Essence Music Festival kicks off

NEW ORLEANS --- From harmonious Boyz at the beginning to heavenly Jennifer Hudson in prime time to hot and heavy Usher in the midnight hour, the 17th Essence Music Festival rocked the Super Dome with six decades worth of prime R&B and urban pop. Friday night's kick-off to the three-day run drew a dressed-to-the-nines crowd that paid as much as $125 to hear 15 acts in four intimate "super lounges'' and on the vast main stage. Gospel- and soul-inflected sounds from the 1960s, via Irma Thomas and Mavis Staples, mingled with the tough contemporary R&B of Fantasia, the older-school approach of Charlie Wilson and the hard-edge funk of the local Soul Rebels Brass Band. USA TODAY's Jerry Shriver surveyed the scene from the steamy Big Easy.

• 

  Gerald Herbert, AP

  Usher performs at the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

Gerald Herbert, AP

Usher performs at the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

Sweet start: Opening the festival in the 6:45 p.m. main stage slot is a daunting task - the Super Dome is vast, the crowds are slow to arrive, and when they do they're picky. But Boyz II Men gamely met the challenge and thrilled their loyalists with an upbeat greatest-hits set. The trio, with two decades of their career and some 60 million in album sales behind them, are dressing middle-aged these days -- gray sweater vest over a tie and white shirt - but their vocal harmonizing still sounded relatively youthful on hits such as On Bended Knee, I'll Make Love To You and A Song for Mama. At one point, Wanya Morris commented that "there must be some Boyz II Men babies in the house,'' noting that while they were recording two decades ago, future parents were otherwise occupied. A wistful End of the Road drove home the point.

Hard charger: American Idol season three winner Fantasia will portray New Orleans' famed gospel pioneer Mahalia Jackson in a biopic later this year, but for her dynamic set she seemed to draw her inspiration more from Tina Turner and James Brown. Hers is not the prettiest of voices, and she's not an all-star dancer. But she projects strength, fierce energy and confidence as she drives home her songs. And she knows how to vary the pace to keep an audience's attention: Upbeat opening number It's All Good gave way to the old-school sounding recent single Collard Greens and Cornbread, and they were followed by a sexy take on Prince's Kiss and an intense, if truncated, version of Bob Marley's No Woman, No Cry. Her empowerment-themed I'm Doin' Me won the biggest ovation.

Soft engagement: Curiously, Jennifer Hudson, who appears to possess the most innate talent of any performer on the bill, had the most difficulty holding the audience's attention. Her voice is a thing of beauty, and she used it to fine effect on numbers such as Where You At? and Angel. But she sang against a neutral-colored curtain, her dancers wore mostly black and white outfits as they flitted in and out, a Weight Watchers plug seemed slightly out of place, and the progression of songs lacked cohesion. Given the lack of production values (especially compared to the Charlie Wilson and Usher extravaganzas that immediately followed), it took all Hudson had to hold the stage. A duet with fellow American Idol alum George Huff on the Jackson 5's I'll Be There and a poignant reading of her own I Remember Me helped immeasurably.

Good-time Charlie: For the third year in a row, former Gap Band leader Charlie Wilson showed that he is perhaps the best true song-and-dance man in R&B today. He may be a 58-year-old recovering crack addict and prostate cancer survivor, but when he half squats with his hands on his knees and does the slow grind with a wicked grin under his pastel-colored hat, hearts tend to melt. His shows are true productions: the energy never lags, the music hardly ever stops, the dancers move with precision and purpose and Charlie projects non-stop cool and satisfaction. Jazz-tinged funk and non-stop party jams like There Goes My Baby, You Dropped a Bomb on Me, Party Train and Charlie, Last Name Wilson kept the crowd on its feet throughout.

Space man: Usher played a well-received show in the city about six months ago but that didn't stop him from reprising many of the sci-fi trappings for the Essence crowd, many of whom come from outside the region. So jaws dropped once again as black curtains dropped from around an area in the center of the Super Dome, smoke billowed and Usher ascended on a crane-driven platform that bore him at least 25 feet above the crowd and slowly delivered him to the stage. Once that stunt was accomplished (he repeated it toward the end of the show during Burn) the sexy, silky singer treated the crowd to a feverish, stylish performance that mixed sci-fi imagery, upscale urban dreamscapes, smart choreography, and edgy but not raunchy sexual fantasies. His shirt came off at the end of Confessions Part II, but only briefly; at other times the wardrobe borrowed from Michael Jackson, Stanley Kowalski, Barry White and those guys in GQ every month. Though the backing music was bombastic at times, Usher's agile vocals held their own on burners such Love in This Club, Lil Freak, U Got It Bad and There Goes My Baby. And in a touching and novel gesture, he didn't sing during his tribute to Michael Jackson, who died two years ago on the eve of Essence. Instead, Usher showcased brilliant dance moves as the band played instrumental versions of Wanna Be Startin' Something, Rock with You and Billie Jean.

For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

We've updated the Conversation Guidelines. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation on how to use the "Report Abuse" button. Read more.

Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/usatoday-LifeTopStories/~3/pLd807kQv5M/2011-06-30-Essence-Music-Festival---Day-1_n.htm

Kerry Suseck Eva Longoria Kate Groombridge

PICTURES Cheryl Cole's new blonde bob revealed plus her hair history in photos

Now magazine will not publish anything which is defamatory, offensive, or illegal. Email nowonline@ipcmedia.com to complain about any comments

IPC Media Limited, owner of nowmagazine.co.uk, will collect your personal information solely to process your request.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NEWS_CELEBRITYNEWS/~3/VyOw99pLLH0/story01.htm

Lauren Conrad Samantha Morton Christina Ricci Scarlett Chorvat Nicole Scherzinger

GUESS WHO: PROMOTING HER BOOK AT EMF

GUESS WHO was at this year’s Essence Music Festival, signing copies of their latest books? HINT: She was often seen as the personification of Black Beauty back in the 70s… It’s Bern Nadette Stanis, former cast member of the 1970′s … Continue

Source: http://concreteloop.com/2011/07/guess-who-promoting-her-book-at-emf

Christina Ricci Scarlett Chorvat Nicole Scherzinger Missi Pyle Maria Sharapova

Fabolous Gotta New Tattoo

Fabolous is showing just how much of a devoted father he is with his latest tattoo.  Instead of getting something he may regret, the Brooklyn native tatted an image that will last forever of his three-year-old son Johan. Famed tattoo artist Mister Cartoon provided him with the artwork. The picture…

Source: http://ksfm.radio.com/2011/07/02/fabolous-gotta-new-tattoo/

Tila Tequila Blu Cantrell Kim Yoon jin Michelle Trachtenberg Laura Harring

Week in Review: Kate & Wills Hit the Americas After Shia LaBeouf Admits to Hittin' Megan Fox

Happy 4th of July weekend!

But before you settle down for fireworks and BBQ, catch up on the sizzling stories of the past week?because there's nothing more all-American than exercising one's right to indulge in celebrity gossip.

Consider it your patriotic duty!

VOTE NOW: Watch With Kristin's 2011 Tater Top Awards are still yours for the deciding, so click away!

THEY'RE HE-ERE: A few days after enjoying the action at Wimbledon, Prince William and Kate Middleton arrived in Canada for the start of their North American sojourn. The Duchess of Cambridge (and 11th cousin to Jane Austen) switched out of her "casual" traveling togs for a camera-ready midnight-blue affair before they landed and, what do you know, looked pretty picture perfect. On Friday, on what would have been Princess Diana's 50th birthday (thanks, Newsweek, for pointing out the impossible), they made the rounds in honor of Canada Day. The dazzling duo will be in the Americas for 10 days, concluding their trip in Hollywood among the comparably less elite.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: Shia LaBeouf spilled the hookup beans in Details and is now feeling a little remorseful about admitting to an offscreen dalliance with Megan Fox while the pair were playing an onscreen item in Transformers. The "f--king idiot" (Harrison Ford's words, not ours!) and object of Selena Gomez's admiration blames his age?he's 25, which is rather old in Hollywood years?but we blame douchiness. And Fox, because she's so pretty, hence everything is her fault. (And Josh Duhamel wonders why poor Megan gets a bad rap...) Meanwhile, Shia called it a "blessing" that Megan wasn't in the third film, but box-office analysts have another word for it: "inconsequential."

BABY FACE: Newlywed Courtney Stodden is really 16, as proven by the birth certificate first obtained by E! News. But isn't it funny how she looks 25 and her 51-year-old hubby, Doug Hutchison, looks 19? And why isn't this illegal again?

SHE WON'T BE BACK: Two months after acknowledging that they were separated, Maria Shriver filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger after 25 years of marriage and one mindblowing admission that the action hero and ex-governor of California had fathered a son with the family's housekeeper?who only just left her post in January! The question wasn't if Maria would divorce her unfaithful hubby, but when.

PLAZA SWEET: Denise Richards adopted a baby girl and named her Eloise Joni Richards?Joni after her mom and Eloise in accordance with her daughters' input. Sam and Lola have stayed in the Eloise Suite at NYC's famous Plaza hotel with their mom?most notably when papa Charlie Sheen huffed and puffed and almost blew the house down while staying in a room down the hall.

MAMMA MIA: Salma Hayek's fashion-industry titan husband, Fran�ois-Henri Pinault, had a child with supermodel Linda Evangelista years ago. Actually, it was the same amount of years ago that he fathered his child with Hayek.

FREE: Lindsay Lohan completed her stint on house arrest and, after performing more community service at an L.A. women's shelter, headed off to Lexington Social House in Hollywood for supper with Emile Hirsch and other pals.

VOICE OF AMERICA: Seasoned singer Javier Colon won the premiere season of The Voice, which proved enough of a hit for NBC that it will be following the Super Bowl next year?with Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine all along for the season-two ride. Phew!

IN ON THE ACTION: Stephen Colbert, he being a wealthy individual in charge of his very own Nation, has been granted leave to form a Super PAC, which will enable him and his PACmen to raise unlimited campaign contributions for the candidates of their choice.�

TMI: Way to kick a man when he's dead, Mrs. Brady.

FATHER KNOWS BEST: Dannielynn met not be an oil heiress, but Anna Nicole Smith's daughter will always be a princess in dad Larry Birkhead's eyes.

ONGOING ISSUES: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who's been in and out of rehab for alcoholism, fell off the wagon and ended up in a London hospital...Amber Portwood has admitted she needs help and is in rehab...Brooke Mueller has finished her latest stretch of rehab and is "doing amazingly well"...

SADNESS: Along with Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera mourns the loss of best friend and Jackass costar Ryan Dunn, telling E! News that word of Dunn's death was "the worst news" he's ever heard in his life.

CIVIC DUTY: Los Angeles police are looking to celebs who tweet to spread the word about the July 16-17 closure of the 405 Freeway, which is expected to majorly muck up not only traffic flow but also the Southland economy over that weekend. We are happy to report that every Kardashian kid, plus Kylie and Kendall Jenner, has done his or her part.

YES TO THE DRESS: Kim Kardashian appears to have chosen the designer of the most important couture she'll ever wear: She visited Vera Wang bridal boutiques in both NYC and West Hollywood this week. Nuff said, right?

WEDDING BELLS: Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig got hitched without making a sound in NYC...Neil Patrick Harris celebrated New York's big news by getting engaged to longtime partner and partner in twin parenting David Burtka...Kate Moss swapped vows with The Kills frontman Jamie Hince in England's Cotswolds district...America Ferrera tied the knot with filmmaker Ryan Piers Williams...Julie Benz is engaged to businessman beau Rich Orosco...Marriage ain't for Charlize Theron...And, despite his recent plan, it's really not for Hugh Hefner, either.

BABY TALK: Tia Mowry welcomed a son, her first child, with hubby Cory Hardrict...Nick Cannon talks to E! News about life with Mariah Carey and twins Monroe (the adorably camera-shy one) and Moroccan...Victoria Beckham has no interest in baring her baby-toting belly (Obviously! She's been wearing nothing but black for eight months.)...Beyonc� is planning on motherhood at some point.

UNHITCHING POST: Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds are officially single entities...David Duchovny and Tea Leoni have separated for the second time in three years...Onetime Survivor player Jonny Fairplay and his America's Next Top Model also-ran wife Michelle Deighton have separated...Mel Gibson and almost-ex-wife Robyn have settled the terms of their at-times strangely supportive divorce.

FASHION SENSE: Heidi Klum spent an hour with Kim Kardashian and is expected to know everything about her, such as what the E! star is planning to wear on her big day...Check out Kelly Osbourne's Material GIrl ad campaign for Madonna and Lourdes Leon.

FINDINGS: "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who died in a May car wreck, was actually felled by coronary artery disease and suffered only cuts and bruises in the actual crash.

FAREWELL: Nick Charles, veteran CNN sports reporter, died of cancer at 64.

FEUDAL TIMES: Ashton Kutcher took issue with the Village Voice...Tim Daly isn't going to be first in line to see Man of Steel.

WHOOPS: Coming off his gay-slur standup scandal,Tracy Morgan took a wrong turn and ended up in Mocking-the-Disabled-Ville.

MUSICAL NOTES: Rihanna and Chris Brown's wires got crossed at the 2011 BET Awards...Lady Gaga unequivocally denies scamming Japanese earthquake victims...Watch Joe Jonas' "See No More" video right here!...Justin Timberlake has snatched up a stake in the recently sold MySpace, confident he can help return the secondary site to social-networking prominence as a destination for music lovers...Amy Winehouse has fallen prey to, well, lots of things really, but this week it was profane hackers...Here's "Rising," the first video from James Franco's musical collaboration with Kalup Linzy...Will.i.am was one of 1,500 hotel guests and staffers safely evacuated from a London hotel after it caught fire...Just as "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall," every Coldplay video is a bit of an event...Colbie Caillat filled us in on her "Brighter Than the Sun" video and life in general...Madonna still has a mission in Malawi...Eminem makes a statement by shooting himself in "Space Bound"...Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video jacket sells for $1.8 million at auction.

TV LAND: Eligible bachelors are dropping like flies on The Bachelorette...Chord Overstreet appears to be the odd man out on Glee...Jeff Probst is headed to CBS daytime...Jake Gyllenhaal tests his mettle on Man vs. Wild...Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson (now there's a surprise) will be back for American Idol's 11th season, but Jennifer Lopez has yet to sign up...Meet the Big Brother 13 newbies...Toddlers & Tiaras never fails to terrify...Behind the scenes at So You Think You Can Dance.

SCREEN PLAY: Newly tattooed Jennifer Aniston fills us in on how she got nasty for Horrible Bosses...Tom Hanks says Toy Story 4 is in the works...Oh, Wild Thing, we think we're starting to get you: Charlie Sheen admits to taking steroids to beef up for Major League...Sarah Palin attends Undefeated premiere in Iowa, slams the haters...Which Robsten costar isn't excited to see the big Breaking Dawn sex scene?...No egg, but there's definitely pie on Robert Pattinson's face in Cosmopolis...Daniel Radcliffe totally cried when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 wrapped...Michelle Yeoh was booted from Myanmar for trying to star in a politically themed film...Check out reviews of Larry Crowne, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Monte Carlo.

TEEN CHOICE: Guess what the Teen Choice Awards are smiling upon these days? It rhymes with "Shylight" and "Larry Kotter."

TRAILER PARK: Colin Firth and Tom Hardy make for appealing espionage in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy...Orlando Bloom travels light (as air) in The Three Musketeers...The task at hand is a dire one for Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner in Mission: Impossible?Ghost Protocol...Henry Cavill isn't just Superman: He's also one of the Immortals...That's Kelly Macdonald you're hearing in Brave.

CAN'T MISS: We're livestreaming the red carpet premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 live from NYC, starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on July 11

LAW & DISORDER: Tobey Maguire says he lost enough at poker already...Dr. Conrad Murray takes some time before his criminal trial starts to respond to Joe Jackson's wrongful death suit...Dastardly David "Puck" Rainey from The Real World: San Francisco was busted for domestic violence...Newly declared Republican presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann is no "American Girl" as far as Tom Petty's concerned...Brooke Mueller's going to be getting her child support straight from Charlie's former bosses at Warner Bros. to ensure that she gets paid, as other studios and networks aren't exactly lining up to be his new boss...Salon owner who abused Jennifer Aniston and Anne Hathaway's credit cards sentenced to probation...Paulina Rubio got collared after crashing.

SPREADS: The emphasis is on Gwyneth Paltrow's nudity, er, jewelry in Vanity Fair's next issue...Anna Paquin talks about all things sex (including bisexuality) in the "Transformations" issue of V...Emma Watson reveals in Seventeen that Draco Malfoy, aka Tom Felton, was her Harry Potter crush...Whirling dervish Anne Hathaway fronts Harper's Bazaar.

SURREAL ESTATE: Katy Perry and Russell Brand have plunked down $6.5 million for a spread in the Hollywood Hills...Regis Philbin is selling his perfectly lovely Greenwich, Conn., estate for $3.8 million...But you'll need $18 million to walk in Katharine Hepburn's hallowed footsteps on Long Island Sound...Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne have downsized to West Hollywood and therefore don't need $12.999 million worth of space in Hidden Hills.

SCENE & HEARD: Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez exchanging I-love-yous while shopping at A|X Armani Exchange in NYC...Pippa Middleton and (not Prince Harry, sorry) banker ex Alex Loudon looking friendly in her parents' box at Wimbledon...Angelina Jolie suited up for water sports at the Mediterraneo Bio Park in Malta...Johnny Depp jamming with Alice Cooper at the 100 Club in London...January Jones and Alyssa Milano heading to respective prenatal yoga classes...Beyonc� delighting young fans from the local Boys & Girls Club with a surprise meet-and-greet at a Target in East Harlem...And here's where the stars are going to be on the 4th!

GALLERY: Check out the week's biggest pictures right here

Source: http://feeds.eonline.com/~r/eonline/topstories/~3/mqqPUdzgHwQ/b250258_week_in_review_kate_wills_hit_americas.html

Jessica Cauffiel Amy Smart Amanda Swisten Aaliyah The Avatars of Second Life

PIC: Duchess Kate Stuns in 4-Inch Stilettos, Blue Dress in Quebec

2011-07-03 14:39:20

Lady Gaga rocked a two-toned 'do to celebrate a day in her honor in Taichung, Taiwan Sunday.

See More Hot Pics

What Your Friends Like On Us

�

�

Credit: Arthur Edwards-Pool/Getty Images

Sunday ? July 03, 2011 ? 3:05pm

Another day, another outfit change!

For Sunday's leg of her Canadian tour with husband Prince William, Kate Middleton dazzled in a cobalt blue lace detail "Jacquenta" dress by Canadian designer Erdem paired with four-inch nude platform stilettos. Finishing off the royal's weekend look? A mock-croc clutch bag and sapphire earrings.

PHOTOS: Get Kate's style for less

All dolled up, Middleton, 29, joined her husband, also 29, bright and early Sunday morning for a prayer service aboard the HMCS Montreal, where the couple spent the night.

During the 45-minute interdenominational service, prayers were said for the newlywed royals and for members of the Armed Forces. The couple even sang along in French to the hymn "Je Louerai L'Eternel" (Praise, I Will Praise You Lord).

PHOTOS: Kate and William take a cooking class

The prayer service wasn't William's only opportunity to practice his French. When the couple arrived at the Freedom of the City Ceremony, the Prince addressed his adoring public in their native language. "Thank you for your patience with my accent," he told attendees.

PHOTOS: Recap the royals' itinerary

Later on Sunday, Middleton was seen visiting La Maison Dauphine, a drop-in center for homeless youth, in Quebec. Next up for the royal couple is a visit to Forts-de-Levis, a fort built between 1865-1872 under the supervision of British military engineers.

'); $('.fb_comment li.comment_btns input.comment_button').remove(); subadded = false; isFbAuthenticated = false; } function auth_using_fb2(uid) { var avatar = ''; var fb_name = 'Name not available.'; var fb_url = '127.0.0.1'; var fbquery = FB.Data.query('select name, pic_square_with_logo, profile_url from user where uid={0}',uid); try { var t = setTimeout(function() {update_userbox(fb_name, avatar, fb_url)},3000); fbquery.wait(function(rows) { avatar = rows[0].pic_square_with_logo; fb_name = rows[0].name; fb_url = rows[0].profile_url; update_userbox(fb_name, avatar, fb_url); clearTimeout(t); }); } catch(e) { update_userbox(fb_name, avatar, fb_url); } } function checkWallPosting2(comment) { FB.api('/me', function(response) { FB.ui({ method: 'stream.publish', message: comment, attachment: { name: 'My comment on "' + document.title + '"', href: document.location.href }, user_message_prompt: 'Your comment on "' + document.title + '"' }, function(response) { return postComment(); }); }); return false; } function getLogin() { FB.getLoginStatus(function(response) { if (response.session && response.session.uid) { uid = response.session.uid; auth_using_fb2(uid); } else { } }); } jQuery("textarea#comment_text").click(function() { if (cleared_comment == 0) { jQuery("textarea#comment_text").val(''); cleared_comment = 1; } }); function postComment() { var comment = $("textarea#comment_text").val(); var email = isFbAuthenticated ? String(uid) + '@FB-ACCT.COM' : $("input#email").val(); var commenterName= $("input#commenterName").val(); var modelClass = $("input#modelClass").val(); var modelId = $("input#modelId").val(); var channelId = $("input#channelId").val(); var ipAddress = $("input#ipAddress").val(); var modelTitle = 'deprecated'; // TODO:remove this as required parameter from TOMCAT script var dataString = '?email=' + email + '&commenterName=' + commenterName + '&modelClass=' + modelClass + '&modelId=' + modelId + '&channelId=' + channelId + '&ipAddress=' + ipAddress + '&modelTitle=' + modelTitle + '&comment=' + comment; if (1) { $.ajax({ type: "POST", url: "/comment_filter", data: { email: email, commenterName: commenterName, modelClass: modelClass, modelId: modelId, channelId: channelId, ipAddress: ipAddress, modelTitle: modelTitle, comment: comment }, success: function(xml) { if (xml == 'no comment' || xml == 'spam') { $('.comment_div textarea').val(''); $('.no_results').hide(); // update comments list if (isFbAuthenticated) { $('.comments .new_comment').html('

Source: http://www.usmagazine.com/stylebeauty/news/pic-duchess-kate-stuns-in-4-inch-stilettos-blue-dress-in-quebec-201137

Sunny Mabrey Ciara Marisa Coughlan Talisa Soto Katharine Towne

Chord Overstreet Dropped From Glee Cast

The Glee community is reeling from a major shakeup after the surprising news that Chord Overstreet, who plays Sam, is being dropped from the cast.

Meanwhile, fan faves Darren Criss and Harry Shum Jr. were promoted to regulars. That's great, but largely overshadowed by Overstreet's ouster.

Ashley Fink, who recurred on season two as Lauren, will return next year, although she has not received the same upgrade as Criss and Shrum.

“well its been a good yr too bad its over, time for summer and starting fresh," Chord - who could still recur occasionally - Tweeted after the news.

It was not immediately clear why the Fox hit decided not to bring back the popular, 22-year-old actor as part of the third season's cast.

What do you think of this surprising news, Glee fans?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/07/chord-overstreet-dropped-from-glee-cast/

Thandie Newton Victoria Beckham Mía Maestro Shanna Moakler Ivanka Trump

Ken Blackwell: Time's Orwellian Story on U.S. Constitution Refuted!

Time magazine's cover story shows the U.S. Constitution and asks, "Does it still matter?" Reading this story, we kept waiting for Emmanuel Goldstein to show up for the Two Minutes of Hate. It was difficult to discern whether we were reading Time, or Orwells' 1984.

It portrays the Constitution as an outmoded document that we should ignore to whatever extent is expedient to pursue someone's vision of a better society: "We cannot let the Constitution become an obstacle to a future with a sensible health care system, a globalized economy, and evolving sense of civil and political rights."

The story shows all sorts of poll questions that present a false choice, such as, "The 14th Amendment says that any person born in the U.S. automatically becomes a U.S. citizen... Should [it] be revised?" The Citizenship Clause says no such thing, because it adds that anyone "not subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S. is not a citizen.

That's why children of foreign ambassadors, prisoner soldiers and heads of state born here do not become citizens. The question is how broad that "jurisdiction" clause is. Could Congress exclude illegal aliens? It's an active debate in legal circles, with no clear answer.

Instead, the questions should have included: "Are you more interested in the Constitution today that you were four years ago?" "Do you agree or disagree with candidates discussing the Constitution more in their campaign speeches this year?" "Are you now aware that the Constitution only vests the federal government with power of specific areas of life, leaving the states sovereign to decide all other issues?"

Or questions on enduring constitutional principles. "Do you agree with the Supreme Court's 1803 pronouncement that any law contrary to the Constitution is null and void?" "Every government officer (including every judge) takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Should they apply its original meaning to current challenges?"

Does the Constitution still matter? Look at huge crowds of Americans cheering at rallies, whether it's a spending protest or a pro-life rally. It matters to them, and they vote.

The story was so riddled with distortions that it obscured its message. For example, it says we must raise the debt ceiling because, "the idea that we can default on our debt is not only reckless; it's probably unconstitutional." It twists a provision from the 14th Amendment that has nothing to do with the debt ceiling.

The reality is, revenue government collects every month so vastly exceeds our debt payments that we could easily meet our monthly obligations. We would just have to cut discretionary spending on other programs. But it's deceptive to suggest that not raising the ceiling automatically causes default, and it's wrong to suggest it's unconstitutional.

The most disappointing part of the article mischaracterizes the Obamacare legal fight. It says Obamacare's individual mandate requiring you to buy health insurance is constitutional because government takes your money in taxes and requires you to buy car insurance.

The writer obliviously ignores that the Constitution expressly creates a federal government of enumerated powers. The feds can tax you because of the Taxing Clause of the Constitution (though even then only four types of taxes are legal -- not the mandate). And states have authority to make you buy car insurance under state police power, but if the feds required it, such a law would be illegal because the feds have no police power.

Since there is no Healthcare Clause in the Constitution, the feds try cramming it in the Commerce Clause. That's the whole fight: Whether Congress can control your personal decisions whenever Congress declares such decisions impact interstate commerce.

Every decision in your life has some tangential relationship to interstate commerce. Does that mean the Constitution allows the government to control your every decision? It makes a mockery of the concept of limited government.

The story concludes, "The Constitution serves the nation; the nation does not serve the Constitution." The connotation is that we shouldn't be too slavish in our fidelity to the Constitution.

Like the rest of this article, its conclusion misses the point. The Constitution serves the American people as an unbreakable constraint on those in power, dictating their duties and the limits on their authority. The Constitution serves We the People by requiring every government official to take an oath to obey its every word.

The picture art at the outset of Time's story showed the Constitution cut in dozens of narrow vertical strips. Clearly it had been run through a paper shredder.

Evidently this is wishful thinking for some on the Far Left. The only problem is that it's false. Interest in the Constitution is resurgent, and that renewed interest is the key to America's renewal in our third century.

Ken Blackwell and Ken Klukowski are fellows at the American Civil Rights Union, on faculty at Liberty University, and authors of Resurgent: How Constitutional Conservatism Can Save America.

�

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ken-blackwell/times-orwellian-story-on-_b_889318.html

Maria Bello Julie Berry Susan Ward Leelee Sobieski Jamie Lynn Sigler

Hilary Duff & Mike Comrie: Mo's Mates

They've been enjoying plenty of togetherness now that it's the NHL offseason, and Hilary Duff was out and about with Mike Comrie in Los Angeles, California on Saturday afternoon (July 2).

The happy couple were hand-in-hand as they grabbed a bite to eat for lunch at Mo's restaurant before continuing along with their Fourth of July holiday weekend plans.

Hilary and Mike's outing comes shortly after Miss Duff's big sister Haylie's beau, Nick Zano, spoke with OK! magazine about the foursome's double dates.

Zano told, "The girls are really into cooking so most of the time it?s going from house to house. The hottest restaurant in our neighbourhood is like whoever?s kitchen! Its great.?

Happy to be able to spend time with a pro hockey player, Nick added, "Mike taught me so much about hockey. I was never a hockey guy. He opened my eyes to hockey and I became a fan. I went to several Pittsburgh games."

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/hilary-duff/hilary-duff-mike-comrie-mos-mates-520575

Taylor Swift Jill Arrington Jessica Simpson Samantha Mathis Susie Castillo

Prince William & Kate Middleton Face Protests in Montreal

Having flown into the second stop on their North American tour earlier in the day, Prince William and Kate Middleton got down to business after touching flown at Montreal Airport on Saturday (July 2).

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge immediately headed over to the Sainte-Justine University Hospital - where they were greeted by both fans and protestors, some of which held up signs with nasty messages such as "Royal Parasites! Go Home!".

Explaining the anti-monarchy sentiments, one of the protestors told local press, ?We think it?s a useless institution that has no place today. We are capable of governing ourselves without people who have the title of king by divine right. The idea that God made them king is a philosophy of the Middle Ages.?

As for their hospital visit, William and Kate toured the treatment center, with Miss Middleton lovingly sitting down to spend time with patients in the children's cancer ward.

Once finished up at Sainte-Justine, the royal newlyweds were escorted to board the MCS Montreal to meet a handful of naval officers before finally bringing an end to what was another long day.

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/prince-william/prince-william-kate-middleton-face-protests-montreal-520529

Laura Harring Thora Birch Julia Stiles Amanda Marcum Tara Reid

Brooke Mueller: Out of Rehab, Reportedly Doing Well

According to a friend, Brooke Mueller watched herself on The World According to Paris, hated the person she saw and checked herself into a 45-day outpatient rehab program.

This is interesting news for two reasons:

1. Someone is actually watching The World According to Paris.
2. Charlie Sheen's ex might finally be on the road to recovery.

Faces such as this and scenes such as this made Brooke Mueller realize: I need help.

This insider tells E! News that Mueller has now completed the program, regularly attends AA meetings and has a sponsor.

"She is out. She is doing amazingly well."

As entertaining as Mueller and Sheen's antics can be, let's all hope this is true. They have a pair of young kids, after all.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/07/brooke-mueller-out-of-rehab-reportedly-doing-well/

Haylie Duff Shiri Appleby Alicia Witt Alicia Keys Lily Allen

On the Verge: Rapper Yung Chris

Racks on racks: Rapper Yung Chris (aka Christopher Miller) says his single Racks? a "rack" being a slang term for $1,000 ? is gaining momentum for two simple reasons: "It's just a club song that everybody vibes to, moves around to," he says. "And racks, of course, is the money, so you know everybody wants money." With a chorus like "Got racks on racks on racks/racks on racks on racks/racks on racks on racks" on top of a club-approved beat, the description is spot-on ? this is pure party music. The song hovered just under the top 40 on Billboard's Hot 100 and hit No. 2 (rhythmic) and No. 4 (urban) on USA TODAY's airplay charts.

• 

  By Thaddeus McAdams

  Yung Chris has a hit single out called 'Racks.'

By Thaddeus McAdams

Yung Chris has a hit single out called 'Racks.'

The payoff: Rapping has been the 26-year-old Decatur, Ga., native's hobby since childhood, but as he grew up and experienced street life, "I started taking it a little more serious (and) started recording." Persistence with a healthy dose of confidence eventually led Yung Chris, who usually goes by "YC," to a record deal. "Anything I'm gonna try, I'm gonna succeed in, you know? I kept trying, kept working and it finally started to pay off," he says.

Sign him up: After being courted by a number of major labels because of the underground success of Racks, "I (was) just looking for somebody to believe in me as much as I believe in myself." He found that with Universal Republic, and signed with the label in March. YC subsequently released his Got Racks mixtape in early April. The 17-song collection includes the rapper's next single, I Know. "We've been getting a crazy response off (the track)," YC says. "A lot of people have been hitting me up about it." He's currently recording his full-length debut in Atlanta in between dates of a solo club tour, which stops next in Las Vegas on July 2.

New at the game: The rapper performed Racks at the BET Awards pre-show last weekend, where he met some of the hip-hop scene's biggest names, "rappers that have been in the game a little longer (than me). That was a great experience, being very new at this game." Walking the red carpet with industry leaders such as Jay-Z is inspirational, he says. "I look up to (them), to try to accomplish some of the goals, or even more goals, than they have accomplished."

The highlight of his night? "I met the Five Heartbeats," he says, referring to the fictional group from the 1991 film of the same name, which performed at the awards show to celebrate the movie's 20th anniversary. "To see them all dressed up ? remember the movie?" he says with a laugh. As for his own performance, YC couldn't wait to hit BET's stage. When approached by the network to perform, "I was like, 'For real, BET? Oh, man, all right, let's go! What? I need to be there now? I'm on my way, I'm ready to go perform for BET,'" he says, recalling his enthusiasm.

Remix it up: "I think I have the world's longest remix," says YC, laughing. "It's like 22 minutes." The official remix of Racks is actually more like 13 minutes, but with 15 rappers including Nelly, B.o.B., Wale, Wiz Khalifa and Waka Flocka, the higher estimate isn't too far-fetched. "It's crazy. We shot (the video) in Atlanta. I mean, Nelly came down to be in the video ? that shocked me." The veteran hip-hop artist approached YC to get in on the remix, rathern than the other way around. "For Nelly to do it, that was kind of exciting. He's accomplished a lot, he's sold a lot of records."

Identity crisis ? or not: Yung Chris is one vowel away from Young Chris, another rapper and one half of the duo Young Gunz. YC, who uses the initials to help avoid confusion, says the similarity of the monikers actually hasn't caused much of a problem. "The only problem I ran into is Twitter. (Fans) might follow him, thinking it's me. They might follow me, thinking it's him."

For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

We've updated the Conversation Guidelines. Changes include a brief review of the moderation process and an explanation on how to use the "Report Abuse" button. Read more.

Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/usatoday-LifeTopStories/~3/wWHjphlyxIE/2011-07-01-yung-chris-rapper-on-the-verge_n.htm

Whitney Port Lake Bell Tamie Sheffield Amerie Maria Menounos

CANDIDS: RAPPER CYHI THE PRYNCE IN NYC + VIDEO FROM HIS MTV INTERVIEW

Check out some candids of rapper Cyhi The Prynce out and about in NYC on Wednesday afternoon. The 26 year-old is signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint and recently released the mixtape, Royal Flush 2 (DOWNLOAD HERE). He recently … Continue

Source: http://concreteloop.com/2011/06/candids-rapper-cyhi-the-prynce-in-nyc-video-from-his-mtv-interview

Shannon Elizabeth Christina Applegate Freida Pinto Thandie Newton Victoria Beckham

Gvmt. services closed; bus and train schedules changed for July 4 holiday

LOS ANGELES - Government offices, courts, schools, libraries, banks and post offices will be closed for Independence Day.

Trash collection in the city of Los Angeles will be pushed back by one day, according to the city's Bureau of Sanitation.

Street sweepers will be off. Streets normally swept on Mondays will be skipped, and street-sweeping parking restrictions will not be enforced.

On the Fourth of July, all Metro-operated buses and trains will operate on a Sunday schedule.

For information on Metro schedules, visit www.metro.net or call 323-GOMETRO, or 323-466-3876.

Metrolink trains will not be operating, except for two round-trip trains between Lancaster and Union Station. Regular service will resume Tuesday.

For train schedules, visit www.metrolinktrains.com or call 800-371-LINK.

The following Foothill Transit lines will operate on a weekend schedule: 178, 185, 187, 195, 197, 269, 272, 274, 280, 281, 282, 284, 285, 286, 289, 291, 480, 482, 486, 488, 492 and Silver Streak.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18397280?source=rss

Gina Carano Sarah Shahi Ana Paula Lemes Zooey Deschanel Esther Cañadas

MUSIC VIDEO: LUPE FIASCO ? ?OUT OF MY HEAD? (FT. TREY SONGZ)

Lupe Fiasco dropped a new visual for his newest single, “Out of My Head” from his 3rd studio album Lasers. The Michael Thelin-directed video features his singing labelmate Trey Songz, with model Tracey Thomas playing the love interest. Peep it! … Continue

Source: http://concreteloop.com/2011/06/music-video-lupe-fiasco-out-of-my-head-ft-trey-songz

Diora Baird Natalie Imbruglia Lucy Liu Denise Richards Emma Heming

Listen All Weekend Long

Listen for Club 102  on your radio all weekend long!  DJ Alazzawi and DJ Gino will have all the music you need for your BBQ’s, and  poolside parties!   Also listen for your chance to win the Ultimate Sports Fan Prize Pack!  Each prize pack includes, a pair of tickets to the Celebrity Golf Tournament in [...]

Source: http://ksfm.radio.com/2011/07/01/listen-all-weekend-long/

Minka Kelly Maria Bello Julie Berry Susan Ward Leelee Sobieski

Maria Shriver files for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger

02 July 2011

Rate this article

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."

Buy Arnold Schwarzenegger DVDs

• 

  �9.99

• 

  �29.99

• 

  �12.99

• 

  �9.99

Source: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/Maria+Shriver-40198.html

Asia Argento Kate Walsh Nicollette Sheridan Leslie Bega Mia Kirshner

Meagan Good Gets Her Shop On At Michael Kors [PHOTOS]

Meagan Good was seen on a shopping spree in L.A. with best friend Lil? B, who is also Brandy and Ray J?s godsister. The two girls hit up the Michael Kors store at the Beverly Center.� Meagan shopped till she dropped and purchased two bags at $ 1,500 each, and a dress.

Meagan and Lil? B also had time to pose for pictures with customers and the staff of Michael Kors.

To see the pics of Meagan and Lil? B on their shopping trip check out:

For more stories on Meagan Good, take a look at:

Meagan Good Gives Sneak Peek Of Underwear In Sheer Outfit [PHOTOS]

Meagan Good: ?I?m Single By Choice, God Is My Lover?

Meagan Good Stars In New Film ?Video Girl? [VIDEO]

Hello Beautiful � Celeb Pics

Source: http://ilookfly.com/black-celebs-gossip/meagan-good-gets-her-shop-on-at-michael-kors-photos/

Jessica Simpson Samantha Mathis Susie Castillo AnnaLynne McCord Eliza Dushku

CANDIDS: RAPPER CYHI THE PRYNCE IN NYC + VIDEO FROM HIS MTV INTERVIEW

Check out some candids of rapper Cyhi The Prynce out and about in NYC on Wednesday afternoon. The 26 year-old is signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint and recently released the mixtape, Royal Flush 2 (DOWNLOAD HERE). He recently … Continue

Source: http://concreteloop.com/2011/06/candids-rapper-cyhi-the-prynce-in-nyc-video-from-his-mtv-interview

Tara Conner Amanda Bynes Marley Shelton Vitamin C Monica Keena

Larry Flynt's Daughter Sued for Sexual Harrassment

7/1/2011 4:35 PM PDT�by TMZ Staff��

---

The daughter of "Hustler" honcho Larry Flynt, who works as the VP of his company, is being sued for sexual harassment by a guy who claims she manhandled him.

Theresa Flynt is being sued by Steven Prescott, Hustler's West Coast District Manager, who claims in the lawsuit ... over a period of 2 years Theresa repeatedly harassed him through sexual text messages, unwanted touching, grinding, hugging, caressing and leering.

According to the suit, Theresa even acknowledged the alleged harassment with this comment:� "OMG ... I"m totally sexually harassing you right now."

The suit claims Prescott reported the alleged harassment to his superiors, to no avail.� He claims the entire Flynt family felt "above the law."

Prescott is also suing Flynt Management, HH Entertainment, LFP Publishing Group and Hustler Sunset for unspecified damages.

No immediate comment from Theresa or Hustler.

Tags: Larry Flynt,�Hustler,�Celebrity Justice,�Theresa Flynt

---

Source: http://www.tmz.com/2011/07/01/larry-flynt-daughter-sued-sexual-harrassment-theresa-flynt-steven-prescott-hustler-magazine/

Whitney Port Lake Bell Tamie Sheffield Amerie Maria Menounos