Sunshine Corazon Comes Back Big On Glee!

'Glee' creators say Charice back in a big way
By Yong Chavez

LOS ANGELES – There have been conflicting reports on when Charice will be back on “Glee”. But in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN, the show’s creator shared details on when and how the young star will return as Sunshine Corazon.

“Glee” creator Ryan Murphy said: “She’s coming back in a big way. We’re finishing the year with her. She’s coming back for five episodes at the end of the year. She’s gonna be great. Lots of big, big ballads for Charice.”

Charice’s co-stars are excited to work with her again.

Another “Glee”creator, Kevin McHale, added, “Charice is awesome, we love her. We can’t wait till she comes back.”

The show’s other stars also gave “Glee” scoops: The so-called 'Asian love team,' Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Ushkowitz, talked about what’s coming up for one of “Glee’s” favorite couples.

“A little bit of drama, but nothing serious, they’re still going strong. They get to spend Valentine’s Day together,” Ushkowitz said.

"Jenna has a really cute song that she sings for me that I think people will love. It’s very interesting. She gets to play her comedic and dramatic talents,” said Shum Jr.

“Glee” will be back on TV in February, and it’s going to be a “Thriller” of a show. They are performing Michael Jackson’s iconic hit song.

Amber Riley of “Glee” added: “Our next episode is the big Superbowl episode. An hour-and-a-half episode and we’re really excited about it. It’s really big. We’re dancing, we’re on the football, there’s zombie make-up, there’s people being shot out of the cannon. People are gonna love it.”

Golden Globes Best Supporting Actor winner, Chris Colfer, shared his thoughts on what’s next for his character “Kurt” and his onscreen relationship with the character played by Fil-Am star Darren Criss.

“Whatever makes Kurt happiest, I’m all for. If that means a relationship with Blaine or with someone else, or maybe friendship, is what he needs with Blaine, but whatever makes Kurt happiest I’m great with,” said Colfer. “If we do hook up on the show, we should do the love melody from ‘Moulin Rouge’. We should.”

Charice Comes Back On Glee!

[A Repost from Perezhilton.com]

Charice Will Be Back On Glee!

And sooner than expected!

We know some you were confused when Charice showed up in the season premiere of Glee, threw down in a vocal rumble-rumble with Princess Lea Michele and then peaced-out without making any indication of returning.

Have no fear, the diva is here and it's been foretold she will return to the show as soon as its sixth episode! (This week is its fourth!)

There was some speculation that she wouldn't be returning to the show until Gwyneth Paltrow made her debut, which won't be until November. We're going to assume they rearranged some things by popular demand!

We're super excited to hear what that rocking Filipina is going to sing next!

Any requests?

83rd Academy Awards: Oscar Nominations 2011

Oscar Nominations: 2011 Academy Award Nominee List Announced
By Josh & Mack

The 83rd annual Academy Award nominations are being announced this morning by President Tom Sherak and last year's Best Supporting Actress winner Mo'Nique, from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles, California. The winners, chosen from these nominees, will be announced on February 27th on ABC in a ceremony hosted by Anne Hathaway and, 2011 nominees James Franco.

Below is your complete guide to 2011's crop of newly announced Oscar hopefuls. The King's Speech leads all movies with the most nominations, thirteen in all, including nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. Included with the list of nominees below, when possible, will be extra information on the films nominated, to help guide you along the road to the 2011 Oscars.

Best Picture Nominees

Black Swan:
Only Darren Aronofsky could have taken this much emotional turmoil and turned it into a surprise holiday hit. Not that I'm complaining. With one brilliant acting performance, at least three other very good acting performances and a brilliant score that samples heavily from Tchaikovsky, Black Swan is, by all accounts, too sadistic and weird for most of America; yet, the whole thing somehow caught on to the point of a Best Picture nomination. Stranger things have happened, but barring two independent, out of nowhere epic scandals for The Social Network and The King's Speech, it's unlikely Black Swan has any real hope of winning. Still, it's got a better shot than seven other films, and something tells me no one involved is complaining about those odds.

The Fighter:
The Fighter has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. The complaints have ranged from questionable handling of the boxing scenes to overacting to lack of a charismatic main character, but those who truly got on board, me included, found plenty of reasons to root for David O. Russell's film. There's a certain charm amidst all the haymakers and crack smoking. Like its hero, The Fighter languished in development for years, but when it did emerge, it was with the right director and the right cast. It may very well clean up in the acting categories, but it's pretty behind on points in the Best Picture race.


Inception:
Even though pundits have been predicting a Best Picture nod for months now, most of us well aware of the academy's propensity to bypass summer blockbusters can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It's not just that Inception delivered in a way most big budget action films don't, it's that it was every bit as careful, thought out and interesting as it was fast-paced, exciting and spectacular. If the people had a say, we could go ahead and knock up Inception into legitimate contender status, but as it stands, the nomination itself is the cause for celebration.


The Kids Are All Right:
Not quite a real contender but far from a surprise this morning, The Kids Are All Right recently took home the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy, as well as an acting statue for star Annette Bening. She has a better chance of repeating at the Oscars than the film itself, but for a four million dollar flick about a lesbian couple, their sperm donor and two upperclass kids, it's hard to find any disappointment here.

The King's Speech:
The most realistic of all the contenders, The King's Speech may currently sit in second place, but it is a clear second place. If anyone can mount an assault on Mark Zuckerberg, it's King George V's stammer-ridden speech patterns. Never underestimate Harvey Weinstein's aggressive Oscar campaigns. Even if he fails to gain any traction though, the movie's numerous nominations and almost 100 million in worldwide grosses have to be considered a coup for a British art film made on a measly fifteen million.


127 Hours:
For all the talk about voters shying away from 127 Hours because of the arm cutting scene, the drama apparently didn't end up mattering. At this point, you'd have to think the rest would sit down and watch, right? Even if they don't, the real prize here will come from regular Joes making it out to the theater to finally see this. All of the other films on this list were, to an extent, box office successes, but more was expected from 127 Hours, especially after critics started buzzing about James Franco's brilliant acting performance. Maybe those expectations will finally be matched.



The Social Network:
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it would be a shock if The Social Network didn't take home the ultimate prize at this year's Academy Awards. Many initially questioned whether the film had been released too early, but with buzz still as strong as when David Fincher's film first hit theaters in early October, most of the naysayers are fast re-evaluating their early slanders. The Social Network won't sweep the top categories like Silence Of The Lambs, but as far as sure things go, this category is probably the closest.


Toy Story 3:
It is an absolute travesty Toy Story 3 has absolutely no chance at winning. With another nomination in the Best Animation category, it'll go home with a statue on awards' night, but frankly, that's not enough. The highest grossing film of the year was deserving of every cent it earned. With a nostalgic, sad beginning, a fun, adventurous middle and a heartbreaking closer, Toy Story 3 was a revelation. It may not have been the best film of the year, but it was close, close enough to be drawing real heat about whether it would be the first animated film ever to take home the coveted Best Picture. Never underestimate the animation bias.

True Grit:
Perhaps a little too close to the original for plenty of John Wayne-loving Oscar voters, True Grit is nonetheless a brilliantly executed film by two brothers fast settling among Hollywood's most steady and reliable visionaries. One needs to look no further than the brilliant horse haggling scene to understand just how effortless the Coen's can make it look. No word out of place, no camera angle without reason. True Grit has been pushing aside more expensive and more publicized efforts for weeks now at the box office, and while it's unlikely to do the same with The Social Network, it'll likely get an impressive share of first place votes.


Winter's Bone:
Debra Granik's wonderful independent may not have the polish of the other nominees, but that doesn't mean it's any less moving. Most of these other films talk at you. They floor viewers with their sophisticated camera techniques and multi-layered scripts, but Winter's Bone is a lot quieter than that. It immerses itself in its surroundings, making you work to understand the subtle nuances of life in remote areas, rather than cutting corners to make a more audience-friendly, fabricated product.

Best Director Nominees

Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan:
There was perhaps no film released this year that felt more like its director than Black Swan. With a torrent of brilliant, award-winning independents like Requiem For A Dream, Pi and The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky was truly the only man who could have pulled this off. True, he got some help from Natalie Portman, but the final forty minutes of Black Swan is a clinic on fear-drive momentum. This is his first nomination, though it could be argued he's deserved at least two more.

David O. Russell for The Fighter:
The Fighter languished in development hell for years. At one point, fellow nominee Darren Aronofsky was even attached to directed it, but it turns out David O. Russell was the right man for the job. Previous efforts like Three Kings, Flirting With Disaster and I Heart Huckabees showed some promise, but none of that prepared audiences for his superb work here. He was likely last into the party for this category, but it's hard to argue with the Academy's decision.

Tom Hooper for The King's Speech:
Tom Hooper for The King's Speech: Thirty-eight year old Tom Hooper may be short on film credits, but he's been nominated for a slew of awards for his groundbreaking work in television. American audiences probably know him best for the HBO John Adams miniseries, but after picking up his first Oscar nomination, it's likely he'll move into features full time.

David Fincher for The Social Network:
With a pretty solid resume including Se7en, Fight Club and Zodiac, David Fincher has been well regarded as a gutsy and capable director for years. He picked up his first Oscar nomination for The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, but none of that prepared us for this stunning masterpiece. Fincher has to be considered the favorite here, though he's by no means a shoe-in.

The Coen Brothers for True Grit:
This is the Coen's third Best Director nomination and the first that has come with any shred of surprise. Fargo and No Country For Old Men both took the Academy by storm, but as much as True Grit won with fans at the box office, the Coen's future at the Oscars was a bit unknown after the film was completely shut out at the Golden Globes. It's unlikely the pair has any real shot at winning, but as the only previous winners, they're far more than also-rans.

Best Actor Nominees

Javier Bardem for Biutiful:
Bardem's inclusion is something of a surprise here, he didn't have much buzz going in and this is otherwise a pretty strong category. Still it's nice to have him recognized here even if he has no realistic chance of beating the likes of Jesse Eisenberg, James Franco, or Colin Firth.

Jeff Bridges for True Grit:
Arguing tit for tat on whether Bridges surpassed John Wayne's Oscar-winning role is a conversation for another paragraph. In some ways, it's not even relevant. Bridges was wonderful as Rooster, and when measuring it against the other nominees, talk of Wayne should be excluded. Alas, there's no keeping the Duke down and most voters will likely shy away from voting for the same character they already honored once. Still, this is nomination number 6 for Bridges, one year removed from his victory in the same category for Crazy Heart.

Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network:
Perhaps penalized a bit because some audience members found it hard to relate to his character, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg still secured his first nomination and arguably has the only real shot at taking down Colin Firth. As pronounced as Firth's performance was in The King's Speech, Eisenberg's was mostly understated. No less impressive but perhaps a bit less memorable.

Colin Firth for The King's Speech:
Two years, two Best Actor nominations for Colin Firth. The affable British actor had quietly built himself a reputation in supporting roles for years, but with a likely Oscar win coming for The King's Speech on top of last year's nomination for A Single Man, we may well see him become one of the more classy and reliable actors working today. I wouldn't mortgage the house on impending victory, but I would certainly take him against the field.

James Franco for 127 Hours:
Before 127 Hours, Franco was largely known as a pretty good, not great actor that could seamlessly vault between dramatic and comedic roles. One only has to look to his recent cameo in The Green Hornet to see that whimsical side, but this nomination propels Franco into another category. He's now more than just a likeable face. Only time will tell whether this was a one-off shot at greatness or a sign of things to come.

Best Actress Nominees

Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right:
Many critics left early screenings of The Kids Are All Right wondering which actress would get the biggest push. Both were given meaty, emotional roles, Bening's a little more centered and Moore's a little more flightly. Personally, I preferred Bening's, but I tend to like understated better than in your face. The dinner scene in particular was what won me over. This is her fourth nomination. Thankfully for her, Hilary Swank was not nominated.

Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole:
While most of the other Oscar-nominated independents have overperformed at the box office, Rabbit Hole has yet to really catch on. It's a shame considering how wonderful Nicole Kidman is. There was early speculation the former Mrs. Cruise could become a real contender, but thus far, her charge hasn't gained much momentum. She was previously nominated for Moulin Rouge and won for The Hours.

Jennifer Lawrence for Winter's Bone:
After catching a screening of Winter's Bone nearly six months ago, I thought what a shame it was that she probably wouldn't be recognized. The film just seemed too small and bleak to every catch on. What a fool I turned out to be. SAG and Golden Globe nominations soon followed, and here we are, talking about her Oscar nomination. She's a pretty big longshot to win, but at twenty years old, it would be a shock if she didn't end up a semi-regular contender.

Natalie Portman for Black Swan:
Nominated once before in the Supporting Actress category for Closer, big things have been expected from Natalie Portman since she wowed audiences in Heat and The Professional in the mid-90s, but some of the luster evaporated after the world collectively hated The Phantom Menace. Just as in last years' Brothers, she was the best thing about Black Swan, only this time the overall product was a smash.

Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine:
Without Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine likely would have languished as a good, not great independent. In fact, the film itself sort of embodies the independent spirit. Filmed for almost no money in a short amount of time and encompassing very adult, very somber subject matter, Blue Valentine seemed destined for late night IFC repeats, but thanks to its main stars, it turned into a must-see. Michelle Williams one win, on this, her second try, but this is just the first of many.

Best Supporting Actor Nominees

Christian Bale for The Fighter:
How is this Christian Bale's first nomination? Say what you will about his performance as Batman (his Bruce Wayne is unsurpassed), the man has simply destroyed nearly every role he's taken. From his body-altering work in The Machinist to his brilliant turn in The Prestige, Bale is as good as it gets, and if there's any legitimacy to the score cards, he'll walk away a happy winner on award's night.

John Hawkes for Winter's Bone:
Like Renner in The Town, John Hawkes inserts a certain unhinged alphamale-ness into Winter's Bone. He's a wild animal that only bothers to bite when sufficiently provoked. The terror in his wife's eyes is enough to let you know he's no one to be trifled with, but when he does bother speaking, it's perhaps the most terrifying in the entire film. This is Hawkes' first nomination, and with any luck, it'll lead to more of the same.

Jeremy Renner for The Town:
Renner was spectacular in his Academy-recognized performance in The Hurt Locker last year, and he was no less moving in The Town, a great film that he's overtly the best part of. Playing the loose cannon, he wrecks every scene he's in with a sort of unflappable angst and determination. His character may not be as well spoken as Geoffrey Rush's but that doesn't mean he's any less perfect for his job.

Mark Ruffalo for The Kids Are All Right:
Another supporting actor that's mysteriously never been nominated, Mark Ruffalo had a wonderful year in this category. One could argue he was perhaps more deserving of recognition for his handling of Scorsese's Shutter Island, but no snub, no need to complain. Ruffalo was totally believable as the hapless sperm donor in The Kids Are All Right, especially in the scene where Annette Bening tells him off. A lesser actor would have mustered more of a response, but it's a credit to his abilities that he seemingly lets her own that exchange.

Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech:
On most other years, I'd likely be touting Geoffrey Rush as my supporting actor performance of the year, but this field is so astoundingly stacked this year, I'm not even sure if he was the second best. Regardless, he's definitely worthy of his fourth nomination, and some have even predicted he might have enough support to overtake Christian Bale. The next time you watch The King's Speech, pay close attention to his change in demeanor from when he's giving therapy lessons to when he's auditioning. Brilliant.

Best Supporting Actress Nominees

Amy Adams for The Fighter:
In less than ten years, Amy Adams has gone from ill-advised Cruel Intentions sequels to a three times-nominated Academy darling. How? By making the most of every single role she's been handed. The Fighter's Charlene should have been mostly a throwaway, but somehow, with Amy Adams at the helm, she's one of the more memorable parts of a great movie.

Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech:
Three months ago, Bonham Carter may well have been the odds on favorite, but the Supporting categories are notoriously difficult to predict. It's no shot at her performance, it's just a question of whether there was really enough meat to warrant a win. I would stand behind it, but that's mostly because I wasn't blown away by anyone this year with the possible exception of Melissa Leo. This is Helena Bonham Carter's second nomination after The Wings Of The Dove.

Melissa Leo for The Fighter:
Selfish, brash and obnoxious, Melissa Leo is a powerhouse throughout The Fighter. She's the type of woman who stomps, kicks and outwills her competition, whether they be invading girlfriends or well-intentioned family members. You may remember Leo was previously nominated for Frozen River, but unlike 2008, she has a real shot at cleaning up here.

Hailee Steinfeld for True Grit:
It wasn't a question of whether Hailee Steinfeld was good enough, it was more a question of whether she'd get enough people to recognize her as a Supporting Actress. The studio had been pushing hard for her to land in this category, but BAFTA had none of that and it's likely many Academy voters agreed. Still, now that she's here, she likely has a better chance than people are giving her credit for. Acting opposite Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon isn't kid stuff. A lesser actress would have turned herself into a slideshow, but Steinfeld more than holds her own.

Jacki Weaver for Animal Kingdom:
She's the only major female character in a movie about violent, ruthless men, but Jacki Weaver's Smurf manages to be more terrifying than all of them put together, without ever saying a cross word or striking a blow. The Australian actress has gotten attention in her native country for decades, but with Animal Kingdom she's broken through to a global audience, and makes an excellent veteran addition to a supporting actress field crowded with newbies.

Best Animated Feature

How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

Best Original Screenplay

Another Year
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay

127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Best Foreign Language Film

Biutiful, Mexico
Dogtooth, Greece
In A Better World, Denmark
Incendies, Canada
Outside the Law, Algeria

Art Direction

Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

Cinematography

Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network
True Grit

Costume Design

Alice in Wonderland
I Am Love
The King's Speech
The Tempest
True Grit

Documentary Feature

Exit Through the Gift Shop
Gasland
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waste Land

Film Editing

Black Swan
The Fighter
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

Makeup

The Way Back
Barney's Version
The Wolfman

Original Score

How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

Original Song

”Coming Home” from Country Strong
”I See the Light” from Tangled
”If I Rise” from 127 Hours
”We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3

Animated Short

Day & Night
The Gruffalo
Let's Pollute
The Lost Thing
Madagascar, A Journey Diary

Live Action Short

The Confession
The Crush
God of Love
Na Wewe
Wish 143

Sound Editing

Inception
Toy Story 3
Tron: Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable

Sound Mixing

Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Network
True Grit

Visual Effects

Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Hereafter
Inception
Iron Man 2

The 83rd Academy Awards or the Oscar Awards 2011 is slated on February 27, 2011.

Golden Globe Award Winners 2011

Golden Globes Winners 2011: List of Winners and Nominees

Best Motion Picture, Drama
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network - Winner

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Jesse Eisenberg
The Social Network

Colin Firth - Winner
The King's Speech

James Franco
127 Hours

Ryan Gosling
Blue Valentine

Mark Wahlberg
The Fighter

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
The Kids Are All Right - Winner
Red
The Tourist

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Halle Berry
Frankie and Alice

Nicole Kidman
Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence
Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman - Winner
Black Swan

Michelle Williams
Blue Valentine

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy
Johnny Depp
Alice in Wonderland

Johnny Depp
The Tourist

Paul Giamatti - Winner
Barney's Version

Jake Gyllenhaal
Love and Other Drugs

Kevin Spacey
Casino Jack

Best Televison Series, Comedy or Musical
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
The Big C
Glee - Winner
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie

Best Director - Motion Picture
Darren Aronofsky
Black Swan

David Fincher - Winner
The Social Network

Tom Hooper
The King's Speech

Christopher Nolan
Inception

David O. Russell
The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams
The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter
The King's Speech

Mila Kunis
Black Swan

Melissa Leo - Winner
The Fighter

Jacki Weaver
Animal Kingdom

Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin
30 Rock

Steve Carell
The Office

Thomas Jane
Hung

Matthew Morrison
Glee

Jim Parsons - Winner
Big Bang Theory

Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical
Toni Collette
United States of Tara

Edie Falco
Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey
30 Rock

Laura Linney - Winner
The Big C

Lea Michelle
Glee

Best Foreign Language Film
Biutiful
The Concert
The Edge
I Am Love
In a Better World - Winner

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Hope Davis
Special Relationship

Jane Lynch - Winner
Glee

Kelly McDonald
Boardwalk Empire

Julia Stiles
Dexter

Sofia Vergara
Modern Family


Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
127 Hours
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
The Social Network - Winner
Inception

Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Claire Danes - Winner
Temple Grandin

Hayley Atwell
The Pillars of the Earth

Jennifer Love Hewitt
The Client List

Judi Dench
Return to Cranford

Romola Gara
Emma

Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Dennis Quaid
The Special Relationship

Ian McShane
The Pillars of the Earth

Édgar Ramírez
Carlos

Al Pacino - Winner
You Don't Know Jack

Idris Elba
Luther

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy
Anne Hathaway
Love and Other Drugs

Julianne Moore
The Kids Are All Right

Annette Bening - Winner
The Kids Are All Right

Emma Stone
Easy A

Angelina Jolie
The Tourist

Best Animated Feature Film
Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3 - Winner
Tangled

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplot
The King's Speech
Danny Elfman
Alice in Wonderland
A.R. Rahmin
127 Hours
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross - Winner
The Social Network
Hans Zimmer
Inception

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Bound to You
Burlesque
Coming Home
Country Strong
I See the Light
Tangled
There's a Place for Us
Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
You Haven't Seen the Last of Me - Winner
Burlesque

Best Television Series, Drama
Boardwalk Empire - Winner
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
The Walking Dead

Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama
Steve Buscemi - Winner
Boardwalk Empire

Bryan Cranston
Breaking Bad

Michael C. Hall
Dexter

Jon Hamm
Mad Men

Hugh Laurie
House

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Scott Caan
Hawaii Five-0

Chris Noth
The Good Wife

David Straithairn
Temple Grandin

Eric Stonestreet
Modern Family

Chris Colfer - Winner
Glee


Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
The Pacific
Carlos - Winner
Temple Grandin
You Don't Know Jack
The Pillars of the Earth

Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama
Julianna Margulies
The Good Wife

Elisabeth Moss
Mad Men

Piper Perabo
Covert Affairs

Katey Sagal - Winner
Sons of Anarchy

Kyra Sedgwick
The Closer

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale - Winner
The Fighter

Michael Douglas
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Andrew Garfield
The Social Network

Jeremy Renner
The Town

Geoffrey Rush
The King's Speech

The Truth About 13th Zodiac: Ophiuchus

[A Repost from Ibtimes.com]

Truth on 13th zodiac sign, Ophiuchus, lost in translation

The media reports on the 13th zodiac sign and the change in the zodiac calender has sent thousands into an astrological identity crisis. However, the real meaning seems to have been lost in translation.

Amid the snowballing commotion over the perceived proposition of the 13th Zodiac sign, several astrologers are trying to calm the panicky astrology-believers with assurances that nothing has really changed in their stars. Meanwhile, the astronomer who began the whole ordeal, has also come out to clarify that he never contended that Ophiuchus ought to be added to the existing list of 12 signs.

Birth in ancient Babalonian formulation

It all began with astronomer Parke Kunkle's interview to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, during which the board member of the Minnesota Planetarium Society told the publication of how ancient Babylonians formulated the zodiac signs.

Kunkle explained that Babylonians based zodiac signs on the constellation the sun was 'in' on the day a person was born. As millenniums passed by, the moon's gravitational pull has made the Earth "wobble" around its axis, creating about a one-month bump in the stars' alignment, Kunkle is quoted as saying in the January 9 report.

"When they [astrologers] say that the sun is in Pisces, it's really not in Pisces," Kunkle said, indicating that most horoscope readers may be reading the wrong predictions and may be rationalizing their behavior on wrong traits.

Kunkle, who teaches astronomy at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, also stated that there is no physical connection between constellations and personality traits.

"Sure, we can connect harvest to the stars. But personality? No."

With the Kunkle's remark that people are no longer looking at the sky to understand astrology, the report concluded on a thought-provoking note stating that this could be the reason why sometimes "why a day might not have turned out exactly as predicted."

Frenzied Growth...

This report was interpreted variedly and thrown out to the public from several media outlets, with headlines such as 'Horoscope Hang-Up: Earth Rotation Changes Zodiac Signs' and 'Your zodiac sign may have changed'. With the reports of the new sign called Ophiuchus, placed between the Scorpio and Sagittarius, and a drastic change in the zodiac calender, the excitement was bound to follow.

While initial reactions were that of shock, people gradually began to question the 13th zodiac sign as the media also has begun "debunking" it.

leiya_h tweeted: "What the hey...according to the bew zodiac I should be a Sagitarius...no way! I like being a Capricorn! Am so siding up w/ CNN debunking it!"

The cynicism and humour were also abundant. Famous stand-up comedian, Dane Cook tweeted, "According to the "new zodiac" my sign (Pisces) is still the same. Phew..."

"Reading the reactions from zodiac believers is hilarious; they don't want to accept that the stars now say they are lame and gullible," posted a user, Max Kalifornia.

The tech-lovers chose to stick with what their gadgets had to say. StevieStarface (Stevie Leigh) wrote, "My (scary accurate) horoscope app on my phone says the #zodiac hasn't changed, so everyone can shut up now =]"

The Possible Demise?

Even before the media operation to debunk the whole thing kick started, several astronomers had already begun to rubbish the claims and clarify that the 13th sign would not change anything.

Terry Nazon, the World Famous Celebrity Astrologer, continuously questioned the issue on Twitter.

In an attempt to prompt a response from Dr Brian Cox, British particle physicist, Nazon posted, "Let's ask a real Astros physicist not a flunkie@ProfBrianCox what do you think about this 13th zodiac sign Ophiuchus and the Earth & Sun's transit."

This was followed by two other similar tweets over the span of few hours.

"We need a real Astros physicist to chime in not some astronomer Delma technical school .....right"

"Where are the Harvard astronomers???"

Her latest tweet rubbished the whole 13th sign theory, stating, "The ancient Babylonians knew about hundreds of constellations the knew about the Serpentarius.12 signs, 12 apostles, 12 tribes of Israel."

Meanwhile, another expert astrologer Rick Levine refuted that Ophiuchus had anything at all to do with Astrology.

"It's not an Astrology issue. It has to do with the stars -- it's not a sign, it's a constellation," he is quoted as saying in dailyhoroscope.com.

"There are four seasons each with a beginning, middle and end. That makes 12 zodiac signs, and there's no such thing as a 13th astrological sign."

Explaining what Ophiuchus is, Levine said, "Ophiuchus is a large modern constellation commonly represented as a man grasping the snake represented by the constellation Serpens."

"It's just a constellation. Even the founding text for Astrology (Tetrabiblos by Claudius Ptolemy written 170 AD only mentions 12 signs.) A few astrologers who practice the controversial sidereal (consellation-based) zodiac use it as the 13th zodiacal sign - and by a few we mean about 1 percent," he asserted.

What's more? Kunkle himself has come out with a clarification stressing that he did not tell the Star-Tribune that the zodiac ought to include 13 signs instead of 12 - especially since he doesn't believe in astrology at all.

The astronomer told Mad Science, "I just mentioned that it's there, and astronomers actually count it... So if you actually watch the stars in the background of the sun, it actually does go through the constellation of Ophiuchus."

Billboard Live Q&A: Panic! At The Disco

From Billboard.com: Monday, Jan. 31 at 4:30pm ET Sharp!

With a long-awaited new album coming, a handful of shows afoot, a new single days away, now is the perfect time for a Live Q&A with Panic! At The Disco. Billboard.com will sit down for a live chat with Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith to talk all things Panic! on January 31 at 4:30pm ET -- the day before they rock New York's Bowery Ballroom and officially release the first single, "The Ballad Of Mona Lisa," from upcoming album "Vices & Virtues." The guys will be answering fan tweets live on camera, so tweet your questions now to @billboarddotcom using hashtag #bbpanic. Then tune in Jan. 31 to watch the live Q&A right here on this page.

The three-years-in-the-making "Vices & Virtues" -- the Las Vegas pop rockers' first album since 2008's "Pretty. Odd." -- is due March 29 on Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen. And Urie and Smith aren't waiting for the album to come out to play live: in addition to Panic!'s sold-out New York gig, they'll be heading to London on Feb. 8 and Germany on Feb. 10.

Auction Items: Black Swan Jewelry Box

"Black Swan" jewelry box among SAG auction items
By Lindsay Powers


LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The Screen Actors Guild kicked off its ceremony auction Thursday. It goes until January 31.

Up for grabs are a "Black Swan" jewelry box autographed by Natalie Portman, a "Rabbit Hole" comic book signed by Nicole Kidman, set visits to "E! News" and "Extra" (which includes a meet and greet with host Mario Lopez) and a massive bottle of Champagne Tattinger.

The items benefit the SAG Foundation for literacy, BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) and Storyline Online. It also supports Foundation programs providing emergency relief to SAG members in economic distress, ideo and audio preservation of the creative legacy of SAG members, scholarships for performers and their children, emergency funds for members with catastrophic illnesses and The Actor's Center.

Movie Review: Black Swan

The Black Swan: New Orleans Film Festival
By Elena Nola

I could review The Black Swan with one word: amazing. The film is dark and shifting, conflating dreams and obsessions into a terrifying reality where nothing is certain. Natalie Portman stars as Nina, a ballerina dedicated to achieving perfection whose first starring role is threatened by a new member of the troupe, the restless and unrepentant Lily (Mila Kunis). The only question is—is it Nina’s obsession, or Lily’s, that shapes the terrible path Nina finds herself walking?

There were many thematic layers to Darren Aronofsky’s film, and unfortunately to discuss them in much detail is to give too much away about what happens. And this really is a film that you need to see the first time in a state of suspense.

That being said, Aronofsky captures rather magnificently the depth of obsession an individual can have for something, and how far it can drive her. Subservient thematically to the film, but underlying the obsessions chronicled so somehow also at the heart of the movie, is the concept of performance art as fleeting, ephemeral. By its very nature, a perfect performance cannot be more than a perfect moment, but that one perfect moment transcends everything if it is ever achieved. This idea makes the climax of the film both more glorious and more haunting.

Visually the movie is somewhere between The Wrestler and more traditionally cinematic filming. There are lots of shots from behind Nina, looking over her shoulder as she walks through corridors, into rooms, into empty spaces to show us that this is her world, her experience. But there are also wider shots, and the film is peppered with moments of visual artistry, as well. There is a continual interplay of light and dark throughout the film, echoing Nina’s “swan queen” to Lily’s “black swan”—white spotlights on a black stage, Nina’s little-girl pink room in contrast to the claustrophobic deep green of the rest of her mother’s apartment, Nina’s pale coat against the night. Aronofsky also managed to create a visual analog to a deep understanding of ballet performance to allow the film audience to understand Nina’s triumph. During the last 25 or so explosive minutes, we see the opening night of the ballet, and as Nina dances the part of the Black Swan she sprouts feathers from her very skin until she ends the dance with a full set of wings. It was stunning to watch, and it made the brilliance of that performance intelligible to people who do not have the depth of knowledge (or even interest) in dance to know if it was just good or utterly breathtaking.

Portman delivers a smashbox performance as Nina. She is fragile, repressed, determined, and afraid while on the flip side her dark “twin” comes to the surface as wild, violent, frightening, and consuming. Nina is a curious mix of relatable and yet not. On the surface she is an underdog, and because we are following her story there is an automatic sympathy for her, yet she is not an easy person to understand or warm up to. All the same as you watch her, you find yourself falling under her spell, understanding why she does these things you would probably never do, and wanting desperately for her to triumph.

Mila Kunis carried the role of “the black swan” perfectly. She is a charismatic actress, and that is the entire point of her character—to be someone people want to watch, someone people are drawn in and seduced by, even if she is not “perfect” or polished. Vincent Cassel was the director and object of Nina’s suppressed desires, Barbara Hershey was Nina’s perhaps tragic, perhaps obsessive, perhaps wonderful mother, and Winona Ryder was the erstwhile queen of the troupe whose star has finally faded.

The musical arrangement of the traditional Tchaikovsky pieces was done by Clint Mansel, probably the best musical scorer working right now and someone who understands how to create not just mood but rather atmosphere with his music. Aronfsky has worked with him several times before to brilliant effect; at a guess, anyone else’s touch on this score would have been less effective.

This is not a movie that will leave you easily once the lights go up. I found myself unwilling to read or watch television once I got home from the screening, preferring rather to prolong the mood the film had cast and probe at bit harder at my impressions of the characters and action. I am still pensive and reflective this morning, and I know this is exactly how it should be. The film is a moment of perfection in the same way the ballet it follows is, and just as rare.

The Black Swan will hit theaters in limited release December 3.

What's the Latest In the Billboard's List?

Bruno Mars bounces Britney from No. 1 singles slot
By Gary Trust

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Bruno Mars returned to the No. 1 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday, ending Britney Spears' one-week reign.

Mars' "Grenade" logged a third nonconsecutive week at the top, having alternated between Nos. 1 and 2 over the past six weeks. Spears' "Hold It Against Me" tumbled to No. 6, as a hefty 55% slide in download sales more than offset a gain in radio airplay.

Katy Perry's former No. 1 "Firework" rose one to No. 2, rapper Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" jumped two to No. 3, Enrique Iglesias' "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" rose two to No. 4, and Rihanna's "What's My Name?" slipped one to No. 5.

Kesha's "We R Who We R" held at No. 7, Pink's "Raise Your Glass" at No. 8, and the Black Eyed Peas' "The Time (Dirty Bit)" at No. 9. Singer/rapper Pitbull's "Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor)" jumped 10 places to No. 10.

At No. 79, Zac Brown Band's "Colder Weather" led a list of three songs new to the Hot 100. James Blunt entered at No. 94 with "Stay the Night," and alternative/punk band Yellowcard took the last slot with "For You, and Your Denial."

Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never," featuring Jaden Smith, re-entered at No. 85 after peaking at No. 33 during the summer. The song is being reworked to radio as an accompanying single to Bieber's 3D documentary concert film of the same name opening in theaters February 11.

Lose Weight In No Time

How to Lose Weight Fast - The Basics
By an eHow Contributor, ehow.com

Do you want to lose some weight as quickly as possible? There are many different ways to lose weight fast, and choosing a healthy weight loss regimen can be very rewarding. These short simple steps will show you how to lose weight relatively fast.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Get your attitude in check. A positive outlook is a great start to shedding the amount of weight you want to lose. Keep this in mind throughout the process.

2. Look into gyms in the area if you haven't already and select one that looks like a place you'd like to work out. Most gyms offer a free trial membership so you can see if that gym is the place for you.

3. Begin a regiment of intense cardio at least twice a week for at least 45 minutes as well as a weight training program three times a week. This is a very important step as exercise is the key to weight loss.

4. Research different diet options. There are a variety of options online as well as in magazines and commercials. The Special K Challenge is a popular diet option, as well as the Atkins program.

5. Select a diet based on your needs and specifications. It's important to pick a diet you are sure you can live with, because if you hate the diet it will be all to easy to quit. Programs like Jenny Craig are relatively stringent in their requirements. Some programs are also expensive and require you to buy specialized foods. The South Beach diet program is a relatively inexpensive program that is very popular.

6. Stick with your diet and workout regiment. It takes time for weight loss to become visible and apparent. Good luck.

Open Jobs Here!

Find Any Job Available Anywhere
By Irsan Komarga

Today's economy is falling fast and many jobs are only taking applications now, because many of them are afraid to hire people. For they do not want to hire someone and then just have to turn around and let them go because, the sales are low.

In order, to find any job available, anywhere is a lot harder then it used to be, because a person could go out and fill out applications all day. Then receive a call while they where filling an application out at another company. Used to a person would receive numerous phone calls about different jobs they have applied for. Now they are lucky to receive one phone call for several applications that they have filled out.

These are though times that we live in today; however, there are ways to find any job available anywhere with the use of the Internet. If you cannot make it to town to fill out applications, you may do them on-line.

There are literally thousands of job sites all over the Internet, however, you must have enough time to fill out some of these application that are on line. For some of them take about two to three hours to complete, many companies have went from paper applications, to on line applications. To keep from having to cut down trees, this is bad for the environment.

In order, for a person to find any job available anywhere, that person may have to look for a job in another city and state. However, some jobs will require a person to relocate. However, if this is the case, if the company wants you bad enough they will offer to pay to relocate you. You want to be sure that you have a job lined up wherever you plan on moving to and that as well takes time.

Therefore, with that in mind get out there and find you a job that is available anywhere. However, do not stop with just one place; fill out as many applications as you possible are able to, because eventually someone will call you. In addition, major cities are doing more hiring then any of the other cities around your area.

Moreover, when looking to find a job available anywhere remember to have a copy of your resume with you and place it with your application. That resume may seem like just a piece of paper but to an employer that is a useful tool for them to get a better idea of who they are hiring.

News Item: Bohemian Grove

Digging up skeletons at the Bohemian Grove
By Chris Smith

Thank goodness, after decades of rumors of ritual sacrifice, sinister schemes and other bad behavior at the midsummer Bohemian Grove encampment near Monte Rio, the truth will be revealed tonight (Thursday, Jan. 27) on television.

Author/sleuth Brad Meltzer reports on the History channel on what his team uncovered on its fact-finding journey to western Sonoma County. Apparently, the team succeeded in getting itself arrested, presumably for trespassing onto the Bohemian Club of San Francisco’s redwood camp on the Russian River.

What the crew dug up about allegations of dark practices at the Grove, we shall see. Given that “Brad Meltzer’s Decoded” savors issues such as whether aliens came to Earth to coach early humans and whether the Statue of Liberty wears weird symbols placed by a secret society bent on world domination, we might not expect a serious examination into tales of villainy within the Bohemian Grove.

Longtime Grove critic Mary Moore of Camp Meeker was interviewed at length by Meltzer’s people for tonight’s episode.

“I don’t know what to expect,” she said. “It’s a Hollywood thing, which is why I’m not staking my life on it.”

Music Scene: Lady Gaga "Born This Way" Lyrics

Lady Gaga Releases Full 'Born This Way' Lyrics
Gaga sings about love and equality on track, set for release February 13.
By Jocelyn Vena

Thanks to the excitement of her Little Monsters everywhere, Lady Gaga released the full "Born This Way" lyrics on Twitter, after teasing her fans with several lyrics earlier in the day.

"Are you ready for the full lyrics?! Can we trend #bornthiswaylyrics!? It has been in my heart for over a year. I'm so excited to share it," she tweeted. "It's #1 worldwide! That was fast! You're so radical! Here you [go] Monsters, this one's for you."

She tweeted out the song credits as well. The sing was written and co-produced by Gaga. Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow also got co-production credits on the track, off her May album of the same name.

Intro
It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
'cause you were Born This Way, Baby

Verse
My Mama told me when I was young
We are all born stars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
"There's nothing wrong with lovin' who you are"
She said, "Cause he made you perfect, babe."
"So hold your head up girl and you'll go far,
Listen to me when I say"

Chorus
I'm beautiful in my way
Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Post-Chorus
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be!

Verse
Give yourself prudence
And love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth

In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (hey hey hey)
I love my life I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (love needs faith)

Repeat Chorus and Post-chorus

Bridge
Don't be a drag, be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige chola descent
You're Lebanese, You're Orient
Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
Cause baby you we're born this way
No matter gay, straight, or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or Orient made
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to be brave

Repeat Chorus

Outro/Refrain
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!

I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!


What do you think of the lyrics? Share your thoughts in the comments!

How To Set Up A Tax Deductible Home Office

It is overwhelming to work in an office that is at the same time your home. However, it could be a pain in the head and on the neck when tax season arrive. And that you might think your tax deductions will not be available because of that unorganized and not properly set up home office. Anyhow, there are some hints that you could make use of to set up a tax deductible home office.

1. Set a small location for the home office. A small space in a room will already be fine for a home office for a business driven outfit. Tax deductible will mostly apply to specified area in the house as the home office. This given space should be occupied other than its purpose. Of which the whole particular rest will solely be devoted to office works since it is your office. You could also utilize just a small division of a room that will only be used for that business purpose.

2. Arrange the area with office furnishings. In every business environment, the place should look like an office if it is one by putting proper furnishings. However, it does not mean that you will need to buy classic yet sturdy furniture set for your home office. One petite desk will already do to make the space look like a business area. By then you have to be sure that you will acquire materials that are necessary for you and your home office. It includes the one comfortable chair since you will be dealing with your business for long hours with its use. You should also have printer, divider, filer, and bookshelves, among many more others.


3. Purchase one computer for the business. After acquiring all the necessary materials for your home office, you also need to have one computer set for the business to make it more than just effective. However, if you wanted the computer to be deducted from taxes it must and solely be for business work alone and not for any other purpose. It must be used for gaming, sending unnecessary email, informal chatting, surfing, and other activities that is already beyond the purpose of the business outfit, if otherwise needed. Purchase a computer that fits your business need.

4. Acquire one filing cabinet. Included in your tax deductible is a filing cabinet that you need most in your home office business. A filing cabinet does not only serve as a keeper of pertinent documents and paper accounts for the business but tax deductible items are also inside it. Business records among other hard copy in and out business transactions are being piled and stocked inside the filing cabinet.


5. Include some office supplies. In every office, there is surely a need of office supplies. Of course office supplies depend on the kind of business you are handling. Don’t just purchase items that are not likely to be used. Any other business environment needs those simple yet understated materials like a pen, the note pads, paper clips, and many more others that your office probably needs most. Should the items be part of the tax deductible, you must keep the receipts of such. Purchase items that you need in your home office and just be sure that all the materials are being utilized for the business and not for any other undertaking.


To set up your items in your home office to be included in the tax deductibles, you need to just separate the personal stuff from what you have for business.

How to Set Up a Real Estate Ledger

 
It is a waste of time if things are not organized well. You have to set priorities then with some stuff like doing all the notes for the real estate transactions and the like. But you just simply need to set up a real estate ledger. This might be a cost of time but this is not that difficult. Here are easy and simple steps to have it all started:

• Do it manually or computerized. Decide on what format to use for your real estate ledger. When you do it manually, you would have a hard time with some horrible penmanship but it would give you a hard copy of the transaction when you need it straight and prompt. But nothing could defeat the power of today technology with the help of the computer. If you have computerized software, just simply have the data encoded.


• Manual ledger. If you prefer to have it manual, you seem to sound like out of date in the flat world or the computer age for that matter. But for a small business, it will just be fine. And for a single agent, it might as well make sense. The good thing with using the paper as business ledger is that you could see every detail in just a single look. There is no need for figuring out how to the pages be fitted when they are already printed and there is no scrolling up and down for checking.

However, there are disadvantages with the use of the manual ledger. You will need to add and/or subtract transactions manually that of course would took you for a while in writing all the stuff, of which errors could be available. It could also cost you a large amount of time for data entry. The information installed could not easily be shared to other people.

• Computerized ledger. Good thing that computer era is working this span of time. There is a greater scope of easy data entry with the use of a computerized ledger. With the use of software with automatic calculations, there is an easy and quick access of data. It could give you trouble-free information dissemination with your accounts to another. In fact, there are already available programs in the web that caters solely on real estate work. There are also online help and supports that you could get whenever in trouble.

But you need to take note of the possible disadvantages of the computerized ledger. You need to always monitor and regulate a backup whenever there are computer related problems. The computerized one is not portable enough for you to carry it anywhere especially if you do not have a laptop computer or so. You might as well have errors on data entry and trouble most of the data in stock.


• Categorize your ledger. After you have decided on what to use for a real estate ledger, you need to categorize your ledger in order for you to easily identity things from one to the other. This is both for manual and computerized. There is a need to have columns for different transactions for your data entry. You will need to separate your expenditures, the revenues, income streams from paying taxes to bonuses and commissions.

After determining all the processes in good condition, you need to follow up with your accounts for your entry. And as soon as everything will be in place, the real estate ledger will be in good hands.

Charlie Sheen Update

[A Repost from Latimesblogs.latimes.com]

Charlie Sheen: Hiatal hernia pain sent him to the hospital

Charlie Sheen, what are we going to do with you? Sheen, who was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Thursday morning with abdominal pain, is spending yet another night in yet another hospital.

No "adverse allergic reaction" this time -- sources told TMZ the "Two and a Half Men" star was treated for intense abdominal pain stemming from a hiatal hernia.

With a hiatal hernia, part of the stomach bulges through the diaphragm. No symptoms, no problem, but when a person does have symptoms, well, imagine having a blow torch nailing your esophagus where it connects to your stomach -- think "reflux," but think it in capital letters. (Ask us how we know.)

To mitigate symptoms, doctors recommend that people such as Sheen or the Ministry, who are aware they have a hiatal hernia, take care to avoid alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, fatty foods, chocolate, mint and alcohol.

Coincidentally, Sheen's trip to the ER, first reported by TMZ, came after a night of heavy partying at the actor's house, neighbors told the website. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a 911 call at Sheen's gated community shortly after 6:30 a.m., Show Tracker confirmed. Two women reportedly left the house as paramedics took Sheen away.
One person reportedly at Sheen's pad -- 22-year-old porn actress Kacey Jordan -- might've been just the person to help the actor with another technique for reducing the pain: Doctors suggest keeping the patient's head raised while in bed, perhaps with the aid of a foam wedge or other apparatus. Say, a briefcase.

Fortunately for Sheen, he's not missing work -- turns out "Two and a Half Men" has the week off. Not sure if he's in trouble with dad Martin Sheen, mom Janet Templeton or ex-wife Denise Richards, all of whom were spotted at Cedars.

Music Scene: Moment 4 Life

Nicki Minaj debuts 'Moment 4 Life' music video featuring Drake: Fairy tales do come true
By Tanner Stransky

Ever-buzzy raptress Nicki Minaj just debuted her latest music video, for single “Moment 4 Life,” which features some rapping from the equally as buzzy Drake. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Minaj production without a semi-solid theme of complete wackiness: “Moment 4 Life” depicts a Cinderella-esque Minaj enjoying the best night of her life because she’s found love—in the form of Drake. (They even smootch at the end!) It also wouldn’t be a Minaj production without several crazy outfits, wigs, and costume changes. In fact, the best part of the video is during the intro—before the music starts—when Minaj plays both the Cinderella character and her fairy godmother. “I don’t know,” the Cinderella Minaj says.

“I just feel like tonight is going to be amazing. It’s going to be a dream.” Ding ding! Then her fairy godmother—oh yeah, she’s got Nicki’s patented British accent going on the whole time—grants Cinderella Nicki the ability to have this magical, special, too-good-to-handle “Moment 4 Life.” Get it? Clever. And totally crazy. But that’s why we love her. I will say the video tends to cast the song in a bit more of a romantic way than I had thought about it by just listening to it—this has the potential to be a wedding/love song even! That’s special. Now check out the video here "Moment 4 Life".

Wounded Soldiers In The News

Army Trauma Unit’s Woes Detailed
By JAMES DAO

The Army units created to provide special care for wounded soldiers after the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal continue to struggle with short staffing, inadequate training and an overabundance of prescription medications, a report by the Army inspector general’s office said.

The easy access to medications in the so-called Warrior Transition Units has meant that about a quarter to a third of all the soldiers in the units are “over-medicated, abuse prescriptions and have access to illegal drugs,” the report said, based on estimates provided by the staff at the units.

The report, which was released this week, said that over all, the program was working. But it suggested that too many soldiers were staying longer in the units than was necessary, either because they were trying to “game” the system to improve their disability benefits or because a slow and understaffed medical bureaucracy had delayed treatment.

As a result of those delays, deserving soldiers are being prevented from rejoining their regular units or from getting out of the military altogether, while less deserving soldiers may be taking resources away from troops who need care more.

“The inspection team noted a ‘sense of entitlement’ among some warriors in transition,” the report said.

The report was a result of growing complaints from the soldiers in those units about the quality of care they were receiving as well as from their commanders about the discipline problems posed by some soldiers.

The New York Times described complaints from soldiers about overmedication, a lack of therapists and long waits for medical discharges in an article last year about the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Carson, Colo.

The units were created in 2007 after articles in The Washington Post exposed serious shortcomings in care for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed, the Army’s flagship hospital, in Washington. Soldiers assigned to the units are expected to get healthy and return to regular duty, or transition out of the Army. Specialized health care services are provided to them during their recovery periods and they are given more limited duties.

More than 26,000 soldiers have passed through the units. There are about 9,500 soldiers in several dozen transition units across the Army, including at all major Army posts and in community-based programs for reservists.

In a statement, the Army said it had accepted the findings of the inspector general and already tried to fix some of the problems, including by improving training for overseeing soldiers with mental health problems. The Army is also trying to expand therapies that do not require medications and tighten monitoring of pain prescriptions, the statement said.

The transition units have long been criticized by some commanders as dumping grounds for soldiers not fit to deploy. That concern is raised in the report, which notes that just 10 percent of the transition unit soldiers had been physically wounded in combat, while the rest had mental health problems or noncombat-related injuries or illnesses.

The report said the soldiers with physical combat wounds tended to move out of the units faster and more frequently returned to full duty, while the noncombat wounded tended to be the greater discipline problems.

It also noted that the units too often seemed to push soldiers toward seeking disability compensation over getting healthy, noting the influence of “barracks lawyers” — older soldiers who counseled younger ones in how to get benefits.

Some advocates for wounded soldiers say such concerns are overblown. Many soldiers in the units are taking medications for post-traumatic stress disorder that make them forgetful, irritable or disoriented — thereby causing tensions with their platoon sergeants.

The report said that many of the platoon sergeants and leaders themselves felt they were not qualified to handle soldiers on medications or with mental health problems, and they wanted better training.

It also recommended that the Army make serving in the units a more attractive career option. Some platoon sergeants told the investigators that overseeing the wounded soldiers was equivalent to “taking a knee” and not as prestigious as being a drill sergeant or in a combat unit.

“On several occasions, we were informed that ‘the best qualified person is often the first/most available,’ ” the report said.

The volatility of some wounded soldiers, particularly those waiting for medical discharges, made certain staff members nervous, the report said. Some reported having tires slashed or receiving threats from soldiers, and several suggested installing “panic buttons” in their offices for protection.

What's New With Jeff Fisher

Statements from Titans and Jeff Fisher
By Paul Kuharsky

The Titans just sent out these statements:

Statement from the Titans:

“We will be forever appreciative of Jeff Fisher’s leadership and accomplishments through his time with our franchise. We reached some of our greatest heights and experienced some unforgettable moments during his tenure.

“After the season was complete, we had numerous discussions on the direction of the team and were pleased that we were moving forward with Jeff at the helm. Since that time, it became evident that consensus was increasingly hard to find and reality wasn’t matching the vision we discussed. It is unfortunate that this decision is coming at this juncture, but we believe that we have reached the point where change is in the best interest of both parties.

“We will start the head coaching search tomorrow. We expect to talk to a broad and diverse group of candidates. We are confident the coaching pool still has a number of quality candidates that can lead our football team.”

Statement from Jeff Fisher:

“I want to thank Mr. Adams and the organization for a special 17 years. I can’t thank the fans enough for the support they showed us through the years; it has been a tremendous experience. We all did our very best and I think I can look back with fond memories and be very proud of what we accomplished. I want to wish the organization, the current players and the fans nothing but the best in the future.”

Facts About Dehydroepiandrosterone

Dehydroepiandrosterone: 5 Facts About the Steroid O.J. Mayo Was Suspended for Using
By David Knowles

He was juiced.

Memphis Grizzlies player O.J. Mayo was suspended for 10 games today after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, a hormone that converts into testosterone and is believed by some athletes to help build muscle mass.

A naturally occurring hormone produced in the adrenal gland, dehydroepiandrosterone is sold over the counter in the United Sates, but has been outlawed by the Olympics, the NFL and the NBA.

Surge Desk offers five facts about the banned substance:


1. Other players have been suspended for using it. In 2009, Rashard Lewis, then a member of the Orlando Magic, also tested positive for DHEA and was hit with a 10-day suspension. Major League Baseball does not ban DHEA, and Manny Ramirez said his elevated testosterone levels stemmed from taking DHEA instead of human growth hormone. MLB didn't buy it.

2. It has plenty of negative physical side effects. DHEA consumption has been correlated with rates of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers.


3. But it also has some potentially positive ones. DHEA has been used to treat lupus with some success. It is also been found in studies to have some benefit for those who suffer from depression. DHEA is also sometimes used to induce labor, the Mayo Clinic said on its website.

4. A synthetic version can be made with yams. If you have any wild yam extract laying around, you might be able to brew up a batch of DHEA without operating on yourself. But just eating wild yams won't give you the same results as the hormone, the Mayo Clinic says.

5. It may not be all that good at building muscle. So far, the scientific data present an inconclusive picture as to whether DHEA really helps athletes seeking to build up their muscles.

How to Set Up an Office for a Home Based Call Center

You might probably wonder what to do in order to earn a living without getting out of your comfort zone? I bet you would be interested with working with a home based call center. But you have problems on how to set it up? Worry no more; here are some of the many ways in turning that simple rest into an innovative working environment.

• Do an ocular inspection first. Before you set up and decide on where to set up for the home based call center business, you need to check the different places or areas of your house and see where the business will fit most. Roam around the house and carefully check the spaces that you no longer use and pretty good to have that business rest. Though some spaces are filled with much stuff, you might also consider the location and prepare for a total make over.

• Do the make over. You already have decided a space to where your business will be. Of course consider cleaning the area first before situating the needed materials, among many others. The place should be freed from any danger that would put at the risk the materials for the call center such as the computer set itself.

• The area should be quiet. After determining the area where the home based call center will be located, please also consider that the place should be freed from any noise since you will be dealing with either inbound or outbound calls and voice interruptions is a no, no. If the location is near the room of your children, find another area where you could not be disturbed. And you could also put a note stating that the area is strictly not for them or simply ‘keep off’.

• Stuff should be organized. Set all the stuff into order, from usage to organization of such. By that idea, you are setting your materials to which they should be and how they are being utilized. Consider materials that you need most for your home based call center in the area. Keep away objects like ball pen and/or a notebook in your business desk; it could only disturb you while you are attending an important call for the day.

• A computer for the business only. It is very important that you have a computer for the business since it deals mainly with it. It should be used not more than what it should be. It is merely for business transactions and not for your children to surf, do gaming, and all other internet and computer stuff.

• Choose a comfy seat. When you deal with a business that needs more that eight hours of work, it is necessary to acquire a chair that you fell comfortable with. You could manage to stretch your body and even slouch for a little while. As long as, it does not make you feel butt-heated and experience back pains.

There are a lot of ways to set up your house into an office for a home based call center business. Those are some simple steps that you could easily follow that you need nothing but your creative juices and there go after the money-making.

Muslim Brotherhood Update

[A Repost from Ikhwanweb.com]

MB and opposition calls for largest protest

For the third consecutive day Egypt has witnessed nationwide protests with further indications it will continue through Friday.

For the third consecutive day Egypt has witnessed nationwide protests with further indications it will continue through Friday.

Political opposition has called for additional protests on Friday with a massive demonstration of solidarity following the Friday prayers.

The demonstrations are expected to strengthen as journalists and lawyers call for the release of their colleagues who were arrested earlier in the demonstrations this week.

The last count has revealed at least 7 deaths as a result of the Security's aggressive responses and more than 100 injuries. Over 1500 people have been arrested or detained and Human rights groups have reported that security officials have blockaded the entire city of Suez, preventing individuals from either leaving or entering and authorities have cut electricity and water to many areas where protesters are living or demonstrating.

Media spokesman for the The country's strongest political opposition the Muslim Brotherhood Dr. Mohamed Morsy has confirmed that the group will participate in the demonstration scheduled in order to achieve popular demands. He added that it is not necessary for the Brotherhood to take a leading role in the protests, but if the situation requires, its members will maintain a strong street presence.

Egypt Protests Update

[A Repost from News.yahoo.com]

Violent protests escalate outside Egypt's capital

CAIRO – Violence escalated in two cites outside the capital Cairo Thursday where anti-government protesters torched a fire station and looted weapons that they then turned on police. Egypt's top democracy advocate returned to the country and declared he was ready to lead the campaign to oust longtime President Hosni Mubarak.

In the flashpoint city of Suez, east of Cairo, witnesses said rioters — some wearing surgical masks to ward off tear gas — firebombed the main fire station and firefighters jumped out windows to escape the flames, as heavy black smoke billowed from the building. In the northern Sinai area of Sheik Zuweid, several hundred Bedouins and police exchanged live gunfire, killing a 17-year-old man. About 300 protesters surrounded a police station from rooftops of nearby buildings and fired two RPGs at it, damaging the walls.

Social networking sites were abuzz with talk that Friday's rallies could be some of the biggest so far calling for the ouster of Mubarak after 30 years in power. Millions gather at mosques across the city for Friday prayers, providing organizers with a huge number of people already out on the streets to tap into.

By Thursday evening, Facebook, Twitter, cell phone text messages as well as Blackberry Messenger services were interrupted, possibly a move by authorities to hamper protesters from organizing.

Egypt's ruling party said it was ready for a dialogue with the public but offered no concessions to address demands for a solution to rampant poverty and political change heard in the country's largest anti-government protests in years. Safwat El-Sherif, the secretary general of the National Democratic Party and a longtime confidant of Mubarak, was dismissive of the protesters at the first news conference by a senior ruling party figure since the protests began.

"We are confident of our ability to listen. The NDP is ready for a dialogue with the public, youth and legal parties," he said. "But democracy has its rules and process. The minority does not force its will on the majority."

The 82-year-old Mubarak has not been seen in public or heard from since the protests began Tuesday with tens of thousands marching in Cairo and a string of other cities.

Mubarak has not said yet whether he will stand for another six-year term as president in elections this year. He has never appointed a deputy and is thought to be grooming his son Gamal to succeed him despite popular opposition. According to leaked U.S. memos, hereditary succession also does not meet with the approval of the powerful military.

Mubarak has seen to it that no viable alternative to him has been allowed to emerge. Constitutional amendments adopted in 2005 by the NDP-dominated parliament has made it virtually impossible for independents like ElBaradei to run for president.

The White House said Thursday the protests are an opportunity for Mubarak to demonstrate his willingness to listen to his citizens and make "necessary" political reform.

Mubarak's administration suffered another serious blow Thursday when the stock market crashed. The benchmark index fell more than 10 percent by close, its biggest drop in more two years on the back of a 6 percent fall a day earlier.

The protesters have already achieved a major feat by sustaining their demonstrations for three days in the face of a brutal police crackdown. Seven people have been killed, hundreds hurt and nearly 1,000 detained.

The government has banned all gatherings and police have fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and used water cannons to disperse crowds. They have also fired live ammunition in the air at time to warn people and there have been many scenes of riot police in helmets and shields charging crowds and beating people with batons and plainclothes police beating demonstrators with long sticks.

Some of the worst unrest Thursday was in the hot spot of Suez. The protesters also stoned lines of helmeted riot police with shields, who fired back with rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas. Debris and rocks littered the streets. Demonstrators ran through white clouds of tear gas and kicked the canisters back at police. Some shielded themselves with overturned metal dumpsters and hurled rocks from behind the makeshift barricades. Police said 30 people were injured in the melee.

There was also looting in the city, and protesters broke an ATM and stole the cash.

In the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, east of Cairo, hundreds of protesters clashed with police who used tear gas and batons to disperse them.

Associated Press reporters saw scores of protesters outside the downtown Cairo offices of Egypt's lawyers' union, which has been one of the flashpoints of this week's unrest.

There were two other small, peaceful protests by lawyers in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria and the Nile Delta town of Toukh, north of Cairo.

Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, the country's top democracy advocate returned to Egypt Thursday night and said he would take part in demonstrations on Friday. Before he arrived, the former head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog told reporters at the Vienna airport he was seeking regime change and ready to lead the opposition.

"The regime has not been listening," ElBaradei said. "If people, in particular young people, if they want me to lead the transition, I will not let them down. My priority right now ... is to see a new regime and to see a new Egypt through peaceful transition."

When ElBaradei touched down in Egypt, he was greeted by a small group of family and friends and reporters.

"There is no going back," he said. "I wish we didn't have to go to the streets to impress on the regime that they need to change."

ElBaradei returned to Egypt last year after living abroad for decades and has created a wave of support from reformists. But he so far insisted he would not run in this year's presidential election unless restrictions on who is eligible to contest the vote are lifted and far reaching political reforms are introduced.

His support base is primarily made up of youths and he is seen as untainted by corruption. But his detractors say he may be lacking a thorough understanding of life here because of the decades he has lived abroad, first as an Egyptian diplomat and later with the United Nations.

In another boost to the protest movement, the country's largest opposition group — the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood — also threw its support behind the demonstrations. The group said in a statement posted on its website that it would take part in Friday's protests. If the group's backers turn out, it could swell the numbers on the streets significantly.

The Brotherhood called on its website for protests to remain peaceful. It also called for new parliamentary elections under judicial supervision, the introduction of far-reaching reforms and the lifting of emergency laws in force since 1981.

The Brotherhood made a surprisingly strong showing in parliamentary elections in 2005, when it won 20 percent of seats and served as the main opposition bloc in the legislature. In the latest parliament elections held in November, the Brotherhood failed to win even a single seat. It decried widespread fraud by the ruling party and boycotted the runoffs.

The vote gave the ruling party all but a small fraction of the chamber's 518 seats, an outcome that analysts say chipped away further at the regime's legitimacy and likely contributed to the discontent being vented on the streets this week.

"The movement of the Egyptian people that began January 25 and has been peaceful, mature and civilized must continue against corruption, oppression and injustice until its legitimate demands for reform are met," said the statement.

"We are not pushing this movement, but we are moving with it. We don't wish to lead it but we want to be part of it," said Mohammed Mursi, a senior Brotherhood leader.

The stock market crash, which brought year-to-date losses to almost 21 percent, hit at the core of some of the regime's main accomplishments. The president has built his legacy continuing and expanding the open market policies launched by his predecessor, Anwar Sadat, in the 1970s.

While Egyptian officials have boasted about healthy economic growth figures, critics have argued that ambitious economic reforms have done little more than make the rich even richer while poverty, unemployment and prices rise unabated.