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Oregon Congressman David Wu says he's resigning

2011-07-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Oregon Congressman under fire for sexual encounter with 18-year-old says he will resign

David Wu announced Tuesday that he will resign from congress,four days after a report that a young women called his office complaining of an "unwanted sexual encounter.

The full statement:

It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be a United States Congressman. Rare is the nation in which an immigrant child can become a national political figure. I thank God and my parents for the privilege of being an American.

Now, however, the time has come to hand on the privilege of high office. I cannot care for my family the way I wish while serving in Congress and fighting these very serious allegations.

The wellbeing of my children must come before anything else. With great sadness, I therefore intend to resign effective upon the resolution of the debt-ceiling crisis. This is the right decision for my family, the institution of the House, and my colleagues.

It is also the only correct decision to avoid any distraction from the important work at hand in Washington. I intend to go forward with new resolve and love of family, the State of Oregon, and our nation.

My emphasis. Wu will stick around to take what will be, for everyone else, a tough vote. Wu probably dug his own grave when he started disclosing his mental health history but didn't disclose the rest of his mistakes. Two Democrats were already running to replace him; they start a special election in this district, in Portland's liberal-leaning suburbs, with an advantage.

Amir Khan proves too much for Judah

2011-07-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS -- Amir Khan made it look easy.

He used his speed and his height advantage and thoroughly dominated Zab Judah. And that was before he landed a hard right hand on the beltline and knocked him out in the fifth round to unify junior welterweight titles Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Amir Khan made short work of Zab Judah Saturday.

Ever since England's Khan stormed the American shores in May 2010, he has said he wanted to fight the best the 140-pound division had to offer.

It's not just lip service. He's doing it.

He got warm with a dominant knockout of former titlist Paulie Malignaggi in Malignaggi's hometown of New York. Then he came to the same Mandalay Bay ring in December and survived a grueling battle with Marcos Maidana in the 2010 Boxing Writers Association of America fight of the year.

After a stay-sharp defense back home in England in April, Khan returned to the United States and was determined to fight the best fighter the division had to offer.

He was supposed to face two-belt titleholder Timothy Bradley Jr., but Bradley had a change of heart and declined the fight despite a generous 50-50 offer from Khan -- including 50 percent of British television money, an almost unheard of concession. That's how much Khan wanted to fight the one 140-pounder widely ranked ahead of him.

With Bradley out of the picture, that left the resurgent Judah, a three-time 140-pound titlist and a former undisputed welterweight champion. After tough times in recent years at welterweight, Judah moved back to junior welterweight last summer and claimed a vacant belt in March by knocking out Kaizer Mabuza. When Bradley declined to fight Khan, Judah -- with Hall of Famer Pernell Whitaker in his corner -- to got the call.

But Judah looked every bit of his 33 years. He had nothing for Khan, who peppered him with hard shots to the head and body and boxed circles around him.

The first round had not even ended and already Judah's face was beginning to get marked up, in part from an accidental head butt that left him blinking his right eye.

But Khan did not let up. He really turned it up in the fifth round, snapping Judah's head back with a left hand. He continued to pound Judah during the round.

Finally, Khan nailed Judah with a right hand to the face and followed with a body shot. The right hand landed directly on the belt line in the middle of Judah's waistband and he dropped to his knees near the ropes.

Judah seemed to indicate that it was a low blow and made no serious attempt to rise as referee Vic Drakulich counted. And counted. And counted. He reached 10 at 2 minutes, 47 seconds and Judah looked surprised to be counted out as he jumped up.

It was too late.

"Zab is a great fighter, but he was a little awkward," Khan said. "I knew he was getting hurt and moving away and ducking. I kept hitting him right on the face and the shot that took him down hit him right on the belt. If it had gone another few rounds, I would have knocked him out with a clean shot. I saw I was hurting him and it was only a matter of time."

Replays showed the knockout punch was clearly a clean shot, even if Judah and Main Events promoter Kathy Duva did not agree.

"It was a low blow," Judah said. "I was trying to get myself together [when I was down] and that was self defense there [going down]. He jabbed my cup. It was an uppercut and it lifted the belt and that really hurt."

While Judah (41-7, 28 KOs), who earned $500,000, believes it was a low blow and, therefore, a controversial ending, nothing could be further from the truth because Khan (26-1, 18 KOs) dominated.

He was leading by a 40-36 shutout on all three scorecards at the time of the knockout. It looked as though Judah was in for a beating had he stayed on his feet.

Still, there was the low-blow defense.

"The punch was clearly below his belt," Duva said.

Actually, it wasn't. They can go watch the replays while Khan will move on to bigger business.

At 24, he is one of the rising stars of boxing and continues to prove it fight after fight by taking tough opponents.

"I think my speed overwhelmed him along with my power," Khan said. "I built it up from the beginning and took my time. I could've gone with the plan to knock him out sooner, but I wanted to work my way up. I'm No. 1 in the division. Now I will go back and see who my team is going to line up for me next."

He has said repeatedly he wants to fight the best and that is what he is doing. So when he says he wants to move up to welterweight, probably next year, and fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., it sure sounds legitimate.

He won't fight pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao because they are training partners and friends under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach, but there are lots of options.

But it probably won't be Bradley, who ultimately rejected a 50-50 deal that would have paid him perhaps as much as $1.8 million.

"If Bradley didn't want to fight then, he probably doesn't want to fight him now after seeing what he just did to Zab Judah," Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer said.

Bradley, however, did not close the door on fighting Khan, despite being in the midst of a lawsuit filed by co-promoters Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson for breach of contract related to him turning down the fight with Khan. It could keep him on the sideline for some time.

"He's not ready for the 'Storm,'" Bradley said after the fight, referring to his nickname "Desert Storm."

"I'm not impressed," Bradley continued. "I know the comments that are going to be made about this, but I'm not stressing over what everyone else is saying. When we do get in the ring everyone will see who the best 140-pounder in the world is."

Whether Khan faces Bradley next or not, the plan calls for Khan -- whose official purse filed with the Nevada commission was $1,072,500, although he will make more from British television revenue -- to fight again in the United States in December. That is under the terms of his deal with HBO, Schaefer said.

"We'll see who will be available," Schaefer said. "It might be the winner of [the Aug. 27] Robert Guerrero-Marcos Maidana fight. It might be Erik Morales. But I really don't think Bradley wants to have anything to do with Amir Khan. It was a great performance. The combinations, what a talented fighter.

"One more fight at 140 and then in the spring move up to 147 and go get one of the big boys."

It sure would be nice to see Bradley first, but welterweight -- and even bigger fights -- beckon.

Amy Winehouse Lost Her Battle with Drug and Alcohol Addiction

2011-07-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Amy Winehouse was found dead in her apartment today. The death is listed as unexplained. In the end, Winehouse was better known for her brushes with the law and drug addiction than she was for her talent, and she was talented. She had a wonderful voice and a great musical style.

Winehouse had the ability to bring soul music back to the mainstream, and for awhile, she did. "Back to Black" was a massive hit. The album won the singer five Grammies and propelled her into stardom. Her success as a singer was short lived.

Within a matter of a few months, her drug addled tabloid lifestyle would take center stage. Her fans watched as she was arrested for assault, warned and featured doing drugs in a home video.

Her spiral continued until 2008, when she was hospitalized with lung disease and covered in nicotine patches in order to break her from the worst of her addictions. We hoped she'd recover. We hoped to see another album just as good as "Back to Black," but more importantly, we wanted to see her beat her addiction and survive. We wanted Winehouse to divorce Blake Feder-Civil and become a success story.

Shortly after her hospitalization, Winehouse did divorce Blake Feder-Civil and the news stopped. There were no more tabloids pictures of a disoriented, bloody or beaten Winehouse. Was she getting better? Creating another album? We hoped.

News arrived in June. Winehouse underwent a brief stint in rehab to prepare her for an upcoming comeback tour. She even performed an impromptu concert in London at the 100 Club. She was sober. She talked to the fans, and everyone cheered. It looked like the old Amy was back.

She appeared well prepared for her concert in Belgrade. She wasn't. It was a disgrace. The singer stumbled, muttered and forgot the lyrics to her own songs. She went home. We wondered what happened between the 100 Club and Belgrade. The tour spent about a day in limbo before the remaining dates were canceled.

We, again, hoped Winehouse would recover; that this was just a brief bump on her road to becoming drug free. Unfortunately, that bump in the road turned out to be a mountain, and Winehouse was too sick to climb it. She was found dead in her apartment earlier today. The cause of death is unknown.

Gay Marriage in NY a Huge Stride for Civil Liberties

2011-07-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

FIRST PERSON | On Sunday, the Marriage Equality Act will take effect in New York, thus far the largest state in the country to expand marriage rights to its gay residents. That's the day when I will head down to the Manhattan City Clerk's office to pick up my marriage license with my fiancee, Katie Marks. We won't marry right away. Instead, we'll say our vows with 23 other couples at the Pop Up Chapel in Central Park on July 30.

To say that we are ecstatic would be an understatement of epic proportions. I will finally have the opportunity to marry my favorite person, my best friend. She is my perfect complement; she fills in my gaps. We've named our future children, and love our pets as if they were people.

For me, the ability to marry is about all of the obvious things: love, trust, and creating a new family. More than any of those things, it's an insurance policy, of sorts. It means that I'll get to put a long-held worry to rest.

I realized I was gay early, as a teenager. Around that time, I saw the 2000 film If These Walls Could Talk 2, which follows three lesbian stories taking place in three different time periods, all in the same house. In the first vignette, we meet an elderly lesbian couple,Abby and Edith, in the early 60s. Abby takes a nasty fall and dies in the hospital, where Edith worries in the waiting room all night. She is told the next morning that her partner has died. She is not allowed any more information, or even the ability to see Abby, because she isn't "family."

This has been one of my greatest fears for over a decade. The very basic right of having access to a loved one when disaster strikes is something I think many take for granted. It has been my main talking point on the subject of gay marriage for years. In many cases, I've found that, even if a person doesn't agree with my "lifestyle choices," they don't think anyone should be denied the ability to comfort a loved one in a time of dire need. They can't fathom the idea that these things can and do happen in this country.

Last April, President Barack Obama sent a memo to the Department of Health and Human Services, pointing out that the LGBTQ community is "uniquely affected" by visitation policies in hospitals, and asked that they put a stop to it. That was one step. On Sunday, I'll be able to say that the chances of us meeting the same fate as Edith and Abby will be reduced nearly to zero -- as long as we stay in New York and a handful of other states. It's another step, and a huge one at that.

I am overcome with happiness and gratitude. I am so grateful for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's efforts; for everyone who wrote a letter or made a call for rallying on our behalf; and especially for those who stood in the halls outside the senate chamber in Albany, fighting for our rights. I think we've gained a powerful momentum with the gay marriage victory here in New York, with the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and Obama's recent statement that he would work to repeal the Defence of Marriage Act. From here on out, I think we will experience something akin to a domino effect. Of course, as with all civil rights movements, there will continue to be resistance, and we will continue to fight for our equality.

When I think about the amazing strides we've made, I remember that joy must be tempered. I think about the losses of Matthew Shepard, Tyler Clementi, and the countless others whose names we never heard who died because of who they loved, or even who they thought they could love. They lived in fear, never knowing the support to be gained by the It Gets Better Project or Live Through This. They never got a chance to grow, to succeed, to love and marry. This victory is for them, too. They were martyrs to a noble cause that's finally making huge strides. I wish they could be here to see it.

PHOTOS FOR GAY MARRIAGES:

7 Eleven honors 7/11 with free slurpees

2011-07-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

In concurrence with 7-Eleven's 84th anniversary, the international chain of convenience stores is offering free 7.11 ounce Slurpees at chains across the country. The home of the Slurpee is making a strong social media push to promote its birthday as well as the year.

7-Eleven is currently a top trend on Twitter in accordance with its heavy promotional push of its anniversary give-away since 7/11/11 marks a huge day for the company as it celebrates its unofficial birthday.

On the seventh of each month in 2011, Twitter promotes the hashtag #yearof711, taking advantage of the year and the coinciding connection to the stores name, i.e. 7/7/11 or 8/7/11. 7-Eleven's approach to social media includes having a Twitter accounts, Facebook fan pages and websites for the store itself and the ever-popular Slurpee. The Slurpee fan page on Facebook even has 3.75 million fans, no small feat for the icy drink.

Seven-Eleven's senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and logistics, Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, stated in a press release, "7-Eleven day and giving away free Slurpee beverages is our way of thanking customers for their patronage throughout the year and showing appreciation for their support."

As fans of the drink and those trying to escape the summer heat suffer the brain freezing side effects of the slush, the company enjoys a promotion that has projected giveaways of five million Slurpees. That figure is compounded by social media endorsements, putting it far above their 2007 figure of three million give-a-ways.

With five million costumers popping into their local 7-Elevens, the mega-chain stands to make a pretty penny on other items customers are sure to buy while in the store receiving their free drink. Similarly, 7-Eleven Vice President of marketing Nancy Smith told USA Today that on the same day last year, Slurpee sales jumped 38 percent. It seems that a 7.11 ounce cup of Slurpee isn't enough for some people as costumers ended up buying larger drinks.

To find your closest 7-Eleven location click here.

What do you think? Will you be stopping into your local 7-Eleven for your free Slurpee?

Victoria Beckham Welcomes a Baby Girl!

2011-07-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

At long last, the Beckhams have a baby girl!

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham gave birth to a daughter at 7:55 a.m. Sunday morning at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Already mom to sons Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, 8, and Cruz, 6, with husband of 12 years David Beckham, this is the first girl for the 37-year-old fashion designer.

The couple's rep Jo Milloy tells Us Weekly the "happy and healthy" little girl weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. "David and Victoria Beckham are delighted," Milloy said. "Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are excited to welcome their new baby sister to the family."

Just two days before, soccer star David, 36, went stag to an intimate Friday reception held at British Consul-General Barbara Hay's L.A. residence in honor of Prince William and Duchess Kate. "Victoria really wanted to come but she is just so tired at the moment. She sent you both lots of love," Beckham told William, 29, apologetically. (The Beckhams were among the celeb guests at the royal wedding in London on April 29.)

"Don't be silly," the Prince replied. "Please send her all out love and tell her good luck with it all."

With a testosterone-filled household, it's no wonder why Beckham longed for baby girl. "When we first found out, we went for the scan and they said, 'Oh, it's a boy,'" David told Jimmy Kimmel in March. "I was like, 'Great,' and Victoria was like, 'Ugh. Another penis in the house.' She thinks there's too many in the house already. So then we went back for the next scan and they said, 'Oh, we think it's a girl.'"

The couple's sons even pitched a few ideas for their little sister's name. "We've got a few in mind, but we've also said to the boys, 'Give us some ideas,'" David explained. "When we got told it was a boy, Romeo was like, 'How about Justin Bieber Beckham?' So now that we know it's a girl, he's like, 'What about Justine Bieber Beckham?'"

Olivia Wilde: Honey Badger Don't Care!

2011-07-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

Olivia Wilde steps out of the gym with her bags and water on Tuesday (July 5) in Studio City, Calif.

The 27-year-old Cowboys & Aliensactress was wearing an orange t-shirt with the phrase “Honey Badger Don’t Care” - it represents a viral nature video. Honey Badger don’t give a s—!

The day before, Olivia was spotted arriving at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International airport in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

FYI: Olivia is wearing DSquared2sunglasses. She also wore Levi’s Demi Curve Jeans at the airport.

10+ pictures inside of Olivia Wildeleaving the gym…

'Napoleon Dynamite' Writer Making Directing Debut with 'Austenland'

2011-07-10T11:27:00.001-07:00

Though you've probably seen her name on the big screen for writing films like Napoleon Dynamite andNacho Libre, writer Jerusha Hess is now set to follow in her husband Jared Hess' footsteps (he directed the aforementioned comedies) with her directorial debut in the form of an adaptation of Shannon Hale's novel Austenland. In addition, Heat Vision reports the film will also mark the producing debut of The Twilight Saga author Stephanie Meyer. Making the talent pool behind this film all the more interesting,Keri Russell (Waitress) and Bret Mackenzie ("Flight of the Conchords") are set to star in the film, too.

J.J. Field, who plays Union Jack in Captain America: The First Avenger, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymour, Rupert Vansittart and James Callis round out the cast of the film which follows a single thirty-something woman with a secret obsession with Mr. Darcy (the character from Pride and Prejudice) that is ruining her love life because no real-life man compares to the fictional character. However, when she decides to spend her life savings on a trip to an English resort catering to Jane Austen-crazed women, the woman's fantasy of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman becomes more real than she could have imagined. Sounds kind of cheesy, but the involvement of Bret Mackenzie is almost enough to get me interested. It'll alsobe interesting to see if this film has the same eccentric, quirky style as the rest of the films the Hess duo have put together.

7 reasons why women cheat

2011-07-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

You’ve probably heard that men cheat for physical reasons, women for emotional reasons. Sure, there’s some truth to that, but when we asked real women around the country to share why they strayed from their boyfriends, we learned they had a whole host of explanations — from bad kissing to sheer revenge. Read on for the truth about why women have given in to temptation.

Reason #1: There’s no passion
“I had been with John for about three years — he was a really nice guy, and I enjoyed being with him, but there wasn’t a ton of passion. Most everyone we knew had gotten engaged, and though John would have proposed in a second, whenever he brought it up, I’d change the subject. I took a trip to Australia for work and while I was gone, I got together with a coworker to whom I’d always been insanely attracted. I had a fantastic trip, probably because for the first time in a long time I experienced that excitement I’d been missing. I broke up with John soon after I returned home and began dating the guy from the trip. Even though I’m not super-proud of my actions, things ended up for the best: after dating for a few years, the guy from the trip and I got married and we’re incredibly happy together.”
– Giselle, 30, Montvale, NJ

Reason #2: To delay a breakup
“Right before I was going to break up with my ex, Sean, he found out that he had to put his beloved dog to sleep. He was so broken up about it that I didn’t have the heart to end things, so I waited a month or so until he was in better shape. When things seemed to be better and I was ready, he lost his job, so I felt like I was back to square one! By that time I had met someone else that I really wanted to start seeing, so I went ahead and did it. I eventually ended things, never telling Sean about my extracurricular dating. I think I rationalized that I was trying to spare his feelings.”
– Stacy, 30, Lexington, KY

Reason #3: Because absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder
“My boyfriend Greg and I decided to do the long-distance thing after I was accepted to a graduate program 200 miles from where we lived. The first few months were fine, but I soon found myself becoming extremely attracted to my lab partner, Henry. What began as innocent flirting eventually wound up with us getting physical. After the program was over, I returned home to Greg. Being with him was really difficult, but I didn’t break up with him initially because I was still attracted to him, too. I visited Henry a few times and realized that he was really more of a fling, probably done out of boredom, and that Greg was the one for me. I eventually stopped communicating with Henry. I never told Greg about what happened, which occasionally makes me feel guilty, but I chalk my cheating up to being young and silly. He and I are still together, four years after my program ended.”
– Tamara, 33, Portland, OR

Reason #4: To avoid being left out in the cold
“I began dating Eric shortly after I had been dumped by Dave, my boyfriend of two years. I was devastated and Eric was definitely a rebound thing. After Eric and I had dated for five months, Dave came back and wanted to give things another shot. I still really missed him, so I began seeing him, but never ended things with Eric. I think I sort of kept Eric around for insurance purposes, just in case things didn’t end up well with Dave. Dave and I didn’t make it on round two, and after Eric discovered through mutual friends that I had been seeing him again, he ended things with me. I definitely learned my lesson about dating two guys at the same time, not to mention trying to rekindle a relationship that’s just plain over.”
– Jen, 28, Oak Park, IL

Reason #5: To make a break from a bad relationship
“When I was younger, I dated a guy named Ethan who was really critical of me. He constantly made little snide comments about my weight, how stupid I was and how clumsy I was. For whatever odd reason, I was into him, despite the fact that all of my friends and family hated him. One weekend when he was away, I met Will at a party and we completely hit it off. He was the complete opposite of Ethan — kind, sweet and generous, yet completely cool and fun, too. We hung out all weekend and it was like a light bulb went off in my head: This is how mature, relationship-worthy guys act. I kissed Will the night before he left and broke up with Ethan soon after. Will and I dated for three years and now we’re married.”
– Allison, 30, New York, NY

Reason #6: To find that missing piece
“I’m from Florida, so I adore going to the beach and boating, but my former boyfriend, Chris, a total city boy, hated it. We always argued about where we’d take trips, and he always won. About eight months into our relationship, I took a trip to Key West with my friends and we chartered a boat for the day. The captain of the boat was this totally hot, complete ‘beach guy for life’ type, and I spent the whole day flirting with him. We met him out that night and spent time alone together. I never told Chris about it after I got home and I never felt guilty; I think part of me felt like that’s what Chris got for being so stubborn! Chris and I didn’t make it, and after we broke up, I made sure any future boyfriends loved the beach!”
– Lizzie, 32, Chicago, IL

Reason #7: To give him a taste of his own medicine
“My last boyfriend was a total player before we got together. I thought I could change him but I was wrong. I always heard rumors that he was seeing other girls while we were dating, but he always denied it. One night, I got a call from a girl he had been secretly dating, and she detailed their three-month-long relationship to me and told me about another girl she had discovered he was seeing as well. I was so mad that I went out with my friends that night, dressed to kill, and spent time with the most attractive guy; I felt like it was the least he deserved! I loved seeing the look on his face when I told him about what I did and that I knew about the other girls. And then I dumped him!”
– Ashante, 25, College Park, GA

Victoria and David Beckham prepare for the arrival of their daughter with a birthing ball

2011-07-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

She's already mother to three sons, so Victoria Beckham knows now what's involved in giving birth.

But it seems as she prepares for the arrival of her first daughter, Victoria is getting some help from husband David with her breathing.

In astonishing new photos, the pair are seen sitting on a birthing ball, with David's hands clasped around Victoria's pregnant tummy.

Getting ready: Victoria and David Beckham get ready for the arrival of their daughter as they prepare on a birthing ball

In another shot, Victoria and David are seen trying to choose from an unusual list of baby names.

With ideas including Benditlike, Gucci and Santa Monica, Victoria clutches a book of 1000 Girl's Names, while David reads America's Favourite Baby Names.

However, as you may have guessed, the pictures aren't actually of the famous couple but instead of lookalikes, set up for a series of pictures taken by celebrity photographer Alison Jackson.

'What about Gucci?' In another shot set up by celebrity photographer Alison Jackson and featuring lookalike sees 'Victoria and David' discuss names

Jackson shot to fame when she put together a picture which apparently showed Princess Diana, Dodi Al-Fayed and a mixed-race baby.

But Jackson, who also produces pictures of royal family lookalikes, admitted recently her work takes a lot of time.

Describing how she sets up for a shot, Jackson said: 'I draw up lists of what is needed, contact the various experts such as wig and clothes-makers, make-up artists and lookalike models - and then work closely with them to achieve the exact look I’m seeking.

Out and about: Victoria and David were spotted driving around Los Angeles on Wednesday

'Ultimately, though, it’s up to me to capture the right moment where they all look as I envisaged.

'All this is very expensive; consequently, I don’t take many photographs, maybe one or two a month.'

Victoria and David's little girl, who is due on July 4, will be Victoria and David's fourth child and first daughter and sister for eight-year-old Romeo, Brooklyn, 12, and Cruz, six.

New addition: David and Victoria are already parents to sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz

Victoria Beckham to Give Birth Today

2011-07-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

Victoria Beckham is set to give birth today! The Brit might not be celebrating the 4th of July quite like some of her American-born celebrity friends, but it will definitely be a firework-worthy time in the Beckham household.

Victoria and David Beckham are expecting their first baby girl, and their house is reportedly full of pink in lieu of red, white, and blue in honor of her arrival. Since fashionista Victoria already has three sons, it's hard not to see why she's excited -- her daughter definitely has the potential to become the next Suri Cruise with such a stylish mom.

July 4th is also a special day for David and Victoria Beckham because it's their 12-year wedding anniversary, and they couldn't ask for a better gift than a baby girl. But of course plenty of gifts will be waiting for Becks' baby when she arrives, including recordings of songs by the Beatles.

So will former Spice girl Victoria Beckham give her daughter a spicy name, or a musical one? She could go for Cinnamon, Clove, Pepper, Sage, Rosemary, or Saffron (which is actually quite pretty), but since Posh really seems to have put her Spice girls days behind her, it's doubtful her daughter (who is sure to be a diva) will be named after a lowly ingredient that can be found on a kitchen shelf.

Instead the fact that David Beckham has been downloading Beatles music has fueled the speculation that the baby girl's name will be Jude after the song "Hey Jude," which could actually make a great soothing bedtime song for a child. Then again, Victoria Beckham could also combine the best of both worlds if she named her daughter after the Beatles' song "Cayenne." A few other Beatles-inspired named like Jude include Lizzy, Eleanor, Mary Jane, Sally, Julia, Clarabella, Anna, Lucy, Sadie, Pam, Martha, Maggie Mae, and Michelle.

Whether David and Victoria Beckham's daughter becomes part of a recipe or gets her own theme song, one thing is for sure -- she's going to be born in the USA. The baby will born by Cesarean in a California hospital, giving the family plenty of time to enjoy a star-spangled celebration after her arrival. And since she's going to be joining the other "California Gurls" on a "Firework"-filled night, perhaps she should be named after Katy Perry (Perry would actually be kind of cute). Anyway, congrats to the couple!

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

Emily Strong, 6, of Rifle, celebrated the Fourth of July weekend in her star-spangled swimsuit at the Centennial Park water garden in Rifle. Crowds gathered at the park for an early Independence Day celebration which included music, food and fireworks on Sunday.

KC Johnson, director of the Earthbeat Choir and Music Camps, prepares for Sunday's performance at Rifle's Centennial Park in celebration of Independence Day. The event also included a barbecue contest and fireworks displays.

Bill Dodds-Scott

Today is the 235th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776, the American colonies of New England declared themselves to be a sovereign nation separate from Great Britain.

To people around the United States of America, the holiday means quite different things.

To young children, it typically means fireworks, parades and a whole lot of fun.

To older Americans, the picture can get a little more complicated.

Military veterans often view it as a day to honor their fallen comrades in arms, as well as a day to celebrate the freedoms represented in the U.S. Constitution.

To many of the workers of the nation, aside from other, perhaps loftier considerations, it is a guaranteed three-day weekend.

For politicians, it is a perfect day for kissing babies and making rousing patriotic speeches.

For businesses throughout the country, it is a day of high expectations, as people can be counted upon to hit the road and do their part to keep American commerce humming.

The Post Independent, in recognition of the day and its importance in so many ways, reached out to a smattering of the region's residents to ask two questions:

• What are your favorite Fourth of July traditions?

• What does the holiday mean to you in a general, perhaps deeper, sense?

Their answers are below:

Bill Dodds-Scott, 85, Glenwood Springs, retired: “One thing, it's my birthday. Fourth of July means quite a bit to me. I like the fireworks. It's a good day.

“Fourth of July, of course, was the independence of the United States and everything, and that means a lot to me. It's a great country. I've been around a little bit, of course, and this is the best country in the world, and Colorado is the tops.”

Tara Meixsell, 50, New Castle, writer and teacher: “Baking cherry pie and making potato salad. To be honest, I often don't go out to public events, having to work. But it's a time for me to relax and kick back and take time for, what to me, are traditional foods. The cherry pie thing started in college, because we had a huge cherry tree out back.

“I'm from Sudbury, Mass., and that was very much in the area where the American Revolution was born. So, being a kid, it was very patriotic. My brother was in the fife and drum corps, we were all very patriotic.”

Fourth of July is about “just trying to be a country, trying to stay together as a country. It's about the country, and feeling like you're at home no matter where you are.”

Dave Moore, 71, mayor of Silt, developer: “Traditionally, we have family over, and that'll be no different this year. We're having my son and daughter-in-law, and my two grandchildren.

“Also, we like to go to Ouray to see the festivities down there. I think it's a beautiful little town. They call it Little Switzerland, and it's a nice place to go on a little tour without having to spend a lot of money.”

Fourth of July “means the freedoms, the liberty we've had to enjoy here in America. It's time to reflect on what a great country we have in America, what it means to each one of us.”

Anne Jolley, property management, rancher: “Our traditions are getting together with friends and family, just watching fireworks, celebrating the birth of America and celebrating how lucky we are to be Americans.”

Frank Breslin, 58, mayor of New Castle cabinet maker: “My traditions are weed whacking, lawn mowing, and trying to get out and do a nice walk with my wife, because everybody's gone. People leave for the weekend.”

“Independence Day makes me consider my duty, what I owe to my country, because my life is fortunate and blessed. It makes me want to be a more dedicated American, to do my part to support my country. I admire the Minute Men, the people who were ready to respond at a moment's notice to a crisis.

“As a kid, I used to love fireworks, but I would like to see people lose their need for the fireworks displays, because in this country it's too dangerous.”

Judith Hayward, 69, mayor pro-tem of Parachute, full-time volunteer: “I always think about the flag, and make sure I hang it up outside. In the past, when I was closer to family, it was always picnics and just the family getting together, having fun, baseball, croquet, those kind of games.

“I'm proud to be an American, and I think the Fourth of July is the United States' celebration of independence and democracy. I was just watching on TV, they were talking about immigrants who were being made citizens of the U.S. I just thought, there are a lot of people that are happy to be accepted into the United States, so that also reminds me about the Fourth of July.”

Keith Lambert, 62, mayor of Rifle, retired teacher: “The tradition varies, because in a lot of instances we've been out of town for the Fourth. When we are in town, we certainly avail ourselves of the local fireworks, sometimes a barbecue goes with that, getting together with friends, just enjoying the companionship of friends and neighbors and family.

“My best friend growing up, his birthday was on the Fourth of July, and we referred to him as the Freedom Baby. When I was a kid we used to go swimming on the Fourth every year (in backyard pools in Tucson), and he was a big part of that, and it's carried on even though we're not together any more.

“It's a celebration of our country's independence, the ability to be with family and friends and to celebrate the freedoms that we do have.”

Mim Hubbard, 78, Glenwood Springs, retired dental hygienist: “My tradition was eating watermelon. We always went to my grandmother's house, and she always had watermelon. That was in Pittsburgh, growing up.”

Fourth of July “means to me fireworks at night, and sparklers you can hold in your hand, hot dogs and hamburgers, and putting the flag up for everybody to see. When I lived in Pittsburgh I went to a parade every Fourth of July.”

Carleton Hubbard, 81, Glenwood Springs, retired from the title insurance business: “When I was a little boy, we lived down on Colorado Avenue, and at that time you could use any kind of fireworks that you wanted.

“It was kind of a neighborhood tradition, everybody'd get out there in the middle of the street, there was no traffic in those days, and set of all kinds of fountains, and firecrackers, whatever you'd want. And people in the other parts of town would do the same.

“Our moms would make cakes and pies and ice cream. Later on, we'd go to Woods Lake and go fishing, and our mom would sit off to the side and read a book.

“I very much cherish my freedom, my liberties, and I respect everybody who has either fought or has in some way made an effort to save our freedoms. I served myself, and I think the Fourth of July is a proper way to honor those people. When you look around the world, we ought to be so thankful about we've got the freedoms that we do have.”

Bonnie Fischer, 69, Carbondale, teacher: “I think that the favorite tradition was the family picnic and the community kids parade.

“I like to think America's a great place to live and to raise children, to be a part of it all.”

Will Granbois, 20, Carbondale, student, webmaster: “Sure, there are the diehard patriots, but a Carbondale Fourth doesn't really cater to them.

“The Fourth of July is really a holiday for the kids. Of course, the occasional family and ubiquitous barbecue appeals to all ages, but children get the best deal. It gives them a chance to dress up and parade down Main Street, free watermelon in the park, and a brilliant fireworks display at night (well, most years). It's summer in a nutshell, really.

“It doesn't hold the same charm as a so-called adult, but I'll never miss the parade if I can help it. You've got to have the crowd there, and someday, with luck, it'll be my kids riding their bikes with red, white, and blue streamers.”

John Scalzo, 87, Rifle, retired businessman: “My wife used to have a family picnic, and then we'd watch the Fourth fireworks, and everything else stopped, that was it. Used to be I went to the Fourth of July golf tournament, which I started in, oh, let's see, 1966 or something like that. Then there was the Elks Lodge. We had a pit and we barbecued a pig, and we had a big celebration. We're having it again this year.

“The Fourth of July is basically in honor of the past history of the United States, and of the military and all that kind of stuff. A lot of people disregard it. They go on picnics and boat trips, they very seldom go to a memorial or a cemetery to honor those who went before them, thinking more of their own recreation than why we're here today.”

Marian Perregaux, 82, Carbondale, retired teacher, day care administrator: “Hot dogs, family get togethers and feeling pride in being fortunate enough to live in this country.

“I think that we started out on a good premise, and we've still got a long way to go, but we'll get there. There are still a lot of flaws in our country, but we'll figure out how to fix them sooner or later.”

Pippa Middleton Recycles Her Dress & Her Date

2011-07-03T03:51:00.000-07:00

Fashionista Pippa Middleton knows what she likes and sticks with it, whether it's dresses or dates.
Like her stylish sister the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, Pippa has started recycling outfits, showing off her tanned and toned legs at Wimbledon in a black knit Tania dress, the same dress she wore in white knit to the AEGON tennis tournament on June 10.
Pippa’s Sexy Single Girl Style
The other accessory Pippa is recycling is her date. On Friday Pippa watched the tennis match with her friend George Percy, the same guy she went to the AEGON tennis match with as well.
Pippa Middleton Reycles Dress & Guy - See The Photos
Pippa and George, the son of one of the wealthiest men in England, the Duke of Northumberland, were roommates in college and dated for a while. She was rumored to have broken up with her boyfriend Alex Loudon recently, but the pair actually went to Wimbledon together on Thursday (which was the second day leggy Pippa wore a pretty short $200 orange Hobbs NW3 dress).

The British bachelorette is definitely a creature of habit.

Apple Asks to Yank Samsung Products in Patent Fight

2011-07-03T03:34:00.000-07:00

Apple took its patent infringement suit against Samsung to the next level on Friday when it asked the U.S. District Court to issue a preliminary injunction against sales of a Samsung tablet and phones.

The motion, which was filed at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and first reported by FOSS Patents, alleges that the Infuse 4G, Galaxy S 4G, Droid Charge, and Galaxy Tab 10.1 violate three design patents and one utility patent held by Apple.

As AppleInsider points out: if the injunction is granted, it would force Samsung to stop selling the devices in the United States.

According to court documents Apple hopes to "expedite resolution of this motion" by selecting intellectual property rights that it says can easily be decided on without trial.

Apple asserts that the "unique and refined ‘Apple look'" of its iPhone and iPad is globally recognized and "has played a critical role" in the products' success. The company said that the similar look of the four Samsung devices mentioned in the motion is "no accident" and alleges that Samsung "chose to copy Apple, not to innovate."

Apple asserted the following in court documents:

"The message that Samsung conveys to consumers with its imitative smartphone design is simple: ‘It's just like an iPhone.' Samsung's Galaxy Tab10.1 tablet sends a similar message: ‘It's just like an iPad.' With the benefit of those messages, Samsung is seeking to take market share by trading off of the popularity of Apple's products."

Although Apple didn't include the Galaxy S 2 and Galaxy Tab 8.9 in this motion, it reserves the right to go after the unreleased products later.

The copycat debacle first started back in April when Apple filed suit against Samsung for allegedly copying its product designs. Samsung has responded by countersuing Apple and demanding information on Apple's forthcoming products, purportedly to ensure its own future designs do not infringe.

Lindsay Lohan Laughs off Partying Rumours

2011-07-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Lohan has laughed off reports she got drunk as she celebrated the end of her house arrest stint on Wednesday, insisting she simply enjoyed a meal with pals.

The Mean Girls star spent 35 days at her home in Venice, California as punishment for violating probation on a Dui charge. She was allowed to walk free on Wednesday.

That night, she caused a paparazzi frenzy as she met up with friends at Hollywood hotspot the Lexington Social House.

As she left, snappers yelled, "She's drunk, she's been drinking" as the troubled actress appeared to stumble, but Lohan is adamant her trip was caused by the paparazzi scurrying around her for a photo.

In a post on her Twitter.com page, she writes, "Of course me going to my best friends going away dinner is a headline - especially on my first day out of my house in 35 days. That does not give anyone the right to have a field day and manifest stories.

"It Was A Going Away Dinner, That Was It. Nothing exciting happened aside from the very yummy hummus and pita. If anyone caused me to nearly fall it was the psychotic paparazzi."

Beyonce does it her way on latest album ‘4’

2011-06-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

Beyonce recently told Billboard about her fishing expeditions while making this album: “I recorded more than 60 songs: everything I ever wanted to try, I just did it."

News circulated this week that execs at Columbia, Beyonce’s record label, were scrambling to cover their assets ahead of a dawning realization that the diva’s fourth album might be a dud. “They’re very nervous about Beyonce’s new record,” an insider told the New York Post. “It doesn’t have the hit songs that her fans are used to. They asked her to make changes, but she said no.” There’s even talk of reassembling Destiny’s Child in a desperate bid to shore up this cash cow before the end of the fiscal year.

Fans, as always, should pay no attention to the money-changers’ wringing of hands. If a record label is nervous about a disc, in fact, pay attention; it’s probably worth it.

Sure, Beyonce’s first new single, “Run the World (Girls),” was a left-turn shocker for fans — that bleating Major Lazer sample, the skittering island rhythms and too-fast, too-furious dance-floor gambit — but it’s not wholly indicative of the new album, which is built largely on something else that’s not necessarily been B’s strongest suit: smooth and solid balladry.

If anything, “4” has more in common with “21.”

Adele’s “21,” which topped the charts throughout much of the spring, is a torchy breakup album, laden with belting, bawling and the hellish fury that comes from a young woman scorned. Beyonce is 29 and married, but she’s already lived a lifetime. Ten years into a monolithic solo career, after Beyonce Knowles led Destiny’s Child to the top, she’s a 16-time Grammy winner, a movie star and half of the hottest power couple in show biz. She doesn’t have to be defiant. She can relax now, and on “4” she wisely does, ruminating over relationships without firm verdicts — she’s confused, conflicted, very human. “If I got with you, would it feel the same?” she asks in “I Miss You,” a moving wisp of a song (co-written by rising Odd Future star Frank Ocean) that purrs with emotions as contradictory and reluctant as its puttering beats and slow, sighing synths.

The music of “4” is often this subtle and surprising, certainly more creative. Front-loaded with cool keyboards and easygoing melodies in the first half, then marching through a Caribbean parade at the end, “4” smacks of an artist with clout casting about for fresh inspiration but ultimately doing what she wants and not letting a record label dictate many artistic decisions (thus the panic now).

She recently told Billboard about her fishing expeditions while making this album: “I recorded more than 60 songs: everything I ever wanted to try, I just did it. I started off being inspired by Fela Kuti [Nigerian pioneer of Afrobeat music]. I actually worked with the band from [the musical] ‘Fela!’ for a couple of days, just to get the feel for the soul and heart of his music; it’s so sexy and has a great groove you get lost in. I loved his drums, all the horns, how everything was on the one. What I learned most from Fela was artistic freedom: He just felt the spirit. I also found a lot of inspiration in ’90s R&B; Earth, Wind & Fire; DeBarge; Lionel Richie; Teena Marie ... I listened to a lot of Jackson 5 and New Edition, but also Adele, Florence + the Machine, and Prince. Add in my hip-hop influences, and you can hear how broad it is.”

Broad, indeed, and definitely dabbling, but showcasing less of a split personality than the silly marketing distractions of her manufactured alter-ego, the not-missed Sasha Fierce. Here we’re back to the Beyonce of “B’day” — lean, lithe and not always the woman you demand her to be. From the opening, “1 (Plus) 1,” she establishes a tension that remains taut throughout much of the record; her vocals are urgent, backing off (“Don’t know much about algebra,” she sings, glancing at Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World”) and begging (“Make love to me!”), all while the music stays steady and soft, barely more than a few piano chords and a baseline Coldplay-in-Africa plucked guitar riff. The music tames her savage beast, and love conquers all: “Just when I ball up my fist I realize that I’m laying right next to you.”

The push and pull continues through mostly mid-tempo treats, many of which try a little sonic experimentation, thanks to a varied bunch of forward-thinking writers and producers. On the sad but superb “I Care,” the Neptunes’ Chad Hugo offers palpitating beats and lone synth note underneath, and Empire of the Sun’s Luke Steele co-produces the heavy drums and definite Earth, Wind & Fire influence of “Rather Die Young.” “Party” is a breezy get-together, accented with scooping, gliding multitracked harmonies that almost make moot the idea of a Destiny’s reunion. The song features Andre 3000 and writing/production from Kanye West, but it’s so laid-back, you’d never guess.

Near the end, “4” starts moving, picking things up with the cheery Jackson-esque pop-disco song “Love on Top,” then heading into an ethnic club for “Countdown” (staccato horns and steel drums, and a literal count backward as if it were the 10 days of clubland) and “End of Time” (more rigorous martial beats, like a New Orleans second line). It all careens into the preposterous noisy squall of “Run the World (Girls),” which alienates fans and harasses hipsters in the same breath and is a heckuva way to end an otherwise relaxed, personal set showcasing a diva’s softer side.

Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz marry

2011-06-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

A September 2004 photo of Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig attending a screening of "Enduring Love" in New York City. A spokesperson had confirmed that the two actors have been quietly dating, and recently married. (Bowers/Getty Images)

(AP)

LOS ANGELES — Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, who play husband and wife in an upcoming film, have taken the roles to heart.

Robin Baun of Slate PR, which represents Craig, said Saturday that the actor and Weisz have married. She did not offer any details.

The British actors had been quietly dating. The wedding previously was reported by the British newspaper News of the World.

Craig has starred as the British secret agent in the two most recent James Bond films. He also stars in the upcoming remake of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," directed by David Fincher.

Weisz won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for "The Constant Gardener" and starred in "The Mummy," "The Fountain" and "The Lovely Bones."

The pair co-starred as a married couple in the upcoming film "Dream House."

The 43-year-old Craig had a longtime girlfriend, Satsuki Mitchell, and has a daughter from a previous relationship. The 41-year-old Weisz was in a relationship with director Darren Aronofsky ("Black Swan"), with whom she has a son.

Lindsay Lohan avoids jail, but judge bans parties during house arrest

2011-06-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

Actress Lindsay Lohan is currently under home confinement while serving a sentence for a necklace theft conviction.

Lindsay Lohan's failed alcohol test last week will not be held against her because a judge did not renew a requirement that she be tested, according to a ruling in Los Angeles Thursday.

The requirements that her supervised probation include random alcohol and drug testing expired in February when she was arrested on a necklace theft charge and transferred from a Beverly Hills court to the Los Angeles airport branch, Judge Stephanie Saunter said.

"Lindsay has done nothing wrong," defense attorney Shawn Holley said after the hearing.

Lindsay Lohan new photos

Cameron Diaz swears up a storm in 'Bad Teacher'

2011-06-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS – Some actors swear a lot as the cameras roll and, in most instances, those blue moments end up on the cutting-room floor. But not in the case of "Bad Teacher," in which Cameron Diaz raises profanity to the level of high art in her title role.

"It was all phonetic," Diaz said, laughing. "We started with an `F' and we ended up with a `K,' and, apparently, if you put these other two letters in between, it makes a very funny noise ... and people understand it."

As Diaz explains, actors typically drop F-bombs on the set, even if it's not in the script. "Then you're, `God, you can't say that. We can't use that one,'" said the actress.

But in the making of "Bad Teacher," which opens Friday, Diaz said it was just the opposite: "You're like, `More F-bombs, give it to us' in this film. So to be able to be on set and have your director screaming that at you is a lot of fun. Everybody is just laughing."

The 38-year-old Diaz was at CinemaCon in Las Vegas earlier this year to get theater owners warmed up to "Bad Teacher" — a rare, R-rated studio comedy with a female lead.

But with the subsequent success of "Bridesmaids," another rare raunchy female comedy this season, exhibitors are likely eyeing the concept as Hollywood's next hot genre.

"It wasn't a character that was originally written for a man and then made for a woman," Diaz said of her "Bad Teacher" role. "It was conceived as a woman. And so, it is a lot of fun. I think it is funnier. If it was a guy, it wouldn't be as funny. Guys don't need to get (breast) jobs."

"Teacher" reunites Diaz with former beau Justin Timberlake. And while Diaz and Timberlake had worked together post-breakup on the "Shrek" films, "Teacher" marks their first live-action effort together.

"We were all like, `This is the right person for the job,'" Diaz explained. "Any worry that we had was like what the media was going to turn it into. Because we all know what they can turn it into.

"So we were very grateful that they didn't, because there was nothing to make of it, other than two people working together, who just happened to have gone out in another time in our lives. So, it wasn't a big deal, and we had a great time. And we did the job."

As for Diaz's own high-school past? She said she never was sent to detention. "I should have, but somehow, I always got away with it."

And was she a bad girl in high school? "Not in high school," Diaz replied with a laugh.

2011 Emmy Nominees & Winners

2011-06-24T04:44:00.000-07:00

Best Series, Drama
* Mad Men
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Lost
The Good Wife
True Blood

Best Series, Comedy
* Modern Family
Nurse Jackie
Curb Your Enthusiasm
30 Rock
Glee
The Office

Best Actor, Drama
* Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Hugh Laurie, House
Jon Hamm, Mad Men,
Matthew Fox, Lost
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights

Best Actress, Drama
* Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Connie Britto, Friday Night Lights
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
January Jones Mad Men
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Best Actor, Comedy
* Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Steve Carell, The Office
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Matthew Morrison, Glee

Best Actress, Comedy
* Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Lea Michele, Glee
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Toni Collette, United States of Tara

Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series
* Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
Michael Emerson, Lost
John Slattery Mad Men
Martin Short, Damages
Terry OQuinn, Lost

Best Supporting Actress, Drama Series
* Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Rose Byrne, Damages
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy Series
* Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Chris Colfer, Glee
Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy Series
* Jane Lynch, Glee
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Holland Taylor, Two and A Half Men
Julie Bowen, Modern Family

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Colbert Report
Real Time with Bill Mahr
Saturday Night Live
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Outstanding Reality Program
* Jamie Olivers Food Revolution
Antiques Roadshow
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
Dirty Jobs
MythBusters
Undercover Boss

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
* Top Chef
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
* Jeff Probst, Survivor
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

Outstanding Made for Television Movie
* Temple Grandin
End Game
Georgia O'Keefe
Moonshot
The Special Relationship
You Don't Know Jack

Outstanding Drama Series
* The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
All My Children (ABC)
General Hospital (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show - TIE
* Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
* Wheel of Fortune (Syndicated)
Cash Cab (Discovery Channel)
The Price is Right (CBS)

Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program
* Judge Pirro (Syndicated)
Divorce Court (Syndicated)
Judge Judy (Syndicated)
The People's Court (Syndicated)
Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (Syndicated)

Outstanding Lifestyle Program
* The Martha Stewart Show (Hallmark)
How Do I Look? (The Style Network)
My Generation (PBS)
The Nate Berkus Show (Syndicated)

Outstanding Morning Program
* Today Show (NBC)
Good Morning America (ABC)

Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment
* The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated)
Live with Regis and Kelly (Syndicated)
Rachael Ray (Syndicated)
The View (ABC)

Outstanding Talk Show/Informative
* The Dr. Oz Show (Syndicated)
Dr Phil (Syndicated)
The Doctors (Syndicated)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
* Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos Jacks) - General Hospital (ABC)
Alicia Minshew (Kendall Slater) - All My Children (ABC)
Debbi Morgan (Angie Hubbard) - All My Children (ABC)
Colleen Zenk (Barbara Ryan) - As The World Turns (CBS)
Susan Flannery (Stephanie Forrester) - The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers) - The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
* Michael Park (Jack Snyder) - As The World Turns (CBS)
Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake Martin) - All My Children (ABC)
James Scott (EJ DiMera) - Days of Our Lives (NBC)
Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - General Hospital (ABC)
Christian Le Blanc (Michael Baldwin) - The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
* Heather Tom (Katie Logan Spencer) - The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Melissa Claire Egan (Annie Chandler) - All My Children (ABC)
Julie Pinson (Janet Ciconne) - As The World Turns (CBS)
Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) - General Hospital (ABC)
Bree Williamson (Jessica Brennan) - One Life To Live (ABC)
Tricia Cast (Nina Webster) - The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
* Jonathan Jackson (Lucky Spencer) - General Hospital (ABC)
Jason Thompson (Patrick Drake) - General Hospital (ABC)
Brian Kerwin (Charlie Banks) - One Life To Live (ABC)
Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) - The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Billy Miller (Billy Abbott) - The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
* Brittany Allen (Marisa Chandler) - All My Children (ABC)
Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina Corinthos Davis) - General Hospital (ABC)
Emily O'Brien (Jana Hawkes) - The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series
* Scott Clifton (William Spencer III aka Liam Cooper) - The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Chandler Massey (Will Horton) - Days of our Lives (NBC)
Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos) - General Hospital (ABC)

Outstanding Game Show Host
* Ben Bailey - Cash Cab (Discovery)
Todd Newton - Family Game Night (The Hub)
Wayne Brady - Let's Make A Deal (CBS)
Meredith Vieira - Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Syndicated)

Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary Host
* Martha Stewart - The Martha Stewart Show (Hallmark)
Christopher Kimball - America's Test Kitchen (PBS)
Nate Berkus - The Nate Berkus Show (Syndicated)
Paula Deen - Paula's Best Dishes (Food Network)
Anne Burrell - Secrets of a Restaurant Chef (Food Network)

Outstanding Talk Show Host - TIE
* Dr Mehmet Oz - The Dr Oz Show (Syndicated)
* Kelly Ripa, Regis Philbin - Live with Regis and Kelly (ABC)
Rachael Ray - Rachael Ray (Syndicated)
Dr Travis Stork, Dr Andrew Ordon, Dr Jim Sears, Dr Lisa Masterson - The Doctors (Syndicated)
Sherri Shepherd, Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg - The View (ABC)

Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team - TIE
* The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
* The Young and the Restless (CBS)
General Hospital (ABC)
One Life to Live (ABC)

Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
* The Young and the Restless (CBS)
As The World Turns (CBS)
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Days of Our Lives (NBC)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Pat Sajak
Alex Trebek

iPhone 5

2011-06-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- "iPhone 5" is trending Thursday as rumors swirl about the look and feel of the new phone when it arrives this September.

Apple's newest iPhone will feature a new processor, the same powerful chip included in the iPad 2, an updated camera and possibly an all-new look. The iPhone 5 could be curvier and slimmer than its prior versions, according to some reports.

Since the smartphone's debut, Apple has launched a new iPhone every June.

Another popular search on the Internet Thursday includes "Saab" after news that the carmaker is so strapped for cash it can't pay wages to its employees.

Saab said it hasn't obtained necessary short-term funding to pay its workers. In response, two Saab unions have demanded payment by Monday, or they'll take legal action that could result in the company being put into bankruptcy.

Saab's production was halted for most of April, May and June because it could not pay suppliers, and now also needs funds to restart it. The company agreed to a rescue package earlier this month from two Chinese companies, pending approval from the Chinese and Swedish governments, the European Investment Bank and shareholder General Motors. In the deal, Saab would hand over a majority stake in return for a cash injection that could potentially solve longer-term financial problems.

Keanu Reeves' poetry book: Get it from Book Soup

2011-06-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Keanu Reeves has written a poetry book, "Ode to Happiness," that "externalizes a melancholy internal monologue and subtly pokes fun at it," according to publisher Steidl.

The 40-page book has a single, long poem by Reeves, art by painter Alexandra Grant and was created with the help of Janey Bergam. The art book is $55.

The text includes lines like "I draw a hot sorrow bath / in my despair room" and "It can always be worse.

Was the book inspired by the "Sad Keanu" Internet meme, the one that began with a photograph of a seemingly dejected Keanu Reeves eating on a park bench? The New York Daily News thinks so.

But, really, is Keanu paying that much attention to Photoshop memes of himself? Doesn't he have muscles to train, lines to learn and, you know, samurai to defeat?

Or maybe he has books to buy. Book Soup, where Reeves has been rumored to shop, has six copies of "Ode to Happiness" left in stock. That's twice as many as Amazon.

Belfast riots renew calls for Protestant-Catholic dialogue

2011-06-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

Dublin, Ireland – Rioting engulfed the Short Strand district of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Tuesday night, as pro-British loyalists and Irish republican residents of the area clashed for the second consecutive day.

Local police said that as many as 400 people participated in the violence and that a news photographer was wounded in a shooting in one of Belfast's most tense neighborhoods. In an effort to break up the fights, police fired at least 66 plastic bullets but made only one arrest: a young woman was detained on suspicion of possession of a firearm and assaulting police.

While police and locals blamed the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) for sparking the violence on Monday and being involved in fighting last night, an unnamed dissident republican splinter group may be equally to blame in Tuesday's melee.

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The violence has already led to calls for renewed dialogue between Protestant and Catholic groups, especially as it becomes evident that splinter paramilitary groups are trying to revive discord along political and religious lines.

“In the past there, we had an interface group where Short Strand community leaders would call me or someone else [and vice versa] if there was trouble brewing. I think there was a feeling from Sinn Féin that it was a policing responsibility – and I can see their point – but now we, on both sides of the community, want to see those structures reestablished. Similar initiatives are going on to resolve issues in other parts of Belfast," says Sammy Douglas, a local lawmaker with the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) who has worked as a community activist in east Belfast.

Marching season nearsMany local leaders say the spike in sectarian violence – coupled with the increasingly murky picture of which groups are involved – is especially troubling as Northern Ireland's always-tense "marching season" approaches.

â€œThe main thing now is to ensure the violence stops before it gets inflamed,â€

During the marching season, which reaches its high point on July 12 but continues until the end of August, the Protestant Orange Institution and associated groups – including bands named after loyalist paramilitary organizations – parade throughout Northern Ireland.

The parades, which republicans view as provocative displays of sectarianism but unionists see as expressions of British identity, have often ended in violence.

The paramilitary playersSo far, there is no indication that the mainstream Provisional IRA (PIRA) has engaged in the fighting. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) confirmed the PIRA had disarmed by September 2005. And in 2009, the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), a body formed by the British and Irish governments, said the IRAâ€™s leadership group known as the â€œarmy councilâ€

Dissident groups formed by disaffected members of the PIRA and who remain committed to war include the Continuity IRA, founded in 1987 and the Real IRA, formed in 1997. A third group was formed from a split within the Real IRA in 2009, calling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann (the Gaelic name traditionally used by the various IRAs).

In the past two years, dissident republicans have killed two policemen and two British soldiers, the most recent killing being the car bombing of police officer Ronan Kerr in April 2011. Both groups have staged dozens of other actions including so-called "punishment shooting" vigilante actions against criminals and several failed bomb and gun attacks.

On the loyalist side of the conflict, matters are more confused. The UVF and the Ulster Defence Association were supposedly disarmed and disbanded.

But the IMC’s most recent report, issued in March, said the UVF was still active: “Notwithstanding the progress made in the past three years, the organization’s role in the murder of [member] Bobby Moffett calls into question the claim in the May 2007 statement that the UVF would become a civilian organization. We do not doubt the wish of the leadership to pursue the 2007 strategy though there are some within the organization who are evidently not ready to accept the restraints on their behavior which this means.”

Now, the UVF’s role in leading the recent riots suggests a power struggle within the paramilitary group.

A Protestant and unionist resident of east Belfast, who did not wish to be identified, said whatever progress was being made between republicans and unionists in high office needed to be replicated on the ground. “Neither the dissidents nor the UVF speak for the people. People were led into a false sense of security, thinking the weapons had gone away."

Stress in the City: Brain Activity and Biology Behind Mood Disorders of Urbanites

2011-06-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Being born and raised in a major urban area
is associated with greater lifetime risk for
anxiety andmood disorders.

(June 22, 2011) — Being born and raised in a major urban area is associated with greater

lifetime risk for anxiety and mood disorders. Until now, the biology for these associations had not been described. A new international study, which involved Douglas Mental Health University Institute researcher Jens Pruessner, is the first to show that two distinct brain regions that regulate emotion and stress are affected by city living. These findings, published in Nature may lead to strategies that improve the quality of life for city dwellers.

"Previous findings have shown that the risk for anxiety disorders is 21 percent higher for people from the city, who also have a 39 percent increase for mood disorders," says co-author Jens Pruessner, a Douglas researcher. "In addition, the incidence for schizophrenia is almost doubled for individuals who are born and brought up in cities. These values are a cause for concern and determining the biology behind this is the first step to remedy the trend."

Distinct brain structures

Pruessner, with his colleagues from the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, looked at the brain activity of healthy volunteers from urban and rural areas. In a series of functional magnetic resonance experiments involving the Douglas' previously developed 'Montreal Imaging Stress Task',(MIST) protocol, they showed that city living was associated with greater stress responses in the amygdala, an area of the brain involved with emotional regulation and mood. In contrast, urban upbringing was found to be associated with activity in the cingulate cortex, a region involved in regulation of negative affect and stress.

"These findings suggest that different brain regions are sensitive to the experience of city living during different times across the lifespan," says Pruessner. "Future studies need to clarify the link between psychopathology and these affects in individuals with mental disorders.These findings contribute to our understanding of urban environmental risk for mental disorders and health in general. They further point to a new approach to interface social sciences, neurosciences and public policy to respond to the major health challenge of urbanization."

Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher is married

2011-06-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

Looks like Noel Gallagher has found his "Wonderwall" -- the former Oasis frontman is married.

The rocker, 44, tied the knot to his girlfriend of 11 years, Sara MacDonald, over the weekend, his rep confirms to PEOPLE.

The ceremony reportedly took place Saturday at the Lime Wood Hotel in New Forest, England, and this is Gallagher's second marriage.

Published reports say Russell Brand, Gallagher's former co-host on British radio show "TalkSPORT," served as best man at the ceremony, where MacDonald sparkled in a full-length vintage gown.

MacDonald switched into a Tom Ford dress for the reception, sharing her first dance with Gallagher as husband and wife to The Ronette's "Be My Baby."

"Little Britain" star David Walliams and supermodel wife Lara Stone, actor John Simm and musician Paul Weller helped the couple celebrate the nuptials. Brand's wife, Katy Perry, is on tour and couldn't attend.

Noticeably absent from the ceremony: brother and former band mate, Liam Gallagher, whom he's publicly had a rocky relationship with that led to the band's split.

"I've not been invited to his wedding," Liam Gallagher, who's been playing gigs with his current band, Beady Eye, in Chicago, told the Chicago Sun-Times prior to the big day.

Gallagher and MacDonald have two sons together: Donovan, 3, and Sonny, 8 months. Gallagher has a daughter, Anais, 11, with his first wife Meg Matthews.