Hollywood's Hottest Summer Trends CHUNKY LAYERED NECKLACES

CHUNKY LAYERED NECKLACES
Sarah Jessica Parker (at an event in NYC) and Blake Lively (at a party in NYC) punched up their metallic sheaths with bold statement-making jewels.

Source: US Magazine

Teen pop stars threatened by alleged stalker

Source: E!


Authorities are accusing an Ohio man of stalking the tween-fave pop queens Aly & AJ, otherwise known as Alyson Michalka, 19, and Amanda Michalka, 17.

Rex Mettler appeared in Fairfield County Municipal Court Friday and pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of menacing by stalking, per the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Bond was set at $250,000.

Mettler was ordered to submit to a mental-health assessment and is due back in court July 3 for a preliminary hearing.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was tipped off about threats purportedly directed at the siblings and in turn contacted authorities in Lancaster, Ohio, where local police took the 42-year-old Mettler into custody yesterday at his job at a water-bottling company.

According to Sgt. Mike Peters, investigators obtained further evidence after executing a search warrant on Mettler's residence.

Police would not comment on whether the threats specifically dealt with the sisters' concert Friday night in Cincinnati, 100 miles south of Lancaster. Promoters said the show would go on as scheduled.

But the alleged harassment dates back to December, when Mettler began sending emails, handwritten notes and making blog posts targeting the teen singers. His identity was uncovered after Los Angeles sheriff's deputies traced emails to his computer through his IP address.

Alyson (aka Aly) played the bubbly Keely Teslow on the Disney Channel's time-traveling comedy Phil of the Future from 2004 to 2006.

Amanda (AJ) has appeared on General Hospital and HBO's Six Feet Under and has a bit role in Peter Jackson's highly anticipated film The Lovely Bones.

As Aly & AJ, the sisters toured with Miley Cyrus earlier this year and have released three albums, the first of which, Into the Rush, went platinum.

Jennifer Aniston Waits Backstage at John Mayer Concert

Source: PEOPLE
Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer continued to keep their romance firmly off the radar Saturday.

Slipping unnoticed into the musician's backstage area at the Hard Rock Calling festival in London's Hyde Park, Aniston stood quietly in the wings while the "Georgia Calling" singer ran through a 45-minute set in front of an audience of ten of thousands.

But the actress wasn't just there to lend moral support: wearing a black-and-white floral halter-neck top and faded flared jeans, Aniston busily snapped away with her camera to record Mayer's on-stage performance.

It was the second time in two days that Aniston had joined Mayer for one of his gigs. On Friday, she took a seat in the upper level of the gritty south London venue, the Brixton Academy, before leaving with Mayer at around 11:30 p.m.

Earlier this week, the couple united in Amsterdam, where she was promoting the upcoming Marley and Me (with Owen Wilson) and Mayer was performing.

In keeping with the low-key theme of her London visit, she never once ventured into the Hard Rock VIP area and quietly left the show without anyone noticing.

Even the paparazzi camped outside her London hotel were left guessing.

Mayer later appeared on stage at the end of the show alongside headliner Eric Clapton and Aniston's close friend Sheryl Crow. But again Aniston was absent.

Mayer is due to perform at the Glastonbury Festival on Sunday. His European tour then moves onto Copenhagen.

Model dies in fall from NYC building

NEW YORK (AP,Photo:USA Today) — A cover model for European Vogue has fallen to her death from her Manhattan apartment building in an apparent suicide.
The New York Post and Newsday say 20-year-old Ruslana Korushnova died Saturday afternoon in the Financial District. The newspapers cited unnamed officials and police.

Police say the fall is under investigation.

The British edition of Vogue hailed Korushnova as "a face to be excited about" in 2003.

The telephone rang unanswered at Korushnova's New York agency Saturday evening. A spokeswoman for medical examiners has not immediately returned a telephone call.

Blake Lewis Parts Ways With Arista Records; Plans Next Album

Photo: Will Ragozzino/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, Calif. Source: LA Times
'I guess in the world of radio, selling 300,000 is not a success. I beg to differ,' beatboxing singer says.Views 6,909

As far as Blake Lewis is concerned, selling close to 300,000 copies of his debut LP, A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream), was a "huge success" — at least on a personal level. Apparently, Arista Records has a different definition of success.

The atypical "American Idol" alumnus (he was the season-six runner-up, ultimately losing out to Jordin Sparks) told MTV News that he parted ways with Arista just seven months after his record landed in stores. That makes his the shortest of all the relationships forged between former "Idol" contenders and their various record labels. But the beatboxer would like to clarify one point: He wasn't dropped by the label — the relationship merely dissolved.

"My contract with Arista is up, and they didn't option me, so I'm with 19 Recordings and we're working on booking a tour," he explained. "Arista went through a lot of changes. The person who was working on my record was fired. ... I guess in the world of radio, selling 300,000 is not a success. I beg to differ. I couldn't be happier, and my fans are amazing and super-supportive."

The label setback isn't about to deter Lewis from continuing his music career. He said he's already written four songs for his sophomore LP, which he's working on with his band's drummer, Kevin "KJ" Sawka. The pair will be co-producing the effort, which Lewis describes as "Massive Attack meets Zero 7 — drum-and-bass with a little pop influence."

But who will release the record when it's in the bag? Lewis said he may release the disc through his own label, which he's in the process of getting off the ground. "I'm super-passionate about this record," he said. "Who knows what's in store? Half the year's over, and it's only going to keep going."

Lewis believes sales of his album were hurt because he couldn't get Top 40 radio to spin the LP's first single, "Break Anotha." He also thinks it might not have been the best choice as a lead single.

"I did a track with Lupe Fiasco called 'Know My Name,' and I thought that would have been a better single," he said, adding that he's about to meet with Simon Fuller, who created "American Idol" and runs 19 Recordings, to see if he can get his debut offering released overseas. "It was largely influenced by '80s music and electronic music, so I want to get over there and tour as much as possible."

In the eyes of some of his fans, Lewis is a casualty of the "American Idol" machine. As history has shown, "Idol" runner-ups generally aren't given the same label support as the show's champs, making it even more challenging for them to sustain their post-"Idol" momentum. But Lewis doesn't feel he was shafted for his second-place finish.

"I got to make an album I'm proud of, and I worked my butt off on this music," he said. "Regardless of if it's a huge mainstream success or not, I've been an independent artist for the last eight years, and I'll keep it that way if I have to. I don't think I got shafted — they treated me well. It's just that the industry is eating itself alive. There are only three major labels left, and I have experienced the deterioration of the industry."

How to brave bathing suit shopping

No matter how great your body, women everywhere cringe when it's time to enter the fluorescent-lit dressing room with a bunch of skimpy bathing suits. With a few quick tricks and some suits targeted at different problem areas, TODAY style contributor Stacy London hopes to make the experience of finding the right suit a little less painful.

Tips before hitting the dressing room
1. Try applying a light self-tanner for a few days prior to shopping for a suit since pale skin and dressing room lighting rarely make for a good mix. And shave or wax or whatever — hairy in fluorescent lighting doesn't work either.

2. Remember it is more than likely you are a different size in swimwear than you are in clothing. Most women can be up to three sizes larger in swimsuits than their clothes. Do not let this get to you — make sure you find the suit that fits well and gives you the proper coverage and lift where you need it. Size be damned.

3. It is OK to buy without try. Some people feel much less self-conscious when trying swimsuits on at home. As long as you try them on with underwear and keep the tags on, this is fine. Swimsuit shopping is emotional. Do what makes you feel most comfy.

Midsection (shown above)
Many women carry their weight in their midsection, especially postpregnancy. To create balance in the body, go for a tankini that has a V-neck and rusching in the midsection. This wrapping effect creates an hourglass silhouette by holding the tummy area in. The visual effect balances the body and our eyes are drawn to the shoulder and the leg line. Swimsuit: Carmen Marc Valvo top, $81; Carmen Marc Valvo bottom, $60



Bigger bust
You do not need to be stick-thin to wear a bikini! When you have a larger chest, do look for a top that has full cups with an underwire. You want to make sure your chest doesn't make a surprise appearance when you go for a swim!

If traditional straps like the ones here don't feel secure enough, look for a halter to tie around the neck, which will help you control how high you can hoist the girls. Also, the brief here is a string bikini bottom. The brief, which gives fuller coverage, helps to balance a larger chest. Swimsuit Athena, Macy's: top $52 bottom $44




Bigger on bottom
Many companies are making three-piece tankinis now that come with a top, a brief and a miniskirt. The skirt is made of the same swimsuit material and can be worn in the water or as a cover-up. This is particularly helpful for women who carry their weight in their bottom half.

The deep V and the printed top naturally pull the focus upward. The A-line of the miniskirt actually floats off the tush and hips and flatters the leg line. A darker solid color also helps to camouflage a larger bottom.Swimsuit Merona at Kohl's, top$19.99 bottom $19.99





Well-proportioned
Even if your body line is in proportion, make sure you choose a swimsuit that doesn't skew that balance. Look for a moderately thick, widely placed strap with a V-neck. Pleating or rusching under the bustline will call attention to the smallest part of your frame.

Look for a medium-high cut on the leg hole to give you the longest leg line and enough coverage in the seat. One-pieces have been making a big return, not just for balancing the body shape but for those seeking a bit of modesty in a string-bikini world! Swimsuit: Gottex, $178, Saks

Mario Lopez 'Chesthairgate' Scandal

In the annals of celebrity scandal, the question of whether a Saved By the Bell co-star fibbed about his chest hair would surely rank below most — but not to the aggrieved, vigilant readers of Star magazine. After Mario Lopez gave an interview with People where he testified — under oath, no doubt — that he has never had to manscape, Star dug out old photos of the Dancing with the Stars alum that tell a different tale. What started as an eagle-eyed catch by connoisseurs of celebrity skin quickly became full-on outrage from fans of Lopez. Source: Star Magazine

Jennifer Garner Ben Affleck SPLIT STORY SQUASHED

Jennifer’s Garner’s rep has denied rumours that the actress has split with her husband Ben Affleck, saying that they are “100% completely fabricated”. Media reports speculated a potential split because the couple are always seen with their two-year-old daughter Violet separately but the Alias star’s rep said that "There is not one ounce of truth to it." The couple have been married three years and last year Garner said of their relationship: "One thing that makes it not not work is that we're both pretty nice." SOURCE: USMAGAZINE.COM & Glamour.com

Tie A Perfect Beach Coverup

1 -minute step by step


Materials:
Start with a large scarf (this one is 44" x 68").

Instructions
1. Hold it at your back, fold upper edge over and wrap top corners forward around your chest.
3. Knot scarf twice; twist ends.
3. Wrap under bust and tuck under arms to secure.

Source: Womand's Day Magazine

‘Idol’ Davids on ‘The View’ today

LAS VEGAS, NV --
“American Idol” champ David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta performed on “The View” today in Las Vegas. Both sang some of their best rated songs from the show and sang them well: David A. performed “Stand By Me” followed by David C. performing “Time of My Life”.

Interview highlights included:
Anyone Special in your life?
David A: not thinking about that right now – focusing on the music
David C: played it coy, indicated there was someone (not giving Kimberly Caldwell’s name) who "is not here today".


Who were your idols (musically) growing up?
David A: admired Eva Cassidy for her sensitive & expressive style
David C: his parents, who were in the audience, were the biggest influence. “Dad played guitar and both are brilliant”

Thoughts on press re Dad Jeff Archuleta being controlling:
Jeff Archuleta (from audience): David is such a good kid that people couldn’t find anything bad to say about him.
David C: never saw anything from Jeff Archuleta but a loving, caring father.

The 51 city American Idol Tour starts July 1st.

Photos: Access Hollywood

Randy Jackson Gets Creepy Birthday Gift from Simon Cowell

Randy Jackson celebrated his 52nd birthday party in Las Vegas over the weekend – and what did fellow American Idol judge Simon Cowell get him?

"A barbaric-looking sword," says Jackson. "I don't know what part of me he wants to cut off, but that's a whole 'nother thing."

PEOPLE reports that the acerbic Cowell wasn't on hand at the bash Saturday at TAO Las Vegas to explain (though such stars as Rosario Dawson and Karina Smirnoff were there), and Jackson held hope that third judge Paula Abdul could do a little better.

"Paula has not given me anything yet but I think I know what she's getting me," says Jackson. "I was talking to her last week so she knows what I want. It will be something I can use instead of looking at and saying, 'What the hell is this?'"

Free Fitness Tool: Go (virtually) the extra mile

People who track their fitness are more likely to stick with it, experts say. Now there is an easy and free tool to help do just that. TrackandFitness.com lets you set goals, input your daily exercise and translates it into a real life trip across America along the Santa Fe trail. Each mile you log in moves you across the virtual "country".

Source: Woman's Day

Legendary Comedian George Carlin Dies at 71

George Carlin, the edgy comedian and counterculture icon, died Sunday at the age of 71.

The stand-up comic and author – best known for his groundbreaking routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" – reportedly died of heart failure at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. (Carlin, who was open about his long struggle with drugs and alcohol, had a history of heart problems, including a previous heart attack.)

In 1978, the bearded comedian famous for his clever wordplay and often-explicit commentary on sex, drugs and the absurdities of modern life found himself in the middle of a court battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

But even after the high court ruled that his "Seven Words" routine was indecent, Carlin refused to abandon the material. (He was arrested several times after performing the bit live, although the cases were always dismissed.)

The author of 1997's bestselling Brain Droppings, Carlin remained active on the stand-up circuit. Just last weekend, he performed The Orleans in Las Vegas, the New York Times reports.

In November, the Grammy-winner was scheduled to receive the John F. Kennedy Center's coveted Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Wade, and daughter, Kelly Carlin McCall. Carlin's first wife, Brenda Hosbrook, died in 1997.

A fierce critic of modern civilization, Carlin told Playboy in 2005 that his vision of the afterlife included a "heavenly CNN."

"The world is a big theater-in-the round as far as I'm concerned, and I'd love to watch it spin itself into oblivion," he told the magazine. "Tune in and watch the human adventure ... That's what I want heaven to be."

Source: People

Stars Turn Out To Celebrate Rihanna and Gucci

Hollywood’s most stylish stars turned out this week to celebrate a great combination: Gucci and Rihanna. Guests like Sophia Bush, Nicky Hilton, Zach Braff, Camilla Belle and Rashida Jones mingled at the elegant rooftop lounge, ABH, atop the Thompson Beverly Hills Hotel and dined on luxe fare. And the party’s guest of honor couldn’t have been happier. “It’s really nice,” she told PEOPLE of being honored. “Gucci is here, and we support each other.” But the singer’s superstar supporters were just as honored to receive an invite. “I am a big Rihanna fan,” One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush told PEOPLE. “She’s really one in a million, and at the level she is, she is so sweet and genuine and kind,” while Jones gushed, “I’m excited to meet her! She’s really cool. So beautiful and so talented.” But hanging out with the singer wasn’t guests’ only reward. Long tables lined with Gucci shopping bags were filled with an extra-special surprise — all the ladies at the event were gifted with Gucci’s much-coveted Hysteria Clutch.

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Honeymoon Murder? Husband Charged in Scuba Death

Source: People
Five years after Christina Mae Watson died while scuba diving on her honeymoon, authorities in Australia now believe she was murdered – and they've charged her husband with the crime.

David Gabriel Watson, 31, of Birmingham, Ala., faces possible extradition to Australia, where the coroner issued the murder indictment Friday after an investigation spanning months. If convicted of murder, the maximum penalty is life in prison.

"He's very disappointed, very distraught and displeased," his attorney, Bob Austin, said, according to the Australian Associated Press.

The couple had been married just 11 days when Christina, who went by "Tina," drowned while diving in October 2003 at a shipwreck in the waters off the northeastern city of Townsville.

Her husband, who calls himself Gabe, told Queensland police his wife, a novice diver, panicked minutes after entering the water and grabbed his mask, pushing it off his face. Gabe, who is a certified rescue diver, then swam to the surface instead of helping her. Another member of the dive team, who stopped to photograph his dive buddy with an underwater camera, inadvertently captured a photo of her body lying on the seabed.

A witness during the coroner's inquest testified Watson's ascent to the surface was "pedestrian and controlled," contradicting Watson's statements to the police that he "rocketed to the top." In addition, Tina's father, Tommy Thomas, told authorities that Gabe had asked her before their wedding to increase her life insurance and make him the sole beneficiary.

"We're actually relieved to hear the coroner's findings," Thomas told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "It's something that we have dealt with for quite some time and it validated our beliefs."

Glamour Dos & Don'ts - celeb face tees

face tees
This year, stars are all about wearing their favorite celebs. And that's a Do. But when YOU are your favorite celeb? You guessed it: a Don't!

FENCING PARTNERS: Tom Cruise, Will Smith& David Beckham

Tom Cruise has persuaded his Hollywood pals, Will Smith and David Beckham, to take up fencing with him. "Tom has a room for training. We don't get enough time for hanging out, just us three guys, so this is his way of getting together and bonding,” Will Smith told the Daily Mail. "David and I go to his home and just do fencing. It's a lot of fun. We wanted an activity that was strenuous, but we're getting older - we have to think about slowing down. We've got to watch our joints. Especially my knee... Ow," he added.
SOURCE: Glamour Gossip & DAILY MAIL, photo fabsugar

Jamie Lynn Spears Has a Baby Girl

Source PEOPLE
There is a new baby in the Spears clan! Jamie Lynn Spears and her fiancé Casey Aldridge welcomed a baby girl Thursday morning.

PEOPLE confirms exclusively that the baby was named Maddie Briann.

"Just the family was there," says a source about the birth around 9:30 a.m. at a hospital in Mississippi, near her Louisiana hometown. "Everyone is healthy and happy."

Jamie Lynn's sister Britney, father Jamie and brother Bryan flew in Wednesday to be with her for the birth; her mother Lynne had been with her helping her get ready for the baby.

Since announcing her pregnancy in December, Britney’s little sister has retreated from the bright lights of Hollywood, opting for the comforts of her hometown of Kentwood, La.

With her Nickelodeon show Zoey 101 already ended, Jamie Lynn went home to prepare for the birth of her baby. The actress, 17, and Aldridge, 19, got engaged in March. Recently, the couple purchased a three-bedroom home in Liberty, Miss., where Aldridge went to high school.

Over the last few months, Spears has kept busy by passing her GED exam, preparing the nursery and attending multiple baby showers.

Jamie Lynn's Zoey 101 costar, Erin Sanders, told PEOPLE earlier this year that the actress will be a fun mother.

"She is just a very good-hearted and warm person," he said. "We would always hang out on the set and she is a lot of fun, so I think she's going to be an easygoing, fun mom."

Nicole's Revealing Vogue Interview

Source: popsugar
We already knew that Nicole Kidman would be Vogue's July cover girl, and she looks wistful, gorgeous and stylish in the Annie Leibovitz photo shoot. Just as expected, her baby bump is barely showing, but you can see how Nicole has been influenced by her pregnancy in the article. She speaks up about being a mom-to-be, her relationship with Keith, and filming Australia in the emotional interview.

On the new baby: "When I first saw the baby on the ultrasound, I started crying. I didn't think I'd get to experience that in my lifetime. I like the unpredictable nature of it. To feel life growing with you is something very, very special, and I'm going to embrace that completely. I don't believe in flittering around the edges of things. You're either going to walk through life and experience it fully or you're going to be a voyeur. And I'm not a voyeur."

On finding Keith after her marriage to Tom: "Keith and I, we're more like, 'Hey' [she shrugs and smiles]. We just gently, gently sort of fell into each other. We were just two lonely people who went, 'Ah, there you are.' I'm so committed to this relationship, and so is he. I don't have addiction problems, but love is a very powerful force in my life. It's my fatal flaw and my virtue."

On living in Tennessee: "I've been in Tennessee, just sitting. We have a farm there, and I have an organic vegetable garden. This is a path I'd not taken before. My mum's always gardened. My sister gardens. And I've now conformed to the Kidman women's hobby of gardening. And it is just a hobby. I'm not feeding the troops. There's a softness to the Tennessee landscape that I just love. It's very beautiful out there. We have deer and wild turkeys."

Star-Tested Summer Beauty Secrets FIGHT FRIZZ

FIGHT FRIZZ
Getting Lauren Conrad's silky-smooth waves or Audrina Patridge's superstraight do doesn't need to be a battle this summer, Christine Symonds, celebrity & Hills star's stylist at Warren-Tricomi L.A. tells StyleWatch. "The best way to fight summer frizz, is to get a good anti-humectant product, like Warren-Tricomi's Finishing Cream. Or just run a little of any essential oil through your hair – or even a light lotion if your hair is fine."

PayPal Clarifies Language in New Policy Update

Source: AuctionBytes
PayPal amended its policy update that goes into effect on July 9 to be clearer about requirements for eBay sellers who ship internationally. PayPal made the change after an AuctionBytes article reported the original update, which had read, "Section 4.3 is amended so that eBay sellers must accept international PayPal transactions if the eBay listing offers shipping outside the US."

PayPal spokesperson Michael Oldenburg said because of bad language of the original policy update, it was modifying the update to be clearer that eBay was not requiring all international shippers to accept PayPal. The new policy update actually specifies that if eBay sellers accept PayPal, they must accept it for all transactions, both domestic and international. "The way it was communicated on our site was a little inaccurate," he said.

Section 4.3 currently has three parts (a through c). Oldenburg sent AuctionBytes a revised copy of section 4.3 showing how it will read, with two additional points (d and e):

Section 4.3: Use of PayPal on eBay. Sellers who offer PayPal as a payment method in their eBay listings must follow these requirements:

a Accept PayPal if the eBay listing includes PayPal as a payment method.

b Accept all PayPal funding sources from a buyer, including but not limited to eCheck and credit cards.

c Have a Premier or Business account or be willing to upgrade to a Premier or Business account upon receipt of a payment.

d Accept international PayPal transactions if the eBay listing offers shipping outside the US.

e Sellers may not charge a surcharge for accepting PayPal as a payment method.

Clooney Off the Market?

Goodbye Sarah -- hello mystery woman? As actor George Clooney relaxes on Lake Como, new rumors circulated today that the world's most eligible bachelor is already off the market! PerezHilton reports that an unidentified brunette has been spotted at his $10 million mansion. There was no sign of the mystery woman today when the "Michael Clayton" actor went on a bike ride with buddy Tate Donovan. "Extra" did, however, spot a smiling Sarah Larson at the Lexus Style Villa in San Diego.

Your simple summer style

No fuss required: Dressing for the sun is all about easy, breezy essentials.
Throw your hair up into a messy bun, add these shades and get on that beach.

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source: glamour

Wii'll be back! Nintendo promises more Wii and Wii Fit soon

LA Times

Why is this girl smiling?

The popularity of Wii Fit is making retail supplies of the Wii console as thin as a supermodel. So the little lady at the right may be psyched because she actually has one.

Demand for the new fitness game has spurred thousands to buy the Wii, Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, told me today. "We are back to a significant out-of-stock situation on Wii hardware," he said.

But wait -- more are on the way. The Japanese game company recently began ramping up its output of Wii consoles, to 2.4 million units a month from 1.8 million. That's the fourth production increase since the console launched in November 2006. The increased supply is just now starting to trickle into retail pipelines, Fils-Aime said. But the factories won't hum at full capacity until later this summer, he said.

"Currently, demand is higher than supply, but we believe we'll soon get back to a more balanced situation," Fils-Aime said. Balanced. Ba dum bum.

Having consumers clamoring for your product is a good problem to have in these uncertain economic times. Nintendo's fortunes in this regard extend to its other properties. It snagged two out of the top 3 best-selling games in May, according to NPD Group figures released this afternoon. After the No. 1 selling Grand Theft Auto IV, Nintendo's Mario Kart raced in at No. 2 and Wii Fit claimed the No. 3 spot, according to the research firm.

Nintendo also sold 452,600 Dual Screen hand-held consoles in May, bringing total U.S. sales of the device to 20 million, according to NPD.

The firm also revealed that the game industry generated $6.6 billion in U.S. sales this year through May, 32% more than it did last year during the same period, NPD analyst Anita Frazier said. "The industry is on pace to achieve revenue in the range of $21 billion to $23 billion in 2008," she said.

Also according to the NPD report mailed out this afternoon to reporters: Sony's PlayStation 3 outsold Microsoft's Xbox 360 in the U.S. in May -- 208,700 to 186,600, respectively. Despite its supply constraints, Nintendo still managed to sell 675,100 Wii's in May.

Are troubles getting the Wii making you fit to be tied?
Get yours here!

eBay Bans Apple iPhone 3G Pre-Sales

eBay is prohibiting pre-sales of the Apple iPhone 3G, set to be released on July 11, 2008. The company explained that, "prior to the release of similar high-demand electronics, we saw a high number of well-intentioned sellers unable to meet their pre-sale obligations to buyers due to restricted supply, as well as an increase in fraudulent listings for these items. To prevent similar problems with the iPhone 3G, eBay is prohibiting all pre-sales of this device."

The company is placing restrictions on sales of the iPhone 3G post launch. "In order to continue to ensure protection for our Community after these items are made available by the manufacturer, the following requirements have been put in place for the sale of the iPhone: The listing must include a unique photograph of the item or items; Your User ID must be clearly displayed within the photograph (watermarks will not be accepted); To ensure buyer protection, PayPal must be the only accepted form of payment."

Last year eBay had placed restrictions on the original iPhone, and in prior years it has restricted sales of gaming consoles such as the Nintendo wii.

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200806121615162.html
source:story by AuctionBytes

Brad Pitt Is #1 Hot Daddy

We all knew this already, but now it’s official - Brad Pitt tops the list for the “Hottest Celebrity Dad” at StyleList.com. The honor was bestowed upon him because of his combined sex appeal and hands-on approach to parenting.

The list of the 15 hottest celebrity dads includes actors, an athlete, musicians and a politician.

David Beckham is in second place, followed by Johnny Depp, Will Smith, Matt Damon, Ryan Phillipe, Ben Affleck, Joel Madden, Seal, Patrick Dempsey, Barack Obama, Gavin Rossdale, Tom Cruise, Tobey Maguire and in 15th is Mr. Kelly Ripa: Mark Consuelos.

Photo: popsugar

Katherine Heigl Out of Emmy Race, Blames Writers

In a preemptive move, KATHERINE HEIGL has removed herself from being considered for Emmy nominations this year, citing "Grey's Anatomy" writers for not providing her with solid material.


"I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention," she tells Gold Derby writer TOM O'NEIL at the L.A. Times Envelope Web site. "In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials."

Heigl won the Emmy last year for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. All that aside, she is a winner sporting this adorable white Valentino purse. Even if big bags are not your thing, gotta love with this big Valentino!

find a Valentino for less
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Sources ET, celebrityarmcandy

Boy Scout Camp Leveled By Tornado, 4 Killed

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A tornado hit a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa Wednesday evening, killing at least four people and injuring more than 40 others, KCCI-TV in Des Moines reported.

A search and rescue team has been deployed to the Little Sioux Boy Scout camp, located in western Iowa on the Harrison-Monona county line, north of Council Bluffs.

Courtney Greene, a spokeswoman for Gov. Chet Culver, said the tornado hit the Little Sioux scout camp at about 7 p.m.

A Boy Scout official says the twister destroyed all the buildings and tents and most of the trees. Rescuers dug through piles of debris to reach trapped victims, some of them sheltering under tables.

Speaking from the state Emergency Operations Center, which is mobilized because of flooding across Iowa, Greene said authorities were initially warned of injuries and hospitals in the Little Sioux area were told to be on standby for tornado victims.

Mercy Medical Center, about 50 miles away in Sioux City, said it had received several injured people from the camp.

Iowa Homeland Security spokeswoman Julie Tack said the rescue teams were dispatched because victims could still be trapped beneath the debris and downed trees. Iowa Department of Transportation crews were also sent to the area with chainsaws. The crews worked to clear a path for rescuers as the tornado downed many trees in the area.

Tack said she's confident emergency officials will be able to deal with the crisis since the region has been largely spared from flooding that has swamped the Midwest.


There were 93 campers and 25 staff members at the camp. The scouts were between 13 and 18 years old and were attending a leadership training camp. A chairman of the Mid-America Boy Scout Council's Goldenrod District says he believed the boys were from eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

A rescue official says everybody at the camp has been accounted for.

KETV-TV in Omaha reports that a scout master said the campers had plenty of warning that the tornado was coming, but said they were essentially trapped in the camp with no adequate shelter. He said many of the camp buildings were flattened.

KETV reported that many of those injured had head injuries.

Also in the Midwest, tornados have also touched down in southern Minnesota and eastern Nebraska.

David Cook Rocks Prime-Time National Anthem

What's harder – belting out hits on American Idol or singing the national anthem before an NBA playoff game?

"The nerves are way worse [than on Idol]," David Cook told PEOPLE reporters moments before his Tuesday night rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. "It's the one song you don't want to mess up. I'm going to try not to notice Jack Nicholson sitting in the front row and think about the lyrics."

The only saving grace about his performance before game three of the Celtics-Lakers NBA championship series?

"No matter what I do, I don't have Simon [Cowell] telling me how dreadful it was," the 25-year-old joked.

But the Idol winner nailed the vocally and lyrically tricky anthem – and was spotted backstage looking relieved.

"It was crazy," Cook told PEOPLE. "I still have the shakes a little bit. I got through it. I don't think I messed up any words."

His girlfriend, Idol alum Kimberly Caldwell, was there to cheer him on. But even with her support, Cook said, "that was the scariest thing I have ever done."

Charlize Theron shocked by Will Smith slap

Charlize Theron has admitted that she was shocked at being slapped in the face by Will Smith on the set of Hancock - as he was only supposed to pretend to hit her. "He tried to fake slap me one time, but the fake one just didn't happen. We're still debating this one. I think he just hit me!" The actor, however, begs to differ: "But he said, 'I did not slap you. I had my hand there and you turned into it,'" Theron said. SOURCES: Glamour & IMDB

Charlize revealed her inner dominatrix in this silver metallic Proenza Schouler corset. The actress combined this saucy look with some skinny trousers and a pair of killer Dior heels.

browse Dior heels
browse Gladiator heels

McDonald’s pulls tomatoes from sandwiches

Hold the tomatoes!


AP Chicago
Move comes as health officials try to pinpont source of salmonella outbreak.

McDonald's, Wal-Mart and other U.S. chains have halted sales of some raw tomatoes as federal health officials work to trace the source of a multistate salmonella food poisoning outbreak.

Burger King, Outback Steakhouse and Taco Bell were among other restaurants voluntarily withdrawing tomatoes from their menus, following federal recommendations that consumers avoid red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes unless they were grown in certain states and countries.

McDonald's Corp., the world's largest hamburger chain, has stopped serving sliced tomatoes on its sandwiches as a precaution until the source of the bacterial infection is known, according to a statement Monday from spokeswoman Danya Proud. McDonald's will continue serving grape tomatoes in its salads because no problems have been linked to that variety, she said.

The source of the tomatoes responsible for the illnesses in at least 16 states has not been pinpointed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said at least 23 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

In downtown Chicago, travel agent Connie Semaitis, 49, bought a cheeseburger and a drink at a McDonald's restaurant during lunch hour Monday. She said she was happy the chain was being cautious.

"I'd rather be safe than sorry," Semaitis said.

The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers in New Mexico and Texas as early as June 3 about the outbreak. The agency expanded its warning during the weekend and chains began voluntarily removing many red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes from their shelves in response.

Tampa-based OSI Restaurant Partners LLC, which owns and operates eight brands including Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's and Bonefish Grill, said it stopped serving all raw tomatoes other than grape tomatoes on Saturday evening. The company also instructed its restaurants to discard salsa and other prepared foods containing raw tomatoes.

Miami-based Burger King Corp. said it had withdrawn raw round red tomatoes from most of its U.S. restaurants. The company also removed the variety from all its locations in Canada and Puerto Rico and from some restaurants on other Caribbean islands.

Burger King said some California restaurants were allowed to continue using the tomatoes because they buy from growers in states the FDA has said are not involved in the outbreak.

Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, which owns and operates six brands including Red Lobster and Olive Garden, and Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. also said they'd halted serving tomatoes, with Chipotle posting a notice to customers on its Web site that its tomato salsa is temporarily unavailable.

Taco Bell Corp. pulled tomatoes as well, the Los Angeles Times reported. Messages seeking comment were left by The Associated Press for Louisville, Ky.-based Yum Brands Inc., which owns Taco Bell.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the largest grocery seller in the United States, repeated a statement Monday that some tomatoes had been removed from its shelves. Wal-Mart initially announced the action Thursday.

"According to the FDA, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached are not affected by this incident, and may still be found on our shelves," Wal-Mart said. But the retailer, responding to concerns of federal officials, had stores in New Mexico, Texas and "other select stores with tomatoes from related sources" pull tomatoes listed in the FDA alert. The company said it took from its shelves certain Romas, slicers, three-pack and four-pack tomatoes.

Wal-Mart also programmed an electronic block into its cash registers so they could not ring up any of the tomatoes that may have remained on the shelves.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., which operates 521 stores in five southern states, also stopped selling tomatoes involved in the FDA warning, as did Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets Inc. Publix offered refunds to customers who bought the tomatoes before they were removed from shelves or destroyed over the weekend.

In Pittsburgh, KDKA-TV reported that Giant Eagle supermarkets also removed several kinds of tomatoes from their shelves, while the Times said chains Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons did the same.

The FDA is investigating the source of the outbreak, agency spokeswoman Kimberly Rawlings said.

"We are working hard and fast on this one and hope to have something as quickly as possible," Rawlings said Monday.

Rawlings said the FDA's "traceback" investigations typically look at similarities in illnesses reported to the CDC by state health officials. Investigators work backward to find the source of the contaminated product.

Check your tomatoes
The Food and Drug Administration is advising people to eat only tomatoes not associated with the outbreak: cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and tomatoes grown at home.

Preliminary data suggest that raw red plum, Roma, or round red tomatoes are the cause, according to the FDA.

"The best thing to do if you have those certain types of tomatoes, throw them away or take them back the grocery store," says Karen Blakeslee, an extension associate in the food science program at Kansas State.

For other tomatoes, wash thoroughly and cut away the part that is attached to the plant and the button on the other side, says Julie Miller Jones, a professor of nutrition and food science at The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn. That part can carry a foodborne illness because it's a hard area and organisms can attach themselves to it, she says.

Cooking tomatoes at 145 degrees will kill salmonella.

Inquire at restaurants
Ketchup and cooked sauces are not affected by the outbreak. And several restaurants are not serving tomatoes — on Monday, McDonald's said it had stopped serving sliced tomatoes in its U.S. restaurants.

Blakeslee advises finding out what the restaurant has done in response to the outbreak.

If you are really concerned, tell the restaurant to leave the tomatoes off the sandwiches and salads, says Jones. She says even if you remove them once your order comes, the food could still be contaminated.

Report the illness
Many people misdiagnose salmonella poisoning as the flu, says Jones. Salmonella poisoning generally occurs hours after ingestion, she says, and involves symptoms such as abdominal cramps, headache, fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

The CDC says symptoms generally appear 12 to 72 hours after infection. People should report a suspected foodborne illness to the local health department.

Harrison Ford’s Next Film

Variety reports that Harrison Ford is moving from battling communists as Indiana Jones to fighting diseases as a maverick scientist for his next bigscreen project.
Ford will star in CBS Films' drama "Crowley," which Tom Vaughan ("What Happens in Vegas") is in negotiations to direct.

Film is based on the true story of John and Aileen Crowley, whose two children had a rare genetic disorder. Rather than give up hope that nothing could help his children, John Crowley found a researcher (Ford) with a potential cure. Ford also will executive produce the film.

Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher ("World Trade Center") are producing alongside Carla Shamberg. Robert Nelson Jacobs ("The Water Horse," "Chocolat") wrote the screenplay, which was inspired by a Wall Street Journal article and subsequent book, "The Cure," by Geeta Anand.

CBS is fast-tracking the project and is eyeing a start date as soon as possible. Film likely would be the first project to go into production for the fledgling CBS Films, which is headed by prexy-CEO Amy Baer.

Project had been set up at Sony, where Baer most recently worked as exec VP of production. When the material became available, Baer jumped at the opportunity to bring it to CBS Films.

"This is a story that has universal, relatable themes -- particularly the lengths parents would go to protect their kids," Baer said.

Shamberg and Sher enjoyed success bringing another true story to the bigscreen via "Erin Brockovich."

Ford next stars opposite Sean Penn in the immigration drama "Crossing Over."

Apple unveils 2nd generation iPhone

AP
The iPhone 3G is available in two colors.

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple Inc. unveiled an upgraded iPhone Monday with a faster Internet connection and GPS capabilities — and priced $200 lower than current models.

Analysts have said Apple needed to slash the multimedia gadget's price and upgrade it to work over so-called 3G, or third-generation, wireless networks to hit the company's target of selling 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008.

An 8 gigabyte model is to sell for $199 starting July 11. A 16 gigabyte model will cost $299. They'll come in a black case with a white case optional on one model. The devices are to roll out initially in 22 countries.

Apple has inked deals for wireless carriers in a total of 70 countries to carry the new iPhone.

Apple's participation in the cell phone market has been hurt by complaints about the year-old iPhone's data download speeds, which can make simple tasks like sending pictures over e-mail or downloading Internet videos painfully slow.

The original iPhones operate on so-called 2.5G networks. The upgrade in performance from those networks to 3G will be similar to the difference between a dial-up Internet connection and a high-speed broadband connection.

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said the computer chips used on the faster network sapped too much battery life and were too bulky when the iPhone was being designed so the company decided to wait to improve the device until better chip technology emerged that could fit the iPhone's slim design.

The addition of global-positioning technology improves the iPhone's accuracy in locating users. Current versions use a combination of cell phone towers and Wi-Fi locations to help users figure out where they are.

Jobs showed off the phone at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. His announcements were widely expected.

Would you consider replacing your cell phone with the iPhone 3G?

SATC Peep Toe Metallic Shoes

So many sexy peep toe shoes were shown in the scenes of Sex and the City the movie. Here Charlotte wears a pair of Peep Toe Metallic Shoes by Christian Louboutin and Miranda rocks a pair of Gucci Peep Toe Ivory Shoes.

get the look for less

Charlotte York: City Sophisticate

A classy white sheath gets glammed up Charlotte style with patent pumps and a classic Chanel bag.

browse all Sex and the City items

Report: US Wii Fit shortages intentional

The Mario Factory is deliberately redirecting its latest game to Europe to take advantage of the strong euro, claims analyst in the LA Times.

Nintendo has been plagued with hardware supply problems for its latest console, the Wii, since it launched in December 2006. The issues continued throughout 2007, with the company unable to meet demand for its latest console in other regions, including both the US and UK.

It would seem that a similar problem is now arising with Wii software. Last week, Wii Fit dropped out of the UK charts as gamers couldn't get hold of the title. Nintendo commented that there were "pockets of stock shortages" across the country, although it was continuing to supply stores with the game. Wii Fit, which landed to a critically lukewarm reception earlier this year, comes with the Balance Board peripheral and tasks gamers with a number of exercises, including balancing and aerobics to improve their body mass index.

Nintendo has not released figures as to how many copies of Wii Fit it have sold around the globe--the only official numbers available show that it has sold 2 million in Japan.

However, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter told the LA Times that according to his estimates, 2 million copies of the game have been shipped to Europe, but only 500,000 have made it to North America. He believes this is because Nintendo is strategically directing its stock to Europe to benefit from the strong euro.

Pachter said, "The shortage demonstrates one consequence of the weak dollar. We're seeing companies ignore their largest market simply because they can make a greater profit elsewhere. They know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now."

Another factor cited by analysts in the LA Times story is that they believe Nintendo is now wary of setting aside too many factory resources for its stock, after being burned by its experiences with the GameCube.

Fire destroys Texas governor's mansion

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas state officials say a four-alarm fire has caused "catastrophic" damage to the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin.
Governor's spokesman Robert Black says said no one was inside the 150-year-old home when the fire began shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. He says the cause is not yet known.

The mansion had been undergoing a $10 million renovation and Gov. Rick Perry and his wife had moved out last fall.

Black says the damage to the mansion "is extraordinary, bordering on catastrophic."

He says more than 100 firefighters are at the scene and the roof of the mansion is very unstable.

When is Father’s Day?

With all the Father’s Day hype, I got worried that Father’s Day was sneaking up on me & looked it up। In the US it falls on Sunday June 15th this year।

In the USA, Fathers' Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June since being made a national holiday in 1966. In Australia and New Zealand, fathers are honored the first Sunday in September. Other countries celebrate fathers throughout the year.

If you really like to plan ahead, here's the dates for Father's Day in the US for the next three years:
2008 June 15
2009 June 21
2010 June 20
2011 June 19

Sarah Jessica Parker’s Studded Belt

photo: Glam.com

SheKnows.com asked Sarah Jessica Parker about that studded belt worn in the film: SJP: Pat Field had a few associates on the movie because the job was a massive undertaking. There was a gentleman named Danny and he’s from Florida. He has an old vintage warehouse and that belt had been at the first fitting in July. I walked in and we started messing around and there were literally hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of racks. That belt was there and we just started working it and I kept reaching for that belt. I reached for that belt so many times that I named it Roger. We would just be asking “Where’s Roger? Give me Roger, Roger this, Roger that.” It’s just an old belt from the 70s, the belt has no label, there’s no designer attached. It’s now in my personal possession I’m happy to report. (smiles)

find your own “Roger” belt

Obama, Clinton Hold Secret Meeting

(CBS/AP) Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton held a secret meeting in Washington Thursday evening, CBS News has confirmed. "Senator Clinton and Senator Obama met tonight and had a productive discussion about the important work that needs to be done to succeed in November," their campaigns said in joint statement. A spokesman for Obama added that he and Clinton met face to face to talk about uniting the Democratic Party. "Senator Obama and Senator Clinton did have occasion to meet this evening," said spokesman Robert Gibbs. "It's the end of the primary process. They wanted to talk about bringing these campaigns together in unity." Gibbs would not say where the former rivals met, except that it was not at Clinton's home in Washington, as had been widely reported. According to the Washington Post, the meeting took place at the home of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Reporters traveling with Obama sensed something might be happening between the pair might when they arrived at his campaign plane after an event in Northern Virginia and he was not aboard. Asked at the time about the Illinois senator's whereabouts, Gibbs smiled and declined to comment. Obama on Tuesday night earned the 2,118 delegates he needed to secure the Democratic nomination. Clinton planned to announce Saturday that she was bringing her campaign to a close and supporting Obama. Earlier Thursday, Clinton disavowed efforts by some supporters who have urged Barack Obama to choose her as his running mate. The push-back came a day after the former first lady said she would end her quest for the Democratic nomination and endorse the Illinois senator. "She is not seeking the vice presidency, and no one speaks for her but her," communications director Howard Wolfson said. "The choice here is Senator Obama's and his alone." Clinton was planning an event in Washington Saturday to thank supporters and urge them to back Obama's candidacy. But as she was bowing out of the race, supporters in Congress and elsewhere were ramping up a campaign to pressure him to put her on the ticket in the No. 2 spot. Bob Johnson, the billionaire founder of Black Entertainment Television and a Clinton supporter, sent a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus Wednesday urging the group to encourage Obama to choose Clinton as his vice presidential pick. He said he was doing so with her blessing. Obama is seeking to become the first black president. Clinton has told other friends and supporters she would be willing to be Obama's running mate. But her immediate task is bringing her own presidential bid to a close. In an e-mail to supporters, the New York senator said she "will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise." Clinton expressed the same sentiment in a conference call with 40 members of her national finance committee, whom she urged to begin raising money for Obama and for the Democratic National Committee. "She was in good spirits and totally supportive, without qualification, of Senator Obama and his campaign," finance co-chairman Alan Patricof said of the call. It was a shift in tone by the former first lady, who announced 17 months ago that she was "in it to win it." Many of her supporters want her as the vice presidential candidate, in their minds a "dream ticket" that would bring Obama her enthusiastic legions and broaden his appeal to white and working-class voters. But Obama indicated he intends to take his time making a decision. "We're not going to be rushed into it. I don't think Senator Clinton expects a quick decision and I don't even know that she's necessarily interested in that," Obama told NBC in an interview. Clinton's move to formally declare that she is backing the Illinois senator came after Democratic congressional colleagues made clear they had no stomach for a protracted intraparty battle. Now that Obama has secured the 2,118 delegates necessary to clinch the nomination, Clinton had little choice but to end her quest, and sooner rather than later. Some of Clinton's closest supporters - the nearly two dozen House Democrats from her home state of New York - switched their endorsements to Obama Thursday. The public announcement from the 23 New York followed two days of private phone calls weighing her options. "She was just as spunky as ever," Rep. Charlie Rangel said of Clinton's mood on the calls, as her friends and supporters urged her to come to a decision "sooner rather than later." Many of the lawmakers said it was important for them, as New Yorkers who are close to Clinton and helped launch her presidential bid, to work together to repair some of the rifts in the party. "We're Democrats. Dammit to hell we fight. When it's over, we come together and go out there to win," said Rangel, the dean of the New York delegation. The New Yorkers, said Rep. Gregory Meeks, have a duty "to lead this transition" to full party support of Obama. Another of Clinton's most prominent supporters, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, also announced his "wholehearted and enthusiastic support" for Obama Thursday. The move to end her campaign came Tuesday, when Clinton told House Democrats during a private conference call that she would get behind Obama's candidacy and congratulate him for gathering the necessary delegates to be the party's nominee. The only degree of uncertainty was how. Clinton is exploring options to retain her delegates and promote her issues, including a signature call for universal health care. The announcement closed an epic five-month nominating battle pitting the first serious female candidate against the most viable black contender ever. Obama on Tuesday night secured the delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination. But Clinton stopped short of acknowledging that milestone, defiantly insisting she was better positioned to defeat John McCain in November. "What does Hillary want? What does she want?" Clinton asked, hours after telling supporters she'd be open to joining Obama as his vice presidential running mate. But by Wednesday, other Democrats made it abundantly clear they wanted something too: a swift end to the often bitter nominating contest. Her decision to acquiesce caught many in her campaign by surprise and left them scrambling to finalize the logistics and specifics behind her campaign departure.

Clinton to Drop Out

In the end, it took less than 24 hours for Hillary Rodham Clinton to adapt to her party's new political order.
The New York senator will end her quest for the Democratic presidential nomination late this week, according to a senior campaign aide and a top fundraiser who said they could not talk on the record because they were not authorized to comment on the plan.
Clinton's campaign issued a less-than-definitive statement saying she would host an event here Saturday "to thank her supporters and express her support for Sen. Obama and party unity." The campaign said the event was moved from Friday to Saturday to allow more people to attend.
The news came after a day of pressure, hand-wringing and tea-leaf reading over Clinton's failure to concede Tuesday night.
As the pair made back-to-back speeches Wednesday to an important group in presidential politics, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, it seemed like just another day on the campaign trail. But the primary season is over, and not a minute too soon for some Democrats.
Source: USA Today

Accident on the Set of the 'Hannah Montana' Movie

ET confirms that during a break in the filming of 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' on Tuesday a minor accident occurred involving a piece of production equipment. Although the cast was not on set, there were a few minor injuries and medical personnel treated the extras and crew involved. Filming has resumed.

Source: ET

REPORTS CLASH: Will HIllary concede the race tonight?

AP: She's expected to concede to Obama Tuesday night

USA today reports that Clinton's campaign manager denied the report that Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to concede Tuesday night that Barack Obama has the delegates to secure the Democratic nomination. Campaign officials had told the Associated Press that this was the case and it was mentioned on the View Tuesday morning and a number of news services, but then quickly corrected with the campaign manager's statement.

The former first lady will stop short of formally suspending or ending her race in her speech in New York City, said the officials who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to divulge her plans. However, Clinton campaign manager Terry McAuliffe told CNN that the AP report was "100 percent incorrect."

Clinton will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care.

Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials.

The advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her.

She also wants to press him on issues he should focus on in the fall, such as health care.

Sarah Jessica Parker Duped by Dress Designer

Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker is usually fashion-forward, but at last week's NYC premiere of the film she found herself behind the times. Parker, 43, was shocked to learn that her strapless Nina Ricci gown was worn earlier in the month by heiress Lauren (Davis) Santo Domingo to the Met's Costume Institute Gala (where she walked the carpet with the dress' designer, Olivier Theyskens).

Making matters worse, Lindsay Lohan wore the gown in an advertising campaign for Disney.
Parker told the New York Times that the designer had assured her the gown had only appeared in magazine shoots.

"Look, my affection for the dress hasn't changed," she said. "But what they did was so short-sighted. It's just unethical and disappointing that they would allow the dress to be worn again.
“[The designer] didn’t say, ‘Well, actually I just escorted Lauren down the red carpet at the Met,’” said Parker, adding, “I just wish it had been handled differently and they had been straight about it.”

Mario Grauso, the president of fashion for Puig (the parent company of Nina Ricci), tells the Times, “I’m upset that she’s upset.”

Tell us: How would you feel if you were in SJP’s situation?
So who do you think wore it best?

Sources: US Magazine, NYT, Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com; WENN; Billy Farrell/PatrickMcMullan.com/Sipa Press

Rock pioneer Bo Diddley dies at age 79

The Bo Diddley rhythm is the pulse beat of the universe. Or so it seems sometimes, so primal and basic is that three-two "hambone" pattern introduced on his first, self-named 1955 hit, derived from ancient African rhythms and overlaid with eerie, tremolo guitar. It's "one of the fundamental building blocks of the new musical vocabulary" of rock 'n' roll, said blues scholar Pete Welding.

Diddley, 79, who died of heart failure Monday at his home in Archer, Fla., was not as luminous a star as his labelmate Chuck Berry, or contemporaries Little Richard and James Brown, but his influence is every bit as pervasive. He came to recording late, at 26, but like Berry arrived fully formed, with the double-sided No. 1 R&B hit Bo Diddley/I'm a Man displaying his trademark beat, wit, swagger and penchant for third-person references. (He would later write songs declaring Bo Diddley was a gunslinger, a lumberjack, a lover and more.)
It was a startling record; as George Thorogood told Rolling Stone, "You listen to Bo Diddley and you sit there and you get numb." Keith Richards, whose Rolling Stones covered a number of Diddley tunes, told the same publication, "Bo was fascinatingly on the edge. There was something African going on there. His style was outrageous."

Diddley was born Ellas Bates in McComb, Miss., his surname changing to McDaniel after his mother's cousin, who raised him. Moving to Chicago, he learned violin before picking up the guitar. His professional name likely derives from the one-stringed Southern instrument the diddley bow, on which his famed rhythm was often played, although he told several other stories about the name's origin.

Although his success was relatively fleeting after his initial splash — he never surpassed No. 20 on the pop charts and amassed just 10 R&B hits in his lifetime — he was enormously influential in countless ways beyond the omnipresence of the beat that bears his name.
Just three further examples:
•Bo Diddley's a rap progenitor. His biggest pop hit, 1959's Say Man, was even more boggling than Bo Diddley, its lyrics consisting solely of a session of the dozens, in which he and maraca player Jerome Green traded insults and brags in a manner that anticipated both the spoken-word style and larger-than-life lyrical content of rap.
•Bo Diddley's a guitar wizard. Not only sonically, although the songs that borrow his style number in the hundreds, but as a designer. He played and was photographed with innumerable space-age, custom-designed guitars of all shapes and sizes, inspiring later axe innovators such as ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen.

•Bo Diddley's a feminist. Well, not that you could ever tell from his songs, but he was one of the first blues bandleaders to feature a female musician, when the Duchess (Norma-Jean Wofford) began playing guitar with him in the late '50s.

His only hit after 1962 was 1967's Ooh Baby, and he wandered down some odd musical byways in later years, even recording a bubblegum single (a payback of sorts, since his beat and nursery-rhyme lyrics were a major influence on that deceptively simple pop genre). He opened for The Clash on their first U.S. tour and continued to tour actively, suffering a stroke after a show in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in May 2007.

He once boasted in song that he was "500% more man." As an outsized personality with the musical genius to justify the ego, he certainly was.

Source: USA Today

Kelsey Grammer Suffers Mild Heart Attack

Kelsey Grammer is hospitalized in Hawaii after suffering a mild heart attack, his rep says. The 53-year-old Frasier star is "resting comfortably" and is expected to be released early this week, the rep says in a statement. "Grammer experienced symptoms Saturday morning after paddle boarding with his wife Camille at their Hawaiian home," the statement says. "Grammer was immediately taken to an area hospital where it was determined that he had a mild heart attack."

Tatum O'Neal Busted for Buying 'Crack and Cocaine'

Tatum O'Neal leaves court June 2

PEOPLE reports that Tatum O'Neal was arrested in New York City Sunday for allegedly buying crack cocaine near her home, according to authorities. A New York City Police spokesman Det. Martin Speechley confirmed to PEOPLE the Paper Moon Oscar winner, 44, was seen making the illicit purchase at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Clinton Street. She was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. Speechley said police also arrested the alleged drug dealer, Allen Garcia, 32, who was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, a class B felony. O'Neal and the dealer were taken to Manhattan's 7th precinct for booking. O'Neal was arraigned and posted bail Monday shortly after noon.

The New York Post reports that O'Neal, who appears regularly on the cable series Rescue Me, is said to have told officers, "You know who I am, right?" She also claimed she was "researching a part – I'm doing this for a part as a junkie." In addition, she is quoted as telling detectives, "Can't we just forget about this?" O'Neal, the daughter of actor Ryan O'Neal and the ex-wife of John McEnroe, told PEOPLE in 2002 that she was abandoned by a drug-abusing mother (actress Joanna Moore) at age 7 and began using drugs by 14 – moving eventually from marijuana, Quaaludes and cocaine to heroin. O'Neal chronicled her struggles with addiction in her 2004 memoir, A Paper Life. The actress completed rehab in 1996 and claimed to be clean. She is due back in court July 28. Messages left for her publicist went unreturned.

Sex and the City Hotter Than Expected

It was ladies night, all the way to the Box Office

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Sarah Jessica Parker and her gal pals have not lost their sex appeal.

The "Sex" cast -- Kristin Davis, Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall -- won big at the Box Office.

The big-screen "Sex and the City" -- reuniting Parker and TV co-stars Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon -- strutted to a $55.7 million opening weekend, far exceeding Hollywood's box office expectations. That was nearly twice the forecast by distributor Warner Bros., whose head of distribution, Dan Fellman, said he had hoped the movie might deliver a $30 million debut. "Women power," Fellman said. "It was outstanding this weekend."

Analysts had figured Paramount's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" might stay atop the box office heap, but it slipped to second place with $46 million in its second weekend. "Indiana Jones" raised its 11-day domestic total to $216.9 million. "Sex and the City" put up numbers never before seen for a movie aimed mainly at women, who do not tend to rush out in huge numbers for opening weekends the way males do. "Sex and the City," released under Warner's New Line Cinema banner, had the best debut ever for an R-rated comedy, topping the $45.1 million opening of "American Pie 2."

The movie landed at No. 5 on the all-time list among R-rated films, behind "The Matrix Reloaded" ($91.8 million), "The Passion of the Christ" ($83.8 million), "300" ($70.9 million) and "Hannibal" ($58 million).
Weekend Box Office hits
1. "Sex and the City," $55.7 million.
2. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," $46 million.
3. "The Strangers," $20.7 million.
4. "Iron Man," $14 million.
5. "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," $13 million.
6. "What Happens in Vegas," $6.9 million.
7. "Baby Mama," $2.2 million.
8. "Speed Racer," $2.1 million.
9. "Made of Honor," $2 million.
10. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," $1 million.

"This is a blockbuster for women. This was to women what `Indiana Jones' and `Star Wars,' let's say, are to men," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers.
The movie picks up four years after the series finale, in which Parker's Carrie Bradshaw and her Manhattan buddies left behind their randy ways to settle into monogamous relationships.
In the film, they deal with family and commitment issues while still flaunting their bawdy humor and trendy sense of style.

Hollywood skeptics had doubted the commercial prospects for a movie adaptation of "Sex and the City," which ended its six-year run in 2004. Originally airing on premium cable channel HBO, the show had a loyal but limited fan base and held little appeal for young males, the backbone of the box office. However, "Sex and the City" mania grew as the movie's release approached, with many women organizing girls-night-out parties to see it with friends on opening day Friday.

"That's why Friday was quite a frenzy," Fellman said. "There were women that came in and bought out entire theaters in advance and invited all their friends." Women made up 85 percent of the audience on Friday, Fellman said. The movie pulled in $26.9 million on Friday. On Saturday, however, it took a steep drop with ticket sales dwindling to $17.7 million. Most big films take in more money on Saturday than Friday, so the decline was a sign that the audience for "Sex and the City" could dry up quickly.

Still, the film was on its way to becoming a $100 million hit that could spawn more sequels.

Sources: AP & CNN

Sarah Jessica Parker talks about being Carrie on the big screen.

SJP talks to Elle Magazine about being Carrie on the big screen, why she relates to Hillary Clinton, and how many Blahniks she really owns


Although a little wan, she looks every inch the fashionista-cum-columnist who graced television screens and magazines since the inception of SATC. "This is Halston," she says of her dress when asked. "It's borrowed. My purse is borrowed. It's Fendi... And these are my own tiny diamond earrings," she says touching her earlobes. "And the fragrance is mine."





What's the main difference between Carrie and you?


I think everyone asks you that question, right? Oh, there are just vast differences. We've made such different life choices. The list for me would be endless. First of all, I've been with one man most of my grown-up life and have a child and I'm from a big family. I really think the thing that is most similar is our affection for this city. The thing I've learned most from her is how to be a better friend, honestly. I love the kind of friend that she was and is and it really made me want to be that kind of friend. It's hard to find the kind of time those women have for each other

Since the end of the series, you've become an entrepreneur with your fashion line, Bitten, and your own fragrances, "Lovely" and "Covet." And your son has grown up, too. Did all that make you feel more distant from Carrie and did it make going back to being Carrie a little bit harder?

My husband [Matthew Broderick] recently said you can leave a show on Broadway for a year and come back and think, "I'll never know the lines again!" But it's like muscle memory, and it's a bad cliché but it's like riding a bike. It sounds so simple to say that, but we played these parts for a long time and we didn't have any rehearsal and there was one table read [for the movie]. That was it. Our schedule was so concentrated and crunched and completely un-doable on paper. The first week you're nauseous. You feel like you've done everything badly and fallen short of the mark constantly. But I felt like that at the top of every season. So I [rationalized that] this was par for the course. You've just got to rely on the writing.

How does the term fashion icon sit with you? How do you live with that on a day-to-day basis?

I don't. It's really not something I spend a lot of time [contemplating]. I think that's in large part due to the show and [costume designer Patricia Field]. I begged her to do the show. I begged her to do the movie. She was booked on nine other jobs. It's really not something that I would feel comfortable commenting on because I think it seems kind of odd. I think it was really born of the character in a lot of ways, and I learned a lot from Pat and I'm still learning from Pat. And so it's really not the essence of who I am. I don't think about it. As a working mother, the last thing on my mind when I'm trying to get my kid out of the door in the morning to get him to school on time is how I look.

There are people who act like you're Imelda Marcos, but it has been reported that in private you only own six pairs of Manolo Blahniks. What's the truth?
I don't know the number. First of all, I don't really count. I've inherited so much from the show. This is a perfect example of a person who you play on television [becomes confused with who you are in real life] and the waters get muddied. I don't shop like her. I don't buy shoes that much like her.

In contrast to her, you would have the money to buy them.Well, I might have a little bit more disposable income. But it just is not a priority in my life in the same way. It just doesn't happen. But it doesn't mean I don't love shoes. I love shoes, but I'm not as vigorous a shopper. And I don't count them, I don't really know how many [pairs of shoes I have] but I will tell you that certainly I have more than six pairs inherited from the work. But a huge amount is archived. I won't touch them. I'm too nostalgic.


Would you consider Carrie a modern feminist?
I think the feminist community would not want me to say that. I think they would disagree. I think there's a lot about her that has to do with independence and making choices, right or wrong, and keeping her own counsel, and I think a lot of that is identified with the feminist movement. But I think there are a lot of her choices that vocal feminists have not liked. That's the beauty of living in a democracy — we're all allowed to disagree and have different opinions and then we get to vote.

Are you a registered Democrat?
I am a registered Democrat, and I will say this has been an incredibly exciting race. I have suffered along with Hillary in certain ways that she's been vilified in the media and the press. I'm extremely excited about Barack Obama and I think — well, honestly, without being too political, I think we have two amazing candidates.

But you're not behind one specific candidate?
I'm contentedly conflicted.

Interview by Karl Rozemeyer for Elle, photos courtesy of New Line Cinema