Race to the Top on Steroids

EDUCATION: Race to the Top on Steroids

After 10 years, it’s time to revisit former President George W. Bush’s signature domestic policy achievement, No Child Left Behind. President Obama on Tuesday asked for a rewrite of the revolutionary standards-based law. He wants to set a high bar for states and school districts and give local governments more flexibility for achieving those goals.
There’s just one problem. Obama is modeling his education proposal after the current Race to the Top grant program, which is unpopular with Republicans on Capitol Hill. “Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that is more flexible and focused on what’s best for our kids,” Obama said in his State of the Union address, according to the written version of his speech.
Yet GOP lawmakers in charge of this year’s spending bills are looking to eliminate funding for the Education Department’s competitive grant program, which rewards extra money to states that demonstrate innovative ways to boost student achievement. Republicans and other critics of Race to the Top say the government isn’t clear about how it doles out the money and that it is is too dictatorial about the award criteria.
Nonetheless, no one disputes that No Child Left Behind needs some attention. At the very least, lawmakers need to tinker with the fast-approaching 2014 deadline when all states must demonstrate 100 percent proficiency in K-12 education standards. Without any change, school districts across the country will face punitive measures in a few years.
House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline, R-Minn., has said he wants to tackle No Child Left Behind in pieces, preferring to steer clear of a massive, unwieldy rewrite of the law. “My goal is to pull back federal involvement in the day-to-day operation of our classrooms so the innovation and accountability being driven by states and local schools has a chance to succeed, and I hope we can find agreement in Washington to allow that to happen,” Kline said on Tuesday.
Obama is sensitive to critiques about an overbearing federal government, but the administration is unlikely to relax its achievement criteria for the sake of giving more power to states. Still, Obama made sure to state that education reform isn’t “just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals, school boards, and communities.” 

Mr. President Obama Say Tuesday Night

Mr President Obama Say This on Tuesday Night

With four days until President Obama gives his State of the Union address, interest groups have buried the White House with a barrage of unsolicited advice about what they want him to say.

The suggestions come from all quarters — the Mr. Obama’s liberal supporters who are already suspicious of his commitment to their causes, the conservative activists who oppose his policies and independent groups who are urging compromise and conciliation.

Gun control groups want the president to call for restrictions on the size of high capacity ammunition clips. Gay rights organizations say he should talk about bullying aimed at homosexuals. Think tanks believe he should focus on the nation’s debt. Tea Party groups hope he will endorse a repeal of his health care overhaul.

Aides to Mr. Obama remained largely silent on which of those, if any, are likely to make it into the president’s address, which he will give Tuesday night in front of a joint session of Congress.

“The State of the Union is an annual occasion to get a mountain of advice both public and private on what to include in the speech,” said Dan Pfeiffer, the president’s communications director. “A lot ends up on the cutting room floor, but getting all the ideas and sifting through them is a very constructive process.”

The Caucus asked more than 20 interest groups in Washington what advice they are giving the president, either in public or in private. Here’s a sampling of their responses:

Mark McKinnon, No Labels: “President Obama, you have an opportunity in your State of the Union Address to bookend the great speech you delivered in Tucson. We are at a potential inflection point in our politics where we have an opportunity to tone down heated hyper-partisan rhetoric and recognize that our opponents are not “enemies” but people of pure motive who just have a different approach and ideas. Your speech next week can help heal the partisan breach by compelling us all to work together to achieve consensus on the pressing issues facing the country.”

Damon Silvers, policy director for the AFL-CIO: “We need to have an economic recovery that creates jobs and rebuilds the middle class because if we are reduced to competing to cut spending instead of deciding how to compete in the world economy then we are having the wrong conversation. … We also hope that the president will protect and defend Social Security and Medicare, which are crucial lifelines for working families, seniors and the disabled.”

Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women: “I am writing to you with a heartfelt plea to take a stand against Social Security benefit cuts or any other weakening of the program that may be attempted in the new Congress. Will you speak out against any undermining of Social Security in your State of the Union message?”

Edward F. Coyle, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans: “Retirees will be watching the State of the Union address on Tuesday, and they will support President Obama’s call to lower federal spending. But they know that Social Security did not create these deficits and that we cannot balance the budget on the backs of current and future retirees.”

Mark Meckler and Jenny Beth Martin, national coordinators of Tea Party Patriots: “Based on his newfound understanding and respect for the views of the majority of Americans, Tea Party Patriots hopes that he will encourage repeal of Obamacare in the Senate, and then sign the bill and begin to engage in true bipartisan negotiations to solve the nation’s health care problems.”

Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring: “If he fails to address the need to rein in the excessive and economically ineffective deficit spending of his administration’s first two years, anything that he says about raising the debt ceiling should be disregarded.”

Paul Helmke, the president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: “We’re hoping he’s going to say something about gun violence. Here’s a chance for some leadership and some eloquence. He should call for a presidential commission on guns and support for the legislation limiting the size of ammo clips.”

Fred Sainz, spokesman for Human Rights Campaign: “This past year Americans were confronted with the epidemic of bullying against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people that goes on in our schools. The State of the Union address would be an appropriate time for the president to assert leadership on this moral issue and call on all schools to address the problem head on.”

Jim Kessler, vice president for Third Way: “The president ought to make long term economic growth the theme of his State of the Union. He should declare that with the passage of health care reform, America’s 85-year quest to weave a strong safety net is now complete. From there he would describe a clear, tangible, and compelling destination for the nation – that of American excellence. It is a destination where America has the strongest, most vibrant, and most advanced economy on earth.”

Ralph Benko, senior adviser on Economics for American Principles Project: “President Obama must make the case that public funds for essential government services not be used up in paying exorbitant retirement benefits, a trillion dollar problem that news reports show is threatening more than 100 American municipalities with bankruptcy and up to 20 states with insolvency.”

Former Senator Pete Domenici, a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center: “First, he must carefully explain the severe nature of the nation’s debt and deficit problem, showing why it is unlike any other fiscal problem we have ever faced. Next, he should discuss the consequences that may occur if we simply continue to delay facing the problem with concrete proposals. Finally, I hope that he will outline a comprehensive plan of what must be contained in a real debt stabilization initiative.”

Adam Green, co-founder, Progressive Change Campaign Committee: “He should use the State of the Union to draw a firm line in the sand against any reduction of the Social Security benefits that American workers earned, paid for, and do not want to see cut. Then he should offer a progressive vision for creating jobs and fighting for middle class families over big corporations.”

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform: “You should say you recognize that spending $800 billion on stimulus didn’t create jobs. You should say you will bring corporate tax rates down, extend the expensing of business investment, and allow repatriation of overseas assets. These are tax cuts that you and Democrats have endorsed that would have bipartisan support.”

Richard Socarides, president of Equality Matters: “In order to be the kind of transformational leader he can be, he should show the country the way forth on dismantling the so-called Defense of Marriage Act so that the law no longer robs the states of their right to decide the question of marriage, nor deprives lawfully married gay Americans of their federal benefits. That’s the advice I’m giving to all the people I know who might actually influence the speech. If you want to be a leader, this is the speech in which to do it.”

News From: thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

Vanishing On 7th Street Movie 2011

Vanishing On 7th Street Movie Trailer  2011 Release

Vanishing On 7th Street, “Vanishing onto 7th Street”’be used until the end of time as a horror thriller, where those who have remained stumbling around in a dark, deserted city light research against a seemingly eternal night. What of the point of view of an evangelical Christian beliefs, the strict terms of horror film needs a better villain.

Logic does not interfere with the attributes of a bloody horror film, but the public wants to understand the basic rules. This darkness, containing voices whispering and shadows, probably those who disappeared during the abduction, conquers souls alike.

The only rule seems to be someone clutching all sorts of light, a flashlight or even a match, is spared. Sometimes. Lights on and off willy-nilly if nothing is certain. And, really, how many times can you have characters journey and lose control of torch without prompting laughter?

When “Vanishing” hit theaters, the audience may already have gone small and since the magnet will be available upon request six weeks before.

The film, directed by Brad Anderson, proudly proclaims it was shot entirely in Detroit, probably because it is a great American city center that can watch and depression desert without too much effort by a film crew.

After a few wide shots of abandoned streets and damaged cars after a power outage, the film quickly retreats into a single, a tavern with the name of ridiculous “Happy Hour” Sonny, where four terrified survivors nestle against the dark miasma.

This is a slick TV journalist (Hayden Christensen), a physiotherapist (Thandie Newton) lost her baby missing, a projectionist (John Leguizamo), the projector saved him and a young (Jacob Latimore) saves his mother’s bar.

The city’s infrastructure has collapsed and the daylight hours grow shorter precipitously. Meanwhile all the characters often scream and shout if the seat was as much mental as physical. And while it is the survivors continue to run the jukebox with its old fine collection of rhythm and blues, it takes forever to realize they are running the generator of the tavern, their only source of light.

Anthony Jaswinski script focuses on the shock and terror on religious issues, although the role of a church in the neighborhood of the savings of characters and a little chatter about guilt and destiny ensures that these issues are not completely fade into obscurity. The film is designed more to tease the audience as the edges of darkness creeping ever closer to its few characters.

Anderson provides a number of style and energy in his direction. But the threat is too amorphous and people disappear, leaving behind only a pile of clothes for their existence on Earth, with no real horror. Indeed, if not removed, their disappearance should not be cause for celebration?

As the film ends on a note very flat, it is possible that the filmmakers themselves never quite understood what this threat to humanity omens. Never go in the direction of a film of alien invasion, “Vanishing” fails to establish even an M. Night Shyamalan feeling of dread. A cloud of darkness creeping sensitive along the streets may be obscured already photogenic, but it’s not exactly a bad guy you love to hate.

Vanishing On 7th Street Movie Trailer

News From: usspost.com

Comcast's local-news On the Media

On the Media: Comcast's local-news pledge rings hollow

Given the hucksterism that qualifies as reporting in the 'public interest,' don't expect much improvement at KNBC-TV after the latest media mega-merger.

Among the many promises made in its just-approved takeover of NBC Universal, Comcast Corp. pledged to sustain and even add hundreds of hours to the news and public affairs programming at the 10 TV stations NBC owns around the country.

As a baby step in the right direction, NBC should start by putting in the garbage-disposal all those no-calorie "news" segments about, for example, "The Biggest Loser," "Law & Order," "America's Got Talent" and movies from Universal Pictures. Convert those time slots, instead, to some meat and potatoes coverage about what's happening in our neighborhoods, our schools, our city halls.

Not that there appears to be the vaguest hope that the news savants at NBC will ask local stations to back away from shameless hucksterism. That's the stock in trade across the television networks when it comes to using the news to pump up other corporate properties.

If you want to see Exhibit 1 that NBC's local stations don't have a clue about what constitutes real news, take a trip out to KNBC's headquarters in Beautiful Downtown Burbank. There, like at other FCC-licensed stations, you have the right to eyeball the "public file."

The file includes all sorts of interesting morsels but most importantly — for these purposes — a listing of the news programs that the stations consider serve the public best.

What makes you want to laugh (or is it cry?) are some of the stories listed under the report titled "Quarterly List of Programming Providing the Most Significant Treatment of Community Issues." In the last three months of 2010, there was a segment from Sept. 16 called "A giant inflatable gorilla has been stolen from a Simi Valley Kia dealership." Or this from Dec. 15: "KISS vocalist Paul Stanley has a second career as a painter."

Then come the multiple line items listing KNBC stories that shill for NBC's prime-time lineup, at least a handful for "The Biggest Loser," the same for "America's Got Talent," a couple of pieces on "Law & Order Los Angeles" and a story on the finale of the a cappella singing competition "The Sing Off."

But NBC Uni owns a lot of things. So don't just pimp your TV offerings. You've got theme parks too. In September, viewers saw about three minutes on the 11 p.m. newscast, according to the log, on the opening of "Bates Motel: The annual Halloween Horror Nights attraction" at Universal Studios. An anchor assured us it was a "great time" and weatherman Fritz Coleman called it "the best haunt in town."

And your Universal Pictures division has movies. So there's not only a story about "The Dilemma," the recent Ron Howard pic about a couple of buddies and marital trouble, but one hawking a title from Universal's film library. The public surely is well served by that story on the 25th anniversary of "Back to the Future," now available from Universal Home Entertainment! And for the 30th anniversary? Perhaps a half-hour "Special Report."

If this ranks among the "most significant" treatment of community issues, you would hate to see the worst, wouldn't you?

To hold an FCC license, stations like KNBC agree that in exchange for the use of the precious and finite public airwaves they will operate in the "public interest." That means airing programs that are "responsive to the needs and problems of its local community."

The helpful people at KNBC will lead you to a file drawer jammed with quarterly reports, dating back more than a decade, documenting its compliance with these rules.

In addition to the faux public service offerings promoting NBC Universal products, the bulk of the listings are for legitimate or semi-legitimate news stories. I found notations about political stories, piles of crime reporting and, for example, investigative reporter Joel Grover's look at how some local farmers markets aren't so local, or so organic.

As part of its union with NBC, Comcast has pledged to add 1,000 hours of news and public affairs programming a year across the 10 stations that it owns and operates, including KNBC. That would break down to just 16 minutes per day per station, according to public interest groups.

The company hasn't said how it will fulfill that obligation, or how anyone could really measure it, given the unspecified starting point for that kind of programming. Still, some who work inside KNBC think that the station will meet its portion of the obligation via a soon-to-be-launched digital news channel called California Non Stop.

The people I talked to, who didn't want to be named for fear of losing their jobs, predicted the California Non Stop programs would not reach nearly as many viewers as the mother station, KNBC. They said the lineup of shows on the drawing board — with names like "The Mix," and "the Rundown" and "Foodies" — will be fluffy, advertiser-friendly fare.

Another person inside KNBC defended the new programming, as well as the story choices that KNBC makes every day. "The lion's share of what we do are things that are substantive to the local market," said this individual, who declined to be named while the Comcast deal is pending.

I don't want to be a cynic about the chances of local news coverage improving under Comcast. But less than a year ago, USC's Norman Lear Center released a study showing that all Los Angeles' TV news stations manage an average of just 22 seconds of local government coverage for every half hour of news they put on the air.

And we're talking about the station, KNBC, that pushed into infotainment overdrive so aggressively that the previous news director hired one of the "Real Housewives of Orange County" to report a story on federal credit card rules. (That show is on Bravo, an NBC Uni cable channel.)

There has been lots of blather about the FCC imposing reporting requirements and other provisions to assure that the latest media mega-merger will not lead to a further diminution in the news.

If you believe that, think about this: The KNBC log book, chockablock with listings of promotional stories, was an earlier FCC device, designed to assure a flowering of broadcasting in the public interest.


News From: www.latimes.com

Soderling, Murray cruise, Clijsters marches on

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Robin Soderling and Andy Murray served up reminders that there are more than two contenders for the men's title at the Australian Open with dominant third-round victories on Saturday.

While a Melbourne Park bathed in sunshine awaited the much-hyped encounter between world number one Rafa Nadal and local teenager Bernard Tomic, fourth seed Soderling and fifth seed Murray joined defending champion Roger Federer in the last 16.

Kim Clijsters also continued to glide through the women's draw even if the Belgian admitted she was not at her best in her 7-6 6-3 victory over Alize Cornet, which spoiled the Frenchwoman's birthday.

"You never play a whole tournament playing your best tennis and you have to also work for it," said the three-times U.S. Open champion. "I think that's what I had to do today."

Sam Stosur was later unable to raise her game to keep alive her dreams of ending Australia's three decades without a local champion, the fifth seed crumpling to a 7-6 6-3 defeat to Czech Petra Kvitova on Rod Laver Arena.

Murray, who knows a thing or two about the weight of home expectation from his Wimbledon experiences, was clinical in his 6-1 6-1 6-2 dismantling of Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

"It was good," the Briton, who lost to Federer in the final here last year, said after the 82-minute contest.

"Obviously, it was a quick match. Served well. Hit the ball clean from the back. That was it."

Soderling's 6-3 6-1 6-4 trouncing of Czech qualifier Jan Hernych took longer but was equally comprehensive. Both he and Murray have yet to drop a set this week and the Swede thought Nadal and Federer were not necessarily shoe-ins for the final.

"I think there's many guys who can actually compete against them and have a chance to win the tournaments like this when they're playing well," he said.

Like Soderling and Murray, Vera Zvonareva is still seeking her first grand slam title and she was delighted with her form after a 6-3 7-6 win over Lucie Safarova.

"If you would compare today's match to my first match, I think I was playing a different level already," said the second seeded Russian.

Two men's seeds had less successful days, however, with 10th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny crashing out 6-4 7-5 4-6 6-4 to Canadian qualifier Milos Raonic and 2008 runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga losing 3-6 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-1 to Alexandr Dolgopolov.

ISNER MARATHON

Big-serving Raonic played with a confidence that belied his ranking of 152nd and his victory over Russian Youzhny surprised everybody but himself.

"I know I can play well and I know I can play at this level," said the 20-year-old. "I can't say I would be shocked if I wasn't here. But I'm not really shocked I am here."

Ukrainian Dolgopolov rated his victory over Tsonga as the best of his career but admitted Tsonga, who slipped out of the top 10 after missing three months of last year with a knee injury, had not been at the top of his game.

"I knew the chances were in his favour, but I knew I was prepared to fight for every point... I can't say I would be shocked if I wasn't here. But I'm not really shocked I am here."

Dolgopolov rated his victory over Tsonga as the best of his career, but admitted the French 13th seed had not been at the top of his game on Margaret Court Arena.

"I could see he's pretty tired," said the 22-year-old Ukrainian. "His physical form is not probably the best now."

Tsonga, who slipped out of the top 10 after missing three months of last year with a knee injury, was blunt in his assessment of the reasons for his defeat.

"Because maybe he was better than me," said the 25-year-old, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 final and Federer in the semi-finals here last year.

"That's it. He was better than me. He played a better match. He was more consistent maybe than me. That's why."

News From: www.reuters.com

UNC Admissions Blog Update

UNC Admissions Blog: Update on First-Deadline Decisions

With nine days to go before our first notification date, we write to thank all of the 14,000 first-deadline candidates who honored Carolina by applying for admission. Over the last three months, as we’ve read your applications one by one and over and over again, we’ve been steadily impressed by your achievements and your potential. We have also been humbled by your patience. You have borne this long wait with grace and good humor, and we are grateful.

We expect to finish on time our evaluations of first-deadline candidates whose applications are complete. If you applied first deadline and your application is complete, we plan to post your decision on MyUNC on or around January 21, 2011. We expect letters to arrive by mail at around the same time or shortly thereafter.

For further updates, including detailed instructions about how you may view your decision when it is available through MyUNC, please visit this blog again next week. If you wish to be notified whenever we update the blog, please subscribe by entering your email address at right.

Again, thanks to all who’ve applied – not only for your interest, but also for your patience.

-- Stephen Farmer

Jonathan Knight, Tiffany Out

Did Tiffany Out “New Kid on the Block” Jonathan Knight?

On Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” last night, after the show’s host Andy Cohen asked 1980s pop sensation Tiffany if she had ever dated any of the New Kids on the Block, her onetime opening act, she said she used to go out with Jonathan Knight, before adding, ”He became gay later.”

“We used to do facials together,” recalled Tiffany. “He was so easy to talk to… and he was fabulous.”

Now a number of outlets have attacked Tiffany for “outing” Knight, who’s never publicly said whether or not he’s gay.

And while it certainly wasn’t her place to talk about Knight’s sexuality one way or the other, Tiffany’s actually not the one who “outed” him.

In February 2009, the National Enquirer did an interview with Brazilian model Kyle Wilker who alleged in a piece titled, “Jonathan Knight’s Gay Lover Tells All,” that he dated the singer f0r 18 months.

Here’s a suggestion: In the future, let’s leave discussion of Knight’s sexuality to Knight himself.

It’s actually a good rule of thumb for lots of stories.

News From: www.gossipcop.com

Osama bin Laden attack on France Land

Osama bin Laden threatens attack on France

The Arabic news station al-Jazeera has reported that Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has issued a new message calling for the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan.
In a report Friday, the station said bin Laden called on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to withdraw its troops from “our countries,” adding that that its role would cost the French “inside France and outside.”

News From: blogs.timeslive.co.za

Bin Laden says France will pay 'high price' for its policies in Afghanistan

In a purported audio tape aired on Al Jazeera television on Friday, al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden warned French President Nicolas Sarkozy that his refusal to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was a "green light" to kill French hostages. In a message specifically targeting France, al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden warned that Paris would pay a “high price” for its policies and that the fate of French hostages would depend on the pullout of French troops from “Muslim lands”, in a purported audiotape broadcast on Arabic news network Al Jazeera on Friday.“We repeat the same message to you: The release of your prisoners in the hands of our brothers is linked to the withdrawal of your soldiers from our country," bin Laden said. "The refusal of your president [Nicolas Sarkozy] to withdraw from Afghanistan is the result of his obedience of America and this refusal is a green light to kill your prisoners,” he added.French officials have not yet confirmed the authenticity of the tape. But in a statement released shortly after the broadcast the French foreign ministry said France was "determined" to keep troops in Afghanistan despite a threat from al Qaeda.

Bin Laden’s last authenticated message was broadcast on al Jazeera in October, when he threatened to kill French citizens and attack French interests in retaliation for the country’s policies regarding Muslims.

The previous message, bearing the imprint of as-Sahab, the media arm linked with al Qaeda’s top leadership, said the September 2010 kidnapping of seven foreign nationals including five French citizens in Niger was in retaliation for “the tyranny” France “practices against our Muslim nation.”
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the terror group’s North Africa branch, has claimed responsibility for that kidnapping. In a message released in November, the group’s chief, Abdelmalek Droukdel, said France would have to directly negotiate with bin Laden to seek the release of the hostages in Niger.Meanwhile, two French journalists, Stephane Taponier and Herve Ghesquiere, remain in captivity since their abduction in December 2009 along with three Afghan colleagues in an area northeast of Kabul.


News From: www.france24.com

Yamuna Actress arrested on prostitution charges

Actress Yamuna arrested on prostitution charges Hot videos heroine

bangalore police today (Friday, January 21, 2011) arrested actress Yamuna, Venugopal, a CEO of a software firm and another man on charges of prostitution.

They have been picked up by the police from a five-star hotel in the city for alleged involvement in a prostitution racket.

Yamuna shot to fame with her film, Mouna Poratam (1989) and she is currently seen only in TV serials.

Macaulay Culkin With Irene Lopez Business

Macaulay Culkin Catching Up on Business with Irene Lopez?

Macaulay Culkin appears to be on a mission after his breakup with Mila Kunis…he was recently caught entering Club Bagdad in Barcelona, Italy with actress Irene Lopez. They were arm in arm, according to The Sun, and it did not appear she was there to work, although that is her usual line of business when being filmed. Club Bagdad is exclusively for consenting adults, if you catch my drift, and I sincerely hope young Culkin was using protection.

Mila Kunis and Culkin dated for the last eight years before their breakup in early January — a break up with coincided with Kunis’ rocket to big screen stardom with her role in the acclaimed “Black Swan.” Kunis was famous before, but not nearly as big as she is now after that movie.

Irene Lopez is famous for her racy movies in Spain…one wonders how good Culkin’s Spanish is, or if their relationship needs no words. Whatever Culkin’s goal is right now, it is definitely mission possible with Senorita Lopez!

News From: www.current-movie-reviews.com

CPT Result December 2010: ICAI Results

ICAI Results CPT Result December 2010 is Going to be Announced ToDay on 21st Jan

India (DLN): Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is going to announce CPT Results 2010 for Nov/Dec Exam. CA Results will be announced tomorrow on 21st Jan 2011 as per information available at the official website of ICAI.

Candidates can register yourself to receive the results in your mail box. Direct link is given below here to register.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body. It is the 2nd largest accounting body in the world after AICPA. In India, it is the only licensing cum regulating body of the audit and accountancy. It is a founder member of IFAC, SAFA and CAPA.
More Info

news From: www.dailylatestresults.com

Star Sarah Shahi Has a Crush Danny DeVito

'Fairly Legal' Star Sarah Shahi Has a Crush on Danny DeVito

Sarah Shahi is a big fan of Danny DeVito and isn't afraid to admit it.

"I had a crush on Danny DeVito ever since I saw him in 'Taxi,' which I know is the weirdest thing in the world to say," Shahi tells PopEater.

The actress also chats with us about her new show 'Fairly Legal.'

On 'Legal,' which the star describes as "'Law & Order' meets 'Sex and the City,'" Sarah plays Kate Reed a legal mediator who works for her step-mother and is still tangled with her soon-to-be ex-husband.

"There's really great character dynamic on the show," she explains.

But Shahi wants to make it clear it's not the same old procedural. "It's like the anti-law law show."

Besides loving the role she plays, Shahi reveals another benefit of starring on the series -- the fashion.

"I did love the clothes. We were very designer heavy. She's the anti-lawyer, I didn't want her to look corporate and business like. I wanted her to wear more outfits and look thrown together," she explains of the wardrobe. "It was a lot of Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim, Thakoon, Dries Van Noten, Helmut Lang ... [just] young, great, hip designers."

News From: www.popeater.com

Cameron Diaz Talks Snoop Dogg on Lopez Tonight

Cameron Diaz Talks Snoop Dogg, Weed, Google on Lopez Tonight

Cameron Diaz visited Lopez Tonight and discussed Snoop Dogg, Weed and Google.

Cameron Diaz appeared on George Lopez’s show “Lopez Tonight” last night and dropped a little bit of a bombshell. She told the audience that she was from Long Beach (the LBC) and that her high school was pretty rough. She admitted that she had been in a few fights. She fought boys more than girls, but once she did get in a fight with another girl in a locker room and had to “shut her down.” The biggest story, the bombshell of sorts, was that she went to high school with Snoop Dogg. She remembered him as being very tall and skinny and that he always had pony tails. She also said that he sold her weed.

Cameron is known for her love of the green herb, but who knew it went this far back and that she had a hook up in high school that would go on to be one of the most famous rappers of all times.

The interview also showed Cameron Diaz talking about her Cuban roots and growing up in “the hood.” I had always saw her as this All-American girl who had a very good life, but I guess she had it kind of tough as a kid like a lot of people do. Obviously, things worked out rather well for her. She was there promoting her new movie The Green Hornet and in the clip they played it looks like she still has a few of those fighting moves left over from her years in the hood. She also joked about her Green Hornet co-star Seth Rogan and his love for the weed as well saying that they would come on set and someone would smell of weed and they would ask each other of it was them.

She was funny, leggy in a short black dress and seemed very at home even dropping the S-bomb when talking about people Googling her and “reading all that shit they write about me.”

Watch Cameron Diaz discuss Snoop Dogg and pot on Lopez Tonight:

News From: robotceleb.com

China Plants Flag on White House Lawn

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Spoof Times) – The largest country in the world, Communist China, effectively has won World War III against the United States without firing a single shot.

Chinese President Hu Jintao walked victoriously out of the White House with a somber looking President Barrack Obama following behind him. As the two stood on the White House lawn, a Red Chinese soldier planted the flag of the Asian giant into the ground as Hu saluted.

Hu then made a brief statement that was translated into English to the crowd in attendance: “It was only a matter of time, but after many years of patiently waiting for the right moment, we have, in effect, foreclosed on the United States. Using weapons against the American people such as Wal-Mart, where we steadily drained the wealth of your country by filling the store shelves with cheap trinkets made by our slave labor, and by constantly buying your debt to pay for your military adventurism and empire building; we have effectively bought out your country; lock, stock and barrel.”

After the ceremony, the contingent made its way to the West Wing, which now has an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, serving the finest in Chinese cuisine.

News From: www.spooftimes.com

Treasurys Extend Losses On Existing Home Sales

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Treasurys lost ground on Thursday as a batch of economic releases painted a brighter picture of the U.S. economy.

Demand for safe assets wilted as a bigger-than-forecast decline in jobless claims showed signs of some recovery in the labor market.

A 12.3% increase in existing home sales added to the selling pressure, pushing bond prices to session lows. The leading indicator index was also higher than economist forecast while the gauge of business outlook in the Mid-Atlantic region was basically in line with market consensus.

In recent trading, the benchmark 10-year note was 18/32 lower to yield 3.409%. Bond yields move inversely to their prices.

An extra blow came from rising worries about global inflation, which eats into bonds' fixed returns over time. The fear of higher prices was boosted as producer prices in Germany rose to the highest level since October 2008.

A report overnight showing China's economy expanded at a bigger pace than economists forecast added to angst about inflation, raising speculation that the world's second-largest economy may tighten monetary policy further this year.

News From: online.wsj.com

Shah Rukh Khan And Ash on the red carpet

Shah Rukh Khan And Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on the red carpet

Here's what your favourite celebrities have been up to.

The who's who of Bollywood were spotted at the red carpet during a function to announce the nominees of 56th Filmfare Awards, in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Leading the pack is Shah Rukh Khan whose movie My Name Is Khan has been nominated under the category of Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role.

As for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, she's up for Best Female Actor in a leading role for Guzaarish.

Image: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan

News From:  www.rediff.com

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Launched On 2nd February 2011

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi To Be Launched On 2nd February 2011

Maruti Suzuki will launch the Kizashi in India on February 2nd 2011. Maruti Suzuki will export the Kizashi as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) from Japan and the price is expected around Rs 12 – 15 lakhs.

“This [Kizashi] is our attempt to be future ready, as we believe the A4 and A5 segment is going to grow. It is small at the moment but the way the economy is growing, this segment is going to be big,” Maruti Suzuki India managing executive officer (Marketing & Sales) Mayank Pareek said.

“There are nine million Maruti Suzuki customers at present. Many of them want to move up and have been asking after the SX4, what next? What we are doing here is to provide them options in luxury segment,” Pareek added.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi will directly compete with VW Jetta, Skoda Laura, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and few others in Indian market.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Pictures:

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Tiffany Evans Interview on 106 And Park Video

Tiffany Evans stopped by 106 And Park today and talked about living in the ATL, her involvement in the Saving Our Daughters book, her new album, dropped off her new video for “I’ll Be There”.

Katy Perry announces North American 'California Dreams' tour on Facebook Live interview

Put on your favorite candy-covered frock, Katy Perry's coming to town!

Fans can finally curb their Katy Perry cravings after the singer announced her "California Dreams" world tour will hit the U.S. and Canada this summer during a Facebook Live interview Wednesday.

The pop singer, who kicked off the live video stream with a Q&A with Mark Zuckerberg's sister Randi Zuckerberg, excitedly talked about the tour, which she said will involve scent as well as sound.

"It's an edible-looking tour with meat and candy," she said. "It'll look like a smorgasbord of them."

During the interview, Perry had technicians stream in cotton candy-scented air into the Facebook offices.

"I'm gonna make the Facebook offices STINK!" the star tweeted earlier in the day.

Perry said she will be employing the artistic skills of Mark Ryden and Will Cotton, who created the portrait for her "Teenage Dream" album cover.

Perry also made other, smaller announcements throughout the interview.

For the Grammys, set to air Feb. 13, the provocative pop star plans to bring her 90-year-old grandmother as her date.

"It'll be my grammy at the Grammys," she said. For her grandmother's recent birthday, Perry gave her a bedazzled cane, and she joked with Randi about all other things bedazzled.

"A bedazzled toilet! Though I think that would hurt," the star wondered aloud.

The tour will kick off on June 7 and Perry will wind her way to the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on June 19. Presale tickets start on Friday.

News From: www.nydailynews.com

Giffords to Move to Rehab Facility on Friday

TUCSON -- The next phase of recovery for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., is likely to begin later this week when she will be transported to one of the best rehabilitation hospitals in the nation.

The congresswoman, who was shot on Jan. 8, along with 18 others while hosting a town-hall meeting outside a Tucson grocery store, is expected to move Friday to TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital in Houston.

But because this situation is fluid, the exact day of the move will depend on Giffords' health.

"The congresswoman's family wants to ensure she receives the best rehabilitative care possible for her type of serious penetrating brain injury," said Dr. Michael Lemole, one of the congresswoman's neurosurgeons at University Medical Center. "As a result, they considered facilities around the country, including rehabilitation hospitals in Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago and Houston."

On Wednesday, KVOA.com reported that Giffords was able to stand on her own two feet.

Mark Kelly, the congresswoman's husband, said he and Giffords' parents weighed many factors in making this decision. High among them was TIRR Memorial Hermann's relative proximity to Tucson and its outstanding reputation.

For the past 21 years, TIRR Memorial Hermann has been recognized as one of the top-rated rehabilitation hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

"I am extremely hopeful at the signs of recovery that my wife has made since the shooting," said Kelly. "The team of doctors and nurses at UMC has stabilized her to the point of being ready to move to the rehabilitation phase. Their goal -- and our goal -- has been to provide Gabby with the best care possible. It is for that reason that we have chosen to have her undergo rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann, which has a national reputation for treating serious penetrating brain injuries and is also in a community where I have family and a strong support network.”

TIRR Memorial Hermann has more than 40 years experience in treating the kind of brain injuries that Giffords sustained when she was shot at close range on Saturday, Jan. 8. It is part of the prestigious Texas Medical Center.
News From: www.foxnews.com