievements has helped her appreciate her sisters’ fashion triumphs. Rather than be intimidated by her siblings’ success, Elizabeth says having the 26-year-old fashion icons as her big sisters is a real bonus. "To me, what they create is as beautiful as Celine," Elizabeth gushed. "I'm still working out the red carpet thing - I'm growing into it. It does help having them around!" © Cover MediaMONTEREY, Calif. — James Cameron, Richard Branson and the His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco were just a few of the stars who came here in support of the world's oceans at last week's biennial Blue Ocean Film Festival, which showed more than 100 films over the course of the week that aimed to bring awareness to the various problems facing the world's seas.The festival ended Friday, with the top award going to "The Island President" () a documentary about President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives. With an average height of 5 feet (1.5 meters) above sea level, the Maldives are and Nasheed is worried about the possibility that his island nation may not exist in the future. The film captures Nasheed's first year in office in 2009 as he tries to convince other countries to act on international climate change agreements. In February 2012, Nasheed resigned the presidency under the threat of violence in a coup d'etat perpetrated by security forces loyal to a former dictator of the Maldives.Other films also went home with prizes as well. "Sea Rex 3D," which visits ocean-dwelling dinosaurs in prehistoric time, won the 3D category, and "Planet Ocean," which used aerial and underwater photography to take audiences on a journey into the heart of the least known regions of our planet, won for cinematography.The summit was also a chance for conservationists and filmmakers to interact with scientists. "This is the perfect storm of bringing together the experts —the doers and dreamers — together with the storytellers," said U.S. Rep. Sam Farr of California. "We have been taking everything from nature and using our knowledge to transform it into things and we throw the waste into the air or the ocean." [Video: ]During a panel about the power of celebrities in spurring conservation action, actor and director Edward James Olmos spoke about a public service announcement he did to ask people to think about, and thank, the oceans."It was so basic; it was so profound, it worked so well. It made everybody that heard it able to do something," he said. Other celebrities in attendance at the panelincluded actress and model Amber Valletta, who is working with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Celine Cousteau, daughter of Jacques Cousteau, who is working to promote the use of glass instead of plastic, which often ends up clogging ocean environments.The film festival also brought out , including Richard Branson's Virgin Oceanic and DeepFlight Challenger, OceanGate's Antipodes, Hawkes Ocean Technologies' Super Falcon, Undersea Voyager Project's Great White, and Discovery's Dual Deep Worker. The vehicles were placed around the Portola Hotel in Monterey, looking like an undersea expedition was about to get under way.A Legacy Awards dinner was also part of the festival. This year, it honored filmmaker James Cameron, who earlier this year, with a lifetime achievement award in ocean filmmaking, as well as Captain Don Walsh, the first man to explore the Mariana Trench, who was honored for a lifetime of ocean exploration. Copyright 2012 , a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Former ABBA member Agnetha Faltskog returns to recording studio, prepares comebackBy The Associated Press The Canadian Press–PARIS (Reuters) - Licking its wounds and rudderless since Socialist Francois Hollande ended its 17-year hold on the presidency, France's UMP party is set to decide between moderate former prime minister Francois Fillon and Sarkozy's youthful protegé Jean-Francois Cope as the leader to return it to power in 2017. The two were confirmed on Tuesday as the candidates in the race to succeed Sarkozy as leader of France's conservatives. While the solemn, bushy-browed Fillon outscores the combative Cope in popularity surveys, his rival appeals to UMP hardliners who lament Sarkozy's fall from grace. Despite his vow to stay out of politics, Sarkozy's influence will loom heavy over a November 18 party vote that will also set the direction for the main opposition party in parliament. An opinion poll by LH2 published on Tuesday found that 43 percent of conservative voters think Sarkozy would have the best chance of regaining the presidency for the UMP in 2017, ahead of Fillon, on 32 percent, and Cope, on 21 percent. "The way Nicolas Sarkozy is looming over this election suggests he is still the boss of the right," said political scientist Thomas Guenole. "All the candidates are positioning themselves in relation to him." Cope, the UMP's 48-year-old secretary general, has mimicked Sarkozy's soundbites and mannerisms in recent weeks, promised to follow his "hyperactive" style, and says he would stand aside should his mentor decide to stage a comeback for 2017. "I have resolutely decided to walk in the footsteps of Nicolas Sarkozy," Cope said on Sunday. He recently told journalists that UMP members "want somebody who is going to jump in and get their hands dirty". Fillon, 58 and also a minister during Jacques Chirac's presidency, says he would be "more serene and pragmatic" than Sarkozy, but nonetheless stays in close touch with him and would seek his support if he wins the party leadership. "I cannot imagine leading the party he helped to develop without his support," Fillon told the daily Le Parisien. SARKOZY STILL BOSS The UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) is under pressure to pull together and present a united opposition front as Hollande pushes through legislation on everything from tax rises to rights for long-term foreign residents to vote in local elections. The party was founded in 2002 as a bid to unify a fragmented right by merging the Gaullist RPR and the centrist UDF parties of former presidents Chirac and Valery Giscard d'Estaing. As UMP leader from 2004, Sarkozy pulled it to the right, in part to stop voters defecting to the hard-right National Front. The tactic helped him win the 2007 election but created a rift with moderates that played to the Left's advantage in May. "The challenge for the right is to position itself behind a charismatic leader who has strong support," said Celine Bracq of pollsters BVA. "The UMP has to win it all back." Fillon and Cope have similar views on economic and European policy and both support more budget discipline and reforms to lower labor costs, meaning their personalities and the degree of their allegiance to Sarkozy will be the defining factors. Tempered in tone and with a hangdog look and serious demeanor, Fillon is often rated the best-liked politician in France. Critics see him as dull, although a motorcycle accident over the summer revealed a racy hobby and he is an avid fan of motor racing, to the point of testing cars on the renowned Le Mans race track. Cope, a more polarizing figure, is a shrewd politician who supporters say has the same bulldozing presence as Sarkozy, but critics say is devious and less likeable than Fillon. Opinion polls tend to show half of respondents giving Fillon a positive personal rating against only a third for Cope. Widespread rejection of Sarkozy's impetuous manner, his hardline stance on immigration and his tax cuts on the wealthy were a key factor in Hollande's election win, but even opponents recognize it will take a strong personality to replace him. (Writing by Catherine Bremer; Editing by Kevin Liffey)PARIS (AP) — True style doesn't try too hard.That was the statement at Paris Fashion Week, alarmingly simple, but proved in a number of ready-to-wear presentations Sunday which heralded a move towards clean, simplified elegance.Celine designer Phoebe Philo — at the top of her game — produced a chic display, effortlessly.Three years after the lauded Briton's Celine debut, she delivered a strong show, which evoked her boho-bourgeois style in soft silhouettes with subtle architecture.Another of Paris' influential designers, Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy, presented a new vision of style Sunday.Again, Tisci channeled a clean look, simplifying the house silhouette in a less elaborate yet sophisticated collection.Hermes — the house of the jet-setting fashion buyer — served up the elegance in its usual cocktail of travel, silk, leather and exotic cultural references.Summing up his show, the house's designer Christophe Lemaire said it represented "a clean, sharp, modernist traveler."Monday's highly anticipated shows include Stella McCartney, Chloe — and the hottest ticket of the week — Hedi Slimane's debut outing as designer for the rebranded Saint Laurent.___CELINESpring is about gentle contradictions, not color, Phoebe Philo seemed to say: Shown through a muted palette of black, white, navy and gray.The real point of the show was the gentle play on contrasting lines, then textures, then form.Loosely hanging silhouettes — often with attention to neck details in high necks, bands and twists — came in column or boxy shapes, with a couple of black A-line tuxedo-dresses for good measure.The gloss of sheeny silks whispered a contrast against matte fabric.Philo has often been noted for her chic "utilitarian tailoring," which she delivers with uncanny ease.Here we saw it used artistically in hemline frays which turned into tassels, and twisted fabric that wrapped round the back sewn crudely together in a lump.It's a style that wouldn't look out of place on Juliette Binoche, for example, who accepted a best-actress award at Cannes in 2010 in custom Celine.The house is right in fancying themselves as Paris calendar's arty side.When fashion insiders asked to see the mandatory program notes, there were wry smiles as they were handed a text-free book of collage pictures.___GIVENCHYTrend-setting designer Riccardo Tisci changed the direction of Givenchy's ready-to-wear Sunday.He simplified the silhouette to a more flattened and spread out front-and-shoulder emphasis in 37 black, white and gray looks.A strong voice in the fashion conversation, Tisci's tailoring influences designers far and wide.Last spring, for instance, he brought back the peplum.Now, hardly a collection goes by without one cropping up.The wilder bondage-gear touches that added spice to last season's equestrian-inspired trip, were gone here, in a less elaborate display — but which had its moments of clean elegance.A great feature was the clean, descending ripples in many of the looks which are sure to spread into other collections like wildfire.But for a designer who likes to live dangerously, this more saleable collection— though a departure from last season — felt at times like he was playing-it-safe.___HERMESThe fashion crowd got their summer holidays early — flown first class across a vibrant mix of Polynesian prints and color-rich baroque foulard motifs.Several of the models carried hang luggage. The mascot of the house, after all, is an airborne messenger.The looks stopped off at every fabric under the sun: in full grain leather woven in silk, washed silk twill, plunged lambskin, satin piping and lovely indigo denim linen.Colors too, were diverse in cappuccino, terracotta, sulphur, emerald, cobalt and —the palette's most beautiful — celadon.The flight this season stopped off at the Netherlands and Germany— with tinges of the geometry and graphics of 1930s."I'm a modernist at heart," Lemaire said following the show, hosted next to Paris' Tuileries gardens.This idea was worked into the collection's best looks with a feel of famed Dutch painter Piet Mondrian — who used geometric shapes and blocks of colors that could be seen in several of the final looks.Printed geometric floaty silk blouses and slightly jarring assorted pants made bold statements.They also featured the slight play on masculine styles that Lemaire likes to toy with periodically: A cotton wool cravate appeared on most of the looks as a man's tie, tucked into a hoop.The result was pure luxury, air delivered as only Hermes can.___KENZOKenzo headed back to the Southeast Asian jungle Sunday in a vibrant, fun collection that picked up their last menswear theme: A rainforest trek.After just one year at the helm, the hard work of designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim has paid off: They've managed to re-stamp the brand with a cool, populist edge.But they're serious about their work in other ways too: Fashion insiders had to live the catwalk theme — literally — by trekking to the far-flung venue, the Maison de Judo, on the Paris city limits.In bold — sometimes purposefully garish — orange vermilions and greens, the collection threw up some great wide pants and boxy-shaped jackets as well as a lot of safari-style street wear.Though some of the jungle printed ensembles looked overly busy — a beautiful camouflage print made up for it with images of flowers that looked like leopard.But there was art in the detail too, with the designers showing a flair for tailoring in great utilitarian features._____Thomas Adamson can be followed at http:/ /Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAPIain Sinclair's 6 favorite books about dark journeysBy The Week's Editorial Staff The Week–, is a walking tour through his hometown London and an homage to its vanishing past and its "future ruins."View this article on Get Issues of The Week -  - PARIS (AP) — Coco Chanel once said: "The most courageous act is still to think for yourself."Day five of Paris Fashion Week showed that even today the legendary fashion designer's words ring true.Saturday presented a gold mine of eclectic and individual shows: Each one with a unique stamp of their designer.London-based Vivienne Westwood led the crowd, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, but travelling — as she did — via Japan, Russia, Spain and Africa.Westwood is the only designer on the Paris fashion calendar — or perhaps anywhere — who can cross the globe and several centuries, mixing up Bangkok-style catwomen, Chinese tea prints, tropical cowboys, Velasquez wenches, the Ballets Russes, and still produce a coherent and unified show.Viktor & Rolf, meanwhile, went back to their signature plays on oversized proportion to produce a glitzy show — as they prepare to celebrate 20 years since they founded the label.The epitome of femininity, Cacharel, explored spring through the natural colors of mother nature, in a trademark delicate display.Sunday's shows include Kenzo, Celine and Hermes.___VIVIENNE WESTWOOD"Global exotic," is how English designer Vivienne Westwood described her brilliant and wacky spring-summer 2013 show, hosted on terra mater in Paris' British Embassy.Disparate encyclopedic fashion references gelled together — amazingly — owing to her own, very British, eccentricity.Westwood cited Sergei Diaghilev's "Ballets Russes" — the early 20th century's most famous ballet company — as a key inspiration.The influential troupe used exotic styles with billowing trousers and turbans — which was evoked in many of the baggy globe-trotting looks.One of the nicest looks came in a series of modified Japanese kimonos.One in light gray silk, with wide bateau collar, had fluttering hoop panels that fluttered by.Above all else, Westwood — who's 71 — has lost none of her humor.There was a special guest star — a model portraying Queen Elizabeth II. She clutched a handbag in a crown and demure gray silk dress. In this cameo, unlike in the Olympic Games opening ceremony in which a queen look-a-like parachuted into the main stadium, the model just walked in through the embassy door.___VIKTOR & ROLFViktor & Rolf were feeling reflective, looking back on almost two decades since founding their fashion house, and that was evident Saturday in their oversized spring-summer ode to 70s pleated glamor."We were in a reflective mood..." said Viktor Horsting, one half of the famed Dutch design duo which is approaching its 20th anniversary.Not ones to normally take things quite so literally, the inseparable Viktor and Rolf channeled mirrors in their oversized spring-summer show.The designers, who founded their Amsterdam-based fashion house in 1993, sent models through a reflective tunnel onto a catwalk wearing mainly black, white and silver ensembles that featured blinding mirror appliques on sumptuous silks.Oversized proportion — a signature mark — produced some hits.Giant bows in soft pink and purple were used high or low on the waist to sumptuous effect.But there were some small misses in proportion, too: One tubular floor-length skirt had rose-shaped mirror appliques whose size competed with the model's head.___CACHARELCacharel perfectly captured the fresh mood of spring, in a feminine collection — typical of the popular French house — that brought aquatic life to the catwalk.Free hanging A-line slip dresses and gently flaring peplums and skirts Saturday, floated alongside prints of goldfish skin, anemones and underwater tea flower bloom.This spring-summer 2013 collection was also a celebration of the natural world in its careful palette the Cerulean blue of sky, orange of sea coral and tea green.But perhaps nature is in the house DNA: After all, designer Jean Bousquet who founded the house in 1962, named it after a small, beautifully striped dabbling duck with the same name.Today's designers Ling Liu and Dawei Sun keep these codes, therefore, adding this season a touch of contemporary graphic prints.The gentle blurring made this collection a visual treat.___MARTIN GRANTAustralian Martin Grant is not a household name, but he has a solid reputation in the fashion world and a string of celebrity followers like Juliette Binoche, Kate Hudson and Cate Blanchett.Saturday's clean and on-trend collection proves it's little wonder."I wanted to play with volumes," Grant said backstage, referring to the many looks which had elongated peplums and jacket-skirts, twinned with black shorts — as seen in Raf Simons' show for Dior.Black and navy was used well in A-line with trapeze silhouettes, and accentuated midriffs — one of the big parts of this season's fashion conversation —which nicely nipped the silhouettes.One of the colors of the season, vermilion, was used perfectly as shards of color, or completely covering dresses.___Thomas Adamson can be followed at http:/ /Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP Although the date is set for Latina singer Jennifer Lopez's Philippine concert, talks about "American Idol" Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez's participation in the event remains unofficial.The 17-year-old Filipino-Mexican-American singer is being rumored to be the former "Idol" judge's front act during her concert on Nov. 26 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.Jessica, who was recently in the country with the AI Season 11 Top 10 finalists for the "American Idol Live Tour's" last leg and some endorsements, denied the reports."That's just a rumor," she told ABS-CBN News.While sharing one stage with the "On The Floor" hitmaker will have to wait for now, Jessica expressed that she would love to come back to the Philippines and hold a solo concert for her Filipino fans. "Maybe next time, maybe next year. That would be fun," she said.After more than a week of stay in the country, Jessica headed back to the US to finish her debut album set for release before the year ends. Proud Pinay Meanwhile, Jessica's mother, Editha Bugay, aired her response pertaining to an earlier swipe made by Charice's manager Courtney Blooding against her daughter.Blooding took to the social networking site Twitter to question Pinoys' adulation over Jessica, whom she referred to as a true American because the latter was born to a Mexican father and raised in the US.Mrs. Bugay, who hails from Samal, Bataan, defended her daughter in the same ABS-CBN News interview saying Jessica grew up steeped in a Filipino culture because of her and Jessica's grandmother. "She's half Filipino, half Mexican. But you know she's closer to my family than she is with dad's family. She's grown up in more Filipino culture," Mrs. Bugay noted.While Mrs. Bugay thinks that it's unfortunate to hear Blooding's negative comments, she considers Charice amazing. "You now, she's (Charice) amazing and Jessica thinks she's amazing. I mean, that girl's voice is phenomenal," she said. 'Crazy-Supportive' Pinoy FansFor Jessica, what sets her Pinoy Blujays (term for her fans and followers) from other fans is their sense of support. "Everybody back in States is supportive but everybody here is like major-supportive. They have your back here, I love it."A first-timer in the country, Jessica felt overwhelmed by the number of endorsements she cornered. She added that she didn't know she had a big name in her mother's hometown. And for that, she picked "The Prayer" by Celine Dion as the song she offers to her Filipino fans. "I love that song. I always love that song. It means a lot to me and I think the message goes completely with how I feel about the Philippines," she said. MANILA, Philippines - Editha Bugay has defended her daughter Jessica Sanchez from the deemed swipe that Charice's manager, Courtney Blooding, took against the "American Idol" finalist.In a recent tweet, Blooding questioned Filipino's adulation of Jessica as part of Pinoy pride, pointing out that the latter does not even have Filipino citizenship. "She's half Filipino, half Mexican. But you know she's closer to my family than she is with dad's family. She's grown up in more Filipino culture," Mrs. Bugay pointed out on "TV Patrol," Sept. 25. "It's unfortunate," she said of Blooding's comments. "That's negative, you know."However, to her, Charice is "awesome."She remarked, "You now, she's amazing and Jessica thinks she's amazing. I mean, that girl's voice is phenomenal." Jessica is in the country for the concert of "American Idol" Top 10 and for a few endorsements.The report said that the "AI" runner-up hopes to become an even better singer so that she can make the country proud. She said that her visit in the country would not be her last, noting that she wants to discover more about the Philippines. "And that's what I wanna do, break in as Filipino-Mexican and put us on the map," she said in the episode.Jessica was born in 1995 in San Diego, California to a Mexican- American father and Filipina mother who grew up in Bataan. Although she did not grow up in the Philippines, Jessica considers herself a Filipina.Jessica is also open to working with Charice, the report noted.In a interview aired on "24 Oras" that same evening, Jessica said she enjoyed her stay in the country immensely."Everything has been great - meeting the people, eating the food, even walking outside even for a good ten seconds that I get to. I ain't really been able to explore much because I've been so busy. Usually when I do try to go out it's like chaos," she said."Mahal ko kayo," "mabuhay" and "salamat" are just a few Pinoy words Jessia learned while in the Philippines.Although she is aware that she has a lot of fans in the country, arriving here has felt a little strange to her. She was surprised to learn that she's got a big name in the Philippines. She said it is her first time to have endorsement deals.She was extremely happy to see her first billboard along EDSA. "I mean the billboards here are massive. The size of my shoe on the billboard is the size of a jeepney," she exclaimed. "It's insane and it's so cool. And my mom, she took a picture of it. The first time I saw it, she took a picture of it," she added gleefully.Jessica had done some shopping in the country and she marvels at how the clothes fit petite frames. She will bring along a few of them when she returns to Los Angeles, California to continue the recording of her new album.And if there's one song that she will dedicate to her Pinoy fans, it would be "The Prayer" by Celine Dion."I love that song. I always love that song. It means a lot to me and I think the message goes completely with how I feel about the Philippines," she said. Filipinos love to sing. That's a fact. And for the young and talented, it all starts in the family. American Idol 2012 runner-up Jessica Sanchez is no different. The Fil-Mexican singer started her "career" in music at the young age of two when she would sing "on demand" during family gatherings. "Music has always been a huge part of my life. I started singing when I was two years old, singing Little Mermaid songs. And I know a lot of Filipinos do a lot of karaoke, like all the time. That's how I grew up, on demand, with my uncles and aunts. I know Filipinos love music," smilingly shares the 17-year-old singer. Jessica recently visited the country for the American Idol tour and as well as to be a brand ambassador of the clothing line Bench, along with other international stars like Bruno Mars and Adam Levine of Maroon 5. In the press briefing, she says that arriving here in the Philippines is like coming home. Although it is her first time here in the country, the support she received from her Filipino fans was truly overwhelming. LOVE AND PASSION Jessica was born in Chula Vista, California to Filipino mother Editha Bugay and Mexican-American father, Gilbert Sanchez. She has two younger brothers. At the age of two, Jessica would already sing Disney songs, and had the soundtrack of The Little Mermaid memorized by heart. At the age of four, she would sing powerful belting songs of Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey. By seven, she was already joining and competing in singing contests. At 11 years old, Jessica competed in the first season of America's Got Talent. But her biggest break was competing in the 11th season of American Idol at just 16 years old. She wowed the judges with her audition piece, "You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)" by Aretha Franklin. "As I grew older, I began listening to Aretha Franklin, Etta James. I love singing 'Respect' as a child. And I thought 'You Make Me Feel' was perfect for my tone, perfect for me," she shares. Jessica became one of the favorites during the competition. She was even saved from elimination by the judges at one point, and then went on to be known in the talent show for her notable renditions of Whitney Houston classic "I Will Always Love You" and Jennifer Holiday's "I Am Telling You". She continued her way all the way to the final two in the competition, with Filipinos around the world rooting for her. She finished second, after Philip Phillips was hailed the season's winner."We were all overwhelmed. You guys can't even vote and you still supported us. The fans here are crazy supportive. They have your back here, I love it!" Jessica enthuses.FILIPINO IN BLOOD AND IN HEARTJessica sees herself as a Filipino, in the true sense of the word - from loving music to loving the Filipino food she grew up with. "I can't eat hamburger everyday but I can eat lumpia and pancit every day of my life or just sit and eat rice and sinigang. I love the Filipino food my mom makes at home," she says. She immediately felt the love of her Filipino fans upon arriving in the country. She says that getting all the attention and at the same time getting to work with Filipinos is a completely new experience. "It's been amazing and it's a new experience. This is a completely whole new chapter in my life. I came here not knowing what to expect. It completely opened my eyes and my heart," she says. She says that she would love to explore more of the Philippines and continue to learn about the culture and music. Her visit was all work and she was not able to explore the country, not even get around the city. But she already has plans of coming back in the country. "I've been doing a lot here and I haven't explored the country that much. But what I have seen has made me really want to come back, more and more. Everybody made me feel at home although it's my first time here. There's always a part of me that's Filipino. My grandma taught me things about the Philippines but actually being here is helping me learn a lot more. So I really plan to come back and learn more. I see myself as an artist who is learning more about her culture," Jessica relates. As her dream of becoming a famous performer is slowly coming true, she also hopes to bring the Filipino talent to the fore. "I hope I can put us on the map. In the States, I'm really pushing for my music in the radio so that Filipinos aren't just completely minorities and we can't get into radio. I'm really pushing for us to represent ourselves in the States," she says. Copyright © 2012 Yahoo! Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Yahoo! News NetworkCopyright © 2012 Yahoo! Canada Co. All Rights Reserved. Yahoo! News NetworkMarion Cotillard to Receive the "Hollywood Actress Award" at the Hollywood Film Awards Gala CeremonyPR Newswire–.ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD FILM AWARDSThe Hollywood Film Awards were created to honor excellence in the art of filmmaking, both in front of and behind the camera, and to launch the awards season. The criteria is: recipients are selected to be honored for their body of work and/or a film(s) that is to be released between January 1 and December 31 by an advisory team. In addition, for the recipients of our "film awards craft categories" (aside from evaluating their body of work), our Advisory team takes into consideration the recommendation of their guilds/societies. Last year alone, our recipients received 12 nominations and 5 Oscars. In the last 9 years, a total of 85 Oscar nominations and 32 Oscars were given to our honorees.The Hollywood Film Awards are presented in conjunction with Presenting Sponsor the "Los Angeles Times," Premier sponsors ArcLight Cinemas and Hollywoodnews.com, exclusive Regional Print Media sponsor "Los Angeles Confidential" and trade Media sponsor the "Hollywood Reporter" and "Variety. "Special support is provided by American Cinema Editors - A.C.E., American Society of Cinematographers - A.S.C., The Art Directors Guild - A.D.G., Celebrity Services, The Casting Society of America - CSA, Costume Designers Guild - CDG, Columbia Pictures, Creative Artists Agency, DreamWorks SKG, Entertainment Tonight, Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, ICM, ILM, Motion Picture Editors Guild, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney/Pixar, The Weinstein Company, WME. Wireimage is the Official Photography Agency.Awards Contact: Hollywood Film Awards® Ph: 310.288.1882 433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 600 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 SOURCE Hollywood Film AwardsNo Red Face Formula Cures 2,150 Asian Flush SufferersPRWeb– is beginning to win the attention of Asian alcohol drinkers around the world after recently claiming to have cured over 2,150 red faced Asian flush sufferers.Once thought of as a genetic disorder without a remedy, Asian flush refers to the red facial flushing some people experience after drinking alcohol. With talk of a potential cure now available to the public, it is no wonder that people are curious to hear exactly how the founders of the No Red Face Formula came up with their prevention method."It was a matter of stubbornness and perseverance” said one spokesperson from the No Red Face Formula. “We suffer from the disorder ourselves, but didn’t want to accept the same old worn out advice given to us that it was genetic and had no cure” he continued, “and after a drawn out process of trial and error we finally began to discover ways to alleviate our post-drink redness to the point where it eventually stopped happening altogether.”In a recent survey, the overwhelming feedback was that the disorder caused a significant amount of embarrassment for sufferers when they were out drinking in public. When you consider how fundamental alcohol is in our social and business lives, it becomes more and more apparent how debilitating this disorder can be.“We understand how embarrassing it is” said one spokesman from the No Red Face Formula. “That is why it became our primary motivation to put our anecdotal findings into an easy to follow step-by-step formula so it could be made available to other sufferers around the world” he concluded.Since releasing their formula, the start-up's founders have been contacted by the likes of BBC Asian Network as experts in their field and have also assisted various research companies in conducting clinical trials for Asian flush cures.With the No Red Face Formula leading the way forward for Asian flush prevention, the onus is now on major pharmaceutical companies to recognize the seriousness of this disorder and bring to market a range of medications that remedy what was once falsely spoken of as an incurable genetic condition.Celine Pheonix No Red Face Formula +61401387082 New York is no stranger to making ultra wearable clothes sure to fly off the hangers and this season was no exception.Midriff-baring silhouettes aside, the runway was awash with desirable workwear. NYFW newcomer Katie Holmes and Jeanne Yang of Holmes & Yang summed up the mood with their "easy, timeless pieces that could carry from day to night". Boxy jackets, smart separates, shift dresses and slouchy trousers were designed to lend more consumer appeal than sex appeal - generally Milan Fashion Week's domain. Marc Jacobs sought to give "brutally basic clothes, like the t-shirt a lot of power." Sightings of flat sandals at Carolina Herrera, Ruffian and Victoria Beckham also highlighted this step in a new, less complicated fashion direction.Fall's crisp-edged collars still featured heavily this season on buttoned up shirts and sporty shirt dresses. Designer Philip Lim reinterpreted the trend with colorful patchwork for a look that works from 9-5 and beyond. Edun, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang and Lacoste shows all put a new spin on the white shirt by splicing it with inserts and mesh panels or reworking the proportions, while Peter Som maintained a simple white-collar on a pastel blue shirt dress.Stripes were everywhere. In every imaginable shape and form. Paris-based brand Celine kicked off the trend many moons ago and stripes have still clearly got plenty of mileage left. Marc Jacobs led the way with a collection of heavily striped ensembles. 1960s style, Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol's factory were the designer's inspirations for this collection. 'Beetlejuice gone wild' could describe some of his designs next to Diane Von Furstenberg's boho glam take on the trend: shift dresses featured undulating striped motifs to accentuate the body's curves. They may have had their share of bad press over the years, but horizontal stripes are back in a big way. Classic black/white or navy/white combinations made an appearance in collections by Tory Burch and J.Crew while Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger opted for brighter bands of colour.Fall's moody palette paled into insignificance as designers filled their collections with bright and breezy florals. At Tory Burch and Bibhu Mohapatra vibrant nature-inspired digital prints enlivened the runway while orange was the hottest colour at Narcisco Rodriguez, Carolina Herrera, Alice + Olivia and Jenny Packham. From sunset, coral through to apricot... the sunny hue is shaping up to be the new bordeaux.A kaleidoscopic season indeed! While skirt hemlines yo-yoed at alarming rates, long shorts and the short suit were permanent fixtures on the Spring runway. At NYFW where women's and menswear habitually feature together in the same show, the long and the short of it is that this trend is as big for girls as it is for guys. Oversized and sharply tailored designs respectively sat above and fell below-the-knee at Vera Wang and Richard Chai, while lime, jade green and corn yellow 'short' shorts with turn ups and A-line hotpants ruled at Diane Von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta, Rachel Zoe and Tory Burch. Who said NY couldn't do sexy? CJLOrphan Drugs & Rare Diseases conferencePRWeb– to secure your place now! Alternatively, contact Alternatively Contact Fateja Begum on telephone +44 (0) 20 7827 6184 or email on fbegum@smi-online.co.uk** Healthcare: Uncommon complaints. Financial Times, July 25th, 2012, p.9.About SMi Group The SMi Group is a world leader in business to business information. With nearly two decades in the business, thousands of senior executives from blue chip companies have already benefitted from SMi’s highly targeted conferences, workshops and publications. For more information visit: Sonal Patel SMi Group Ltd 0207 827 6106 On Tuesday, Paris hosts the final leg of international Fashion Week. This season the city boasts a lineup of 94 womenswear shows. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Dior will unveil their eagerly awaited Spring-Summer 2013 collections alongside fashion-forward labels Stella McCartney, Celine and Viktor & Rolf.In Paris, the old adage that claims leopards don't change their spots rings true. However, this season will see two fashion houses mastermind a change of identity. Yves Saint Laurent has morphed into "Saint Laurent Paris". The 'Yves'-dropping was Hedi Slimane's idea. The designer who retired from fashion five years ago will debut at Saint Laurent on October 1.YSL isn't the only one tweaking its label. A name change was also on the agenda for ready-to-wear label Lutz. The brand will now go by the name of Lutz Huelle. Unlike the (Saint Laurent) competition, the German-born designer's decision has nothing to do with breaking with tradition. The designer added his surname in an anti-counterfeiting attempt to make his creations less copyable. A move which only time will tell...Fashion houses Chloe and Akris are set to steal the show as they celebrate huge milestones this season. Their runway shows will be among the most unmissable events of Paris Fashion Week. Easy-chic label Chloe will toast its 60th birthday. Attitudes, a fashion retrospective at the Palais de Tokyo, in addition to Clare Waight Keller's third runway show for the .Swiss fashion house Akris, which will present its S/S13 collection on Sunday, is marking 90 years of fashion design with a beautifully illustrated book. Akris Fall 2012 by author Valerie Steele showcases the label's minimalist approach to luxury with a look at Albert Kriemler's latest collection for Akris.This season, the prize(s) for the quirkiest show venue goes to Anthony Vaccarello, Alexis Mabille and John Galliano. All three designer labels will unveil their visions for next spring at one of Paris's most up and coming haunts - The Cité de la Mode et du Design. With its eye-catching green steel and glass structure and spacious reception halls, the riverside venue has already been a hit with the likes of Manish Arora and Felipe Oliveira Baptista, but also Balenciaga and Comme des Garçons who are the focus of an there which runs until October 7.CJLEvery season, designers seem somehow to mine similar seams, finding fashion gold in the same spots, polka dots, and French knots. This fall was no different, and while Paris's runways witnessed a highly varied set of collections (both stylistically and qualitatively), some clear trends emerged to remark upon.Metallic shoesGiambattista Valli, Viktor & Rolf and Chloé were just three of the brands that placed a heavy emphasis on metallic effect shoes. Shiny heels lifted outfits at the bottom, providing a little spring/summer shimmer, and interplayed well with the metallic elements sprinkled across other garments.A soft touchThis season's shows in Paris saw a softening down of what have at times been rather strict silhouettes. In her debut show at Céline three years ago, Phoebe Philo wowed the fashion world with a collection which pared back any unnecessary detailing. This revitalized minimalism has been the dominant trend in high fashion ever since, and while it has previously grown spikes at houses like Givenchy, it had resisted ruffles. This was the season that Céline balanced out the ascetic attitude and softened their lines a little. Similar trends were present at Balenciaga where there was a gypsy flounce to the bottom of dresses, and Chloé where Claire Waight Keller blew out shoulders with soft volumes.HeadgearAt Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton created extravagant beekeeping-inspired headpieces that riffed on the honeycomb patterning present in her trousers and across beehive tiered dresses. The often experimental Turkish-British designer Hussein Chalayan showed giant sun visors with green plastic screens, one of the more striking touches in a collection which was uncharacteristically simple in its wearability. In the great showdown of the week between Dior's Raf Simons and Hedi Slimane at Saint Laurent, the contrast between the houses was stark. Dior kept things simple with light nets tied around models' heads. Slimane, on the other hand, went all out. Each and every model was tucked away under a giant wide-brimmed hat.Check yourselfAlexis Mabille provided plenty of purple and black gingham in his Paris runway show while there were solid chessboards of the house damier at Marc Jacobs's Louis Vuitton show. The designer mutated the pattern into acid green, chartreuse and lemon yellow before he brought back the classic camel color. Meanwhile, at Dries Van Noten, models wore luxe-grunge checks and tartans in translucent tones, the patterns interwoven with metallic threads.Blood redGiambattista Valli, Valentino, Gareth Pugh and Elie Saab all provided strong collections united by one theme, a sudden burst of crimson. As in Milan, designers showed a range of looks in white or pale tones, before releasing the color. It was a dramatic, and highly effective ruse, especially when combined with sheer or lace fabrics (as at Elie Saab).CamoBold and graphic, this was camouflage that made you stand out rather than fade away. Chloé printed it across a few boxy blouses in fairly muted colors, but it was Felipe Oliveira Baptista who made it more extreme and exciting. The Portuguese designer, who also heads up Lacoste, covered his tailoring in patterns that mixed geometry with graffiti, and cut and pasted it into sharply patchworked dresses.SnakeskinWhile this was even more predominant in New York, London, and Milan, snakeskin remained a big trend in Paris. Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Picciolisent two coats in quick succession down the runway -- one a clear overcoat with studded seams, the following also clear, but striped with sumptuous sections of wild python.Randy Bachman, Sarah McLachlan, Phil Hartman get stars on Canada's Walk of FameBy Nick Patch, The Canadian Press The Canadian Press–The marathon of fashion weeks is now officially over, leaving a trail of 118 shows and 65 presentations over ten days in New York; 59 shows and 22 presentations spread over five days in London; 75 shows and 73 presentations over eight days in Milan; and concluding with the Paris finale which added 111 shows and 36 presentations in nine days to the total. Beyond the favorable number crunching, Paris cemented its status as the world’s fashion capital with daring designs and exquisite style. The first three cities’ fashion weeks hosted an average of two to three shows from key brands per day. In Paris that figure jumped to six per day! Paris still possesses that magical je ne sais quoi that can kickstart trends. While prints, graphic designs, color and white dominated the six weeks of fashion shows, it’s in Paris that black made its comeback under the initiative of Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent. All it took was one show to signal authoritatively that women in black would sweep the fashion world come spring with a range of looks. Like Raf Simons's take on the Bar suit for Dior.Chanel, as always, continued to dazzle everyone with the grandeur of its shows. This time giant wind turbines set up in the Grand Palais were featured in newscasts across the world without overshadowing the collection itself. But other labels with more modest means also managed to make their mark on the fashion world in Paris, including Lanvin, Céline, Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga, Haider Ackermann and Alexander McQueen. Year after year, a host of brands showing in Paris have been deepening their influence like Balmain, Carven, Cédric Charlier and Roland Mouret. Other independent labels continue to hone and refine their signature styles including Véronique Leroy, Hussein Chalayan and Anne Valérie Hash. Young talents such as Julien David, Anthony Vacarello are putting their names on the map, and more commercial brands like Agnès B, Barbara Bui, Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno, Paul & Joe held their own on the catwalks next to the established luxury houses.As for non-French based houses, Italy was represented (Miu Miu, Valentino, Giambattista Valli), as was Belgium (Ann Demeulemeester, Veronique Branquinho) and Japan (Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake), whose labels have long-reaching ties with the City of Light. And for any fashion buyer worthy or that title, no matter their provenance, a trip to Paris is de rigueur. The city's fashion scene has long offered a unique mix of nationalities, harking back to 1845 when Englishman Charles Worth set up shop at 7 rue de la Paix. Paris has since been synonymous with fashion excellence, thanks to the high-quality output of the thousands of petites mains making fashion behind the scenes in the workshops. This season, Paris still managed to raise the bar another notch. Impervious to the recession, Paris put its historical legitimacy when it comes to fashion and luxury on display everywhere this season. Never before have so many historically themed events been timed to coincide wtih Paris Fashion Week. There was the 160th anniversary of the department store Le Bon Marché, the Impressionism and Fashion exhibit at the Musée d'Orsay, the 60-year anniversary party thrown for Chloé, a performance by Tilda Swinton at the Palais de Tokyo, orchestrated by fashion historian Olivier Saillard (the art director of the Galliera museum) and featuring fashion relics such as Napoleon’s ceremonial jacket and an ermine evening collar that used to belong to Sarah Bernhardt, and the Van Cleef retrospective at the Musée des Arts décoratifs... Even the parties reflected the city’s rich history, with organizers playing the retro card rather than opting for the usual lineup of trendy venues: Maxim's for the Tranoï party, Paradis Latin for Anna dello Russo, editor for Vogue Japan. And there’s more to come, with the Bal du Siècle, organized by Galeries Lafayette and Louis Vuitton, ahead of Noël du Siècle (Christimas of the century), two centenary commemorations of the dome’s erection. Paris sera toujours Paris, as the saying goes.Isabelle Lefort has worked as chief editor for publications including Jalouse, BIBA, La Tribune & Moi, and Air France Madame. She currently works with several outlets, notably Buybuy, BFM Business and We Demain.(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp A daughter, first and foremostMaja Salvador broke into the entertainment scene in an almost unconventional way. She was looking for her father, a member of the famous Salvador showbiz clan, and her search landed her on national TV.It is this image of a daughter looking for her roots and her identity that has remained indelible in the minds of showbiz watchers. And today, even as she has transformed herself from a simple lass in high school uniform to being one of the prettiest faces in showbiz, Maja is still, first and foremost, that loving daughter.She says she is the type of daughter who gives everything to her family because she doesn't want them to get disappointed. Her mother, after all, is her best friend in the world."She is the coolest mom, nakakasabay siya sa kung ano ang trip ng generation ngayon and she is very supportive sa career ko," she enthuses.No intrigue in showbiz could shake her, Maja shares, so long as her mom is on her side. "Everytime na may intriga about sa akin, hindi siya nagsasalita pero ramdam ko 'yung presence niya na alam ko na nandiyan siya lagi para sa akin. 'Yun ang importante sa akin," she says.Maja started appearing on TV in 2003 when she was cast in different soap operas and movies like "It Might Be You", "First Day High" and "Sukob". Her first lead role was in the afternoon drama series "Nagsimula sa Puso". Some of her notable performances were in "Impostor", "Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin" and "Lumayo Ka Man sa Akin". In movies, she played the title role in "Thelma," a performance for which she won an Urian Best Actress award.GIVING HER BESTThere is no doubt that Maja is one of the finest actresses of her generation. But her God-given talent does not stop her from further improving her craft in every role that she plays, all this while managing to keep her feet on the ground. "Hindi mo kailangan magkaroon ng attitude kasi 'pag nagkaroon ka nun, lahat ng nasa iyo mawawala, 'yun ang palaging nasa utak ko."Today, more blessings are pouring in for Maja, including a plum role in the new ABS-CBN teleserye "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" where she plays the role of Margaux, a person who has it all but doubts if she deserves the good things that come her way.Maja compares her character to a pair of expensive shoes that is always kept in box. "Pero let's imagine, di ba ako 'yung sapatos na naka-kahon lang, paano 'pag lumabas na 'yun sa kahon niya, ano ang mangyayari?"Maja considers all the people she has had the opportunity to work with as her inspiration. "Lahat ng artista na nakatrabaho ko, lahat sila ginagawa kong inspirasyon kasi bawat artista na nakakasama ko ang dami kong natututunan na talagang nakakatulong sa pag-arte ko," she says.On her ownIn her journey from a simple lass from Cebu to being one of the biggest showbiz celebrities, young actress Kim Chiu has learned to adhere to and apply one mantra in her life -- to live each day to the fullest, to not dwell on the past and not worry about what the future holds."Ang importante sa akin is today and what's happening today, what I have today. I'll worry about tomorrow... siguro bukas na," she says.SIBLINGS TO RELY ON Even as she grew up without the full guidance of her parents, Kim still considers herself lucky with her four siblings from whom she always draws inspiration, strength and worthy life lesson towards maturity. "Kami lang talaga 'yung nagtutulungan sa isa't-isa. They're the reason why I'm doing this," Kim explains. "I've learned to stand on my own, to depend on myself and not on everybody else. Ako lang talaga. It gives me strength and it makes me stronger as a person."But stardom has a price to pay. She doesn't get that much time to spend with her siblings, for instance, so that once she gets a free day on her busy work calendar, she takes the first flight bound for Cebu to grab the opportunity to be with her siblings if only for a day. Her grandmother, who at first didn't want her to enter showbiz, also doesn't want her siblings to stay in Manila."Pag sinabi ng handler ko na wala akong work tomorrow, I'll call the airline right away and book a flight to Cebu so I can get to hang out with them. Dinner out kami and sometimes we go swimming sa isang resort. Tambay lang, chikahan lang," relates Kim, who very much cherishes those rare moments with her siblings.Amid all the bad and troubled times in showbiz, Kim would run to her oldest sister for advice. "Ang sinasabi niya palagi sa akin, hayaan mo na lang sila. Huwag ko raw isipin ang mga bad intrigues or mga hindi naman totoong balita. Basta I should just work hard for the fans, for the people who appreciate me and what I do."Here in the big city, Kim is guided by Star Magic head Johnny Manahan, whom she considers as her second father. "I am grateful for his guidance. He assists me in decision-making and has guided me all throughtout my career," she says.SHOWBIZ SISTERSThe theme of family is so close to Kim's heart, that it is no surprise she is raring to work on "Ina, Kapatid, Anak", her new primetime series in ABS-CBN which tackles family relationships. Kim describes her character Celine as a go-getter and overly ambitious, two characteristics with which she thinks she can very much identify with. "Celine is someone who will do anything and everything for her family, and we're similar in that aspect," says Kim, who is paired anew with young actor Xian Lim.Kim is happy to be doing this project with best friend Maja Salvador. "Para ko nang kapatid si Maja. Kasi kapag may problema ako, isa siya sa mga una kong tinatawagan. Madalas kaming mag-hang out sa mall, shopping and going to the spa," she says. With her life open for thousands of adoring fans to see, Kim says she never succumbs to the pressure to always look good or to be a role model. "I'm not pretending to be anybody else. I'm just being myself. And I'm happy that people look up to me, that they admire me for who I am."At 22, with several projects and successful movies under her name, it might seem like Kim has achieved it all, but the young actress insists that she still has bigger dreams that she wants to achieve. "Sa dream roles ko, gusto ko maranasan maging mermaid, or triplets," she laughs. "In real life, I would like to put up my own business someday. I'm an avid horseback rider so I hope to do that more often too. Basta madami pa. Anyway I'm still young and I'm taking my time and I'm enjoying every step of this journey," she ends. Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Usher are lending their voices to a one-hour US television special honoring Whitney Houston, who died in February at the age of 48, organizers said Thursday.In a statement, the Recording Academy said "We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston" will be recorded at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on October 11 -- eight months to the day after she was found dead in a bathtub in a Los Angeles hotel.It will be telecast on CBS in the United States on November 16. No details were given about international broadcasts.Besides musical homages to Houston, the show will include "never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews" featuring the six-time Grammy winner whose string of hits included "I Will Always Love You" in 1992.Houston was found submerged in a bathtub at the Beverley Hills Hilton on the eve of this year's Grammy awards, which are administered by the Recording Academy.Coronors ruled that she had drowned accidentally after taking cocaine which could have triggered a heart attack. She was buried a week after her death in her native New Jersey.PARIS (AFP) - Bare feet, flip flops, sand, sun and tropical heat: designers brought a generous dose of summer to the Paris catwalks Sunday, matching the glorious sunshine that warmed up day six of Paris Fashion Week.Lebanon's Kayrouz dubbed his latest ready-to-wear line simply "Summertime", sending out his models barefoot down a sandy runway, to the sound of crashing waves and Janice Joplin's classic 1960s hymn to the summer season.Sheltering from the sun under wide-brimmed hats, an elegant gold band circling the head, his models looked cool and comfortable in fluid tunic dresses of black or taupe silk, some slit discreetly on the spine to let in the breeze.For the hottest days, the designer imagined light chiffon dresses cut on the knee in front and curving down to a simple, fluttering train at the back.And for summer days in town, he tucked silk tank tops into roomy cotton pants with a drawstring waist, either sand-coloured bermuda short versions, or long pants in luminous mustard yellow.At Kenzo, the US design duo Carol Lim and Humberto Leon set the scene with a giant video of jungle imagery, superimposed with prints inspired by it.As for their men's line unveiled in the summer, the pair drew inspiration from a recent trip to the rainforests of southeast Asia, bringing back a look they billed as "urban safari".With watertight wading boots and safari jackets, a handful of looks were cut to protect you from a tropical shower. But most looked like what you would slip into for a stroll once the rain had stopped beating down.Like a long green and black dress, its billowing skirt slit high at the front, tied with loose criss-crossed straps at the back.Or a short beige dress, neckline pulled down low over the shoulders, cinched waist and little bouffant skirt.Leopard prints -- jazzed up for the occasion in bright orange or green -- came on a short dress or a long one with spaghetti straps, while tigers winked out from behind leaf jungle prints.Later at Celine -- which like Kenzo is part of the LVMH luxury stable -- the British designer Phoebe Philo had some fun with her footwear, sending out models in flip flops with fluffy fur-lined soles, like a cheeky footnote to the look.Frayed hems, on skirts or dresses, added to the relaxed feel of the sharp-tailored collection, like on an ample-skirted black dress, cut very low at the back, with a triangle of resille at the chest.A leather bolero jacket was matched with rustic linen pants for a summery daytime look, while for evening Philo adorned slender silhouettes with twisted drapes of silk, like a pale lilac stole worn above black pants.Virginal chic was the watchword later as Givenchy unveiled a summer collection of monastic simplicity, demurely chic and deeply luxurious.With a giant church organ in the heart of the venue, and the scent of myrrh in the air, designer Riccardo Tisci -- whose men's line in the summer already had a clerical ring to it -- set up a distinctly church-like scene.Under the watch of hip hop's Kanye West, among the celebrities present, his models stepped out in ballerina chignons, almost nunnish in tops or dresses of layered organza.Black and white dominated, with flashes of baby blue or dove grey, and monochrome dresses were accentuated with vertical flounces on one shoulder. Balloon sleeves were opened up and fastened to the back with gold metal, like angels' wings perhaps.At Hermes, designer Christophe Lemaire created collages of graphic patterns, multicoloured or in fine drawn Chinese-ink style, directly inspired by the house's signature silk scarves.Elsewhere monochrome silhouettes, many of them white, radiated cool elegance, like a short coat or a top in leather so fine it resembled a fabric.Precious leathers came in bold and bright hues, like a crocodile top in emerald or electric blue. A top and leather shorts ensemble came with fine braces and giant pockets as if the model had borrowed an apron from one of the house craftsmen.The Social Express Appoints Celine Saulnier, Ph.D., to Advisory BoardPRWeb–, Celine Saulnier, Ph.D. Dr. Saulnier currently serves as the Clinical Director for Research at the Marcus Autism Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.At the , Dr. Saulnier oversees the development and implementation of diagnostic and clinical assessments for individuals participating in clinical research. Her research focuses on profiles of adaptive behavior in autism spectrum disorders, particularly on the discrepancy between cognitive ability and the application of functional skills to daily contexts and routines.“As a developer of social skills software helping children on the autism spectrum, we’re truly honored to welcome Dr. Celine Saulnier to our team,” said The Social Express president, Jon Cornick.A widely respected leader in autism research, Saulnier is also an Assistant Professor in the Division of Autism and Related Disorders, Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. In addition to her research and scientific publications, she is co-author of the book, Essentials of Autism Spectrum Disorders Evaluation and Assessment.“After dedicating my career to autism research for children and young adults, I was incredibly impressed when I discovered The Social Express,” said Saulnier. “The powerful combination of 3D modeling, animation, and social skills lessons in this award-winning program, results in a tremendous tool that not only teaches social skills to children on the autism spectrum, but also how to apply these skills to naturalistic contexts. This is exactly the type of programming for adaptive social communication that affords our children opportunities for success and independence throughout life.”Saulnier obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center. At Yale, Dr. Saulnier was both the Clinical Director and the Training Director for the Autism Program where she oversaw, conducted, and supervised comprehensive diagnostic evaluations on individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders from infancy through young adulthood. The Social Express is a social skills learning program that uses video modeling, socially valid dialog, original characters, and Hollywood-movie quality animation. Children with autism, ADHD, Asperger’s and other social-emotional deficits find the characters engaging and many ask to use it everyday. Learn more about The Social Express by visiting the website: About The Language Express, Inc. The Language Express™, founded by parents of autistic twins in 2008, is a privately held company based in Encinitas, California. The company develops The Social Express™ and other interactive social learning software. The company’s mission is to help children with ADHD, Autism and Asperger’s to improve their lives by teaching social skills using video modeling. Visit the company at Tina The Language Express, Inc. 619-247-1958 MANILA, Philippines - Two interesting and exciting shows, one drama and the other a comedy, are set to premiere today on GMA Network. These are ''Magdalena,'' with Bela Padilla in the title role, and ''Coffee Prince,'' which marks the return of the Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal love team.To be shown on GMA's top rating Afternoon Prime Block, ''Magdalena'' is a project that Bela looked forward to and was really excited about considering the dramatic impact of the role. As the beautiful Lena, Bela gets the chance to display her versatility as an actress. Bela has three leading men in the series: Ryan Eigenmann as Baron, a rich businessman who will force Lena into his illegal business; Dion Ignacio as Abel, Lena's first and true love; and Pancho Magno as Jet, an aspiring model who will help Lena to get back on her feet but will fall in love with her.Joining them are veteran actress Maria Isabel Lopez, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Irma Adlawan, Allan Paule and Deborah Sun. Completing the cast are Pauleen Luna, Lexi Fernandez, Charizze Solomon, Bodjie Cruz, Prince Stefan, Vivo Ouano,Alvin Aragon, Mayton Eugenio, Chuckie Dreyfuss, Tess Bomb and Mercedes Cabral.''Magdalena'' is under the direction of seasoned actress Gina Alajar. 'Coffee Prince' Pinoy Style The tandem of Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal is back onscreen via the remake of the well-loved Koreanovela ''Coffee Prince'' which replaces our favorite series ''One True Love'' (it ended last Friday) on the Telebabad Block. ''Coffee Prince'' became one of GMA's highest rating Koreanovelas in 2008, captivating the viewers with its engaging storyline, witty dialogues and endearing characters. In the romantic comedy, Aljur plays Arthur, a happy-go-lucky and wealthy bachelor, while Kris plays Andy, a hardworking young woman who supports her mother and sister through her earnings as a tricycle driver. As such, she pretends to be a guy. Also in the cast of ''Coffee Prince'' are Max Collins, Benjamin Alves, Boy2 Quizon, Steven Silva, Fabio Ide, Kim Komatsu, Leo Martinez, Ces Quesada, Ronnie Henares, Tessie Tomas and Ms. Celia Rodriguez. After doing dramatic roles in GMA's rival network, Tessie said she's glad to be doing comedy again.''Coffee Prince'' is under the direction of acclaimed actor and TV director Ricky Davao. • • •Kim-Maja Rivalry Sparks Up Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador, ABS-CBN's Primetime Princesses, are together in the Kapamilya Network's newest family drama series entitled ''Ina, Kapatid, Anak.'' In the much-awaited series, Kim plays the role of a poor but optimistic young girl named Celine.Kim said: ''In our teleserye, the audience will learn how to value their families and how to achieve their dreams. Everything is here - it's a story about family, friendship and sisterhood.'' But she also said ''I've never done a character like Celine who's so loud and talkative!''On the other hand, Maja plays the character of the rich and glamorous woman Margaux. ''All her things are glittering, but eventually, the viewers will discover what's really inside her mind and heart,'' Maja said.Off-cam, Kim and Maja are good friends, but in this series, their roles will spark up rivalry.Also in the powerhouse cast of ''Ina, Kapatid, Anak'' are Xian Lim, Enchong Dee, Janice de Belen, Cherry Pie Picache, Ariel Rivera, Ronaldo Valdez, Pilar Pilapil and Eddie Gutierrez. Directors are Don Cuaresma and Jojo Saguin. • • •Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Oct. 8, go to former child actor Arnold Gamboa, Marissa Albert, lawyer Michael Abundo, Caring Almendras, Gerry A. Sarino, Lily Maliwanag, Brigida ''Veda'' Somera, Mike Raleigh, Bro. Joe Corsal, Dawnie B. Roa, Kim Martillano, Dr. Nehemiah Velasco, Aida Lagarejos and entertainment columnist Allan Diones...What's Everyone Wearing At Milan Fashion Week? MEGA Prints!Grazia–, it's when the major designer buys are displayed and there's no messing when it comes to proving more is definitely more. So we've sifted through hundreds, nay, thousands, of Style Hunter's best pics and worked out that it's prints that pump the life-blood round a fashion gal's heart right now. From Vogue Nippon's Viviana Volpicella in a panda-print suit (yeh, really) to Wonderland mag's Julia Sarr Jamois in striking Celine florals, simply scroll through the gallery above for major fash-piration. Copyright © 2012 Yahoo! Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Yahoo! News NetworkLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Whitney Houston will be remembered in a star-studded Grammy televised concert as well the release of a greatest hits album and a television reality series following the singer's family as they cope with her sudden death. Celine Dion, Usher and Jennifer Hudson were the first performers to be announced by The Recording Academy on Thursday for "We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston" on CBS on November 16. The one-hour event will be taped in Los Angeles on October 11 and will also feature interviews and footage with the late singer, as well as artists sharing their memories of her. Houston's death at age 48 from accidental drowning in a bathtub at a Beverly Hills hotel on the eve of the Grammy awards in February shocked the music world. Authorities deemed her death was also a result of heart disease and cocaine use. The televised special will coincide with the November 13 release of a compilation album, "I Will Always Love You - The Best of Whitney Houston," featuring 16 of Houston's best-known hits and two previously unreleased songs, including a new duet of "I Look To You" with R. Kelly, her RCA record label said. Lifetime television network will also be airing a new series starting on October 17, "The Houstons: On Our Own." It documents Houston's 19-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, sister-in-law and former manager Pat Houston and mother Cissy, as they deal with life after the singer's death. (Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy. Editing by Jill Serjeant and Andre Grenon)

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