The bodacious bodies have been narrowed down to five in our 53rd annual Beachin' Body Contest -- and now the winners fate is in your hands!
Which of these beachin' body photos should score the $250 prize and some super secret ultra exclusive mystery gifts from TMZ!
**CLICK HERE for contest rules and regulations!**
Leila Arcieri April Scott Veronika Vaeková Ashley Tappin Brittany Murphy
Real Housewives of Atlanta personality Dwight Eubanks sat down with me for a video blog to talk exclusively about his take on strippers, his botched nose job and how it happened, AND says former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is a lesbian. WOWZERS!
Video Rating: 3 / 5
RHOA CRAZINESS but a bore of a reunion.
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Source: http://ilookfly.com/kim-zolciak/rhoas-dwight-eubanks-exclusive/
Stacy Keibler Karen Carreno Mariah OBrien Izabella Miko Samantha Morton
Macaulay Culkin hit up The Red Door Lounge in Billings, MT last night where he did a fantastic rendition of the classic song, "My Way" -- but did he do it as well as our own Harvey Levin did?
Now HL's version, slightly more produced and with the help of Paul Anka.
So the question is ...� UPDATE: From our bitter boss ...�Source: http://www.tmz.com/2011/07/03/macaulay-culkin-my-way-karaoke-billings-montana-video/
Ehrinn Cummings Lindsay Price Hilary Swank Tara Conner Erica Leerhsen
Your parents' divorce might be setting the stage for your own.
Shannon*, a 48 year old client of mine, recently explained her "aha" moment when discussing the issues behind her impending divorce. She married her husband because he "completed" her -- masking low self-esteem and feelings of not being worthy of love.
It wasn't until after therapy and introspection that she realized she had fallen into a relationship trap: Trying to fill a void of lost love left by her parents' divorce, and the loss of a relationship with her mother, when she was just 5 years old.
Seeking a rescue, not a relationship?
Shannon considered her husband a real catch. She thought her knight in shining armor cared about her every move. He guided her through life, managed the finances and left all aspects of parenting to her.
In fact, this perfect partner repeated the patterns and disillusionments experienced in childhood. Shannon experienced controlling and emotionally abusive behavior, jealousy and an uninvolved husband. She felt this was ok: She'd grown up fearing abandonment and deflecting anger from her stepmother.
You see, when Shannon's parents divorced, her mother left, with what seemed like no concern for her (the truth revealed many years later in adulthood when she regained a relationship with her mother); her father remarried, but this union did not provide her with the love and nurturing she so desperately needed. What happened in childhood then, has a significant impact on how romantic relationships are handled now, as an adult.
Although many children are resilient, and grow up thinking of themselves as just regular kids, not children of divorce, there are some children who are impacted emotionally in the long term. When a parent abandons a child, that child often believes that there was something wrong with him--or herself--and carries this belief into adulthood.
While the lack of a relationship with a parent can have a significant impact on romantic relationships for a child later in life, there is a debate amongst researchers on this topic. Some say, these individuals are affected for life. Others feel that with work, an individual can learn to come to terms with it, heal and develop rich and successful romantic partnerships.
According to Dr. Michelle Mitcham, a professor of counseling and a divorce expert, an individual's self esteem is affected because they feel rejected. The loss of the parental relationship due to divorce results in a lack of trust.
"People have different cognitions [beliefs], and this leaves certain behaviors. If your cognition is on some level, I'm a bad person, or I'm not worthy, or at some level there is something that you think you did to deserve it, the lines get blurred. What messages are you giving yourself, even if they are subliminal?"
Dr. Mitcham helps her patients regain their self-esteem and trust, so that they are able to develop a positive outlook, and healthy romantic relationships. She helps her patients cope with the loss of a parent or a fragmented relationship with the parent, and to heal by working on these 5 significant messages.
1. Look to your family of origin for answers.
It is important to resolve any issues that could be playing out in your relationship and are undermining it. For instance, people get into a relationship looking for things that they were missing growing up. If the relationship looks attractive, individuals may leap into it hoping for nurturing and love for themselves without taking the time to really get to know the other person. Slow down and get to know prospective partners.
2. Stop repeating the same relationship mistakes.
People often marry, or get into a relationship for all the wrong reasons. They are looking to feel complete, because they haven't resolved things in the past. Many times, they don't feel that they are worthy. Then they find themselves in an unfulfilling relationship, not really sure why they are giving into that relationship. Figure out what you are looking for, and love yourself -- you are worthy of love and respect, and worthy of a healthy relationship.
3. You don't have to be less of who you are to be in a good relationship.
Write out the ideal relationship: What you need in someone that you are compatible with. You'll know that you are leaning towards a good relationship when you don't have to be less of who you are in that relationship. You have to feel complete and feel like you have to stand on your own two feet before you can be happy in that relationship. The other person doesn't complete you because they are not the answer to your unresolved issues.
4. Normalize your feelings.
Uncover your issues and find out what you didn't receive growing up. Then you can fix it and move forward, because you understand the why, and how this changes your reactions. Remember you're not alone: Other people feel this way too.
5. Develop introspection and understanding.
You might want to work with a therapist or do some journaling to help you think through the issues, and what you need to do to fix them. Bottom line is you need to know that you are worthy of love and worthy of a nurturing relationship, and figure out what exactly that looks like to you.?
If you rush into a relationship without understanding where you were, then you won't know where you are going. Take time to understand what you have been through and why. There is hard work that needs to be done. While you may have lost a close loving relationship with a parent, you need to come to terms with that, and develop a loving relationship with yourself.
When you move in a positive direction from what you are used to, you very likely will feel some anxiety. Embrace it. It may sound clich�d but it's true: You have to truly love yourself, before you can really love someone else.
* the name has been changed.
This article is exclusive More.ca
http://www.more.ca/relationships/single-life/midlife-divorce-blame-it-on-your-parents/a/33856/3
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Follow Deborah Moskovitch on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thesmartdivorce
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-moskovitch/midlife-divorce-blame-it-_b_884795.html
Denise Richards Rosario Dawson Amanda Swisten Ashley Olsen Brody Dalle
Actor Andrew Keegan was tasered and handcuffed Saturday night after he got into a little incident with police.
Eyewitnesses stated that actor Andrew Keegan, who has been seen on movies such as ?10 Things I Hate about You? and television show ?7th Heaven?, was having a little party in Marina Del Rey when police stopped by to ask him to turn down his music.
Sources said Keegan refused to cooperate, even becoming ?very aggressive.?
Police threw Keegan to the ground and even tasered the actor. An eyewitness said Keegan was yelling a cops to let him go.
Keegan was released but never actually placed under arrest.
A pal said, ?he was very shaken up? by the whole incident.
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Dita Von Teese Stacy Keibler Karen Carreno Mariah OBrien Izabella Miko
Source: http://concreteloop.com/2011/06/spotted-kelly-rowland-looking-stunning-at-new-x-factor-auditions
Miranda Kerr Amber Arbucci Ashlee Simpson Carrie Underwood Julia Stiles
Rihanna was spotted in Toronto wearing a ?Rihanna Navy? sweatshirt and red, curly locks. Rihanna wore the sweatshirt to promote her ?Loud? tour and represent for her fans. She continuously gives to charities even while on tour. Recently, Rihanna and 50 Cent teamed up to find a bone marrow donor for Ayelet Galena.
Rihanna will be performing a series of shows in Toronto.
For more pics of Rihanna in her ?Rihanna Navy? hoodie, check out:
For more on Rihanna look at:
Rihanna Gives A Female Fan A Lap Dance During ?Loud? Tour [VIDEO]
Rihanna Calls Into ?106 & Park? To Address Controversy Over ?Man Down? [VIDEO]
Taryn Manning AnnaLynne McCord Jolene Blalock Tara Reid Tyra Banks
Today is Tom Cruise's 49th birthday, and to celebrate, Katie Holmes threw him a surprise party on Saturday in Miami, where her husband is on location shooting 'Rock of Ages.'Isabella and Connor, Tom Cruise's teenage kids with ex Nicole Kidman, were seen joining Holmes as she carried 5-year-old Suri (casually attired in flip flops and a sundress) into Miami's swanky Soho House for the festivities.
Holmes, 32, arranged the party in secret for about 40 guests, who dined on Italian entrees and a chocolate cake for dessert, according to the New York Post.
This summer, the actress has been enjoying down time (and beach time) in Miami as Cruise rocks out in his role as Stacee Jaxx in the star-studded musical movie. 'Rock of Ages,' based on the Broadway hit of the same name, will open next summer and co-stars Russell Brand, Julianne Hough and Alec Baldwin.
Before hosting Cruise's birthday party, Holmes jetted West last week for the world premiere of her spooky thriller 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival.
, Cruise treated his wife to dinner and drinks in New York City, where they also caught a performance of 'The Nutcracker.'
Source: http://www.popeater.com/2011/07/03/katie-holmes-surprise-party-tom-cruise-49th-birthday/
Vanessa Minnillo Donna Feldman Ehrinn Cummings Lindsay Price Hilary Swank
Paris Hilton is reportedly dating director Todd Phillips, following her split from Cy Waits.
The reality star was spotted with Todd Phillips at Hollywood?s Beacher?s Madhouse this week, where they sat at a secluded table with Paris? sister Nicky.
An eyewitness said Todd and Paris kissed and looked adoringly at one another the whole night.
Earlier that evening, Paris and Todd went to Chateau Marmont, where they had wine on the patio with friends.
Paris, 30, split from nightclub owner , Cy Waits,� last month after dating for 18 months.
At that time, Paris stated,� ?Cy is a good guy. We?ve been friends for years and it will not change. I just need some time alone to think about myself. We talk all the time. I have nothing but nice things to say about it.?
�
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Dita Von Teese Stacy Keibler Karen Carreno Mariah OBrien Izabella Miko
It's a battle of acronyms: The Valley's VICA vs. the state's CEQA.
It may end up being quite a tussle between the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and the California Environmental Quality Act, which sets strict guidelines for mitigating the environmental impacts of development and other projects.
But VICA President Stuart Waldman sensed a change in the political wind earlier this year when he and some members traveled to Sacramento for a meeting with Gov. Jerry Brown's staff.
"One of the first things they said was that the governor was serious about CEQA reform and they wanted ideas," Waldman said. "We didn't really think that we would actually have the opportunity for real CEQA reform because it is kind of like the Holy Grail."
The group came up with a list of about 20 ideas, then narrowed it to eight, which were released last week.
"Since its passage, the business community has been working for reasonable CEQA reform," VICA Chairman Daymond Rice said in a statement. "The eight ideas VICA has introduced will take significant steps to keep CEQA from hurting the state's economic recovery."
The top recommendation is to simplify the approval process for projects that are "deemed necessary for economic revival and sustained economic health."
VICA also
recommends granting expedited processing to projects designed to comply with existing environmental regulations and ensuring that once a project is approved that it is subject only to the laws in effect at that time.Other suggestions address to how handle challenges made to a project's environmental impact statement.
"We're asking for what we feel are extremely reasonable changes," Waldman said.
The Governor's Office did not respond to request for comment.
Michael Endicott, an advocate for Sierra Club California, said that the group is OK with tweaking the environmental act but is leery of what the business community calls reforms.
"Most of the things we've seen so far that have floated up ... have not really been reforms but removal of environmental protections," Endicott said. "They are just looking to not have to comply with environmental laws."
The business and environmental communities have been waging annual skirmishes since the law was passed in 1970.
And one problem with CEQA is that it's dense - the 2011 version runs 399 pages.
Endicott said that heft reflects changes made to the law over the years.
But it also has spawned some pretty dense documents, too. Waldman says the environmental impact report for Universal Studios' expansion ran 49,000 pages.
"There are people who spent their entire careers working on that document," he said.
Maybe one CEQA reform should address brevity.
Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18399896?source=rss
Brooke Burns Rachel Perry Marisa Miller Jennie Finch Jennifer Garner
The politics of war are endlessly fascinating. Especially as they concern the party which set itself up as the party of "Long War" after 9/11.
Republican politicians are beginning to follow their voters as their voters shift away in recent months from their staunch backing for the war in Afghanistan. But Republican pols are driving their voters against the Libyan War, even though the cost and exposure are minuscule in comparison.
The net effect for Barack Obama is real trouble, as he finds popular support for both the Afghan War and the Libyan War has plummeted. Even though most Democratic voters still support his far more limited mission working with European and Arab allies in Libya, it's the newfound opposition from Republicans that accounts for his Libya operation now being opposed by a national plurality.
Republican members of Congress, joining with some left-liberals, are making trouble for President Barack Obama on Libya.
Now new Republican Senator Ron Johnson is stalling a Senate vote next week in favor of authorizing Obama's Libyan mission.
It's just the latest example of how Republican politicians, especially in the House, have joined much of the Democratic left in attacking Obama on Libya.
Some three months after the United Nations sanctioned the Libyan War to protect civilians and rebels and push back against longtime dictator Moammar Gaddafi, support for the effort in the US has moved from positive to negative.
A Gallup Poll last week shows that a 47-37 edge in favor in March has shifted to 39-46 opposed in June.
The good news for the Obama Administration is that this is a low-intensity conflict from an American standpoint, with the US having shifted to a backseat role after the first week-and-a-half of hostilities.
Which is, paradoxically, one of the reasons why the war is now unpopular. Without the oomph of what The Economist calls "the U.S. cavalry," the Europeans who wanted the war are struggling to mount an effective effort.
But the UN aims have been achieved, despite the big picture impasse. Which is nonetheless slowly turning against Gaddafi.
Ironically, it may be sheer partisan politics that drives this polling result.
Most Democratic voters favor the Libyan War, though many activists and politicians are vehemently opposed. Independents have moved somewhat against, due to the fact that Gaddafi is still around and it's still going on.
Democrats favored Obama's move on Libya, 51-34 in March, and 54-35 in late June.
It's the big Republican shift against the Libyan War, driven by Republican politicians using it to attack Obama -- frequently criticizing him for not doing more as well as for doing too much -- that accounts for the turnaround in national opinion.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi and two of his closest associates for crimes against humanity.
Americans are more likely to say they disapprove than approve of the U.S. military action in Libya. That represents a shift from three months ago, just after the mission began, when approval exceeded disapproval. ...
Democrats are the only political group to show more support for than opposition to the U.S. involvement. Independents are the most likely to show opposition, with a majority disapproving.
Republicans' opinions have changed the most since March, moving to 39% approval from 57%. This likely reflects increased criticism of the mission's legality and cost from some Republican congressional leaders and presidential candidates. Independents' views have become slightly more negative over the last three months, while Democrats' opinions have been largely stable. ...
Last week's highly political moves against Obama in the House on Libya resulted in a wash. The House did not provide its imprimatur for the US mission in Libya. With left-liberal Democrats upset and right-wing Republicans looking for a way to slap the president, legislation to authorize the mission for the next year was overwhelmingly defeated.
But anti-war forces failed to pass a bill to cut funding for the Libyan mission. That's the real question. Of course, even if they had, they would have to get the Senate to go along with them, and that would not happen.
This week the Senate took up Libya in hearings. 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain moved legislation supporting the intervention, which cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on a 14 to 5 vote.
Not surprisingly, the Libyan government has rejected arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Gaddafi, his son, and his intelligence chief on charges of crimes against humanity.
That's the bill the Wisconsin Republican Senator Johnson is stalling, using Senate procedure. Which means that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will have to hold a procedural vote first to the clear the way for the vote on the authorization.
Meanwhile, in Libya itself, the regime has rejected arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for longtime dictator Moammar Gaddafi, his son and protege Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, and the regime's intelligence chief. They are charged with multiple crimes against humanity for their attacks on peaceful protesters during the early days of pro-democracy demonstrations in Libya, and for their attacks on civilians later during the uprising.
The ICC is using these arrest warrants as examples of what can happen to more Gaddafi associates if they don't help hasten the Brother Leader from power.
While Republican voters have dramatically shifted against Obama's Libyan operation, and are shifting away from support for the Afghan War, what they've shifted to so far is a state of confusion. Which accounts for the contradictory things Republican presidential candidates have been saying.
A new Gallup Poll finds widespread support for Obama's plan to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
But only a 43% plurality backs his specific near-term plan of withdrawing 10,000 by the end of this year, and another 23,000 by the end of summer 2012.
That's because 29% want him to withdraw more troops in the near term. And 19% want him to withdraw fewer.
The fact that only a fifth of the country thinks that Obama is being too aggressive in his withdrawal plans accounts for the movement among Republican presidential candidates, who are sounding much more dovish than they did a year ago.
The slight majority of Democrats, 57%, say the 30,000 figure is about right; however -- in line with vocal criticism of the plan from Rep. Nancy Pelosi and other congressional Democrats who want a more aggressive drawdown -- 30% call it too low.
Independents' reactions are more closely divided: 40% call it about right, 33% too low, and 18% too high. Republicans are the most fractured of all, with about a third saying the withdrawal figure is about right, a third calling it too high, and 20% too low. ...
All these things seemed so much simpler for Republicans during the first Bush/Cheney term. The USA would roll in, kick ass, and move on to the next objective.
But the world is far more complicated than that.
You can check things during the day on my site, New West Notes ... www.newwestnotes.com.
William Bradley Huffington Post Archive
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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/a-shifting-republican-par_b_888931.html
Denise Richards Rosario Dawson Amanda Swisten Ashley Olsen Brody Dalle
Woah! I did not see this coming at all!
Chord Overstreet aka Trouty Mouth will not be returning to Glee as a full time cast member. There is a chance that he will make occasional guest appearances.
Meanwhile, guest stars Darren Criss and Harry Shum Jr. have been upgraded to full-time series regulars for the hit FOX dramedy.
PHOTOS: 27 Shirtless ?Glee? Guy Photos
Although the news about Chord is sad, there is good news on the horizon for the star. A new album! He tweeted, ?getting close to the end of the tour, cant wait to start working on my album when i get home!!! im gonna go full on! Well its been a good yr too bad its over, time for summer and starting fresh.?
Will you be watching Glee without Chord Overstreet? Share your thoughts by tweeting us at @socialitelife or posting to our Facebook page.
Magdalena Wróbel Christina Aguilera Marla Sokoloff Shakara Ledard Scarlett Johansson
Gwyneth Paltrow showed off her trim figure in a topless photo for Vanity Fair magazine?s August issue, wearing Louis Vuitton jewelry.
Actress and singer Gwyneth Palrow, 38, looks gorgeous in August?s Vanity Fair magazine?s Louis Vuitton ad.
Paltrow is wearing fishnet tights and Louis Vuitton jewelry, but little else.
The actress, who regularly gets up at 4:30 a.m. each morning to exercise, is known for her healthy eating habits and workout with celebrity trainer, Tracy Anderson.
In a recent interview, Gwyneth revealed, ?I?m really not a morning person at all. It is just sheer determination. I?m very strict with myself. When I practice six days a week and eat clean food, I feel much better.?
Gwyneth, who is married to Coldplay?s frontman Chris Martin, has two children, daughter Apple, seven, and a five-year-old son, Moses.
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Dita Von Teese Stacy Keibler Karen Carreno Mariah OBrien Izabella Miko
Gwen Stefani Denise Richards Rosario Dawson Amanda Swisten Ashley Olsen
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Rosario Dawson Amanda Swisten Ashley Olsen Brody Dalle Carol Grow
02 July 2011
Maria Shriver has cited irreconcilable differences in divorce papers filed against Arnold Schwarzenegger in court.
Maria Shriver has filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The 55-year-old writer cited irreconcilable differences in papers filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday (01.07.11), two months after he admitted to fathering a boy named Joseph with housekeeper Mildred Baena 13 years ago while he was still married to Maria.
She is seeking shared custody of their children Patrick, 17 and Christopher, 13, as well as seeking spousal support from the former Governor of California and asking him to pay her lawyer fees.
The couple also have grown up children 21-year-old Katherine and Christina, 19 from their 25 year marriage.
Whatever she did in the aftermath was taking care of her kids, trying to shield them.
Maria is said to not be angry at Mildred because of the affair, and confronted her after she saw the similarity between Joseph and Arnold.
A source said: "While Maria may not have been as angry as Mildred as she was at Arnold, her instinct would be to protect her family.
"Whatever she did in the aftermath was taking care of her kids, trying to shield them."
Arnold, 63, is reportedly already handing out a "significant" amount of child support to Maria.
A source said: "Arnold is paying a significant amount of child support. Arnold is also paying for his sons, Patrick and Christopher's private school bills."
![The Running Man [1987] [DVD] [1988]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41468VTK0WL._SL75_.jpg)
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![Predator Quadrilogy [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41d5EPWr2nL._SL75_.jpg)
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Source: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/Maria+Shriver-40198.html
Sienna Guillory Chyler Leigh Arielle Kebbel Paulina Rubio Amanda Detmer
Tens of thousands of Canadians cheered as Prince William and Duchess Kate 
celebrated Canada's birthday on Friday.
And while her sister dazzles Canada, Pippa Middleton doesn't disappoint, either. The sexy sib with the glossy hair is a vision in not-so-basic black at Wimbledon at Friday.
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/usatoday-LifeTopStories/~3/0I_smpK6k-I/1
Jessica Cauffiel Foxy Brown Catherine Bell Magdalena Wróbel Christina Aguilera
Source: http://concreteloop.com/2011/06/spotted-kelly-rowland-looking-stunning-at-new-x-factor-auditions
Arielle Kebbel Paulina Rubio Amanda Detmer Kasey Chambers Leelee Sobieski
Jamie Hince and Kate Moss with their wedding party
Xposure
Moss, 37, tied the knot with fianc� Jamie Hince near her Cotswold, England, home. Police monitored roads surrounding the model's home, which was barricaded for the festivities. Celebrations will continue there over the weekend, for a days-long party dubbed by the media as "Mosstock."
Following a ceremony at St. Peter's Church in Southrop, the bride and groom posed for pictures with her 12 bridesmaids, including her daughter Lila Grace, 8.
The bride wore a cream, vintage-style dress with rhinestone detail, reportedly by John Galliano, while the groom donned a light blue Yves Saint Laurent suit, striped shirt and patterned tie.
The couple's mutual friend Sadie Frost first introduced Moss to The Kills rocker backstage at his concert in 2007. They were engaged in Feb. 2011.
This engagement is not a first for Moss, who split from troubled rocker Pete Doherty shortly before she met Hince.
Source: http://feeds.people.com/~r/people/headlines/~3/WfnlPJ0aBqE/0,,20506774,00.html
Cindy Crawford Kelly Brook Elena Lyons Maggie Grace Julie Benz
ROCK HILL, S.C. ? Conservative voters here sound a lot like Goldilocks when talking about Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn), the Tea Party firebrand who toured the Palmetto state Wednesday to round out a three-day trip officially launching her bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
The former governors ? Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, and Jon Huntsman of Utah ? are too cold. Conservatives aren't excited by them. The Tea Party favorites ? former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) ? are too hot. Conservatives like them but don't think they can beat Obama.
Bachmann is just right, said a number of voters who spoke with the Huffington Post at three out of Bachmann's four stops in the state Wednesday. They were thrilled with the candidate's charisma and energy ? Bachmann sometimes seems to go for long stretches in her speeches without taking a breath ? and said they consider her a force to be reckoned with in a match-up with President Obama.
"We're not just interested in the primary. We want to win the general election," said Bill Tulluck, a 68-year-old retired engineer from Orangeburg.
The large crowds who came to see the 55-year-old Bachmann pop out of her blue campaign bus in a yellow sleeveless dress and pearl necklace did not give her unreserved adulation. Not everyone who spoke with HuffPost was as optimistic about her ability to beat Obama. And some said they hope to see Texas Gov. Rick Perry join the race. But it was clear that out of the current choices on the GOP side, many like her the best and are moving toward supporting her.
"She's extremely well qualified," said Bill Bates, a 62-year-old retiree who rode his bike from his home on Daniels Island, just north of Charleston, to Bachmann's first event of the day.
"Do you have a tax law degree?" Bates asked this reporter, citing Bachmann's possession of such a certificate. "I know I don't. She's raised foster children. Have you done that? I know I haven't. Her child is a physician. I know you don't have a child who's a doctor. I don't either."
Bates, who had the bearing of an attorney or doctor, said he was not a member of the Tea Party but called it "a necessary movement."
"We are letting government get away from us. Remember it's government by the people and for the people. That's what's written down," he said, raising his voice and emphasizing the end of his sentence by holding his hands out as if he was trying to shake someone awake. "And that same government takes the diaper off a 96-year-old woman because she's some kind of threat?"
A sense of urgency is common at conservative and Tea Party gatherings these days, and the mood is growing more intense as the presidential campaign heats up. The prospect of a second term for Obama is reawakening a grassroots movement that has been dormant since last fall's elections. To these voters, Romney is a heretic because of his health care plan in Massachusetts and Pawlenty is not passionate enough to lead them.
"People are turned off by lukewarmness," Tulluck said. "Pawlenty is just like John McCain. He's so weak-mouthed he probably wouldn't have a chance of getting elected."
Several people interviewed by HuffPost pointed to Pawlenty's decision not to attack Romney in the New Hampshire debate earlier this month.
"[Pawlenty] could have garnered a lot of support if he had taken [Romney] on then, but now I think it's too late," said Allen Olson, a leader of the Columbia TEA Party.
By contrast, Bachmann has gone after Romney several times just in the last week. But she kept her stump speech focused on the object of the right's ire: Obama.
"With all due respect, I think the president has failed the American people on turning the economy around," Bachmann said during her last event of the day in this South Carolinia exurb of Charlotte, N.C.
Around 800 people attended the hour-long evening town hall meeting, spilling into one large overflow room and four smaller ones. And during the event, Bachmann was at her most expansive. It was clear why red meat conservatives are drawn to her: she speaks her mind and does not hold back in doing so, apparently unconcerned about making any verbal gaffes.
She told the crowd that the U.S. government will not default if it hits the debt ceiling on Aug. 2, and said that the Obama administration is "fear-mongering" on the issue.
"All president Obama has to do is direct the treasury secretary ? to pay the interest on the debt. Then you keep the full faith and credit of the United States," Bachmann said. But she did not address what may happen if credit markets react negatively to such a scenario.
Bachmann also blasted the Federal Reserve's policy of quantitative easing and said it has intentionally devalued the dollar.
"In the last two years of the Obama administration ... you have lost 14 percent of the value of that dollar. That means the federal government has stolen that money from you. You made it and they stole it from you because they've been printing essentially valueless money and flooding it into the money supply," she said.
"I don't stand for that. A dollar in 2011 should be the same as a dollar in 1911. A dollar should be worth a dollar," she added.
Bachmann spokeswoman Alice Stewart explained the 1911 comment this way afterward to HuffPost: "All she's saying is that the dollar has lost a substantial part of it's value."
Bachmann also went into detail to tell her own story, sharing how losing a child to a miscarriage led to her and her husband Marcus deciding to become foster parents to 23 children in addition to their five children.
"When we lost that child, it changed us, and it changed us forever. So we made a commitment that no matter how many children were brought into our lives we would receive them, because we're committed to life," she said. "And we didn't know at that time we would be foster parents, and that we would be parents of 28 children."
Ian Saunders, a 68-year-old retired financial firm executive, said "there's a genuineness that comes across with her, more than someone like Romney, who I also like, but who I think is more canned."
Bachmann was handled at all times during the day by a polished political operation that moved her efficiently from bus to podium, through a crowd of well-wishers and back onto the bus after her events, shielding her at all times from reporters' questions. Bachmann's press and logistics aides did not restrict reporters' movements at events and were helpful in answering questions and providing information.
But when HuffPost attempted to ask Bachmann questions on two different occasions, it was ignored by the candidate. Bachmann's husband was at all times close by her side, often physically shielding her from questions, and at one point touched this reporter's arm as if to pull his recorder away from Bachmann.
Marcus Bachmann, who has drawn scrutiny for past statements about homosexuals, even took the stage with his wife in Rock Hill to answer a question about the secret to a successful marriage.
"If you understand how important it is to serve, you really become a success story," he said. "From a husband's perspective, it's really easy to love this woman."
The fact that Bachmann represents the middle ground to many in the GOP is evidence of the strong Tea Party influence. But she has also been considered more seriously than she was even a month or two ago, as details of her biography have registered with the American public and as she has focused her campaign message.
This reassessment of Bachmann is bleeding over to the Democratic Party to some degree, but she is still not seen as a serious threat to the president.
"She's talented. She definitely has an appeal and there's a sense on the Democratic side that it might be even more potent than [Sarah] Palin," Jennifer Palmieri, president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, told HuffPost. "But, you know, she is gaffe prone and she's really conservative."
"The idea that Barack Obama can't beat Michele Bachmann is laughable to me," Palmieri said.
But the Bachmann operation was not thinking that far ahead, content to bask in the success of its first official trip.
"This is like an end of the campaign event," said pollster Ed Goeas, referring to the size of Bachmann's crowds and the enthusiasm levels. "We're very happy."
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/29/bachmann-supporters-bullish_n_887529.html
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It's barely a day old, but�Pauly D is already undermining his brand new t-shirt business on the Jersey Shore -- and TMZ has learned, it's all because MTV is making him work for a nearby competitor.
Pauly's "Dirty Couture Shore Store" opened for business yesterday on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights -- but the "Jersey" star couldn't help promote the big day ... because according to his contract with MTV, he's locked in to work exclusively at the infamous "Shore Store" t-shirt shop nearby.
Sources close to production tell us, MTV controls EVERYTHING while the cast is filming -- and Pauly has no choice but to work with his roommates while they shoot the rest of Season 5 ... in enemy territory.
As for Pauly's store -- we're told it will sell the DJ's complete "Dirty Couture" clothing line ... AKA a bunch of neon t-shirts with Pauly's tattoos printed on them.
Source: http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/30/pauly-d-mtv-shore-store-jersey-shore-t-shirt-shop-dirty-couture-new/
Aaron Carter has opened up about his time with the late singer Michael Jackson, claiming he was given cocaine and alcohol when he was only 15-years-old.
Singer Aaron Carter, who is brother to fellow singer Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, recently spent a month in rehab for ?emotional and spiritual? issues.
Aaron was friends with Michael Jackson but admits he became so ?uncomfortable? with Michael?s actions towards him that he told his mother who contacted police.
In Carter?s interview to Australia?s OK! magazine, Aaron, now 23, stated, ?I never talked about it? This is the first time. I do ? I miss Michael ? I have spent such incredible times with him. I did things with him that nobody else did ? But I was also troubled about what he did to me.
?Yes, he gave me wine. I mean, I could have refused, but I was 15.
?He gave me cocaine. I felt weird about that and other stuff ? We spoke afterwards, hours and hours, on the phone. I admired Michael, but his behavior bothered me a lot. Then my mother called the police??
Aaron is working on his new album and hopes to re-launch his music career.
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Images: wenn.com/news
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/stupidcelebrities/~3/FMZNRG4kWEM/
Bringing an end to the Canada Day celebrations, Prince William and Kate Middleton made a grand arrival via the VIP section at Parliament Hill on Friday night (July 1).
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were cheered on by the large gathered crowd, with Miss Middleton's hair swept up while clad in a purple v-neck Issa dress.
During the evening festivities, one of the performers, Newfoundland's band Great Big Sea, took the stage and gave Will and Kate a shout-out as lead singer Alan Doyle told the crowd, "Put your hands up, put your hands up. We're in the presence of royalty.?
With the royal newlyweds joining in on the clapping, the band delved into the tune "Lukey's Boat" in a truly memorable Canada Day moment
Set to remain in the Ottawa area until July 2, the couple will then travel to Montreal followed by a July 3 stop in Quebec City.
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Ron Galella/WireImage.com
Mel Gibson and his estranged wife Robyn have been in divorce discussions since 2009.LOS ANGELES -- An attorney for Mel Gibson's estranged wife says the former couple has nearly finalized their divorce.
Attorney Laura Wasser told a judge Tuesday that the pair have resolved all their issues and are doing some "final polishes" on the paperwork.
Wasser says the couple should have a judgment ready by Aug. 30.
Gibson's attorney agreed with Wasser's assessment
Robyn Gibson filed for divorce in April 2009, just months before the Oscar winner's then-girlfriend gave birth to an infant daughter. He indicated in court filings that the couple separated in 2006.
No details of how the couple's assets will be divided was discussed Tuesday, and Wasser indicated those details would remain private. The former couple have seven children together, but only one who is under the age of 18.
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KINSTON, N.C. -- The Gospel of John quotes Jesus as saying "I am the true vine," and some folks in eastern North Carolina think they may have witnessed a literal demonstration.
A utility pole about a mile south of Kinston has attracted attention in the last week or so from people who say the kudzu clinging to it resembles the image of Jesus on the cross.
Kent Hardison goes by the pole every day on his way to work at Ma's Hotdog House, about a 90-minute drive east of Raleigh. His first reaction, common here when it comes to kudzu, was to blast it with Roundup herbicide. But then he had second thoughts, according to The Free Press of Kinston.
"I glanced at it, and it looks like Jesus," Hardison said. "I thought, 'You can't spray Jesus with Roundup.'"
Believers have reported seeing the face of Jesus in everything from sheet metal to a grilled cheese sandwich, but the depiction of the crucifixion is a rarer phenomenon.
"I just thought it was my imagination," Hardison said. "I thought I was crazy the first time I saw it and it resembled Jesus."
Hardison and some of his customers think the vine might be an indication that God is watching over the region.
"Maybe it's a sign of the times," Michelle Davis said. "There's been a lot going on in this area." Kudzu, originally imported from Japan decades ago to help prevent soil erosion, has enjoyed such explosive growth that it's sometimes known as "the vine that ate the South." Long a problem for foresters and farmers with large plots of land, in recent years it's been moving into cities and developed areas.
Power companies spend about $1.5 million a year fixing damaged power lines caused by kudzu growth, according to Irwin Forseth Jr., a biologist at the University of Maryland.
Hardison said that regardless of whether there's any deep meaning to the vine, kudzu makes an appropriate medium for a divine message.
"It doesn't matter what you do, it is going to be around," he said. "Ain't that a lot like Jesus?"
Source: http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/06/30/holy-kudzu-vine-in-nc-tow_n_887548.html
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Brady; Inset: Austin Hatch
Courtesy of Charlevoix County Sheriffs Department
On Saturday, a second story emerged that seemed almost as unbelievable. While the two crashes had made Hatch an orphan, his dog, a Labradoodle named Brady, survived the accident. Brady's survival is even more incredible given that another family dog, a sheltie-collie mix named Alli, was found dead at the scene Friday.
According to Julie Whitley, the animal control supervisor for the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Department, a call came in Saturday about a stray dog found less than a mile away from the crash site. The 3-year-old Labradoodle was taken to the Charlevoix Humane Society, where a scan of both dogs' microchip tags led back to the Hatch family.
"The dog seemed perfectly fine," Whitley tells PEOPLE. "No injuries. No broken bones. It was scared, and it was wet, but it seemed fine."
Brady, who spent the weekend at the shelter, has since been retrieved by a Hatch family friend. "She indicated that this was actually Austin's dog," Whitley says. "They were assuming the worst since Alli had been found dead in the wreckage. When they notified Austin's step-sister that the dog was still alive, she was crying on the phone."
Hatch has been in a medically-induced coma and sustained bruising to his brain, but doctors are hopeful that he will be able to make a full recovery, after which he'll have a happy dog waiting for him to come home.
"It's an absolute miracle that the dog came out of it totally unscathed," Whitley says. "An absolute miracle."
Courtesy of Charlevoix County Sheriffs Department
Source: http://feeds.people.com/~r/people/headlines/~3/VTWs3LbYjtQ/0,,20506434,00.html
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Remember that Southwest Airlines pilot who unknowingly broadcast a rant on only having "gays, grannies and grandes" for flight attendants?
Yeah, that guy?
James Fritzen Taylor is his name in case you forgot, and Mr. Taylor had a lot of time to think about his hurtful words during his suspension. In an apology released to all Southwest employees on Tuesday, the pilot had this to say:
I deeply regret the derogatory remarks I made and the hurt I have caused. I take full responsibility for those comments. It was truly insensitive of me and I would like all of you to know that from now on, I will show nothing but my utmost respect during my interactions with all employees. This has forever changed me, and I hope that others can learned from my mistakes. I have learned a much-needed lesson to be more sensitive of others and I hope you will see me as a more tolerant and considerate person.
It actually sounds pretty sincere. We just the apology came from the heart and not a PR agent's desk.
What do U think?
Tags: apology, employee, gay, homophobic, mistake, pilot, rant, regret, release
Source: http://perezhilton.com/2011-07-01-southwest-pilot-apologizes-for-rant
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Now that he?ll be a real live daytime talk show host,� Anderson Cooper is really turning on the charm.� Guess what?� We don?t hate it.� He?s a little bit of Andy Cohen mixed with a stern newsreader.� Hooray!
At the entertainment marketing PromaxBDA Conference in New York City yesterday, Cooper confessed that he?s a huge reality tv fan.� Hoarders, Cheaters, The Real Housewives?you name the smutty show, Cooper?s probably a fan.� He told The Early Show?s co-anchor Erica Hill, ?For� years, in news, I?ve been ashamed to admit that I watch The [Real] Housewives.� Or at least I haven?t really talked about it.� But now that I?m in daytime TV I can fully reveal how much I like the Housewives.?
PHOTOS: Lady Gaga And Anderson Cooper Take A Stroll On The Thames
True story: Cooper revealed that The Real Housewives Of Atlanta?s Nene Leakes accidentally drunk-dialed the Anderson 360 host during a commercial break.� Leakes was in a limo somewhere, drunk as a skunk and singing ?Tardy For The Party,? before Kim Zolciak even recorded the putrid track.� Classic Nene.
Check out Cooper?s Housewives tale after the jump.� And pray tell, will you watch Cooper?s new daytime talk show, Anderson? �� Let us know what you think by tweeting us at @socialitelife or posting to our Facebook page.
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Kerry Katona has been married twice
Kerry Katona doesn't want Cheryl Cole to get back with ex-husband Ashley.
Cheryl's still has deep feelings for her cheating former hubby but reality star Kerry really hopes they don't give their marriage another go.
'If anyone gets a divorce or separates it's a horrible situation,' says Kerry, 30.�
'But if you can get a friendship out of it then at least you can make peace with the past.'
SEE PICTURES Cheryl and Ashley Cole: The story so far>>
The nation watched Cheryl, 28, struggle through a painful divorce from Ashley, 30, last year - and Kerry's reluctant to see it happen a 2nd time.�
'It's hard enough watching the nation's sweetheart have her heart broken once,' she says, 'I don't think we'd be strong enough to go through it all over again.'
SEE PICTURES Kerry Katona: From pop princess to Dazed Of Warrington>>
SEE PICTURES Kerry Katona at Sky One's Children's Champions Awards>>��
SEE PICTURES Dancing On Ice 2011 - Week 6 sees Kerry Katona saved>>
NEW PICTURES Cheryl Cole's life story in photos>>
NEWS Cheryl Cole sports new dirty blonde bob as she's snapped for first time since X Factor axing>>
FASHION GALLERY SPECIAL Cheryl Cole's fashion history - the highs and the lows>>
SEE PICTURES Cheryl Cole's new hair>>
CELEBRITY HAIR Cheryl Cole: From corn rows to curls>>
NEW PICTURES The X Factor UK judges make their debut at Birmingham auditions>>
SEE PICTURES The photos of Paul Abdul and Cheryl Cole Simon Cowell didn't want you to see>>
NEW PICTURES Cheryl Cole impresses US in sexy mini dress>>
MORE PICTURES Cheryl Cole's sexy black backless dress shows off new tattoo at The Brit Awards
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