Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Chaz Bono Surprises and Impresses Judges on 'DWTS' Premiere (VIDEO)


Dancing With the Stars' (Mon., 8PM ET on ABC) knew that a lot of people were going to be curious to see how their first transgender contestant fared on the season premiere, so they cleverly saved Chaz Bono and professional partner Lacey Schwimmer for last.

When they finally came out. Bono proved he was a competitor with sheer likability and a spark of potential. While he's nowhere near the best dancer out there, he was graceful on his feet, he was there for his partner, and he showed that he has the drive and passion to improve.

People love to root for someone who shows growth throughout the season, and Bono definitely has room for that. According to Carrie Ann Inaba, though, one area Bono already impressed in was footwork. "It was sharp. It was precise," she said. "You've got so much joy. You light up this room!"

Champions League T20 Live Streaming

Scientists on trial for failing to predict Quake

A group of Italian scientists went on trial on Tuesday for failing to predict an earthquake that killed more than 300 people in central Italy in 2009 despite signs of increased seismic activity in the area.

The seven defendants -- six scientists and one government
official -- are accused of manslaughter in a case that some see as an unfair indictment of science.

Prosecutors say residents around the city of L'Aquila in the mountainous Abruzzo region should have been warned to flee their homes in the days before the quake.

"We simply want justice," L'Aquila prosecutor Alfredo Rossini told reporters.

The injured parties are asking for 50 million euros ($68 million) in damages.

The defendants were members of a panel that had met six days before the quake to assess risks after hundreds of tremors had shaken the medieval university city.

At that meeting, a committee analysed data from the low-magnitude tremors and determined that the activity was not a prelude to a major earthquake.

The only one of the seven defendants present at Tuesday's hearing was Bernardi De Bernardinis, a former senior official in the Civil Protection Agency.

The other defendants include top scientists like Enzo Boschi, the former director of Italy's prestigious National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology, as well as Claudio Eva, a physics professor at Genoa University in northern Italy.

"This is a trial which opens on very shaky foundations. You cannot put science on trial," Alfredo Biondi, Eva's lawyer, told AFP. Biondi said his client had told the meeting in question that "one cannot rule out a major earthquake."

The experts are accused of giving overly reassuring information to residents who could have taken adequate protective measures if they had been properly informed.

According to the indictment, the seven are suspected "of having provided an approximative, generic and ineffective assessment of seismic activity risks as well as incomplete, imprecise and contradictory information."

The experts had made it clear that it was not possible to predict whether a stronger quake would occur but had recommended stricter enforcement of anti-seismic measures, particularly regarding building construction.

In an open letter sent to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, more than 5,000 scientists said the defendants essentially face criminal charges for failing to predict quakes, even though this remains technically impossible.

But Vincenzo Vittorini, a doctor who founded the association "309 martyrs" and lost his wife and daughter in the disaster, said: "I hope that this trial will change mindsets and will lead to greater attention given to communication on risks."

"No one expected to be told the exact time of the quake. We just wanted to be warned that we were sitting on a bomb," he added

Some 120,000 people were affected by the L'Aquila quake, which also destroyed the city's historic centre and medieval churches.

In the September 14 issue of the science weekly Nature focused on the L'Aquila trial, Thomas Jordan, head of the International Commission on Earthquake Forecasting (ICEF), said the case raises a fundamentally important issue about risk assessment.

London Fashion Week 2011: Who Has The Best Front Row? (PHOTOS)

London Fashion Week is already half over -- sadz. But the front rows have been pretty exciting, from Kate Moss at Mulberry to Anna Wintour and Kanye West at Burberry Prorsum.

Then again, Samantha Cameron, the UK's First Lady, made an appearance at multiple shows, including Erdem, Peter Pilotto and Christopher Kane.

The supers also showed up in full-force for some lower-profile shows, including Naomi Campbell at the Unique runway show and Claudia Schiffer at the Fashion Fringe show.

But Temperley may have nabbed one of the UK's biggest names, as its guest of honor was none other than Pippa Middleton.

So which London show has had the best front row so far? Click through our slideshow and let us know!

Kate Walsh explains her Raunchy Side


The biggest surprise of the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen was seeing actress Kate Walsh walk onstage. The next biggest surprise was listening to the Private Practice star throw out off-color jokes from the podium.

Could Walsh be unleashing her raunchy side?

"I do have a little bit of raunch," Walsh told USA TODAY. "I'm half-Irish after all. So come on."

More: Charlie Sheen 'wins' at Comedy Central roast

Walsh admitted it might be a big shock for fans of her show to see her R-rated roast session (which will be broadcast Sept. 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT). When asked what they should know before tuning in, she replied with a laugh: "Viewer discretion advised. I'd say, take it easy everybody, it's a little bit of a bumpy ride," Walsh said, before using words like "filthy," "naughty" and "dirty" to describe the evening dedicated to bashing Sheen. These are words not normally associated with Walsh.

Throughout the Saturday night roast, roastmaster Seth MacFarlane continually asked Walsh, "What are you doing here?" from the stage. Onstage she explained that she was using her television medical expertise to analyze the outrageous personalities on the stage -- from Sheen to William Shatner to Mike Tyson.

But afterwards Walsh said it was all about comedy, adding that she started her career in improv.

"And it was a good exercise in masochism to come up here," Walsh said. Though she added that she came out "relatively unscathed" by the other comics -- and Sheen -- despite some of the comedy bombs thrown at her during the roast.

Walsh admitted that when she agreed to do the gig she had at least one sleepless night. "I was like, 'Oh my God, what am I doing," she said. "I have never done a roast before."

But at the end, she was all smiles backstage. "No regrets," said Walsh. "You never want to rest on your laurels. You want to keep doing things that terrify you."

Kochi Tuskers contract terminated by BCCI

Mumbai, Sept 19 (Todaynews24): The BCCI terminated Kochi Tuskers’ contract after the franchise, despite repeated reminders, defaulted on an Rs 156 crore annual payment it was to make as bank guarantee.

The decision to terminate Kochi franchise was taken at the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting here on Monday, in which the new office bearers of the Board were also elected.

BCCI president N Srinivasan, who took charge on Monday, said: ”As the franchisee has defaulted in payment, we have decided to terminate the team.”

The franchise, which was bought for Rs 1,550 crore, is supposed to make the yearly payment for the next 10 years. The team made its debut only last year and was among the laggards in the league.

Asked if the BCCI would reconsider its decision and give the franchise a chance to return, Srinivasan bluntly rejected such a suggestion. Srinivasan said any decision to conduct fresh auction for a new franchise would be taken by the Rajiv Shukla-led IPL Governing Council. Shukla was named as the new IPL chairman today, succeeding Chirayu Amin.

In April 2010, the BCCI’s working committee had rejected demands from Kochi and the Pune Warriors for a reduction in their franchise fees. The two new franchises, which made their debuts in 2011, had sought a 25% waiver on the grounds that the BCCI had stated in the bidding document that each team would play 18 league matches in a season. The schedule was later reduced to 14 matches per team.

The two teams already paid 75% of this year’s installment and wanted the balance waived. They argued the reduction in matches was a breach of the terms of the Invitation to tender the board had issued before the two new teams were bought. Since they had based their bid on the number of matches to be played, a reduction in matches should therefore be accompanied by a reduction in the franchise fee. However, the BCCI voted to turn down the request at its meeting in Mumbai in April.

Kochi had faced the prospect of being axed even last year when the BCCI questioned its shareholding but the matter was settled after agreement between the various owners.

Latest report says Kochi Tuskers have threatened legal action after the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise’s contract got terminated, against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Narendra Modi Ends Sadhbhavana Fast: Receives Nationwide Support

The 3 day Sadhbhavana Fast by organized by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi came to an end, with Modi breaking the fast by sipping the water offered by seers and priests of differents religions. The fast was broken in the presence of supporters, senior party members, party workers and state government officials. The fast that began on Sept 17, Saturday was dedicated for the promotion of "peace, harmony and unity" of Gujarat. The fast received nation wide support and captured headlines. The event received wide and unprecedented media coverage for Narendra Modi.

Senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naydu, Punjab CM Badal, Shiva Sena supremo Bal thackrey, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray and several others were among the eminent political leaders who extended their support to Modi.

Monday, September 19, 2011

A GoldPlus Nano car worth Rs. 22 crore


Mumbai: The Tata Group Monday unveiled a Nano car - made with gold and silver, and studded with precious stones - worth an astronomical over Rs.22 crore.

But, it's not for sale - the valuable and fully functional car is a unique branding and promotional initiative by Goldplus Jewellery, part of Titan Industries, a Tata Group company, an official said.

The mega-value Goldplus Nano Car was unveiled Monday evening by Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata.

The Goldplus Nano Car pales the average Rs.1.40 lakh Nano, which started with a Rs.1 lakh price tag at its launch.

The Goldplus Nano Car is billed as the world's first ever gold jewellery car and celebrates the 5,000 years of jewellery making industry in India.

The car's body is made with 80 kg 22 carat solid gold, 15 kg silver, precious stones - including diamonds, rubies - and other expensive gemstones, the official said.

"As many as 14 techniques of jewellery making have gone behind the effort -- from the intricate filigree work to the delicate and colourful meenakari work, the stunning kundan to the traditional naqashi...marking the convergence of diverse and culturally distinct jewellery making techniques from around India," the official told IANS.

Titan Industries managing director Bhaskar Bhat said that since eternity, jewellery made with gold and precious stones has been an integral part of the Indian woman's life.

"Indian jewellery has been an epitome of innovation and creativity, and carved a niche worldwide for itself for the intricacy of the designs crafted out of the precious metals and stones," said C.K. Venkataraman, COO, jewellery division.

After its glittering launch in Mumbai Monday evening, the Goldplus Nano Car will travel to all the Goldplus showrooms at 29 locations around the country.

The car incorporates beautiful designs, made with the precious stones of different colours, set on the gold and silver body of the car.

Preview: Mausam, A Season of Love

Pankaj Kapoor's directorial debut Mausam is described as a true romantic film in which he has teamed up with his actor son Shahid and Sonam Kapoor to recreate a bygone era through the movie, releasing Friday.

Co-produced by Sunil Lulla and Sheetal Vinod, the film is about two lovers: Punjabi boy Harry (Shahid), who goes on to become an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and Kashmiri refuge Ayaat (Sonam). But they are forced to separate due to political hostilities and religious conflicts.

After being separated for a decade, they meet again and through their journey, the director shows how love transcends from one season to another.

In the first season, the film is about the adolescent attraction that brings teenagers Harry and Ayaat together in a small village in Punjab. The next phase is about young love as both of them are grown-ups and their love realises its depth but at the same time destiny separates them.

In the third and fourth phases, both Harry, who is now a fighter pilot, and Ayaat meet again and their love culminates into togetherness, although they had to sacrifice a lot and it helps them in learning the truth about universal love.

Shot in Edinburgh, London, Mumbai, Gwalior and Agra, the film, as Sonam says, is an attempt to bring back the pure romance that is lost somewhere in Indian cinema. This is the first time Sonam and Shahid have been cast together.

It took Pankaj two years to complete the project and he says it was Shahid who instigated him to wield the megaphone. He admits his personal experiences have influenced the story of Mausam.

The film's release was delayed for a week as the Indian Air Force held back its No Objection Certificate (NOC) as it wanted an aerial sequence to be corrected. They said until the producers made the changes, IAF would not grant the film an NOC and the censor board would not accept the movie for review.

However, the issues have been sorted out and the film is now set for release.

Baba Ramdev begins his anti-corruption yatra from Jhansi today


Yoga guru Baba Ramdev is all set for another stir against corruption and black money. This time, he would embark on a yatra (march) from Jhansi to Prayag in Uttar Pradesh over the issue.

Ramdev aims to awaken people against graft through his yatra. His previous stir -- an indefinite fast at Ramlila Maidan over the issue of black money -- had ended on a controversial note when the Delhi Police launched a midnight crackdown on his followers earlier this year.

The yoga guru has been vocal against, what he calls, government's inability to bring back huge amount of black money stashed in illegal bank accounts abroad. He asserted that the fight against corruption has become a religious duty for him.

Ramdev's controversial aide Balkrishna would also accompany him on the yatra. Before starting the yatra, the yoga guru stoutly defended his aide.

"All the allegations on Balkrishna are baseless and false," Ramdev insisted.

While Ramdev faces Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) heat over foreign funds, his aide has been accused in an Indian Passport Act case for obtaining the important document on the basis of forged documents.

"I don't need any certificate from any political party. I don't want any character certificate from those who don't have character," Ramdev said.

Apple Stock, Hits Highest Level Ever


LOS ANGELES — Apple Inc. stock reached its highest level ever Monday, hitting $413.23 in intraday trading even as the broader market declined.

That price was 3.2 percent higher than Friday's close and brought the company's market capitalization to $383 billion, albeit briefly.

The stock slipped to close at $411.63 and was trading after hours at $411.58, still up about 2.8 percent, while the Dow Jones industrial average closed down 0.9 percent.

Apple is again the most valuable company in America, putting Exxon Mobil, whose market cap Monday was about $358 billion, at No. 2.

The record-setting trade for 100 shares occurred at 3:39 p.m. Eastern time, according to FactSet.

Apple shares have risen steadily recently, despite company mastermind Steve Jobs' resignation as CEO Aug. 24 amid an extended leave for medical reasons. The day after he announced he was stepping down, the stock closed at $373.72.

JPMorgan analyst Mark Moskowitz issued a research note Monday speculating that Apple would release two new iPhones this fall – an iPhone 5 that is lighter and slimmer and would work around the world, and a slightly improved iPhone 4 model that could target the explosive Chinese market.

Moskowitz speculated that Apple would cut a new deal with a Chinese cellphone carrier that could give it access to more than 100 million more customers. Currently, Apple only has a relationship with carrier China Unicom, with 180 million subscribers, Moskowitz said.

China Mobile, the country's largest carrier, has about 600 million subscribers, while China Telecom has about 100 million, he said.

He said investors should "start to prepare for more positive surprises" in the growth of iPhone shipments. He rates the shares "overweight" with a price target of $525.

Shares are now trading about 13.7 times the analyst's expectation for calendar 2012 earnings of $30.04 per share.

DADT Repeal: Gay Officer Says 'This Is Going To Take Some Getting Used To' (VIDEO)



ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military officially ended at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning after 17 years. The repeal will be greeted with celebrations in all 50 states as gay service members will be allowed to reveal for the first time their sexual identity without fear of reprisal.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said Monday that the military is prepared for the end of the policy, which took effect in 1993 under President Bill Clinton.

The Huffington Post spoke to Todd Burton, 43, an Army lieutenant colonel stationed in Arlington, Va., on Monday night.

While he described the repeal as "empowering" and "freeing," he also acknowledged that the freedom will "take some getting used to."

Dolores Hope, wife of Bob Hope, dies at 102

Dolores Hope, the widow of Bob Hope, has passed away. The singer, who put her career on hold after her marriage to the comedian, died of natural causes on Monday (September 19) morning at her home in Toluca Lake, California, said her publicist B. Harlan Boll. She was 102 years old.

Born Dolores DeFina, she was raised in the Bronx, New York. In 1930s, she began her singing career and changed her name to Dolores Reade. She was introduced to Bob when she was singing at the Vogue Club in Manhattan. The pair tied the knot in February 1934, and remained married for nearly 70 years when he died in July 2003 at the age of 100.

Although she put her singing career on hold to raise her 4 adopted children with Bob, Dolores restarted at age 83 by recording several albums. She also performed with Rosemary Clooney in New York at Rainbow and Stars for several weeks. Additionally, she had received many humanitarian awards and had seven Honorary Doctorates.

Dolores is survived by three of her children, Linda, Nora and William Kelly; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Her eldest son, Anthony, died in 2004. A private funeral is planned to take place on Friday, September 23 at the Bob Hope Memorial Garden in San Fernando Mission, California, where Bob was interred.

Netflix Stock Falls After Change in Pricing


In wake of new prices that force some customers to pay more, greater numbers of people are canceling their Netflix subscriptions than the company expected.

The company on Thursday morning revised downward, incrementally, its subscriber estimates for the quarter of the year that ends in two weeks. It did not change its financial guidance for the quarter. Still, its stock dropped almost 15 percent in heavy trading when the market opened Thursday.

The revision reflects the negative reaction to Netflix’s decision, announced in July, to separate its DVD-by-mail service from its faster-growing Internet streaming service. Before, DVD-by-mail was a $2 add-on for some streaming subscribers; now, each service now costs $8.

Some subscribers were upset by what was effectively a price hike, and a subset of them have cancelled their Netflix accounts.

In July, the company said it expected that it would end the third quarter with 22 million subscribers to the streaming service, 12 million of whom would also opt for the DVD-by-mail service. It expected back then that 3 million would opt only for the DVD service.

Now, it’s expecting that just 2.2 million will opt only for DVDs, a drop of 800,000.

Netflix also anticipates a slight drop in streaming subscribers, to 21.8 million, a difference of 200,000 from the earlier estimate. It still expects 12 million of those streaming subscribers to also pay for DVD-by-mail, helping it to generate more revenue overall.

“Despite the guidance revision, we remain convinced that the splitting of our services was the right long-term strategic choice,” the company wrote in a letter to shareholders on Thursday.

'Dancing With the Stars': Chaz Bono shrugs off controversy, more fun


No contestant on this season of "Dancing With the Stars" has attracted more attention -- or controversy -- than Chaz Bono, the first transgender contestant the show has ever had.

The show reportedly beefed up security in the wake of some of the vitriol directed at him. But on the show Monday night (Sept. 19), Bono didn't seem to be letting any of that bother him.

Bono didn't snag the highest score of the evening -- the 17 for his cha-cha-cha with Lacey Schwimmer put him in the middle of the pack. But he certainly enjoyed himself, and the judges were happy (and, possibly, a tiny bit surprised) with his ebullient attitude.

Our gut feeling is that Bono will be back next week. How do you rate the performance?

Anderson Cooper Chokes Up Over Brother's Suicide



Anderson Cooper is known for his fearlessness, especially when it comes to war zones. But it was a chat with his mom in a NYC studio that made him dissolve in tears.

In an interview for his new syndicated talk show, socialite and 80s jeans designer Gloria Vanderbilt told Anderson ... after his brother Carter leaped off a 14-story balcony more than two decades ago, she almost followed him. What stopped her was Anderson.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Amar Singh gets interim bail till Septemeber 19 on bond of Rs. 2 lakh


A special court in New Delhi on Thursday granted Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh, who was arrested in connection with the cash-for-votes scam case, interim bail till September 19 on personal bond of Rs. 2 lakh and a surety of the same amount.

Granting him bail, special judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal said, "It appears that the health of the accused is fluctuating". Singh has been asked not to leave Delhi.

The court also directed Singh to surrender his passport and warned him against tampering with evidence related to the case. Till the next hearing on September 19, there would be day-to-day monitoring of Singh's health, the court said.

Singh's lawyer Asgar Khan said he will file for regular bail on September 19.

Singh has been in judicial custody since September 6 for his alleged involvement in the cash-for-votes case of 2008. He was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on September 12 after he complained uneasiness.

AIIMS and Tihar Jail authorities had submitted a detailed a medical report of Singh to the court on Wednesday stating that he had not shown signs of improvement and the creatinine level in his blood was still high.

The two-page AIIMS report said Singh was suffering from multiple health problems and was admitted to the hospital following complications related to post-renal transplant, including diarrhoea, urinary tract infection, diabetes, dehydration, hypothyroid and hypertension.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Woman With Longest Fingernails Scratches Way Into Guinness Book


It takes a newborn baby 18 years to grow into adulthood. And it took Chris "The Dutchess" Walton just as long to grow her record-setting fingernails to 19 feet, 9 inches long.

"The hardest thing for me to do is dig in my pockets," the 45-year-old rock singer from Las Vegas says. "Everything else I can do myself -- driving, shopping, cleaning the house ... although when I vacuum, the cord gets tangled in my fingers."

A day before the release of the 2012 Guinness World Records, The Dutchess visited The Huffington Post to talk about her life and celebrate her inclusion in this year's edition -- a celebration of "unique beauty," including fresh pictures of the world's longest tongue, the largest afro, and a "holy man" with 453 piercings.

"I never set out to make it into Guinness," she says. "It just happened."

"One day I stopped cutting my nails. I liked the way they looked. And they just kept growing."

Windows 8 Features And Innovations (PICTURES, VIDEO)


The Windows Build Conference keynote on Tuesday gave us all an in-depth look at the cool things that Windows 8 will be able to do.

With options for using the operating system in two views--the PC-friendly classic "Desktop View" and the tablet and touchscreen-friendly "Metro View"--Windows 8 certainly offers an exciting new look.

While Microsoft's OS is not yet ready for release, speculation points to some time in early 2012.

According to Windows and Windows Live President Steve Sinofsky, Windows 8 offers "hundreds" of new features. We've picked the eight that made us sit up in our seats when they were unveiled. Take a look through the slideshow (below) and tell us which you're most excited for. Do you think Microsoft left out any features? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Eva Longoria not opposed to Marriage


Eva Longoria does not “oppose” getting married again.
The ‘Desperate Housewives’ actress – who divorced basketball star Tony Parker earlier this year and is now dating Penelope Cruz’s brother Eduardo Cruz – does not “know” if she will wed again, but wouldn’t mind of she was proposed to.
Asked if she would go down the aisle again, she said: “I don’t know, I don’t know. Only God knows that. I’m not opposed to it.
“I just don’t really give it a lot of thought right now. Ask a woman after divorce if she’s gonna get married, you won’t get an honest answer.”
However, if a boyfriend were to propose, the 36-year-old beauty would not waste time being engaged and would want to marry quickly.
She said: “I never believe in long engagements. People think engagement is another step. It’s not another step.
Eva recently said she felt like she was a “survivor” following her personal struggles and still believes in love.
She said: “I’m a very strong person. Personally I went through a lot, but jumping into my work helped me get through my personal stuff.”

17 Year Old Boy Charged in beating deaths of parents in Suburban Chicago


A 17 Year old boy charged in parents’ beating deaths.42-year-old Maria Granat and 44-year-old John Granat died after suffering multiple blunt force injuries. Maria Granat was also stabbed. They were pronounced dead early Sunday.
17 year old boy charged in beating deaths of parents in suburban Chicago
Authorities say they arrested the teenage son of a Chicago couple found dead in their home.
The teen told authorities that he came home at 8 p.m. Saturday and went to bed in the basement around midnight. He says he found his parents’ bodies in the morning and called 911.
Boy Pic.

Madonna Makes Cringeworthy Spoof Hydrangea Apology (VIDEO)



The 53-year-old singer was caught on camera during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival muttering "I absolutely loathe hydrangeas", after being presented with a bouquet of the offending flowers.

Madonna has now made a video in which she appears cradling a bunch of hydrangeas, shot in sepia, old-fashioned silent movie style, with the words of an apparent apology flashing up at the bottom of the screen.

Madonna writes: "You have no idea how many nights I have lost thinking I hurt you.

"Words cannot express how sorry I am. To think I may have caused you pain. My heart is going to burst with sadness, I need to know in time you may forgive me.

"If I could take back my words I would, but I can't, so what am I left with?"

The music then stops and Madonna appears to shout into the camera as the words appear reading: "I'm left with the fact I still hate hydrangeas! And I will always hate them!

"It's a free country! So f*** you I like roses!!"

The W.E. director then stamps on the hydrangeas and storms off.

WATCH:

Google Launches E-business Scheme


Internet giant Google is to throw its worldwide weight behind a scheme to help small businesses.

The search engine's UK arm is unveiling a scheme in Liverpool which offers local firms advice and support to increase their online potential.

The three-month pilot, which may be rolled out to other parts of the UK if successful, will see around 1,500 businesses in Merseyside given free access to one-on-one digital support, including how to "build a website in 15 minutes".

Across the wider North West region, Google staff will support a new technology hub, DoES Liverpool, in a bid to work more closely with software developers across the area.

Raja Saggi, head of small business initiatives for Google UK, said: "The internet has created huge opportunities, but many business owners feel they don't have the expertise they need to help their businesses grow online.

"This is the first time we have ever run a series of events aimed at helping one city, and we'll be working hard with our partners to make a real difference to Liverpool's internet economy over the coming months.

"With Liverpool's strong business networks and sense of community, we believe this is the best city to run such an initiative."

The Getting Liverpool Business Online scheme will be launched by Google UK's managing director, Matt Brittin, in Liverpool.

DJ Mehdi Dead: Electro Producer Has Passed Away At 34

UPDATE, 5:13 p.m.: DJmag reports that Mehdi was not celebrating his own birthday, but the birthday of Riton, his partner in Carte Blanche. According to the magazine, they were with a group of friends on the roof when it collapsed. Riton is apparently the only one to have not fallen through the roof.

UPDATE, 1:20 p.m.: A source told MTV News that DJ Mehdi was celebrating his 34th birthday on his rooftop. No word on whether the accident occurred on the rooftop or the mezzanine. Mehdi's record company, Ed Banger Records, is expected to make a statement later today.

UPDATE, 11:42 a.m.: According to French site Liberation Next, the accident happened at DJ Mehdi's home, when the mezzanine collapsed and fell several meters. Three others have been hospitalized.

UPDATE, 11:30 a.m.: According to Le Monde, the PR agency Phunkster confirmed to 20 Minutes that there aren't any more details about the death of Mehdi, though it seems that he fell from a mezzanine level with some other people. Others are reporting he fell off a roof.

Hip hop/electro producer DJ Mehdi died Tuesday at age 34. DJ Mehdi's publicist has confirmed the news, Consequence of Sound reports, though the cause of death is still unknown. Initial reports are calling it an apparent accident.

The news first started trickling out on Twitter and was thought to be a hoax. DJ Cut Killer wrote (in French), “DJ Mehdi !!! There are no words to tell you the sorrow which I feel… A friend goes from there… Rest in peace bro.” Drake and Chromeo added credence to the news, tweeting, "Damn…RIP MEHDI," and "We lost our brother. No words," respectively.

According to Resident Advisor, an electronic music magazine, Paris Social Club is closing their doors tonight to honor the musician. They posted the following message to their Facebook page: "Following the death of DJ Mehdi, we have made the exceptional decision to close the club tonight. An evening of silence in honor of the artist. Thank you for not commenting on this status."

Mehdi Faveris-Essadi, known by his stage name DJ Medhi, was French-born and of Tunisian descent. He first gained ground for his underground work in France's hip hop scene, and started to really get noticed when he signed with French electro label Ed Banger Records. The young producer had collaborated with a number of big names, including MC Solarr, Daft Punk, Cassius, Carol King, and with Chromeo on his single "I Am Somebody," which you can listen to below.

The World's Most Expensive Car Model Starting At Only $4.7 Million



Why spend over a quarter of a million dollars on a Lamborghini when you can have a miniature model for 12 times the price? That's the thinking behind a new model car that will appear at the Frankfurt Auto Show at the end of September.

Hailed the world's most expensive and precious car model by Guinness World Records, the creation is based on the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 and is decked out in gold, platinum and diamonds, reports Business Insider.

Jokes aside, this might actually be worth investing in. Cars are known to devalue the second they leave the lot, but if the bejeweled car's materials alone are worth a total of $2.7 million, this is one car that will go up in value after purchase.

Sotheby's will auction the car in December in either New York or Dubai with bids starting at $4.7 million, reports Wired. Or you might want to purchase it at the show, but that will cost you an an extra $1.3 million.

Bystanders Lift Burning Car To Save Pinned Motorcyclist (VIDEO)


As a 21-year-old motorcyclist lay pinned underneath a burning car, a group of courageous bystanders worked feverishly to save his life, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

After colliding with a BMW on U.S. Highway 89 near Utah State University Monday, Brandon Wright became trapped underneath the flaming vehicle.

According to the The Salt Lake Tribune:

The motorcycle and Wright were pulled under the car, where the motorcycle’s gas line was severed, causing the bike and the car to catch fire while he was trapped underneath, [Assistant Logan Police Chief Jeff] Curtis said.


Wright reportedly suffered broken bones, cuts, and burns, but thanks to the brave bystanders who lifted the car and pulled him out, he survived the accident.

The driver of the car only suffered minor injuries, but was "shaken up," according to the Tribune.



Watch Suspect Removes Handcuffs, Escapes From Locked Police Car (Video)



Raw video of a Detroit-area man removing handcuffs and escaping from the backseat of a police car in July has been released. The footage from the patrol car's security camera shows how the suspect pulled off the Houdini-like breakout and lead authorities on a three-hour chase that used K-9s and a helicopter to recapture him, the Detroit Free Press reports.

In the video, the suspect, Quincy Alexander, 26, is seen in the back of a locked West Bloomfield Township, Mich. police cruiser using his mouth to free his shackled right hand from the cuffs. Over the next several minutes, advertisements for Panera and Wells Fargo play in the background while Alexander looks around, surveying the scene for an opportune time to make a run for it.

Finally, as Bruno Mars' "The Lazy Song" (irony, anyone?) plays, Alexander -- who station WDIV-4 said had been arrested for alleged heroin possession and attacking a woman with a knife -- escapes out of the cruiser's passenger side window.

According to WDIV-4, which has additional video footage, the suspect was able to pull herion from his pocket before he freed his hands.

HIs freedom was short lived. Police arrested him three hours later, according to the Free Press.

The officer that lost Alexander was initially suspended for three days, because of the embarrassing mistake, Patch reported. But The West Bloomfield Township supervisor later reduced the officer's punishment to a written notice, an act that sparked another controversy.

Britney Spears Getting Engaged To Jason Trawick: Report


It looks like Britney Spears may be saying 'I Do' for a third time. According to X17 Online, Spears' boyfriend, talent agent Jason Trawick, was doing some major shopping in L.A. on Monday afternoon -- picking out an engagement ring!

"They discussed diamonds from the Mouawad private collection," a source told X17 of Trawick's meeting with high-end jeweler Pascal Mouaward.

We hope Trawick's day of bauble shopping didn't ruin a potential surprise engagement for Spears -- if she didn't know that a proposal was looming before, she certainly does now. But these lovebirds haven't been shy about sharing their love with the world -- the couple has been spotted together everywhere from Mexico bikini jaunts to smooth landings at LAX.

But Spears is an old pro when it comes to saying 'yes' to a ring box, this isn't the first time she has planned to make a trip down the aisle. In 2004 Spears tied the knot in Las Vegas with longtime friend Jason Allen Alexander, but the pair's quickie nuptials were short-lived. Later that year, Spears wed backup dancer Kevin Federline before the couple welcomed two sons to their family, Sean Preston and Jayden James. But two years later, Spears and Federline called it quits.

We hope that if Trawick's jewelry store browsing is any indication, Spears will be donning a white dress once again.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Tamil Nadu Train accident 9 killed 100 Injured (Pic & Video)



Train mishap near Chennai 9 dead 100 injured when a passenger train rammed into a stationary train near Arakkonam derailing five coaches on Tuesday night.



The accident took place at about 9.30 last evening when the Chennai Beach-Vellore local rammed into the Arakkonam-Katpadi train – which was stationary at that time. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh for familes of the dead and Rs 1 lakh for the injured has been announced.


The injured were taken to various hospitals in Vellore while teams of doctors had also reached the accident site.

The accident disrupted rail traffic on the busy Chennai-Katpadi sector with two trains being cancelled and some others diverted.

The Dirty Picture – Movie Trailer


The Dirty Picture is the upcoming movie Based on the biopic of the southern siren Silk Smitha, this movie has film stars like Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Tusshar Kapoor. This film is directed by Milan Luthria, produced by Ekta Kapoor. The film will be released nationwide on December 2, 2011. The Dirty Picture watch online film video trailer.

Advani's Rath yatra for votes, not country: Anna Hazare



Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday hit out at the ruling Congress for spreading lies about him. Talking exclusively to Headlines Today, the Gandhian said Manmohan Singh was a puppet prime minister and that Home Minister P. Chidambaram had masterminded his arrest ahead of his indefinite hunger strike last month. (WATCH: Anna Hazare's exclusive interview)

In his first interview after the historic fast at Ramlila Maidan last month, Hazare told Headlines Today that Manmohan Singh was a remote controlled Prime Minister.

Blaming Chidambaram for his arrest, Hazare said the government had planned to pack him off to his village in a helicopter. The government was however beaten by its own action after Hazare refused to leave Tihar Central Jail after his release order and camped in the prison's office for three days until he was granted permission to hold protests at Ramlila Maidan.

"I was arrested at 4.30 pm on the grounds that I might disrupt peace in the city. My release order came by 6.30 pm. When I asked the Delhi Police commissioner, who had ordered my release, he kept quiet. That meant he had been ordered by the government to arrest me," he said.

Slamming Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, who has time and again targeted Hazare and his associates, Hazare reiterated that he should be sent to a mental hospital. "Why did the Congress not raise voice for 10 years, when I worked with Digvijay," he questioned.

Hazare also took on veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani calling his proposed Rath Yatra a political gimmick.

"I don't think it (Rath Yatra) is for the good of the country and its people. It is aimed at votes. If it is not so, bring about Lokpal law. Then I will support him," Hazare said on being asked about supporting Advani's Rath Yatra.

On his proposed rail tour of the country, Hazare said, "Our yatra is not for votes. It is for people's awareness."

Hazare denied any relationship with the RSS or its allies, including the BJP and the VHP. He said whoever is making such accusation should come face-to-face and seek his explanation rather than talking behind his back.

He also ruled out any political alignment. "I am not connected to any party, nor will I ever be a part of any political party," he said.

On his silence over the ongoing controversy over the appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat Hazare said, "Why only one Lokayukta, we want it in all the states. If the BJP is really concerned about corruption, why is its government not appointing Lokayuktas in the states ruled by it?"

Asked what would be his reaction if his key aides Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi preferred to contest election, Hazare said, "In this democratic system they are free to fight election. I would rather suggest them to stay outside (of politics) and form a pressure group."

He also rebutted allegations that he was influenced by Kejriwal or Bedi. "If Arvind Kejriwal or Kiran Bedi had confined me, then how did I fast in Maharashtra to get seven bills passed? The Congress is trying to misguide and confuse people," he claimed.

Asked if he would forgive activist Swami Agnivesh, who was allegedly found to be acting as a government agent on Team Anna's platform during the Lokpal movement at Ramlila Maidan, Hazare said, "I had received complaint against him. I told him twice... still he did that... (allegedly spoke to Kapil, believed to be Union Minister Kapil Sibal). I had told him not to speak to the government until we say so... Still, if there is any difference in him then we may think of it."

Gunmen attack school bus in Pakistan, 5 dead


PESHAWAR: Police say gunmen have attacked a school bus in northwestern Pakistan, killing three children, a teacher and the driver.

The attack on Tuesday took place in Matani, close to the main city of Peshawar.

Police officer Qayum Khan says the bus was taking students home when the gunmen struck.

Matani has been the scene of a vicious struggle between Islamist militants with bases in the nearby Afghan border region and government-backed tribal armies.

The militants have attacked civilian targets in the area to punish its residents for not supporting them.

Small plane may be used to attack Mumbai airport, warns IB


NEW DELHI: Mumbai airport has been put on alert after Intelligence Bureau warned of a possibility of a small aircraft being used to target the airport. The IB has also warned DG's of neighbouring states, like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa to keep an eye on the unused airstrips and non commercial helipads, and put small aircraft and private helicopters under strict vigil, according to Times Now.

Maharashtra police say security has been beefed up at all access points of the Chhatrapati Shivaji airport. Additional manpower has also been deployed around the airport.

The security at the airport been tightened in view of an alert sent by central agencies.

"In general, security has been beefed up at the airport, with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) as well as the Mumbai police in charge of the security. Flight operations are normal," an airport spokesperson told PTI.

Though CISF sources confirmed the development, they said there were no Mumbai-specific inputs.

"There is no specific Mumbai-related threat that we are aware of. There are similar alerts at Delhi and Chandigarh airports too. It is a general alert and all operations at the Mumbai airport are normal," a senior CISF commandant told PTI.

The security comes after a high alert was sounded across the country in wake of the heightened threat perception.

The Intelligence Bureau and the home ministry have issued an advisory directing the police of all states to remain on their toes after an email was received by media houses after the Delhi high court blast, which also warned of an attack in Gujarat on September 13. Although it has been found that the email was a hoax, the police are taking no chances.

Taliban target US embassy, Nato HQ in Kabul


KABUL: The Taliban launched an attack on the centre of the Afghan capital on Tuesday, hitting Nato's coalition force headquarters next to the US embassy in Kabul.

The insurgent group said the ongoing assault in Kabul began with a suicide attack targeting local and foreign intelligence in the capital.

Reporters heard a string of loud blasts while police confirmed one explosion and a gunfight close to the heavily-guarded embassy compound.

"Today at one o'clock at Kabul's Abdul Haq roundabout a massive suicide attack on local and foreign intelligence facilities is ongoing," said a spokesman for the insurgent group, Zabiullah Mujahid, in a text message to AFP.

A Western military source said Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters was one of the targets.

"ISAF HQ is under attack at the moment," the source said.

An ISAF spokesman would not confirm the headquarters was a target but said: "There is an ongoing attack in the centre of Kabul."

One eyewitness reported that attackers had taken up position in a tall building under construction and were exchanging fire with security forces. An Afghan National Army installation is nearby, as is a Marriott hotel building site, the witness said.

The US embassy in Kabul did not immediately have further information.

The Taliban are leading a bloody 10-year insurgency in Afghanistan. There are around 140,000 foreign troops in the country.

ICC Awards 2011 : Jonathan Trott is ICC Cricketer of the Year

Jonathan Trott, the England batsman, has been named the Cricketer of the Year for 2011, the ICC's top accolade. He received the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy at the annual ceremony in London, after his team-mate Alastair Cook had won the Test Cricketer of the Year award.

"It's fantastic to be part of a successful team and I never envisaged winning this award. It's a brilliant feeling to be recognised," Trott said.

In 12 Tests during the period under consideration, Trott scored 1042 runs at an average of 65.12, including four centuries and three half-centuries. He also played 24 ODIs, scoring 1064 runs at an average of 48.36 with two centuries and nine 50s. Trott was chosen for the award ahead of Cook, last-year's winner Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa batsman Hashim Amla.

Previous winners of the Cricketer of the Year award include Rahul Dravid (2004), Andrew Flintoff and Jacques Kallis (joint winners in 2005), Ricky Ponting (2006 and 2007), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (2008), Mitchell Johnson (2009) and Sachin Tendulkar (2010).

Cook, however, won the Test Cricketer award after having a prolific year in the format. Cook played 12 Tests, and in 18 innings he scored 1302 runs at an average of 76.58, including six centuries and four half-centuries. His 235 not out against Australia in Brisbane kick-started England's first Ashes victory away from home since 1986-87.

Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka captain, was the only player to win two awards on the night. He was named the ODI Cricketer of the Year and also picked up the People's Choice Award. Sangakkara scored 1049 runs at an average of 55.21 in 25 ODIs. He also had 26 catches and 10 stumpings as wicketkeeper and led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2011 World Cup.

Though India spent most of the period under consideration at No. 1 in the Test rankings, and won the 2011 World Cup, their only award winner was the captain MS Dhoni, who was given the Spirit of Cricket accolade. Dhoni was not present at the ceremony despite being in England.

The ICC chose West Indies legspinner Devendra Bishoo, ahead of other nominees Darren Bravo, Wahab Riaz and Azhar Ali, for the Emerging Player Award. Bishoo, 25, played five Tests in the voting period and took 21 wickets at an average of 35.42. He also picked up 19 wickets at 21.57 each in 11 ODIs.

Ryan ten Doeschate, the Netherlands allrounder, was named the ICC Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year for the third time in four years, and for the second year running. ten Doeschate was chosen ahead of Afghanistan allrounder Hamid Hassan, and the Irish duo of Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien, both centurions in the 2011 World Cup.

New Zealand seamer Tim Southee won the award for Twenty20 International Performance of the Year, for his spell of 5 for 18 against Pakistan in Auckland.

Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar has won the David Shepherd trophy for the Umpire of the Year for the third consecutive time. He beat competition from Steve Davis, Ian Gould and five-time winner Simon Taufel.

Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies women's allrounder, was named the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year.

Jersey Shore Snooki Star Shows Off New Tattoo Pics.


Jersey Shore star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has a new tattoo. The reality TV icon revealed her new ink to fans over the weekend, and they were torn with their opinions of the tattoo.

Snooki’s new ink is a very big, red, and gold crown on her upper right arm. The ink is very visible, and larger than the average tattoo. “My new tat. Badass,” Polizzi tweeted of the new body art.

According to MTV, the tattoo could be a big joke, but in the photo it looks very real. Snooks is known to be impulsive and crazy at times. It’s very possible that she spontaneously decided to get the tattoo one crazy night. (Drinking may have even been involved.)

Either way, the reality TV sweetheart still looks gorgeous as she shows off the new tattoo in front of the camera. Who knows? Jersey Shore cameras may have even caught Snooki’s latest (sure to be entertaining) decision to get the large tattoo.

Joe Jonas’s New Music Video ‘Just In Love’ Premieres Pics. & Videos



Joe definitely proves that a certain French city is all about love, and he tells me why:”We shot it in Paris so naturally it’s supposed to be passionate and romantic,” Jonas recently told me. “We found a beautiful girl lead. I feel it’s a video that might shock people a little bit.”



As for the ongoing speculation of which of his new songs may be about famous ex-girlfriends (ahem, Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato), Jonas said, “There will come a time for me to explain some of the songs but right now, I like to watch what people speculate. I like to sit back and laugh when they think it’s someone I wrote about and it’s definitely not.”






Philadelphia Eagles Swamp St. Louis Rams 31-13 (VIDEO)


ST. LOUIS — The lockout didn't bother Michael Vick. It simply left him with fresh legs for the season opener.

The Eagles quarterback was in dazzling form and the other Philly game-breakers were hard to catch, too, as the team opened its self-proclaimed Super Bowl drive with a 31-13 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

"It felt great to know that I can go out and play lights out, not have to worry about anything," Vick said. "I feel better than I've ever felt before and I give a lot of credit with the situation with the CBA, giving us a lot time to get rest and to prepare ourselves.

"I feel like I can play another four quarters right now."

The Rams couldn't keep up, especially after losing stars Steven Jackson and Sam Bradford. Jackson will undergo an MRI for a right quadriceps injury Monday. X-rays were negative on Bradford's right index finger.

In a pre-game tribute to Sept. 11, players and coaches from both teams stepped forward, all touching a huge flag that covered much of the field. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo began his postgame remarks by praising the remembrance as a "special tribute."

Vick rushed for 98 yards and passed for two scores, LeSean McCoy scored twice and DeSean Jackson topped 100 yards receiving against a defense that couldn't use injuries as an excuse.

"It was just a real disappointment the way we played," end Chris Long said. "We had a lot of self-inflicted mistakes. They made us make a lot of mistakes."

The Eagles had 239 yards rushing, were 8 for 11 on third downs, and had 16 plays good for at least double digits. And yet, Vick felt it was far from perfect.

Argentina Beats Brazil In FIBA Hoops Championship


MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Luis Scola scored 32 points to help Argentina beat Brazil 80-75 on Sunday in the championship game of the Olympic basketball qualifying tournament for the Americas.

Carlos Delfino added 16 points for Argentina in the game that was mostly for pride after both teams earned spots in the London Olympics with their semifinal victories.

Marcus Vinicuis had 17 points for Brazil.

In the third-place game, Al Horford scored 23 for the Dominican Republic in a 103-89 victory over Puerto Rico The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela – by claiming spots three, four and five in the tournament – earned places in a qualifying tournament just before the Olympics.

The United States qualified for London by winning last year's world championship.

Serena Williams Upset By Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-3 In US Open Final


NEW YORK — Even before she began berating the chair umpire, things were not going well for Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final.

Her strokes were off-target. Her opponent, Sam Stosur, was playing better than ever. And Williams' deficit was growing more and more daunting.

So facing a break point at the start of the second set Sunday night, Williams ripped a forehand that she celebrated with her familiar yell of "Come on!" The problem, it turned out, was she screamed as Stosur was reaching for a backhand, so the point wasn't finished. The chair umpire awarded the point to Stosur, setting Williams off on a series of insults directed at the official, a scene far less ugly than – yet reminiscent of – the American's tirade at the same tournament two years ago.

In the end, Stosur's powerful shots and steadiness allowed her to beat Williams 6-2, 6-3 in a surprisingly lopsided upset for her first Grand Slam title. Stosur left the court as the U.S. Open champion; Williams' night ended with her facing possible disciplinary action.

A sampling of what Williams said to chair umpire Eva Asderaki:

_"You're out of control."

_"You're a hater, and you're just unattractive inside."

_"Really, don't even look at me."

Asked at her news conference whether she regretted any of her words, the 13-time Grand Slam champion rolled her eyes and replied: "I don't even remember what I said. It was just so intense out there. ... I guess I'll see it on YouTube."

She won't be the only one, for sure.

Stosur probably will prefer to watch footage of some of the points she dominated.

"I'm still kind of speechless. I can't actually believe I won this tournament," Stosur said later, the silver U.S. Open trophy sitting a few feet away. "I guess to go out there and play the way I did is obviously just an unbelievable feeling, and you always hope and you want to be able to do that, but to actually do it, is unbelievable."

The ninth-seeded Stosur became the first Australian woman to win a major championship since Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980. Stosur received a text from the former player that read: "Twinkletoes, you finally have got what you deserved."

Only 2-9 in tournament finals before beating Williams, Stosur made the U.S. Open the third consecutive Grand Slam tournament with a first-time women's major champion, after Li Na at the French Open, and Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon.

This was only the 27-year-old Stosur's third title at any tour-level event, and what a way to do it. She took advantage of Williams' so-so serving and finished with 12 unforced errors to Williams' 25.

Most of all, Stosur avoided being distracted by the bizarre events that unfolded in the second set's opening game. Asderaki ruled that Williams hindered Stosur's ability to complete that point and awarded it to Stosur, putting her ahead 1-0.

Steelers, Ravens Fight In 3rd Quarter: Ref Goes Down (VIDEO)


A referee landed on his back after a fight broke out in the third quarter of Baltimore's 35-7 beatdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Tempers flared immediately after the Steelers appeared to get a first down. There was some late pushing after the play and then it looked as if Ravens running back Ray Rice and Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu dragged each other down. The situation escalated quickly as more players jumped entered the fray. A referee, trying to separate a few of the players, got pushed and landed on his back.

The officials only penalized the Steelers, but as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk pointed out, plenty of fines will probably be handed down.

Ted Ginn Touchdowns: 49ers Player Scores On Kick & Punt Return In Win Over Seahawks (VIDEO)


On Sunday afternoon, the Seattle Seahawks pulled within two points of the San Francisco 49ers after Tavaris Jackson threw a long touchdown pass with a little less than four minutes left in the game. After struggling to produce any sort of offense throughout the game, it appeared that the Seahawks had finally found some rhythm against their division rivals.

Then Ted Ginn happened.

And then he happened again.

Ginn, who runs a blazing 4.28 in the 40-yard dash, notched both a San Francisco kick return TD and then a punt return TD in less than 60 seconds to secure a 33-17 victory for the 49ers.

The former top-10 pick, who is widely considered a bust because of his inability to find playing time as a wide receiver, proved that he could be a valuable weapon for the 49ers without being on the field during an offensive snap.

In total, Ginn had 268 return yards on the day, which is a greater output than any other team had on Sunday by more than 100 yards.

His fantastic performance will likely cause teams to implement a very strict special teams strategy when they play the 49ers this season: Kick it out of bounds.

Minka Kelly Open Up About 'Complicated' Relationship With Stripper Mom


Long before Minka Kelly hit the small screen on "Friday Night Lights" and the upcoming "Charlie's Angels," she was just a kid in a single-parent home watching her mom trying to make ends meet.

The actress recently opened up to Cosmopolitan about her not-so-normal childhood and her mother's death.

"She was 5ft 11, legs up to her ears, gorgeous," Kelly said (via Daily Mail) about her mother, Maureen, who tried to pay the bills by working various jobs, including as a stripper. "She got along on that for as long as she could."

Kelly describes her relationship with her mother as "pretty complicated," adding that her dad, former Aerosmith guitarist Rick Dufay, wasn't around much. But she was there at her mom's bedside three years ago when she died of colon cancer.

"That's detectable," Kelly said of the disease. "Talk about being reckless and not paying attention to your body."

But, complicated relationship and all, she was with her mom until the end.

"By the time she passed I was holding her," she said. "I was with her until her last breath. We made it."

For now, Kelly is busying concentrating on her much-hyped revival of "Charlie's Angels," which premieres Sept. 22 on ABC. But while her career is heating up, the same can't be said for her personal life.

Kelly and her longtime Yankees boyfriend Derek Jeter called it quits in late August, surprising friends and fans alike. The split seemed to come out of left field, especially considering reports were flying earlier this year that the two were planning to tie the knot.

For more Minka Kelly, check out Cosmopolitan magazine.

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Gretchen Carlson Wonders If Serena Williams Outburst Had 'Racial Undertones' (VIDEO)


Gretchen Carlson criticized Serena Williams' outburst on the tennis court during Monday's "Fox and Friends," and wondered if her comments had a "racial undertone."

(Williams said that the umpire at her losing U.S. Open game was a "hater" and "just unattractive inside." She was later fined for the comments.) Carlson was not happy about the incident.

"This is what's wrong with our society today," she said. "That's the entitlement generation right there." Kilmeade disagreed, saying that tennis stars like John McEnroe or Jimmy Connors were always ranting on the court. Carlson said that such behavior was "sick," and that Williams was acting like her children.

"If you're not a responsible parent, to constantly say 'no, you need to take your own personal responsibility,' you end up saying things like that," she said. "...And a 'hater,' I mean was that a racial undertone? I don't quite get that."

Philip Petzschner Lie: U.S. Open Doubles Champion Lies About Ball Hitting Leg (VIDEO)


With Serena Williams dominating the headlines coming out of Flushing after blowing up at the chair official, along with all of the NFL games on Sunday, most sports fans across the country may not have seen the controversial play in the U.S. Open men's doubles final. And it seems that Philip Petzschner used that anonymity to pull a fast one on the umpire and his opponents.

In the second set, Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski lost a point due to some bad luck and a bad call by the chair umpire. Already down a set to Philip Petzschner and Jurgen Melzer, Matkowski hit a short volley that appeared to illegally bounce off Petzschner's leg and back over the net for a winner.

The umpire thought the ball had hit Petzschner's racquet and incorrectly awarded the point to Petzschner/Melzer. When Fyrstenberg/Matkowski pleaded their case, Petzschner lied and said the ball never hit his leg.

Melzer and Petzschner eventually won the match and Chris Chase of Busted Raquet pointed out that after the final point, Matkowski refused to shake hands with Petzschner.

The play reminds us of Derek Jeter's fake out last season against the Rays when the ball hit the end of the bat, but the Yankees star acted as if the ball hit his elbow. Jeter was awarded first base despite manager Joe Maddon's protest.

WATCH: Manny Pacquiao And Juan Manuel Marquez Face-Off In Karaoke Challenge On Mexican


As a preview of their big fight being held on November 12th in Las Vegas, Nevada, championship boxer Manny Pacquiao and his long-time rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, went head-to-head in a singing duel on a reality television show in Mexico.

The musical face-off between the two boxers took place at La Academia. Pacquiao sang 'Imagine' by John Lennon, while Marquez performed ‘El Rey’ by José Alfredo Jiménez. Aftewards, they both sang together, 'Cielito Lindo', a classic Ranchera from Mexico, and Pacquiao even ventured to sing a portion of 'La Bamba'.


The atmosphere was cordial enough that they even found time to dance.

Pacquiao, known as ‘Pacman’ and the ‘Devorador de Mexicanos’ [The Devourer of Mexicans], was received very well by the Mexican audience, evidenced by the thousands of fans cheering for him.

After one tie, and one victory for Pacquiao, the duo are preparing for their third fight.

Watch Keri Hilson Performs On AOL Music's Sessions Video


In midst of wrapping up her stint on Lil Wayne’s "I Am Still Music" tour, the Grammy-nominated singer Keri Hilson has been promoting her sophomore effort, ‘No Boys Allowed.’ The singer-songwriter was also tapped for the latest installment of AOL Music’s long-running franchise, “Sessions.” Check out the exclusive video premiere and interview (above), where Hilson performs "Pretty Girl Rock," "All the Boys," and her latest single "Lose Control."

And as an added bonus, you can catch footage of Keri on “Behind the Sessions.

Michele Bachmann Slams Rick Perry Over HPV Vaccine (VIDEO)




Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), the mother of three daughters -- though she seemed to momentarily forget how many children she had -- went after Rick Perry during Monday night's GOP debate for his 2007 executive order mandating that young girls in Texas be vaccinated against HPV, the most common sexually transmitted disease and one that can lead to cervical cancer.

"To have innocent little 12-year-old girls be forced to have a government injection through an executive order is just flat out wrong. That should never be done. That's a violation of a liberty interest," she said.

She then argued that Perry had a conflict-of-interest because one of his top staffers was a lobbyist for Merck, the drug company that manufactured the vaccine.

"I just wanted to add that we cannot forget that in the midst of this executive order, there was a big drug company that made millions of dollars because of this mandate. We can't deny that," Bachmann said, referring to Merck.

"What I'm saying is that it's wrong for a drug company -- because the governor's former chief of staff was the chief lobbyist for this drug company. The drug company gave thousands of dollars in political donations to the governor, and this is just flat-out wrong. The question is, is it about life, or was it about millions of dollars and potentially billions for a drug company?"

Perry clarified that he received a $5,000 donation from Merck. "I raised about $30 million," he said. "And if you're saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I'm offended."

"Well, I'm offended for all the little girls and the parents that didn't have a choice," replied Bachmann. "That's what I'm offended for."

The Bachmann campaign quickly sent out a press release on Perry's HPV record:

Perry's campaign also issued a statement, saying, "Governor Perry has always been a strong believer in protecting parental rights, which is why this executive order allowed parents to make the final decision about whether or not their daughter was vaccinated. ... Gov. Perry stands firmly on the side of protecting life, and he viewed the issue in that context since HPV is a leading cause of cervical cancer in women. However, he has said that, in hindsight, his order was a mistake because citizens should have had the opportunity to express their opinions beforehand on such a sensitive

Tim Tebow Not Expected to Play Against Raiders


Ed Werder reported on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown that Tim Tebow will be in uniform, but he doesn't expect to play against the Raiders.

Of course, this shouldn't be much of an issue because Kyle Orton is the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos. However, for whatever reason, people really seem to care about the backup quarterback position. Does this assume that Brady Quinn would play if Kyle Orton gets hurt? Possibly, but if things go the way they are supposed to, Kyle Orton will lead the Broncos to a win tonight, without help from Quinn or Tebow.

Another interesting note from Werder is the vantage point of John Elway. Instead of entertaining executives, John will be seated in the coaching booth. This will allow him to be more in-tune with the playcalling and the overall flow of the game.

As more news develops, leading up to the Monday Night Football game, we'll be sure to pass it along. Keep it locked onto MHR, all night.

Miss Angola Leila Lopes Crowned Miss Universe 2011

As many as 89 beautiful women from around the globe have gathered together in San Paulo, Brazil for the past three weeks to compete for the coveted title of Miss Universe. And, on Monday (September 12) night, the world witnessed as reigning Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete crowned her successor.

At the end of the 60th annual Miss Universe pageant, it was Miss Angola Leila Lopes who came out triumphant. During the final round, the 25-year-old beauty was asked what physical characteristics she would change, and she replied that she is very satisfied with the way God created her and that she wouldn't change a thing.

Lopes beat first runner-up Miss Ukraine Olesya Stefanko and overshadowed fan favorite Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup, who came out fourth. Miss Brazil Priscila Machado and Miss China Zilin Luo finished third and fifth respectively, while Miss USA Alyssa Campanella didn't pass the top 16 round and Miss Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs stopped at top 10.

This year's Miss Universe pageant is hosted by NBC "Today" anchor Natalie Morales and the Bravo network's Andy Cohen. Adrienne Maloof of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills", actress Vivica A. Fox and Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega were among the judges for the swimsuit, evening grown and interview competitions.

Akshay Kumar at Toronto film fest


Akshay Kumar had a grand premiere and party to celebrate his new movie at TIFF.

Akshay Kumar's production venture Breakaway aka Speedy Singhs, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in a grand fashion.

A cross-cultural film, it is based on ice hockey, one of the national sports of Canada. The key highlight of the event was the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who walked the red carpet along with Akshay Kumar and the cast of the film.

A dhol band from Punjab was a core component of the group. They presented some traditional and dynamic numbers. There was additional fanfare with horses, elephants and majestic antique cars driving the cast members to the venue, which included Russell Peters, Camilla Belle and Vinay Virmani.

The Punjabi tadka did not end there. Dance troupes from India displayed their talent at
the premiere of the film. Speedy Singhs is slotted to release on September 23 in India.

Canadian PM brings cake for Akki
It was also Akshay's 44th birthday on the day, and he cut a cake which was specially flown in from Ottawa by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's team. Says a source, "Akshay's birthday cake was baked at the prime minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive. The cake, in the shape of a movie reel and popcorn bucket, was flown in the PM's aircraft and enjoyed by a VIP celebrity guestlist."

After the screening, Akki's birthday was celebrated at one of the city's most famous rooftop night clubs, Muzik. "There was an intimate dinner for about 20 people, with actor Russell Peters, the PM and his wife, Vinay Virmani and his father Ajay Virmani. After the dinner, there was a party attended by 150 people, including the band RDB, South Asian artists Jassie Sindhu, Bohemia, H-Dhami, Veronica and Breakaway director Robert Lieberman with his wife and son. Rapper Ludacris specially performed at Akshay's birthday dinner. Akki and Ludacris even rapped a song together.

Akshay wore a black suit with a white shirt, while wife Twinkle wore a draped green dress.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Azharuddin's Sson Critical After Bike Crash, Nephew Dead

Hyderabad : Sunday morning brought terrible news for former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin. His younger son Ayazuddin was critically injured and his nephew Ajmal-ur-Rahman died in a bike accident in Hyderabad.

Ayaz has played in the under 13, under 15 and under 19 side and is considered a promising talent. Mohammad Azharuddin has arrived in Hyderabad to visit his son

Ayazuddin was riding a Suzuki GSX R1000 sportsbike with his cousin riding pillion. The 19-year-old went on an early morning ride with 16-year-old Ajmal on Hyderabad's Ring Road where the motorcycle lost control. The younger boy, who was the son of Azhar's sister and grandson of former MP Khaleel-ur-Rahman, was declared dead at the hospital.

Dr Mahesh Joshi, Chief of emergency care, Apollo Hospital: "One of them expired. The other boy, Mohd Ayazuddin, son of Mohd Azharuddin, continues to be critical. He has undergone emergency surgery to stop bleeding. He has suffered severe injuries to his chest and kidneys. Currently he is on ventilator and his blood pressure is supported by medication."

Ayazuddin is the second son of Azharuddin from his former wife Naureen, and is a second year B.Com student at St. Mary's College. Ayazuddin's mother and elder brother Ashaduddin are in the hospital.

Ayaz and his elder brother Asad both play cricket just like their father.

"The younger one is very talented. A look-alike of Azharuddin, the stylish way and Hyderabadi wrist technique and all. He is very good at cricket," Anurag, a friend of Ayazuddin, said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who has played cricket with Azhar and VVS Laxman, were among the friends and fans from the world of politics and sport who came visiting at the hospital.

"Doctors say the next 12 hours is very critical. I am praying to God and everyone is praying that the almighty Allah give him new life," Asaduddin Owaisi, Hyderabad MP, said.