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Valentine’s aphrodisiacs

2011-02-04T15:17:00.000+00:00

Romantic Valentine’s dinners are often laden with aphrodisiacs. But it’s
not all about chocolates and oysters. Here are ten of the strangest
foods believed to get pulses racing.

Porridge oats

Brits eat 47 million gallons of porridge each winter, and according
to some, it could raise pulses in the bedroom. Experts have found that
oats (avena sativa) help to free locked testosterone in the body,
rebalancing levels of the hormone and increasing sex drive.

Durian fruit
This prickly fruit grows in South and East Asia. When cut the smell of its flesh has been compared to rotten onions or even manure. Despite this, it is believed to increase sex drive. According to one Indonesian proverb, "the durian fruit falls and the sarongs come up". But there may be some scientific fact behind this. A study at Bharathiar University in India found that the fruit contains oestrogen, claiming that it could increase fertility. Durian fruit can be bought at UK Chinese supermarkets, and is made into candy, biscuits or cooked with coconut milk and spices.

Snake’s blood
In Vietnam and Thailand, fresh snake’s blood is considered a sexual tonic. The snake’s heart can be swallowed at the same time, and often the green bile from the gallbladder is also added to the drink. Eating snake for medicinal reasons has roots in ancient China, and it is thought that its reputation as an aphrodisiac is linked more to the belief that the drinker absorbs the snake’s physical power rather than through scientific fact.

Goji berries

These small, pointed berries contain more vitamin C than oranges and
more iron than steak. In ancient China and Tibet they were considered a
health food, and modern research confirms this. A 2008 study by Amagase
and Nance found that after drinking goji juice for 14 days, people
reported a greater sense of wellbeing, less stress and reduced
tiredness. A 2006 study at China’s Wuhan University credits the berries
with increasing sexual performance and sperm quality - but so far only
with rats.

Licorice
The Karma Sutra refers to the erotic power of
licorice, recommending potions made from it for “sexual vigour”. But it
has been found to stir emotions in modern times. A study by Chicago’s
Smell and Taste Research Foundation found that when people sniffed
licorice, they experienced raised blood flow to the genitals. Licorice
was mingled with scents including doughnuts and cola and accounted for
three of the top ten blood-pumping smells in the study.

Unagi or eel
Eel has been eaten in Japan for the last 1,300 years. Thought to stimulate passions, it is traditionally eaten on the hottest day of the year. Its sexual benefits seem to be linked only to the eel’s long, phallic shape. Despite a lack of research into unagi’s aphrodisiac effects, the Japanese eat thousands of tons of it each year.

Sea cucumber
The Chinese name for sea cucumber is 'sea
ginseng', a reference to its reputed aphrodisiac benefits. Sea cucumbers
are mostly eaten in Asia, and in 2006 it was estimated by SEAFDEC that
the export market in the Philippines was worth around £3m. Research is
currently ongoing into sea cucumber’s nutritional benefits, but the
belief that it stirs the passions is probably due to its phallic-shaped
appearance and behaviour - it stiffens and squirts out liquid when under
threat.

Mucuna pruriens
The beans of this leafy vine are eaten in
Nigeria where they are cooked in soups or ground into flour. They are
also reputed to boost sex drive. Research at India’s Manipal University
found that rats administered with mucuna showed increased sexual
activity. It has also been claimed that mucuna could be used as a
treatment to help prevent premature ejaculation.

Fugu or pufferfish
The Japanese devour around 10,000 tons of
fugu each year, even though parts of the fish contain poison which, if
consumed, can be fatal. Although fugu is believed to be an aphrodisiac,
the heightened emotions could be down to adrenalin in this game of
culinary roulette. Some have questioned whether it’s the poison tingling
in the cheeks that gets pulses racing, which led Yutaka Sasaki, a sushi
chef of 30 years, to tell the New York Times, "if you're eating fugu
and your lips feel numb, you're well on your way to being dead".

Goat’s meat
Not an unusual meat in itself, goat is popular in
diets around the world. But goat’s meat is believed by some cultures to
be an aphrodisiac. Mannish Water is a spicy Jamaican stew containing
goat’s head and feet and has been served to grooms on their wedding day
to ignite passions. Although there are no studies into the benefits of
eating goat, it is a good source of iron and zinc - vital for a healthy
reproductive system.

Quick-fix boob job lotion comes to the UK

2010-10-02T00:59:00.000+01:00

Women who want a fuller bust may not have to resort to going under the knife, as a new lotion, which claims to increase breasts by half a cup size, hits UK department stores.…

Women who want a fuller bust may not have to resort to going under the knife, as a new lotion, which claims to increase breasts by half a cup size, hits UK department stores.

The £125 firming lotion, called ‘boob job’ will go on sale in upmarket chain John Lewis and is already expected to sell out quickly to women desperate for a plunging cleavage.

According to the formula makers Rodial, the fast-acting gel will plump up breasts by one inch when applied daily for eight weeks by giving an instant lifting and firming effect.

Derived from Asian root extract, the lotion works by blocking fat cells, encouraging the fatty tissue to increase at the point of contact, which Rodial claims gives women 'plumper, and more youthful breasts.'

Self-confessed Rodial lovers include curvaceous stars like Kelly Brook, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes.

A Rodial spokeswoman said: “This really will revolutionise thousands of women’s lives. We wanted to offer every woman a fast and safe alternative to expensive and painful breast enlargement surgery. Every year thousands take the plunge and have surgery to achieve the cleavage they always wanted. But Rodial Boob Job offers a larger cup size without the need for surgery.”

Hollywood Film Star Tony Curtis dies at 85

2010-09-30T15:07:00.000+01:00

Hollywood star Tony Curtis has died of a cardiac arrest at his US home in Nevada aged 85.

The Oscar-nominated actor, who starred in Some Like it Hot opposite Marilyn Monroe, passed away peacefully in bed, a family spokesman said.

The star received an Oscar nod in 1959 for The Defiant Ones, in which he starred with Sidney Poitier.

His career spanned six decades and he made more than 120 films including Trapeze, Spartacus and
The Vikings.

Clark County coroner Mike Murphy told the Associated Press that the actor died at 2125 local time on Wednesday.

Born Bernard Schwartz on 3 June 1925 in New York, the actor served in World War II before taking on the name Tony Curtis when he began his film career in 1949.

'A fine actor'

He began his career as a heart-throb, but became a respected actor after starring in more substantial roles, starting in 1957 with harrowing showbusiness tale Sweet Smell of Success.

Tony Curtis Jerry Lewis - Boeing Boeing (1965)

He went on to appear in The Defiant Ones as an escaped racist convict handcuffed to a black escapee.

Tony Curtis was married to actress Janet Leigh, with whom he had actress daughter Jamie Lee Curtis But he became best known for his role in Billy Wilder's acclaimed comedy Some Like It Hot, where he donned women's clothing.

After his star faded in the late 1960s, Curtis shifted to lesser roles and fell into drug and alcohol addiction.

In the 1970s he turned to television, starring in a number of TV series including The Persuaders! opposite Sir Roger Moore, and Michael Mann's Vegas.

Tony Curtis and Sir Roger Moore are The Persuaders

Sir Roger led the tributes to the actor, calling him "a fine actor".

"We had a lot of laughs together for about 15 months, working together every day. He was great fun to work with, a great sense of humour and wonderful ad libs. We had the best of times."

'Wonderfully indiscreet'

Sir Michael Parkinson, who interviewed Curtis several times, said his performance in Some Like It Hot would live forever.

"Some Like It Hot is one of the greatest comedies of all time," he said.

"Billy Wilder, did not suffer fools so for Tony Curtis to work with him and make that film shows just how good he was. He was an extraordinary man.

"Hollywood tried to make him into a sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s but he was his own man. He was a great chatshow guest and was wonderfully indiscreet but he was very bright and did not take himself too seriously," he added.

After recovering from addiction in the early 1980s, he later became a painter whose canvasses sold for as much as $20,000 (£12,600).

The actor was married six times, including to Psycho star Janet Leigh, with whom he had two children including daughter and actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

He is survived by his wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis, and six children

Tony Curtis Interview

Batmobile for £100,000 ( $149,999 )

2010-09-30T12:59:00.001+01:00

The original Batmobile from the 1960s TV series starring Adam West is still the ultimate screen car for an entire generation of caped crusader fans. Now anybody with a spare $149,999 (£95,000) can buy one.

American company Fiberglass Freaks is producing officially licensed, road-legal 1966 Batmobiles. And yes, the flamethrower works.

Each car takes six months to build and features an array of working gadgets, including a red flashing beacon, a radar screen called 'Detect-a-scope', a retractable, gold-coloured 'Batbeam' and a dashboard DVD player.

The flamethrower in the original Batmobile was the result of the car's turbine engine, but the replica uses a propane tank - mounted in the boot - to create the same effect.

The astonishing car is the brainchild of Fiberglass Freaks founder Mark Racop. He decided he wanted to build a Batmobile at two years old.

"I fell in love the show, fell in love with the action, the color, the music - everything. But the best feature was the Batmobile, speeding out of the Batcave," he said.

The Lincoln Futura on which the Batmobile is based was never actually put into production, but after finding a body shell on eBay in 2004, Racop had the basis of his replica.

The chassis and running gear come from a Lincoln Town Car, onto which a fibreglass body is placed. The licence from D.C. Comics limits the company to making just eight per year, which renders it one of the world's most exclusive production cars.

Racop says that buyers are generally in their forties and fifties and fans of the original show - some drive their cars every day. "Wealth seems to breed that eccentricity. This was their childhood dream car, just as it was for me," he commented.

Mark Nichol

If you would like to stop your hair loss

2010-09-28T17:41:00.004+01:00

If you would like to stop your hair loss and regrow most if not all of your lost hair, then this is without question the most important thing you'll ever read.

Grow hair all over your head. Fill in bald spots, thinning hair, and receding hairlines.

HERE'S WHY! Most hair loss is NOT genetic. The reason most of you reading this are losing hair is because your hair follicles are trapped and blocked off from vital blood supplies that are needed to nourish their development. Your hair is literally being starved to death.

Solve that and most, if not all, of your lost hair will come back. By addressing and eliminating the causes, NOT the symptoms of hair loss ---You can expect your hair to come back for you. SIMPLE!

The great part that most people love about the program is that you can do it while you watch TV or do other activities. You won't even need to work around a schedule to fit this stuff in. Just do it every now and then throughout the day during commercials or whatever and you'd got your 15 minutes in by the end of the day.

Don't Put Off This Decision- You May Regret it for the Rest of Your Life

This information is priceless.

You'll start to feel a difference in your scalp within days. You'll start to notice fuzz growing in 3-4 weeks. Within 7 weeks you'll easily see new hairs growing in your bald and receding areas.

Click here to find out more:

Marina Bay Sands Infinity pool

2010-09-24T15:15:00.003+01:00

Marina Bay Sands Infinity pool 55 STOREYS above ground opens
in Singapore

If you fancy a dip in this pool, you'll need a head for heights -

it's 55 storeys up. But swimming to the edge won't be quite as

risky as it looks. While the water in the infinity pool seems to end

in a sheer drop, it actually spills into a catchment area

where it is pumped back into the main pool. At three times the

length of an Olympic pool and 650ft up, it is the largest outdoor

pool in the world at that height.

It features in the impressive, boat-shaped 'SkyPark' perched atop

the three towers that make up the world's most expensive hotel,

the £4billion Marina Bay Sands development in Singapore .

Don't look down: A guest swims in the infinity pool of the Skypark that tops the Marina Bay Sands hotel towers - 55 storeys over the city of Singapore yesterday

To infinity... and beyond! The pool stretches 150 metres, three times the length of an Olympic swimming pool

The view over the side: An artist's impression shows the Skypark that tops the Marina Bay Sands hotel towers, including the infinity pool

The hotel, which has 2,560 rooms costing from £350 a night, was officially opened yesterday with a concert by Diana Ross.

The Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi , estimated to have cost £2billion when it opened in 2004, was previously the world's most expensive hotel.

But with its indoor canal, opulent art, casino, outdoor plaza, convention centre, theatre, crystal pavilion and museum shaped like a lotus flower, the Marina Bay Sands has taken its crown.

The infinity pool on the roof is in the 'SkyPark' which spans the three towers of the hotel.

The platform itself is longer than the Eiffel tower laid down and is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Infinity pools give the effect that the water extends to the horizon. In reality, the water spills over the edge into a catchment below, and is then pumped back into the pool. The pools have two circulation systems. The first functions like that of a regular pool, filtering and heating the water in the main pool. The second filters the water in the catch basin and returns it to the upper pool.

The resort from across the bay. The three towers were based on a deck of cards, according to designer Moshe Safdie

A skydiver parachutes pass the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands casino resort as part of the venue's opening celebrations yesterday

Extreme: Left, relay teams scale one of the towers in a race commemorating the opening yesterday. Right, a newly-wed couple enjoy a canal ride inside the resort's shopping centre

TheMarina Sands resort was designed by architect Moshe Safdie who based it on a deck of cards.Inside shoppers can ride along an indoor canal in Sampan boats styled on traditional Chinese vessels from the 17th century.

The owners have also commissioned five well-known artists to create works of art to 'integrate' with the buildings. Among these is a 40m-long Antony Gormley sculpture made from 16,100 steel rods. The whole thing weighs 14.8 tons and it took 60 people to assemble it in the hotel.

Artist Chongbin Zheng created Rising Forest which is 83 three metre high pots with trees in them. The pots were so big the artist had to build a customised kiln the size of a small building to make them in.Last night, the world's most expensive hotel was given a launch party befitting it.

Singing legend Diana Ross performed for 2,500 VIPs in the resort's Grand Ballroom and pop singer Kelly Rowland headlined an outdoor concert.

Money-maker: Left, the entrance to the casino, which costs nearly £50 to get in and is attracting 25,000 visitors each day. Right, a man looks through a steel web art structure in one of the towers

Just enjoying the sun: Models pose in the pool for journalists at the grand opening yesterday

The opening celebrations also featured a death-defying relay. Seven teams of three participants each scaled the three towers before sprinting across the 340-metre long Sands SkyPark, where the infinity pool is located, to the finish line. The resort will employ 10,000 people directly and generate up to £48m each year.

Entrance to the casino alone is nearly £50 a day - but an average of 25,000 people have visited the casino daily since its initial phased opening two months ago.

Thomas Arasi, president and chief executive officer of the resort, said he expects to attract an astonishing 70,000 visitors a day once it is fully open.It was due to open in 2009, but was delayed thanks to labour and material shortages, and funding problems due to the global financial crisis.

Marina Bay Sands Infinity pool

light-show-marina-bay-sands-singapore-laser

Marina Bay Sands Hotel - Interior View

Marina Bay Sands (Grand Opening Day)

Marina Bay Sands Infinity pool 55 STOREYS above ground opens in Singapore

Bid To Find Madeleine Using Social Networking

2009-11-03T22:06:00.002+00:00

Social networkers are being urged to get involved in a new online campaign to find Madeleine McCann by spreading a video appeal around the world.

The missing girl's parents hope the film will eventually reach whoever is close to those responsible for her disappearance and convince them to come forward.

Police have also released new age-enhanced pictures of Madeleine as part of the fresh appeal for information.

And the officers behind the campaign say it will have a serious impact on anyone who may have been involved in the youngster's disappearance.

The 60-second film can be viewed on the website of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop).

The video is available in seven languages and shows two images of Madeleine based on how she might look today, aged six.

Jim Gamble from London-based Ceop told Sky News: "We want to emotionally engage people.

"We want them to understand the real emotion, the stickiness of all of this for people so that they link to it and connect with it.

"Then we want this viral message that we have launched on the internet to reach out through the public to one individual.

"To say to the person that's close to the individual who did this: 'We know you're keeping a secret. You've kept that secret for too long.

"Two and a half years on you need to reflect on why you're keeping it. Turn that negative thing into a positive and do the right thing and come forward'."

Madeleine's father Gerry told Sky News he and wife Kate have never lost hope they will find their daughter alive, after she went missing in Portugal on May 3, 2007.

He said the news that Jaycee Dugard had been reunited with her parents 18 years after her abduction in America at the age of 11 had given them "a lift".

"There was a change in the general perception of the public who maybe thought that Madeleine would never be found or that she may be dead."

Mr McCann said there has been a surge in people saying that perhaps Madeleine too can be found alive.

The couple said they try to block thoughts of how and where their daughter may be being held.

Kate McCann said: "I'm her mum, I think it would be impossible on occasion to not think about how she's being kept."

Mr McCann said the most common question the pair get asked, after how they are, is what people can do to help.

"Today we are asking people, this is a way of helping. Let's rattle the cage of the people who took her. Let's really get that person wrestling with their conscience.

"It's not too late for that person to do the right thing."

Of the new images of how his daughter may look now aged six, Mr McCann said: "That's not how we remember her," adding, "she is not a four-year-old girl anymore."

www.findmadeleine.com
www.youtube.com/ceop

Bringing Down The Warehouse

2009-11-03T20:24:00.002+00:00

Oops... How to destroy five million roubles of vodka and cognac in just five seconds, by warehouse forklift driver

Bringing Down The Warehouse @ Yahoo! Video

Leah Ignagni: The Other Steve McNair Mistress

2009-10-20T21:54:00.005+01:00

According to Nashville, Tenn., police, Leah Ignagni was dating the late NFL star Steve McNair at the time of his July 4 murder at the hands of lover Sahel Kazemi.

The other other woman recalled seeing a woman in a black Cadillac Escalade parked outside his condo 2-3 weeks before his murder. It is not clear who owns it.

However, Leah Ignagni also said the woman followed her and that she later saw the Escalade circling her block or parked outside her apartment 1-2 weeks later.

A 2007 black Escalade was co-registered to Sahel Kazemi and Steve McNair.

This backs up earlier case details that stated Kazemi was suspicious of McNair being involved with someone else. McNair was also married and had children.

Steve McNair mistresses Leah Ignagni, left, and Sahel Kazemi.

Leah Ignagni told police that McNair visited her around 4 a.m. on July 2, just a couple of hours after Kazemi's DUI arrest, and then the former Tennessee Titans star spent the night at Ignagni's apartment before leaving early July 3.

If this is to be believed, Steve McNair went to Leah Ignagni's house after he got Sahel Kazemi out of jail, which may have been the catalyst for her murdering McNair then turning the gun on herself in the grisly murder-suicide.

Another theory was that McNair was about to break things off with Kazemi, who wanted to marry McNair, who was unwilling to end his marriage to wife Mechelle.

As for Leah Ignagni, she's still living in Nashville, just a footnote in a cautionary tale and one of the most tragic stories in a year full of them.

Steve McNair's Girlfriend Sahel Kazemi DUI Video

This is said to be the incident that set of a chain of events resulting in the murder suicide that left NFL star Steve McNair dead.

Leah Ignagni: The Other Steve McNair Mistress

Funny Commercials

2009-10-20T21:46:00.005+01:00

A compilation of commercials from around the world. Some are a bit racy and contain adult matter. It's my first "Million View Video". Thanks for watching. There is a part 2, but WMG muted the audio.

ladybug infestation video

2009-10-20T21:16:00.004+01:00

If you’ve seen ladybugs crawling all over the place today, you’re not alone.

The little crawlers -- also called Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle -- are out in force because the Nor’easter forced them, like the rest of us, indoors, according to the state entomologist.

Then, the suns came, and the bugs came out, looking for a place to winter. Miami, anyone?

In the meantime, they are apparently popping up everywhere, especially light-colored houses, the entomologist said. Not that Google and Twitter are scientific tools, but people from all over are posting about swarms and infestations of the bugs, so it seems Connecticut is not the only ladybug-central Tuesday.

'Exploding' iPhones

2009-08-19T13:10:00.002+01:00

The EU's safety watchdogs are investigating reports that Apple iPods and iPhones are "exploding" in the summer weather.

'Exploding' iPhones prompt safety investigation

The investigation follows reports from Britain, France, Holland and Sweden that some digital music players and mobile phones have spontaneously combusted in the sunshine.

One French teenager claims to have been injured when his girlfriend's iPhone apparently exploded into pieces after starting to "crackle and pop".

The European Commission has asked Apple to share any relevant information and the company is carrying out a full investigation.

200 million iPods and 26 million iPhones have been sold in Europe and Apple claims to have ruled out any widespread safety problem.

An Apple spokesman said: "We are aware of these reports and we are waiting to receive the units from the customers. Until we have the full details, we don't have anything further to add."

PGA Championship TV schedule

2009-08-13T15:42:00.001+01:00

The PGA Championship has started and you can watch it today beginning at 2 p.m.

Tiger Woods, with two straight PGA Tour wins heading into today, is the heavy favorite to win his first major of 2009. While he has not been able to capture his 15th major championship this year, he is on a serious roll after winning the Buick Open and Bridgestone Invitational in consecutive weeks.

TNT is first up with TV coverage beginning at 2 p.m. (EDT) and ending at 8 p.m.

Can’t wait for live TV? You can view the PGA Championship live at pga.com from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Live coverage of the 2009 PGA Championship schedule for Thursday, August 13:

TNT: 2 p.m.-8 p.m

pga.com: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

PGA Championship TV schedule for this week’s 91st PGA Championship

Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m.-8 p.m. (TNT)

Saturday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (TNT), 2 p.m.-7 p.m. (CBS)

Sunday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (TNT), 2 p.m.-7 p.m. (CBS

Heidi’s Playboy cover photo ‘real beautiful art’

2009-08-07T19:10:00.003+01:00

Though husband Spencer admits it’s ‘not like Picasso art’

Access Hollywood

LOS ANGELES - Heidi Pratt revealed her Playboy cover Thursday at the Los Angeles premiere of “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” and told Access Hollywood achieving a cover-worthy body was no easy task.

“I worked out very hard for this,” Heidi told Access on the red carpet as husband Spencer Pratt looked on clutching a copy of the men’s magazine.

“I worked by butt off,” she continued. “So if you want to see how I got my Playboy body, you can go to [my Web site].”

“See her powerful curves,” Spencer said. “They are powerful!”

Video

Heidi Pratt on Playboy, ‘The Hills’
Heidi Pratt chats about her photo shoot for Playboy and the upcoming season of "The Hills." Plus, what does she have to say about Lauren Conrad's new book, "L.A. Candy"?

Access Hollywood

Spencer told Access he’s overjoyed to see his wife grace the pages of the magazine.

“It’s an honor,” he said. “I feel like I did something great, like I should get a trophy!”

He might not be getting a trophy for Heidi’s Playboy shoot, but it is an early birthday present of sorts.

“It comes out on [Spencer’s] birthday,” Heidi told Access, “August 14. Happy birthday hubby!”

Heidi also explained that her shoot is a more than just a bunch of sexy photos.

”[Playboy] kind of had a vision… and we brought in Matthew Rolston, who is a very well known amazing photographer,” she explained. “So, it’s more art.”

“Beautiful art,” Spencer added. “Not like Picasso art, real beautiful art, you know what I’m saying?”

John Hughes is Remembered by Stars and Collaborators

2009-08-07T18:16:00.005+01:00

While John Hughes's The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Home Alone proved to be both box-office powerhouses as well as culturally significant landmarks, his sudden death from a heart attack Thursday is proving equally noteworthy, for the shockwaves it is sending throughout the acting community that he helped to launch.

Known as the "Brat Pack" – a term coined in a 1985 New York magazine feature on the then-rising Hughes and the cast of his coming-of-age comedies – the writer-director-producer's stable of fresh-faced performers included such now-household names as Sean Penn, Steve Carell, Macaulay Culkin, Matthew Broderick, Jon Cryer, Charlie Sheen, Molly Ringwald, John Cusack, Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy, among others.

While Pretty in Pink star Ringwald recalled Hughes, 59, as "an important part of my life," and Ferris Bueller himself, Broderick, considered him "my friend," others remember the filmmaker as follows:

• "I was a fan of both his work and a fan of him as a person. The world has lost not only a quintessential filmmaker whose influence will be felt for generations, but a great and decent man." – actor MACAULAY CULKIN

• "John was an amazing mentor to me during the time we were shooting Curly Sue. He had a childlike spirit that connected us instantly and always made me feel loved. He will be missed but his work speaks for itself and will live in his honor." – actor ALISAN PORTER

• "John Hughes's iconic films gave a powerful voice to a generation. He will be missed but never forgotten!" – actor DEMI MOORE

• "I will always cherish the time I spent with John Hughes.I was so grateful for the opportunity to walk around in his shoes and try to see the world through through his brilliant eyes. Sharing his films with my kids over the years I can see the timelessness of his work." actor KEVIN BACON

• "His films helped establish an international notion of ordinary American teenagers, and he was as popular abroad as at home. Once when I was visiting the largest movie theater in Calcutta, I asked if Star Wars had been their most successful American film. No, I was told, it was Baby's Day Out, a Hughes comedy about a baby wandering through a big city, which played for more than a year." – critic ROGER EBERT

• "He was a wonderful man, a genius, a poet. I don't think anyone has come close to him as being the poet of the youth of America in the postwar period. He was to them what Shakespeare was to the Elizabethan Age." – actor-economist BEN STEIN

• ""I asked John how long it took to write Planes, Trains and Automobiles, he said, 'I wrote it over the weekend.' The weekend. That shows you what he was able to do." – actor-writer STEVE MARTIN

• "John always treated me with respect and consideration. He encouraged a real and active collaboration; he was most generous with his insight ... My heart breaks for his family ... I know many people whose lives were touched by John will be saddened today. I know I am." – actor JUDD NELSON

• "He took a tremendous chance on me. Like Orson Welles, he was a boy wonder, a director's director, a writer's writer, a filmmaker's filmmaker. He was one of the giants." – actor-director BILL PAXTON

• "My family and I are deeply saddened and in shock. Our only goal is to support his family and make sure they're fine." – Hughes's attorney JAKE BLOOM

• "He changed my life forever. Nineteen years later, people from all over the world contact me telling me how much Home Alone'meant to them, their families, and their children." – actor DEVIN RATRAY

• "John told me about why he left Hollywood … He was terrified of the impact it was having on his sons; he was scared it was going to cause them to lose perspective on what was important and what happiness meant … Tonight, when I heard the news that John had died, I cried. I cried hard. (And I'm crying again.) I cried for a man who loved his friends, who loved his family, who loved to write and for a man who took the time to make a little girl believe that, if she had something to say, someone would listen." – Hughes's pen-pal ALLISON FIELDS

• With reporting by JENNIFER GARCIA,NATASHA STOYNOFF, ULRICA WIHLBORG and the ASSOCIATED PRESS, FOX BUSINESS NEWS, THE GUARDIAN and MTV

A Minnesota couple's joyous wedding dance

2009-07-29T11:11:00.000+01:00

A Minnesota couple's joyous wedding dance featuring the bride and groom boogieing down the aisle to the altar has become a Web sensation, racking up millions of views on YouTube

The dance sequence opening the wedding ceremony of Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson in St. Paul, Minnesota, has been viewed more than 4.75 million times since it went up on the video-sharing site less than a week ago.

In the five-minute video, ushers, bridesmaids and groomsmen shimmy down the aisle to the strains of the Chris Brown song "Forever" -- and the surprise of the guests gathered in the church.

The groom performs a somersault on his way to the altar and his hip-swaying bride receives a standing ovation as she joins him for the exchange of vows.

Peterson and Heinz, interviewed by NBC's Today Show, said the dance was her idea -- and the only guests who were aware of what was going to happen were their parents.
The new bride said she has always "loved dance as a way to express yourself and share joy." "It was something I had always thought about doing," she said of the bridal boogie.
"I'm just glad I didn't hurt myself," Heinz said of his somersault.

The couple said they rehearsed the dance with other members of the wedding party just once before the ceremony, for about an hour and a half.
The video is online at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

2009-04-28T12:00:00.000+01:00

Shante Broadus, Snoop Dogg's wife, rumored dead in basement

2009-04-10T17:11:00.004+01:00

By Hanh Nguyen

Shante Broadus, the wife of Snoop Dogg, is the focus of much Internet buzz after it was reported that her dead body is being hidden by the rapper in their home.

On the California Highway Patrol's website on Thursday, April 9, a "possible fatality" was listed, called in by a tipster, reports TMZ.com.

"The Word is that 'Snoop Doggy Dog [sic]' has the dead body of his wife in his basement," reads the report at 3:19 p.m.

The gossip site claims that the report was "so ridiculous that no one at the CHP bothered to forward it to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department."

Fingers crossed that all if well with Mrs. Broadus. Representatives for the rapper could not be reached early Friday.

Snoop Dogg, 37, married his high school sweetheart, Shante Taylor Broadus, in June 1997. Although he filed for divorce seven years later, citing irreconcilable differences, it never went anywhere, and they renewed their wedding vows in January 2008.

More as the story develops ...

Jesikah Maximus is Hot

2009-04-10T00:20:00.004+01:00

Jesikah Maximus, is a hot model who has appeared in several magazines including Maxim, Lowrider Girls, and Black Men. Check out pictures and video here, plus read her biography.

Jesikah Maximus is Model Hot

“Her name alone is more than enough give a seasoned player that GOOD “tingle”…but (pun intended) her entire physical package can NEVER, EVER be held libel for false advertisement or embellishment of fact. The name “Maximus” is formed from the Latin term for “greatest” or “largest.” Therefore, it is both a proper noun and common noun, both in the ancient, medieval, and modern world. Jesikah Maximus is without question, the Gladiator of the modeling game. Maximum impact… Maximum curves… for Maximum Exposure!” – Jesikah Maximus Myspace page.
Jesikah Maximus Biography

As far as a biography here’s what we know about Jesikah Maximus.

Jesikah Maximus hometown is Orange County, California. She is of Mexican heritage, and has posed for several magazines which include Maxim, Show, Lowrider Girls, and Black Men. Her measurements are 32-24-41 and she stands 5’2” weighing in at 120 lbs.

Jesikah is currently single, but you never know what the future holds.

Her ambitions include being on a billboard in Time Square or Hollywood, as well as receiving a nice role in a movie or sitcom.

Favorite holiday: Mother’s day saying that she is “overwhelmingly grateful to celebrate each year with the most extraordinary woman who has created me to become the woman I am today.”

She is in the process of developing a website Jesikahmaximus.com, and also a Jesikah Maximus brand.

Streaky Campbell fires 65 to lead Masters

2009-04-10T00:00:00.000+01:00

By Kevin Currie, Golf Editor

Augusta, GA (Sports Network) - Years after being voted by his peers as most likely to break through and win a major, Chad Campbell is still searching for that big victory.

He has collected four wins on the PGA Tour, including the 2003 Tour Championship. That win ranks as his best on tour to this point in his career.

Campbell, who has made the cut at the Masters just twice in five starts, began his round Thursday at Augusta with five straight birdies setting the record for most consecutive birdies to open a round at the Masters.

"Starting the day out with five birdies, I knew I was swinging well and putting it pretty well, so I could be a little bit more aggressive with my irons shots," stated Campbell.

The 34-year-old's birdie run was stopped by a par on the sixth. That was the first of six straight pars Campbell would post. Campbell's par run came to an end after the par-four 11th.

"I had two big saves on 10 and 11," Campbell admitted. "They were par putts of 10 feet or so. That kind of held the round together."

He then started his second birdie run of the day. After a birdie on the par- three 12th, Campbell made it two in a row at the 13th.

Campbell poured in his third straight birdie at the 14th. Campbell sealed the run at 15 with his fourth consecutive birdie. That moved him to minus-nine, where he led by three.

Campbell was also challenging the course record of 63, which Nick Price set in 1986 and Greg Norman matched in 1996.

However, he parred 16, then stumbled to back-to-back bogeys from the 17th. The closing bogeys left him at seven-under 65, but he was still atop the leaderboard.

"I'm a little upset with the way I finished, but I'll go out there Friday and hopefully keep it going," Campbell said. "To be able to be in this situation again, is huge for going into the week. But, this was just the first round so we've got a lot of golf to play."

Campbell easily carded his best career round at Augusta. His previous best was a five-under 67, which he did in 2005 and 2006.

The 65 was by far his lowest opening round in a major. Campbell's best previous start in a major came at the PGA Championship, where he opened with a 69 in 2003 en route to a second-place finish. Prior to this, his best first- round score at Augusta was 71, which he posted in 2006.

Campbell, who shared third place at the Masters that year, has shot lower than 65 16 times on the PGA Tour, including 61s at the Colonial and the Tour Championship.

"I think it does," said Campbell of having the knowledge of what it takes to go low. "Sometimes you get out there and you know you have to keep making birdies and keep playing well."

Hotel vending machine sells cars, condos

2009-04-09T12:05:00.003+01:00

Forget your luxury convertible? Try the vending machine at a Miami Beach hotel. At the Mondrian South Beach, guests in need of everything from a toothbrush to a designer dress can fetch them at the touch of a button from a vending machine.

Britney Spears wanted help

2009-04-02T17:02:00.002+01:00

Sam Lutfi's sister says Britney Spears wanted help; 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' leaked online; 'Project Runway' lawsuit settled.

zamu

2009-04-02T16:00:00.006+01:00

Olivia Newton John Helps Us 'Get Physical'--Organically

Olivia Newton-John and her husband John spoke with Emily about the benefits of drinking Zamu-- "the organic health drink."

A drink that "tastes good," "feels good," and "does good," Zamu is an organic beverage that aims towards promoting a natural sense of well-being, providing anti-aging compounds, and nutrition for healthy hair, skin, and nails. Zamu delivers a uniquely balanced chemistry of naturally occurring nutrients found in organic camu camu, organic açai, organic cacao, organic pineapple, organic mango, organic cinnamon and sangre de drago – pure, Rainforest ingredients at their finest.

Born in Cambridge, England, Olivia Newton-John shot to stardom in 1978 in her co-starring role with John Travolta in Grease. Her U.S. album debut, Let Me Be There produced her first top ten single of the same name, with Olivia being honored by the Academy Of Country Music as Most Promising Female Vocalist and a Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist.

In the 90’s, Newton-John successfully overcame her own battle with breast cancer, which inspired her self-penned and produced album, GAIA, her most personal album reflecting upon her experiences with cancer. She used her experiences to spread more awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection.

For more information on Zamu, visit: www.zamudrink.us.

Grocery coupons on Web offer discounts online and in stores

2009-04-02T15:55:00.001+01:00

KIM KOMANDO

Dear Kim: Like everyone these days, I need to save money. Can you tell me the best place to find coupons on the Internet? I am specifically looking for grocery coupons.

Answer: Coupons have always been the way to save at the grocery store. You can find coupons for almost anything online. That includes grocery stores. You can find a bunch of coupon sources at www.komando.com/news. These include Valpak.com, SmartSource, Coupons.com and Coupon Mountain. Some provide printable coupons you bring to the store. Others offer promotional codes for online transactions.

Salvia Plant

2009-04-01T21:27:00.004+01:00

Author: Mary Moore

Mary Moore is an examiner from Charlotte, North_Carolina. You can see Mary's articles on Mary's Home Page.

5 great plants for the Charlotte area

Perennials and hardy annuals are the backbone of many great gardens. They require little pampering once they have become established, bloom profusely in their season, the quietly recede to allow the next plants to shine.

Charlotte is a great place to grow flowering plants, but some are better suited for the hot, dry summer than others. By selecting carefully you can give your garden the extra boost of easy care plants that will return and bloom beautifully year after year.

Tall Bearded Iris: For large blooms that can take direct sun and dry conditions, Tall Bearded Iris are a great choice. Also called German Iris, Tall Bearded Iris do not like to have their roots wet and will rot if they sit in moist soil. Once they become established, each individual root will spread, growing into another hearlthy plant. They are great "pass along" plants, easy to divide and replant. When you plant iris, do not plant the rhysome in the ground like a bulb. Plant the rhysome at ground level, with the roots in the soil but the top of the rhysome above the soil. Iris are available in a wide variety of colors, ranging from purple to pink to deep blue.

Ice Plant: This perennial has thick, succulent leaves that store water, enabling the plant to survive drought and come back blooming. After a good rain, the light green plant will bloom profusely with bright pink flowers. This is a great choice to use in planters that are placed in sunny locations. With the occassional watering, the plant will continue to stay green. The plant will survive the winter in Charlotte, then start blooming again when the weather starts to warm up. Provide lots of good drainage as this plant will rot in wet soil.

Perennial Verbena: Some Verbena varieties are annuals while other are perennials, so check the label when you are buying to determine which variety you are purchasing. Perennial Verbena, such as "Homestead", are great plants for quickly covering soil, but can also become a nuisance. Verbena is a ground cover that spreads quickly, blooming profusely in the spring and fall. It will also bloom after a good rain in the summer. The branches root into the ground as the plant spreads, creating new plants. Allow several feet in all directions for growth.

Lavender Provence: This beautiful, fragrant herb is a wonderful addition to your vegetable bed or flower bed. Spreading to a bushy three foot high by four foot wide plant that is covered with blooms starting in early summer. The flowers and the leaves can be dried to use as fragrant wreaths or as ingredients in soaps and cosmetics. This lavender prefers good drainage and amended soil. It benefits from being cut back in winter.

Black and Blue Salvia: This variety of salvia is an annual, but can take Charlotte winters and come back strong. While it is not perennial, it will return year after year and grow larger each year. The leaves are fragrant, and the blooms are a beautiful blue. Plant this annual in well drained soil that is in partial shade, or has shade on the roots. The plants will grow to be around 3 feet tall, and will bloom profusely in the summer.

Try these five plants in your garden. Next week, we'll look at 5 great flowering bushes that do well in Charlotte.