Moviegoers React to Sex and the City

Sex and the City fans flock to theaters this weekend to see their favorite fashionistas on the big screen. Are you dressing up to see the movie?

Usmagazine.com asked for reactions from some of the first people to see the film in NYC:

• I just went and saw the movie and I loved it! It was really funny and I also shed a few tears. You really feel for the characters.


• I saw the first showing of this movie this morning and it was EXCELLENT!!! It really gave the TRUE lovers of this show closure as it tied up all the loose ends that the show left...It was amazing and totally worth the wait. Definitely five stars :) I will go see it again and again lol..


• I am a true fan of the show and I still didn't truly love the movie. I was disappointed. I'm saying it could have been better...i mean it leaves a lot more questions! It was a little too long and I mean I loved it, but I am still disappointed.
  It kinda just proves that some shows are just left as television shows, not movies..and that reassures the fact that friends will not reunite!
  I probably will go see it again...but I mean, some parts were just bad! I mean they couldn't hide the mic from carrie's phone and used duct tape! how much money did they spend on the wardrobe that they couldn't take a few extra dollars to cover up the mic!?


• I thought the duct tape was on her phone because it was the same phone that she had when we all learned Big's real name. I could be wrong but it looked very similar. I just thought she was using the tape so that she did not have to get rid of the phone. We all know how reluctant Carrie was to get one in the first place.


• I absolutely LOVED the movie! Hot fashions, touching moments, surprises, laughs, tears and hot guys! Great to see the ladies back together again and as fabulous as ever!


• LOVED the movie; thought it had the perfect mix of laughs and anger and touching moments, just like our lives, right girls?I did notice one thing. Carrie had two phones, an old fashioned ringing phone, and a cordless phone with a different ring, and in her small apartment, you only heard one ring and they were not the same in different scenes. Just a little flaw. Otherwise, is was perfection. I will buy the DVD when it comes out. Oh wait, was Big a little flat too? He used to be kind of sarcastic and silly at moments. Oh well.... the girls were awesome!


• I loved the movie, and I wish the series was still going. I thought they did a great job and I will be adding this to my SATC dvd collection.


• It was as good as I anticipated. I LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved the girls, loved the story line, and loved the fashion. I never missed an episode, and I can't wait to see the movie again. The movie makes me miss the series even more. If your really a fan you'll love the movie.»
  What did you think of the movie?

Sex Hits the City the SATC Premiere Gets Mobbed

Darren Star and Kim Cattrall.

Cynthia Nixon in Narciso Rodriguez. Kristin Davis, in Donna Karan.

Sex Hits the City: SJP and Co. Take Manhattan

Forget the presidential race. Never mind the fact that we just landed on Mars. Sex and the City: The Movie is finally here. This week belongs to Carrie Bradshaw and the legion of Cosmo-swilling fans who've abided by her single-and-fabulous gospel for a decade now. On Tuesday night, the mob outside the film's rain-washed New York premiere at Radio City Music Hall approached The Day of the Locust territory. Brandishing camera phones, thousands of screaming SATC acolytes crushed up against the police brigades in hopes of catching sight of their idols—Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and, of course, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker)—in mid-sashay down the pink carpet. Parker, who arrived on the arm of hubby Matthew Broderick, wore a silver Nina Ricci gown. "It looked like architecture to me," she explained of her choice. "It looked like Manhattan."And what did Manhattan, or rather its natives, make of the latest SATC installment? "I loved it," gushed Kathryn Neale Shaffer after the lights went up. "I laughed. I cried. And the clothes—wow. Pat Field definitely outdid herself." At the MoMA after-party, guests munched on diminutive takes on New York cuisine—mini empanadas, mini boxes of Chinese takeout, and mini cupcakes—while Samantha Ronson, the suddenly ubiquitous-again DJ, manned the booth. Meanwhile, real-life Carrie Candace Bushnell spouted dating advice. "Keep working," she said. "Don't worry about finding Mr. Big." But it was hard to miss Carrie's main squeeze, Chris Noth, who was posing for a photo op with Katie Couric and her blushing teenage daughter. Was he having a good time? "When I'm not taking pictures," growled Noth, sounding as cantankerous as his screen character. "But I seem to be taking a lot tonight." Isn't it when the flashbulbs stop popping that you have to start worrying?

Source: Evelyn Crowley for InStyle

Angelina Jolie Birth Rumors Not True

PEOPLE reports that contrary to a flurry of recent reports that Angelina Jolie has delivered her twins, PEOPLE confirms that the rumors are not true. "Angelina has not given birth. She is fine, enjoying her home and her family in France," a rep for the actress tells PEOPLE. Jolie and Brad Pitt recently signed a long-term lease for a chateau on the French Riviera. The 32-year-old – already mom to Maddox, 6; Pax, 4; Zahara, 3; and Shiloh, 2 – also revealed to reporters at the Cannes International Film Festival that she was considering giving birth in France – and that French is the "second language" in the family's home.

Source: PEOPLE Mary Green

Eva's Tush-Toning Workout

TIGHTEN YOUR TUSH
Toning your booty requires work – even for Eva Longoria Parker. So, how does she do it? The Desperate Housewives star works out with trainer Patrick Murphy up to four times a week to help sculpt her backside. The key: "Working out all the glute muscles from a variety of angles, [including] lunges forwards and backwards, side leg lifts, squats with weights, and lateral raises," says Murphy.
Boost your own bottom line with these exercises.

Source: PEOPLE's BodyWatch

Hot Finds As Seen on Screen: Sex and the City Goodies

Carrie’s Sexy Romper

THE FIND The Lake and Stars “We’re on a Break” romper

The Lake and Stars lingerie line (which means 'a woman who is skilled in the bedroom' in old Victorian), is a fave of Sarah Jessica Parker, who requested this silky piece be included in a scene where she cleans out her closet with the help of her girlfriends.

The romper is available for $215 online at figleaves.com.

Source: InStyle

Comcast.net site is hacked briefly

Source AP
NEW YORK - Hackers took over Comcast Corp.'s Web portal for several hours overnight, denying 14.1 million subscribers access to the cable company's site for e-mail, news and technical support.

The front page of Comcast.net went down shortly before 11 p.m. EDT Wednesday and was replaced with a note saying the hackers had "RoXed" Comcast, according to postings at BroadbandReports.com.
Comcast spokeswoman Jennifer Khoury said Thursday that the hijacking had been reversed in the morning, but that it was possible some users were still unable to access Comcast.net and Web-based e-mail.
There was no indication that e-mail or other private information was compromised by the attack, Comcast said. It didn't stop customers from getting their e-mail through programs like Outlook.
The hackers appeared to have seized control of the Comcast.net domain name at registrar Network Solutions Inc. and redirected it to other servers, Khoury said.
"We have alerted law enforcement authorities and are working in conjunction with them," Khoury said.

'Sex and the City' feels as familiar as a favorite shoe

It's an unabashed guilty pleasure that goes down as smoothly as a chilled cosmo. Fans of the HBO series are sure to enjoy the reunion of the fab four in Sex and the City: The Movie (*** out of four), who remain glamorous and guy-obsessed.

Even more than on the TV series, the movie is more about style than substance. The film feels exceedingly familiar — so much so that most of the plot turns can be guessed well before they happen. The movie's nearly 2½ hours are padded with wardrobe change montages that could test the nerves of even the most die-hard fashionista. Most disappointing is the paucity of clever quips, though the film is written and directed by series veteran Michael Patrick King.
Still, there is something undeniably satisfying about the effort, which ties up all the loose ends more decisively than the series finale.

The bonds of friendship are celebrated above all — as is the fact that these women are well into middle age, have been through the romance wars and are stronger for it.

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) remain fashionably turned out, stylishly coiffed and each faces a major dilemma. When the film opens, Carrie is no longer a columnist but a contributor to Vogue. She and Mr. Big (Chris Noth) have been happily together for the past four years and are contemplating moving into a gorgeous new apartment.

Samantha is managing the career of her hunky younger beau Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis) and living in Los Angeles. Charlotte has found happiness with husband Harry (Evan Handler) and Miranda is living in Brooklyn and juggling being a mom and a lawyer while married to Steve (David Eigenberg).

Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) has a sizable but lackluster part as Carrie's new assistant, and Candice Bergen's talents are wasted in a cameo as a Vogue editor.
But, the movie, like the series, is all about the emotional ups and downs of the central quartet of sartorially resplendent women. Sex will polarize the sexes. Women will be entranced by the soap opera while men will wonder what all the fuss is about.
Amid the style, sass and sexiness is plenty of sentimentality, especially at the satisfying conclusion.

As indulgences go, this one is easier on the waistline than downing a tub of Ben & Jerry's and won't deplete the wallet like a Louis Vuitton handbag. (Running time: 2 hours, 22 minutes. Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language. Opens tonight in select theaters and Friday nationwide.)
Source: Claudia Puig, USA TODAY

Naomi charged

Following her removal from a Heathrow flight last month, Naomi Campbell was today formally charged with three counts of assaulting a constable, one count of disorderly conduct and two counts of using threatening or abusive words towards cabin crew. A police assault charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000. Naomi Campbell's lawyer, Simon Nicholls, said that the supermodel was "bitterly disappointed" to learn that she would be prosecuted but "respects that decision and she hopes this matter is dealt with expeditiously." Campbell refused to talk to journalists this morning as she reported to the Heathrow police station to hear the charges.

SOURCE: BBC & glamour UK, photo PopSugar

Report: Idol Clay Aiken to Be a Father

Idol Clay Aiken's producer is pregnant with his child, TMZ.com reports.
Jaymes Foster (who is reportedly in her late 40s) was artificial inseminated with the 29-year-old singer's sperm, according to the report.
Aiken lives with Foster – described as his "best friend" – when he's in L.A. and plans to be involved with parenting their child, TMZ reports.
The baby is due in August, the Insider reports.
Photo: USMagazine

Ashlee & Pete Finally Confirm Their Pregnancy

Source: PopSugar
Well, well, well. After over a month of speculation and playing coy, Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz have confirmed that they are expecting their first child. They posted this official statement on Pete's site, Friends Or Enemies.

"While many have speculated about this, we wanted to wait until after the first trimester to officially confirm that we are expecting our first child. This is truly the most joyous time in our lives and we are excited to share the happy news and start our family."
Between all the rumors and quick wedding, this is not a big shock, but we're always ready to welcome a brand new celebrity baby to the mix. Congrats to the newlyweds and we'll be looking forward to seeing this musically gifted little one!

Hit or Miss? SJP Adventures in Tin Foil

Source: ET Online
SARAH JESSICA PARKER makes a royal return to NYC for the 'Sex and the City' premiere. But is this shredded silver dress tin-tastic or too drastic?

George Clooney and Sarah Larson Split

Source: PEOPLE

Sarah Larson and George Clooney after the Academy Awards Photo by: Alex Berliner / BEImages
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George Clooney and his girlfriend Sarah Larson have split up after a year of dating, a source tells PEOPLE. A rep for the actor says: "We do not comment on George's personal life." The pair initially met in Las Vegas nearly four years ago, when Larson, a onetime Fear Factor winner, was a cocktail server at The Whiskey Bar. But it wasn't until the pair met for the second time in June 2007 in Las Vegas that sparks flew. Larson, 29, and Clooney, 47, made their public debut together at the Venice and Deauville film festivals last September. Later that month, the twosome were injured in a motorcycle accident. Earlier this year, Larsen accompanied Clooney to the Oscars – the first girlfriend ever to go with him to the event. Though there was speculation that Clooney would end his longtime bachelorhood, in March the actor shot down rumors of an engagement.Next up for Clooney is the Coen brothers movie Burn After Reading, co-starring Brad Pitt, due out in September.

David Cook Goes on Date With Ex-Idol Kimberly Caldwell

Source: US Magazine

American Idol champ David Cook and season two alum Kimberly Caldwell are making sweet music together.
On Tuesday's Live With Regis and Kelly, he revealed that they recently went on a date after meeting through the hit Fox show.

Asked if he had a good time, Cook, 25, said, "I did. We'll probably hang out again. So we'll see."
Of Caldwell, 26, Cook told on Monday, "she seems like a really great girl," adding that he hopes their friendship "will be a little bit of a long, drawn out process."

Celeb Style: Get that fresh 'Sex and the City' look

By Olivia Barker, USA TODAY
Which Sex and the City character's style do you identify with most?

Carrie's purses are towering triumphs in 'Sex'

On TV's Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw inspired women to think outside the boxy bag and instead pick up purses shaped like horse heads and telephones. In Sex and the City the movie, she's getting them to grab something monumental: the Eiffel Tower.
Since a publicity shot of Carrie embracing Mr. Big and clutching a purse shaped like the Parisian icon was released in the fall, Beverly Hills designer Timmy Woods has sold about 150 of the bags showered with Swarovski crystals at $3,000 a pop and another 1,000 purses without stones for $450 each.

The movie may be stuffed with more blatant status bags from the likes of Fendi, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Prada, but the Eiffel Tower's triumph is evidence that four years after the show wrapped, Sex can still sell fashion that's quirky and in contrast to the other characters, consummately Carrie. (Remember nameplate necklaces and saucer-sized flower pins?)
And, like so much of Sex style, it serves a narrative purpose.

"It's a great wink and homage to Carrie's experience in Paris" at the end of the series, says W accessories and jewelry director Brooke Magnaghi. She envisions "die-hard Carrie fans are buying this. It's kind of a fun memento."
Woods, the woman also behind the horse and telephone bags, created the Eiffel Tower purse made from acacia wood four years ago as a valentine to her adopted city. (She has an apartment overlooking the tower.)

"I really wanted it to be very surreal," a la Salvador Dali. "I wanted it to look like it was emerging out of the clouds. Then I decided it should glitter." (The version studded with 6,300 Swarovski stones takes nearly two months to make.)Last summer, Sex costume designer Patricia Field walked into Woods' showroom and asked for the tower tote. Woods had no idea how it would be featured until a friend saw the publicity still on the Internet. Available on her website and on Field's, as well as at Macy's New York Herald Square location, the model is among Woods' top five all-time best sellers. She's been making wood purses for a dozen years, and her current catalog boasts about 100 styles.
"(Carrie) can get away with carrying a funky little bag like that," says Samantha Durbin, editor of FabSugar.com. "It's cinematic. Everyone dreams of Paris. It kind of has that romantic feel to it."

Gloria Shulman bought her Eiffel Tower purse, the sparkly "major one," a month or two ago after spying the photo of Sarah Jessica Parker holding the original one. "It was so darling, and she is such a trendsetter," says Shulman, 60, who owns a Beverly Hills mortgage brokerage — and three dozen other Woods totes, including the horse head. "I don't want to say I copied her — I'm little old for copying — but I enjoy seeing what the latest trends are."

When Pam Price carried her Eiffel Tower to a recent luncheon in La Jolla, Calif., someone thought she had stolen it from Parker, asking, "Where did you get that?"
"I bought it," Price replied; along with a horse head model, the tower sits among her two dozen-strong Timmy Woods collection. "A lot of people think it doesn't open," says Price, 65, a writer and editor in Palm Springs. She manages to squeeze in the essentials: a credit card, $10 bill, tube of lipstick, business card and set of keys.

"You're not carrying your office with you," Price concedes.
But, then, how much time did Carrie spend in an office?

Phoenix spacecraft successfully lands on Mars

Source: USA Today

NASA's Phoenix spacecraft successfully touched down on the surface of Mars Sunday night, the first time in 32 years that the space agency has landed a probe on the Red Planet using retrorockets.

The images released at a midnight press conference looked much like illustrations of the surface prepared by NASA, the brown terrain dotted with troughs and small rocks. "I know it looks like a parking lot, but that's a safe place to land, by gosh," joked Peter Smith, Phoenix's principal investigator, at the press briefing. Smith, a planetary sciences professor at the University of Arizona, proposed and helped develop the mission. "This was just perfect. It didn't seem real," said Smith. "I'm on Cloud 9." JPL's Barry Goldstein, the project manager, noted that one image shows that the planet surface was not greatly damaged by the rocket thrusters. Edward Sedivy, Phoenix program manager at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, which built the probe, described the landing as fairly gentle at 5 mph.

Jubilant officials at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., burst into cheers when Phoenix's radio signal came in as scheduled at 7:53 p.m. ET, indicating that the $457 million lander is in position near Mar's northern polar cap.
About two hours later, the mission controllers got word that the craft's solar arrays had successfully deployed. The twin 6-foot circular disks are the power source. If they hadn't deployed, Phoenix would only have had about three hours of battery power.
And immediately after that, images began to arrive — the scientists' best-case scenario. "What we're looking at is a surface of Mars that we've never seen before," said Dan McCleese, JPL's chief scientist. The "crystal clear" images showed a flat surface with very few rocks.

Sedivy said the priority for the next few days will be assessing the craft's power requirements and regeneration. He said the team must see how much power the lander needs at night and how quickly the solar arrays are able to recharge the batteries during the day.
NASA administrator Michael Griffin and Ed Weiler, NASA's associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, praised the precise execution achieved by the mission team at the gathering of an international corps of reporters.

"If I did my math right, doing something like this is like trying to hit a hole-in-one if you're tee-ing off in Washington, D.C., and the hole is in Sydney, Australia," said Weiler.
Earlier, Robert Shotwell, the mission's project systems engineer, described the landing as "almost exactly perfect — flat and aligned where we wanted it to be."
He said the parachute deployed seven seconds later than anticipated, which had a "slight" effect on the landing site. Otherwise, he said, "Everything looked as good as could possibly be expected. Everyone is thrilled."

"As icing on the cake, we've found that the lander is tilted only one quarter of a degree, which means we've landed nearly perfectly level," blogged Brent Shockley on NASA's Phoenix website (www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix).
"Engineers in Mission Control are saying that our actual landing went far smoother than any simulation or test that was ever done," said Shockley, the mission's configuration and information management Engineer.
It takes 15 minutes for Phoenix's radio signal to reach Earth, which meant a long, suspenseful wait in the home stretch for members of the mission staff assembled in the JPL's mission control room.

As the mission team awaited word of the craft's fate, the early stages of its entry into the Martian atmosphere appeared to go well. As the news arrived that each challenge had been met — that the cruise-stage hardware had been jettisoned and the craft had pivoted to turn its heat shield towards the planet's surface; that the parachute had deployed and the radar had been activated — the control room filled with applause.

This happy ending to Phoenix's 423-million-mile, nine-month journey was far from a safe bet. Of the 11 missions that have tried to land probes on Mars since 1971 — by the United States, Russia and Great Britain — only five have succeeded.
Adding to the risk of failure is the fact that every successful Mars landing since 1976 has involved huge air bags that let the craft bounce to a soft landing. But the air bags don't allow for precise landings and NASA scientists want to hit the targeted landing site.
So Phoenix was equipped with retrograde rockets, set to fire less than a minute before touchdown to decelerate the craft. The last mission to land this way was the Viking 2 lander, on Sept. 3, 1976. A later mission, the Mars Polar Lander, was using retro rockets when it crashed in 1999.

And there was another danger: rocks.
Phoenix has three legs. If one of them had come down on a large rock, the craft could have been knocked over or become unstable, ending the mission. NASA surveyed the 60-by-12-mile landing area by satellite, looking for spots with as few rocks as possible.
There were six "trajectory correction maneuvers" (carefully calculated rocket blasts) planned for Phoenix but not all proved necessary. A May 17 maneuver, when the craft was 6 million miles from Mars, was just a nudge, moving the landing point 11 miles to a slightly better location.
Early Sunday, mission controllers decided there was no need to use their last chance to tweak the flight path, leaving them with nothing to do but wait for Phoenix to carry out the landing on its own.

The lander is beaming back images of a Martian landscape never before seen by humans — one near the north polar cap, where scientists believe there is abundant water, if frozen and buried.
Finding evidence of water has long been the goal of NASA's Mars program. Water is essential to all known life. The Mars missions are aimed at giving scientists more information about where, when and in what form water existed there. The Phoenix lander is designed to collect and examine ice and rock samples for evidence of microscopic life. NASA scientists hope that if a rudimentary form of life existed there millions of years ago, traces of it might remain.

There's a reason this Mars mission is named Phoenix, after the mythical bird that rises from the ashes of its own funeral pyre. The spacecraft originally was scheduled to launch in 2001 as the Mars Surveyor, but it was grounded because of the Mars Polar Lander crash.
Phoenix's equipment includes a robotic arm that will dig up soil samples and a portable laboratory that will test the soil. The Martian soil is expected to be a frozen matrix of rocks, gravel, sand and ice as hard as concrete.

The samples will be viewed by an onboard microscope, and high-resolution images will be beamed to scientists on Earth. Phoenix also is a weather station with a mast that will rise 4 feet, allowing scientists to calculate the extent of water vapor and cloud cover.

Phoenix isn't alone on Mars. NASA has had the golf cart-sized rovers, mobile geology labs called Spirit and Opportunity, on the surface since January 2004. Overhead are the Mars Odyssey, which began its orbit on Oct. 24, 2001, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which reached Mars in March 2006. The European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter also has been circling the planet since 2003.

The orbiters will be playing a key role in this mission, assisting in the transmission of data from Phoenix and capturing images of the 904-pound craft on the planet's surface
The mission is being led by scientists at the University of Arizona. When NASA put out a call in 2002 for Mars mission proposals, the one chosen came from Smith, who proposed using the mothballed Surveyor.

Smith's team designed the science experiments and worked with JPL and Lockheed Martin to recondition the spacecraft, which launched on Aug. 4, 2007 from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
About two days after the landing, the mission's center of operations is scheduled to shift to the University of Arizona's Science Operations Center in Tucson.

The mission is expected to last 90 days. In three months, winter will come to the Martian north pole and the sun won't rise again for 100 days. The solar-powered craft is not expected to survive the frigid temperature.

Madonna’s $471,000 Chanel Bag: Worth More Than a Kiss from Clooney!

Source PEOPLE'S StyleWatch Off the Rack

The annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit kicked off in the hills high above Cannes yesterday. Last year, George Clooney auctioned off a kiss for $300,000, but this year Madonna’s alligator Chanel purse was the star of the show. The black alligator bag with a clasp studded with 334 diamonds was the actual purse she carried to the event, and that’s not all. She even gave up everything in the haute couture bag including Shu Uemura blotting paper, lip gloss — “It actually touched my lips”, Madonna noted — lip balm, a magnifying mirror, and throat lozenges. The only thing she took out was her blackberry and phone, explaining “I’m not going to give up my blackberry and phone because that’s too expensive for you.” The final winning bid? 300,000 euros — that’s over $471,000 — for AIDS research! Sorry George, looks like Madonna’s chic purse is worth more than your kiss. As Madonna joked, “That’s cheap. Everyone’s kissed George Clooney.”

Get a Chanel bag at a great price

Spacecraft on track to make historic Mars landing

Source: ALICIA CHANG, AP Science Writer



PASADENA, Calif. - A three-legged NASA spacecraft was closing in on Mars Sunday for what scientists hope will be the first-ever touchdown near Mars' north pole to study whether the permafrost could have supported primitive life.
The time it takes the Phoenix Mars Lander to streak through the atmosphere and set down on the dusty surface has been dubbed "the seven minutes of terror" for good reason. More than half of the world's attempts to land on Mars have ended in failures.
"I'm a little nervous on the inside. I'm getting butterflies," Peter Smith, principal investigator from the University of Arizona, Tucson, said on the eve of the landing. "We bet the whole farm on this safe landing and we can't do our science without this safe landing."
Phoenix is pre-programmed to plummet through the Red Planet's atmosphere, and will rely on the intricately choreographed use of its heat shield, parachute and rockets to slow its descent from over 12,000 mph to a 5 mph touchdown.
In the ideal scenario, "we evolve out of this cocoon and spread our wings and we turn into this beautiful butterfly on the surface," said Ed Sedivy, program manager at Lockheed Martin Corp., which built Phoenix.
Mission controllers decided late Saturday to skip an opportunity to adjust Phoenix's flight path since the lander was well on track for its target landing site.
NASA has not had a successful soft landing in more than three decades since the twin Viking landers in 1976. The last time the space agency tried was in 1999 when the Mars Polar Lander angling for the south pole crashed after prematurely cutting off its engines.
Phoenix was built from a lander that was scrapped after the Polar Lander disaster. Engineers spent years testing Phoenix to resolve all known problems, but there are no guarantees on landing day.
"It's kind of like going to Vegas. If you have high odds, you play a number of times, eventually one of them is going to bite you," said Barry Goldstein, project manager of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "That's what's concerns us the most."
Launched last summer, Phoenix has traveled 422 million miles over nearly 10 months. Its arrival to the high northern latitudes will be closely watched by a trio of Mars orbiters circling overhead. If successful, it will join the twin Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which have been exploring the equatorial plains since 2004.
The $420 million mission is led by the University of Arizona and managed by JPL.
Mars and Earth are 170 million miles apart on landing day, which means it will take about 15 minutes for mission control to receive a confirmation signal from the lander that it is safe.
The earliest that ground controllers would hear from Phoenix is 4:53 p.m. local time. If there's no word, the next opportunity would be two hours later when one of the orbiters, Mars Odyssey, makes a pass over the landing site.
Phoenix is equipped with an 8-foot-long robotic arm capable of digging trenches in the soil to expose the ice, believed to be buried inches to a foot deep.
The lander will analyze dirt and ice samples for traces of organic compounds, the chemical building blocks of life. It will also study whether the ice ever melted at some point in Mars' history when the planet was warmer unlike the current harsh, cold environment.
Scientists do not expect to find water in its liquid form at the Phoenix landing site because it's too frigid. But they say if raw ingredients of life exist anywhere on the planet, they likely would be preserved in the ice.

Teenage 'Harry Potter' Actor Killed

Source: ET

A young actor named ROB KNOX, who acted in the upcoming sixth 'Harry Potter' film, was killed in London on Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
The young man died after being stabbed in an altercation outside a bar, the AP reports, and a 21-year-old was later arrested on suspicion of murder.
According to the news service, the 18-year-old played the part of Marcus Belby in 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' which is slated to hit theaters in November. Warner Bros. told the AP that they were "shocked" by the tragic turn of events.

Kate Hudson & Lance Dance and Kiss in Cannes

Source: PEOPLE

Kate Hudson and Lance Armstrong only had eyes for each other at Dolce & Gabbana's annual party in Cannes Friday. The pair kissed and danced to old Madonna songs and other '80s favorites. "They were beaming at each other," a source tells PEOPLE. "So cute." In a VIP room so packed that Petra Nemcova couldn't get in, Hudson and Armstrong chatted briefly with Cannes juror Natalie Portman, who was holding hands with her folk-rocker beau Devendra Banhart. (Unlike all the other female celebrity guests, Portman wore Chanel because she decided to come to the party at the last minute.) Other guests at the packed party, held at Baoli restaurant and club, included Lindsay Lohan (who made a brief appearance in the briefest of green dresses), Rose McGowan (who partied until 5:30 am, broken foot and all), Kerry Washington, Naomi Campbell, Dita von Teese and Diddy.

eBay Addresses Questions over New Feedback Changes

Source: By Ina Steiner AuctionBytes.com
Many eBay sellers in the US weren't sure what to expect when they powered up their computers on Monday morning to check their feedback. eBay's latest changes to the rating system had already been rolled out in Australia and the UK, and discussion forums in those countries were flooded with posts from sellers whose positive percentage score had been affected by the changes. Some were elated upon seeing their score had risen - many others were left reaching for the antacid. For the rest of the week, questions about feedback and the impact on PowerSellers continued to pepper the boards, and on Thursday, eBay addressed some of those questions in an Announcement Board post.
One question on the top of sellers' minds was how many PowerSellers had ratings fall below the 98% threshold to maintain PowerSeller status. eBay did not answer that question, but did say that the company would provide them with a 60-day grace period. However, "on July 21, any PowerSeller who no longer meets the 98% threshold will no longer be eligible for PowerSeller status and benefits."
There were several factors that changed how eBay calculates the positive feedback percentage score. Most significantly, eBay now counts neutrals in with negatives, the reason why some scores dropped. eBay explained in the post, "By not including neutral Feedback in our calculation, we were actually doing a disservice to our best sellers." Sellers have argued that while eBay considers a neutral a negative, buyers don't necessarily think that way, and they have urged eBay to get rid of neutral ratings altogether.
eBay also said it would remove the negative and neutral ratings left by suspended members retroactively, and in Thursday's post, eBay said it had not yet done so, but that they "should be removed by early June."
Some have begun speculating that eBay will eventually do away with the old feedback format of leaving positive, negative and neutral ratings and keep the DSR ratings, which are similar to Amazon's rating system. Author and PowerSeller Skip McGrath wrote in an article, "I also suspect that over time, Feedback will cease to be important - and in fact eBay may someday decide to scrap it altogether and just rely on the Detailed Seller Ratings" (http://www.skipmcgrath.com/newsletters/current.shtml#one).
Another seller using the handle "roo" commented on the AuctionBytes Blog, "The new policy, by the way, has nothing to do with fixing feedback. eBay is intentionally making it worse to pave the way for removing the feedback system altogether. They are trying to make us all hate it enough over the next year so that when they remove it next year, we will all be relieved" (http://blog.auctionbytes.com/cgi-bin/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2008/5/1211343097.html).
A story circulated on the eBay discussion boards about a 47-year-old Seattle man who died at his computer Monday upon seeing that his score had dipped. Neither the King County Medical Examiner's Office in Seattle nor the Seattle Post-Intelligencer had any record of a person matching the description of the rumored deceased PowerSeller.
While the tale appears to be of the urban legend variety, many users seemed to consider it within the realm of possibility. That's how seriously eBay users take their feedback ratings.

How About Some Delicious "Skinny Bitch" Recipes?

Source: Ellen Show

On Friday, "Skinny Bitch" authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin showed Ellen some fantastic foods that won't go to your waist. If you'd like to try some of these fantastic recipes from their "no-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous!" The recipes substitute healthier ingredients to make sinful sounding food without the guilt.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 48
2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour1/2 tablespoon baking soda1 teaspoon fine sea salt1 1/2 cups evaporated cane sugar1 1/2 cups refined coconut oil1/2 cup ice water1 tablespoon molasses1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract1 (10- to 12-ounce) package vegan chocolate chips1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, combine the sugar and coconut oil, mixing on medium-high speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the water, molasses, and vanilla, mixing until well combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 to 4 additions, mixing each addition until almost fully incorporated. Add in the chocolate chips and the walnuts, if using, mixing until just combined.
Arrange 2-tablespoon-sized balls of cookie dough 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, until the edges are slightly browned and the centers are set. Thoroughly cool on a cooling rack.

Macaroni and Four Cheese
Serves 8
1 tablespoon refined coconut oil, melted, or safflower oil, plus more for the casserole dishAbout 2 tablespoons fine sea salt1 pound whole wheat or brown rice elbow macaroni2 (10-ounce) packages frozen pureed winter squash2 cups soy or rice milk4 ounces vegan cheddar cheese, shredded2 ounces vegan Jack cheese, shredded4 ounces (about 1/2 cup) vegan cream cheese1 1/2 teaspoons powdered mustard1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs2 tablespoons vegan Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Oil a 2-quart casserole dish; set aside.
In a 4- to 6-quart stockpot over high heat, combine 3 quarts of water with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the salt. Bring the water to a boil, add the macaroni, and cook according to the package directions.
Meanwhile, in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Combine the squash and milk, stirring and breaking up the squash with a spoon until the squash is defrosted.Increase the heat to medium=high and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cheddar, Jack, cream cheese, mustard, cayenne, and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of salt.
When the pasta is done, drain it, then return the pasta to the pot. Stir the cheese sauce into the macaroni. Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared baking pan. In a medium bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and the 1 tablespoon of oil. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Place the casserole dish on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, then broil for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the top is nicely browned.

How David Cook won 'American Idol'

Source: DERRIK J. LANG, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES - David Cook's transformation from soul-patched slacker to "American Idol" is complete, and his overwhelming victory probably says as much about his soulful gaze and in-season makeover as it does about his chops as a rocker.
Or maybe it says even more about who's voting these days.
Other than his hair — both on his face and atop his head — not much about the 25-year-old from Blue Springs, Mo., changed since his performance of Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do" during the Hollywood round. Back then, he was a promising "Idol" hopeful, but he didn't have the instant juggernaut feel of 17-year-old crooner David Archuleta.
And yet when Cook was crowned "Idol" on Wednesday night, it was a landslide: Host Ryan Seacreast said he'd won by a margin of 12 million votes out of the record 97.5 million cast by viewers.
"I actually walked into this with no expectations, and I'm walking out of it with no expectations," Cook told reporters backstage after his win. "This show is a springboard, but it's still a crapshoot."
From the outset, the ex-bartender provided soaring vocals and just enough outside-the-box behavior — see his rendition of Chris Cornell's version of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" — to keep viewers cooking up votes for Cook every week. Neither Cook nor Archuleta was ever a low vote-getter.
But it was Archuleta who always received the most praise — by both judges and loud fans — right up until Tuesday's final performance, in which judge Simon Cowell declared that Archuleta had scored a "knockout" over Cook, who sang Collective Soul's "The World I Know," U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Dream Big."
Or maybe being rebellious turned out to be worth the gamble for Cook; it's been suggested that a poor showing with the judges can drum up support from indignant or sympathetic voters.
Criticism may have made Cook's win sweeter for some, but don't call it an upset. Several online outfits predicted he would take home the top prize: a record contract and an SUV. DialIdol.com, which tracks busy signals on the separate phone lines dedicated to each contestant, correctly projected him the winner Wednesday morning.
So why did the older David best the younger one — the one who couldn't take a step on the "Idol" stage without a collective shriek coming up from every under-13-year-old girl in the audience?
One reason for Cook's winning appeal may be found in a rustling in the show's recent ratings: Viewership for teenagers 12-to-17 for "Idol" was down this season, and the median age of an "Idol" viewer, once in the mid-30s, is now up to 42, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Cook was, after all, the first "rocker" of many to take the crown from a steady stream of pop- and R&B-type singers. Perhaps an older contingent helped push Cook over — way over — the edge. The upper age limit was raised from 24 to 28 in season four; could another increase be on the way?
Another reason could be that Cook was so genuinely humble — and not as quiet or obsequious as Archuleta — throughout the competition, even until the very end. On Wednesday, he told reporters it was an honor to share the stage with the teenage singer from Murray, Utah. Cook said Archuleta had more talent at 17 "than I know what to do with at 25."
Cook was overcome with emotion when he won, bending down toward the stage, his eyes filled with tears when he stood back up. It was the second time in as many nights that the scruffy, grainy-voiced belter had broken down. And a few weeks earlier, when he seemed edgy and distracted, he acknowledged that he had "things going on," perhaps a vague reference to the struggles of his older brother, Adam, who is battling advanced brain cancer.
On Wednesday night, Cowell saw fit to apologize to Cook for casting him as an also-ran to Archuleta. Just before the winner was announced, Cowell uncharacteristically backtracked on his words of the night before, telling him he was one of the nicest and most genuine contestants the show has seen, and allowing that the competition "wasn't quite so clear cut as we called it."
Beyond his booming voice and continuous acclaim, Archuleta became the focus of controversy when his father, Jeff, was reportedly becoming too heavily involved in his son's rehearsals and asked by the show's producers to back off. News of such an altercation may have cost the doe-eyed crooner votes from a more knowing adult audience, who perhaps couldn't stomach the thought of rewarding a stage dad.
The only behind-the-scenes story about Cook to surface during the competition concerned his sick older brother, who made the trek to Los Angeles from Indiana to watch his brother perform as a member of the top seven finalists. Such adversity can only make someone on TV seem more human.
Whatever the reasons really were this year, in a competition that can crown a 29-year-old gray-haired Southerner one year and a cheery 17-year-old high-school student from Arizona the next, it's ultimately impossible to tell why America choose its "Idol" the way it does.
___

David Archuleta: What I Said to David Cook After He Won Idol

Source: US Magazine

David Archuleta says he wasn't shocked when his name wasn't called on Wednesday's American Idol finale.
"Oh, I was pretty sure Cook was going to win anyway!" he told Usmagazine.com after the show. "You know, he's such a great guy. I'm so glad that people really appreciate what he'd been doing because he put a lot of work into this.
"He's been my role model," Archuleta added. "Just a great person to look up to. He's been my big brother through this."
(Don't miss the Davids' classic Idol moments.)
After Cook won, "I just said I'm so proud of him, that he'd earned it," Archuleta said.
What did Cook say to him?
"He just said, 'I love you,'" Archuleta said. (See his baby photo here.)
Archuleta also said his father, Jeff — who has been portrayed by some media outlets as a demanding stage dad — was pleased with his second place finish.
"My dad just let me know he's so proud of me," he said. "He's really happy too.
"He was just always there to remind me what music meant, the real depth to music and what it does to reach people's lives," he added. "And my whole family has helped me stay who I am, helped me not change through this."
Archuleta - who will perform in the Idol tour this summer - said he thanks "all the fans who helped me make it this far. I didn’t think I’d even make it past the first round! This has been such a blessing."

Sex And The City The Movie: FASHION SPOTLIGHT

Source: Tracey Lomrantz for ELLE

They made caftans cool, established the re-emergence of the fanny pack, and turned Manolo Blahnik into a household name. They exposed midriffs while raising eyebrows. They dropped $3,000 on a single handbag. They punctuated their wardrobes with muskrat fur and cowboy hats the way most women use pearls and pumps. And they certainly never treated “risk” as a four-letter word. The sartorial feats achieved by costume designers Pat Field and Rebecca Weinberg, along with the cast members they dressed on Sex and the City during its highly influential six-season run were not only staggering, they spawned an unstoppable machine of economic, cultural, and social trends that still very much matter today. From nameplate necklaces to exposed bra straps, SATC had a hand in creating some of the biggest fashion statements of the past 10 years—and when the feature film is released on May 30, it’s impossible not to imagine a flock of Sex-ettes queued up to get their hands on the next generation of It Items it’s bound to ignite.The film circles back to many of the series’s common fashion themes (oversize flowers, menswear, status shoes and bags), reaffirming its sense of import in the current style landscape. “I had no idea from a wardrobe aspect what kind of influence it would have,” says costume designer Rebecca Weinberg, who worked on the show alongside Field from 1999-2001. “But in the ‘90s we were the first program where style really was a key element.”In reality, style was a “key element” to the series the way water is a “key element” to the Pacific Ocean. “In terms of the series, fashion didn’t just reflect the zeitgeist, it actually influenced it as well,” says Valerie Steele, fashion historian and director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “It really validated people’s love of fashion. Even people who weren’t going to spend $500 on a pair of shoes suddenly became very aware of Manolo and Choo and the whole concept of luxury.”

Luxury certainly had a prominent place on the show in the dot-com-rich early ‘00s (the Fendi baguette, the fur coat, the Oscar de la Renta dress), but one of SATC’s most enduring legacies is the so-called high-low mix that’s highly prized by the fashion community. “We would mix high end luxury stuff with literally thrift store finds,” Weinberg says of Carrie’s wardrobe in particular. “It’s just the way we dress in real life, relying on sample sales and vintage pieces and little finds here and there.” One of the most memorable looks from the show, the tulle skirt that Sarah Jessica Parker wears in the opening sequence, was a $5 vintage piece plucked from the starlet’s own closet (reportedly a move on HBO’s part to maintain an air of timelessness, as they knew the sequence wouldn’t change throughout the show’s lifetime).And while the women of SATC may change men and trends as frequently as their knickers, Steele says she thinks the style on both the series and the film will age rather well. “I think it will be a fabulous time capsule,” she says. “I’d like to imagine watching it again in 25 years and I think it will really hold up.” That’s good news for Parker—since her first day on set, her contract has stipulated that she has the privilege to keep every piece she’s ever worn during filming. Though some of the show’s trends may be rather regrettable (“Gloves always look so silly—they just remind me of trying too hard,” Weinberg says of the season six accessory fascination. “I got so sick of them!”), it could never be accused of being boring. With Carrie and company’s risks came some genuine mistakes, lending them an air not just of sophistication but of accessibility. Television shows have certainly left their imprint on the fashion climate over the years, but none will ever have the same allure as Sex.

browse designer bags

Kristi Yamaguchi Wins 'Dancing with the Stars'!

Source: ET
After a thrilling sixth season, "Dancing with the Stars" crowned its new champion on Tuesday night. For the first time since season one, a woman was named queen of the dance floor -- Olympic gold medalist ice skater KRISTI YAMAGUCHI took home the mirror ball trophy!
The season finale opened with thoughts from the three finalists, Kristi, CRISTIAN DE LA FUENTE and JASON TAYLOR. Cristian, who tore a muscle in his bicep a few weeks ago during a routine and has danced with only one arm since, said the show made him realize: "In life, everything is possible if you really work hard for it." Jason said bashfully, "I feel like I've kind of, found a new me a little bit," and added jokingly that he'll dance in the future "for the right price."
After a performance by USHER, the contestant who had taken third place was announced, and it was Cristian.
The Latin heartthrob said upon learning the news, "I would never have the feeling of going to a final after an injury if it wasn't for [my partner] CHERYL and I staying in the competition."
Host TOM BERGERON gave him props for courage, saying that when he heard that Cristian would remain in the competition despite his injury: "I thought, 'He's nuts!' What I've realized is, you're pretty amazing."
After Cheryl and Cristian danced their final dance, the paso doble, it was time for all the former contestants of the season to take the floor. PENN TELLER and KYM JOHNSON; MONICA SELES and JONATHAN ROBERTS; STEVE GUTTENBERG and ANNA TREBUNSKAYA; ADAM CAROLLA and JULIANNE HOUGH; PRISCILLA PRESLEY and LOUIS VAN AMSTEL; MARLEE MATLIN and FABIAN SANCHEZ; MARIO and KARINA SMIRNOFF; SHANNON ELIZABETH and DEREK HOUGH; and MARISSA JARET WINOKUR and TONY DOVOLANI all danced in the order they were voted off. Members of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad also took the dance floor to present the trophy to BRANDON and BRITTANY, the winners of the Junior Champions competition, and Usher took the floor for a second time in the evening.
Then it was time for the final two's last dances. For Kristi and partner MARK BALLAS' final dance, they did the jive for their third perfect score of the finale: a 30. Judge LEN GOODMAN raved, "Well, I've got to say, Kristi, for me you are the most consistent dancer not only on this season, any season. You are fantastic!" Judge BRUNO TONIOLI also called her "the most consistent we've ever had," also crowing, "Another great achievement from the great achiever!" Judge CARRIE ANN INABA thanked her for "representing the ladies so well," and said that she and Mark had "set the standard for this competition from day one."
Jason and partner EDYTA SLIWINSKA's quick step gave Kristi and Mark a run for their money, also earning a perfect score of 30. Bruno told the pair, "Jason and Edyta, I think the term heavenly bodies has been calling for you. You move like angels. I think this was your best performance. I loved it." Carrie Ann said, "It's definitely a showdown tonight," continuing on to say, "[The] elegance of your spirit shines through when you dance." Len said, "Kristi may be the judges champion, [but] you're the people's champion."
But when it came down to the combined vote, it was Kristi who was named the champion! The ice skater who received the highest judges' scores of any contestant in "Dancing" history exclaimed, "This is just the icing on the cake," before thanking the fans and cast and crew of the show. Her partner Mark thanked Kristi and also thanked the cast and crew.
For his part, Jason took the news that he had come in second place well, saying, "I never ever thought I would get to this point. ... Kristi is so deserving. ... Like she said, everybody has been so fantastic, the whole cast and crew."
A thrilled Kristi and Mark were then presented with the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Clinton wins Kentucky, Obama nomination leader

Source: Yahoo News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hillary Rodham Clinton won the Kentucky primary Tuesday, a victory of scant political value in a Democratic presidential race moving inexorably in Barack Obama's direction.
The two rivals also collided in Oregon's unique vote-by-mail contest, and Obama predicted he would finish the night with a majority of all delegates at stake in the 56 primaries and caucuses on the campaign calendar.
With votes counted from 41 percent of the Kentucky precincts, Clinton was gaining 57 percent support, compared with 40 percent for Obama.
Interviews with Kentucky voters leaving their polling places showed Clinton's victory was roughly as sweeping as the rout she fashioned last week in West Virginia.
Almost nine in 10 ballots were cast by whites, and the former first lady was winning their support overwhelmingly. She defeated her rival among voters of all age groups and incomes, the college educated and non-college educated, self-described liberals, moderates and conservatives.
Though Clinton has had a strong run through the late primaries, Obama has steadily outpaced her where it counts, in the race for national convention delegates.
With her Kentucky victory, Clinton picked up at least 27 delegates, with an additional 24 to be awarded.
Overall, Obama had 1,917 delegates, little more than 100 shy of the 2,026 needed to become the first black presidential nominee of a major party. The former first lady had 1,749.
Regardless of the results of the night's two primaries, Obama decided to mark a victory of sorts. He arranged an evening appearance in Iowa, site of his critical Jan. 3 caucus triumph that launched him on his way through the primaries that followed.
"The question then becomes how do we complete the nomination process so that we have the majority of the total number of delegates, including superdelegates, to be able to say this thing's over," Obama told The Associated Press in an interview.
Clinton looked for a consolation for the strongest presidential campaign of any woman in history. She hoped to finish with more votes than her rival in all the contests combined, including Florida and Michigan, two states that were stripped of their delegates by the national party for moving their primary dates too early.
Campaigning with his wife in Kentucky, former President Clinton dismissed Obama's inevitable claim on pledged delegates.
"There won't be tonight, unless you decapitate Michigan and Florida, which violates our values and is dumb politics," Bill Clinton said.
Kentucky, where Hillary Clinton concentrated much of her efforts in recent days, had 51 convention delegates at stake.
Oregon, where Obama invested his time and drew a crowd estimated by police at 75,000 over the weekend, had 52. The state also had the distinction of staging the only contest without a designated polling day. Instead, under a vote-by-mail system, election officials tallied all ballots received by 11 p.m. EDT on primary day.
The only primaries remaining are Puerto Rico, on June 1, followed two days later by South Dakota and Montana.
Increasingly, Obama has been concentrating his campaign on John McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting, rather than on Clinton.
The former first lady, too, has jettisoned the sharp attacks against Obama that characterized the race only a few weeks ago, although she bristled on Monday at his decision to focus on the fall campaign. "You can declare yourself anything, but if you don't have the votes, it doesn't matter," she said in an interview with an Oregon television station.
Even so, there was no shortage of signs that the closest Democratic nominating campaign in a generation was reaching its final stages after drawing more than 33 million voters to the polls and shattering numerous turnout records along the way.
As recently as May 6, Obama trailed Clinton among superdelegates, the officeholders and party leaders who will attend the national convention by virtue of their positions.
But in the days following his convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and his narrow defeat in Indiana, Obama has gained the support of at least 50 superdelegates and taken the lead in that category. Clinton has gained nine over that period.
Obama also has picked up the endorsements of former Sen. John Edwards, who dropped out of the race in the early going, two labor unions and NARAL Pro-Choice America. The abortion rights advocacy organization had supported Clinton throughout her political career.
Fundraisers for the two campaigns have held quiet discussions on working together in the fall campaign.
Additionally, Obama's top strategist, David Axelrod, disclosed he had contacted Clinton's former campaign manager about joining forces for the general election. Patti Solis Doyle confirmed what she called informal conversations about how she might help the Illinois senator if, as expected, he secures the presidential nomination

David Archuleta a KNOCK OUT !

AMERICAN IDOL:
Both David Cook and David Archuleta rocked it tonight, but as Simon put it, Archuleta was a KNOCK OUT.

So much for the speculation about IDOL'S favoritisim of David Cook. All judges agreed that David Archuleta was in the zone tonight and his song choice was on the mark.

The final competition used a fight night analogy and in the opening scenes showing both contestants in silk fighter robes, Archuleta looked like the youth that he is, swallowed up in the robe. Where is his sytlist? But Archuleta shone through when he took the stage and gave it his all with great performances and excellent song choices.

Both contestants should have promising futures and they totally rocked providing an evening of entertainment.

David Archuleta Voice Coach Claims David Cook Favoritism on American Idol

Heard this report on the radio and found the story on the National Ledger:

Who will win American idol? David Archuleta challenges rocker David Cook for the title tonight on Fox. Archuleta has already won the coin toss and he will get to go second this week. Despite the fact that his dad has reportedly been banned from the show he shouted out for his kid to go last in the contest. According to MTV you could hear Jeff Archuleta shout, "Second, Second!" Poor kid.
David Archuleta Voice Coach Claims David Cook Favoritism on American Idol (Fox)According to Vote for the Worst, an American idol website that gives suggestions on who American should vote for each week the fix is in, at least according to David Archuleta's voice coach. He is claiming that idol producers are favoring David Cook.

In an interview with the Fox affiliate in Utah, Archuleta Voice coach Dean Kaelin complained about the way the producers of American idol have positioned David's songs and complained that since his dad Jeff was stuck in the audience the producers made a tempo change that Jeff Archuleta would have refused. He basically said in the TV interview that the idol producers bullied Archuleta into singing a song with a different tempo. The voice coach also complained about "weird positioning" of the song choices with David Cook and the younger performer.David Archuleta already has a 'soft' image and seems to struggle in interviews and on the stage. He plays everything as safe as possible and having his voice coach sporting his very own conspiracy theories on video and on the air at My Fox Utah certainly isn't going to help his image at all.

Meanwhile in an interview on ELLEN today, Simon indicated that although it depends on song choice and could be close, he feels that David Cook will win based on his performance & charisma. He said that it is almost as though Archuleta has been trained since childhood to perform. Ellen is also a David Cook fan. Ellen held Simon accountable for some of the personal barbs he has thrown at contestants. See the video.

Doctors: Ted Kennedy has malignant brain tumor

Source: CNN

BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor, doctors treating him at Massachusetts General Hospital said Tuesday.

Sen. Edward Kennedy suffered a seizure Saturday in Hyannisport, Massachusetts.


Kennedy, 76, was hospitalized Saturday morning after suffering a seizure at his family's compound at Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
"Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe," according to a statement from Massachusetts General Hospital.
Malignant glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, accounting for more than half of the 18,000 primary malignant brain tumors diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.

A tumor in that area of the brain could affect Kennedy's ability to speak and understand speech, as well as the strength on the right side of his body, CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta said.

Ebay Prohibits Mystery Auctions & Allows Blog Links

Ebay announced a number of policy changes late Monday May 19th including:

Elimination of Mystery Auctions due to the large number of resulting complaints.

Permission to add links to product related blogs & site (see guidelines):

Modifications to Best Match search penalizing sellers rated as having higher shipping costs.

Sellers can now use one listing for a choice of sizes or colors. Previously each choice required a separate listing.

see ebay announcement

Update: Lindsay Lohan Accused of Stealing Mink Coat

NEW YORK, New York --
Read the latest on the lawsuit filed by a New York City college who claims that actress Lindsay Lohan, took her mink coat.

see full story on Access Hollywood

Vegas Sets The Odds On ‘Idol,’ ‘Dancing’

Source: Access Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Las Vegas has laid down the odds on the two biggest reality shows of the season – “American Idol” and “Dancing With the Stars.”
Teenager David Archuleta is a slight favorite to be crowned the next “Idol,” according to John Avello, director of the Race & Sports Book at Wynn Las Vegas Resort.
The Utah 17-year-old has been given less than even money odds at 5:6.
Meanwhile, rocker David Cook has been pegged as an even odds bet at the casino.
Over on the “Dancing With the Stars” scoreboard, Kristi Yamaguchi is an overwhelming favorite to take home the mirror ball trophy, being given 4:5 odds.
Football star Jason Taylor was given 5:2 odds to win, while injured Latin heartthrob Cristian de la Fuente has been dubbed a 5:1 longshot to win.

The Davids Speak Out About the 'Idol' Finale

Source: ET

It's DAVID COOK vs. DAVID ARCHULETA when the "American Idol" finale takes place tonight -- live from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, airing at 8 p.m. on FOX. This will be the first time the two Davids sing on the Nokia stage, so how do they think it's going to affect their performances?
"You know, it's interesting," Cook comments. "I've always been really kind of confused by the idea, like the smaller the crowd for me, the more nervous I tend to get. Having the Nokia full, should be great. But you know, win or lose; I think we both win, so for me now, it's just kind of enjoying the moment."
Archuleta chimes in, "I don't think it'll be too different because the audience is still going to be big on the other side of the camera, watching on TV, so while there's more people live … I don't know. I guess I'll have to see once I go and rehearse and stuff."
It has been a busy time for both "Idol" finalists, who, if last year is any indication, will both land a recording contract. The winner of the competition, of course, will put out the first single. The tune will be the one that wins the songwriting competition. In fact, that song will be performed tonight by both artists.
"To be where I was at before, now to be standing on the finale stage and have, a 50 percent chance of my name being called, is pretty heavy, you know. So for me, it's just, either way, I'm content," Cook says.
Archuleta, who modestly says he has never expected to make the finals, admits he has gotten some great advice along the way: "Every single person always has something good to say, from Cook to the people helping us out, to family, to friends, to just people you meet and fan mail. People always have some good stuff to say."

Obama to reach delegate milestone Tuesday

Source: Yahoo News

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama will reach a significant milestone Tuesday as he marches toward the Democratic nomination for president — a majority of pledged delegates at stake in all the primaries and caucuses.

Obama will still be short of the overall number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination, unless he were to suddenly receive an avalanche of endorsements from the party and elected officials known as superdelegates. But the Illinois senator's campaign is touting the delegate milestone as a big step in defeating his rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
"A clear majority of elected delegates will send an unmistakable message — the people have spoken, and they are ready for change," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in a memo to supporters Monday.
"As we near victory in one contest, the next challenge is already heating up," Plouffe wrote. "President Bush and Senator McCain have begun coordinating their attacks on Barack Obama in an effort to extend their failed policies for a third term."
Obama picked up the endorsement of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia Monday, less than a week after Clinton overwhelmingly won the state's primary. Byrd is the longest serving member of the U.S. Senate.
Obama has led in pledged delegates since he won the first caucuses in Iowa on Jan. 3. The two candidates stayed close through Super Tuesday, when Democrats voted in 22 states and American Samoa. Obama won 13 more delegates than Clinton that day — out of nearly 1,700 at stake.
Obama built an imposing lead the following two weeks, winning 11 straight contests in states such as Louisiana, Maryland, Washington and Virginia. He led by 161 pledged delegates on Feb. 19, after victories in Wisconsin and Hawaii. The lead has been relatively unchanged ever since as the candidates spent the past three months trading victories.
Obama goes into Tuesday's contests with 1,610.5 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses. He needs 17 more to reach a majority of the 3,253 pledged delegates available. Clinton has 1,443.5 pledged delegates, according to the latest tally by The Associated Press.
Clinton's campaign played down the significance of the milestone, accusing Obama of declaring victory without reaching the required number of overall delegates.
"Premature victory laps and false declarations of victory are unwarranted. Declaring 'mission accomplished' does not make it so," Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director, said in a memo to supporters.
Obama has a total of 1,915 delegates overall, including endorsements from superdelegates. Clinton has 1,721, according to the latest AP count.
Obama is a little more than 100 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination. He cannot make up that ground in the Kentucky and Oregon primaries because of the proportional way in which Democrats award delegates. The two states have a total of 103 delegates at stake Tuesday.
But winning a majority of pledged delegates could help his case with undecided superdelegates, who are free to support whomever they choose at the party's national convention in August. Obama argues that superdelegates should support the candidate who wins the most delegates in the primaries and caucuses. Otherwise, he says, they would be overturning the will of the voters.
Obama, who overtook Clinton in superdelegate endorsements a little more than a week ago, picked up six more Monday. Clinton added none.
Clinton argues that superdelegates should exercise independent judgment.
Her campaign is also trying to change the math by getting the delegates seated from the Michigan and Florida primaries. Clinton won both primaries, but the states had been stripped of their delegates for violating party rules by holding their primaries before Feb. 5.
The Democratic National Committee's rules panel is scheduled to address the issue May 31. If any of the delegates are reinstated, it would increase the number needed to clinch the nomination.

The Stars Pick Their Faves to Win DWTS

Source: PEOPLE

”To be honest, I’m really hoping Kristi will, I’m not sure if she will because I think they always kinda go for the underdogs, but I’m really hoping she wins. I think it’s about time for another girl to win.” — Two-time DWTS pro champ Julianne Hough
• ”Kristi and Jason–it’s going to be tough. Jason might take it. He’s grown over time. You see him from the very first time, he was stiff. And now he’s very agile as far as everything he’s been doing. It’s great to watch.”–Singing Bee host and season four runner-up Joey Fatone
• “Dancing with the Stars is one of our favorite shows (wife Elizabeth). We love it. We watch it every week…I am rooting for Jason, the football player. He has extraordinary lines. And he’s beautiful and Edyta is beautiful. They are a great combination. –William Shatner
• ”I can say this: It would be nice if a female won Dancing with the Stars this year. We’ve got a good candidate with Kristi Yamaguchi.” –DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba• “I’m going with Cristian de Le Fuente. The ladies love him, he’s doing well, he’s showing improvement. And he’s what it’s all about – a guy who doesn’t have the background, doesn’t have the experience and he’s stepping up. And the injury never hurts. I mean, it hurts! But it doesn’t hurt with the sympathy votes.” –Season six contestant, radio deejay Adam Corolla
• ”Jason Taylor. I think he’s the best candidate. Women are still the voters.” –DWTS pro Louis Van Amstel
• I love Kristi [Yamaguchi]. I think she’s great and adorable. –Ali Landry
• ”I really like Jason. I think he and Edyta are so sexy, but I really want a woman to win. I always have. Kristi Yamaguchi is fantastic. And I just like her energy.” –Season two finalist Stacy Keibler
• “I have to say, I’m an athlete so I’m rooting for my fellow athletes to win. Kristi is great and Jason is great, so either one would be fine with me.” –Season four champ Apolo Anton Ohno
Reporting by Bryan Alexander, Elaine Aradillas, Shayna Rose Arnold, Mark Dagostino, Scott Huver, Katie Knauss, Kimberly Lansing, and Monica Rizzo
Read what the finalists have to say about tonight’s finale showdown here!

Kristie blew it out of the water with perfect 10 perfermances!

Desperate Housewives Finale Shocker: Susan Doesn't End Up With Mike

Desperate Housewives Finale Shocker: Susan Doesn't End Up With Mike

On Sunday's season finale of Desperate Housewives, the final minutes of the show flashed ahead five years with some real surprises.
The highlights:
--Susan (Teri Hatcher) apparently isn't wed to Mike (James Denton) anymore. She is seen entering her house and calling out, "Honey, I'm home" — to a mystery man!
--Bree (Marcia Cross) is a star caterer and author of a cookbook. She also is back on with her husband Orson (Kyle MacLachlan).
--Gaby (Eva Longoria) is now a mom: Her two little girls are seen playing with her makeup and her clothes. They did not show who the father was.
-- One of Lynette's (Felicity Huffman) twins, who are now teens, gets arrested for stealing a car.
-- Katherine (Dana Delaney) is elated because her daughter Dylan phones her to tell her she's getting hitched.

Fashion Faceoff HEIDI VS. MARIAH

Source: PEOPLE'S Style Watch

Two stars, one look. You decide: Who wears it better?

HEIDI VS. MARIAH


The Project Runway host shone in her Roberto Cavalli dress at an Oscar party, while the newlywed hit the stage for the Time 100 Most Influential People gala in her sexy silver dress.

grab a glam evening bag

craving a clutch purse?

Fergie’s Newest Role: Shoe Maven

Source: PEOPLE's Off The Rack

With her stellar singing career and super-hot fiance Josh Duhamel, we have to admit we wouldn’t mind putting ourselves in Fergie’s shoes — and soon we’ll be able to! The singer has just announced that she’ll be sharing her glam star style with a new line of footwear for Brown Shoes. “I have always loved fashion,” she says, “because it’s a great way to express your mood. And I’m definitely a shoe lover!” As for why she chose to go with shoes, the star explains, “The right pair of shoes can change the feel of an outfit — and even change how a woman feels about herself. A woman can wear confidence on her feet with a high stiletto, or slip into weekend comfort with a soft ballet flat.” We can’t wait to check out the full collection when it launches in Spring 2009.

Man's rare ability may unlock secret of memory

Source: CNN

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (CNN) -- Give Brad Williams a date, and he can usually tell you not only what he was doing but what world events happened that day. He can do this for almost every day of his life.

Williams is one of only three people in the world identified with this off-the-charts autobiographical memory, according to researchers at the University of California-Irvine who gave the condition its name: hyperthymestic syndrome, from the Greek words for excessive (hyper) and remembering (thymesis).
Unlike most people whose memories fade with time, much of Williams' life is etched indelibly in his mind. "It's just there," said Williams, 51, who reports the news for a family of radio stations in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The California researchers are studying Williams and the two others with hyperthymestic syndrome, a man in Ohio and woman in California, hoping to gain new insights into how a superior memory works. The goal of the study is to find a way to help people with failing memory. Williams didn't realize how exceptional his memory was until his brother Eric told him about an article published two years ago in the journal Neurocase, describing a woman referred to by the initials, A.J.

"My brother in California saw this and said, 'She sounds like you. Why don't we talk to the folks at Irvine?'" Williams said. At Irvine, researchers quizzed Williams, as they have the two other hyperthymestics, about a series of dates, asking for the corresponding event, and vice-versa.
"The speed with which they do this is part of why I find this so amazing because it seems to indicate there's no -- or not much -- intentional calculation going on. It's boom, boom, boom, there's the answer," said Larry Cahill, a fellow at the university's Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. "Remember, these are questions they had no idea what we're going to ask them."Now researchers are using an MRI to create three-dimensional pictures of the hyperthymestic brain. They want to see whether any brain structures differ in size, compared with the average brain.

Source: CNN

Sen. Edward Kennedy apparently suffered a seizure this morning before being rushed to the hospital, a statement from his office said. Kennedy is resting comfortably and is undergoing tests at Massachusetts General Hospital, the statement said.

"He is undergoing a battery of tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure. Sen. Kennedy is resting comfortably, and it is unlikely we will know anything more for the next 48 hours," a statement from his office said.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Saturday he spoke to the wife of the Massachussetts Democrat, Vicki, and that she told him that her husband is going to be fine.

"Everyone knows he is a strong fighter," Reid said, speaking at the Nevada state Democratic Party convention.

Ellen's Big Announcement

Source: ET

Airing today, ELLEN DeGENERES says she and long time girlfriend PORTIA DE ROSSI are planning to wed now that California has ruled the State's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. Watch the emotional clip, but grab a tissue first!

People over 60 urged to get one-time shingles shot

Source: AP
ATLANTA - People 60 and older should get a one-time shingles shot that can help prevent the painful rash, U.S. health officials are recommending. There's a 50-50 chance the shot will prevent shingles for those 60 and up, though the odds get worse the older you get. But shingles can be severe for some people, and the government believes it's worth the $160-per-dose cost.

Caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, shingles is a blistering skin rash most common in older people. It usually ends after four weeks, but one in five victims develop long-term nerve pain. Other complications include scarring and loss of vision or hearing.
The chickenpox infects about 95 percent of Americans, although some suffer mild illness and may not know they've had it. As many as one in three infected people develop shingles later in life.

Even those who have already had shingles should get the shot if they are over 60, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
The vaccination was recommended by an influential government advisory panel in 2006. The CDC officially adopted the recommendation this week.
The announcement should encourage more doctors to give the shot and lead more private insurers to pay for it, said Kelley Dougherty of Merck & Co., the drug company that makes the only available shingles vaccine. About 2.5 million doses have already been distributed.

CRISTIAN DE LA FUENTE Schedules Arm Surgery

ET breaks news that "Dancing with the Stars"' finalist CRISTIAN DE LA FUENTE, who tore a muscle in his bicep during a dance two weeks ago, has scheduled surgery for next Friday, after the finale.
The former "CSI: Miami" and telenovela star told us, "The arm cannot improve unless I have surgery and I have surgery scheduled for next Friday."
He said that his arm is hindering him in some ways in preparing for the upcoming finale: "The problem right now is that we don't use [the arm in our routine], but sometimes if we fall after a lift or something, and I put my weight on my arm, it really hurts.
"Yesterday that happened," he continued. "And you know, it's something that we really have to avoid because besides losing a half an hour of rehearsal [waiting] for the pain to go away, it hurts, you know, and we don't want that."
His partner CHERYL BURKE agreed, chiming in, "Last night he almost fell on the arm."

Angelina Jolie's Twins Are Due Aug. 19

Actress confirms twins; actor Dustin Hoffman says she's due August 19

Today show reporter Natalie Morales revealed on Thursday's program that Hoffman told her the babies were due Aug. 19. The new arrivals will be the fifth and sixth children for the Jolie and Pitt. The family currently consists of Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, Zahara, 3, and Shiloh, who turns 2 this month.

The interview was given alongside actor Jack Black, Jolie's co-star in the new Dreamworks animated film, “Kung Fu Panda.”
In a separate interview at Cannes, actor Dustin Hoffman — also Jolie's "Kung Fu Panda" co-star — revealed to Morales that Jolie's due date is August 19.