Facebook's vision of becoming a "utility" that offers activities to keep people online for hours could set it on a collision course with the Web's giants.
In recent days, the No.1 social networking company revamped its search engine and bought a start-up that some call a rival to hot micro-blogging service Twitter. It is also testing a stripped-down version of its service to boost growth overseas and is developing an electronic payments system.
These moves mark a new phase in Facebook's evolution as the five-year-old company meshes the viral power of social networks and its huge member base to barge into new markets.
"When you become the site that people spend enough hours on everyday it's very natural to take advantage of that and to become the site that tries to provide all the services that portals provide," said Haim Mendelson, a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.
The site, co-founded by 25-year-old Mark Zuckerberg in a Harvard University dorm room, could challenge Web portals like Yahoo Inc and Google in content and communications, Brigantine Advisors analyst Colin Gillis said.
Facebook, which Zuckerberg has described as a "social utility," could take on eBay Inc's PayPal online payments system and maybe Apple Inc's iTunes for digital downloads, he added.
"People only do so many things on the Web," said Jeffrey Rayport, founder of digital media consultancy firm Marketspace. "There are a lot of companies that would like to own that set of activities."
With more than 250 million members, Facebook was the world's fourth most visited website in June, according to comScore. It is on track to bring in more than $500 million in revenue this year, most of it from advertising sales.
The new initiatives represent the natural evolution of the service, said Facebook Vice President of Product Christopher Cox. He downplayed the increasing overlap between Facebook's new search engine and Twitter's search engine, or Google's dominant Web search engine.
Facebook's previous search engine was useful for finding other people on the site, but the new version lets users look up what others are saying about particular topics, from healthcare to Iran. The search results are relevant to each person, Cox said in an interview.
"When you're trying to figure out what to eat, or what shoes to buy, or who to vote for, you don't go ask thousands of strangers," said Cox. "The Web should reflect that."
Facebook's recent acquisition of FriendFeed, which lets people share and search for content in real time across social networks and blogs, gives it another key asset as it seeks to perhaps extend its search scope beyond the site's boundaries.
Google recently unveiled new search engine prototype, dubbed Caffeine, that promises faster, more relevant searches.
Asked about Facebook's search efforts, a Google spokesman said, "We have many competitors, and we take them all seriously. But what we take more seriously is innovation and making search better."
Are You a Short Person?
How does being short affect a child's social and psychological development? What do you remember about being short when you were in grade school? How did your height affect your school experience, your friendships and romantic inclinations and adjustment later on in life?
Male, 40's - 5'5". Like others, the hardest years were junior high. I'll admit upfront I've carried some bad experiences I've had with me, sometimes as "chips on my shoulders". Experiences like being pushed in to a wall at the mall by dudes with big egos to entice laughter or impress their dates. No, not a high school experience, it happened in my mid-20's. But the names hurt worse than that wall ever did. Very creative names that I won't repeat. Bad experiences weren't limited to direct interaction. Sometimes classmates assumed I didn't do well in sports, so there was no point in asking me to the ball field after school. Forget dance parties, no confidence there, I skipped the rejection/ embarrassment and stayed home. But the worst was hearing "wow - you're small", not just from kids, but from adults. You hear "you're small" enough times year after year and one can start to believe they are truly "less" of a person, and retreat from many social opportunities. Seriously folks, I really don't think it takes an advanced psych. class to understand how that can impact a person's self image, for perhaps a lifetime. To help understand this problem, replace the words "you're small" (above) with "you're fat" or "you're ugly". Does that help clear things up? Believe it or not, I have worked to put the past behind me and have lived a mostly normal life, but I do get reminded once in a while of the painful past. Even in my 40's, many successful business relationships tend to gravitate towards my 6'3" co-worker quite easily."He's big and tall, so he must be the one in charge", right? Coincidence, or is it the same old "you aren't like me, so I'll stick to my type" mentality? We are not supposed to judge people by race, age, religion, disability, etc, so why would judging by size be acceptable to society? I believe it will take a complete generation of new people to get past the "bigger is better" and "tall, dark, and handsome" measure of man. Maybe in 100 yrs
Male, 40's - 5'5". Like others, the hardest years were junior high. I'll admit upfront I've carried some bad experiences I've had with me, sometimes as "chips on my shoulders". Experiences like being pushed in to a wall at the mall by dudes with big egos to entice laughter or impress their dates. No, not a high school experience, it happened in my mid-20's. But the names hurt worse than that wall ever did. Very creative names that I won't repeat. Bad experiences weren't limited to direct interaction. Sometimes classmates assumed I didn't do well in sports, so there was no point in asking me to the ball field after school. Forget dance parties, no confidence there, I skipped the rejection/ embarrassment and stayed home. But the worst was hearing "wow - you're small", not just from kids, but from adults. You hear "you're small" enough times year after year and one can start to believe they are truly "less" of a person, and retreat from many social opportunities. Seriously folks, I really don't think it takes an advanced psych. class to understand how that can impact a person's self image, for perhaps a lifetime. To help understand this problem, replace the words "you're small" (above) with "you're fat" or "you're ugly". Does that help clear things up? Believe it or not, I have worked to put the past behind me and have lived a mostly normal life, but I do get reminded once in a while of the painful past. Even in my 40's, many successful business relationships tend to gravitate towards my 6'3" co-worker quite easily."He's big and tall, so he must be the one in charge", right? Coincidence, or is it the same old "you aren't like me, so I'll stick to my type" mentality? We are not supposed to judge people by race, age, religion, disability, etc, so why would judging by size be acceptable to society? I believe it will take a complete generation of new people to get past the "bigger is better" and "tall, dark, and handsome" measure of man. Maybe in 100 yrs
Lady GaGa wants to 'turn the world gay'
Lady GaGa poses nude in a homage to 50s monster movies for the September issue of OUT where she reveals her diabolical plan to make us all gay:
"I very much want to inject gay culture into the mainstream," she told writers Joshua David Stein and Noah Michelson. "It's not an underground tool for me. It's my whole life. So I always sort of joke that the real motivation is to just turn the world gay."
Generally, Lady GaGa's daily appearance is a step in the right direction to complete her goal, but looking at these shots kind of makes me want to take my pants off and watch The Addams Family. And not for Gomez. (Looking at you, Thing.)
What? That hand could be a chick. Don't judge me!
Obama may soften healthcare plan
President Barack Obama's administration has signalled that its healthcare reforms may be diluted, amid pressure from opponents.
Mr Obama has been pressing for a government-run scheme to extend healthcare insurance to some 46 million people in the US.
But Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that this had never been Mr Obama's top priority.
She hinted that he may accept the idea of non-profit insurance co-operatives.
In an interview with CNN, Ms Sebelius said that Mr Obama's government-run insurance plan - a so-called "public option" - was "not the essential element" of the administration reforms.
"I think what's important is choice and competition. And I'm convinced at the end of the day, the plan will have both of those," she said.
Separately, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also refused to say that the "public option" was a make-or-break choice.
Mr Gibbs said Mr Obama's administration would consider an alternative proposal of consumer-owned, non-profit co-operatives that would sell insurance in competition with private industry.
The proposal is currently being fine-tuned in the Senate Finance Committee.
The comments of Mr Obama's senior officials come in contrast to the president's remarks at a "town-hall" speech in Colorado on Saturday that his faith in a public option was strong.
If the administration makes this concession it would probably enrage many of its liberal supporters, correspondents say.
But they say it could also deliver the president a much-needed win on his top domestic priority for 2009.
There has been some progress in the House of Representatives on agreeing a deal on the issue but negotiations in the Senate have stalled.
Both chambers need to agree on a bill before it can become law.
Mr Obama has been pressing for a government-run scheme to extend healthcare insurance to some 46 million people in the US.
But Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that this had never been Mr Obama's top priority.
She hinted that he may accept the idea of non-profit insurance co-operatives.
In an interview with CNN, Ms Sebelius said that Mr Obama's government-run insurance plan - a so-called "public option" - was "not the essential element" of the administration reforms.
"I think what's important is choice and competition. And I'm convinced at the end of the day, the plan will have both of those," she said.
Separately, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also refused to say that the "public option" was a make-or-break choice.
Mr Gibbs said Mr Obama's administration would consider an alternative proposal of consumer-owned, non-profit co-operatives that would sell insurance in competition with private industry.
The proposal is currently being fine-tuned in the Senate Finance Committee.
The comments of Mr Obama's senior officials come in contrast to the president's remarks at a "town-hall" speech in Colorado on Saturday that his faith in a public option was strong.
If the administration makes this concession it would probably enrage many of its liberal supporters, correspondents say.
But they say it could also deliver the president a much-needed win on his top domestic priority for 2009.
There has been some progress in the House of Representatives on agreeing a deal on the issue but negotiations in the Senate have stalled.
Both chambers need to agree on a bill before it can become law.
Jackson had long history with estate executor
A week after Michael Jackson died, his longtime lawyer and friend, John Branca, arrived at a meeting with the singer's family. He carried the pop star's will, and with it, the news on who would benefit from the King of Pop's estate.
"It was very difficult," Branca recalled. "There were a lot of family members there, his sisters and most of the brothers and his mother, Katherine."
He told them three things: Katherine would be guardian of Michael's three children and receive 40 percent of the estate. The children would also receive 40 percent. The remaining 20 percent would go to unspecified charities to benefit children.
"They applauded three times when they were told who got the property," Branca said. "They were thrilled."
It also named Branca as co-executor — meaning that while the money went to the Katherine Jackson and the kids, Branca and music executive John McClain would be in charge of making it.
Katherine Jackson's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, has asserted that she should be given "a seat at the table" in executing deals for the estate. He has also said the family is considering a formal challenge to Branca and McClain, suggesting the two may not be fit to run the estate because of conflicts of interest and other factors. McMillan would not comment Friday on specifics about those objections.
Neither Branca nor McClain is unknown to the Jackson family. During more than 20 years as the pop superstar's lawyer, Branca, 58, was a principal architect of Jackson's financial empire. McClain, a successful record company executive and childhood friend of Jackson's, helped craft the recording career of Michael's sister Janet.
Branca plays down any conflict with the Jackson family.
"Everything is going to be fine," he said calmly during a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press.
Branca and McClain have already won court approval for a deal that will bring the estate $60 million from a movie made of footage shot during rehearsals for the concerts Jackson was to have performed in London. A coffee-table book also was approved. But two multimillion-dollar projects, including a deal to market Jackson merchandise, have been stalled because of objections from Mrs. Jackson's camp.
"We're approaching the $100 million mark if those two deals in front of the court are approved," said Branca. "That's pretty remarkable — in six weeks as executors, to have brought $100 million into the estate."
When he met a young Michael Jackson in 1980, Branca was already a successful young entertainment lawyer, and has represented 28 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His clients have included the Beach Boys, The Doors, Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones and countless other top rock acts.
Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which puts on the Grammy Awards, said Branca has a track record for loyalty to his clients and is "eminently capable" of running Jackson's posthumous business affairs.
"He has the skills, the knowledge, the clout but also the humanity," said Portnow, who has worked with Branca, the outgoing chairman of the Grammys' charitable foundation. "He had a past relationship with Michael, which is so key. He's not a hired gun. ... Neither does he need this. It's probably somewhat distracting from other things he was doing."
Branca took an early interest in music, and played keyboards in a rock band he formed in high school. But music wasn't his only passion: His uncle is famed Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca, who served up Bobby Thomson's home run that cost the Dodgers the 1951 National League pennant — in what became known as the "shot heard 'round the world."
Branca channeled his interest in music into his budding law career, and started out setting up tours for Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Neil Diamond. He represented the Presley estate for a time, but in 1980 his world changed when an intermediary asked him to meet with Michael Jackson, who he says was 20 or 21 at the time.
"(Jackson) said, 'Do I know you?' It was one of those things you have in life where you feel so comfortable with a person you actually feel you do know them."
He met Jackson's parents briefly, and remembers Mrs. Jackson saying, "Michael, I don't know if he's old enough to be a lawyer."
Branca shepherded Jackson through the phenomenal success of the "Thriller" album in 1982 — and contrary to other versions of the story, he said it was Michael's idea to buy the Beatles catalog after Paul McCartney told Jackson he was investing in buying copyrights to famous songs.
He bought copyrights to such songs as "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer," and the work of Sly and the Family Stone.
"And then came the mother lode," said Branca. When he told Jackson about the ATV catalog up for sale, "He started screaming on the phone. I actually have a great note he wrote me. It said: 'Branca, the catalog is mine. Don't lose it by over-negotiating.'"
In 1995, he merged it with Sony to create one of the largest such collections in the world. In earlier years, Branca also helped Jackson obtain the rights to his recording masters and brokered the purchase of Neverland Ranch, originally offered for $60 million, for a final price of $17.5 million, including all furnishings.
But life with Michael was not all about money, Branca says. At first they were friends, traveling to Disney World together, socializing at Branca's home. Jackson was the best man at Branca's first wedding, bringing with him his pet chimp Bubbles, who was clad in a tiny tuxedo. Little Richard was the minister.
In 1990, Jackson tearfully told Branca he wanted to try different representation; though Branca wouldn't confirm it, it was widely reported that Hollywood mogul and record company executive David Geffen advised Jackson that Branca's influence in his affairs had grown too large. They remained apart for three years.
Branca returned in 1993, at a time when Jackson was being sued in a child molestation case he ultimately settled. But the relationship was different.
"Later on in his career he really had a line between his business and personal life," said Branca.
In 1997 a will was drafted for Jackson — but not, Branca says, by him. Instead, he said he assigned it to a member of his firm who specialized in wills and trusts. It was redone in 2002, after the birth of Jackson's third child.
Branca said he played no role in advising Jackson on the will, but knew the singer did not want a family member in control of his estate. Jackson also felt he did not have to take care of his brothers and sisters, Branca said.
By 2006, Branca says, his relationship with Jackson was troubled once again. The star was listening to an increasingly odd set of advisers who Branca feared did not have the singer's best interests at heart.
"He was surrounded and I had to resign," he said. "He did not ask me to stay. I resigned amicably."
And then, a little more than a month before Jackson died, the call came from Jackson's former manager, Frank DiLeo. Branca says DiLeo told him Jackson sought his input on what kind of deals they could begin working on; Branca drafted an agenda and met with Jackson on June 17 at the Forum in Inglewood, where the King of Pop was rehearsing for his big comeback.
"I hadn't seen him in several years," Branca said. "We hugged each other. He said, 'John, you're back.' It was very emotional. I showed him the agenda."
It was what Jackson wanted, Branca said — including a concert movie, books and merchandising deals.
"That agenda is exactly what John McClain and I are doing now," Branca said, "for the estate."
Wenger: No chance of Cesc sale
Arsene Wenger insists there is "no chance" of Cesc Fabregas being sold to Barcelona - and insists Arsenal can compete with the best this term.
The Gunners captain has once again been strongly linked with a big-money summer move away from Emirates Stadium - his boyhood club Barcelona the latest side said to be weighing up a formal bid.
However, with Arsenal about to embark on what could well be a defining campaign in the quest for a first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, Wenger insists all such speculation is wide of the mark.
"Do you really think we sell now our players one day before the championship starts, players who are basic players of the team? There is no chance," declared the Gunners boss, who takes his side to Everton for the opening match of the season on Saturday.
"You cannot stop people from having a lot of creative imagination during their sleepless nights, but that does not mean we will do it."
Wenger himself has resisted the lures of some of Europe's top clubs to remain faithful to Arsenal, whom he has transformed since arriving some 13 seasons ago.
"I believe that in life you are committed to clubs with contracts and in no contract is the colour of your blood described," he said, referring to the pull a return to Spain would have on Fabregas.
"I am more committed than ever to my club, not only this season, but since I have arrived here.
"We are the beginning of a new season now, and it is important that everybody focuses - me, Fabregas everybody else, just on being successful for the club we love, and the best way we can do that is to do well."
Despite the sale of Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor and defender Kolo Toure to Manchester City, Wenger maintains his squad is stronger than this time last year.
So far, Belgian centre-half Thomas Vermaelen is the only new face, although the return to full fitness of Croatia marksman Eduardo leaves Wenger feeling there is plenty of strength in attack.
"We are young and have developed. Why should we not be better in August than we were in March?" said the Arsenal manager, who will be without Walcott on Saturday, but hopes the England forward could be back for the Champions League qualifier against Celtic next week.
"We lost two great players. However, we have bought Vermaelen to replace Kolo and we have Eduardo back, who for me is a great player.
"We have players who develop very well and are young, like [Carlos] Vela, [Nicklas] Bendtner, Walcott, who are all strikers, so I do not feel we are short in these positions."
Wenger insists his squad can deliver come May.
"The ambition is to finish as high as possible. What is as high as possible is to finish first, it is as simple as that," he said.
"The competition is of a high level and many aspire to that, so let's continue to play the game the way we want to play it and I believe we can show that we have made big steps forward."
Wenger maintains Arsenal are no further forward in any potential transfer deals, which have included a look at bringing former captain Patrick Vieira back as well as Bordeaux's £12million-rated Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh and Fulham defender Brede Hangeland, or indeed over a proposed move away for Philippe Senderos to Everton.
"I have all the players in place," said the Arsenal manager.
"If we need to add one or two more, the transfer period is open until August 31.
"Ideally you want not to move any more, but you always have to adjust. If there is a need there, we will do it."
Wenger added: "There are still a lot of players who want to come to Arsenal, because they like the way we play and develop them.
"They feel they get access to top level competition, so I do not think we have a [financial] handicap.
"The market now is a world market, so you can always find good players.
"There are only a few players who have a price which we cannot reach - maybe 10 in the world, but for the rest, we have access to the market."
The Gunners captain has once again been strongly linked with a big-money summer move away from Emirates Stadium - his boyhood club Barcelona the latest side said to be weighing up a formal bid.
However, with Arsenal about to embark on what could well be a defining campaign in the quest for a first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, Wenger insists all such speculation is wide of the mark.
"Do you really think we sell now our players one day before the championship starts, players who are basic players of the team? There is no chance," declared the Gunners boss, who takes his side to Everton for the opening match of the season on Saturday.
"You cannot stop people from having a lot of creative imagination during their sleepless nights, but that does not mean we will do it."
Wenger himself has resisted the lures of some of Europe's top clubs to remain faithful to Arsenal, whom he has transformed since arriving some 13 seasons ago.
"I believe that in life you are committed to clubs with contracts and in no contract is the colour of your blood described," he said, referring to the pull a return to Spain would have on Fabregas.
"I am more committed than ever to my club, not only this season, but since I have arrived here.
"We are the beginning of a new season now, and it is important that everybody focuses - me, Fabregas everybody else, just on being successful for the club we love, and the best way we can do that is to do well."
Despite the sale of Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor and defender Kolo Toure to Manchester City, Wenger maintains his squad is stronger than this time last year.
So far, Belgian centre-half Thomas Vermaelen is the only new face, although the return to full fitness of Croatia marksman Eduardo leaves Wenger feeling there is plenty of strength in attack.
"We are young and have developed. Why should we not be better in August than we were in March?" said the Arsenal manager, who will be without Walcott on Saturday, but hopes the England forward could be back for the Champions League qualifier against Celtic next week.
"We lost two great players. However, we have bought Vermaelen to replace Kolo and we have Eduardo back, who for me is a great player.
"We have players who develop very well and are young, like [Carlos] Vela, [Nicklas] Bendtner, Walcott, who are all strikers, so I do not feel we are short in these positions."
Wenger insists his squad can deliver come May.
"The ambition is to finish as high as possible. What is as high as possible is to finish first, it is as simple as that," he said.
"The competition is of a high level and many aspire to that, so let's continue to play the game the way we want to play it and I believe we can show that we have made big steps forward."
Wenger maintains Arsenal are no further forward in any potential transfer deals, which have included a look at bringing former captain Patrick Vieira back as well as Bordeaux's £12million-rated Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh and Fulham defender Brede Hangeland, or indeed over a proposed move away for Philippe Senderos to Everton.
"I have all the players in place," said the Arsenal manager.
"If we need to add one or two more, the transfer period is open until August 31.
"Ideally you want not to move any more, but you always have to adjust. If there is a need there, we will do it."
Wenger added: "There are still a lot of players who want to come to Arsenal, because they like the way we play and develop them.
"They feel they get access to top level competition, so I do not think we have a [financial] handicap.
"The market now is a world market, so you can always find good players.
"There are only a few players who have a price which we cannot reach - maybe 10 in the world, but for the rest, we have access to the market."
What Were They Thinking?!
Solange Knowles' shaved head is hot, but her accessories are not!
We think Solange Knowles' shaved head is kinda hot, but Beyonce's sister's metallic Micky Mouse-adorned handbag and bizarre Moschino heels are not.
Is Facebook healthy for the doctor-patient relationship?
If you’re on Facebook, you’ve likely faced this dilemma: Someone you know through your work has asked to become your online friend. You don’t want to be rude and say no, but you’re also a bit queasy about giving professional acquaintances full access to your personal life online. What should you do?
Dr. Sachin H. Jain encountered this problem in his second week of internship, when a woman whose baby he helped deliver as a medical student asked to become his Facebook friend. As he writes in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine, he was wary of allowing his former patient to see his list of friends, view his photos or read his personal blog. On the other hand, he didn’t want to be a jerk.
“The anxiety I felt about crossing boundaries is an old problem in clinical medicine, but it has taken a different shape as it has migrated to this new medium,” he writes.
What could go wrong? Plenty, he speculates.
Patients could call a doctor’s medical judgment into question after viewing Facebook photos of a festive holiday party that involved a bit too much spiked eggnog. Or a physician who lists herself as “single” on her Facebook profile could find herself being asked out by patients who probably wouldn’t have inquired about her relationship status in person. Or a nurse might blow off steam by blogging about a difficult patient without remembering that she had friended one of the patient’s relatives, who would have access to all the gory details. These are some of the reasons medical schools now advise students to think twice about what they post on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.
But without Facebook, a grassroots group called Doctors for Obama might not have persuaded thousands of physicians to flood Barack Obama’s campaign with their ideas about health policy during the 2008 presidential election. “This group of physicians continues to have a voice in the Obama administration, largely on the strength of its Facebook-created network of members,” Jain writes.
So how did he handle his patient’s request? He accepted, partly because he was curious to see how her baby was doing.
It turned out the patient did have an ulterior motive – she was thinking about applying to med school herself. Jain said he was happy to dispense advice, because that was in keeping with the doctor-patient relationship. Among his suggestions: Be careful about how you manage your online identity.
The article is also available via the New England Journal of Medicine's own Facebook page.
-- Karen Kaplan
Kelly Clarkson happy with weight, but photo altered
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Singer Kelly Clarkson says she's perfectly happy about her fluctuating weight. So why did Self magazine, in which she made the remarks, retouch its cover photo of the "American Idol" champ to make her look much thinner than she is in real life?
"Only to make her look her personal best," says Self editor Lucy Danziger, adding that retouching is standard practice in the glossy magazine business.
Danziger's admission in a blog this week on Self.com has touched off a furor only a few months after singer Jessica Simpson made celebrity news headlines when she was pictured looking heavy in an unflattering pair of high-waisted jeans.
Clarkson's case is ironic because the singer talks about her weight in Self's September issue, which is called the "Total Body Confidence Issue," yet the magazine radically altered her appearance on its cover.
"My happy weight changes. Sometimes I eat more; sometimes I play more. I'll be different sizes all the time. When people talk about my weight, I'm like, 'You seem to have a problem with it; I don't. I'm fine!'
"I've never felt uncomfortable on the red carpet or anything," Clarkson, 27, told Self.
It's not the first time that Clarkson, a Grammy winner who has sold more than 20 million albums since winning "American Idol" in 2002, has been slimmed down for promotional reasons.
In January, she wrote on her blog "they have definitely photo-shopped the crap out of me" on the cover of her latest album "All I Ever Wanted."
Photoshop, of course, is the computer software program photographers and others use to digitally alter a picture.
Explaining the decision by Self, a beauty and fitness women's glossy, Danziger wrote that "A (magazine) cover's job is to sell the magazine...In the sense that Kelly is the picture of confidence, and she truly is, then I think this photo is the truest we have ever put out there on the newsstand."
Readers have reacted with a mixture of fury and resignation. "This issue would have sold like crazy without you editing her photo...What is a shock is that you practically gave her someone else's body," wrote shannichapman on the Self.com comment page.
But reader cdv2003 wrote it was no surprise that magazines airbrush their photos. "Good luck finding any women's magazine that adheres to your high ethical standards, Magazines are marketing tools, but I still love reading them!"
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
Facebook could beat Twitter
FACEBOOK IS DEVELOPING a new service that looks like it might be getting set to kick Twitter's arse.
Judging by the screenshots buzzing around the Internet, the service, which is in beta tests with a number of users, is a stripped down version of Facebook and looks a lot like a Twitter feed.Screenshots show the usual sort of profile - typical gittish photo accompanied by a list of 'useful and informative' updates - but in a much cleaner format than your normal Facebook page.We thought people were deserting Facebook for Twitter and its relatively anonymous brevity, so it is possible that this will reverse the trend and send all the twits back to the former. Unless of course someone launches a virtual gadget that beams the meaningless details of your day along with a series of self-indulgent photos directly into any innocent bystander's brain.Not only do the pages look a lot like Twitter but they also remind us of FriendFeed, the firm that Facebook bought yesterday. It's a bit too soon for any real integration to have taken place though, so perhaps there is more yet to come. We considered calling management at Facebook's once mighty competitor MySpace for a comment, but then we remembered that it is August and he is probably on holiday.Facebook tried to buy Twitter last year. We suggest you might draw your own conclusions about that.
Judging by the screenshots buzzing around the Internet, the service, which is in beta tests with a number of users, is a stripped down version of Facebook and looks a lot like a Twitter feed.Screenshots show the usual sort of profile - typical gittish photo accompanied by a list of 'useful and informative' updates - but in a much cleaner format than your normal Facebook page.We thought people were deserting Facebook for Twitter and its relatively anonymous brevity, so it is possible that this will reverse the trend and send all the twits back to the former. Unless of course someone launches a virtual gadget that beams the meaningless details of your day along with a series of self-indulgent photos directly into any innocent bystander's brain.Not only do the pages look a lot like Twitter but they also remind us of FriendFeed, the firm that Facebook bought yesterday. It's a bit too soon for any real integration to have taken place though, so perhaps there is more yet to come. We considered calling management at Facebook's once mighty competitor MySpace for a comment, but then we remembered that it is August and he is probably on holiday.Facebook tried to buy Twitter last year. We suggest you might draw your own conclusions about that.
Obama honors 16 with Presidential Medal of Freedom; Sidney Poitier, Stephen Hawking included
President Obama celebrated 'change' in the East Room, but he wasn't breaking out his old campaign stump speech.
The White House was actually honoring 16 individuals from around the globe with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award given to civilians in the United States.
"These extraordinary men and women, these agents of change, remind us that excellence is not beyond our abilities," Obama said at the ceremony. "We each have it in our power to fulfill dreams."
Among those honored were actors Sidney Poitier and Chita Rivera, celebrated scientist Stephen Hawking, Joe Medicine Crow - High Bird (the last living Plains Indian war chief), as well as former Supreme Court judge Sandra Day O'Conner, tennis star Billie Jean King, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson, who crusaded for women's rights in Ireland and human rights around the world.
Two of those honored are deceased: Jack Kemp, football star and New York congressman, and gay rights advocate Harvey Milk.
Sen. Ted Kennedy was also honored, but was too ill to attend.
"What unites them is a belief ... that our lives are what we make of them," Obama said. "That no barriers of race, gender or physical infirmity can restrain the human spirit."
"The recipients of the Medal of Freedom did not set out to win this or any other award," he added. "They did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches. Rather they set out, guided by passion, committed to hard work, aided by persistence, often with few advantages but the gifts, grace and good name God gave them."
Jennifer Hudson gives birth to a son
Jennifer Hudson has a new role — that of a proud mother.
The 27-year-old Oscar winner gave birth to her first child, David Daniel Otunga Jr., on Monday, according to her publicist, Lisa Kasteler of WKT Public Relations. He is named after her fiance, David Otunga. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces (3.57 kilograms)."The baby is beautiful and perfect," says Hudson's publicist Lisa Kasteler. "His parents are ecstatic."Hudson, who is also a Grammy-winning singer, had not confirmed she was expecting before announcing news of the birth.
The entertainer suffered a tragic blow last fall when her mother, brother and nephew were slain in her native Chicago. Her sister's estranged husband is charged with the killings.Hudson, who gained fame first as a top contender on "American Idol," won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Effie in "Dreamgirls" in 2007. Earlier this year, she won a Grammy for best R&B album for her self-titled debut CD.
The birth was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter's Showbiz411.com.
On the Net:
http://www.jenniferhudson.com
States cut aid to college students as demand booms
Struggling with budget shortfalls that reach into the billions, several states are making deep cuts in college financial aid programs, including those that provide a vital source of cash for students who most need the money.
At least a dozen states are reducing award sizes, eliminating grants and tightening eligibility guidelines because of a lack of money. At the same time, the number of students seeking aid is rising sharply as more people seek a college education and need help paying the tuition bill because they or their parents lost jobs and savings during the recession.
Many of the affected programs are need-based grants that provide money that complements financial aid offered by schools and the federal government. Without that cash, some students may be forced to drop out, transfer to cheaper schools or simply have less money available for rent and groceries. Experts fear others will take on too much debt or spend even more time working as they pursue a degree.
"There's almost no question the folks coming in are probably going to have much more difficulty getting by year to year in college and staying enrolled as a result," said Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on financial aid. "The safety net is falling away."
State financial aid accounted for 12 percent of the grants awarded to college students in 2007-2008, according to the New York-based College Board. While that's a fraction of the financial aid provided to millions of students by schools, the federal government and private scholarships, the demand for aid is booming. Roughly 620,000 more students applied for federal aid in the first quarter compared with last year, a jump of more than 25 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of Illinois senior Brandi Cho, 21, said her parents cannot afford to make up the $2,500 she expected to do without after her state grant runs out in the spring. She is considering two options: Find a second weekend job on top of the 15 hours a week she already works, or cram five senior-level accounting classes into the fall semester so she can graduate early.
"The best that I can do is just start saving every penny that I have," Cho said.
The cuts come as lawmakers and governors struggle to balance budgets crippled by the recession's impact on tax revenues. Lottery-funded merit aid programs in states such as Georgia, Florida and West Virginia are also pinched as revenues from the games are leveling off and in some cases declining.
In Illinois, a state scrambling to find $11 billion in budget savings, officials are telling 145,000 low-income students who receive the state's need-based Monetary Award Program grants to expect no help in the spring semester because money for the program will run out. Lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn cut the state's aid budget in half; an additional 40,000 students who rely on other state programs will be affected, too.
Ohio is eliminating grants of up to $2,496 for low-income community college students, and cutting them by more than 50 percent for low-income students at four-year universities. The state is axing $640 grants for 58,000 private school students and grants of up to $4,000 for 22,500 students attending two-year, for-profit schools.
"That's a lot of money to someone like me," said Maria Zimbardi, a 33-year-old mother of three in Youngstown, Ohio, who will not receive the nearly $3,300 grant she got last year. She is working part time as a waitress while learning administrative and accounting skills at National College, and is taking out more student loans — which now total $29,000 — so she can graduate next May.
The Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board projects that more than 20,000 low-income students will not receive grants because of a lack of money and a sharp increase in applicants. Jennifer Matamoros is among them, and the senior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — where tuition has increased about 6 percent a year in each of the past four years — is worried about paying bills without the $2,600 grant she got last year.
She said she'll likely borrow more and graduate with $30,000 in student-loan debt, which is as much as she expects to make a year in her career as an elementary school teacher. "They just keep raising more costs and taking away more money," she said.
Education Sector, a Washington-based think tank, warned in a recent study that student debt was at an all-time high, with a rising share owed to riskier private student loans. The study warned that could eventually reduce access to higher education and lead to more students defaulting on their loans.
"It's going to start to impact the equation of whether college is worth it for some students," said Erin Dillon, a policy analyst for the group.
In Michigan, where state lawmakers have yet to pass a spending plan, about 96,000 students don't yet know the value of their Promise scholarships — or if they get one at all. The state's Republican-controlled Senate voted to eliminate the $140 million program that provides high school graduates with up to $4,000, but Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm has vowed to restore some of money.
Financial aid officials in other states are making difficult choices with the limited funds they have. In Massachusetts, where the state financial aid budget was cut 10 percent, the Office of Student Financial Assistance plans to make deep cuts to other aid programs to preserve the need-based Mass Grants program. Even so, many grants could fall by $400 to $500 compared with last year.
Wisconsin decided to slightly increase the average grant awards because students are showing much greater need, said Connie Hutchison, the executive secretary of the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board. That meant university students who applied in July for aid are learning the pool of money has run out.
"We're getting a lot of questions about why students are not getting financial aid they got last year," Hutchison said. "It's so hard to explain to them."
Associated Press writers Tim Martin in Lansing, Mich., Dorie Turner in Atlanta and David Mercer in Champaign, Ill., contributed to this report.
At least a dozen states are reducing award sizes, eliminating grants and tightening eligibility guidelines because of a lack of money. At the same time, the number of students seeking aid is rising sharply as more people seek a college education and need help paying the tuition bill because they or their parents lost jobs and savings during the recession.
Many of the affected programs are need-based grants that provide money that complements financial aid offered by schools and the federal government. Without that cash, some students may be forced to drop out, transfer to cheaper schools or simply have less money available for rent and groceries. Experts fear others will take on too much debt or spend even more time working as they pursue a degree.
"There's almost no question the folks coming in are probably going to have much more difficulty getting by year to year in college and staying enrolled as a result," said Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on financial aid. "The safety net is falling away."
State financial aid accounted for 12 percent of the grants awarded to college students in 2007-2008, according to the New York-based College Board. While that's a fraction of the financial aid provided to millions of students by schools, the federal government and private scholarships, the demand for aid is booming. Roughly 620,000 more students applied for federal aid in the first quarter compared with last year, a jump of more than 25 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of Illinois senior Brandi Cho, 21, said her parents cannot afford to make up the $2,500 she expected to do without after her state grant runs out in the spring. She is considering two options: Find a second weekend job on top of the 15 hours a week she already works, or cram five senior-level accounting classes into the fall semester so she can graduate early.
"The best that I can do is just start saving every penny that I have," Cho said.
The cuts come as lawmakers and governors struggle to balance budgets crippled by the recession's impact on tax revenues. Lottery-funded merit aid programs in states such as Georgia, Florida and West Virginia are also pinched as revenues from the games are leveling off and in some cases declining.
In Illinois, a state scrambling to find $11 billion in budget savings, officials are telling 145,000 low-income students who receive the state's need-based Monetary Award Program grants to expect no help in the spring semester because money for the program will run out. Lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn cut the state's aid budget in half; an additional 40,000 students who rely on other state programs will be affected, too.
Ohio is eliminating grants of up to $2,496 for low-income community college students, and cutting them by more than 50 percent for low-income students at four-year universities. The state is axing $640 grants for 58,000 private school students and grants of up to $4,000 for 22,500 students attending two-year, for-profit schools.
"That's a lot of money to someone like me," said Maria Zimbardi, a 33-year-old mother of three in Youngstown, Ohio, who will not receive the nearly $3,300 grant she got last year. She is working part time as a waitress while learning administrative and accounting skills at National College, and is taking out more student loans — which now total $29,000 — so she can graduate next May.
The Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board projects that more than 20,000 low-income students will not receive grants because of a lack of money and a sharp increase in applicants. Jennifer Matamoros is among them, and the senior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — where tuition has increased about 6 percent a year in each of the past four years — is worried about paying bills without the $2,600 grant she got last year.
She said she'll likely borrow more and graduate with $30,000 in student-loan debt, which is as much as she expects to make a year in her career as an elementary school teacher. "They just keep raising more costs and taking away more money," she said.
Education Sector, a Washington-based think tank, warned in a recent study that student debt was at an all-time high, with a rising share owed to riskier private student loans. The study warned that could eventually reduce access to higher education and lead to more students defaulting on their loans.
"It's going to start to impact the equation of whether college is worth it for some students," said Erin Dillon, a policy analyst for the group.
In Michigan, where state lawmakers have yet to pass a spending plan, about 96,000 students don't yet know the value of their Promise scholarships — or if they get one at all. The state's Republican-controlled Senate voted to eliminate the $140 million program that provides high school graduates with up to $4,000, but Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm has vowed to restore some of money.
Financial aid officials in other states are making difficult choices with the limited funds they have. In Massachusetts, where the state financial aid budget was cut 10 percent, the Office of Student Financial Assistance plans to make deep cuts to other aid programs to preserve the need-based Mass Grants program. Even so, many grants could fall by $400 to $500 compared with last year.
Wisconsin decided to slightly increase the average grant awards because students are showing much greater need, said Connie Hutchison, the executive secretary of the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board. That meant university students who applied in July for aid are learning the pool of money has run out.
"We're getting a lot of questions about why students are not getting financial aid they got last year," Hutchison said. "It's so hard to explain to them."
Associated Press writers Tim Martin in Lansing, Mich., Dorie Turner in Atlanta and David Mercer in Champaign, Ill., contributed to this report.
Facebook Unveils Search Changes To Compete
Facebook has announced changes to the way users search to help the site move further into territory currently held by Google and Twitter. The social networking site announced yesterday it had bought startup FriendFeed and unveiled new features for finding what friends and strangers have posted online.
Users will be able to search within their friend's profiles for comments they have made within the last 30 days, such as typing "weekend" to find out what existing contacts have planned.
For the first time, they will also be able to find what any users with public profiles are saying about particular topics or news events.
Further changes to how to search and share content are made likely by the acquisition of FriendFeed.
The company are rumoured to have paid $50m for the Silicon Valley firm which has just 12 employees and comparatively few users.
But the staff are mostly ex-Google web engineers and Facebook wanted their talent and expertise.
Users will be able to search within their friend's profiles for comments they have made within the last 30 days, such as typing "weekend" to find out what existing contacts have planned.
For the first time, they will also be able to find what any users with public profiles are saying about particular topics or news events.
Further changes to how to search and share content are made likely by the acquisition of FriendFeed.
The company are rumoured to have paid $50m for the Silicon Valley firm which has just 12 employees and comparatively few users.
But the staff are mostly ex-Google web engineers and Facebook wanted their talent and expertise.
Lost and found: Kaka gets police escort back to hotel
Brazil's Kaka got lost walking around Tallinn Tuesday ahead of their friendly against Estonia and needed a police escort back to the team's hotel, Brazilian media reported.
The Real Madrid midfielder took an early morning walk around the old town on his own and was spotted by two policemen in a patrol car who stopped to talk to him.
On learning Kaka had actually lost his way back to the hotel, the officers took him there in the patrol car, the press office of the city's police department said.
Brazil play Estonia Wednesday in a warm-up for their World Cup qualifier against Argentina on September 5.
The Real Madrid midfielder took an early morning walk around the old town on his own and was spotted by two policemen in a patrol car who stopped to talk to him.
On learning Kaka had actually lost his way back to the hotel, the officers took him there in the patrol car, the press office of the city's police department said.
Brazil play Estonia Wednesday in a warm-up for their World Cup qualifier against Argentina on September 5.
Michael Jackson's Body Finally Laid To Rest
Michael Jackson has been buried, seven weeks after his death, his family lawyer has said.
Brian Oxman told GMTV that after coroners had released certain tissues, including his brain, following an autopsy, they were buried with Jackson's body during a low key ceremony.
Mr Oxman said: "The burial itself was at the time of the memorial. When the tissues were returned to the body, then the interment was made final."
The Daily Mirror is reporting that the ceremony took place at the Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood Hills.
The lawyer also moved to deny rumours that former child star Mark Lester was the father of the King of Pop's daughter, Paris.
Mr Lester is godfather to Jackson's three children, and claims that he donated sperm to the singer 13 years ago.
The actor said: "I gave Michael my sperm so that he could have kids - and I believe Paris is my daughter."
Mr Lester cited Paris' pale skin and blue eyes, similar to his own daughter's, as the reason he believes she is his child.
However, Mr Oxman said: "I think what Mark said is what he understands, he was told these things.
"That's what Michael wanted it to be. But Michael always told me he was the papa."
Mr Lester says he is only speaking out because he is concerned Jackson's mother, Katherine, will cut him out of their lives.
He claims since she was given custody of them all of his emails and phone calls to them have gone unanswered.
Brian Oxman told GMTV that after coroners had released certain tissues, including his brain, following an autopsy, they were buried with Jackson's body during a low key ceremony.
Mr Oxman said: "The burial itself was at the time of the memorial. When the tissues were returned to the body, then the interment was made final."
The Daily Mirror is reporting that the ceremony took place at the Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood Hills.
The lawyer also moved to deny rumours that former child star Mark Lester was the father of the King of Pop's daughter, Paris.
Mr Lester is godfather to Jackson's three children, and claims that he donated sperm to the singer 13 years ago.
The actor said: "I gave Michael my sperm so that he could have kids - and I believe Paris is my daughter."
Mr Lester cited Paris' pale skin and blue eyes, similar to his own daughter's, as the reason he believes she is his child.
However, Mr Oxman said: "I think what Mark said is what he understands, he was told these things.
"That's what Michael wanted it to be. But Michael always told me he was the papa."
Mr Lester says he is only speaking out because he is concerned Jackson's mother, Katherine, will cut him out of their lives.
He claims since she was given custody of them all of his emails and phone calls to them have gone unanswered.
Facebook buys social media aggregator FriendFeed
Facebook is buying a Web service called FriendFeed that gives users a view of what their friends are doing on all sorts of social media sites, including Facebook's rivals.In an interview, FriendFeed co-founder Bret Taylor said the two services will eventually merge, though FriendFeed will operate separately for now. He said FriendFeed was drawn to Facebook's much larger base of 250 million users."Facebook has a really unique opportunity for our team to reach a significant percentage of the world, and that was an opportunity I think everyone on our team was extremely excited about," he said.Facebook said all 12 employees of Mountain View, Calif.-based FriendFeed will work for Facebook, whose headquarters is nearby in Palo Alto. FriendFeed's four founders — Taylor, Paul Buchheit, Jim Norris and Sanjeev Singh — will take on senior positions on the engineering and product teams at Facebook.
It's unclear what exactly Facebook plans to do with FriendFeed, which centers around the idea of instantaneously aggregating information from online destinations like short-messaging site Twitter, review site Yelp and photo-sharing site Flickr.
Gartner Inc. analyst Ray Valdes said the FriendFeed acquisition should help Facebook open up its site and boost features that show users more information in real time.
"They needed to do something to meet the Twitter challenge," he said, referring to the messaging site that has shown the type of buzz Facebook once enjoyed.
Chris Cox, Facebook's vice president of products, said the companies had been talking about a combination for some time, as they're both working on solving the same problems: how to help people connect with one another over time, how to make these connections work on various devices and how to filter information through friends."I think both companies start with the premise that the most valuable information in the world is the one that comes from the people you care about," he said. "Building technologies that leverage those relationships everywhere you go is where we're both starting from."
Cox would not say if Facebook plans to incorporate FriendFeed's real-time search capability into its site. He said Facebook has already been testing real-time search and that FriendFeed has done a great job with its own search.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
It's unclear what exactly Facebook plans to do with FriendFeed, which centers around the idea of instantaneously aggregating information from online destinations like short-messaging site Twitter, review site Yelp and photo-sharing site Flickr.
Gartner Inc. analyst Ray Valdes said the FriendFeed acquisition should help Facebook open up its site and boost features that show users more information in real time.
"They needed to do something to meet the Twitter challenge," he said, referring to the messaging site that has shown the type of buzz Facebook once enjoyed.
Chris Cox, Facebook's vice president of products, said the companies had been talking about a combination for some time, as they're both working on solving the same problems: how to help people connect with one another over time, how to make these connections work on various devices and how to filter information through friends."I think both companies start with the premise that the most valuable information in the world is the one that comes from the people you care about," he said. "Building technologies that leverage those relationships everywhere you go is where we're both starting from."
Cox would not say if Facebook plans to incorporate FriendFeed's real-time search capability into its site. He said Facebook has already been testing real-time search and that FriendFeed has done a great job with its own search.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Woods to be fined for criticism of rules official
Tiger Woods will be fined by the PGA Tour for his public criticism of a rules official after winning the Bridgestone Invitational, a tour official said Monday.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the tour does not publicize fines.Woods was bothered after his four-shot victory Sunday because he and Padraig Harrington were put on the clock at the par-5 16th. He said that caused Harrington to rush three difficult shots, leading to triple bogey.European Tour chief referee John Paramor told Woods and Harrington they were being timed.Woods said he told Harrington after it was over, "I'm sorry that John got in the way of a great battle."
Paramor said the final pairing was well behind most of the back nine, but officials gave them time to catch up. They were still 17 minutes out of position on the 16th tee, when they were put on the clock.Woods hooked his tee shot, punched out to 178 yards and hit an 8-iron that stopped a foot from the hole for birdie. From the right trees, Harrington hit a 5-iron to the edge of a bunker, went over the green, then hit a flop shot too hard and into the water. The four-shot swing took the drama from one of the most compelling final rounds of the year."I don't think that Paddy would have hit the pitch shot that way if he was able to take his time, look at it, analyze it," Woods said. "But he was on the clock, had to get up there quickly and hit it."Harrington conceded he was rushed, although he said it would be unfair to give the final group preferential treatment.Section VI-D in the PGA Tour's player handbook says, "It is an obligation of membership to refrain from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage tournaments, sponsors, fellow members, players, or PGA Tour."
Is multi-tasking bad for your brain? Experts reveal the hidden perils of juggling too many jobs
Multi-tasking has rapidly taken over our lives, to the point where we look woefully lax if we’re doing just one thing at a time.
We think nothing of texting while also watching television, surfing the internet and talking to our family. Indeed, drug companies are busy developing products to enhance our mental efficiency so that we can do even more. But scientists are discovering that today’s mania for cramming everything in at once is creating a perilous cocktail of brain problems, from severe stress and rage in adults to learning problems and autism-like behaviour in children. It also, ironically, often makes us less efficient. Advances in medical-scanning technology mean we can now watch what happens in the brain when people try to perform more than one complex task at a time. And the news isn’t good. The human brain doesn’t multi-task like an expert juggler; it switches frantically between tasks like a bad amateur plate-spinner.
The constant effort this requires means that doing even just two or three things at once puts far more demand on our brains compared with if we did them one after another.
We think nothing of texting while also watching television, surfing the internet and talking to our family. Indeed, drug companies are busy developing products to enhance our mental efficiency so that we can do even more. But scientists are discovering that today’s mania for cramming everything in at once is creating a perilous cocktail of brain problems, from severe stress and rage in adults to learning problems and autism-like behaviour in children. It also, ironically, often makes us less efficient. Advances in medical-scanning technology mean we can now watch what happens in the brain when people try to perform more than one complex task at a time. And the news isn’t good. The human brain doesn’t multi-task like an expert juggler; it switches frantically between tasks like a bad amateur plate-spinner.
The constant effort this requires means that doing even just two or three things at once puts far more demand on our brains compared with if we did them one after another.
Teen Choice 09
MILEY CYRUS IS GOING TO PERFORM !!! AND THE CASTS OF "TWILIGHT" AND "GLEE" WILL BE THERE TOO!!!! DON'T MISS THE SHOW- MONDAY, AUGUST 10, ON FOX
Miley Cyrus is doing her newest single, "Party in the U.S.A.," at TC 09. That's right, the pop Mega Star is all set to sing for you!
And, of course, you won't want to miss Dare the Jonas Brothers! That's going to be hilarious!
And, it's official. The casts of "Twilight" (Robert Pattison, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz) and FOX's new comedy series GLEE (Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Jenna Ushkowitz, Chris Colver, Amber Riley and Kevin McHale) will appear
Miley Cyrus is doing her newest single, "Party in the U.S.A.," at TC 09. That's right, the pop Mega Star is all set to sing for you!
And, of course, you won't want to miss Dare the Jonas Brothers! That's going to be hilarious!
And, it's official. The casts of "Twilight" (Robert Pattison, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz) and FOX's new comedy series GLEE (Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Jenna Ushkowitz, Chris Colver, Amber Riley and Kevin McHale) will appear
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