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The National Enquirer Nabs A Photo Of Whitney Houston In Her Casket

2012-02-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

Ok so I know this doesn't belong here but I just thought it would be an interested article.

Did you want to see this photo of Whitney Houston‘s corpse in her casket? Because it’s staring at you from the cover of The National Enquirer at every gas station and grocery store check-out line.

The Enquirer has really outdone itself: Last week, they staged a model slumped in a bathtub to recreate how Whitney’s friends found her dead. And now they’ve infiltrated her private viewing — look how proudly they proclaim that in the headline — to snap an illicit photo with someone’s camera phone.

It’s becoming more and more commonplace to see photos of dead celebrities and/or political figures. Consider the disturbing autopsy photo of Michael Jackson‘s corpse that surfaced during the Conrad Murray trial, or the fact that you can probably track down the video of Saddam Hussein‘s execution if you look hard enough.

I agree with Jezebel: Images are news. However, there’s a line being crossed here because Houston’s family obviously didn’t release this image to the public, not to mention the fact that it’s slapped on the cover of a publication you see in a setting as banal as the supermarket. Not that Bobbi Kristina Brown does her own shopping, but imagine seeing your mother’s corpse every time you go out for a gallon of milk.

Pop Vocal Legend Whitney Houston Found Dead

2012-02-12T09:40:00.001-08:00

Whitney Houston WireImage/Tibrina HobsonToo many of us—myself included—are guilty of making insensitive jokes about the demise of Whitney Houston, her frail frame, loss of one of pop's purest voices, and battle with drugs.

But none of us are laughing now.

On Saturday, Houston's publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that the award-winning "I Will Always Love You" singer died. She was 48. The timing of her death, the eve of the Grammys, the biggest music event of the year, makes the horrible news even more tragic. According to CNN, Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. PT at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The Beverly Hilton is the venue for the music industry's most prestigious pre-Grammy party hosted by veteran executive Clive Davis, who discovered Houston.

In an industry flooded with novelty artists, who disappear after scoring one hit, Houston's longevity was unquestioned when she released her debut single, the ballad "You Give Good Love" in February 1985. The song's soothing opening ad-libs displayed her soulful roots while also celebrating her pop sensibilities.

Houston's sound was distinct, and clearly separated her from the funk-laden stylings of the era's other female R&B singers. Plus, she was a model who appeared in "Glamour" and "Cosmopolitan" magazines.

Houston's sound made sense when considering her pedigree. She was the perfect melding of the styles of her mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston; cousin, 1960s pop singer Dionne Warwick; and godmother, queen of soul Aretha Franklin.

Houston's self-titled debut album topped the charts and was certified diamond. Her career was impenetrable throughout the release of several follow up albums, 1987's "Whitney," 1990's "I'm Your Baby Tonight," and 1992's "The Bodyguard" soundtrack.

Houston's fans were concerned when she married R&B bad boy Bobby Brown in 1992, but they professed their happiness.

By the late 1990s, Houston's drug problems began to become tabloid fodder. In a 2002 interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer, Houston admitted to her struggles, but maintained that she was doing fine.

The public received its first real glimpse of Houston behind-the-scenes in 2004 when she appeared on Brown's reality series "Being Bobby Brown." The bad publicity move depicted Houston as profane, combative, and delusional, seemingly supporting the behavior of someone on drugs.

Among the saddest indications of Houston's fall was her 2009 comeback album, "I Look To You." While the album received positive reviews, her live performances signaled that the damage to her voice was beyond repair.

Concertgoers stormed out of her 2010 "Nothing But Love World Tour" angry, complaining that Houston was not fit to sing live, and they demanded that their ticket costs be refunded.

On stage, Houston made light of her vocal struggles, and even seemed to be confident when doing so.

But the public scrutiny intensified, and was followed by additional stints in rehab.

While the cause of death has not yet been revealed, one can only wonder whether it was drug-related.

Anyone who remembers Houston's early work and the impact it had on music can only be saddened by her death.

I extend condolences to her family and friends, especially her daughter, Bobbi Kristina.

Pre-Grammy gala celebrates Whitney Houston's life

2012-02-12T09:38:00.001-08:00

Alicia Keys, left, hugs Clive Davis at the loading dock outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel Saturday Feb. 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills Calif. Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By MESFIN FEKADU

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — It was a surreal scene: Whitney Houston had died at the Beverly Hilton, and hours later and a few floors below, her life was being celebrated at the event where her career was launched.

On Saturday night, Clive Davis — Houston's mentor, producer, champion and longtime friend — memorialized her at his pre-Grammy gala, held downstairs in the same hotel where her body was being examined by coroner's officials.

Ray Davies and Elvis Costello took to the stage to perform as Los Angeles county coroner's Capt. John Kades arrived at the hotel. Alicia Keys arrived earlier and embraced Davis as he prepared for the show under extreme duress.

With celebrities including Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson in attendance, a somber Davis, reading from a sheet of paper, said: "I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me. She was full of life, looking forward for tonight. She loved music and she loved this night that celebrated music."

He added: "Whitney was a beautiful person and she had a talent beyond compare. She graced this stage ... so many times. So simply put: Whitney would have wanted the music to go on."

He dedicated the evening to her and asked for a moment of silence as a photo of the 48-year-old, hands wide open, looking to the sky, appeared on the screen.

Then, he said with excitement: "Now ladies and gentlemen, let the music begin."

Davis introduced Houston, a young woman with a scintillating voice, more than two decades ago at his annual pre-Grammy soiree.

Bennett, the evening's first performer, recounted other recent big-name deaths in the music industry.

"First it was Michael Jackson, then Amy Winehouse, now the magnificent Whitney Houston," he said. "Let's legalize drugs, like Amsterdam. It's a very sane city now."

He added that Houston was "the greatest singer I've ever heard in my life."

The scene was somewhat surreal given Houston's shocking death only earlier in the day. But Grammy president and CEO Neil Portnow, who called Houston a friend, said "canceling the party was never an option."

"A lot of us holding hands tonight, on each other's shoulders ... We'll be celebrating," he said. "The legacy she left will be here forever."

He announced that Jennifer Hudson would perform a tribute to Houston at Sunday's Grammys.

Diddy gave his own memories of Houston, recalling her incredible smile and positive spirit. He said when he heard she died, "I was in a state of shock."

"Whitney Houston, simply put, had the greatest voice of the world," he told the crowd. "Hearing her sing was like listening to magic. ... We lost an angel, and anytime we think of Whitney, we have to remember the positivity she gave us, when she performed, she performed 5,000 percent. She wasn't a hater, she was a congratulator."

R&B singers Monica and Brandy, heavily influenced by Houston, were supposed to perform together at the event, but Davis said the singers were "too heart-stricken."

"I know the role Whitney played in their lives. Thank you for staying," he said.

Earlier in the evening, India.Arie said Houston "set the standard for what it is to be a great female artist."

Producer Jimmy Jam said her death was a "bittersweet irony" given that Davis heralded Houston as a great talent to watch when he had her perform at his party in her youth.

"The fact that it happened on this day, this event is where Clive Davis introduced Whitney to the world. We said hello to Whitney at the Clive Davis (gala), it may be appropriate we're saying our first goodbyes to Whitney at a Clive Davis event," Jam said. "In a weird way it's appropriate, the show must go on. I think Whitney would have wanted that to happen. ... Tonight I think we begin to celebrate and remember."

Keys called the evening a "very special night" and, after singing a line from Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," noted how the late diva had inspired her.

"You think about how this person touched you," she said. "(Then) you form a friendship, a sisterhood, a bond. You see how incredible they really are. ... She was a sister to me."

Moments later, she launched into her hit "No One," saying: "This one's for her. Let's sing her into heaven."

Bobby Brown Grieves On Stage Over Whitney Houston’s Death

2012-02-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston in 2004. Sandra Rose/FilmMagic

Bobby Brown, ex-husband of Whitney Houston, grieved publicly over Houston's death during a concert in Mississippi Saturday, according to reports.

Houston was found dead in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Saturday afternoon.

WATCH Whitney Houston's music videos

Brown reportedly took the stage with New Edition at Landers Center shortly after receiving the news. He professed his love for Houston when he addressed the crowd. "First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all," Brown said, according to the Associated Press. "Second, I would like to say, 'I love you Whitney.' The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage tonight."

According to Us Magazine, Brown did not come out on stage until the second song, "Hit Me Off," which he performed enthusiastically.

PHOTOS See Whitney Houston gallery

When he sang his solo hit "Tenderoni," he began crying and asked the audience to help him sing the song, a concertgoer said.

Brown and Houston, were married from 1992 to 2007, and have one daughter together, Bobbi Kristina, 18.

WATCH Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston's duet, "Something In Common":

Whitney Houston’s Tumultuous Final Days

2012-02-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

(Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic)Anyone who'd followed reports of Whitney Houston's bizarre behavior in the days leading up to the Grammys had to have been "shocked, but not surprised" at reports of her demise, as the saying goes. Thursday in particular had been an obviously rough day in public for the troubled singer, whose appearance and behavior raised eyebrows among reporters, photographers, and regular folks who witnessed her erratic rounds.

First she first visited Brandy, Monica, and Clive Davis at rehearsals for the mogul's pre-Grammys party, where a Los Angeles Timesreporter described her as reeking of alcohol, "visibly bloated," and "disheveled in mismatched clothes and hair that was dripping wet with either sweat or water." According to the Times, when Houston wasn't mugging and gesticulating wildly for Brandy and Monica — who were doing a media junket, as well as preparing a duet — she was alternately skipping around the lobby or "wandering aimlessly" around the Beverly Hills Hotel grounds. Reportedly, guests had even called security to report the singer doing handstands by the hotel pool.

Houston's Thursday was about to get worse… way worse. That evening, she attended a party headlined by Kelly Price at the Tru nightclub in Hollywood. As she exited, seeming intoxicated, photographers took close-ups of her legs, which appeared to be spotted with blood streaks, along with scratches on her wrists.

Wherever the blood and scratches came from, it wasn't from any publicly visible scuffle — although that had reportedly narrowly been avoided. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Houston got into a loud argument at the party with "X Factor" finalist Stacy Francis in the club's VIP section, shortly after they appeared on stage together. A source told THR that Houston got "belligerent" and that Houston's boyfriend, Ray J, actually stepped in to defend Francis' intentions. "Hands were raised" in anger, it was claimed.

Houston's final public performance happened at the club that night. It lasted just under a minute, as she sang "Jesus Loves Me" with Price in an impromptu, ramshackle duet captured by any number of videographers in the crowd. Perhaps needless to say, she wasn't in her very best voice for what turned out to be her swansong appearance.

Houston had a much quieter Friday and early Saturday, at least publicly, even as photos of a not-so-hot mess circulated around the web. Whether the singer knew she was the butt of jokes and dire speculation or was oblivious to it in her final hours is unknown.

Just two months ago, "Saturday Night Live" had spoofed the star as out-of-touch and out-of-it in a sketch where alumnus Maya Rudolph reprised her famous Houston impression. In the skit, a hyperactive Rudolph/Houston was brought in to give Miley Cyrus some drug counseling, bragging, "I've been clean and sober since 2013."

Coming to be regarded as a lush or addict in her last months had to be a harsh rebuke for someone who'd claimed to have cleaned up while attempting a comeback a few years earlier. But the events of the past year made it clear that, in contrast to celebrated redemption stories like Robert Downey Jr.'s, rehab hadn't really taken for Houston.

Her sobriety had been a matter of public concern since the late '90s. A common public misassumption had been that if she ever got out from under the sway of husband Bobby Brown, she would be all right. "He was my drug," she told Oprah in 2009, two years after their divorce, after apparently cleaning up. "I didn't do anything without him. I wasn't getting high by myself."

Whitney Houston remembered at Clive Davis's pre-Grammy gala

But more recently, it'd started to look like her ex-husband was no longer the sole driving force of her substance abuse, if ever he had been. Last May, a Houston rep acknowledged that the singer was involve in outpatient rehab for ongoing drug and alcohol problems.

That was right around the time Houston and her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, made the news for getting a little too boisterous in the front row at a series of Prince concerts in L.A. Although Prince's reps later denied there was any dispute, it was reported at the time that Prince was so fed up with Houston's behavior and requests to get up on stage that he supposedly banned her from coming to the rest of his run.

All that was just a couple of months after the March 2011 edition of the National Enquirer that featured a double-page photo spread of Bobbi Kristina allegedly snorting lines of cocaine at a party (albeit with her mom nowhere in sight).

The tabloids also reported last year that Houston's fortune had run out. With no new albums on the horizon, her best hope for career renewal was the movie Sparkle, in which she played a supporting role as Jordin Sparks' mom. The film — her first since The Preacher's Wife in 1996 — was shot late last year and will come out in August, accompanied by a soundtrack that includes two new Houston tunes.

Otherwise, Houston didn't have much of a career going at the time of her death. Her should've-been comeback album, 2009's I Look to You, sold about a million copies in the U.S. — far from a shameful number, but also far from the 13 million copies for which her 1985 debut had been certified. The most embarrassing factor was that none of the singles from the album rose above No. 70 on the Hot 100. (Houston's only top 10 single of the 2000s was a re-release of "The Star-Spangled Banner" in the patriotic days following 9/11.)

Whitney's life in photos

Houston's only major tours in the last decade were overseas, far away from the critical eyes of the American media. In September 2009, she did a short comeback concert for "Good Morning America" in Central Park. The blurring of the line between entertainment and news on morning shows became apparent as hosts Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts lauded Houston's performance on their show, even as every other media outlet was reporting on how the voice of a generation could no longer handle the demands of even an abridged show, clean or not.

The reports of ongoing trouble for Houston never served her image the way they might have, say, Amy Winehouse's. America never wanted to think of her as a bad girl, just a perhaps more grown-up version of the Girl Next Door who'd seemed so wholesome wanting to dance with somebody who loved her. But with the chops as well as the image failing her, there wasn't much left to make a thriving recording or certainly touring career out of.

In recent days, one solution for returning Houston to the limelight without subjecting her singing voice to harsh scrutiny had seemingly been arrived at. Rumors had been floated — and published by the Hollywood Reporter — that she was up for contention as a judge on "The X Factor." Simon Cowell told Piers Morgan that Houston had not actually been approached, but that in response to the news reports (which he implied might have been instigated by Houston's camp), his team had planned to have a meeting about considering her on Monday.

But getting in that public scuffle Thursday night with Stacy Francis, an admirer who was one of the Season 1 "X Factor" finalists, might not have done Houston any favors, had she lived to come up for contention with Cowell and his producers this week.

Even in as high-profile a period as Grammy week, Houston couldn't seem to shy away from small acts of self-sabotage. Her fans can only hope it's the years when pride predominated that ultimately define her legacy.

Whitney Houston Grammys 2012 -Yes Jesus Loves Me- (Whitney’s Final Performance).flv

2012-02-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

Whitney Houston Grammys 2012 -Yes Jesus Loves Me- (Whitney’s Final Performance)

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Beyoncé and Jay-Z 'welcome baby girl and name her Ivy Blue Carter'

2012-01-08T01:36:00.001-08:00

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have welcomed their first child - a baby girl, it has been reported.

The music power couple have named their daughter Blue Ivy Carter, according to eonline.com.

The 30-year-old singer gave birth to her daughter by caesarean section at Lenox Hill hospital in New York last night and the website reports 'multiple sources' have confirmed the news.

It's a girl! Beyonce is said to have given birth to a baby girl by c-section named Ivy Blue according to reports

Celebrities have already started tweeting their congratulations to the couple with Russell Simmons and Rihanna were among the first.

Russell posted: 'Congrats to my good friends Beyonce and Jay-Z.'

Rihanna posted: 'Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih.'

Public congratulations: Russell Simmons was one of the first celebrities to tweet the news

We've been waiting for you: Rihanna wasted no time welcoming the babe into the world

According to the New York Daily News, Beyoncé checked into the Upper East Side hospital under the name Ingrid Jackson.

Beyoncé, who was spotted out with her mother on Thursday night, is said to have booked out the entire fourth floor spending $1.3million it has been claimed.

While a spokesperson for the power couple was not available for comment security is said to have been tightened at the hospital.

Hospital workers are being asked to turn in their mobile phones and security cameras have been covered, according to the news site.

Reported: The 30-year-old singer is said to have checked into Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City under a false name

Baby rumours reached fever pitch on December 30 with reports that Beyoncé had given welcomed a daughter called Tiana May Carter.

It came after reports suggested that staff at St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital - a private facility in New York - had been told to prepare for a VIP arrival.

But Beyoncé's sister Solange rebutted the rumours by telling fans that the singer had spent New Year's Eve at her house party in Brooklyn.

The 25-year-old confirmed Beyonce was very much still pregnant and tweeted: 'Shout out to my sister for being THE cutest pregnant woman ever!'

Are they parents yet? There has been considerable speculation for weeks after it was falsely reported that the singer and her husband Jay-Z had welcomed their child

The former Destiny's Child singer was also seen out earlier on New Year's Eve with her husband Jay-Z.

The pair dined at the Buttermilk Channel restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.

On Thursday, Beyoncé emerged in public for the first time since being last spotted on December 21.

The 30-year-old was seen stroking her tummy as she was escorted out of a New York office building by a body guard.

The singer was also accompanied by her mother Tina.

Beyoncé announced her pregnancy at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards back in August.

Showing off the bump: The singer was seen showing off her pregnant shape in New York in November

She arrived on the red carpet cradling her bump.

The singer also showed off her growing tummy after her onstage performance at the same ceremony - unbuttoning her sequined jacket and rubbing her tummy.

Back in October the former Destiny's Child faced internet rumours that she was faking her pregnancy after an interview she did for Australian TV was posted online.

Critics claimed that when the Texan sat down her bump disappeared.

But Beyonce's rep quickly batted down those rumours saying they were 'foolish'.

Big reveal: The singer announced her pregnancy at the MTV VMA's in August

The baby will be the first child for the Single Ladies pop star and her husband Jay-Z and the second grandchild for her parents Tina and Mathew Knowles.

Beyonce's younger sister Solange has a seven-year-old son Daniel Smith JR.

The addition to the Knowles clan will be some welcome good news just weeks after her parents' divorce became final.

Tina and Mathew had been married for 31 years.

CONGRATS TO THE CARTERS ON THE DELIVERY OF BABY GIRL, IVY BLUE CARTER!

2012-01-08T01:32:00.001-08:00

Tonight the world welcomes another BombShell Mama to motherhood! Beyonce delivers of a Bouncing Baby Girl (reportedly) named Ivy Blue Carter!

Although I'm a huge fans of this couple, I didn't really feed into the whole Bey & Jay pregnancy thing. For one, I wasn't sure what was going on, especially with all the reports of a "fake pregnancy". Secondly, they obviously wanted their privacy. She stayed in hiding, and pretty much the same 10-15 pics were circulated the entire time of her pregnancy. And Thirdly, I was tired of hearing about it because she didn't seem to be channeling the whole "I'm loving my pregnancy" vibe. There was no celeb photo shoot with the exposed belly bump pics, or even any baby shower pics (that I ever saw anyway) or anything, so it just wasn't that exciting to me.

Nonetheless, I'm excited and happy that Jay-z and Beyonce have finally delivered their bundle of joy! Congrats to the Carters!

Justin Bieber Reveals Latest Religious Tattoo – An Image Of Jesus

2012-01-07T06:17:00.001-08:00

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Some people display their faith by wearing a cross medallion pendant. Teen idol Justin Bieber prefers something more permanent -- religious tattoos. The 17-year-old singer was spotted on the beach in Venice, California Wednesday showing off his latest ink, an image of Jesus on the calf of his left leg.

The tattoo depicts a solemn Jesus wearing a crown of thorns.

Bieber was photographed doing pushups and playing football with his father, Jeremy, and a friend. He also took pictures with bikini-clad female fans.

Justin's Bieber tattoo, FameFlynet

WATCH Justin Bieber's Duet With Mariah Carey

Bieber and Jeremy share a passion for body art. Last July, photos surfaced of the father and son's matching Hebrew tats.

Bieber discussed the tattoo in December when he visited Power 106 in Los Angeles. "It's on my side right here," he explained to Big Boy's Neighborhood. "It says Jesus in Hebrew. My dad has it. We got it in Israel."

Bieber also explained the family connection to the seagull drawn on his lower abdomen. "It's a book that my family all reads," he said. "My dad has it. My grandma has it. My cousins all have it. It's a book that everybody in my family read. It's like a seagull that wanted to be more than a seagull."

omg! NOW: Selena Gomez Opens Up About Being Hated by Justin Bieber Fans

The book Bieber refers to is reportedly Richard Bach's 1970 best-selling novel "Jonathan Livingston Seagull — a story." The storyline is about Jonathan Livingston Seagull's plight to transcend the day-to-day lifestyle of being an ordinary seagull to achieve a "higher plane of existence."

Last year, Bieber discussed his religious beliefs in an interview with the Associated Press. "I'm a Christian, I believe in God, I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins," he said. "I believe that I have a relationship and I'm able to talk to him and really, he's the reason I'm here, so I definitely have to remember that."

omg! NOW: Selena Gomez Opens Up About Being Hated by Justin Bieber Fans

Video of marriage proposal gone wrong at UCLA basketball game

2012-01-04T01:24:00.001-08:00

The most memorable rejection of the UCLA basketball season happened in the stands rather than on the court.

Midway through a 71-63 victory over Richmond Dec. 23 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, UCLA's "Mistletoe Cam" cut to a couple seated courtside. The man reaches into his pocket, pulls out a ring and says, "I knew that I was going to do this since the first day that I met you, and I figured now was as good a time as any." His girlfriend's response when he gets down on one knee and pops the question? Well, let's just say it involved an awkward pause and running in the other direction.

Video of the proposal gone wrong didn't surface on YouTube until Monday evening, but Los Angeles Times reporter Baxter Holmes asked several UCLA players about it following the game. "That's cold," Jerime Anderson said. "Tough break," added David Wear.

Indeed the rejection was cringeworthy to watch because it's every man's nightmare when he prepares to ask for his girlfriend's hand in marriage. Maybe this will be a lesson to men in the future that a college basketball game is not the ideal romantic spot for a proposal, especially when there are cell phone cameras poised to capture your humiliation should something go wrong.

There have been some instances of attention-seeking fake marriage proposals at sporting events in the past, but this doesn't seem like one of them.

The emotions of the couple and the awkwardness of the emcee looked legit, plus a UCLA spokesman told Holmes the proposal wasn't staged. And lastly, if you were going to seek attention this winter in Los Angeles, a sparsely attended game in the midst of UCLA's train wreck of a basketball season definitely wouldn't be the ideal spot.

Woe is Serena: Tennis star says she doesn’t love tennis

2012-01-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

After winning her opening match of the 2012 tennis season, Serena Williams told reporters she doesn't love the sport in which she excels.

"I don't love tennis today but I'm here," she said after beating Chanelle Scheepers, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round of the Brisbane International. "I can't live without it -- there's a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it. I have never liked sports and could never understand how I became an athlete."

Serena went on to say that she doesn't like working out or training and that her 2012 schedule will be scaled back in order to provide her rest for big tournaments. The lighter slate also is intended to keep her motivated.

[Photos: Serena Williams through the years]

And therein these quotes lies the paradox that is Serena. From one view, her candor could be seen as refreshing. Here's a top athlete discussing the delicate balance of passion and obligation and fear of the unknown. She's revealing herself to the press, something she rarely has in the past.

Then you step back and realize Serena has the least self-awareness of any great athlete of the past decade. Two years later, she can't bring herself to acknowledge that she was wrong to threaten a lineswoman at the U.S. Open. She'll likely never admit her actions in last year's U.S. Open final crossed the line. Unless she gained some insight in the past four months, these quotes are selfish nonsense.

She's playing a lighter schedule in 2012? Since when has she ever played a full schedule? Even when she was a teenager, Serena never made it a secret that she focused on the big tournaments. There's nothing wrong with that. Let's not act as if this is some big sacrifice, though.

Nobody is surprised Serena doesn't like tennis. Like Andre Agassi before her, she seems to only love the winning and is willing to put up with what it takes to get there. The grind doesn't interest her much.

These aren't new insights into her soul. The underlying tone isn't that Serena is a reluctant sports hero, it's that she's able to be so much better than the rest of the tour without caring about the game like they do. Her "I don't love tennis" quote isn't a revelation, it's a self-congratulatory declaration.

It's as if she's saying, "Just imagine what I could do if I cared."

Beyonce Goes Into Labor

2011-12-30T01:45:00.000-08:00

Beyonce is in labor and has checked into a New York hospital, according to several unconfirmed reports.

According to the UK Daily Mail:

Beyoncé is said to be moments away from giving birth to her first child.
And the appearance of the star’s mother Tina, 57, sister Solange, 25, and nephew Julez in the city has certainly added weight to the report.
Nurses at New York’s St Luke’s Roosevelt hospital have allegedly been told to prepare the labour suite for the arrival of a celebrity VIP.

But the New York Post reports that Beyonce was spotted this past weekend during holiday party-hopping:

While St. Luke’s Hospital was reportedly on high alert last night, piquing suspicion that Beyoncé might give birth there, the pregnant singer apparently stopped by one more party before she went into labor. On Friday, she and husband Jay-Z were spotted at SoHo hot spot W.i.P. for a bash celebrating youth arts program Creation Nation and its Creators Club, which will meet weekly in the space. Beyoncé — who reports say is nine months pregnant — and Jay-Zwere spotted sitting tight in a VIP booth and fielding greetings from friends. Beyoncé was overheard saying that her pregnancy was “the best Christmas present possible.” Our witnesses report that the rapper “was very attentive to his wife, at one point getting up to get her some water.” Beyonce has publicly announced that her baby is due in February. But reports have speculated that the diva might be due as soon as this month after she’d said during a video shoot in late September that she was then six months pregnant.

Stay tuned to NewsOne for more breaking reports.

Video: In SNL sketch, Jesus tells Tebow to ‘take it down a notch’

2011-12-18T11:23:00.001-08:00

In case the morning talk show profiles, CNN updates and frequent monologue jokes weren't enough to demonstrate the cultural zeitgeist of Tim Tebow , the Denver Broncos quarterback was the subject of a sketch on this weekend's episode of "Saturday Night Live."

Taran Killam played the wide-eyed Tebow, Andy Samberg was kicking hero Matt Prater and Jason Sudekis played the man responsible for Denver's second-half success, who advises the Broncos to take care of the game themselves instead of having Him come in and bail them out every fourth quarter.

"If I'm the son of God, Tom Brady's gotta be the guy's nephew."

And such is the power of Tebow that Matt Prater, a placekicker heretofore with barely known outside the immediate Prater family, got a shout out on the country's most famous comedy program.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got the country music awards to watch on DVR.

Kate Middleton Named 2011's Best-Mannered Person, Kim Kardashian Slammed as "Most Ill-Mannered"

2011-12-17T19:11:00.001-08:00

Kim Kardashian sure could use a lesson in manners fromKate Middleton.

The National League of Junior Cotillions named the newlywed royal to the top of their annual etiquette list of the "Ten Best-Mannered People of 2011," while divorcee Kardashian failed to make the list, and was slammed as the "Most Ill-Mannered" person of the year.

Compiled by the etiquette and social training program, the list ranks actors, celebrities, singers and athletes based on one's "demonstration of dignity, honor and respect," according to NLJC national director Elizabeth Anne Winters.

Praised for "the poise and dignity with which she conducts herself in the public spotlight," Prince William's wife of eight months was the clear front-runner for this year's top spot, said Winters.

Justin Bieber (no. 2 on the list) and Paula Abdul (no. 3) were also applauded for their behavior this year, as were Taylor Swift (no. 5) and Harry Potter's Emma Watson (no. 9).

Kardashian didn't even make the list, with the group blasting Kris Humphries' reality star ex for "making a private matter public and disrespecting the institution of marriage."

The Clickiest Viral Videos Of 2011

2011-12-17T05:36:00.000-08:00

Ever since OK Go first stepped onto a treadmill or that one guy memorized the entire history of dance, viral videos have dominated the pop sphere. Some might say they're even more influential--or at least more entertaining--than record labels' actual big-budget "official" music videos. And 2011 was no different. It was a viral year of epidemic proportions. And so, without further ado, here are the top 10 videos we were tweeting, Facebooking, and IMing in 2011.

10) Kina Grannis Is Ready For This Jelly
Cool beans! Literally! Rising songstress Kina might have gotten her big break when she won Doritos' "Crash The Super Bowl" contest in 2008, but she made her biggest impression with another snack food this year. Her stop-motion "In Your Arms" video took more than a quarter-million Jelly Belly jellybeans, two years, and 1,357 hours of filming to create--and it was all worth it, obviously.

9) Madonna Apologizes, Unsuccessfully, To Hydrangeas
After Madonna was seen ungraciously accepting a bouquet of hydrangeas, her most-loathed flower, from a well-meaning fan at the Venice Film Festival, she attempted to do damage control with this video apology. We're not quite sure her helped her shed her diva reputation, but it made us laugh.

8) OK Go Cover "The Muppet Show Theme" - With The Muppets!
OK Go are viral video superstars, having starred in landmark clips with dogs, marching bands, and of course, treadmills. But in this video, they starred with Muppets. 'Nuff said. It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights. Watch it now.

7) Foo Fighters Keep It Clean In K.C.
On August 30, 2011, the Westboro Baptist Church called for a picket of the Foo Fighters' concert in Kansas City. This is how the band fought back. Just another reason to worship the Foos.

6) Thom Yorke Is One Mean Meme
Perhaps not since Beyonce's "Single Ladies" had a music video's dance become such an instant Internet meme as did Radiohead's "Lotus Flower" in 2011. The original video--which featured 'Head frontman Thom Yorke flailing about a deserted warehouse, caught in the throes of dance and seeming positively possessed--premiered on a Friday. And by Saturday, the Interweb was awash in "Lotus" parodies. This one's still our favorite.

5) Ted Williams Is The Man With The Golden Voice
When 53-year-old homeless man Ted Williams was discovered by a local reporter in Columbus, Ohio, the Internet went nuts when YouTubers heard his voice. It was a voice made for radio--and, apparently, for the Internet, too. While the sudden media attention caused Ted to go off the rails and do time in rehab twice, a lot of good still came out this video--including jobs for Ted on the reality show "Second Chances At Life," a couple TV commercials, and New England Cable News. And it all started here.

4) Sergio Flores Brings Back The Joy Of Sax
Not since the '80s heyday of INXS, Men At Work, Madness, and of course Wham! had the saxophone been so in vogue as it was in 2011--when horn-blowing prankster Sergio Flores, aka Sexy Sax Man, just started showing up in random places to entertain and/or annoy passers-by with his searing rendition of "Careless Whisper." We'd love for Sexy Sax Man to come and serenade us at the Yahoo! offices any day of the week...and we'd make sure security didn't cart him off.

3) Princess Sophia Grace Brownlee Spits "Super Bass"
When precocious 8-year-old Brit "Princess" Sophia Grace Brownlee and her 5-year cousin/hype-girl Rosie uploaded their adorable "Super Bass" cover onto YouTube, the public response was immediate--even from the song's originator, Nicki Minaj, who excitedly tweeted: "I HAVE to meet her. She is a SUPERSTAR!!! Like did u hear how she sang the bridge? The attitude? OMG!" The video also caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres, who invited Sophia and Rosie to appear on her show--where they actually got to meet and duet with their idol, Nicki herself. And thus, this little princess became viral-video royalty.

2) The World's Cutest Dad-Daughter Duo Sings "Home"
The father-daughter duo of Jorge Narvaez and 6-year-old Alexa covering Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes' "Home" just might have been THE cutest thing we saw on the Interweb all year--and that includes all the kitten and puppy videos out there, too. America fell in love with the Narvaezes, and soon appearances on "Ellen" and even a commercial for Hyundai followed. The duo's YouTube channel is now bursting with videos of them covering Adele, Plain White T's, Chris Brown, Leona Lewis, and others, but this clip's still the one we love most.

1) Rebecca Black Has Fun, Fun, Fun, Fun
Yes, this was terrible. And though we're pretty sure it wasn't supposed to be terrible, "Friday" turned out to be one happy accident. The video got its first big promotion, perhaps not coincidentally, on a Friday, when Comedy Central's Tosh.0 blog posted it under the headline "Songwriting Isn't For Everyone." And that was all it took. By the weekend's end, "Friday" had been Tumblr'd, Facebooked, blogged, and tweeted by countless baffled viewers--and hundreds of covers and parodies had popped up on YouTube as well. The virality of "Friday," a wannabe weekend-party anthem for the new generation, had nothing to with the song being any good, or even with the fact that it was, well, the weekend. It was simply because it was so unbelievably BAD. ("A whole new level of bad," according to Time magazine.) And sometimes, when something's is so bad, it becomes good. The song bizarrely took off, appearing on everything from "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" to Kohl's Black Friday holiday commercials, and it turned tweenage Rebecca into the most unlikely breakout pop star of 2011. And we're afraid think we'll still have this song stuck in our heads throughout 2012.

Israeli changes his name to Mark Zuckerberg

2011-12-17T05:35:00.002-08:00

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, meet your Israeli doppelganger: Mark Zuckerberg.

Israeli entrepreneur Rotem Guez says he has legally changed his name to that of Facebook's CEO, a gimmick meant to persuade the social networking site to back down from what he says are threats to take legal action against him.

He's telling Facebook: "If you want to sue me, you're going to have to sue Mark Zuckerberg."

He says a lawyer for Facebook pressed him this week to close his online business Like Store, calling it illegal. Like Store promises to enhance companies' online reputations by offering Facebook users free content only accessible by clicking "like" on the companies' profiles.

The Israeli acknowledged on Saturday his company violates Facebook's terms of use, but says many U.S. companies offer similar services.

Facebook declined to comment specifically on the name change, but said it was going after those who violate the company's terms as part of efforts to protect users.

Russia's Mars probe will crash to Earth in January

2011-12-17T05:35:00.000-08:00

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian spacecraft bound for a moon of Mars and stuck in Earth's orbit will come crashing back next month, but its toxic fuel and radioactive material on board will pose no danger of contamination, the Russian space agency said Friday.

Between 20 and 30 fragments of the probe with a total weight of up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds) will survive the fiery plunge and shower the Earth's surface, Roscosmos warned in a statement.

The agency said the unmanned Phobos-Ground spacecraft will plummet to Earth between Jan. 6 and Jan. 19, and the rough area of where the fragments could fall could only be calculated a few days ahead of its plunge.

As of now, it said only that the probe's fragments could rain down anywhere along a broad swath between 51.4 degrees north to 51.4 degrees south, which would include most of land surface.

While the agency had lost contact with the probe following its launch on Nov. 9, this was the first time acknowledged that the $170-million craft has been lost and will come crashing down.

Since its November launch the engineers in Russia and at theEuropean Space Agency have attempted unsuccessfully to propel it away from Earths orbit and toward its target.

Phobos-Ground weighs 13.2 metric tons (14.6 tons), which includes 11 metric tons (12 tons) of highly toxic fuel. Experts had warned that if the fuel has frozen, some could survive entry into Earth and pose a serious threat if it falls over populated areas.

But Roscosmos said it is sure that all fuel will burn on re-entry some 100 kilometers (330,000 feet) above the ground and pose no danger. It said that 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of Cobalt-57, a radioactive metal contained in one of the craft's instruments, will not pose a threat of radioactive contamination.

The Phobos-Ground was Russia's first interplanetary mission since a botched 1996 robotic mission to Mars, which failed when the probe crashed shortly after the launch due to an engine failure. Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, and the latest spacecraft aimed to take ground samples on Phobos.

It was one of the most challenging unmanned interplanetary mission ever. Scientists had hoped that studies of Phobos' surface could help solve the mystery of its origin and shed more light on the genesis of the solar system. Some believe the crater-dented moon is an asteroid captured by Mars' gravity, while others think it's a piece of debris from when Mars collided with another celestial object.

The failed mission was the latest in a series of recent Russian launch failures that have raised concerns about the condition of the country's space industries. Officials have blamed the failures on obsolete equipment and an aging workforce.

Pull the other one! Chinese actress bares her bra in Beijing when awards show host 'accidentally' stands on her dress

2011-12-14T11:02:00.001-08:00

Chinese actress Sun Feifei has discovered what the TOWIE girls realised months ago... to receive international recognition, all you need to do is flash a bit of cleavage.
Sadly for the TV star, though, her revelation came as a result of an embarrassing red carpet wardrobe malfunction.
Sun was looking stunning in a floor-length white gown as she posed for photographs on the way into the Esquire Awards in Beijing.

Wardrobe malfunction: Sun Feifei bares a little too much after Fang Ling (right) has stepped on the sash of her dress - but why are her arms spread out rather than trying to cover her cleavage?

But as she turned to enter the building, the evening's host, Fang Ling 'inadvertently' pulled the actress' dress down by standing on the front sash.
Fortunately, Sun was wearing a skin-coloured strapless gown under her dress, and an aide quickly leapt into action hiding Sun's embarrassment behind a large grey blanket.

More...

Before you feel too sorry for Sun though, it is worth taking a closer look at the photographs.
Local English language website, Shanghaiist.com, questions the authenticity of the malfunction.

Calm before the storm: Sun looks down at her gown as it starts to slip

Disaster strikes: Sun's dress begins to slip down as Fang stands on the front sash

They write: 'The comedic splaying of Sun's arms and her poorly conveyed mock-surprise, along with the exaggerated look of oops on Fang's face, give us the impression that the whole thing was a planned publicity stunt.'
Besides, this is just the latest in a series of Chinese actresses gaining attention for their chests rather than their acting skills.
Last week, Liu Yuxin set the bar pretty high in a very, very push-up bra which exposed just a touch too much.

Frocky horror show: Sun looks surprised (left) but was the wardrobe malfunction a publicity stunt inspired by Liu Yuxin's revealing dress (left) last week?

TV host Liu Wan also tends to make revealing sartorial choices.
Then again, standing on the bottom of an actress' skirt on the red carpet is more common than you would think. George Clooney, Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt have all put a step wrong too.
Maybe Fang did just make an innocent mistake after all.

It's easily done: Harrison Ford steps on a surprised Rachel McAdam's dress at the Berlin premiere of their film, Morning Glory

Everyone's at it: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at The American Premiere of The Tourist and George Clooney at the premiere of Men Who Stare At Goats in Venice

What a twit! Charlie Sheen's cell phone crashes after he accidentally tweets his number out while trying to message Justin Bieber

2011-12-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

Charlie Sheen can add his latest mishap to his long list of calamities.
The 46-year-old actor accidentally tweeted out his number for the world to see while trying to direct message Justin Bieber.
The former Two and a Half Men star thought that he was just sending his digits to the teenage singer but instead his 5.5million followers were able to view the number - until it was swiftly taken down.

What a twit: Charlie Sheen accidentally posted his personal number on Twitter while trying to direct message Justin Bieber

Charlie was at the Michelin-starred restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas last week when the incident occurred.
'310-954-7277 Call me bro. C,' Charlie wrote leading to many of his followers immediate retweeting the message.
An eyewitness told the New York Post that the actor's phone immediately erupted with a ton of calls and messages.
'Charlie's phone immediately went into meltdown,' the source said. 'It was ringing wildly, and he got 1,800 text messages in minutes.'

Disaster: Charlie sent the teenage singer a message saying 'call me bro' but the tweet led to him receiving 1,800 messages from fans

'Charlie saw the funny side and answered the phone a few times, saying things like 'Ray's Pizza' and 'Winning.
'But his phone just continued ringing and buzzing and eventually just completely melted down. Charlie was like, "I guess I need a new phone."'
The MailOnline tried to call the number but it has now been disconnected with a message saying, 'The number you dialled is not a working number.'
The troubled star was dining with friends at the Caesars Palace restaurant last Wednesday when he was inundated with fans calling.

Troubled family: Charlie defended his ex-wife Brooke Mueller after she was arrested for intent to supply cocaine saying his $55,000 child support meant she wanted for nothing (pictured with twins Bob and Max)

The eight diners had a lavish meal including caviar, black-truffle soup and shared meat and fish entrees.
And although there were three bottles of wine on the table, Charlie apparently refrained and did not have a sip of any alcohol.
'Charlie was the most polite in the group,' another insider to the publication. 'At one point, he started getting out a cigarette.'
'One of his friends told him, "You're Charlie Sheen; you can do whatever you want," but the restaurant manager told him that was not the case and Charlie put his cigarette away.'
Charlie recently rushed to the defence of his ex-wife Brooke Mueller who was arrested last weekend in Aspen for possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
The former couple have two-year-old twin boys together, Max and Bob, and Charlie apparently pays her $55,000 a month in maintenance.
But Charlie said that Brooke doesn't need to resort to selling drugs because he ensures she has everything she needs.
'With the child support I give her... she's gonna deal drugs? Never gonna happen,' he told TMZ.
The 34-year-old has vowed to 'vigorously defend' the allegations and is due back in court on December 19.

Talk-show host offers Newt Gingrich $1 million to drop out

2011-12-13T06:01:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Some conservatives don't believe in Newt-mentum.

Popular right-wing talk-radio host Michael Savage has offered Newt Gingrich $1 million to drop out of the race for the GOP nomination because he doesn't believe the former Speaker of the House can beat President Barack Obama.

"While it's true that (Mitt) Romney is not a strong a conservative as many would like him to be, the most pressing issue before America today is defeating Barack Obama. And that is something Newt Gingrich cannot do," the nationally syndicated Savage said on his blog.

And why is that?

Savage has a long list on his blog, including Gingrich's ads with Nancy Pelosi, his past infidelity and the fact that -- no matter his intelligence -- when he appears on TV "he will come off badly compared to Obama and look like nothing more than what he is: a fat, old, white man."

Ouch.

So, after a lengthy diatribe in all caps, Savage offered Gingrich $1 million to "set his ego aside" and "take the money ... and don't run."

Savage said he will reveal further details soon.

Michelle Obama helps break world record for jumping jacks

2011-12-13T01:20:00.001-08:00

Michelle Obama sets the world record for jumping jacks (AP)

Michelle Obama has earned her family another place in history. This time, Mrs. Obama will share the honor with more than 300,000 other participants on Sunday who set the record for most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period.

The previous world record was just 20,000.

In a video from the White House, seen below, Mrs. Obama thanked National Geographic Kidsand the Guinness Book of World Records, who helped organize the event as part of Obama's Let's Move! initiative to promote physical fitness and healthy eating for children. She also said she hopes that physical fitness will be a priority for the kids who participated.

"More than anything, I want to say, thanks to every single young person who showed that exercise isn't just good for you, but that it's fun too," Mrs. Obama said.

On Sunday, Mrs. Obama led about 400 kids from elementary and middle schools in the Washington area on the South Lawn of the White House. Other jumping jack events were held around the world to reach the world-record mark.

Hulk Hogan Speaks Out: Why I'm Suing Ex Linda Bollea

2011-12-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

The battle between Hulk Hogan and ex-wife Linda Bolleaisn't over.

As reported earlier, the wrestling icon, 58, filed court papers last week accusing his ex, 52, of defamation, after she accused him of brutal physical abuse and cheating on her with a male wrestler.

Hulk (real name: Terry Bollea) tried to keep a sense of humor about the fracas while making a Saturday appearance at the Spike TV Video Game Awards in Culver City, Calif.

"After the four-year crazy divorce I thought I'd heard everything I could hear in the courtroom," he told Us Weekly, laughing. "Then, all of a sudden she says I abused her, that I was violent. She told everybody that I was a homosexual." (Linda leveled her claims in both a shocking memoir and interviews promoting the book.

Clarified Hogan about Linda's charge that he had a sexual relationship with fellow wrestler Brutus Beefcake: "If any of that was true, I would admit it, and I was a homosexual I would embrace it. It's just so crazy to hear, so I have a real problem with it....If you're going to say I'm something that I'm not to try to ruin my career and my livelihood....I have to answer her back."

Hogan, who shares daughter Brooke, 23, and son Nick, 21, with Linda, told Us he's baffled by the situation.

"It's so ridiculous," he said. "I don't mean to laugh about it, because it's not funny. But it's insane. It doesn't make any sense to me."

Hogan has a lot to celebrate regardless: He and new wife Jennifer McDaniel celebrate their one-year anniversary later this month. "I've moved on with my life, things are great again," he raved. "I know what it's like to be happy again."

Woman Leaves $13M Fortune to Pet Cat

2011-12-12T10:09:00.000-08:00

A 4-year-old stray cat that was rescued from the streets of Rome has inherited a $13 million fortune from its owner, the wealthy widow of an Italian property tycoon.

Maria Assunta left the fortune to her beloved kitty Tommaso when she died two weeks ago at the age of 94. The feline’s newfound riches include cash, as well as properties in Rome, Milan and land in Calabria.

‘SNL’ Recap: Alec Baldwin Gets an Apology From American Airlines (Sort Of)

2011-12-11T13:21:00.000-08:00

Alec Baldwin got the apology of his dreams on "Saturday Night Live" last night.

A mustachioed American Airlines pilot who looked eerily like the "30 Rock" star stopped by "Weekend Update" to say sorry for kicking Baldwin off a plane on Wednesday for playing "Words With Friends" a little too long.

It was a perfect capper on an absurd week, in which Baldwin inexplicably led off every entertainment news show because he slammed a door shut too loudly on an airplane. Baldwin turned it into the funniest bit of the night on "SNL," calling himself "an American treasure" and lamenting his struggles in the popular "word game for smart people."

Then Stefon, everyone's favorite guide to New York City nightlife, joined "Weekend Update" immediately thereafter. This show got rolling so hard it needed to be retreaded.

It's a little hard to try to explain Stefon to someone who hasn't seen Bill Hader's club-hopping character, so let's just rattle off some facts: Diminutive 1986 NBA Slam Dunk champion Spud Webb gets name-dropped twice. Hader does a perfect Wilford Brimley impression. And Stefon creates the best possible Hebrew superhero: Menorah the Explorer.

But, really, you should just watch the clip. Stefon is going to have one of those big, blown-out "SNL" movies one day.

Oh, and Katy Perry hosted! That happened. She was a little shy and out of place until she dropped all of her Katy Perry-ness to adopt a British accent and become Pippa Middleton.

And the second she did it, she became — pardon the pun — a straight-up firework. Queen Elizabeth (played by Fred Armisen, naturally) gets raunchy in the sketch, so Perry's Pippa is willing to trade every British insult she knows at Her Majesty, whom Perry says "looks like Gandalf in drag."

Perry rocked it, and she never even had to sing. She was a nice addendum — hey, we'll call her a firework again — on the best SNL in about a month.

Is iPad 3 Worth Waiting For?

2011-12-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

Tablets are shaping up to be THE big-ticket gift item this year. Fifteen percent of respondents to a ChangeWave survey said they want one. Top on the tablet wish list is the iPad 2, with 65% of respondents voting for it over the next contender, the Amazon Kindle Fire. What's more, analystGartner Inc. predicts Apple will sell 22 million iPads just between September and the end of December.

But before you rush out to buy one yourself, you have to think about the future, about the next iPad coming down the pike. So let's try to read the tea leaves on iPad rumors to determine if you should buy the iPad 2 now or wait for the next version.

Release Date

Tracking the rumors on the release date has been a roller coaster. First the buzz said the iPad 3 would come out in time for the 2011 holiday season… nope. Then display problems from manufacturers were rumored to push the release all the way back to Fall 2012. Now, according to multiple Appleanalysts, the display is in production, and we should expect an early spring debut. But remember, none of this information is officially from Apple; we're talking about rumors, speculation, and predictions.

Likely Hardware Improvements

High Resolution Display
Critics have complained about the clarity of the iPad 2's 1024-by-768 pixel screen and hoped that the next iteration will feature the same high resolution display that's on the iPhone 4. According toRichard Shim, an analyst at DisplaySearch, manufacturers are mass-producing 2048x1536 display panels for the iPad . That means higher quality movies, TV shows, and pictures on the iPad 3.

Thinner
Supply chain leaks also indicate a smaller, more efficient battery will make the new iPad about 20% thinner and lighter, but this new battery reportedly adds 20-30% to the manufacturing cost, which could increase the retail price of the iPad 3.

Multicolored
A possible hint in the design of the new iPad body comes from a patent application, in which Applealluded to devices made of carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is strong and light, and can also take color, potentially offering tablet buyers a range of hues.

Better Camera
An improved camera with a flash is a no brainer. Hopefully, it will be as good or better than the 8 MP camera in the iPhone 4s.

4G LTE Connectivity
About two-thirds of iPads sold to date have cellular data connections, leading many people to hope for a super-fast 4G LTE version of the next iPad. LTE can increase data downloads on mobile devices to feel more like broadband speeds. Recent rumors from Japan and some dissection of a recent IOS update have lately been increasing the speculation that Apple is working on some form of an LTE iPhone and/or iPad.

Faster Processor
The iPad 2 has a dual-core A5 chipset. You can bet the next upgrade in the iPad3 will be powered by a Quad-Core A6 Processor, which will give it a noticeable boost in computing power. One crazy rumor is that instead of running the IOS operating system that's powered iPhones and previous iPads, Applecould announce a hybrid OS for the iPad 3 that's more like a real computer operating system, making the next iPad more of a productivity tool and less of a toy. But a full-fledged version of OSX on an iPad — I'll believe it when I see it.

Low Probability Rumors

Some say the iPad 3 could have a smaller docking port, possibly even a thunderbolt port, the super-fast data transfer port found in new macbooks that transfers data 20 times faster than USB 2.0. It may be a necessity if the iPad 3 is as thin as predicted, but it means existing iPad accessories like docking pads will not be compatible.

There could be a cheaper 7-inch budget option. Originally, I thought this was doubtful becauseApple's business model has been to discount older technology, but not to create competing budget hardware options. Steve Jobs prided himself on limiting Apple's products to just a few clearly differentiated devices. But the popularity of the 7-inch Kindle Fire may have the new bosses at Applea little concerned.

Will this iPad run Flash, have a USB port or SD slot? No way.

Bottom Line

If you're itching for a faster iPad with a better display, the iPad 3 is worth waiting for, especially if it really shows up in March. But if you 're new to iPad or have to have it as a gift this holiday season, you'll probably be happy with the iPad 2 — and only have a twinge of regret if the new one comes out this spring.

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The Clickiest Viral Videos Of 2011

Israeli changes his name to Mark Zuckerberg

Russia's Mars probe will crash to Earth in January

Pull the other one! Chinese actress bares her bra in Beijing when awards show host 'accidentally' stands on her dress

More...

What a twit! Charlie Sheen's cell phone crashes after he accidentally tweets his number out while trying to message Justin Bieber

Talk-show host offers Newt Gingrich $1 million to drop out

Michelle Obama helps break world record for jumping jacks

Hulk Hogan Speaks Out: Why I'm Suing Ex Linda Bollea

Woman Leaves $13M Fortune to Pet Cat

‘SNL’ Recap: Alec Baldwin Gets an Apology From American Airlines (Sort Of)

Is iPad 3 Worth Waiting For?