lita ford

   
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lita Ford (born 19 September 1958)^[1][2] is a British-born, American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career between the 1980s and late 2000s.

Lita Ford was born as Carlita Fordson to a British father and an Italian mother in London, England. She moved with her family to the United States at the age of 4 and began playing the guitar at the age of 11. Her vocal range is mezzo-soprano.^[3]
In 1975 at the age of 16 she joined the all-female rock band The Runaways, for whom she played lead guitar. They would score a record deal and have their first album released in 1976.
It was not long before the all-girl formation caught the eye of the media. Lita Ford's guitar skills made her a driving force in the band and a permanent member from her arrival to the band's eventual break-up.
In 1979, disagreements were erupting within the band, who had since parted ways with both producer Kim Fowley and lead singer Cherie Currie. Rhythm guitarist Joan Jett wanted the band to shift more towards Ramones-influenced punk music while Ford and drummer Sandy West wanted to continue playing hard rock-oriented songs.^[4] With neither side being able to compromise, the band finally broke up that year.



After the group split in 1979, Ford began a solo career. Her first album Out for Blood as well as the title single were released in 1983 and failed on the charts. The next effort, 1984's Dancin' on the Edge achieved moderate success. It included the single "Fire In My Heart" which reached the Top 10 in several countries but not the US. The next single "Gotta Let Go" was one of Ford's biggest hits. It reached Number One on the Mainstream Rock charts.
Ford toured extensively and made several guest appearances on TV shows for the next four years, but had no releases; a follow-up to Dancin' On The Edge, titled The Bride Wore Black, was abandoned and never released because Ford did not like the production of the album and this upset the head of her record label, leading to Ford switching from Mercury Records to RCA Records. The artist has described the album as being in "Label hell! Who knows what shelf that is sitting on!"
By the time Ford returned again, the lighter pop-metal she had long favoured had broken through to mainstream audiences, which set the stage for her most commercially successful album, 1988's Lita. With Sharon Osbourne as her manager, and again produced by herself, the album featured four commercial hits, including "Kiss Me Deadly", "Back To The Cave", "Close My Eyes Forever", and "Falling In And Out Of Love" (co-written with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe). The ballad "Close My Eyes Forever", a duet with Sharon's husband Ozzy Osbourne, was her only Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching #8.
Her next release was called Stiletto. It featured the singles "Hungry" and "Lisa" (the second was dedicated to her mother). However this album was not as successful as Dancin' On The Edge and Lita.
Ford's next release was Dangerous Curves, which featured her last charting single "Shot Of Poison". Ford's last release would be with ZYX Records and would be titled Black. It failed to repeat the success of 1991's Dangerous Curves.
During her solo years, she was an endorser of B.C. Rich guitars and used Warlock, Eagle, Mockingbird and Bich single and double-neck models.
Ford appears in the 1992 film Highway to Hell as 'The Hitchhiker'. Ford was also asked by VH-1 to be in the cast of The Surreal Life for its 7th season, in 2007. She declined.
In June 2008, Ford and her new solo band played several warm-up gigs prior to Rocklahoma under the name Kiss Me Deadly in the New York City area.^[6]
In June 2009, she began touring the US and Europe, with a new line-up consisting of Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Guns N' Roses guitarist, 2006–present) on guitar, Dennis Leeflang (Bumblefoot drummer) and PJ Farley on bass (Trixter, Ra) and Michael T. Ross (Angel/XYZ).
Ford released a new album Wicked Wonderland on 6 October 2009 via JLRG Entertainment.^[7]
In an interview with ExclusiveMagazine.com, talking about her new album Wicked Wonderland, Ford revealed the reason why its sound is heavier than the 80s music she once used to put out - "I just wanted to kick ass! I don’t know what’s popular, or the flavour of the day. I just wanted the music to ROCK! The lyrics are very personal and that’s it. I wasn’t going to come out in sandals with hairy armpits!".^[8]
Ford contributed her likeness and voice to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game, Brütal Legend. She appears as the character Rima, alongside Jack Black, Tim Curry, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Halford, and Lemmy Kilmister. Her song "Betrayal" is also one of the 100+ songs that appear in the game.
In 2010, Ford was portrayed by actress Scout Taylor-Compton in the movie The Runaways.
In May 2011 Ford promised a "real comeback album" later in the year, saying the last one, Wicked Wonderland, recorded with Jim Gillette (to whom she was married at the time) was too much of a collective project. "A lot of people have told me that they want a real Lita album, and I know what they mean. They are going to get it," she said
Ford married former Nitro singer Jim Gillette in 1994, after knowing each other for two weeks. They have two sons, James and Rocco Gillette. The family moved to Turks and Caicos, where Gillette has a successful building and real estate developing business.^[10]
In a February 2011 radio interview, Lita Ford acknowledged that she and Gillette were divorcing.^[11] The family was in negotiations for a reality TV show, tentatively titled "The Gillettes: An Extreme American Family" on TLC, but they ended due to the impending divorce. In a March 2011 interview on the Classic Rock Revisited website, Ford claimed that she had taken a business trip to Los Angeles to discuss the reality show with TLC executives, and returned home to find her husband and sons not speaking to her. She also claimed that her sons physically attacked her, egged on by Gillette, which was when she decided to divorce Gillette and cancel the reality series

Valkyrie (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Valkyrie is a 2008 American historical thriller film set in Nazi Germany during World War II. The film depicts the 20 July plot in 1944 by German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to use the Operation Valkyrie national emergency plan to take control of the country. Valkyrie was directed by Bryan Singer for the American studio United Artists, and the film stars Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, one of the key plotters. The cast included Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp and Tom Wilkinson.
Cruise's casting caused controversy among German politicians and members of the von Stauffenberg family due to the actor's practice of Scientology, which is viewed with suspicion in Germany. Because of this, the film makers initially had difficulty setting up filming locations in Germany, but they were later given access to film in locations pertaining to the film's story, such as Berlin's historic Bendlerblock. German newspapers and filmmakers supported the film and its attempt to spread global awareness of von Stauffenberg's plot.
The film changed release dates several times, from as early as June 27, 2008 to as late as February 14, 2009. The changing calendar and poor response to United Artists' initial marketing campaign drew criticism about the studio's viability. After a positive test screening, Valkyrie's release in North America was ultimately changed to December 25, 2008. United Artists renewed its marketing campaign to reduce its focus on Cruise and to highlight Singer's credentials. The film received mixed reviews in the United States. It opened commercially in Germany on January 22, 2009, where reports were mixed about the German reception of the film.

Plot

During World War II, Wehrmacht Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise) is severely wounded during an RAF air raid in Tunisia, losing a hand and an eye, and is evacuated home to Nazi Germany. Meanwhile, Major General Henning von Tresckow (Branagh) attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler by smuggling a bomb aboard the Führer's personal airplane. The bomb, however, is a dud and fails to detonate, and Tresckow flies to Berlin in order to safely retrieve it. After learning that the Gestapo has arrested Major General Hans Oster, he orders General Olbricht (Nighy) to find a replacement. After recruiting von Stauffenberg into the German Resistance, Olbricht presents von Stauffenberg at a meeting of the secret committee which has coordinated previous attempts on Hitler's life. The members include General Ludwig Beck (Stamp), Dr. Carl Goerdeler (McNally), and Erwin von Witzleben (Schofield). Stauffenberg is stunned to learn that no plans exist on the subject of what is to be done after Hitler's assassination.
During a bombing raid on Berlin, he gets the idea of using Operation Valkyrie, which involves the deployment of the Reserve Army to maintain order in the event of a national emergency. The plotters carefully redraft the plan's orders so that they can dismantle the Nazi regime after assassinating Hitler. Realizing that only General Friedrich Fromm (Wilkinson), the head of the Reserve Army, can initiate Valkyrie, they offer him a position as head of the Wehrmacht in a post-Nazi Germany and request his support, but Fromm declines to be directly involved. With the rewritten Operation Valkyrie orders needing to be signed by Hitler (Bamber), von Stauffenberg visits the Führer at his Berghof estate in Bavaria. In the presence of Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Wilhelm Keitel, Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Göring and Albert Speer, his inner circle, Hitler praises von Stauffenberg's heroism in North Africa and signs the orders without fully examining the modifications, believing von Stauffenberg's changes are "for the best".
At Goerdeler's insistence, von Stauffenberg is ordered to assassinate both Hitler and SS head Himmler at the Führer's command bunker, the Wolf's Lair. At a final briefing, Colonel Mertz von Quirnheim (Berkel) instructs the committee members in the use of pencil detonators. Von Stauffenberg also persuades General Fellgiebel (Izzard), who controls all communications at Wolf's Lair, to cut off communications after the bomb blast. On July 15, 1944, von Stauffenberg attends a strategy meeting at Wolf's Lair with the bomb in his briefcase, but with Himmler not present at the meeting, von Stauffenberg does not get the go-ahead from the committee leaders, and by the time one of them defies the others and tells him to do it anyway, the meeting is over. Meanwhile, the Reserve Army is mobilized by Olbricht, unbeknownst to Fromm, to stand by. With no action taken, von Stauffenberg safely extracts himself and the bomb from the bunker, and the Reserve Army is ordered to stand down, believing that the mobilization was training. Back in Berlin, Olbrecht and von Stauffenberg are threatened by Fromm that if they try to control the reserve army again he will have them arrested; von Stauffenberg goes to the committee to protest their indecisiveness and condemns Goerdeler, who has been selected to be chancellor after the coup. When Goerdeler demands that von Stauffenberg be relieved, Beck informs him that the SS is searching for him and implores him to leave the country immediately.
On July 20, 1944, von Stauffenberg and his adjutant Lieutenant Haeften (Parker) return to Wolf's Lair. To von Stauffenberg's dismay, he discovers only after the timer has been activated that the conference is being held in an open-window summer barrack, whereas the plotters had intended to detonate the bomb within the walls of the bunker for maximum damage. While his adjuntant waits with the car, von Stauffenberg places the briefcase with the bomb armed at the meeting as close to Hitler as possible. Von Stauffenberg then leaves the barrack, returning to the car. When the bomb explodes, von Stauffenberg is certain that Hitler is dead and flees Wolf's Lair. Before shutting down communications, Fellgiebel calls Mertz about the explosion but cannot clearly convey whether or not the Führer is dead.
As von Stauffenberg flies back to Berlin, Olbricht refuses to mobilize the Reserve Army until he knows without a doubt that Hitler is dead (if Hitler isn't dead, Olbrecht will be arrested for having the reserve army mobilized without Fromm's premission). Behind Olbricht's back, Mertz forges his signature and issues the orders anyway. With Operation Valkyrie underway, von Stauffenberg and his fellow plotters order the arrest of Nazi party leaders and SS officers, convincing lower officers that the Party and the SS are staging a coup. As Von Stauffenberg begins to take control of Berlin's government ministries, mid-level officers relaying the orders begin to wonder which side they should be fighting for. Rumors reach Berlin that Hitler survived the blast, but von Stauffenberg dismisses them as SS propaganda. Meanwhile, Fromm learns from Field Marshal Keitel that Hitler is still alive. The General refuses to join the plotters, resulting in them detaining him. Major Otto Ernst Remer of the Reserve Army prepares to arrest Goebbels, but is stopped when Goebbels connects him by phone to Hitler. Immediately recognizing the voice on the other end, Remer realizes that the Reserve Army has been duped - rather than containing a coup, they have unwittingly supported it. SS officers are released and the plotters in turn are besieged inside the Bendlerblock. The headquarters staff flees, but the resistance leaders are arrested. In an ultimately vain effort to save himself, General Fromm convenes an impromptu court martial and sentences the conspirators to death, contravening Hitler's orders that they be kept alive. Given a pistol by Fromm, Beck commits suicide. That night, the ringleaders are then executed by firing squad one by one. When his turn arrives, Colonel Stauffenberg's last act is to cry "Long live sacred Germany!"
A brief epilogue informs that the conspiracy of July 20th, 1944 was the last of fifteen known assassination attempts on Hitler by Germans. It also mentions Hitler's suicide nine months later and that Countess Nina von Stauffenberg and her children survived the war. The dedication at the Memorial to the German Resistance is then superimposed:

You did not bear the shame. You resisted. You bestowed an eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honor.

Cast

• Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg: The German army Colonel who was instrumental in the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Bryan Singer saw von Stauffenberg as "very much a humanist", saying, "He understood his role as a colonel, but he also understood that the Nazis were doing terrible, terrible, terrible things." Having directed Superman Returns, Singer compared von Stauffenberg's dual identity as loyal colonel and conspirator to Superman and his civilian identity Clark Kent.^[3] Cruise had wanted to work with Singer since they met at the premiere for Mission: Impossible, and the actor was enticed by the script's background, the truth of which struck him as a surprise.^[4] The actor described von Stauffenberg's heroism, "I thought of it in terms of what [von] Stauffenberg represents. He was someone who realized that he had to take the steps that ultimately cost him his life... He recognized what was at stake."^[5] Cruise felt von Stauffenberg did not think of himself as a hero.^[6] The actor prepared for the role for eight months by hiring a researcher, studying history books, and speaking with some of von Stauffenberg's family.^[7] Since von Stauffenberg lost his left eye, right hand and two fingers on his left hand in an Allied attack in Tunisia, Cruise affected the same disabilities to practice dressing, moving items and writing.^[5] Cruise initially found the eyepatch difficult to work with but acknowledged that von Stauffenberg had to live with this discomfort.^[6]
• Kenneth Branagh as Major General Henning von Tresckow:^[8] Branagh differed physically from the real Tresckow, who was balding, but Singer said, "[I]f you look at Tresckow's energy, he had an honesty that Branagh has."^[9]
• Bill Nighy as General Friedrich Olbricht:^[8] Nighy was cast to give a sympathetic quality, so Olbricht would not be the "fall guy". Nighy wanted to convey Olbricht as divided between complaining about Hitler's regime and actually doing something about it.^[6] The actor described his portrayal, "One of the most disconcerting things imaginable is to put on a Nazi uniform. It's so associated with evil that it took me several days to get used to being in costume."^[10]
• Terence Stamp as Colonel General Ludwig Beck:^[8] Singer met Stamp to discuss playing a part in X-Men, having admired him for portraying General Zod in Superman II. Stamp endured the Blitz as a child and aided Singer in staging a scene where the von Stauffenbergs hide from the Allied bombings.^[11] The actor described his approach to portraying Beck: "There has to be a kind of non-judgmental discernment, so when I'm playing villains, they don't think they're particularly villains." The actor sought to find "the part of Terence that would be prepared to fall on his sword for certain ideals".^[3]
• Tom Wilkinson as Colonel General Friedrich Fromm: The head of Germany's Reserve Army. Wilkinson was cast to make the treacherous Fromm sympathetic.^[6]
• Carice van Houten as Nina Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg: von Stauffenberg's wife. The filmmakers were impressed by her performance in Black Book, and argued she could give a strong performance with minimal dialogue. Screenwriter Nathan Alexander spoke to von Stauffenberg's relatives and noted that, although Nina and Claus never directly spoke about the plot, "in a sense it was all they talked about".^[6]
• Kevin McNally as Dr. Carl Friedrich Goerdeler: A German politician who intends to become chancellor of Germany after a successful coup.
• David Schofield as Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben: A retired general and one of the plotters. Singer and Producer Christopher McQuarrie were impressed by Schofield's professionalism and dedication to show up on set for scenes without his character, and the filmmakers expanded his role as a result.^[12]
• Christian Berkel as Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim: A plotter with knowledge of explosives.
• Jamie Parker as Lieutenant Werner von Haeften: An adjutant to von Stauffenberg who helps the colonel carry out the plot.
• Eddie Izzard as General Erich Fellgiebel: A German officer responsible for communications at Hitler's bunker Wolf's Lair.
• David Bamber as Adolf Hitler: The Führer of Germany. During Bamber's audition for the role, Singer was struck by Bamber's eyes and stated that Bamber had a quality that resonated with Hitler.^[12]
• Thomas Kretschmann as Major Otto Ernst Remer: Commanding officer of Großdeutschland guard battalion. Kretschmann was the original choice to play von Stauffenberg before Singer joined the production, when McQuarrie was intending to direct.^[13]
• Harvey Friedman as Dr. Joseph Goebbels: Minister of Propaganda and a member of Hitler's inner circle.
• Kenneth Cranham portrays Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel: The head of the OKW and a member of Hitler's inner circle.
• Matthias Freihof as Heinrich Himmler: The head of Schutzstaffel and a member of Hitler's inner circle.
• Philipp von Schulthess as Major General Henning von Tresckow's aide: Von Schulthess is the grandson of Claus von Stauffenberg.^[14]

Other portrayals of Nazis included Gerhard Haase-Hindenberg as Hermann Göring, Anton Algrang as Albert Speer, Werner Daehn as Major Ernst John von Freyend, Waldemar Kobus as Wolf-Heinrich Graf von Helldorf, Tom Hollander as Colonel Heinz Brandt, Helmut Stauss as Dr. Roland Freisler, Matthew Burton as Lieutenant-General Adolf Heusinger, Bernard Hill as a General working with Stauffenberg in Tunisia, and Ian McNeice as the composite "Pompous General" who attempts to disrupt the coup headquarters. Though the general is not named in the film, McQuarrie and Alexander said the character was based on General Joachim von Kortzfleisch, who tried to disrupt the coup in the same fashion. Patrick Wilson was originally cast in Valkyrie, but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts and other unspecified reasons.^[15] Stephen Fry was also offered a role in the film but was unable to participate.^[16]
Some of the non-German actors initially experimented with German accents, but Singer discarded the idea, instead instructing them to adopt neutral accents that "[wouldn't] distract from the story".^[7] Singer added he was not making a docu-drama and wanted to make the story engaging.

valkyrie

 
Based on actual events, a plot to assassinate Hitler is unfurled during the height of WWII.

Director:

Bryan Singer

Writers:

Christopher McQuarrie, Nathan Alexander

Stars:

Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy and Carice van Houten

Watch Trailer

Melissa Gilbert files for divorce from Bruce Boxleitner

Melissa Gilbert has filed for divorce from Bruce Boxleitner, making the move to end their 16-year marriage a little more than five months after they announced their separation.
The petition was filed Monday in L.A. and gave the date of the actors' separation as January, the month of their 16th anniversary. The very common "irreconcilable differences" was cited, with Gilbert seeking spousal support and joint custody of their 15-year-old son, Michael Boxleitner.
"We have loved each other for a very long time," Gilbert said in March, "and we share four incredible sons together." In addition to their son together, Boxleitner, 61, and Gilbert, 47, have one son from her previous marriage and two from his.
Gilbert is perhaps best known for her work on "Little House on the Prairie." Boxleitner, seen reprising his 1982 "TRON" roles in December's "TRON: Legacy," starred with Kate Jackson on the "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" and was a regular on "Babylon 5."
In other Gilbert family news, Melissa's younger sister Sara Gilbert, 36, has split with Allison Adler, 47, her partner of 10 years.
"The Talk" host and her ex plan to share custody of their 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, People said Wednesday.

Minka Kelly and Derek Jeter have 'amicable' breakup

Minka Kelly and Derek Jeter have called it quits on their three-year relationship, which had been peppered with engagement and marriage rumors. Yep, it's a sad day in Pretty-ville.
"The split was amicable," Kelly's reps first told Just Jared about the breakup. "But they remain friends. They still really care for each other."
Perhaps that means there were no in-flight meltdowns in response to the romantic strikeout.
The New York Yankees shortstop, 37, and the star of the upcoming "Charlie's Angels" TV reboot, 31, had kept mum about their relationship, but Kelly was frequently spotted on his arm and was in the stadium for Jeter's 3,000th career hit in July. "The Roommate" actress also appeared in the HBO documentary "Derek Jeter 3K" last month, which chronicled the baseball star's career.
Jeter's little black book includes Mariah Carey, Miss Universe Lara Dutta, Scarlett Johansson, singer Joy Enriquez, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Tyra Banks and many, many others. Kelly has been romantically linked to Chris Evans, Donald Faison, and, of course, John Mayer.
Kelly is currently shooting her ABC show in Miami; it premieres Sept. 22. And here's a clip of Kelly and her costars kicking butt Drew Barrymore-style.

minka kelly

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Minka Dumont Kelly (born June 24, 1980) is an American actress. She starred in the NBC series Friday Night Lights as Lyla Garrity from 2006 to 2009.
Kelly was born Minka Dumont Dufay^[1] in Los Angeles.^[2] She is the only child of former Aerosmith guitarist Rick Dufay^[3] and Maureen Dumont Kelly, an exotic dancer and single mother who often moved with her daughter to different communities, before settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by the time Minka was in junior high school.^[4] She is of Irish and French descent.^[5]
When she was 19, after graduating from Valley High School in Albuquerque, NM, Kelly returned to Los Angeles.^[4] While on a test shoot for a modeling agency, she was approached by a former Playboy Playmate interested in managing her, and who placed Kelly as a receptionist at a surgeon's office who would provide Kelly breast augmentation in exchange for hours worked. She ultimately decided against the procedure, leading to her being fired.^[4] However, the exposure to the medical field prompted her to attend school for a year to become a surgeon's assistant; afterward, she worked as a scrub tech.^[4] She spent four years in that vocation while also auditioning as an actress before landing the new NBC television drama Friday Night Lights, based on the high school football movie of that name.^[4] In the interim, she had small roles in movies and shows, including the film State's Evidence, and a recurring guest role on the TV sitcom What I Like About You.^[3]
In preparation for her role as cheerleader Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights, she trained with the Pflugerville High School cheerleading squad.^[2] Kelly received praise for her acting on the series, with The New York Times calling her performance "heartbreaking."^[6]
She shot a cameo for The Kingdom, alongside Jamie Foxx. Peter Berg, the creator and pilot director of Friday Night Lights, directed the film.^[7] Kelly was the lead actor on The CW's 2009 pilot Body Politic, which did not go to series. Kelly was a member of the ensemble quartet that starred in the CBS comedy pilot Mad Love, playing Kate, a Midwestern girl who falls in love with Henry at the top of the Empire State Building, but was replaced by Sarah Chalke.^[8]
Kelly appeared with Alyson Hannigan, Jaime King, Emily Deschanel, and Katharine McPhee in a video slumber party featured on FunnyorDie.com to promote regular breast cancer screenings for the organization Stand Up 2 Cancer.^[9]
In 2010, ABC announced that Kelly would join the cast of the upcoming remake of the television series Charlie's Angels.^[10] That same year, Kelly also was named "Sexiest Woman Alive" in the annual Esquire magazine feature.^[4] She accepted a role in the Off Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore for an April 27 through May 29, 2011 run with Conchata Ferrell, AnnaLynne McCord, Anne Meara, and B. Smith.^[11]
Kelly dated Dylan Brazil in 2005,^[12] and had relationships with actors Chris Evans and Donald Faison. She dated musician John Mayer from September 2007 to January 2008. She dated baseball player Derek Jeter^[13][14] from 2008 until August 26, 2011.
 

Hurricane Irene gains strength; targets North Carolina's Ocracoke Island

Hurricane Irene ramped up to a Category 3 storm Wednesday morning, with destructive 115 miles per hour winds heading straight for the East Coast.
The storm increased in ferocity as it passed over the Bahamas and meteorologists fear it could become stronger by the time it reaches U.S. mainland this weekend.
Evacuations began on the small tourist island of Ocracoke, part of North Carolina's Outer Banks, which is one of the first places expected to be hit when the storm reaches U.S. soil.
The 16-mile-long barrier island is home to about 800 permanent residents and thousands more flock there for vacation in the summer months.
It is only accessible by boat so getting people off the island in time could be a challenge, and it is the first real test to see if people are heeding official warnings to get out of the hurricane's path.
Meteorologists are urging residents all along the East Coast, as far up as Maine, to be prepared as Irene could bring heavy rain, mass flooding and power outages.
The storm is expected to hit North Carolina at the weekend and will then change course and head northwards, passing Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The hurricane's center is likely to be off the coast but the eastern tip of Long Island could experience the full force of mother nature.
This is the first major storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the first hurricane to seriously threaten the U.S. since Ike slammed into Texas in 2008.
The last Category 3 storm to come ashore on the East Coast was seven years ago when Hurricane Jeanne struck Florida in 2004.
Irene has already carved out a destructive path across the Caribbean, first striking Puerto Rico with 10 inches of torrential rain and dangerous winds.
More than a million people were without power on the island and one woman died - causing President Obama to declare an emergency to make the island eligible for federal help.
Irene then headed toward the Dominican Republic, where hundreds of people were forced to seek shelter in schools and churches.

How to Look Pretty

This article will show you how to improve your looks and overall appearance and make you and others feel beautiful inside and out. Even though it is good to want to enhance your appearance, remember that everyone is beautiful, the way they are.

1. Make the effort to smile every once in a while. That will make you feel good about yourself, and make others feel positive. You can even practice smiling in the mirror--it'll be a great start to your day and put you in a good mood. Think of something that made you laugh, and you'll have the most charming and pretty smile!

2. Clean up. Remove acne from your face. Use a light moisturizer that is oil free and contains SPF 15 or higher. If you have redness from Rosacea use Aveeno Ultra Calming facial wash and moisturizer, it works wonders. And also wash your hair every other day, unless you are a victim of dry hair and/or scalp. You should ask a professional hair stylist to recommend products to keep your hair healthy. You want your hair to look clean, healthy, and shiny...not oily and gross or dry and brittle.

3. Try going for that fresh summer look, but DO NOT cake it on. Makeup is made to enhance your natural features, not cover them. Eyeliner adds definition to your eyes. Choose a natural and subtle shade, like brown, to create a strictly neutral look. If you want you neutral look to be a bit bolder, try adding a thin line of black eyeliner. If you really need eyeshadow, which brightens up your eyes, make it natural and light. Try making it a champagne or brown color for that natural look. Mascara really opens up your eyes and makes your lashes super pretty. Also, add some clear lip gloss to enhance your lips. Don't wear shocking colors during the day. Stay pretty natural during the day and play it up during the night. If you have pimples or other face irritation, use an acne formula that won't dry out your skin. If your parents don't let you wear makeup, then you are probably really pretty without it.

4.  Try your perfumes (if you have them), and see what makes you feel best. Also, you can try scented body lotions, or body splashes. You will probably want a refreshing smell. Spritz yourself once or twice on your wrist (it is not a good idea to rub your wrists together because it can change the scent), and then onto your elbows and neck. That creates a hint of scent, which is sexy. To make the perfume last longer, rub a dab of petroleum jelly on the 'hot spots' of your body and then spray the perfume, so the scent will have something to cling to. Hot spots are places that generate a lot of heat and help the perfume smell stronger (located on the inner-wrist, crease of elbow, below the neck and above the chest, behind the ears, and behind the knee). You can also spray perfume on your brush before brushing it through the hair to give it a nice scent.

5. Remember that confidence is a very important thing

6. Buy clothing that flatters you. Black clothes are slimming, as are vertical stripes- Be modest, so don't wear shirts that are too low, or shirts or skirts too short. Ask people at your favorite clothing store to help you find clothing that are flattering to your figure. Flatter a 'blah' outfit with accessories. Try a headband or a cute necklace, but don't over-accessorize! In the infamous words of Coco Chanel, 'take off one accessory before you go out the door.'

7. Take care of your hair. Get it trimmed regularly. Google colors and styles that best fit your face shape and hair type.

• Brush your hair everyday, because it will bring oil from the roots of your hair to the rest of your hair. The oil at the roots of your hair not only keep your hair shiny, but it will protect it. Plus, the oil roots of your hair can collect and ruin your appearance. Apply a heat protectant if straightening or curling your hair, otherwise it can get damaged very easily. Healthy hair is pretty. You might need some kind of protection spray or shampoo to protect your hair from sun damage.
• If you wish to dye your hair, make sure it's a dye that suits your skin tone--two shades darker or lighter than the natural color of your hair. It's not recommended however, as it can cause breakage.
• On occasion, try considering a professional hairdresser. The extra money is worth it, and the products they use are better quality. If you're not sure what hair cut looks good on you, ask your stylist what haircuts suit your face shape [i.e. round, oval, square, heart shaped]. Don't be afraid to get wild with that hair! Go for something different that flatters that beautiful face of yours!

8. Body language says a lot! Stand up straight. Let others know that you respect yourself, and they will follow your lead. Plus, it has the visual effect of smoothing out any bulges that aren't particularly flattering. Posture is important and can make you look more attractive. Standing or sitting slumped burns fewer calories then sitting or standing up straight

9. Understand the value of inner beauty. There are "pretty" people in this world, but beauty is uncommon. A bad attitude makes the difference. Being horrible towards others will make you really ugly, and make people stop paying attention to your looks.

• • With that in mind, remember that all the makeup in the world won't help if you are unhappy and negative towards others.
• Love yourself, love others and you will feel and look great. People are attracted to and feel comfortable with people who respect themselves. Liking yourself and respecting yourself doesn't mean you are conceited, it just shows others that you are happy about your appearance.
• Be yourself, be warm to others, and feel great. Soon enough, others are bound to notice.

10. If your friends give you positive compliments, don't try to change them into negative ones. Accept them and use them to make you feel even better. Expressing a modest "thank you" is much healthier than putting yourself down.

 11. Exercise. Looking great doesn't mean makeup and clothes, it means feeling good about yourself and staying healthy. Try to exercise for at least a half hour every day, and drink 8 glasses of water daily. The water helps you get a nice glow in your skin and makes your complexion much clearer

12. If you don't have time to exercise try doing some brisk walking while running errands.

13. Get enough sleep. This will help you to always look your best. Regular sleeping patterns help your body to effectively regenerate and feel great the next day! Avoid sleeping on your face, this will cause wrinkles.

14. Maintain good dental hygiene - Brush your teeth after every meal, floss twice daily, and use mouth wash

However, don't brush too hard - you may think it cleans your teeth better, but it's only damaging them. Make sure you don't brush until at least 10 minutes after your meal. Doing otherwise can damage your enamel, which will make is painful to chew sugary and cold/warm foods.

15. Remove unwanted body hair. Wax, shave, or pluck body hair such as bikini line, armpit hair, leg hair, eyebrow hair and other areas.

16. Believe you are beautiful! If you don't think it, no one else will. Simply look in the mirror and say this: I Am Beautiful. Although you may not think so, everyone is beautiful in their own way. You can look the part by smiling. That is the easiest way to be pretty. Remember - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

17. Take a bath once every week, but don't make it too hot or too cold. It is a great way to relieve stress.



 

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Seven Wonders of the World (or the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) refers to remarkable constructions of classical antiquity^[1] listed by various authors in guidebooks popular among the ancient Hellenic tourists, particularly in the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. The most prominent of these, the versions by Antipater of Sidon and an observer identified as Philon of Byzantium, comprise seven works located around the Mediterranean rim. The original list inspired innumerable versions through the ages, often listing seven entries. Of the original Seven Wonders, only one—the Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest of the ancient wonders—has remained relatively intact until the present day.
The Greek conquest of much of the known world in the 4th century BC gave Hellenistic travelers access to the civilizations of the Egyptians, Persians, and Babylonians.^[2] Impressed and captivated by the landmarks and marvels of the various lands, these travelers began to list what they saw.^[3] Such a list of these places made it easier to remember them.^[4] Indeed, instead of "wonders", the ancient Greeks spoke of "theamata", which means "sights", in other words "things to be seen". (Τὰ ἑπτὰ θεάματα τῆς οἰκουμένης [γῆς] Tà heptà theámata tēs oikoumenēs [gēs]) Later, the word for "wonder" ("thaumata") was used, and this is also the case in modern Greek (Επτά θαύματα του αρχαίου κόσμου).^[5] Hence, the list was meant to be the Ancient World's counterpart of a travel guidebook.^[2]
Each person had his own version of the list, but the best known and earliest surviving was from a poem by Greek-speaking epigrammist Antipater of Sidon from around 140 BC.^[4] He named seven sites on his list, but was primarily in praise of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus:
Another 2nd century BC observer, who claimed to be the mathematician Philon of Byzantium,^[6] wrote a short account entitled The Seven Sights of the World. However, the incomplete surviving manuscript only covered six of the supposedly seven places, which agreed with Antipater's list.^[4]
Earlier and later lists by the historian Herodotus (484 BC–ca. 425 BC) and the architect Callimachus of Cyrene (ca. 305–240 BC), housed at the Museum of Alexandria, survived only as references.
The Colossus of Rhodes was the last of the seven to be completed, after 280 BC, and the first to be destroyed, by an earthquake in 226/225 BC. Hence, all seven existed at the same time for a period of less than 60 years. Antipater had an earlier version which replaced Lighthouse of Alexandria with the Walls of Babylon.^[4] Lists which preceded the construction of Colossus of Rhodes completed their seven entries with the inclusion of the Ishtar Gate.
In the 6th century, a list of seven wonders was compiled by Gregory, Bishop of Tours. The list included the Temple of Solomon, the Pharos of Alexandria and Noah's Ark

Rep. Maxine Waters: ‘The tea party can go straight to hell’

California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, who had some tough words for the leaders of her own party last week, took aim at the other side on Saturday, saying that the tea party could "go straight to hell."
"I'm not afraid of anybody," Waters said at a weekend community meeting in Inglewood, California. "This is a tough game. You can't be intimidated. You can't be frightened. And as far as I'm concerned, the tea party can go straight to hell."
 At a job fair in Detroit last week, the 11-term congresswoman said that black members of Congress were growing "tired" of defending President Barack Obama in the face of high unemployment rates.
"We do not put pressure on the president because y'all love the president," Waters said. "You are very proud to have a black man as president for the very first time in the history of the United States of America. ... The Congressional Black Caucus loves the president, too. We're supportive of the president, but we're getting tired. We're getting tired. The unemployment is unconscionable. We don't know what the strategy is."

Rep. Maxine Waters says blacks want Obama to get tough

The L.A. Democrat says unhappiness with the president is rising among African Americans who want him to stand up to Republicans and fight for the poor.

 

• August 18, 2011|By Michael Muskal, Los Angeles TimesAs far as Rep. Maxine Waters in concerned, it is time for President Obama to get tough with Republicans and put together proposals that help the poor and especially the hard-hit African American community.
  Speaking at a job fair in Atlanta on Thursday, the fiery Los Angeles Democrat said there was rising unhappiness among African Americans with the nation's first black president.

Terrelle Pryor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Terrelle Pryor (born June 20, 1989) is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2008−2010. Considered the most recruited high school football-basketball athlete in southwestern Pennsylvania since Tom Clements,^[1] Pryor was widely regarded as the nation's top football prospect of 2008, and was named "Junior of the Year" by Rivals.com.^[2] Pryor originally hoped to be a two-sport athlete as he was also one of the nation's most heralded high school basketball players, but he has chosen to focus on football
In high school, Pryor was clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash,^[4] and because of his athleticism and 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) frame, he drew comparisons to former Texas standout Vince Young.^[5] Pryor also lived up to his recruiting ranking as a basketball player by leading the Jeannette Jayhawks to win their first WPIAL Championship in over 20 years, and then on to win the Pennsylvania PIAA state basketball championship game as a senior. During his junior year, he led the Jayhawks to their first Pennsylvania PIAA Class "AA" state football championship game where they lost to the Warriors of Wilson Area High School.^[6] During the 2007 football season, Pryor and the Jayhawks repeated as champions of the WPIAL. In the Pennsylvania state semi-finals against Wilmington, Terrelle became the first player in Pennsylvania history to run for 4,000 yards and also throw for 4,000 yards. The following week, Pryor led the Jayhawks to their first-ever Pennsylvania state championship by defeating the Dunmore Bucks, 49-21.^[7][8] At the conclusion of the season, Pryor had quarterbacked the Jayhawks to a Pennsylvania state season record of 860 points.^[9] Pryor's high school accomplishments include being the two-time Pennsylvania Player of the Year, the offensive Player of the Year and the MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl


Pryor was widely considered^{[by whom?]} the top football recruit in the Class of 2008. He was ranked number four in the ESPNU 150 and the number one quarterback. Throughout his high school career, Pryor acquired numerous scholarship offers, initially committing to the hometown University of Pittsburgh to play basketball under coach Jamie Dixon. However, by his senior year his top interests were Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and Oregon. Sports Illustrated called Pryor's announcement "the most anticipated signing day announcement in history."^[12]
Pryor originally intended to announce his decision on February 6, National Signing Day, but later changed his mind, stating he still had not decided among Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State.^[13][14] Following the Jeannette basketball team's state championship victory on March 15, Pryor stated he would make his college decision within one week.^[15] On March 19, 2008 Pryor announced at a press conference that he would attend Ohio State University
Pryor saw limited action in the Buckeye's season opener against Youngstown State. He took more snaps against USC on September 13, 2008, completing 7 of 9 passes for 59 yards, as well as rushing for 40 yards on 11 carries.
On September 20, 2008, Pryor threw for four touchdowns (an Ohio State record for a freshman) and one interception in his first career start for Ohio State. Ohio State beat Troy 28-10. On October 4, 2008, Pryor ran for the winning touchdown against Wisconsin on an option play with running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. On October 25, 2008 against Penn State Pryor threw for a career high 226 yards, connecting on 16 of 25 passes.^[17] Against Illinois on November 15, 2008, Pryor had his first career 100 yard rushing day running for 110 yards and a touchdown. In the Fiesta Bowl he lined up at receiver and caught his first touchdown pass in college. Pryor led Ohio State to a 8-1 record as a starter in his freshman year; his only loss as a starter was against Penn State. (Todd Boeckman made the start in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas.) Following the 2008 Big Ten Conference football season, he was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection by the media and Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the coaches
Before his sophomore year began he ran a 4.33 forty in a race against Ray Small and many others.^[19] He was the fastest Buckeye in 2009.^[19] In his sophomore year Pryor led the Buckeyes to another Big Ten Championship. After starting the season slow he eventually developed into a better passer, and went on to earn the 2010 Rose Bowl MVP trophy after leading Ohio State to a 26-17 victory over Oregon. Pryor had the best passing game of his career, and also rushed for 72 yards. Following the 2009 Big Ten Conference football season, he was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection by the media.^[20]
Entering 2010, Ohio State began second in most polls and Pryor began the season as a favorite for numerous awards. On September 25, 2010, Pryor had a break-out game in a 73-20 win over Eastern Michigan. He had 6 total touchdowns, including one rushing and one receiving. Following the 2010 Big Ten Conference football season, he was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection by both the coaches and the media.^[21] He was edged out by Denard Robinson as the 2010 Big Ten Conference MVP as voted by the Big Ten coaches. They had the same number of first place votes.^[22]
On December 23, 2010, the NCAA ruled that Pryor and four of his teammates would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, as a sanction for selling memorabilia

Raiders draft Terrelle Pryor

The Raiders and the league announced that Oakland used the 18th selection of the round for Pryor. Oakland forfeits its third-round selection in the 2012 draft.
Pryor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client was excited about going in the third round after waiting until last Thursday to find out he'd even be eligible for the supplemental draft and not working out for teams until Saturday.
"We're tickled and thrilled that Terrelle went in the third round and to the Raiders," Rosenhaus said. "The third round is quite an accomplishment for a young man who had his pro day 48 hours ago and didn't know he would be in the draft until Thursday morning and wasn't able to meet with any decision makers."
Pryor immediately headed to the Bay Area after being drafted and Rosenhaus said he hoped to finalize a contract as soon as possible to get Pryor on the practice field. Rosenhaus has already negotiated a third-round deal with the Raiders this summer with rookie cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke.
"We're optimistic this will be a smooth negotiation," he said. "We enjoy working with the Raiders and he's very excited."
Based on the rookie scale used to sign picks from April's draft, Pryor would be expected to get a four-year deal at $2.36 million, including a $591,000 signing bonus.
A Raiders source told ESPN.com's John Clayton earlier Monday that the team is looking at Pryor more as receiver than a quarterback at the NFL level. However, another team source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Raiders are still interested in Pryor at quarterback.
Pryor will be able to practice immediately after signing and play in the remaining two exhibition games. But he will not be eligible to practice with or play for Oakland during the regular season until the team's sixth game.
When he was allowed to enter Monday's draft, he was handed a five-game suspension by commissioner Roger Goodell -- the same number of games he would have sat out had he returned to Ohio State. Pryor has said he will not appeal the suspension.
Pryor gave up his final season with the Buckeyes after an investigation into the team's memorabilia-for-cash scandal that cost coach Jim Tressel his job.
His selection by the Raiders hardly is surprising. Oakland often makes bold moves in the draft because owner Al Davis covets size and speed. Pryor ran a 4.36 in the 40 during his workout for 17 NFL teams Saturday. At 6-foot-5 and 232 pounds, he is similar in height to JaMarcus Russell, the LSU quarterback chosen No. 1 overall by the Raiders in the 2007 draft.
But Pryor is much more mobile. As a junior, Pryor had his best season statistically, throwing for 2,772 yards and 27 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He also ran for 754 yards and four scores while helping the Buckeyes win the Sugar Bowl.
"We all know how Al Davis likes big players who can run and Terrelle brings a dimension of size and speed that's unique to the quarterback position," Rosenhaus said. "The Raiders are a good fit for him because they have had an unsettled quarterback situation for a number of years and have worked in a number of different players. Any young quarterback would like the opportunity to go there and compete and be the guy."
Oakland's starting quarterback is Jason Campbell, now in his second season with the Raiders after being acquired from Washington, where he spent five seasons. Campbell is in the last year of his contract, as are backups Kyle Boller and Trent Edwards.
The Raiders considered drafting a quarterback to groom for the future in April but did not find the right fit. Now they have Pryor to fill that role.
Oakland is now without picks in the second, third and fourth rounds next year. The Raiders traded the 2012 second-round pick along with a 2011 seventh-round selection for third- and fourth-round picks this past draft to take offensive lineman Joe Barksdale and running back Taiwan Jones. They sent their fourth-round pick a year ago to the Redskins for Campbell.
Oakland could recoup some picks as compensation for losing Nnamdi Asomugha, Zach Miller and Robert Gallery as free agents.
No other players were chosen in Monday's draft.
Also eligible for the draft were former Georgia running back Caleb King, former Northern Illinois safety Tracy Wilson, former Western Carolina cornerback Torez Jones, former Lindenwood University defensive end Keenan Mace, and former North Carolina defensive end Mike McAdoo. They are now free to sign with any NFL team.
Information from ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and The Associated Press was used in this report.

Libyan Rebels Claim Capture of Strategic Port City as Sources Say Qaddafi's 'Back Is Against the Wall' News

Libyan rebels battling Muammar al-Qaddafi's troops along the country's Mediterranean coast said they have captured all of the strategic eastern port city of Brega, which has repeatedly changed hands in the 6-month-old civil war.
Rebel military spokesman Col. Ahmed Bani said fighters gained control Saturday of the industrial section of Brega, after having captured its residential areas last week.
Brega's capture is an important boost for the rebels. It contains Libya's second-largest hydrocarbon complex and is where the country's main oil fields feed into for refining.
"We have liberated Brega and all of it is under our control," Bani told The Associated Press on Saturday. "The fighters are in the port and taken the refineries."
Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi's "back is against the wall" U.S. officials told Fox News, though it's still too early to tell whether rebel forces closing in on the capital Tripoli are close to ousting him.
Qaddafi's troops seemed increasingly isolated in recent days, scrambling to use all force available to hold back rebels at the western front of the roiling civil war that has swept the country. Meanwhile, NATO has stepped up bombings in Tripoli, and rebels blocked supply route from Tunisia. A U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that “the squeeze is getting tighter” on Qaddafi -- and that he may simply abandon the country.
“The regime’s back is against the wall,” the official said, and the rebels are having success across the country including areas around Tripoli. Yet it remained unclear when exactly the Libyan leader would leave the country.
“When Qaddafi decides to go is in the mind of one man,” the top official told Fox News. But the overall message was clear: “It would not be a surprise if Qaddafi decided the time is up.”
The remarks clarify comments U.S. officials have made in past days about Qaddafi's plans, which still remain murky. Some reports point to him considering a move with his family, possibly for exile in Tunisia, for example.
The reports come as Pentagon officials described Libyan rebel gains as “significant developments” in the civil war that has engulfed the country.
On Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman George Little said that "the future doesn't look particularly bright for Qaddafi, but we'll have to see where things go."
He attributed the outlook to the rebel effort combined with sustained pressure from NATO operations and the economic and diplomatic sanctions.
Speaking at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Qaddafi's days are numbered.
But on Thursday, the regime tried to dispute claims that the Libyan military was weakening.
"I want to assure you the Libyan government is still strong and resilient and is in control of the country and all its territory,” Prime Minister Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi said. "Az Zawiyah is under our full control.”
"In terms of our military strength, we are powerful enough to finish this fight, but the cost in lives would be too high," he said referring to possible government counterattacks.
"We are a tribal people and the risk of this violence spreading is too great," said al-Mahmoudi..
Citing the increasing bloodshed the prime minister said it was "high time for a cease-fire."
NATO has been bombarding military targets in Libya since a no-fly zone was instituted in March. That includes areas near and in Qaddafi's sprawling Bab al-Aziziya compound, which is the Libyan leader's main headquarters and acts as a military barracks.
At least seven loud blasts were heard in Tripoli early Friday morning as bombs fell in the vicinity of Qaddafi’s main compound of Bab al-Aziziya.
An Associated Press correspondent staying in a hotel in the capital said he heard the explosions and saw flames in the air as bombs struck the ground. NATO jets were heard circling the sky above.
Residents in Tripoli also told The Associated Press that at least three blasts were heard on the road leading to the airport in the capital.
Just 30 miles to the west of the capital, opposition fighters in Libya's western mountains claimed control Thursday of the country's last functioning oil refinery, a significant blow to Qaddafi's regime.
The refinery is located in the strategic city of Zawiya, where rebels have made great strides in battles with government forces since their initial assault on Saturday.
A rebel victory in Zawiya could leave Qaddafi nearly cornered in his increasingly isolated stronghold of Tripoli, the capital, just 30 miles to the east along the Mediterranean coast.
Rebel fighters are now closing in on the capital from the west and the south, while NATO controls the seas to the north. The opposition is in control of most of the eastern half of the country and has declared Benghazi, 620 miles east of Tripoli, as its de facto capital.
Families fleeing their homes to avoid a possible rebel assault on Tripoli described growing tensions and deteriorating living conditions in the capital: Security forces have blanketed the city with checkpoints, gun battles are heard after nightfall and power outages last days.
Fox News' Justin Fishel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.