Germany unlikely to be ready to decide at March 1-2 summit

* Euro zone may decide on combined bailout fund later in March

* No increase of IMF funds without Europe moving first

By Jan Strupczewski and Daniel Flynn

MEXICO CITY, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Euro zone leaders may not be able to meet international demands to ramp up their own funds for bailing out the bloc's debtors when they meet next week because Germany is showing no sign of dropping its opposition to the plan, euro zone officials said.

A bigger European fund is a condition for major non-European economies before they lend more money to the International Monetary Fund to provide an even bigger wall of cash to fight the crisis that has already claimed three euro debtor countries and now threatens the much bigger economies of Italy and Spain.

"I would not bet on a positive outcome by the end of the March 1-2 summit," one euro zone official said. "German opposition to a deal is still very strong."

Euro zone leaders are set to review the 500 billion euro ($675 billion) limit on the joint lending capacity of their temporary and permanent bailout funds, known by their acronyms EFSF and ESM, at the March 1-2 summit.
If they decide to merge the funds, they would create a firewall of 750 billion euros which would help convince markets that they were committed to bringing the crisis under control.

The European Central Bank supports such an increase as do policymakers around the world who are considering more than doubling the IMF's resources by $600 billion.

"Everybody says there is a pre-condition that Europe makes more efforts first," South Korea's central bank governor Kim Choong-soo said before a meeting of finance ministers and central bankers of Group of 20 leading economies in Mexico City.

But Germany, the euro zone's biggest economy, insists Europe's current bailout arrangements are more than sufficient and that increasing them would send a signal to markets that the euro zone it expects more trouble ahead.

German officials say countries would lose the impetus to carry out badly needed belt-tightening reforms.

"It makes no sense, and is rather harmful," said one German official.

Others in Berlin argue the extra obligations under the combined bailout funds could increase the risk of further credit rating downgrades for some euro zone countries. And the sense of urgency is dissipating because Italy and Spain are paying less to borrow on markets.

Officials from other countries warn that argument is premature.

"The current improvement in markets is very fragile, so we need to be careful not become complacent," a second euro zone official said.

Jennifer Hudson had just put an Oscar on her mantle when the opportunity for more gold came knocking. Unfortunately, its companion, massive weight gain, made sure the chance didn't get in the door.

Following her win for Best Supporting Actress for the 2006 film "Dreamgirls," the American Idol winner says that she asked by director Lee Daniels to read for the title part in the film "Precious." The role, an abused and overweight daughter, was appealing, but the physical strain it present was not.

"I had done that with Effie... and as much as I was moved by this film," Hudson writes in her new book, "I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down" (via Uptown Magazine). "I wanted to try a role that had nothing whatsoever to do with my weight."
As Daniels told it in 2009, that helped put him in a bind.

"We were weeks away from the shoot but I still hadn't found Precious," he told The Guardian. "Do you know how difficult it is to find a 300lb black girl to be great in a movie? They don't exist in Hollywood."

As it turned out, Gabby Sidibe, New Yorker and college student, cut class to audition at an open casting call. The rest -- including an Oscar nomination for Sibide -- is history. That includes one side effect for Sibide that would not have plagued Hudson.

Our long national nightmare is finally over. Late Friday night, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences lifted its "ban" on Sacha Baron Cohen, meaning the comic will be allowed to walk the red carpet at the Oscars on Sunday dressed as General Admiral Aladeen, his character from the upcoming comedy "The Dictator."

"VICTORY!" Cohen Aladeen tweeted with a photo of himself holding a gold-plated gun and two Oscar tickets (click below).

Though while Cohen-as-Aladeen triumphed over "the Zionist snakes of Hollywood," the victory didn't come without a price. According to TheWrap, many in the AMPAS are still upset about Cohen's planned red carpet stunt and don't feel its appropriate. Still, officials want Cohen's representatives and Paramount (the studio releasing "The Dictator") to provide details of Cohen's plans, so that proper security measures can be implemented.

"Do we have concerns?" said an Academy Awards source to TheWrap. "Yes. Did we say, 'Please stunt the red carpet?' No."

According to Roman, Williams and Lozada’s friendship was rather one-sided, with Lozada consistently supporting Williams, but Williams failing to do the same in return.
“I always saw Evelyn trying to be there for Jennifer, but I never saw that really reciprocated,” said Tami, who tried to help the two women work out their differences in the Season 4 premiere. “I didn’t really feel a lot of friendship love. Like, I know my diehard friends, we don’t function in the way they function, so I can’t say that I’m very surprised.”
“I didn’t really know what it was, couldn’t put my finger on it,” said Roman. “I always felt that there was a little tension toward Evelyn from Jennifer.”
To fans of the show, Williams may come off as the more peaceful member of the former pair, but Roman warns that this season fans will see another, more sinister, side of Williams.
“Just because Jennifer is quiet doesn’t mean that she’s not doing things behind the scenes. I think as people watch the show, they will see certain things unfold that they might not have been aware of, and it may change people’s perspective of how their relationship really was,” said Roman.“Now that this thing is starting to unfold before my eyes, just as it will for everyone else, I’m seeing what those underlying tensions were, and they’re all going to be brought to the forefront this season.”
Well, we’re all definitely going to tune into to see the ongoing battle between Williams and Lozada. But in the meantime, you can check out a list of some of Roman’s greatest feuds below. –nicholas robinson

Was Ray J using his status with Whitney Houston to land another hit reality show?
Reports are that the former on-again off-again couple taped a few television episodes and that Ray J — the little brother of singer Brandy — was attempting to sell the concept before Houston succumbed to tragedy on the eve of the Grammy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif.
After multiple failed attempts to procure fame via traditional ways — like musical talent for instance — Ray J used the infamous sex tape with Kim Kardashian to enjoy temporary fame and score a couple of popular reality shows, one on his own and another with his sister Brandy and their mother. Kardashian didn’t fair to badly either from the proliferation of the sex tapes.

Ray J’s publicist confirmed that he and Whitney had shot some footage for a reality show they were pitching. It’s not hard to imagine who would have gained the most of it had come to fruition.
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CHANKAY: Paula Abdul Will Judge ABC’s Got To Dance: CBS has signed the former “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul to headline its coming dance competition, “Got to Dance.” Ms. Abdul will be th...

Seems like Lindsay Lohan is accepting any offer that she will get without thinking it twice. The model and singer – actress just recently accepted an offer to pose nude for Playboy Magazine for a hefty amount of 1 million dollar.

Steve Honig, Lohan’s representative did not confirm anything nor deny. It was Dina Lohan, Lindsay’s mom, who verified today that the Mean Girls actress will be in Playboy and that ” the photo shoot went well.”

Although posing in Playboy won’t be her first time, but a lot of people are questioning if this “project” will help out her career. Some even think that this is a sign of desperation.


Last week, her lawyer mentioned that she is working to support not just herself but also her family. Since there were few invites from TV and movie producers in the industry, not to mention her probation, baring her body in Playboy could provide the money that they need.

Lohan’s career went down when she was caught with two DUI or Driving Under the Influence incidents which led her to visit three rehabilitation centers in 2007. She had also undergone alcohol education classes in May last year. On September 2011 her probation was denied after failing a drug test and spent an entire day in a jail before being released on a bail. She was also charged of theft last February where a necklace was stolen in a jewelry store in January. She was sentenced of 120 days imprisonment and 360 hours of community service. Just last week, Lohan was refused to attend her community service work in a Los Angeles morgue because of tardiness but then showed up the next day too early with cupcakes on her hand.

CBS has signed the former “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul to headline its coming dance competition, “Got to Dance.”

Ms. Abdul will be the lead judge and a mentor and coach for the amateur contestants on the reality show. Behind the scenes, she will also be an executive producer and a “creative partner,” CBS said.

Impressively, the network found a way to squeeze all the titles into a headline, like so: “Paula Abdul Named Executive Producer, Creative Partner, Mentor, Coach, And Lead Judge of Upcoming CBS Reality-Competition Series ‘Got To Dance.’”


With “Got to Dance” — a title that is subject to change — CBS will be competing with ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” and Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.” A CBS spokesman said the network has not decided on a premiere date for the series.

The “Got to Dance” format comes from the United Kingdom, where it started last year.

In a statement, Ms. Abdul said, “I am thrilled to be creative partners with Reveille, Shine and CBS and to present the best new dance talent to American audiences. Each and every week we’ll showcase the challenges and successes of a fantastic group of dancers, as they perform and compete — compelling stories, exciting competition and amazing dance performances are guaranteed.”
Paula Abdul, American pop singer-record producer-dancer-choreographer-actress and television personality, is going to be a judge in ABC’s Got To Dance.

This dance competition is expected to be seen next season. Abdul will also be an executive producer for the series, which is based on a successful competition that airs in Britain.

CHANKAY: Purple Squirrel Photo Ignites Curiosity of Netizen...: A purple squirrel ignites the curiosity of netizens due to its unusual color. Most squirrel’s can be seen in grey color or occasionally red,...

A purple squirrel ignites the curiosity of netizens due to its unusual color. Most squirrel’s can be seen in grey color or occasionally red, but having a purple color is definitely unusual. The said purple squirrel was found by Percy and Connie Emert, of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania on Sunday, February 5, 2012.

The purple squirrel was caught in a trap set by the Emert’s to keep birds safe from the rodents, reports said on Thursday, February 9, 2012.

“We have bird feeders out in our yard, and the squirrels are constantly into them. My husband traps them and then sets them free elsewhere so they don’t get into your bird feeders.” Connie was quoted saying in an interview by Accuweather.com.

“I kept telling my husband I saw a purple one out in the yard. ‘Oh sure you did’ he kept telling me. Well, he checked the trap around noon on Sunday and sure enough, there it was.” Connie added.

The squirrel’s unusual color have no definite cause, according to reports. However, scientist and some locals have their own theories that it may have fallen into a Porta-Potty or the purple tint could be from the bromide-laced frack water it’s been drinking in the area.

“We have no idea whatsoever. It’s really purple. People think we dyed it, but honestly, we just found it and it was purple.” The Emerts was quoted saying in a news article.

The purple squirrel has been released back into the wilderness, but it was kept by the Emert’s for a few days so other people could see it. The couple also set up a Twitter and Facebook page for the purple squirrel where they posted some pictures of the unusual critter.