Sunday, July 31, 2011

Spotlight Saturday - Amy Whinehouse

Spotlight Saturday

 

The soulful sultry voice of brit born Amy Whinehouse has been stifled long before its time as the 27 year old, best known for her old school sound and amazing contralto vocals was found dead this afternoon 4:00 UK time, in her home in Camden, London.  The cause of her passing remains 'unexplained' however, it's no secret that the young singer had an ongoing history with drugs & alcohol.  Whinehouse gained popularity in the UK several years before she came on the scene in America with her second album titled, 'Back To Black' in 2006.  Ironically, it wasn't until 2007, with her hit song 'Rehab' that she rose to fame here in the states.  Besides being noted for her vocal abilities, Amy was the muse to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.  She wasn't just the beehive, eyeliner and tattoos, she was an amazing talent who had the ability to infuse jazz, r&b and soul into every song she sang. 

amy whinehouse, sadie sandler, amy whitehouse, amy whineAmy WhinehouseAmy WhinehouseAmy Whinehouse

Hina Rabbani Khar

hina rabbani khar
Hina Rabbani Khar is Pakistan’s State Minister for Economic Affairs. The State Ministers report directly to the Prime Minister and hold specific portfolios. In Hina’s case, she is responsible for international (multilateral and bilateral) grants and loans. Her Ministry is the official signatory for any project that is launched in Pakistan with foreign financial assistance. Her father, Ghulam Rabbani Khar, drove Hina’s entry into politics, setting her on a different path from the hotel management career she had been pursuing with great zeal. A graduate from the Lahore University of Management Sciences, Hina also holds a Masters from the University of Massachusetts. She is also one of the owners of the Polo Lounge, an upscale, popular restaurant located on the Lahore Polo Grounds.
Meeting Hina was a refreshing experience on many levels: she is articulate, brilliant, enterprising, and very far-sighted for her age (not even 30 yet!). Moreover, she is humble, approachable, professional, and knows her job very well. We were able to call her on her cell phone and set up a meeting directly without having to go through her administrative staff, and she was there before we reached our meeting venue. At the end of the day, if we have more people like her in our government, perhaps Pakistan’s positive image won’t need any marketing beyond simply introducing them to the world!
hina rabbani kharhina rabbani kharhina rabbani kharhina rabbani khar

Kat Von D not editing out any of her romance with Jesse James on "L.A. Ink"

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Though Kat Von D has been cancelling promotional appearances to avoid talking about her break-up with Jesse James, she's also not heading to the editing studio to remove any of the footage showcasing their relationship on "L.A. Ink."
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That includes footage like the clip that's been previewed which shows Von D excitedly revealing a tattoo she got of James' 7th grade picture for his birthday. That, and a few straight-forward comments, caused her to walk out of her "Good Day L.A." interview.But "L.A. Ink" executive producer Gil Lopez tells People that she's not shying away from keeping all that in the show, plus more."Kat wants to show that this was a fairy tale and that she was truly in love," exec producer Gil Lopez told People. "Unfortunately, [the split] happened, but there have been no re-edits.""We had access to this relationship," Lopez adds. "We stayed on [Jesse's] property. We were in Baja with them and we got it all and show that that they were truly in love."Even more surprisingly, along with the "fairy tale" romance between Von D and famed adulterer James, the TLC show also delves into some of the couple's lows and what made the couple break-up.

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Saturday, July 30, 2011

Amy Winehouse's family surprises fans by giving them late singer's clothes

Mitch Winehouse, father of the late singer Amy Winehouse, leaves her home Thursday with an armful of clothes.

Amy Winehouse's fans mourning outside the late pop star's London home received an unexpected gift Thursday from the singer's family.

Winehouse's father emerged from his daughter's home to dole out some of her clothes to fans camped outside holding a vigil, London's The Sun reported.

"This is what she would have wanted," Mitch Winehouse told the crowd, the British paper reported.

The 27-year-old diva, famous as much for her battles with drug and alcohol as her soulful voice and meteoric music career, was found dead in her apartment Saturday.

Though toxicology results are not expected for several weeks, family members told the Sun that they blame the death on alcohol withdrawal stemming from Winehouse's decision to quit booze cold turkey.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2011/07/30/2011-07-30_amy_winehouses_family_surprises_fans_by_giving_them_late_singers_clothes.html#ixzz1Tb0UxaZy




The 'Rehab' singer died in her London home last Saturday. (Shaun Curry/AFP/Getty)

The family did keep many of the singer's items as they had the grim task of sorting her personal effects – a pair of his daughter's ballet slippers could be seen protruding from Mitch Winehouse's back pocket as he left the home. "God Bless Amy Winehouse," he said, according to The Sun, as he got in a taxi to head to the synagogue for religious services.

Brigitte Pividal, who was given a red vest by the singer's father, was photographed by The Sun clutching the fabric.

"I will cherish this for the rest of my life," the 52-year-old fan said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2011/07/30/2011-07-30_amy_winehouses_family_surprises_fans_by_giving_them_late_singers_clothes.html#ixzz1Tb0YkgaA

Don’t blame my son for Amy’s death: Blake Fielder-Civil's mother's plea as she insists the couple were still in love

Out of control: Amy was herself no stranger to law-breaking, pictured here in 2010 arriving at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court before she admitted common assault

This warmth did not envelop the entire extended family, however: to say that there was never any love lost between Blake and Amy’s parents is an understatement.

Taxi-driver Mitch, who was this week photographed handing his late daughter’s clothes out to fans camped outside her North London home, has categorically blamed Blake for introducing Amy to Class A drugs.

Meanwhile, his former wife Janis, a pharmacist who suffers from multiple sclerosis, accused her erstwhile son-in-law of being a boy on the make — suggestions Georgette categorically rejects.

‘I am not making excuses for my son, but other friends of Amy’s have spoken out recently to acknowledge that Amy was using drugs before she met Blake,’ she says. ‘The point is that Mitch did not like Blake from the beginning.

‘Even after they were married, they never had any room to breathe — Blake used to joke that it felt like Mitch was at the end of their bed.’

She goes on: ‘Even Amy sensed it to a degree. Blake would joke about it and Amy would giggle along with us. In my opinion, the relationship didn’t have a chance while he was on the scene.’

Yet it cannot be denied by any sane person that Blake more than played his part in the unravelling of the relationship and the unravelling of poor Amy.

Six months after the couple married in May 2007 — they eloped to Miami, exchanging vows in a £70 ceremony witnessed by strangers — he was remanded in custody accused of perverting the cause of justice relating to a charge of GBH with intent on a pub landlord.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2020352/Amy-Winehouse-dead-Blake-Fielder-Civils-mother-pleads-dont-blame-son.html#ixzz1TazKmnOm

Disapproving: Amy Winehouse's mother Janis and father Mitch, pictured here last week looking at tributes left outside the late singer's home, never liked Blake and believed he introduced her to hard drugs

In June 2008 he pleaded guilty to both offences and was jailed for 27 months, not emerging from prison until February 2009 .

Hardly an ideal start to married life. Yet Amy, it has to be said, retained a strong, almost visceral affection for her husband, which continued even after they divorced in spring 2009.

Among Georgette’s treasured possessions is a box of letters and cards, written in Amy’s distinctive slanted writing, which are testament to the couple’s continuing bond.

Included are child-like Valentine’s cards, one with Snoopy on the cover, and letters Amy wrote to Blake while he was in prison. In one, sent in January 2009, she wrote: ‘Despite any short-term or material successes our marriage is my proudest achievement and your last name is the proudest jewellery I’ve ever walked in. Yours always, Amy.’

The letters continued into last year. In February 2010, Amy sent Blake a ‘storyboard’ of their relationship, signing herself ‘your wife, on paper or not’ and, in an accompanying letter writing of her desire to carry his child.

‘Then, please God, hopefully, I’d have your baby kicking to come out of me,’ she wrote. ‘Fix me! Let me fix you! We’ve always looked after each other, ALWAYS.’

Their contact, Georgette says, remained regular until the end, even though both of them started new relationships following their divorce.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2020352/Amy-Winehouse-dead-Blake-Fielder-Civils-mother-pleads-dont-blame-son.html#ixzz1TazUoKUh

Grief: Mitch Winehouse is consoled by friends while he attends his daughter funeral at Golders Green Crematorium in north London

Amy frequently said that the only person who could fix her was Blake.

Wrecked: This now infamous image was taken as the couple left London's luxury Sanderson Hotel. Amy is bruised, smudged and has blood on her feet, while Blake's face has been scratched

But she also knew that it would cause trouble. In one of the last conversations I had with her she said: “I can’t tell Dad I’m talking to you as he’d go mad and it’s not worth it.”

‘Blake and Amy could have had a chance of happiness — I truly believe that — but only if their families were both behind them. I honestly believe that if they’d been given another chance, Amy might still be with us. Now we will never know.’

It is, of course, all too easy to rewrite history, to cast Amy and Blake as some latter day Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw in Love Story. In fact, even Georgette has to concede that their relationship, which commenced over an alcohol-fuelled night in a London pub in early 2004, was complex and often tawdry — a heady and drug-fuelled courtship followed by an equally narcotic-addled and short-lived marriage.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2020352/Amy-Winehouse-dead-Blake-Fielder-Civils-mother-pleads-dont-blame-son.html#ixzz1Taz1uMyN

Kelly Osbourne, Mark Ronson Pay Jazzy Tribute to Amy Winehouse

Mitch Winehouse, Kelly Osbourne

It's just shy of a week since Amy Winehouse's death, and the tributes show no signs of slowing down.

Last night, a collection of the late singer's family and friends, including Kelly Osbourne, Mark Ronson and Mitch and Janis Winehouse, gathered together in the most fitting of locations yet to honor the soulful chanteuse...

MORE: Will Amy's fashion line continue without her?

Her favorite music club in London, SoHo's Jazz After Dark.

Rather than strike a somber tone, the night out instead served as an intimate gathering among those closest to Amy, who sought to celebrate her short but hard-lived life.

Also present at the club last night were boyfriend Reg Traviss, fellow U.K. singer (just one of the many for whom Winehouse forged a successful path) Eliza Doolittle and Winehouse's brother, Alex.

Earlier in the day, the Winehouse parents were back at Amy's Camden home, where they greeted fans and stopped to admire the rapidly growing number of tributes placed outside the residence. Mitch even gave away some of Amy's belongings, including T-shirts, sunglasses and jewelry, to some of the fans.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, Ronson paid further tribute to the girl he described as his "sister" and "musical soul mate," dedicating a rendition of "Valerie" to her in concert.

"Last night was really wonderful," he tweeted. "I'd like to thank...so many of you for helping us pay homage to amy."

We're guessing there's still a lot more where that came from.

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/kelly_osbourne_mark_ronson_pay_jazzy/255203#ixzz1Tayef5Oy

Mark Ronson Dedicates Live Performance To Amy Wenhouse


Mark Ronson paid tribute to Amy Winehouse during his first performance since the star's funeral in Greenwich, London two nights ago.

Ronson, dressed entirely in black, opened the show by saying 'It's been a shit week but being here making music makes it all OK' before launching an acoustic performance of 'Valerie' with Dave McCabe of The Zutons, who originally wrote the track which Winehouse made famous. 'I remember five years ago Amy brought this song to me and said "I wanna sing that,"' Ronson reminisced.

Winehouse's presence hung over the entire evening and Ronson was visibly upset. He cut short his usual mid-show DJ set, saying 'The only thing I want to hear right now is this', before playing 'Rehab' in full. 'I went to the service yesterday and the rabbi said that a person is measured in deeds not years, which was the best thing I heard all day,' he remarked. 'She made more amazing music than I'll make in my entire life.'

'Two and a Half Men' 1st look with Ashton Kutcher!!!

It's official!  Well, it has been official, but the 1st promo pics for the retooled 'Two and a Half Men' starring Ashton Kutcher.  As we all know, Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen after his fall-out with CBS.  Take a look at the promo pic!
Will you be tuning in!?!?!

New Music: Chris Brown-' All About You'

Chris Brown comes back with a new video, 'All About You'.




The singer seems to have gotten his stride back.  Chris Brown seems to be THE 'go to' guy now as far as features.  The R&B crooner is preparing for the release of his next official single, "Wet the Bed' which features Ludacris.

Weekly World News alert: Alien backs Michele Bachmann for President!

Publication: Weekly World News (via the Sun)
Date: 8 August 2011

Weekly World News brings back the politically astute Space Alien who endorses presidential candidates. The being from another planet is backing Michele Bachmann for president in 2012. The alien has a pretty good track record, endorsing Clinton in 1992 and Bush in 2000, but it should not be forgotten the alien first backed Ross Perot and then changed his mind, so a Bachmann presidency is not a done deal, thank Odin, Vishnu and the little baby Jebus.



Kick a FRESH corpse, why don'tcha? Peter Falk didn't have to die

Publication: Globe
Date: 8 August 2011

In the Three Wicked Step Sister tabloids, the most popular types of stories about the recently deceased are the secrets taken to the grave, people feuding over the will and the "didn't have to die" stories. Peter Falk gets the third type of treatment this week from the Globe.



Least interesting cover story of the week: Maci betrayed by Ryan's nude scandal

Publication: OK!
Date: 8 August 2011

It's always a treat when there is no Teen Mom story on the covers of The Only Ten Magazines That Matter, which was the case last week. This week is almost as good, since there is only one story and it has no artwork associated, a headline about Maci and Ryan and some nude scandal, though it sounds like he's nekkid instead of her, which is slightly unusual in these cases.

Beyonce does 'Jimmy Fallon' talks about Kelly Rowland & '4'!!!!



A slightly hoarse Beyonce, still on the promo trail for the #1 album '4', popped up on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' recently.  The International pop star performed her hit 'The Best thing I Never Had', and she also stuck around to dish with Jimmy about her year off, her travels to China and bandmate's Kelly Rowland's new cd 'Here I Am'.  Take a look.  Despite being a bit hoarse, Beyonce still gave a stellar performance!



'Best thing I Never Had'


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Star Jones served with papers at her book signing from her EX!!!!





Wow!  Can you imagine you are promoting a book you worked tirelessly on, and when you go to a book sogning filled with excitement, you get served with court papers?!  Well apparently that's just the scenario 'Celebrity Apprentice's' Star Jones found herself in on this past Saturday.  Jone's was visibly pertubed when she was served with court papers at her book signing at Bookhampton in East Hampton on Saturday by  her ex-husband Al Reynolds.

Sources say Reynolds had been having difficulty serving Star since he filed a lawsuit against her in May for allegedly breaking a divorce agreement because she was traveling around the country promoting her book, “Satan’s Sisters.”

The two signed an agreement in their 2008 divorce not to make “disparaging remarks” about each other in the media. So now Reynold's is asking for $50,000 in damages for Jones allegedly breaking their contract.

This is crazy, I am sure Star wishes this guy never darkened her door-step and possibly vice-versa.  But Star is a lawyer, I am sure that she had all that worked out by the end of the day.







Friday, July 29, 2011

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse performs onstage during The Miller Strat Pack concert, today Friday 24 September 2004, held at the Wembley Arena, London

Hastily researched and edited, Amy Winehouse: A Tribute had clearly been rushed so that it could be lapped up by fans wanting to squeeze every last drop of talent from the star even after she has gone.

Predictably, the hour-long programme zoomed through her not insignificant formative years and skimmed straight over her breakthrough album onto the dramatic rock 'n' roll lifestyle that proceeded it.

The documentary-makers clearly know that it's not just fans who'll be lapping it up; but also tabloid-readers looking to squeeze every last drop of scandal from Amy and her antics.

And ITV2 achieved this salacious style quite easily, but at some cost: the programme was poorly compiled to the extent that it was insulting to anyone with even a passing knowledge of Winehouse and her work.

For example, the narrator discussed the fresh-faced, drug-free Amy while showing photos of her several years later, visibly ravaged by substance abuse.

Almost more heartbreaking than Amy's tragic decline and demise is the queue of TV bosses and 'friends' apparently waiting in the wings to have their say - no doubt in return for some financial gain - on the life and death of the star.

Just six days after her death, Amy Winehouse: A Tribute was not the first documentary of its type and unfortunately, it will not be the last.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/reviews/870853-amy-winehouse-a-tribute-was-an-insult-to-her-fans#ixzz1TXtcXfL9

Bells Are Ringing Alert™ and On The Rocks Alert: This week's stories about The Bachelorette.

Publications: OK!, In Touch, Us Weekly, National Enquirer
Date: 8 August 2011

The stories this week about The Bachelorette either focus on Ashley or on J.P. Here are the headlines about her.
  • National Enquirer: Bachelorette was rigged!
    Ashley's fake script and tears
  • Us Weekly: Bachelorette Exclusive: Ashley says yes!

And the ones about J.P.
  • OK!: The Bachelorette: J.P.'s secrets revealed
  • In Touch: JP's secret double life
    Ashley fooled again!
    He's still madly in love with his ex, Stephanie
    A shocking celeb hook-up
    The real reason he went on the show
    Why marrying him could be Ashley's worst mistake ever!
This is why the gossip rags love the reality shows. They can write whatever they want without fear of losing access.



Rich people are rich: Kim's wild Vegas party.

Publication: OK!
Date: 8 August 2011

Only one story about Kim K. on the covers of The Only Ten Magazines That Matter this week. She threw a party in Vegas.

That hardly seems like news, does it? They are always partying in Vegas.



And the camera noses in to the tears on their faces: Khloe and Lamar's anguish.

Publication: Star
Date: 8 August 2011

Khloe Kardashian was one of the most popular celebrities in the tabloids early in the year, but since Kim's wedding has been announced, the supermarket rags have paid scant attention to the other Kardashian siblings. This week, she and Lamar get on the cover of Star because of a murder in the family, which I assume means his family.

Breaking news: Kim Kardashian wedding date set for August 20.

Publication: TMZ online
Date: 29 July 2011

TMZ publishes a picture of a wedding invitation for Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. The date is Saturday, August 20, three weeks from tomorrow. It says black tie.

We'll see soon enough if this is the real deal or not.



"Cowboys & Aliens" INVADE theaters TODAY!!!




Stephen Spielberg and John Favreau bring you "Cowboys & Aliens", invading theaters tonight!!!!
Check out the TRAILER:




What do you think????

NOW that you've peeped the trailer, take a look at what the director, Jon Favreau had to say about his film:





THUNDERCATS Premiere on CARTOON NETWORK TONIGHT!!!








Finally we get a release date for the much-talked about new Thundercats Animated series.  The Thundercats series premiere will be on Tonight, July 29th at 8 P.M. ET/PT on Cartoon Network.















Here is the press release from Cartoon Network:



Thunder, Thunder, ThunderCats! Ho!! On Third Earth, the kingdom of Thundera is being threatened by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra, and Lion-O, the young heir to the throne, embarks on a great quest to take his rightful place as king. The unlikely champion must work with his faithful comrades Tygra, Cheetara, Panthro, WilyKit, WilyKat, and his loyal pet, Snarf, who join him on his journey to save their world from darkness. From Warner Bros. Animation (WBA), ThunderCats is executive produced by Sam Register (Teen Titans, Ben 10, The Looney Tunes Show), with Michael Jelenic (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Wonder Woman) and Ethan Spaulding (Avatar: The Last Airbender) producing.














Jay-Z & Kanye West-The Throne's 'Otis' video pics LEAK!!


Jay-Z & Kanye West are most definitely jet-setters.  Hot off of the Young Jeezy  Thug 101 Anniversary concert in NYC on Monday, the pair hopped over to L.A. to start filming the visual for the hotly anticipated 'Otis' track that has the Internet and airwaves on fire!!!


Little info about the treatment or the concept of the video have surfaced as of today, but with these two involved and with famed director Spike Jonze at the helm, we are sure to get something innovative and cutting edge!

Amy Winehouse's father gives her clothes to fans