Followers

Powered by Blogger.
  • Home
  • LeBron James: Why Miami Heat Star Won’t Dare Join the Los Angeles Lakers

    A LeBron James-Kobe Bryant Big Two sounds good on paper and makes for savvy media sound bites.

    Salary cap aside, I can think of three reasons the Miami Heat star won't ever leave South Beach or sign with the Los Angeles Lakers when the 2014 NBA free agency season rolls around.

    Another Cleveland Cavaliers debacle is sure to happen

     This maniacal debate was set in motion recently by ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who said this about the possibility LeBron leaves the Miami Heat when he becomes a free agent: "At Least 50-50 he leaves Miami."

    Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the outspoken and usually dead-on sports prognosticator. However, I've dug deep on this one and respectfully disagree with his forecast on LeBron James' future.

    Remember "The Decision" on July, 8, 2010?

    Ordinarily, I'd leave it there, but this argument deserves a little debate before the last rites are given.

     Back then when James sat in the chair on live television and shocked the world, the equivalent of a zombie apocalypse followed.

    Cavs majority owner Dan Gilbert joined the anti-James movement by writing an "open letter" about LeBron's shocking decision to bail from his roots to the glitz of South Beach.

    Gilbert referred to the then two-time NBA MVP's decision as "selfish," "heartless" and "cowardly betrayal," among other things.

    Current and former NBA players criticized his LeBron's move and at one point James acknowledged that race could be a factor in the fallout from his decision to move on from Cleveland.

    Who am I to feel this way, but I found myself feeling sorry for Bron-Bron. I thought he'd never recover from that public tsunami.

     Fresh off that prediction, others suggested when he does leave, the Lakers is a likely landing point.

    Imagine that?

    Kobe Bryant isn't built to share the big stage: Ask Dwight Howard

    Taken from a page of National Geographic and the University of Michigan, the Black Mamba snake is solitary and prefers to be alone.

    It's no secret that Kobe loves the stage in Tinseltown with the spotlight firmly planted on him -- and him only.

     The Lakers star bumped heads with Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, and perhaps a handful of others who chose to remain tight-lipped and just play the game.

    Rumor is Howard was so fed up with the attention given to the aging star -- and the lack of love given him -- he passed on $30 million to leave the circus show.

    Poonam Pandey Movie Review Nasha

    After reading this review you must recommend me for a bravery award. Poonam Pandey's Nasha is a cheap and forgettable film, despite all the loud claims she made on Twitter. The storyline is weak and the acting is pathetic. Nasha is such a bad film that it needs to be ranked 'Minus Zero'. This is because some see a wee bit of positivity in a zero too. Therefore to dispel any such remote notions, it's a  Minus Zero.

    It is the story of a school in Panchgani where the students are loud, shameless and boisterous. They do not mind sharing cheap jokes and making adult comments. Poonam Pandey's entry in this school as a theatre teacher is all that was needed! A boy called Sahil falls for her and then comes her boyfriend Samuel who, much to the chagrin of Poonam, begins to trouble Sahil.

    Samuel is actually the story's villain who breaks Poonam's heart as she discovers his other affair and his bad habits (he is caught in a rave party!) Sahil comes to support his heart-broken Ma'am. But this moralistic teacher says she must go away as this relationship is immoral - but not before she has a steamy sex session with her student!

    Poonam Pandey is a disaster in the name of acting. Her husky voice sounds terrible on screen. Her acting in the film is so pathetic that when she was shouting, people in the cinema hall were laughing!

    This 'upright' teacher teaches the most immoral lesson of love - "Love is like summer vacations, it gives different type of pleasure every year," says Poonam and the crowd hails it with a loud applause! The screenplay is cliched and the songs are mediocre. Amit Saxena has failed miserably as a director. His Jism was classy because it had the Bhatt camp background, but Nasha is nothing but P-grade (Poonam Grade).

    Sahil is average, his Ma'am is horrible and Samuel is good. Camera work is average and editing is quite poor.

    Those who want to go to theatres in hope of watching bold scenes will be in for disappointment because everything bold has been shown in the promos.

    This film has exposed the 'acting' skills of Poonam Pandey and I am sure any sensible film maker will think twice before signing her. It is a cheap and dangerous Nasha that should be avoided at all costs!

    Bollywood Mourns Death of Quintessential 'cop' Jagdish Raj

    The last rites of the actor were performed yesterday evening at the Pawan Hans crematorium.

    Celebrities expressed grief over the demise of veteran actor Jagdish Raj, who had the record of playing a police officer 144 times in various Bollywood films.

    Jagdish, the famous police officer of Bollywood, passed away yesterday at his Juhu residence following respiratory ailment. He was 85.

    "He was not keeping well for the past two years. He had lung and respiratory problems. He passed away yesterday due to respiratory problems," the actor"s son-in-law Rakesh Malhotra said.

    "Shri Jagdish Raj, the official "Polive Inspector" of the Indian film industry, passed away. RIP," director Rahul Rawail wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

    Filmmaker Ashok Pandit said, "Sad to know Jagdish Raj is no more. The industry lost its grt Police officer. RIP." "RIP Jagdish Raj, the quintessential police officer for generations in Indian films. Your works will live on," actress Soumya Tandon said.

    "Not seen any news channel cover the demise of Jagdish Raj. Sad," Tanuj Garg of Balaji Telefilms said.

    The last rites of the actor were performed yesterday evening at the Pawan Hans crematorium here.

    "Only family and close friends had come for the last rites. From the industry, Rishi Kapoor, David Dhawan, Rahul Rawail had come. The "chautha" will be held tomorrow," Malhotra said.

    Born as Jagdish Raj Khurana in Sargodha, British India (now part of Pakistan), he acted in films from 1960 till retirement in 1992.

    Some of his popular movies include "Deewar", "Don", "Shakti", "Mazdoor", "Imaan Dharam", "Gopichand Jasoos", "Silsila", "Aaina" and "Besharam".

    Though Jagdish occasionally played a villain and a couple of times essayed the role of a judge, he was best known for being cast a record 144 times as a police officer.

    Loretta Lynn's eldest daughter dies at 64

    Country legend Loretta Lynn is mourning the loss of her eldest daughter, Betty Sue Lynn, who died on Monday from complications of emphysema, reports the Associated Press. She was 64.

    A statement from the family released to the press revealed the details, indicating Betty Sue died in Waverly, Tenn, near her mother's ranch in Hurricane Mills.

    Betty Sue is the second of Loretta's children to precede her in death; in 1984 her son Jack Benny Lynn, then 34, drowned on the family's property reported People magazine at the time. Betty and Jack's father, Oliver Vanetta Lynn, died in 1996.

    "The Lynn Family appreciates all your prayers, love, and support of our family. Betty was Loretta's oldest daughter. Betty leaves two daughters Lynn Markworth and Audrey Dyer," a statement on Loretta's website indicated.

    Loretta Lynn's life was portrayed her autobiography, "Coal Miner's Daughter," which was the title of one of her biggest hits. It was made into a movie in 1976.

    Nargis Fakhri Goes For Hindi Classes Photo

    Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri who has been brought up in New York is working really hard to Learn Hindi. The actress born to a Pakistani father and a Czech mother has been taking Hindi classes since a year. She says that she is adapting and adjusting in Bollywood by working on her Hindi diction every day.

    The actress wishes that she should have learnt Urdu during her younger days."I'm still learning everyday, and I'm learning to adapt and adjust. I work as much as I can. I have learnt to read and write, I try to watch films without subtitles so that I can understand Hindi better. I wish I would have learnt Urdu when I was a child," said Nargis.

    Nargis Fakhri Goes For Hindi Classes Madras Cafe Nargis Fakhri Madras Cafe Story Cast & Crew Fanspeak Videos Photos View All Nargis got an opportunity to star in a big Bollywood movie Rockstar but she was denied to give her voice for her lines in the movie. Now she will be seen in Madras Cafe as an European Journalist, so the audiences will not speaking in Hindi this time. Nargis looks forward to speaking her own lines in future and also mentions that she wants to do films that she would love to watch as an audience.

    "I started taking Hindi classes one year ago. I understand at least 80 percent. I'm trying really hard, but I don't understand many jokes. But I'm happy now people cannot talk about me in Hindi, because I understand that," Nargis explained.

    In the gap between her debut film and the upcoming Madras Cafe, Nargis had a busy schedule. "I was busy reading scripts, dance classes, Hindi classes, travelling to see my family, moving my stuff from New York to Mumbai and adjusting,"

    Child Sex Trafficking Rescue FBI Saves 105 Victims in 'Operation Cross Country' (PHOTOS)

    The FBI has rescued 105 child sex-trafficking victims, FBI Assistant Director Ronald Hosko announced Monday.

    The youngest of the rescued children was 9 years old, according to Reuters.

    One underage victim told officials she became involved with prostitution when she was 11, according to CNN.
    "Many times the children that are taken in in these types of criminal activities are children that are disaffected, they are from broken homes, they may be on the street themselves," FBI Acting Executive Assistant Director Kevin Perkins said, according to the network. "They are really looking for a meal, they are looking for shelter, they are looking for someone to take care of them."

    Another victim, identified as "Alex," told interviewers she became a prostitute at the age of 16, when she felt she had no other options to feed and clothe herself.
    “At first it was terrifying," Alex told interviewers, "and then you just kind of become numb to it. You put on a whole different attitude—like a different person. It wasn’t me. I know that. Nothing about it was me.”

    The raids also resulted in the arrests of 150 "pimps" and other individuals, according to an FBI press release.

    The rescues were the product of Operation Cross Country, a three-day nationwide initiative to aid victims of underage prostitution.

    Operation Cross Country is a part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative, a joint program by the FBI, the Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created to fight child sex trafficking in the United States.

    Since 2003, the Innocence Lost National Initiative has netted the rescue of more than 2,700 children.

    Heart Surgery in India for $1,583 Costs $106,385 in U.S.

    Devi Shetty is obsessed with making heart surgery affordable for millions of Indians. On his office desk are photographs of two of his heroes: Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi.

    Shetty is not a public health official motivated by charity. He’s a heart surgeon turned businessman who has started a chain of 21 medical centers around India. By trimming costs with such measures as buying cheaper scrubs and spurning air-conditioning, he has cut the price of artery-clearing coronary bypass surgery to 95,000 rupees ($1,583), half of what it was 20 years ago, and wants to get the price down to $800 within a decade. The same procedure costs $106,385 at Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

    “It shows that costs can be substantially contained,” said Srinath Reddy, president of the Geneva-based World Heart Federation, of Shetty’s approach. “It’s possible to deliver very high quality cardiac care at a relatively low cost.”

    Medical experts like Reddy are watching closely, eager to see if Shetty’s driven cost-cutting can point the way for hospitals to boost revenue on a wider scale by making life-saving heart operations more accessible to potentially millions of people in India and other developing countries.

    “The current price of everything that you see in health care is predominantly opportunistic pricing and the outcome of inefficiency,” Shetty, 60, said in an interview in his office in Bangalore, where he started his chain of hospitals, with the opening of his flagship center, Narayana Hrudayalaya Health City, in 2001.

    Out-of-Pocket

    Cutting costs is especially vital in India, where more than two-thirds of the population lives on less than $2 a day and 86 percent of health care is paid out of pocket by individuals. A recent study by the Public Health Foundation of India and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that in India non-communicable ailments such as heart disease are now more common among the poor than the rich.

    Spain Train Crash Video Shows Horrific Derailment

    Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, 52, posted a picture on his Facebook account in March last year showing a speedometer on a train under his control reaching 200kmh (125mph).

    During a Facebook conversation underneath the picture he even boasts about breaking the speed limit and triggering a fine for Spain’s train operator RENFE.

    Both drivers of yesterday’s crash near Santiago de Compostela survived the disaster.

    One was taken to hospital, while the other has been placed under formal investigation for speeding.

    A train derailed in Northwest Spain on Wednesday, killing at least 80 people and injured over 100 more. The crash was said to be one of Europe's worst train accidents.

    A video posted to YouTube on Thursday appears to show raw footage of the crash. Watch it above, but be aware, it's pretty terrifying.

    In the conversation on the social network last year, one friend wrote: “Man, you are going flat out, brake!!"

    Mr Garzon Amo replied: “I'm at the limit, I can't run any faster, otherwise they'll fine me.”

    His friend then said: “Rubbish, you're going at 200.”

    Garzon Amo again added: “The speedometer is not rigged.”

    And when someone else said: “If the Civil Guard catch you, you'll be without [licence] points," Garzon Amo replied: “What fun it would be to go parallel with the Civil Guard and pass them by triggering the speed radar.

    Prince George revealed as royal baby's name; 6 past British kings named George

    Royal officials said the new prince has been named George Alexander Louis, ending speculation over what moniker Prince William and his wife, Kate, would pick for their first child.

    Kensington Palace said the royals are "delighted to announce" their son's name, adding that the infant prince, third-in-line to the throne, will be known as "His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge."

    Six previous British kings have been named George, and the name was a favourite of British bookmakers in the run-up to Wednesday's announcement.

    For now, the baby is expected to stay out of the spotlight after making his first "public appearance" in the arms of his parents outside of London's St. Mary's Hospital on Tuesday.

    After leaving the hospital, the couple introduced their son Wednesday to his great-grandmother, the Queen, who was keen to see the baby before she starts her annual summer vacation in Scotland later this week.

    Then the young family headed to see Kate's parents in their village near London.

    Now that Kate and William have chosen a name, they are expected to soon choose a photographer for the baby's first official portrait.

    ‘Musty, lifeless’ Prince George celebrates royal baby

    The B.C. city of Prince George may be celebrating the naming of His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge but not everyone is in love with the moniker

    Just over a year ago then Abbotsford Coun. Simon Gibson sent an email to officials of the city of 80,000, telling them Prince George sounds “musty, old-fashioned and lifeless” and suggested the city seriously consider changing its name as Lower Mainland residents frequently confused the locale with the also royally-named Prince Rupert.

    “All I want to do is plant the seed. I think sometimes Prince George gets a bad rap,” he wrote in the email. “I think rebranding Prince George ... will bring it more into the mainstream.”

    Gibson, who is now MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, declined to comment Wednesday on the royal baby name, but the city of Prince George is not letting naysayers bring down its celebratory mood.

    Mayor Shari Green was fielding calls all day from national and international media outlets.

    “This is a real chance for us as a city, and us as residents in our community, to share with the world what’s great about the city of Prince George and why we’re so proud to call this place home,” she said.

    A brainstorming session at city hall produced a press conference where the mayor announced the municipality would be extending a formal invitation to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to bring their young son to Prince George in 2015 to share in celebrating a variety of city milestones.

    Green said the city also wanted to spread some of the wealth and joy within the community. A crib is set up in the city hall foyer to accept donations of baby clothing, gifts and toys, which will then be passed out to needy Prince George families with new children.

    Cold caps tested to prevent hair loss during chemo

     The first time Miriam Lipton had breast cancer, her thick locks fell out two weeks after starting chemotherapy. The second time breast cancer struck, Lipton gave her scalp a deep chill and kept much of her hair — making her fight for survival seem a bit easier.

    Hair loss is one of chemotherapy's most despised side effects, not because of vanity but because it fuels stigma, revealing to the world an illness that many would rather keep private.

    "I didn't necessarily want to walk around the grocery store answering questions about my cancer," recalled Lipton, 45, of San Francisco. "If you look OK on the outside, it can help you feel, 'OK, this is manageable, I can get through this.'"

    Now U.S. researchers are about to put an experimental hair-preserving treatment to a rigorous test: To see if strapping on a cap so cold it numbs the scalp during chemo, like Lipton did, really works well enough to be used widely in this country, as it is in Europe and Canada.

    Near-freezing temperatures are supposed to reduce blood flow in the scalp, making it harder for cancer-fighting drugs to reach and harm hair follicles. But while several types of cold caps are sold around the world, the Food and Drug Administration hasn't approved their use in the U.S.

    Scalping cooling is an idea that's been around for decades, but it never caught on here in part because of a concern: Could the cold prevent chemotherapy from reaching any stray cancer cells lurking in the scalp?

    "Do they work and are they safe? Those are the two big holes. We just don't know," said American Cancer Society spokeswoman Kimberly Stump-Sutliff, an oncology nurse who said studies abroad haven't settled those questions. "We need to know."

    To Dr. Hope Rugo of the University of California, San Francisco, the impact of hair loss has been overlooked, even belittled, by health providers. She's had patients delay crucial treatment to avoid it, and others whose businesses suffered when clients saw they were sick and shied away.

    'Secret' CIA museum features Osama bin Laden's AK-47

    The “coolest museum you’ll never see” has a new piece de resistance – the gun found next to the body of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan when Navy SEALs killed him in a midnight raid.

    The AK-47 is a recent addition to a collection that’s among the toughest tickets in the country for museumgoers. Tucked into various hallways at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., the museum displays the gadgets, artifacts and trophies of 70 years of spycraft, from World War II through the War on Terror.  Closed to the public, it had only been visited by employees and invited guests until NBC News recently became the first news organization allowed to bring in video cameras.
    Advertise | AdChoices

    The Russian-made assault rifle, identified on a simple brass plaque as “Osama bin Laden’s AK-47,” shares a glass case with an al Qaeda training manual found in Afghanistan soon after 9/11.

    "This is the rifle that was recovered from the third floor of the Abbottabad compound by the assault team," said curator Toni Hiley. "Because of its proximity to (bin Laden) there on the third floor in the compound, our analyst determined it to be his.  It's a Russian AK with counterfeit Chinese markings."

    Neither Hiley nor the agency will say how the AK-47 got to the museum, other than that the agency director at the time of the operation, Leon Panetta, "asked that it come into the museum collection," said Hiley. But one source told NBC News that it came from the "dark side" of the agency, the operations staff that worked with the SEALs on the May 2011 raid.


    CIA museum curator Toni Hiley holds an "insectothopter" created by the CIA's Office of Research and Development during the 1970s and intended to gather intelligence unobtrusively. Designed to look like a dragonfly, the insectothopter's tiny gas-powered engine moved its wings up and down. While flight tests were impressive, it proved difficult to control when any wind was present.

    The agency also will not comment on the specifics of how the weapon was recovered or whether it was loaded when retrieved.

    "I wasn't there," said Hiley. "So I can't confirm or deny exactly where the weapon was.  I just know that I have it in my museum and I'm happy to have it."

    In the movie "Zero Dark Thirty," which was written in consultation with military and intelligence sources, a member of the assault team is shown grabbing the weapon from a shelf above bin Laden's bed in his third-floor bedroom moments after the al Qaeda leader’s death.

    Hiley said the weapon is in good working condition, but that the origin of the Chinese markings is a mystery. She said it’s not the weapon seen at Osama’s side in many propaganda videos.

    The CIA’s private museum, which was started in the early 1990s, fills three corridors in two buildings at the CIA campus just outside Washington. Agency officials call it “the coolest museum you’ll never see.”

    Chromecast Is Google's $35 Apple TV And Roku Killer

    Google on Wednesday announced Chromecast, a $35 HDMI stick that streams web video to an HDTV. Chromecast will stream TV shows, movies and music, and anything in a Chrome browser, to your TV. It works with smartphones, tablets and PCs.

    The surprising product announcement is the latest advancement in tech companies' growing battle over the future of TV. Set-top boxes like Apple TV and Roku already allow customers to stream web video on their televisions, and Amazon has been rumored to be launching a set-top box this fall.

    The Google website notes that Chromecast works with Netflix, YouTube, Google Play and the Chrome browser. Pandora will be coming soon, Google said.

    Each app that supports Chromecast will have a "Cast" button that sends content from your device to your TV. The Chrome browser will also be equipped with a "Cast" button that streams whatever is in your browser to your TV -- an option for things like HBO Go, Gizmodo notes.

    Chromecast is Google's answer to Apple TV, the $99 set-top box from Apple that also streams content from digital devices to TV screens.

    But unlike Apple TV, which outside of its own apps only streams content from Apple devices and computers, Chromecast allows streaming from most devices: Android tablets and smartphones, iPads, iPhones, Macs, PCs and the Chromebook Pixel all work with Chromecast. And, Chromecast is a third of the price of Apple TV.

    Benedict Evans, a consultant at Enders Analysis in London, said that Chromecast threatens companies like Roku that build streaming devices.

    "Third-party streaming boxes are dead," Evans said. "Why would you spend $100 to get basically the same thing when you can spend $35 to get something you can control with your phone."

    Evans noted that one downside to Chromecast is that most of the content viewed on it comes from the cloud -- so if you use your iPhone to record a video of your child or your dog, you can't stream it to Chromecast without uploading it first to YouTube.

    Nick Gilronan, Brooklyn's Smallest Penis Contest Winner, Says He's Proud Of Victory

    "The size of a man's penis does not matter for who he is as a person or in a relationship," he told Gothamist after his victory Saturday at Kings County Bar.

    Gilronan told the website he wanted to "put on a good show for the audience. Looks like my efforts were successful."

    Visit Gothamist for more on Gilronan and his wee-ner.

    According to the New York Post, a crowd of about 100 watched New York City native Gilronan match members with five other contestants, including a 55-year-old from Minnesota who called himself "Rip van Dinkle."

    The competition included a swimwear round of "skimpy mesh mankinis" and a Q&A, the Post wrote.

    Gilronan was proclaimed the champ and the recipient of $200 as someone sang Elton John's "Tiny Dancer."

    “I’m hoping this will look brave to guys who have self-esteem issues and make them feel better about themselves,” he said, according to the tabloid.

    In a previous Huffington Post report, one of the event's promoters dubbed the contest as "a pageant for confident people with a sense of humor."

    Gilronan's triumph perhaps illustrates that size does indeed matter -- at least, when it comes to self-esteem.

    Marc Fucarile, Last Hospitalized Boston Bombing Victim, Heads Home Today

     The last hospitalized Boston Marathon bombing victim hobbled gingerly on crutches and stopped to hug nurses, therapists and two rescuers before he got into a waiting car that took him home Wednesday, exactly 100 days after the attack that killed three people and wounded more than 260.

    Marc Fucarile lost his right leg above the knee, broke his spine, as well as bones in his left leg and foot, ruptured both eardrums and suffered severe burns and shrapnel wounds when the second of two bombs exploded near him and a group of friends who were at the finish line to watch another friend complete the run. Two other people in his group also lost right legs.

    Fucarile's relatives, doctors and therapists joined two of his rescuers at the lobby of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital to say farewell as he headed home for the first time since the April 15 bombings. He has made 16 trips to the operating room for a total of 49 surgical procedures.

    "Today marks the 100th day of me in the hospital, not being able to spend the night with my boy or fiancee. You know, it's been tough," he said as his 5-year-old son, Gavin, stood next to him and giggled happily.

    Fucarile, a 34-year-old roofer who wore a "Boston Wicked Strong" T-shirt, said going home does not mean the end of an arduous and painful medical journey.

    "I, like many other survivors, still have more surgeries and other procedures to go through," he said. "I'll be needing prosthesis and adaptation for the rest of my life, like many others from that day."

    His fiancee, Jennifer Regan, joked that the family got a front-load washer and dryer so he can do laundry from his wheelchair.

    "No, it means the world, just the simple things that . you sort of brush aside, maybe, in your everyday life – like family dinners, you know what I mean," she said. "Gavin hasn't had his dad home for dinner in 100 days ... yeah, I'm excited, it's really good."

    Fucarile was unable to bathe, dress himself, walk or even transfer himself to a wheelchair when he arrived at the rehabilitation hospital eight weeks ago. He is now able to do that, including walking on crutches.

    Taylor Swift And Selena Gomez Pose As ... Mermaids?

    Taylor Swift made sure to wish her BFF Selena Gomez a happy birthday on July 22, posting a photo of the pair at what looks to be her Rhode Island home.

    The pals posed as mermaids -- well, technically they replicated a mermaid statue -- while sitting on the ledge of Swift's yard in Watch Hill.

    “I met [Swift] when she was 18. This is before [Swift's 2008 album] Fearless came out, and it was absolutely incredible to see someone so successful and so humble," Gomez told People earlier this year. "I think she has been a big part of me kind of staying the way I am too."

    Beyonce's Album Delays Are Nothing But Rumors, Singer's Rep Says

    A representative for Beyonce categorically denied a new report in The Hollywood Reporter about supposed delays to the singer's fifth studio album on Wednesday, telling The Huffington Post that an official release date had never been set.

    Beyonce is recording music in the studio while completing her Mrs. Carter World Tour, the representative said in a phone call to HuffPost. A press rollout will accompany any official release date (and, if need be, any official delays).

    The 31-year-old singer has been working on the forthcoming album for some time now, her first since she released "4" in 2011. While she has performed new music in the form of ad campaigns with H&M and Pepsi, she has yet to debut an official single off of the record.

    In a story published Wednesday, THR cited anonymous sources who claimed Beyonce's album is officially months late, and that Columbia Records, Beyonce's label, had hoped to release the project in the spring.

    According to the magazine, Beyonce rejected 50 songs from a bevvy of A-list songwriters. It's not uncommon for tens, if not hundreds, of finished songs to be presented to vocalists at Beyonce, Rihanna and Katy Perry levels of fame. Diplo recently revealed that he submitted two tracks for the album, which he believes were ultimately scrapped.

    The pacing of Beyonce's album recalls that of an artist with similar clout. In a recent interview with Rap Radar's Elliott Wilson, Beyonce's husband Jay Z spoke about the freedom that comes with being able to set one's own production timeline. "I'm not on a schedule," Jay said. "So, it will start, and then it will stop. For this album, for ['Magna Carta Holy Grail'], I had 'Oceans' recorded, with lyrics on it and everything for over a year... I can't say I officially started then, but I had pieces of music and ideas." Jay also said he and Timbaland completed major work on "Magna Carta Holy Grail" in three week's time.

    The Beautiful Story Of Trans Teens Who Found Love While Transitioning Together

    A pair of teenagers from Oklahoma might seem like your typical young couple, but their love story is unlike many others. The transgender couple actually transitioned together.

    Just two years ago, Arin Andrews and Katie Hill hadn't transitioned yet. The two had struggled with their identities throughout childhood; Hill had struggled with bullying. Then one day they met at a trans support group, after each had begun the transitioning process, and they fell in love. Today, Andrews, 17, and Hill, 19, are content.

    “I hated my breasts, I always felt like they didn’t belong. Now I finally feel comfortable in my own body," Andrews explained to British tabloid The Sun about surgically removing his breasts last month. “Now when I’m out in a public pool or lifting weights, no one raises an eyebrow. They just think I’m a guy. ... I can wear a tank top, which I couldn’t before, and I can go swimming shirtless. I can just be a regular guy. And I’m so lucky to have my family and Katie to rely on.”

    “Being transgender myself, I understand Arin better than anybody else -- how good he feels and how complete he feels," Hill added, per The Sun.

    The brunette teen from Bixby did not always feel so complete. In a segment for "Inside Edition" last year, she said that as a young child she was “[b]ullied and abused. Ridiculed. Ashamed and embarrassed."

    She was depressed for several years before she realized she was transgender, Tulsa World previously reported. Around her 15th birthday she told her mother and asked for help becoming Katie.

    "Knowing what Katie went through for eight-plus years -- there's nothing worse than watching your child suffer," Hill's mom, Jazzlyn, told Tulsa World. "It's still my baby -- male or female, she's still my child. And I don't have to kneel at her grave."

    Lady Gaga Is NSFW And Au Naturel

    Lady Gaga has been lying low recently. She quit Twitter and even stepped out in casual, plain clothes.

    But one tweet from photographers Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin has put her back in our line of vision ... and we can't look away. In support of her highly anticipated album "ARTPOP," the star posed nude for V Magazine. Without much makeup or theatrical costumes, and wearing just a hand bra, the mother of little monsters looks nearly flawless au naturel.

    Marriage Rate Declines To Historic Low, Study Finds

    A new report released Thursday by Bowling Green State University's National Center for Marriage and Family Research found that the U.S. marriage rate is 31.1, or 31 marriages per 1,000 unmarried women. That means for every 1,000 unmarried women in the U.S., 31 of those previously single women tied the knot in the last year. For comparison, in 1920, the national marriage rate was 92.3.

    Meanwhile, the average age at women's first marriage is 27 years old, its highest point in over a century.

    In 2011, the Pew Research Center found that 51 percent of Americans were married, compared to 72 percent in 1960. However, rates of cohabiting couples are rising -- according to private research company Demographic Intelligence, less than half a million couples were cohabiting in 1960, compared to 7.5 million in 2010.

    Earlier this year, Los Angeles Times columnist Meghan Daum offered a reason for declining marriage rates: cultural "rules" now compel couples to wait to marry until they have reached upper-class status. Pew researcher D'Vera Cohn told HuffPost in 2011 that the decline could be due to more acceptable living arrangements, including unmarried cohabitation.

    Kate Middleton Baby Born Duchess Of Cambridge Gives Birth!

    Kate Middleton's baby is finally here! Buckingham Palace confirms that the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, the first child for her and Prince William.

    Kate was admitted to St Mary's Hospital on the morning of July 22. She and Prince William arrived via car through a secret side entrance.

    The birth comes after an anxious waiting period. Beginning in early July, press and fans camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital waiting for the duchess to arrive on her speculative due date... only to be left waiting for days more.

    The duchess' pregnancy was announced in December 2012, following months of royal baby rumors perpetuated by the tabloids. The day of the announcement, Kate was admitted to the hospital for treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum. The illness, an acute form of morning sickness, was thought to be serious enough to affect her entire pregnancy, preventing her from making many public appearances.

    But over the course of her second and third trimesters, Kate was as active as ever. Between engagements at schools, museums and Buckingham Palace garden parties, Kate also made time to shop, go to Starbucks and walk her puppy in Hyde Park.

    Now she'll have to bring a stroller along! Stay tuned for more updates on the royal baby, and click over to our royal pregnancy page for more goodies.

    Miley Cyrus Admits To Singing About Molly On 'We Can't Stop'

    The singer sparked controversy in June when she relstimeased "We Can't Stop" -- a sexy dance anthem, rife with drug references. Though the song's producer first claimed the lyric was "dancing with Miley," not "dancing with molly" -- which is a slang term for MDMA -- Cyrus has set the record straight. And yes, the former Disney darling is singing about rolling.

    "It depends who's doing what. If you're aged ten [the lyric is] Miley, if you know what I'm talking about then you know. I just wanted it to be played on the radio and they've already had to edit it so much," the 20-year-old singer told the Daily Mail revealing interview. "I don't think people have a hard time understanding that I've grown up. You can Google me and you know what I'm up to -- you know what that lyric is saying."

    Cyrus also opened up about the racy video for "We Can't Stop," which she complained was heavily edited by MTV UK. When asked by the paper what she would say to those who believe her video is too provocative, she quickly responds by referencing the Trayvon Martin case:

    "Then I'll give you an edit. I just think the world is so lame because you can shoot people in a movie and you can let people like [George] Zimmerman off on trial but you can't have someone going like this [she simulates oral sex gesture], that is so dumb to me," Cyrus explained. "The world is such a f--ked up place the last thing people need to worry about is my cute little video for 'We Can't Stop,' you know what I mean?"

    Heidi Klum's Nude Photos Continue As Model Posts Another Topless Picture

    The model and mom-of-four has posted yet another topless photo, adding to her recent collection of NSFW snapshots. The 40-year-old took to Twitter yesterday to share a nude picture of herself in nothing but her bikini bottoms while hugging a palm tree. (Yes, it looks exactly how it sounds).

    But these kinds of things have been popping up all over Klum's social media accounts lately. Just this week she posted a topless photo of herself lying in the sand with a seashell smiley face on her toned tummy. And earlier this month she shared another sexy picture on Instagram, flashing her bare butt and tan lines for all to see.

    Kourtney Kardashian's Swimsuit Body Takes Miami

    Kourtney Kardashian wowed in a yellow swimsuit while relaxing poolside with her family in Miami on July 20. Joined by longtime love Scott Disick and their two kids Mason and Penelope, Kardashian lounged in the sun before taking a refreshing dip in the pool at the Setai Hotel.

    The 34-year-old looks amazing after giving birth to her daughter a year ago. And breastfeeding could be a weight loss trick -- in photos taken by FameFlynet, Kardashian was seen feeding Penelope while braving the heat yesterday.

    "It was harder to lose weight the second time around. I gained 45 pounds with Penelope," Kardashian told Us Weekly about her post-baby body. "This time, the focus is really on being a mom and being present, knowing my priorities."

    McDonald's Employees Walk Out In Protest Of No Air Conditioning After Crew Member Collapses

    A New York City McDonald's crew walked out Friday, saying they were forced to work without air conditioning amid record-high temperatures. One worker collapsed from the heat.

    Luisa Villa, an employee who participated in the walkout on Friday, said in an interview with The Huffington Post that the air conditioner in the restaurant's kitchen has been broken at least since she began working there nine years ago. The crew member who collapsed, Esheliz Méndez, had complained about the broken air conditioner numerous times, she added. A repair was made last year after another employee collapsed, Villa said, but the cooling system broke again within a week.

    "[The owners of the store] make fun of us because they think we're animals," Villa said in Spanish. "We're not animals. We're people. We don't want to die and you can certainly die from the heat, you know."

    Greg Basta, Deputy Director at New York Communities for Change, tweeted a photo of the scene:

    The McDonald's branch in question, located in Washington Heights, is an independently owned franchise managed by Dominga De Jesus, according to the company's website. Seventy people work there in total, Villa said.

    The McDonald's branch and the company's headquarters did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    The New York City Fire Department told NBC News that it transported an unconscious person to the hospital from the McDonald's location early Friday afternoon.

    Villa said she and her fellow employees walked out simply because they want the air conditioner to be fixed. Soon after the walkout took place, the owners brought in temporary workers so the restaurant could continue operating. Villa added that she hopes the owners will not retaliate against the workers and fire them because of the protests.

    Paris Hilton Dons Monokini For French Photo Shoot In Malib

    Paris Hilton posed on the beach in Malibu, Calif., yesterday for the French reality TV series "Les ch'tis Hollywood." Hilton donned a black monokini and covered it with a see-through, white maxi beach dress.

    According to the French website Melty, the heiress also took the series' lady contestants shopping.

    Hilton's former BFF, Kim Kardashian, also made a guest appearance on the French TV show some seasons ago, notes Melty.fr.

    Tamera Mowry-Housley Talks About Losing Her Virginity At 29, Staying Celibate Until Her Wedding

    The 35-year-old and her co-hosts chatted with Hot 97 to promote their new show recently and delved into topics like twerking, Justin Bieber and sex. That is when Mowry-Housley admitted she didn't lose her virginity until she was 29 years old.

    "I don't know how to explain this, but I'm religious... So I waited 'til I was 29 to lose my virginity," she said. "And then -- you may not understand this -- I did it and then I felt guilty, and then I became celibate until I got married."

    But when the ladies brought a sex therapist onto the show, Mowry-Housley knew all the answers.

    "Just 'cause you only had sex with one person don't mean you not a freak, and I think that that's a good thing," co-host Adrienne Bailon added. "I think people think that you could only be a freak by doing it with a bunch of people. You can be a freak and just be a freak with one person. And I think that's beautiful and dope."

    Mowry-Housley married husband Adam, a Fox News correspondent, in 2011 after six years together. She gave birth to their first child, son Aden, the following year.

    This isn't the first time the actress, who is a devout Christian, has opened up about what she has (and hasn't) done in the bedroom. She talked about her virginity with Young, Black and Fabulous two years ago.

    "We decided, it was both of our decision, not to live together for religious reasons," she said. "I'm being very honest. We actually didn't wait before we got married to be intimate...but we did wait 3 years. [...] I wanted to do what felt right for me.

    Demi Lovato On Cory Monteith's Death, Drug Addiction: 'All It Takes Is One Moment Of Vulnerability'

    Demi Lovato is one of many celebrities mourning the untimely death of Cory Monteith, but, for the former Disney star, the actor's struggles hit close to home.

    On Tuesday, it was announced Monteith died of a mixed-drug toxicity involving heroin and alcohol. The 31-year-old was found unresponsive in a Vancouver hotel room July 13, but his battle with substance abuse stretched back to his teenage years.

    "All it takes is one moment of vulnerability to get slipped into your addiction," Lovato told People magazine Wednesday. "He didn't choose to die. It was the disease. It can creep up on you at any moment. It only takes one moment of relapse to potentially die. It's really scary, but I'm really hoping that from this, people are able to see this is a very, very, very dangerous disease."

    The 20-year-old has dealt with her own demons. In 2010, she entered rehab for eating disorders and self-harm. She sought help for the "emotional and physical issues" she struggled with since childhood.

    After leaving rehab, Lovato opened up to the press about her darker days. She eventually admitted to using drugs because of peer pressure and loneliness.

    “It’s something I don’t really want to talk about,” Lovato told Fabulous Magazine last year. “What I can say is that I was depressed. I would come off stage in front of 18,000 people and suddenly be alone in a hotel room. I’d come crashing down and would try to find a way to recreate that feeling, to stay ‘up.'"

    “Promoters gave me drugs and alcohol in restaurants or clubs,” she added. “They wanted me to come back so I would be seen there. They were basically kissing my ass.”

    My Girl Star Anna Chlumsky Welcomes Daughter!

    "My Girl's" Anna Chlumsky and husband Shaun So welcomed their daughter, Penelope Joan So, last Thursday in New York City.

    The actress, who currently stars on "Veep," opens up to People about her beautiful bundle of joy. "She's a really good mix between my husband and me," she explains.

    Adding, "We think she has my mouth, but it's hard to tell. Even the color of her eyes, they are different in different light. But she has a really full set of hair."

    The new mom can add another achievement to her list -- this morning the actress won her first Emmy nomination for her role on TV's "Veep"!

    "I’m still in shock. When I got the call I wasn’t sleeping because I was breastfeeding my daughter," she says.

    "It was neat because it was me and my husband and my daughter all in the room getting the news at the same time. When [my manager] told me, it was that nervous, happy, appreciative laughter. I just laughed a lot! It feels really great to have your work noticed," Anna confesses to People.

    With the birth of her daughter and her first Emmy nod, Chlumsky couldn't be happier. "I’m really, really happy. I’m just smiley,” she says. “I have this new bundle of love that’s now in my life. She has made my life even better."

    'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' At Comic-Con Sony Brings Spidey, 'Robocop' & More To San Diego

    "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" hit into Comic-Con 2013 on Friday with stars Andrew Garfield, Jamie Foxx and Dane DeHaan joining director Marc Webb in Hall H for some friendly neighborhood rabble-rousing. (Co-stars Emma Stone, Felicity Jones and Chris Cooper were not scheduled to appear.)

    The last time this team came to San Diego for the annual geek event was in 2011, when Garfield -- who plays the title webslinger -- dressed as Spider-Man and fooled many attendees into thinking he was just another fan before revealing himself to the surprised crowd. Speculation in the lead up to "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" panel was that Garfield would try to top that viral event by swinging onto the stage. He didn't, but the star did wear the Spider-Man suit and participate in the panel as if he were actually Peter Parker.

    "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," which Sony is set to release on May 2, 2014, wasn't the only big feature the studio brought into Hall H. Other Sony films teased included the upcoming "RoboCop" remake and "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2."

    Check out the liveblog below for tweets and on-the-scene reactions to the Sony Panel.

    Microsoft's Surface RT Didn't Have To Be A $900 Million Disaster

    In some unknown warehouse presumably sits a pile of millions of beautiful, unused Surface RTs, the tablet computer that was supposed to resurrect Microsoft. Late Thursday, the company revealed for the first time that it has failed to entice many people to buy the product, and the software maker made an unexpected, $900 million writeoff on its unsold Surface inventory. The losses don't end there: On Friday morning, Microsoft shed $30 billion in value after its stock tumbled 10 percent.

    According to one calculation, that loss translates to nearly 6 million sleek and rather stunning machines that consumers have decided they don't care to own. No matter how the math works out -- the company would not provide exact sales numbers -- that heap of Surfaces just burned a nearly $1 billion hole in Microsoft's pocket.

    The irony of the Surface debacle is that Microsoft actually managed to design a product that many reviewers admired, but it failed anyway -- underscoring the degree to which this once-dominant technology company appears to be past its moment. Good, bad or mediocre, the Surface was apparently doomed on arrival because that arrival was way too late, with the market already claimed by Apple’s wildly popular iPad.

    How did such a powerful company manage to engineer such a colossal loser?

    A number of factors conspired -- each the result of a miscalculation from the company executives, which probably explains why CEO Steve Ballmer reshuffled leadership in Redmond and put one person, Julie Larson-Green, in charge of all hardware. Let's break down a few numbers on why this tablet bombed so badly:

        30 months, or the amount of time between the release of Apple's first iPad and that of the Microsoft Surface. That, apparently, was all the time Apple needed to extend its walled-off ecosystem of apps and music to tablets. Had Microsoft foreseen that the world was ready to use slabs of glass as computers -- and having made an ahead-of-its-time tablet in the early 2000s, it should have -- it could have beat Apple to the punch.

        $100, or the difference between the cheapest full-sized iPad and the cheapest Surface RT (with cover) when it first arrived. Say you're the sort of luddite who hadn't gotten around to buying an iPad, and had to choose between it and the Surface. Advantage still goes to Apple if you own an iPhone with a bevy of purchased apps or own an iTunes account full of purchased songs. Microsoft could have still swayed that customer with a lower price point -- but decided that its tablet should be significantly more expensive. It took until this month for Microsoft to finally lower prices and undercut the iPad.

        20 stores, or the number of physical retail locations Microsoft had open when it first announced the Surface. Taking a major cue from Apple, Microsoft now has a retail strategy of opening Microsoft-branded stores. Initially, the stores were going to be the only physical place where you could buy a Microsoft-branded tablet. But Business Insider counted only 20 Microsoft stores after the Surface was first announced. Even though the tablet could be ordered online, people often want to feel and test out something in real life before putting down hundreds of dollars to buy it.

    'Pink Mass' Has Made Westboro Baptist Church Founder's Mom Gay In Afterlife, Satanists Claim

    By now, everyone's just about had it with the Westboro Baptist Church, a group whose members use national tragedies as opportunities to forward anti-gay hate speech. Ironically, their planned protests often bring communities together in opposition to their message. Now, an unlikely group has mounted a gay offensive against the WBC.

    On Sunday, July 14, the Satanic Temple, a New York-based organization that seeks to foster "benevolence and empathy among all people" through Satan, performed a ritual called a "pink mass" at the Mississippi gravesite of Catherine Idalette Johnston, mother of WBC founder Fred Phelps Jr.

    "Upon completion of the pink mass ceremony, Catherine Johnston is now gay in the afterlife," notes the Satanic Temple website, which has the cheeky URL www.westboro-baptist.com. "Fred Phelps is obligated to believe that his mother is now gay ... [and] if beliefs are inviolable rights, nobody has the right to challenge our right to believe that Fred Phelps believes that his mother is now gay."

    The latter assertion appears to be a play on the WBC's own stance that their beliefs are totally infallible.

    The Pink Mass was performed twice -- once with two gay men, and once with two lesbians -- in an affirmation of the Satanist Temple's belief in "freedom and the pursuit of happiness for all people." The temple is now encouraging same-sex couples to visit the grave and perform their own pink masses.

    According to the Satanist Temple website, temple spokesman Lucien Greaves officiated the ceremonies while wearing horned headgear, and then proceeded to put his penis on Johnston's grave (NSFW, obviously).

    Vice reports that the idea for the pink mass came about in April, after the WBC threatened to protest the funerals of the Boston Marathon bombing victims. The website compared the the pink mass to "the Mormon practice of baptizing the dead, only much gayer."

    In an email to The Huffington Post, Greaves indicated that the ritual could be an effective counter-protest.

    "We intend to perform the pink mass for both Fred Phelps's father and great-aunt who raised him after his mother's death, but only in reply to their future pickets. The pink mass could be used to protest other anti-gay hysterics, but it is particularly appropriate when applied to Westboro," Greaves wrote.

    Shiksha Sahayak Merit List Cutoff District Jalore | Cut off Merit Shiksha Sahayak District Jalore

    Just like other state, government of Rajasthan now also going to recruit shiksha Sahayak for improving the education system in school of Rajasthan. However central government made provision that without qualifying TET no buddy are eligible for teacher so government now creating new types of posts in school instead of filling posts of regular CTET or tet qualified. For example recently up government invited application form for 41 thousands Anudeshak posts in uttar pradesh on 7000 per month salary for junior primary school. Just like this Rajasthan government also going to recruit 33689 posts of shiksha Sahayak. All secondary pass candidates can fill application form for shiksha Sahayak posts. Last date of application form submission is 2 July 2013 at http://ea.rajshiksha.rajasthan.gov.in

    Rajasthan Shiksha Sahayak  merit list results selection lists Click here

    Pakistan Poisoning Cook Mohammad Rafiq Arrested For Attack That Claimed 22 Lives

    Police have arrested a cook in central Pakistan who is accused of poisoning to death 22 people as part of a political feud between two branches of the same family, a local police chief said.

    The incident in the town of Mailsi in Punjab province followed recent provincial elections in which Arsal Khan Khichi lost to his cousin Jehanzaeb Khan Khichi, police chief Sadiq Dogar said late Thursday.

    Arsal Khan Khichi is accused of paying a cook, Mohammad Rafiq, 50,000 rupees ($500) to poison food at his rival's home on June 9, Dogar said. Nearly 50 people became sick and were taken to the hospital, and 22 died. Jehanzeb Khan Khichi was not at home when the incident occurred, Dogar said.

    Rafiq has confessed to poisoning the food, Dogar said. Police waited to arrest him until they received medical reports that confirmed the dead had been poisoned. Arsal Khan Khichi is still on the run, and a murder case has been registered against him as well, Dogar said.

    Politics are often a family affair in Pakistan, where it is not uncommon to have members of the same clan running against each other as members of rival political parties.

    Jennifer Aniston's Short Hair For 'Squirrels To The Nuts' Is Pretty Cute

    Jennifer Aniston may have traded in her signature "Rachel" haircut in place of a longer, more modern 'do, but that doesn't mean she can't mix it up once in a while.

    In fact, as an actress, Jen's provided with ample opportunity to do just that. We spotted the 44-year-old filming scenes for "Squirrels To The Nuts" in New York City yesterday looking quite different. Her usually sleek mane of hair was covered by a cropped wig (at least it appears to be one) with bangs.

    Sound like a tricky look for the bride-to-be? Well, we think she pulled it off and looked adorable to boot. Check out the photos below and tell us: Should Jen consider making this her full-time look?

    Taylor Swift References Kanye West VMA Incident After Being Nominated

    After learning that her video for "I Knew You Were Trouble" had been nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards, the 23-year-old superstar took to Twitter to urge her fans to vote -- and she couldn't help but slyly reference her now infamous run-in with Kanye West:

    Swift has been nominated consistently throughout the last three years, but 2009 was the last time she won a VMA. It's also the same year she was interrupted by West, who rushed the staged to let the world know a miscarriage of justice had played out since he believed that "Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time."

    It's an incident that West took a lot of flack over (not that he cares), but it's one that Swift apparently hasn't quite gotten over.

    Swift wrote the song "Innocent" after the experience, claiming the process helped her put the incident behind her. But according to Vanity Fair, the singer also has “a framed photograph of that moment" hanging in her home, which doesn't exactly sound like the decor of someone who has closure.

    This year, Swift is nominated for both Best Female Video and Video of The Year, -- and thankfully she doesn't have to go up against Beyonce for either category this time around.

    5 Reasons Shailene Woodley Is The Next Jennifer Lawrence

    Jennifer Lawrence is the reigning queen of dystopian film heroines with her role as "The Hunger Games" series' Katniss Everdeen. Since the blockbuster hit, Lawrence's career skyrocketed as did her presence in the media.

    Next March's release, "Divergent," is the newest addition to this young adult movie realm. The film adaptation of Veronica Roth's trilogy even draws several comparisons to "The Hunger Games" -- a post-modern society theme, survival of the fittest plot and status quo manipulation from a strong female character, to name a few.

    Another obvious likening is the potential A-list ascent of Shailene Woodley, starring as the lead Tris Prior, to Jennifer Lawrence's takeover after Katniss. Will the same happen for Woodley? Let's investigate.

    1. Modest means: Both JLaw and Shailene Woodley worked normal jobs pre-blockbuster. Lawrence worked as an assistant nurse at her mother's Kentucky summer camp before acting full time. Woodley worked in retail (God bless her) up until she was cast in "The Descendants." The actress discussed the dilemma on "Chelsea Lately" in November 2011. "I feared that day where I had to go tell my American Apparel manager that I had to quit because I booked ['The Descendants']. I felt so bad," she said. Seriously, how awesome is that? Shailene also spoke candidly about fame and fortune in the upcoming August issue of Marie Claire. “I struggle in real life trying to balance my natural connection to the earth and the somewhat materialistic side of the industry I am in," she said. "Anything over a certain amount of money freaks me out.” No egos here!

    2. Acting chops: 22-year-old Lawrence won last year's Best Actress Academy Award as well as a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. Her stellar co-stars include Bradley Cooper and Hugh Jackman. Woodley has tallied some impressive stats too: her nominations include the 2012 SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture at the Golden Globes. She's a year younger than Lawrence and has already worked with George Clooney.

    Celebrities Offer Condolences Following Cory Monteith's Death

    Hollywood is reacting to the devastating news of actor Cory Monteith's death. The "Glee" star was found dead Saturday (July 13) in a Vancouver hotel room. He was 31.

    Celebrities have taken to Twitter to offer condolences to Monteith's family and friends, including his rumored ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift, who simply tweeted:

    Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is an intense bio-drama Movie Review



    What it's about: A biopic is never easy to make. How do you fit someone's entire life in a few hours? What parts do you highlight and which slice do you decide to leave out while still staying true to the story? That explains the length of the film, which is over three hours. Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra gives you more than the story of Milkha Singh the athlete. Most of us have heard his name, but none or very few of us know his story, so this was a story waiting to be heard. Mehra chronicles young Milkha's (Farhan Akhtar) life from a small village (now in Pakistan) to India. Then follows it into youth who falls in love and then joins the army, where he begins his training to become an athlete. BMB is proof that there are intelligent filmmakers makes sensible films for the discerning audience. This is an important film for many reasons.  It radiates sincerity and it acknowledges and celebrates one of our heroes.

    What's good: Some lives are made for the big screen. Milkha Singh's certainly is one. It has everything. Pain of losing a family, the backdrop of partition, the determination to win the one you love and a dream. Throw it all together with the added drama of India vs Pakistan and you have one of the most neglected sports stories of the century. You wonder why no one has made a film on this living legend. With an eye to authenticity, the director transports you back a few decades into past with superb period reconstruction. Even if you have no interest in sports and have never switched to a sports channel, this film will draw you in and has enough to keep you interested. Mehra has managed to draw meaty performances from all his actors, including the child actor who plays young Milkha. But the magic of the film lies in the simple moments. Like the new army recruits dancing in their barracks, the village gathering to hear the race on the radio, Milkha's fascination for wearing the official India blazers. Mehra also packs in emotional resonance with the brother-sister portions. Milkha runs the race despite the injury, or when he meets his sister in his India jacket.The film is good but Farhan Akhtar is exceptional. He gets all the nuances right. There are those awkward moments at times but that adds to the charm. Farhan dominates almost every frame in the film and dazzles in each one. Pawan Malhotra is brilliant as the Sikh army officer. Divya Dutta is commendable as always. Sonam Kapoor has little to do in her special appearance except be the perfect warm counterpart to Milkha. The songs and the background scrore is bang on. Finally, Mehra proves that it is  possible to make a good biopic while the events that transpired are still relevant and the characters involved are still alive.

    What's not: It's a sports tale but don't expect a Chak De! India or a Swades. You will find yourself cheering for Milkha a few times but you wish there was more to cheer for. While it is what one would call a semi-documentary, it is in the end, a big budget commercial film and the director somewhere forgets that.  This one relies entirely on one man, and though he delivers brilliantly, there are portions when you find yourself wishing the pace would pick up. The editor lets some scenes linger till there is uncomfortable silence for too long and awkward giggling in the theatre. This happens on many occasions like Divya Dutta's breakdown scene when she finds her brother and when Farhan breaks down when he returns home to the house he grew up in. It's not about the length. A film over three hours can keep you entertained throughout. This one loses you somewhere in the second half but then draws you back in.

    Kendall Jenner Sports Metallic Bikini To Go Paddleboarding In Hawaii

    We can't even imagine how many bikinis Kendall Jenner must own at this point, because we feel like we've seen her in a different one almost every day.

    Fresh from showing her patriotism on the Fourth of July in an American flag bikini, the 17-year-old model and reality star jetted over to Hawaii with her older brother Brody Jenner, where the pair went paddleboarding.

    Photographers spotted the siblings, who were with a camera crew -- no doubt filming for an upcoming episode of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" -- and it was hard to miss Kendall, who sparkled in a metallic bikini top and rolled down wetsuit.

    Lindsay Lohan Urged To Extend Stay In Rehab, Advised Not To Live With Her Mother When Released

    Lindsay Lohan is reportedly ready to book it out of rehab once her court-ordered 90 day are up, despite being urged to extend her treatment for another 30 days.

    RadarOnline reports that the 27-year-old's treatment team at Cliffside Malibu has asked her to consider continuing her inpatient treatment because she's been making such good progress.

    Lohan, who is in rehab to avoid jail time after she pled no contest to reckless driving and lying to the police, began her 90-day stay at the Betty Ford Center in May, before moving to Cliffside in June.

    “The treatment team wants Lindsay to stay for at least another 30 days, because she didn’t do her entire 90 days at Cliffside. Someone with her addiction and psychiatric issues needs extensive treatment and 90 days just isn’t enough. She is in a really good place right now, but her doctors want that to continue," a source explained to the website.

    We have to wonder just how much progress Lohan has really made if she's intent on leaving treatment against the advice of her team.

    “Lindsay says she is required to be in Venice, Italy, at the beginning of August to attend the premiere of 'The Canyons,'” the source said. “She has assured the doctors that she will continue to go to AA/NA meetings and work the 12 steps."

    If Lohan decides to leave when her court-mandated time is up at the end of July, she's going to be living with her family at her mother's home in Long Island -- though she's also reportedly been advised not to live with her mother, Dina Lohan, upon release.

    Kim Kardashian Was Voted 'Most Likely To Lie About Her Ethnicity' In High School

    Kim Kardashian was apparently voted "Most Likely To Lie About Her Ethnicity" in high school. It's a factoid about the reality star that was revealed by Allure in 2010, but the folks over at BuzzFeed came up with a big list of surprising superlative titles celebrities were named in their yearbooks, and we have to say Kardashian's caught our attention.

    The students of Marymount High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Los Angeles, also voted Kardashian as “Most Likely to Meet Her Husband at the Million Man March."

    While we understand that her fellow students were highlighting Kardashian's preference for dating black men, we're slightly puzzled by the whole lying-about-her-ethnicity thing. We have to wonder if that superlative was meant to be sarcastic since Kardashian is very proud of her Armenian heritage -- or at least she appeared to be in the years since she shot to fame as a reality star.

    Whether it was meant to be sarcastic or not, it leaves us with a strange urge to wish we knew more about Kardashian in high school and the even stranger feeling that a show about her in her teens would have been endlessly entertaining.

    Total Pageviews