Life is a bitch

Beyoncé and Jay-Z 'welcome baby girl and name her Ivy Blue Carter'

2012-01-08T01:35:00.000-08:00

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have welcomed their first child - a baby girl, it has been reported.

The music power couple have named their daughter Blue Ivy Carter, according to eonline.com.

The 30-year-old singer gave birth to her daughter by caesarean section at Lenox Hill hospital in New York last night and the website reports 'multiple sources' have confirmed the news.

It's a girl! Beyonce is said to have given birth to a baby girl by c-section named Ivy Blue according to reports

Celebrities have already started tweeting their congratulations to the couple with Russell Simmons and Rihanna were among the first.

Russell posted: 'Congrats to my good friends Beyonce and Jay-Z.'

Rihanna posted: 'Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih.'

Public congratulations: Russell Simmons was one of the first celebrities to tweet the news

We've been waiting for you: Rihanna wasted no time welcoming the babe into the world

According to the New York Daily News, Beyoncé checked into the Upper East Side hospital under the name Ingrid Jackson.

Beyoncé, who was spotted out with her mother on Thursday night, is said to have booked out the entire fourth floor spending $1.3million it has been claimed.

While a spokesperson for the power couple was not available for comment security is said to have been tightened at the hospital.

Hospital workers are being asked to turn in their mobile phones and security cameras have been covered, according to the news site.

Reported: The 30-year-old singer is said to have checked into Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City under a false name

Baby rumours reached fever pitch on December 30 with reports that Beyoncé had given welcomed a daughter called Tiana May Carter.

It came after reports suggested that staff at St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital - a private facility in New York - had been told to prepare for a VIP arrival.

But Beyoncé's sister Solange rebutted the rumours by telling fans that the singer had spent New Year's Eve at her house party in Brooklyn.

The 25-year-old confirmed Beyonce was very much still pregnant and tweeted: 'Shout out to my sister for being THE cutest pregnant woman ever!'

Are they parents yet? There has been considerable speculation for weeks after it was falsely reported that the singer and her husband Jay-Z had welcomed their child

The former Destiny's Child singer was also seen out earlier on New Year's Eve with her husband Jay-Z.

The pair dined at the Buttermilk Channel restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.

On Thursday, Beyoncé emerged in public for the first time since being last spotted on December 21.

The 30-year-old was seen stroking her tummy as she was escorted out of a New York office building by a body guard.

The singer was also accompanied by her mother Tina.

Beyoncé announced her pregnancy at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards back in August.

Showing off the bump: The singer was seen showing off her pregnant shape in New York in November

She arrived on the red carpet cradling her bump.

The singer also showed off her growing tummy after her onstage performance at the same ceremony - unbuttoning her sequined jacket and rubbing her tummy.

Back in October the former Destiny's Child faced internet rumours that she was faking her pregnancy after an interview she did for Australian TV was posted online.

Critics claimed that when the Texan sat down her bump disappeared.

But Beyonce's rep quickly batted down those rumours saying they were 'foolish'.

Big reveal: The singer announced her pregnancy at the MTV VMA's in August

The baby will be the first child for the Single Ladies pop star and her husband Jay-Z and the second grandchild for her parents Tina and Mathew Knowles.

Beyonce's younger sister Solange has a seven-year-old son Daniel Smith JR.

The addition to the Knowles clan will be some welcome good news just weeks after her parents' divorce became final.

Tina and Mathew had been married for 31 years.

CONGRATS TO THE CARTERS ON THE DELIVERY OF BABY GIRL, IVY BLUE CARTER!

2012-01-08T01:34:00.001-08:00

Tonight the world welcomes another BombShell Mama to motherhood! Beyonce delivers of a Bouncing Baby Girl (reportedly) named Ivy Blue Carter!

Although I'm a huge fans of this couple, I didn't really feed into the whole Bey & Jay pregnancy thing. For one, I wasn't sure what was going on, especially with all the reports of a "fake pregnancy". Secondly, they obviously wanted their privacy. She stayed in hiding, and pretty much the same 10-15 pics were circulated the entire time of her pregnancy. And Thirdly, I was tired of hearing about it because she didn't seem to be channeling the whole "I'm loving my pregnancy" vibe. There was no celeb photo shoot with the exposed belly bump pics, or even any baby shower pics (that I ever saw anyway) or anything, so it just wasn't that exciting to me.

Nonetheless, I'm excited and happy that Jay-z and Beyonce have finally delivered their bundle of joy! Congrats to the Carters!

Justin Bieber Reveals Latest Religious Tattoo – An Image Of Jesus

2012-01-07T06:16:00.001-08:00

Some people display their faith by wearing a cross medallion pendant. Teen idol Justin Bieber prefers something more permanent -- religious tattoos. The 17-year-old singer was spotted on the beach in Venice, California Wednesday showing off his latest ink, an image of Jesus on the calf of his left leg.

The tattoo depicts a solemn Jesus wearing a crown of thorns.

Bieber was photographed doing pushups and playing football with his father, Jeremy, and a friend. He also took pictures with bikini-clad female fans.

Justin's Bieber tattoo, FameFlynet

WATCH Justin Bieber's Duet With Mariah Carey

Bieber and Jeremy share a passion for body art. Last July, photos surfaced of the father and son's matching Hebrew tats.

Bieber discussed the tattoo in December when he visited Power 106 in Los Angeles. "It's on my side right here," he explained to Big Boy's Neighborhood. "It says Jesus in Hebrew. My dad has it. We got it in Israel."

Bieber also explained the family connection to the seagull drawn on his lower abdomen. "It's a book that my family all reads," he said. "My dad has it. My grandma has it. My cousins all have it. It's a book that everybody in my family read. It's like a seagull that wanted to be more than a seagull."

omg! NOW: Selena Gomez Opens Up About Being Hated by Justin Bieber Fans

The book Bieber refers to is reportedly Richard Bach's 1970 best-selling novel "Jonathan Livingston Seagull — a story." The storyline is about Jonathan Livingston Seagull's plight to transcend the day-to-day lifestyle of being an ordinary seagull to achieve a "higher plane of existence."

Last year, Bieber discussed his religious beliefs in an interview with the Associated Press. "I'm a Christian, I believe in God, I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins," he said. "I believe that I have a relationship and I'm able to talk to him and really, he's the reason I'm here, so I definitely have to remember that."

omg! NOW: Selena Gomez Opens Up About Being Hated by Justin Bieber Fans

Cop Issues Speeding Ticket, Asks Driver for a Date and She Sues Him

2012-01-06T01:09:00.000-08:00

A Chicago police officer allegedly turned a $132 speeding ticket into a pick-up opportunity when he later tracked down the female driver and asked her out, saying the least he could do for the money he cost her was to treat her to dinner, according to a lawsuit the woman filed in federal court.

Evagelina Paredes filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Chicago, accusing police officer Chris Collins of violating her privacy, according to the Associated Press. She alleges that after she was ticketed on Oct. 22, Collins searched for her address in the motor-vehicle database and left a handwritten note on the windshield of her car, which was parked outside her apartment in the Chicago suburb of Stickney, asking her out on a date.

In the note, a copy of which appeared was included in the court documents and was obtained by the Associated Press, the 27-year-old police officer tried to woo the female driver with humor and a seemingly heartfelt plea.

"It's Chris … that ugly bald Stickney cop who gave you that ticket. … I know this may seem crazy and you're probably right, but truth is I have not stopped thinking about you since. I don't expect a girl as attractive as you to … even go for a guy like me, but I'm taking a shot anyways."

"I did cost you $132 - least I can do is buy you dinner," the note reportedly read.

The scenario is not that far off from the "meet-cutes" of Hollywood romantic comedies. In the 2011 hit "Bridesmaids," Kirsten Wiig's character starts a relationship with the traffic cop who let her out of a ticket for a broken taillight.

Arguably, it's a lot less "cute" when it happens in real-life.

Paredes claims that the note caused her to "suffer great fear and anxiety." In the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified payments in damages, saccording to the Associated Press, she alleges that Collins used his position as a police officer to "manipulate" her into going out with him. Collins declined to comment to the Associated Press.

Tiger Woods’ ex-wife bulldozes $12 million home

2012-01-06T01:05:00.000-08:00

There are times when divorce forces people to do strange things. Burn sheets. Throw out clothes. Toss rings into the ocean. But when you get $100 million in your divorce, you can trump just about anything and that's what happened with Tiger Woods' ex-wife when she bought a $12 million home and bulldozed the whole thing.

[Check the before picture above and the after picture after the jump]

Yes, according to TMZ, Elin Nordegren bought a $12 million home in North Palm Beach, Fla., but didn't like it, and has plowed the whole thing.

The house, which had six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, is now just rubble, with no word yet on what is going to replace the beautiful building you see above, but I guess when you have nine figures in the bank, it doesn't really matter what you want.

I guess we can all applaud Elin on not rolling over after all this happened and continuing on with her life. But I think we can all agree on one thing: Why in the world is she still in Florida? Wouldn't you want to move back home for good?

Video of marriage proposal gone wrong at UCLA basketball game

2012-01-04T01:25:00.001-08:00

The most memorable rejection of the UCLA basketball season happened in the stands rather than on the court.

Midway through a 71-63 victory over Richmond Dec. 23 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, UCLA's "Mistletoe Cam" cut to a couple seated courtside. The man reaches into his pocket, pulls out a ring and says, "I knew that I was going to do this since the first day that I met you, and I figured now was as good a time as any." His girlfriend's response when he gets down on one knee and pops the question? Well, let's just say it involved an awkward pause and running in the other direction.

Video of the proposal gone wrong didn't surface on YouTube until Monday evening, but Los Angeles Times reporter Baxter Holmes asked several UCLA players about it following the game. "That's cold," Jerime Anderson said. "Tough break," added David Wear.

Indeed the rejection was cringeworthy to watch because it's every man's nightmare when he prepares to ask for his girlfriend's hand in marriage. Maybe this will be a lesson to men in the future that a college basketball game is not the ideal romantic spot for a proposal, especially when there are cell phone cameras poised to capture your humiliation should something go wrong.

There have been some instances of attention-seeking fake marriage proposals at sporting events in the past, but this doesn't seem like one of them.

The emotions of the couple and the awkwardness of the emcee looked legit, plus a UCLA spokesman told Holmes the proposal wasn't staged. And lastly, if you were going to seek attention this winter in Los Angeles, a sparsely attended game in the midst of UCLA's train wreck of a basketball season definitely wouldn't be the ideal spot.

Newly Engaged Steven Tyler Reveals His Surprising Views on Monogamy

2012-01-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

Steven Tyler, Erin Brady, Us Weekly

It sure takes a special woman to tame a man like Steven Tyler.

For the Aerosmith rocker, 63, that lucky lady is his now-fiancee,Erin Brady, whom he proposed to over the Christmas holiday. Together for seven years, Tyler and Brady, 38, first met when she acted as the band's tour accountant.

As Tyler prepares to wed for the third time, he and Brady sat down with Oprah Winfrey for the talk show host's Final ChapterSunday, discussing how their bond endures.

"For all the divorces I've had, I hurt those girls deeply, and there was some behavior that I'm ashamed of and I shouldn't have done," Tyler admitted to Winfrey on Sunday's show. "I don't want to hurt anybody again."

Brady says her relationship with the rocker works because they have a mutual understanding when it comes to his past transgressions and wandering eye.

"I just said, 'Hey listen, if you play, I'm gonna play,'" Brady told Winfrey. "He didn't really like when he was on the other side of that scenario."

Having that idea hang over his head works for Tyler. "It's a little easier for a relationship when it's played like a game like that. As opposed to 'don't break the rules,' he argues, confirming that he is fully monogamous with Brady.

"I may come off as a sexual animal, and I definitely am on stage, 'cause trust me, I feel it myself. But I'm not really, really that. I'll sing about it, I put it out there but I'm not," he reasoned. "I'd like to go on a schtupping spree and screw every girl I see, that would want to have me, who wouldn't? But I don't. I want [Erin] for my own, and if that's gonna take that away from it, I don't [do it]."

Given their understanding, Brady seems OK with Tyler's on-stage persona and the women concertgoers who throw underwear and lipstick on stage to him.

"I really like it when they fit me and the lipstick looks good on my skin," she joked.

Steven Tyler's episode of Oprah Winfrey's Next Chapter re-airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. (EST) on OWN.

Woe is Serena: Tennis star says she doesn’t love tennis

2012-01-03T14:11:00.001-08:00

After winning her opening match of the 2012 tennis season, Serena Williams told reporters she doesn't love the sport in which she excels.

"I don't love tennis today but I'm here," she said after beating Chanelle Scheepers, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round of the Brisbane International. "I can't live without it -- there's a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it. I have never liked sports and could never understand how I became an athlete."

Serena went on to say that she doesn't like working out or training and that her 2012 schedule will be scaled back in order to provide her rest for big tournaments. The lighter slate also is intended to keep her motivated.

[Photos: Serena Williams through the years]

And therein these quotes lies the paradox that is Serena. From one view, her candor could be seen as refreshing. Here's a top athlete discussing the delicate balance of passion and obligation and fear of the unknown. She's revealing herself to the press, something she rarely has in the past.

Then you step back and realize Serena has the least self-awareness of any great athlete of the past decade. Two years later, she can't bring herself to acknowledge that she was wrong to threaten a lineswoman at the U.S. Open. She'll likely never admit her actions in last year's U.S. Open final crossed the line. Unless she gained some insight in the past four months, these quotes are selfish nonsense.

She's playing a lighter schedule in 2012? Since when has she ever played a full schedule? Even when she was a teenager, Serena never made it a secret that she focused on the big tournaments. There's nothing wrong with that. Let's not act as if this is some big sacrifice, though.

Nobody is surprised Serena doesn't like tennis. Like Andre Agassi before her, she seems to only love the winning and is willing to put up with what it takes to get there. The grind doesn't interest her much.

These aren't new insights into her soul. The underlying tone isn't that Serena is a reluctant sports hero, it's that she's able to be so much better than the rest of the tour without caring about the game like they do. Her "I don't love tennis" quote isn't a revelation, it's a self-congratulatory declaration.

It's as if she's saying, "Just imagine what I could do if I cared."

Shaq promises a cool grand to anyone who gets a tattoo of a famous kiss

2011-12-31T20:39:00.000-08:00

"I will pay one thousand dollars to anyone who gets a tattoo of that picture. Tweet me the pics."

-- Shaquille O'Neal , Thursday night, on 'Inside the NBA.'

Shaq, in my eyes, has turned into quite the mensch after joining the fight for LGBT rights earlier this year. And perhaps it was the late night setting, or the chance to rip on Charles Barkley in his typical, jocular fashion, but it did appear as if Shaquille was a little too excitable on TNT's 'Inside the NBA' when it came time to rip on Barkley's awesome lip-lock with NBA referee Dick Bavetta from nearly five years ago.

So this is where you, the faithful wee hours viewer, come in. All it takes, apparently, is a tattoo of Barkley and Bavetta sharing a moment permanently singed into your skin to collect a thousand bucks from O'Nealafter hitting him up on Twitter, presuming that Shaq's a man of his word. And you wouldn't tell a lie on air, would ya, TNT-rook?

I'm a little hamstrung for cash myself, and I still haven't gotten my first tattoo. Perhaps this is as good a reason as any to dive into the world of the inked-up. Either way, Ball Don't Lie faithful, I think it's time to deluge our man Shaq with a series of these things. Make sure you get Charles' Jock Ewing-esque pendantdetailed properly.

UPDATE: We have the first entry.

Emmet Bentley has already won 2012. Sometime on Saturday afternoon, he tattooed the photo of Barkley and Bavetta onto his leg:

Time to pay up, Shaq.

Retired linebacker’s wife dies one month after their wedding

2011-12-31T12:17:00.001-08:00

One month after getting married, former NFL linebacker Chris Draft lost his wife today after a long bout with lung cancer. She was so weakened by the disease that she was in a wheelchair for the private wedding, just one month before she died.

Draft, who played most of his 12-year career in Atlanta, released a statement on his wife on their family foundation website.

Not just an inspiration, but a light, and a force that led the way with a beautiful, sweet smile and bright shining eyes that both belied the pure steel of her strength and determination.
Strong is too pale, too shallow and too small of a word to describe Keasha's vibrancy… Quite simply, she was ferocious. She fiercely held onto life, and love with a forcefulness that was absolutely awe-inspiring and completely breathtaking. Rest in peace, Mrs. Draft.

Twitter was flooded with people moved by the Draft's love story. Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons shared his condolences via Twitter, and a guestbook commemorating her quickly was filled with messages of support to the Draft family.

APNewsBreak: Russell Brand, Katy Perry to divorce

2011-12-31T02:42:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Russell Brand is divorcing Katy Perry after 14 months of what appeared to be a storybook marriage.

"Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage," Brand said in a statement released to The Associated Press on Friday. "I'll always adore her and I know we'll remain friends."

Brand, 36, offered no other details, but in papers filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the British comedian cited irreconcilable differences.

He and the 27-year-old pop singer were married in October 2010 at a resort inside a tiger reserve in India, and their mutual affection had become a rather sweet feature of the Hollywood celebrity circuit.

The couple announced their engagement in January 2010 after meeting at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where Brand hosted and she performed.

The comedian, who once struggled with substance abuse and sex addiction, was effusive about his bride while promoting projects earlier this year, saying marrying Perry has "given me much more strength in what I do."

"For a long while, what I do professionally was all that mattered to me really," he said in March. "Now I think, well, whatever I do, I'll just go back to her, and that's incredibly comforting."

Perry praised her husband backstage at the 2011 VMAs in August, where she won three awards and he offered a tribute to Amy Winehouse.

"I'm proud of him, whatever comes out of his mouth, and sometimes it's very colorful, right?" Perry said of Brand. "That's why I married him, because he's smart and I learn a lot."

Attorneys for Perry, whose name is listed as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson in the divorce papers, did not respond Friday to calls seeking comment.

The Internet had been abuzz recently with rumors about possible trouble for the couple after they were seen during the holidays without their wedding rings.

Perry's run of No. 1 singles earned her the distinction of becoming MTV's first artist of the year earlier this month. She hosted "Saturday Night Live" on Dec. 10 and gave no indication the couple was in trouble.

Brand's recent film credits include "Arthur," ''Hop" and "Get Him to the Greek." He is among the ensemble starring alongside Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages," set for release next year.

Both Brand and Perry were conspicuously absent Friday from Twitter, where they often shared kind words to each other.

REPORTS: Beyonce Checked Into Hospital, In Labor

2011-12-30T01:45:00.001-08:00

Beyonce is in labor and has checked into a New York hospital, according to several unconfirmed reports.

According to the UK Daily Mail:

Beyoncé is said to be moments away from giving birth to her first child.
And the appearance of the star’s mother Tina, 57, sister Solange, 25, and nephew Julez in the city has certainly added weight to the report.
Nurses at New York’s St Luke’s Roosevelt hospital have allegedly been told to prepare the labour suite for the arrival of a celebrity VIP.

But the New York Post reports that Beyonce was spotted this past weekend during holiday party-hopping:

While St. Luke’s Hospital was reportedly on high alert last night, piquing suspicion that Beyoncé might give birth there, the pregnant singer apparently stopped by one more party before she went into labor. On Friday, she and husband Jay-Z were spotted at SoHo hot spot W.i.P. for a bash celebrating youth arts program Creation Nation and its Creators Club, which will meet weekly in the space. Beyoncé — who reports say is nine months pregnant — and Jay-Zwere spotted sitting tight in a VIP booth and fielding greetings from friends. Beyoncé was overheard saying that her pregnancy was “the best Christmas present possible.” Our witnesses report that the rapper “was very attentive to his wife, at one point getting up to get her some water.” Beyonce has publicly announced that her baby is due in February. But reports have speculated that the diva might be due as soon as this month after she’d said during a video shoot in late September that she was then six months pregnant.

Stay tuned to NewsOne for more breaking reports.

N. Korea alters photo of Kim Jong Il funeral. North Korea Restores Order to Kim Funeral With Photoshop

2011-12-29T14:40:00.000-08:00

The funeral procession for Kim Jong-Il was carried out with military precision and when a handful of dawdlers messed up those regimented lines, they were eliminated. From the photo, that is.

A photo released by the North Korea's state news agency and transmitted by the Germany-based European Pressphoto Agency is slightly different from a photo taken at nearly the identical moment and released by Japanese agency Kyodo News.

The Japanese picture captured a half-dozen men near a camera on a tripod lingering behind the line of mourners on the left side of the boulevard as the motorcade passed by.

In the photo by the North Korean Central News Agency, those men, their camera and their footprints have been digitally removed, restoring absolute order to the crowds lining the boulevard as the cortege passed by.

The alterations were discovered by the New York Times with the help of digital forensics expert Hany Farid of Dartmouth College.

The European Pressphoto Agency, which distributed the doctored North Korea photo, issued a "mandatory kill" for its clients, meaning they were not to use the picture.

The agency granted an exception to ABC News "for the sole purpose of being able to show and explain what had been altered before the picture was provided to international news agencies by KCNA [North Korean Central News Agency]. We consider this as part of a transparent and responsible clarification process."

A European Pressphoto Agency spokeswoman told ABC News, "Any kind of digital manipulation violates EPA's code of ethics."

North Korean heir leads funeral of Kim Jong Il

2011-12-28T01:11:00.000-08:00

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Wailing and clutching at their hearts, tens of thousands of North Koreans lined the snowy streets of Pyongyang on Wednesday as the hearse carrying late leader Kim Jong Il's body wound its way through the capital for a final farewell.

Son and successor Kim Jong Un led the procession, his head bowed against the wind and right arm raised in a salute, from Kumsusan Memorial Palace where his father's body had lain in state. Top military and party officials, including uncle Jang Song Thaek, were also part of the lead group.

The procession was expected to head to the city's main plaza, Kim Il Sung Square, where hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have been paying their respects over the past 10 days. Sobs and wails filled the air as mourners in the front rows, bareheaded in the cold and snow, stamped their feet and cried as the hearse passed by.

Kim Jong Il, who led the nation with an iron fist following his fatherKim Il Sung's death in 1994, died of a heart attack Dec. 17 at age 69, according to state media.

Even as North Koreans mourned the loss of the second leader the nation has known, the transition of power to Kim Jong Un was already under way. The young man, who is in late 20s, is already being hailed by state media as the "supreme leader" of the party, state and army.

State media declared the country in the "warm care" of his young son as it extended the Kim family's hold on power to a third generation. Over the past week, state media has bestowed him with new titles, including "great successor," ''supreme leader" and "sagacious leader."

He is believed to have led a private ceremony earlier Wednesday in the inner sanctum of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace with top military and party officials. A national memorial service will take place at noon Thursday, state media said.

Like his father's in 1994, Kim Jong Il's coffin was wrapped in a red flag. A limousine carrying a huge portrait of a smiling Kim led the procession, and soldiers followed the hearse and lined the streets.

The footage was accompanied by rousing military music. The procession passed by a signboard with a slogan that praised the "revolutionary ideas of Comrade Kim Il Sung," Kim's father and the country's revered founder. North Korean state media said the memorial route was about 25 miles (40 kilometers) long, though top officials did not walk the entire route.

Walking behind Kim Jong Un was Jang Song Thaek, Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law and a vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission who is expected to play a crucial role in helping Kim Jong Un take power.

Kim's two other sons, Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Chol, have not been spotted.

The young Kim made his public debut just last year with a promotion to four-star general and an appointment as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party.

Heavy snow was falling in Pyongyang, which state media characterized in the early days of mourning as proof that the skies were "grieving" for Kim as well. Footage on state TV showed images of swirling snow, the log cabin in far northern Mount Paektu where Kim is said to have been born and the mountain named after Kim Jong Il, where his name is carved into the rocky face in red.

Earlier, state television also replayed images of missiles being fired and the April 2009 long-range rocket launch that earned North Korea strengthened U.N. sanctions. The U.S., South Korea and other nations called it a test for a missile designed to strike the United States; North Korea said the rocket sent a communications satellite into space.

Even as they mourned his father with dramatic displays of grief at memorials and at Kumsusan, North Korea's officials have pledged their loyalty to his son.

In an essay paying homage to Kim Jong Il on Wednesday, Workers' Party mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun said North Korea under his leadership had been "dignified as a country that manufactured and launched artificial satellites and accessed nukes," referring to the country's nuclear program.

"Thanks to these legacies, we do not worry about the destiny of ourselves and posterity at this time of national mourning," the essay said, carried in English by the Korean Central News Agency.

"Supreme leader of our party and people Kim Jong Un takes warm care of the people left by Kim Jong Il. Every moment of Kim Jong Un's life is replete with loving care and solicitude for the people," the essay said.

Wednesday's procession had a stronger military presence than in 1994.

Kim Jong Il, who ushered in a "military first" era when he took power, celebrated major occasions with lavish, meticulously choreographed parades designed to show off the nation's military might, such as the October 2010 display when he introduced his son to the world.

In the Chinese border city of Dandong, across the Yalu River from North Korea, dozens of people crowded into North Korea's consular offices and into a North Korean restaurant across the street hoping to watch the funeral on television. Many were dressed in black and wore the Kim Il Sung badges common among North Koreans.

'Di ienjel go tu Mieri...': Jamaican church creates patois Gospel of Luke after congregation fail to grasp King James Bible

2011-12-26T16:03:00.000-08:00

They say the Bible is best understood in a person’s mother tongue. But in the Caribbean they’ve had to put up with the stuffy English King James version for centuries.

Now, in a mark of its independent spirit, Jamaica has come up with a translation in patois – the island’s own unofficial language.

One of the first stories getting the Creole treatment is the traditional Christmas tale.

A pastor in Jamaica said his congregants get 'so excited' when they hear him preach from the Gospel of Luke in their spoken language (file picture)

In the depiction of the Angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary, the New King James Bible’s version of Luke reads: ‘And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women".'

In the patois version, it becomes: ‘Di ienjel go tu Mieri an se tu ar se, “Mieri, mi av nyuuz we a go mek yu wel api. Gad riili riili bles yu an im a waak wid yu aal di taim.”’

Proponents of the Jamaica Bible Society patois version argue that since many islanders have difficulty understanding standard English, it is wrong to have the holy book in a ‘foreign’ tongue.

PATOIS V STANDARD

STANDARD:
And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.''

PATOIS:
'Di ienjel go tu Mieri an se tu ar se, "Mieri, mi av nyuuz we a go mek yu wel api. Gad riili riili bles yu an im a waak wid yu aal di taim.''

Most of the words in Jamaican patois are English words filtered through a distinct phonetic system with fewer vowels and different consonant sounds.

Clergy on the island said the patois gospel had gone down a storm. Pastor Lloyd Millen said: ‘People feel liberated. They say they are able to visualize the Bible better.’

A patois translation of the entire New Testament is expected in August 2012, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's independence.

'The Scriptures have the greatest impact when you hear it in your mother tongue. So this translation to Creole is affirming the Jamaican speaker's language, and it is very, very powerful,' said the Rev. Courtney Stewart, general secretary of the Bible Society of the West Indies.

Last week, a local radio station broadcast the patois renditions of Luke every morning, and its Nativity story translation is popping up at Christmas parties.

Members of a church in Spanish Town, just west of Kingston, have even started to memorize it.

While a patois version of Luke is already complete, a patois translation of the entire New Testament is expected in August 2012, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's independence

Nearly all Jamaicans, regardless of class, speak patois - a mixture of English and West African tongues spoken by slaves who were brought to this Caribbean island by European colonizers. It rarely exists in written form.

Some Anglophiles on the island call patois 'lazy English' and dismiss it as a vernacular.

On a page of the Jamaica Gleaner's Web site, a critic named Jo Bent said, 'Patois is not an official language, it has no dictionary, are we to further confuse our youths when most have not mastered English yet?'

The bible society has launched a public education campaign to win over skeptics in Jamaica.

'Many people are skeptical about the bible translation work until they actually hear it. Then they cease being resistant,' said Hubert Devonish, a linguistics professor at the University of the West Indies.

Top forward flattens defender with dunk, is immediately ejected

2011-12-26T15:48:00.000-08:00

You probably don't know Justise Winslow yet. It might be worth getting to learn the name, especially if he continues to produce incredible feats of athleticism like the preposterous slam you see below.

Winslow, a sophomore for Houston (Texas) St. John's School, was facing off against San Antonio (Texas) Antonian Prep in the annual St. Thomas Tournament in Houston when Winslow simply decided to take over on an explosive drive to the basket. The small forward -- he's currently 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, but is likely to grow in the years ahead -- blew past an Antonian perimeter defender with a slick crossover dribble then took off from the edge of the key and dunked on top of Antonian's tallest post defender.

As you can see, that battle was a pure mismatch. There was only ever going to be one winner, and given the force with which he took off with, there was little doubt that was going to be Winslow, who went on tofinish the game with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Of course, there was a reason why Winslow's totals weren't even more impressive than that, and if you watch the video above closely you can see why. After finishing the slam, Winslow stared down his "dunk victim", promptly earning a technical foul from the nearby referee. Then, to cap things off, as he walked back up the court, Winslow offered up a salute to the St. John's fans in attendance, an act of perceived braggadocio that earned him an instant second technical and an ejection from the game.

Thirty seconds, one enormous slam and two technicals. That's a busy half a minute for a top prospect.

Naturally, Winslow is still a young, developing player, and he's likely to get a lot more attention from the top high school programs in the country in the years ahead. As one of the 5-star recruits in the Class of 2014, Winslow is practically guaranteed to attract a bright spotlight for the remainder of his high school career, no matter where it takes him.

For now, he's clearly content focusing on his basketball, even if that leaves few people who can even attempt to defend him, as Antonian learned in painful fashion.

Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more highlights from around the nation and live streaming video of top games, check out Rivals High TV.

Justin Bieber Surprises BFF with Mustang Convertible for Christmas

2011-12-26T15:45:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for giving, and Justin Bieber pulled out all the stops for a Christmas present for his childhood friend, Ryan Butler.

"Justin got me a present. #swag!!!" Butler posted to his Twitter along with a pic of a brand-new ivory two-door Ford Mustang Convertible Sunday.

The teen popstar and his BFF grew up together in Stratford, Ontario. Butler makes a cameo in Bieber's 2009 music video for his hit, "One Time."

Despite his super-busy schedule, the 17-year-old "Under the Mistletoe" singer spent Christmas Day at home in Canada with his family -- sans girlfriend Selena Gomez. He posted a few photos of him and his two younger siblings (Jaxon, 2, and Jazmyn, 3) to his Twiter account.

"Spending time with family -- feels really good. Going to get to see these smiles on Christmas," he wrote Saturday.

"Merry Christmas from the family!" he added Sunday.

Taylor Lautner’s Gay People Magazine Cover Fake (Photo)

2011-12-26T15:42:00.000-08:00

The above photo is of a People magazine cover for the January 7, 2012 issue of the tabloid,claiming that Twilight actor Taylor Lautner is coming out as gay. It would have been a total bombshell of a story — if it were true.

A photo of Taylor is covered with the text, “Exclusive”, along with the subtitle, “Out & Proud”. Underneath that, it says, “Tired of rumors, the Twilight star opens up about his decision to finally come out. ‘I’m more liberated, and happier than I’ve ever been.”

A representative for the magazine says that the cover is a fake!

It’s a good fake, though, isn’t it? This is how rumors get started. Still, the Photoshopper who made this did a pretty good job, as compared to their real magazine covers.

Taylor Lautner himself has yet to comment on the gay rumors. Did you buy into the hype?

Something like this starts off on Twitter and just spreads like wildfire on the internet. Did you see the cover and think that Taylor was really coming out as gay? Let us know in the comments!

New Air Jordans Cause Nationwide Shopping Frenzy

2011-12-24T03:16:00.000-08:00

Scuffles broke out and police were brought in to quell unrest that nearly turned into riots across the nation Friday following the release of Nike's new Air Jordan basketball shoes — a retro model of one of the most popular Air Jordans ever made.

The mayhem stretched from Washington state to Georgia and was reminiscent of the violence that broke out 20 years ago in many cities as the shoes became popular targets for thieves. It also had a decidedly Black Friday feel as huge crowds of shoppers overwhelmed stores for a must-have item.

In suburban Seattle, police used pepper spray on about 20 customers who started fighting at the Westfield Southcenter mall. The crowd started gathering at four stores in the mall around midnight and had grown to more than 1,000 people by 4 a.m., when the stores opened, Tukwila Officer Mike Murphy said. He said it started as fighting and pushing among people in line and escalated over the next hour.

Murphy said no injuries were reported, although some people suffered cuts or scrapes from fights. Shoppers also broke two doors, and 18-year-old man was arrested for assault after authorities say he punched an officer.

"He did not get his shoes; he went to jail," Murphy said.

A newly-purchased Air Jordans sneaker is... View Full Caption

The $180 shoes went on sale Friday in a limited release at stores, and the lines began forming several hours before businesses opened.

As the crowds kept growing through the night, they became more unruly and ended in vandalism, violence and arrests.

A man was stabbed when a brawl broke out between several people waiting in line at a Jersey City, N.J., mall to buy the new shoes, authorities said. The 20-year-old man was expected to recover from his injuries.

In Georgia, officers said they had to break a car window to get two toddlers out after a woman went in after the shoes. They said she was taken into custody when she returned to the car.

In Richmond, Calif., police say crowds waiting to buy the Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords at the Hilltop Mall were turned away after a gunshot rang out around 7 a.m.

No injuries were reported, but police said a 24-year-old suspect was taken into custody. The gun apparently went off inadvertently, the Contra Costa Times reported.

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Pulver in Great Neck, N.Y., said he's been looking forward to the release of the shoes for several years, and he set out at 4:30 a.m. to get a pair. After the first store he tried was too crowded, he moved on to a second location and scored a pair.

"I probably could have used a half a size smaller, but I was just really happy to have the shoe," he said.

The frenzy over Air Jordans has been dangerous in the past. Some people were mugged or even killed for early versions of the shoe, created by Nike Inc. in 1984.

The Air Jordan has since been a consistent hit with sneaker fans, spawning a subculture of collectors willing to wait hours to buy the latest pair. Some collectors save the shoes for special occasions or never take them out of the box.

A new edition was launched each year, and release dates had to be moved to the weekends at some points to keep kids from skipping school to get a pair.

Trump opens way to independent White House run

2011-12-23T16:53:00.001-08:00

Real estate mogul and reality TV personality Donald Trump has quit the Republican Party to register as an independent, opening the way for a potential outsider run at the White House, reports said Friday.

Trump made the switch on Thursday, his lawyer, Michael Cohen, told The Hill political news website.

Trump did this "in order to preserve his right to run as an independent... if he is not satisfied with whom the candidate is," Cohen told The Hill.

The make-over of Trump, who has persistently flirted with a presidential attempt, was also reported by Politico and other specialist sites.

Known for his blustery mane and defiantly garish tastes in real estate, Trump has huge name recognition and a large personal fortune. However he has little in the way of a campaign network, or a political following.

ABC News reported that he could run as a candidate with Americans Elect, an online convention to nominate an independent candidate. It is not a party, but an alternative vehicle for getting a non-Democrat or Republican presidential candidate on the ballot.

Congress punts hard payroll tax work to 2012

2011-12-23T15:04:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama signed into law a two-month payroll tax cut extension on Friday, capping a year of fierce partisan combat over taxes and spending that will resume in January and play heavily in the 2012 elections.

The Senate and the House of Representatives, by voice votes in chambers nearly emptied for the holidays, passed a $33 billion (21 billion pounds) bill to keep the payroll tax rate at 4.2 percent through February. It had been scheduled to increase on January 1 to 6.2 percent. Obama swiftly signed the bill.

"We have a lot more work to do," the president said at the White House. "This continues to be a make-or-break moment for the middle class ... There are going to be some important debates next year."

Obama heads to vacation in Hawaii with an important political win in his portfolio after he and fellow Democrats prevailed in the message war by backing lower taxes for middle-class Americans in the midst of a fragile economic recovery.

The battle took a toll on House Republicans led by Speaker John Boehner, who were forced to make an embarrassing retreat and agree to a short-term deal Thursday after getting hit by critics on all sides, include their colleagues in the Senate.

The temporary fix lets lawmakers lower the curtain, for now, on a year of political deadlock that in the end produced only a series of inconclusive truces. The fiscal policy debate is set to rage straight through the 2012 election season and beyond.

While Congress is on a long winter break now and does not return to full swing until late January, newly appointed negotiators are expected to begin work soon on figuring out how to pay for extending the payroll tax cut through 2012.

Republicans have sought a continued freeze on federal worker pay and cuts in Medicare benefits for the wealthy. Democrats have rejected both ideas while proposing a surtax on the wealthy to cover the extension's cost. Republicans reject this.

Both sides have been open to cutting federal workers' pension benefits. There also were last-minute Senate negotiations last week on possibly ending some tax breaks for the wealthy, such as a small one involving corporate jets.

Minutes after the bipartisan deal was passed by Congress, the bickering that has come to dominate Capitol Hill resumed.

Republican Representative Tom Price, a leader of House conservatives, immediately criticized the short-term extension, calling it a "two-month punt" and saying it would not have been needed if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, and Obama had "been willing to do their job today."

'NOTHING OFF THE TABLE'

In a sign that the battle is far from over, Reid signaled that Democrats could renew their push for a surtax on wealthier Americans. Democrats had dropped that demand during the year-end negotiations that produced the two-month deal.

"There is nothing off the table," he said.

Obama scored a victory in the payroll tax struggle over Tea Party conservatives in the House who tried to block the two-month extension. They backed down on Thursday in the face of bipartisan criticism, but they are not going away.

Representative Tim Huelskamp, a first-term Republican, said on CNN that he was disappointed with Republican leadership caving in to pressure and accepting the two-month deal.

Next year could be a rough one for Boehner, the top House Republican, said Norm Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

Boehner spent 2011 having to negotiate with many of his own party members on just about every major piece of legislation.

Now that House Republicans have had to go along with Democrats in the payroll tax debate, "the idea that this group of angry Tea Party Republicans, who feel betrayed, now will go along or that Boehner will be more capable of defying them is a little bit wrong-headed," Ornstein said.

Meanwhile, Democrats might be emboldened, believing "they've learned to play poker," he added.

Patrick Griffin, associate director Of American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, said House Republicans "overplayed their hand. How they interpret that lesson will be very interesting."

Any edge conferred on Democrats might be short-lived, however. The 2012 election cycle is just set to kick off with the Iowa Republican presidential caucus on January 3 and a long road lies ahead until voters go to the polls in November.

The payroll tax funds the Social Security retirement pension system. If it had been allowed to rise, the increase would have hit the wallets of 160 million working Americans.

The $33 billion needed to pay for the two-month extension will be raised by increasing fees charged by housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for guaranteeing mortgages.

Analysts said the fee hike, which investors will likely pass along to borrowers, could raise financing costs for mortgages, but probably not enough to slow a housing market recovery.

Unemployment benefits set to expire soon were extended as well, while cuts in payments to doctors who treat patients in the government-backed Medicare health insurance program for the elderly were postponed, under the bill signed by Obama.

Also included in it was a Republican initiative aiming to force the administration into fast approval of an oil pipeline opposed by environmentalists and many Democrats. The provision gives Obama 60 days to either approve TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Gulf of Mexico facilities in Texas, or declare it not in the national interest.

Obama wants more time to evaluate the environmental impact of routing the pipeline through sensitive areas of Nebraska. The White House has said that if pushed for a decision within 60 days, the administration would be forced to reject the project.

Not extending the payroll tax cut, analysts warned, could have jeopardized the recovery, even risking another recession.

The modest two-month fix drew fire from some businesses that said it will complicate payroll processing and tax planning.

The payroll situation "could get more confusing," said Robert Gard, an accountant with Gard and LaFreniere LLC in Alpharetta, Georgia. If the tax is not extended at the end of February, businesses will need to reprogram software, he said.

Texas A&M lineman killed in car crash

2011-12-23T15:02:00.005-08:00

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP)—Texas A&M senior offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio has been killed in a car accident, according to the university.

Joseph Villavisencio
(AP)

Witness reports say that Villavisencio swerved to avoid a buzzard and veered head-on into the path of an 18-wheeler near the town of Normangee about 40 miles from College Station, on Thursday.

Villavisencio spent part of Thursday with the team delivering gifts to families at a local shelter after the Aggies finished their last workout on campus in preparation for the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Villavisencio was heading to his home in Jacksonville, Texas, at the time of the crash.

[Related: Texas A&M lineman touching act before fatal car crash]

Villavisencio saw very limited action in his career with the Aggies, but touched many involved in the program. Former coach Mike Sherman says everyone will remember him as a person “who would do anything for anybody.”

The 22-year-old was a three-year letterman whom athletic director Bill Byrne says “epitomized selfless service” to helping the Aggies improve as a team.

Texas A&M lineman killed in car crash

2011-12-23T15:02:00.003-08:00

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP)—Texas A&M senior offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio has been killed in a car accident, according to the university.

Joseph Villavisencio
(AP)

Witness reports say that Villavisencio swerved to avoid a buzzard and veered head-on into the path of an 18-wheeler near the town of Normangee about 40 miles from College Station, on Thursday.

[Related: Texas A&M lineman touching act before fatal car crash]

The 22-year-old was a three-year letterman whom athletic director Bill Byrne says “epitomized selfless service” to helping the Aggies improve as a team.

Kim Kardashian’s Christmas family photo album – these pics are AMAZING

2011-12-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

The Kardashian family love a Christmas card photo, or twenty

Kim Kardashian has released The Most Komedy Khristmas Kard Kollection EVER showing the Kardashian Klan kitted up in Khristmas klobber dating back to the early 1980s.

NB: we'll stop with the k thing now. If we kan.

Kim Noel Kardashian (yes that's her middle name, amazing) has posted shots of the Kardashians' Christmas cards over the years on her website - our favourite being the Hells (Christmas) Angels one - in which a leather-clad Kim is blue-steeling like only a moody teen can. Brilliant.

Ahh Christmas, a time when mass matchy matchy white polo necks are acceptable

...and Teenage Mutant Hero Santas are the norm

Oh and that one where Father Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle Christmas made an appearance. Lols! Nothing says Christmas like a Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle.

The first Kim 'Noel' Kardashian Christmas card is an oldie but a goodie

Kim does not look so enthused by the Hells Angel card of the '90s but loves the '80s perm

Special mention should go to sister Kourtney Kardashian's kid Mason, who looks super-cute dressed up for best in a tuxedo for this year's family photo. In fact, the Kardashians 2011 card is so slick it's made us feel a bit embarrassed about that rubbish box we got from Asda.

The Kardashian Christmas card 2011 is slicker than your average

Kim earns serious Kard-fashion points in a sequin tux but nephew Mason steals the show

Half sister Kendall Jenner looks super-stylish in this year's card too

Kim says: "Every year I really look forward to our annual Christmas card family photo shoot! Its a family tradition that we have done since we were kids and it's one of my favourite traditions our family has!

The Kardashians, dreaming of a black and white Christmas plus more strong hairstyles

Father Kardashian Rob does a Christmas lunge - these cards make us so very happy

"I love looking back at our old Christmas cards seeing how everyone has changed and how our family has grown as the years have gone by. I feel blessed to have so many amazing Christmas memories with my family!! Do you guys have any family holiday traditions?"

Charades and soggy sprouts aside, not really Kim no - although pouring over your Christmas photos may soon be one of them.

Christmas Kards are sexy in the Kardashian household

‘X Factor’ Finale Results: And The Winner Is…

2011-12-22T23:43:00.000-08:00

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" Melanie Amaro shouted through tears, after a delayed reaction during which she just stood there next to her proud mentor Simon Cowell, taking it all in. She'd just won the Season 1 "X Factor" title and a $5 million record contract, and it's no wonder she was in such shock. She almost didn't make it to live shows at all, and now here she was, in the winner's circle on finale night. "I don't even know what to say! God is good! This is something I've wanted all my life!"

Melanie almost missed this opportunity, when Simon--either in a rare case of admitting he was wrong, or in a not-so-rare-case of manufacturing TV drama for ratings--initially eliminated her during the Judges' Houses rounds, and brought her back as a bonus contestant after having a last-minute change of heart/strategy. But once Melanie was back in the game, she was a frontrunner from that point on, never landing once in the bottom two--and this Thursday, she was declared the very first "X Factor USA" winner. Simon may have made some bad decisions this season--firing Cheryl Cole, not giving Steve Jones a co-host, keeping Simone Battle over Caitlin Koch, making Drew Ryniewicz spend an entire performance glued to a chair--but apparently going back for Melanie was not one of them.

photo: Fox

Melanie was one to watch ever since her first "Listen" audition was featured in Fox promo spots, and Simon was clearly grooming her all season to be the American Leona Lewis (Leona being the most successful "X Factor U.K." champion, and a performer on this Thursday's big finale). But that's not to say Melanie had this competition in the bag. With the final three singers representing very different genres and very different fanbases, going into this very suspenseful week, it seemed like any of them could win this thing. Although Melanie was arguably the technically best singer of the entire show, the judges always made it clear this was not just a singing competition, but also a search for a SUPERSTAR--someone, that is, with that elusive X-factor. And while Melanie had the powerhouse vocals down, she often lacked the vivacious extrovert personality of a superstar, and she never quite defined herself musically, singing ballad after ballad week after week. Chris Rene, meanwhile, had personality and swagger for days and a distinct musical style, and he'd been a major fan favorite ever since he auditioned with his autobiographical "Young Homie" (which received 10 million views on YouTube). Josh Krajcik, who seemed to be Melanie's stiffest competition, was a credible musician with a huge following, a voice that at times rivaled Melanie's octave for octave, and a passing similarity to the David Cook/Kris Allen/Lee DeWyze types that usually win shows like these. All of them had a shot, making this one of the most exciting and unpredictable talent-show finales in recent memory.

photo: Fox

However, in the end, it was a singing competition after all, as America voted for the best singer: Melanie, an old-fashioned balladeer in the mold of early "Idol" belters like Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and Jordin Sparks, "The X Factor U.K.'s" Leona Lewis, and old-school divas from the Whitney/Mariah/Celine school of singing. But now, the real question is...will record buyers snatch up albums and singles by a relatively conservative singer like Melanie, when what's going on in the real pop marketplace is total free-for-all weirdness: Lady Gaga going out sans pants, Nicki Minaj rocking flamingo-pink wigs, Katy Perry wearing whipped-cream-gun brassieres, Rihanna wielding day-glo whips and chains, Jessie J doing it like a dude, Pink doing Cirque-style aerial stunts in mid-air, Ke$ha slathering herself in glitter and filth, Florence Welch slathering herself in kabuki paint? Is there room on the charts for a nice girl who'd rather croon love ballads in floor-length pageant gowns than wear meat-dresses or cupcake-bras?

I think that will come down to the songs Melanie records. Although she's definitely one of those divas who could sing the phone book if she had to and sound fantastic, no one is going to download the phone book on iTunes, so she better get a killer breakout single that gets on the radio. Melanie recently told me that she's not sure what musical direction she'd like to go in post-show (a comment I found odd coming from any aspiring entertainer), so apparently the girl's a clean slate, ready to work with whatever A-list producers and songwriters Simon can line up for her. Give her a "Since U Been Gone" or "Bleeding Love" or "No Air," and she very well may repeat the success of other talent-show divas coached by Cowell. So I hope Simon makes some wise decisions when it comes time to put Melanie in the studio. Pair this great talent with a great song, and the real greatness is yet to come.

"Space ball" drops on Namibia

2011-12-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

A large metallic ball fell out of the sky on a remote grassland in Namibia, prompting baffled authorities to contact NASA and the European space agency.

The hollow ball with a circumference of 1.1 metres (43 inches) was found near a village in the north of the country some 750 kilometres (480 miles) from the capital Windhoek, according to police forensics director Paul Ludik.

Locals had heard several small explosions a few days beforehand, he said.

With a diameter of 35 centimetres (14 inches), the ball has a rough surface and appears to consist of "two halves welded together".

It was made of a "metal alloy known to man" and weighed six kilogrammes (13 pounds), said Ludik.

It was found 18 metres from its landing spot, a hole 33 centimetres deep and 3.8 meters wide.

Several such balls have dropped in southern Africa, Australia and Latin America in the past twenty years, authorities found in an Internet search.

The sphere was discovered mid-November, but authorities first did tests before announcing the find.

Police deputy inspector general Vilho Hifindaka concluded the sphere did not pose any danger.

"It is not an explosive device, but rather hollow, but we had to investigate all this first," he said.

Another holiday delivery goes wrong A UPS driver is caught carelessly dropping off a package while sending a crude message

2011-12-22T19:28:00.001-08:00

RECAPS AND CLIPS

1 - 6 of 9

Pregnant Beyonce Steps Out in Animal-Print Leggings

2011-12-22T12:05:00.001-08:00

Beyonce on December 21, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto/FilmMa …

With less than three months to go until the much-anticipated arrival of "Babyonce," mom-to-be Beyonce isn't letting her growing bump get in the way of her sexy style.

The 30-year-old superstar was spotted in shiny, animal-print leggings, a chic leather jacket and her trademark sky-high platforms while shopping in New York City on Wednesday.

The singer recently revealed that she isn't going to let herself go just because she's expecting. "I've been really conscious [about food]," she told 20/20. "I've been trying my best not to lose control!"

When asked which pregnant celeb has the better maternity style, 66 percent of Us Weekly readers voted for Beyonce overJessica Simpson.

Congressman apologizes for criticizing Michelle Obama’s ‘large posterior’

2011-12-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A Republican congressman from Wisconsin has offered a personal apology to First Lady Michelle Obama after he was overheard at an airport lounge criticizing her "large posterior."

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner was overheard loudly complaining on the phone in the Delta Lounge at Reagan National Airport outside Washington about Obama's healthy food initiative.

According to Fishbowl DC, which first reported the lawmaker's remarks, Sensenbrenner was recounting a recent conversation he'd had at church event in Wisconsin.

Obama, Sensenbrenner said loudly, "lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself."

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Daniel Bice, Sensenbrenner made a similar remark at the Wisconsin church he was referencing in his phone call, telling attendees there that Obama has a "big butt."

The Wisconsin lawmaker—who, it must noted, is a bit rotund--sent a personal note to Obama apologizing for his remarks, his spokeswoman Amanda Infield tells Yahoo News. She declined to go into detail about what the note said.

In a statement to reporters, the lawmaker reiterated his apology. "I regret my inappropriate comment, and I have sent a personal note to the First Lady apologizing," he said.

A spokesman for Obama did not respond to a request for comment.

It's not the first time Republicans have mentioned Obama's looks in criticizing her campaign to end childhood obesity. Earlier this year, Rush Limbaugh trashed the initiative, suggesting Obama doesn't physically appear to practice what she preaches.

Miley Cyrus Defends Against Rude Fan

2011-12-22T11:56:00.001-08:00

photo: Getty Images

In the smartphone world, a celebrity has to be on her best behavior 24 hours a day. A minor fan incident started politely enough, when a gaggle of girls surrounded Miley Cyrus in mid-stride to a waiting helicopter.

According to the Daily Mail, the mega-star -- who was on a Costa Rica trip with beau Liam Hemsworth -- stopped for photos. That wasn't enough for the pint-sized paparazzi. After Cyrus said, "Sorry, gotta go honey," a woman from the pack yelled out an obscenity -- suffice it to say, a body part shared by both genders.

Cyrus' instinctive reaction was a stunned, equally foul-mouthed response that ended with, "Are you for real?" She kept walking and said, "We're on vacation, I'm not being [a body part shared by both genders], we're on vacation." Apparently such exchanges leave no lasting scars, because the persistent pack caught up with her at the copter and apologized. They posed for one last shot before Cyrus and Hemsworth boarded the chopper to their next destination.

Listen to more PG-rated Miley Cyrus lyrics at Yahoo! Music

Of course, the inevitable YouTube video has circulated, and Cyrus defended herself with three Tweets. "" Been trying not to tweet & just enjoy the holidays but just to clear something up I would NEVER swear to a fan. When someone yells something," she tweeted. "SO rude making ME look like an "a**hole" infront of fans who I am more than happy 2 take a picture w/ i cant tolerate that kind of rudeness" Then she ended on a positive holiday message. "Every1 who was there apologized 4 the womans brusque behavior. She obviously wasnt a fan. Hope every1 has a Merry Christmas! LOVE 2 ALL!"

YouTube commenters and fans (aka "Real Smilers") have been mostly on the singer's side, although some regret her in-the-heat-of-the-moment reaction in front of minor. In the spirit of the season, others were more understanding: "She said she needed to leave in a nice way," commented hallgrl95. "Yeah, I think she could have been the bigger person and just ignored the person, but every celebrity has their breaking point and/or bad days."

Adam Lambert Gets Arrested, Is Released, Lives to Tweet the Tale

2011-12-22T11:55:00.001-08:00

photo: Steve Granitz

Well, if the old adage about any publicity being good publicity is true these days, then Adam Lambert just launched a genius campaign for his new single, "Better Than I Know Myself." According to The Hollywood Reporter and many other sources, the rebel Idol spent a few hours in a Finnish jail in the wee hours this morning, after an altercation with his Finnish boyfriend, Sauli Koskinen, in front of the famous Helsinki gay club Don't Tell Momma. Adam is currently in Finland to celebrate the holidays with Sauli.

Adam and Sauli were arrested around 4am this morning, after reportedly fighting in one of DTM's back rooms, getting kicked out of the club, and then taking what has been described as a "brawl" to the street. They were subsequently held for questioning for several hours, and news of their arrest rapidly flitted around the Twitterverse and blogosphere. But by the time American Glamberts woke up to the news, they could breathe easy: Adam and Sauli had already been released, and Adam was already joking about it on Twitter.

"Jetlag+Vodka=blackout. Us÷blackout=irrational confusion. jail+guilt+press=lesson learned. Sauli+Adam+hangover burgers= laughing bout it," Adam tweeted Thursday afternoon, Finland time.

Sauli, who is a reality star in his native land (he won the Finnish version of "Big Brother" in 2007), later blogged about the incident as well, assuring fans that he and Adam were still a couple by writing (in Finnish): "Celebrities are people too and fame is not easy. Love is not always easy either, but it's forever." He also assured readers that the "hangover is gone already."

While some reports inflated the incident and said that Adam had become violent against spectators who tried to break up the fight, former Miss Helsinki Sofia Ruusila, who was a member of Adam and Sauli's entourage that night, told the press that Adam merely struck her by accident when she tried to intervene.

This is not the first time Adam has had a brush with the law after a public skirmish. Back in September 2010, a Miami photographer pressed charges against him after a scuffle on the beach. That incident blew over quickly, however, and if the light-hearted tone of Adam's tweet today is anything to go by, so will this. However, it is still unclear right now if Adam will face charges overseas.

"Better Than I Know Myself" came out this week; Adam's sophomore album, Trespassing, is due out in March 2012.

Kris Humphries Booed, Heckled at Nets Game in NYC

2011-12-22T09:21:00.001-08:00

Kris Humphriesdidn't exactly get a warm welcome back playing with the New Jersey Nets at NYC's Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

In his return to the sport after re-signing with the team for a one-year, $8 million contract, Kim Kardashian's future ex-husband was booed and heckled by 20,000 fans the moment he stepped on the court to face off against the New York Knicks.

"That was not a smattering of boos," MSG announcer Al Trautwig mused during the melee, "That's 'villain in the Garden' kind of booing."

One attendee tells Us Weekly that some fans even taunted the 26-year-old power forward with chants of "Reggie Bush," Kardashian's long-term NFL beau with whom she split in early 2010.

After Humphries was benched, the crowd screamed "We want Humphries!" -- but apparently only so the reality star could be heckled some more.

"He's now become the most hated man in the NBA," MSG commentator Kelly Tripucka said of Humphries, married to Kardashian for just 72 days before she filed for divorce.

Humphries took the taunts in stride, telling ESPN: "I don't know…I felt like Rudy out there…I was so focused on the game, I couldn't hear that."

The Knicks defeated the Nets 88-82.

"It's a tough situation," said Carmelo Anthony, small forward for the Knicks, whose wife LaLa is one of Kardashian's BFFs. "New York fans [are] New York fans. I like it, to be honest with you. That's how it should be."

Family hopes $150B civil award prompts charges

2011-12-22T09:11:00.001-08:00

HOUSTON (AP) — An attorney who persuaded a Texas jury to award one of the largest civil verdicts ever says he and his clients don't expect to collect any of the $150 billion judgment, but they hope it helps persuade prosecutors to seek charges against a man they say doused a boy with gasoline and set him on fire.

Robbie Middleton survived his horrific injuries for 12 years before dying last year of a rare form of skin cancer, which attorneys argued was related to the extensive burns he suffered on his eighth birthday. Lawyer Craig Sico and Middleton's family said they now hope for a renewed investigation of Don Wilburn Collins, who Middleton accused of setting him on fire.

Collins never faced criminal charges in Middleton's case, in part, prosecutors said, because of inconsistencies in the evidence and difficulty obtaining information from such a young victim. Now 26, Collins is in prison for an unrelated sexual assault conviction against another 8-year-old boy and for failing to register as a sex offender. He is to be released next year.

He did not appear in court during the civil trial and no attorney appeared on his behalf.

Sico said he asked jurors to make a statement in the case by topping the biggest civil verdict he was aware of — a $145 billion judgment handed down against the tobacco companies in Florida in 2000.

"We said, 'If you want your message to be heard, it needs to be significant and that's how people hear about these things. And we leave it to you.' We made no request," Sico said.

The Fayette County jury returned the $150 billion verdict Tuesday after a two-day trial.

The Florida tobacco verdict of $145 billion, which was later overturned, had stood as the largest U.S. civil jury verdict, said John T. Nockleby, professor and director of the civil justice program at the Loyola Marymount University School of Law in Los Angeles.

"It's the kind of award that has no meaning outside of an expression of moral outrage," he said. "They could have awarded a trillion dollars, and it would have made no difference."

Middleton's mother, Colleen Middleton, said Wednesday the family hadn't really thought about the size of the judgment.

"We're never going to see any money," she said. "What we thought was please let these people realize Robert was precious, like everybody else's child, and he didn't deserve this."

"When they came back with the $150 billion, I was like: 'They get it.' And that made me feel so good," she said.

Montgomery County Attorney David Walker said Wednesday that the sheriff's department's cold case unit already has been reviewing the Middleton burning case for several months.

"I will tell you the case is an extremely difficult case given the evidence that was discovered years ago and the nature of that evidence," Walker said. "Young Robbie was so traumatized and so damaged that information from him was very, very difficult to obtain."

Walker said there also were some inconsistencies in the evidence, not necessarily from Robbie Middleton, that presented a challenge to prosecutors. He declined to elaborate.

"But I can tell you if it can be properly and successfully be prosecuted certainly it would have been back then and it would be now," Walker said.

Robbie Middleton was attacked on June 28, 1998 — his eighth birthday — as he walked through a wooded area in the Southeast Texas town of Splendora, 35 northeast of Houston. A neighbor who discovered the boy told a 911 dispatcher that the burned child said, "Some kids threw the gas on him."

When police questioned the boy, who was burned over 99 percent of his body, he told them: "Don did it."

Collins, who was 13 at the time, was taken into custody five days later. He was held in juvenile detention for six weeks before he was released without charges to the custody of an uncle appointed as his legal guardian.

In a video deposition taken just before he died last year, Middleton identified Collins as a person who sexually assaulted him about two weeks before the fire attack.

Middleton's parents eventually moved about 100 miles east to Fayette County, where they filed their lawsuit against Collins.

KATE UPTON AND MARK SANCHEZ DATING?

2011-12-21T23:24:00.000-08:00

Kate Upton, the Victoria's Secret supermodel who's sometimes (OK, a lot of times) referred to as the hottest woman in the universe may or may not be dating New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

But all signs point to them being an item.

And even better, they seem to be trying to keep their budding romance a secret because Mark Sanchez has been making numerous late-night visits to Kate Upton's apartment building.

Maybe Mark has been moonlighting as a building super between Jets' practices. Or maybe his grandmother lives in that building and he's visiting her during the holiday season because he's such a sweet boy.

Or maybe Mark and Kate are just friends and he needs to talk to her about his struggles as leader of the Jets offense. It would make a lot of sense for him to make numerous visits to her after the Jets were destroyed by the Eagles 45-19. (Super side note: When was the last time a football team scored 19 points?)

But, if all those extremely plausible possibilities aren't actually true, I guess it could be constured that Kate Upton is dating New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

And since it's something involving Kate Upton, here's a few pics of her. Ya know, just so it refreshes your memory in case you forgot what she looks like:

According to reports, Snachez has been seen trying to hide his appearance under a woolly hat. And this also wouldn't be the first time the two have been linked together as Kate Upton was seen attending a Jets game in September. of this year.

Sanchez has come under fire lately for not playing up to the team's expecations. It's his third year in the NFL and rumors swirling around love life will only intensify the scrutiny that comes with being the quarterback for a New York team.

The New York Post has already run the headline "No Wonder He Can't Complete a Pass" in their piece about the link between Sanchez and Upton.

Brazilian baby 'born healthy with two heads... and both are suckling mother's breasts

2011-12-21T23:15:00.000-08:00

A Brazilian woman who has given birth to a baby with two heads, admitted she had initially expected twins.

Maria de Nazare, gave birth by caesarean at a hospital in Anajas, in Brazil's northern Para state, with her newborn weighing 9.9lbs.

And in a tribute to the religious celebrations at Christmas, she has decided to call the pair Emanoel and Jesus.

The baby has two heads but all his organs are functioning healthily. The mother was said to have found about the abnormality only minutes before he was born

Following the birth of her baby, mother Maria, 25, admitted that she had been told she was set to welcome twins.

But following a number of tests, doctors have revealed that the baby has two brains and two spines but shares one heart, lungs, liver and pelvis.

The hospital's director, Claudionor Assis de Vasconcelos, told Brazil's O Povo newspaper that the woman decided to travel to the hospital because she was feeling strong abdominal pains.

More...

The 25-year-old mother, who lives in a rural area of the state, had no ultra-sound scans during her pregnancy and only found out about the abnormality minutes before the baby was born at 1am on Monday morning.

He said: 'When doctors scanned her they realised that the baby had two heads and that a normal birth would be a great risk both for mother and baby. The caesarean took an hour because the baby was sitting down.

'Despite all the problems we have as a small interior hospital we managed to save both mother and baby, which was our aim. And for us it was a great surprise to find out that the child was in really good health.'

Santa Casa hospital is in Anajas, where the recently born baby is being cared for

Neila Dahas, director of the Santa Casa hospital said: 'If both their brains are functioning, how are we going to choose which head to remove?

'We are not considering the possibility of surgery. What we've got to think about at this moment is to maintain the children in good condition and see how they will develop.'

Disbelief: The director of the hospital tells the assembled media of the birth of a two-headed baby

CONJOINED TWINS

The two-headed boy is, in reality, conjoined twins who share a single body. The condition is known as dicephalic parapagus - an extremely unusual form of conjoinment.

Because they share the same body, it is not possible to separate dicephalic parapagus twins.

The birth of such twins is extremely rare in south-west Asia and Africa.

However, there have been instances of dicephalic parapagus twins in the West.

In the U.S. Abigail and Brittany Hensel have become media celebrities, appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show and featuring in television documentaries.

Mr Vasconcelos added that at no point did the mother, who has three other children, appear distraught that her son has two heads.

He said: 'On the contrary, the baby was received with much happiness by the family.

'The mother fed both mouths and the baby stayed with her in her room the whole time. Her desire was to take her baby straight home.'

The mother and baby were taken by air ambulance yesterday afternoon to a specialist hospital in the state capital, Belem, to carry out further tests. They are expected to be allowed home later this week.

Remarkably, this is the second time a two-headed baby has been born in Brazil this year. Sueli Ferreira, 27, gave birth to a two-headed baby in Paraiba State, but it died a few hours later because of lack of oxygen to one of the child's heads.

2012 End-of-the-World Countdown Based on Mayan Calendar Starts Today

2011-12-21T11:30:00.000-08:00

The countdown to the apocalypse is on.

We're one year away from Dec. 21, 2012, the date that the ancient Mayan Long Count calendarallegedly marked as the end of an era that would reset the date to zero and signal the end of humanity.

But will it?

There have been many end of times predictions over the years. Christian radio host Harold Campingfaced widespread ridicule when his predictions that the world would end twice this year - on May 21, and then on Oct. 21 - failed to materialize.

But in the flurry of doomsday predictions - there have been similar dire warnings about the world coming to an end from various cultures, including Native Americans, the Chinese, Egyptians and even the Irish - the supposed Mayan prophecy seems to have held the most sway with believers.

The Mayan civilization, which reached its height from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D., had a talent for astronomy. Advanced mathematics and primitive astronomy flourished, creating what many have called the most accurate calendar in the world.

The Mayans predicted a final event that included a solar shift, a Venus transit and violent earthquakes.

Their Long Count calendar begins in 3,114 B.C., marking time in roughly 394-year periods known as Baktuns. Thirteen was a significant, sacred number for the Mayas, and they wrote that the 13th Baktun ends on Dec. 21, 2012.

The doomsday theories stem from a stone tablet discovered in the 1960s at the archaeological site of Tortuguero in the Gulf of Mexico state of Tabasco that describes the return of a Mayan god at the end of a 13th period.

"The Maya are viewed by many westerners as exotic folks that were supposed to have had some special, secret knowledge," said Mayan scholar Sven Gronemeyer. "What happens is that our expectations and fears get projected on the Maya calendar."

Gronemeyer, of La Trobe University in Australia, compares the supposed Mayan prophecies to the "Y2K" hype, when people feared all computer systems would crash when the new millennium began on Jan. 1, 2000.

For some reason, Gronemeyer says, people have ignored evidence that dates beyond 2012 were recorded.

The blogosphere exploded with more speculation when Mexico's archaeology institute acknowledged on Nov. 24 a second reference to Dec. 21, 2012, on a brick found at other ruins.

"Human beings seem to be attracted by apocalyptic ideas and always assume the worst," Gronemeyer said.

Believers have taken the end-of-the world fears to the Internet with hundreds of thousands of websites and blogs. Yet others are capitalizing on the heightened interest. Films depicting the end of the world - including the 2009 movie, "2012? - are contributing to the mounting hype as well as to misinformation, experts say.

In southern Mexico, the heart of Maya territory, a yearlong celebration is planned.

Mexico's tourism agency expects to draw 52 million visitors by next year only to the regions of Chiapas, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Campeche. All of Mexico usually lures about 22 million foreigners in a year.

It's selling the date, the Winter Solstice in the coming year, as a time of renewal. Many archeologists argue that the 2012 reference on a 1,300-year-old stone tablet only marks the end of a cycle in the Mayan calendar.

"The world will not end. It is an era," said Yeanet Zaldo, a tourism spokeswoman for the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo, home to Cancun. "For us, it is a message of hope."

For those who are thinking about how to spend what could be their last year on earth, here's another message of hope: According to recent research, the mythological date of the "end of days" may be off by 50 to 100 years.

To convert the ancient Mayan calendar to the Gregorian (or modern) calendar, scholars use a numerical value (called the GMT). But Gerardo Aldana, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has said the data supporting the widely-adopted conversion factor may be invalid.

Aldana isn't the only detractor.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration - yes, that's NASA - has also weighed in on the issue.

The agency's scientists posted answers to the most popular questions about the end-of-times theory associated with the prophecy.

"Remember the Y2K scare? It came and went without much of a whimper because of adequate planning and analysis of the situation. Impressive movie special effects aside, Dec. 21, 2012, won't be the end of the world as we know," the 2009 web page post says.

The answers addressed questions about whether there were any known threats to the Earth and the truth about the calendar.

One of answers posted was to the question of the possible approach of Nibiru (or Planet X or Eris), a supposed wayward planet that is said could pose a threat to Earth. The answer was a definitive rejection of the idea.

"Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax," scientists wrote. "There is no factual basis for these claims. If Nibiru or Planet X were real and headed for an encounter with the Earth in 2012, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye. Obviously, it does not exist. Eris is real, but it is a dwarf planet similar to Pluto that will remain in the outer solar system; the closest it can come to Earth is about 4 billion miles."

Highliner's Heart-Stopping Walk Over Yosemite

2011-12-20T04:41:00.000-08:00

It's fair to say you've never heard of Dean Potter, we're guessing. But what you're about to watch the extreme outdoorsman do will have your heart trying to find a way out of your body.
Potter is known for BASE jumping and a number of other mountain and elevation-related exploits -- the kind that are extremely risky, release comically insane amounts of adrenaline and make you all the more thankful for a desk chair in a building with four walls. After all, you wouldn't rather be highlining (the modern form of tightrope walking) over a 3,000 foot gorge in Yosemite, would you? Potter most certainly would.

ThePostGame brings you the most interesting sports stories on the web.

That video is all kinds of "Nope." Potter takes two steps over the gorge, and our fingers are already out, testing the wind for the slightest shift in direction. No way, no how, would you ever find any of us even standing on the ledge looking over, let alone walking out. We applaud you if you were even able to watch the whole video without hitting pause.

Don't believe it's real? It's not the first time Potter has tempted fate. His exploits have been chronicled by many, including the New York Times.
Is it legal? And as far as we can tell, this is not forbidden in Yosemite National Park. The rules steer visitors away from defacing any natural elements of the beautiful park. But Potter has always insisted he never does that. If you're looking to us for an endorsement, we say: No. Not at all. Ever.
You can breathe again, by the way.

Giant Tsunami-Shaped Clouds Roll Across Alabama Sky

2011-12-20T04:39:00.001-08:00

For a morning, the sky looked like a surfer's dream: A series of huge breaking waves lined the horizon in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday (Dec. 16), their crests surging forward in slow motion. Amazed Alabamans took photos of the clouds and sent them to their local weather station, wondering, "What are these tsunamis in the sky?"

Experts say the clouds were pristine examples of "Kelvin-Helmholtz waves." Whether seen in the sky or in the ocean, this type of turbulence always forms when a fast-moving layer of fluid slides on top of a slower, thicker layer, dragging its surface.

Water waves, for example, form when the layer of fluid above them (i.e., the air) is moving faster than the layer of fluid below (i.e., the water). When the difference between the wind and water speed increases to a certain point, the waves "break" — their crests lurch forward — and they take on the telltale Kelvin-Helmholtz shape. [ Astonishing Video Shows a Face in the Clouds ]

According to Chris Walcek , a meteorologist at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at the State University of New York, Albany , fast-moving air high in the sky can drag the top of slow-moving, thick clouds underneath it in much the same way.

"In the pictures [of the Birmingham sky] there is probably a cold layer of air near the ground where the wind speed is probably low. That is why there is a cloud or fog in that layer," Walcek told Life's Little Mysteries, a sister site to LiveScience. "Over this cloudy, cold, slow-moving layer is probably a warmer and faster-moving layer of air."

Most of the time, the difference in wind speed and temperature between two layers of the atmosphere is small, and so the fast-moving air on top "simply slides smoothly over the slower-moving air like a hockey puck sliding along an ice surface," Walcek said. At the other extreme, if the wind-speed difference is too large, the interface between the two layers breaks down into random turbulence.

Kelvin-Helmholtz waves form when the difference in the temperature and wind speed of the two layers hits a sweet spot. "What [these pictures] show is air between these two atmospheric layers that is just very close to that threshold for turbulence, and mixing to mix the two layers together," he said.

This story was provided by Life's Little Mysteries, a sister site to LiveScience. Follow Natalie Wolchover on Twitter @nattyover. Follow Life's Little Mysteries on Twitter @llmysteries, then join us on Facebook.

The Mysterious Physics of 7 Everyday Things Can a Butterfly in Brazil Really Cause a Tornado in Texas? Do Ocean Waves Really Travel in Sets of 7?

Billionaire's Daughter Pays Record Sum for NYC Pad

2011-12-20T04:37:00.001-08:00

Former Citigroup chairman Sandy Weill listed his 6,744-sq-ft apartment at 15 Central Park West for an astonishing $88 million in November, promising to donate the proceeds of the sale to charity.

Now comes news that Ekaterina Rybolovleva, the 22-year-old daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitriy Rybolovlev, is buying the condominium. Rybolovleva is currently studying at an undisclosed U.S. university and plans to stay in the apartment when visiting New York. According to a source familiar with the sale, she paid the full asking price of $88 million, setting a record for highest individual transaction in New York City history.

Here is the official statement from her representatives:

A company associated with Ekaterina Rybolovleva, daughter of a well-known businessman Dmitriy Rybolovlev, has signed a contract to purchase an apartment at 15 Central Park West, New York. The apartment is a condominium currently owned by the Sanford Weill Family.

Ms. Rybolovleva is currently studying at a US university. She plans to stay in the apartment when visiting New York. Ms. Rybolovleva was born in Russia, is a resident of Monaco and has resided in Monaco and Switzerland for the past 15 years.”

The apartment, in one of the toniest post-war buildings in Manhattan, has 10 rooms including 4 bedrooms, a wraparound terrace of more than 2,000 sq. feet, 4 bedrooms and 2 wood burning fireplaces.

[See also: Homes With Kitchens Worthy of Professional Chefs]

“This sale is an outlier. It works out to be about $13,000 per sq. foot, the highest on record, for anything, that has ever occurred,” says Jonathan Miller, chief executive of real estate appraiser Miller Samuel, “What is ironic is that when Sandy Weill bought it for less than half this amount, he paid the highest price per sq foot to date in that building, around, $6,400 per sq. foot. He is again setting a record.”

The previous New York City record had been set back before the market crash when investor Christopher Flowers paid $53 million for a townhouse at 4 east 75th Street. He resold the property on August 15 for just over $36 million.

There were two other very notable sales in the city this year. Russian composer Igor Krutoy paid a record $48 million for a condo at the Plaza in March, and a townhouse at 16 East 69th Street sold for $48 million in July.

Rybolovleva is the second daughter of a billionaire to make huge real estate news this year. Back in July, heiress Petra Ecclestone, daughter of UK Formula One billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, apparently paid $85 million for Spelling Manor, the 56,500-square foot mansion that was previously owned by Candy Spelling, widow of famed TV producer Aaron Spelling, whose works include the “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Dynasty” series.

Rybolovleva’s father Dmitriy sold the majority of his stake in Uralkali, the fertilizer business that made him rich, for $6.5 billion in 2010. He is already known in U.S. real estate circles for his May 2008 purchase of Donald Trump’s Palm Beach mansion, Maison de L’Amitie. He paid $95 million in cash for that residence, $25 million less than what Trump had originally asked. It was apparently the largest single residence price concession of all time. He may not own that house much longer though. His wife Elena, who filed for divorce in Pam Beach court in 2009, is seeking transfer of ownership of the former Trump mansion. He himself spends much of his time at his home in Monaco and is likely to buy the struggling French football club, AS Monaco.

Jennifer Hudson: Has She Lost Even More Weight?

2011-12-19T18:39:00.001-08:00

Photos: Tony Barson/WireImage; Jim Spellman/WireImage

The incredible shrinking Jennifer Hudson!

Jim Spellman/WireImage

It's no secret singer Jennifer Hudson has lost a phenomenal amount of weight since she became a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers. While she denied reports of getting as thin as a size zero, her appearance on the red carpet last night at the "VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul" concert in New York City seemed to show otherwise.

Like a Russian doll, she looks smaller every time we see her!

Opting for a questionable outfit to start the night at the Hammerstein Ballroom Sunday night, Hudson's enviable, albeit slimmer curves were nowhere to be found on the generally style savvy diva. The pairing of glittery, thigh-high boots (that should belong on Tina Turner… in "Mad Max") and a nude, crochet collar dress was already odd. But more alarming, Hudson appeared to have shed even more than the 80 pounds she had reported at the beginning of this year.

Still radiant and confident looking, there's no denying the ill-tailored outfit hid the healthy, killer bod she worked so hard to get. As for rumors about Hudson being a size zero, while she is certainly slim, she is nowhere near Nicole Richie-sized, who was a size zero at her thinnest.

Theo Wargo/WireImage for Vh1

Later in the night when Jennifer Hudson hit the stage to sing, she finally flaunted her megawatt curves in a stunning, better-fitting bejeweled gown—proving that her figure isn't getting outrageously thin. Maybe JHud fans should worry less about her weight and more about her stylist!

What do you think about Jennifer Hudson's figure? Leave your comments below!

Chaz Bono Splits With Fiancee Jennifer Elias

2011-12-19T18:38:00.001-08:00

Chaz Bono is now a single man.

The writer, GLBT activist and Dancing with the Stars alum, 42, and love Jennifer Elias have called off their engagement and are no longer a couple, their rep Howard Bragman told Us "They leave this relationship with great love, respect and affection towards one another," the rep says.

Elias embarked on a relationship with Cher and the late Sonny Bono's eldest child five years ago -- when he was still a woman who went by the name of Chastity Bono.

In May, Elias admitted to Oprah Winfrey "it was really hard" when her partner transitioned from male to female; Bono announced his decision to undergo gender reassignment in June 2009.

"We had to really almost re-learn how to communicate and how to be around each other," Elias said.

Bono proposed to Elias on the top of Space Needle in Seattle earlier this year -- in an episode of Being Chaz, his OWN reality show, which aired last month.

Merry Christmas from the Kardashians … in 3-D. Kardashian Christmas card revealed

2011-12-19T13:11:00.000-08:00

By now, it's surprising to no one that everything the Kardashian family does is ridiculously over-the-top -- from Kris' facelift to Kim's lavish wedding to Kourtney and Scott's dramatic fights. So when it comes to something like sending a Christmas card, fans know better than to expect an image of a snowman with a Santa hat. No, the reality fam chose instead to don complementary ensembles (bowties and the color black are prominent, but nothing too matchy-matchy) and have photographer Nick Saglimbeni snap their pic in 3-D!

The Kardashians pop a pose for the holidays. Nick Saglimbeni/Celebuzz.com

The "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" stars have created a holiday greeting every year since the trio of older sisters were little girls. In 2009, the producer of their reality show Ryan Seacrest even made his way into the pic! This time around, the card features a few relative newcomers to the clan, including Khloe's hubby of two years, Lamar Odom, Kourtney's boyfriend Scott Disick (near the couple's adorable little Mason!), as well as Rob Kardashian, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Bruce and Kris Jenner, and Khloe, Kim, and Kourtney Kardashian. One person who's missing, of course, is Kim's estranged husband, Kris Humphries, who looks like he would've fit perfectly into the space next to his bride ... if only they'd stayed together a couple more months. Sigh.

Despite the lack of Kris' presence, both Kim and Kourtney raved about the card on their blogs, where they posted the pic. "I love our family Christmas cards shoots and I think this one looks amazing!," Kim wrote. Meanwhile, Kourtney noted, "There's nothing I love more than getting everyone together for the Christmas card shoot! I love everyone's matching bow ties!" Mason's mama also advised that fans who have 3-D glasses lying around the house check out the 3-D version of the greeting. "It's crazy!" she added.

Do you like the card? Will you check it out in 3-D? Or have you had enough of the reality family for 2011?

And if that's not enough Kardashian excitement for one day, then you're in luck: a special episode of the show, "Kendall's Sweet 16," airs at 9 p.m. EST/PST Monday on E!.

Suspect in NYC woman's burning appears in court

2011-12-19T12:51:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York man suspected of spraying a 73-year-old woman with gasoline and setting her on fire in an elevator was charged Monday with murder and arson.

Jerome Isaac appeared in court with the left side of his face badly burned and peeling. He said nothing. He was held without bail, and his lawyer requested solitary confinement for the 47-year-old, as well as medical attention.

Surveillance video from the elevator shows the attack.

According to the criminal complaint, Isaac sprayed Delores Gillespie with gasoline as she stood in the elevator that had just opened to the 5th floor of her apartment building. She crouched and cowered, grocery bags draped off her arms.

Isaac pulled out a barbecue-style lighter, authorities said, and used it to ignite a rag in a bottle. He waited a few seconds, then backed out of the elevator and tossed the flaming bottle in, authorities said.

Gillespie died from burns to her body and smoke inhalation, according to the criminal complaint.

Isaac has no criminal record, but that does not mean he is not highly dangerous, Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Taub said.

"I know this is the defendant's first offense, but the depravity of this particular single act is beyond my description," he said.

Isaac's next court date is Friday.

After Isaac fled the building, he went around the corner and set his brother's apartment door on fire, according to the complaint.

Police believe Isaac then hid on a nearby rooftop for hours before he surrendered to police, reeking of gasoline.

According to police, he said he burned Gillespie because she owed him $2,000 for some odd jobs he had done for her.

When Jaime Holguin, who lives on the same floor as Gillespie, saw surveillance pictures of the attacker he said, "Oh, my God!"

Holguin, the manager of news development for The Associated Press, said the man in the surveillance pictures looked like a man who had lived with Gillespie for about six months last year and appeared to have been helping her out.

Gillespie's arrangement with Isaac appeared to have ended by early 2011, but months later Holguin started seeing the man nearby on the street, looking "a lot more disheveled" and pushing a cart full of aluminum cans.

Holguin said the fire melted the elevator door.

Holguin said he and his girlfriend had taken the elevator on their way out of the building shortly before the attack. They didn't see anyone on the floor with them but did notice an odd smell, as if someone was painting, he said.

He remembered Gillespie as nice but sometimes a little off. "At least with me, some days she'd be very, very pleasant, and then the next time, she would almost ignore me," he said.

Gillespie also went through a period this year where she would place duct tape over her apartment door whenever she left, Holguin said.

North Korea mourns dead leader, son hailed as "Great Successor"

2011-12-19T07:02:00.001-08:00

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Koreans poured into the streets on Monday to mourn the death of iron leader Kim Jong-il as state media hailed his untested son as the "Great Successor" of the reclusive state whose atomic weapons ambitions are a major threat to the region.

Earlier a tearful North Korean television announcer, dressed in black and her voice quavering, said the 69-year old ruler died on Saturday of "physical and mental over-work" on a train on his way to give field guidance -- advice dispensed by the "Dear Leader" on trips to factories, farms and the military.

Security concerns over the hermit state, that in 2010 shelled civilians on a South Korean island and is blamed for the sinking of one of its warships earlier that year, were heightened after Seoul said the North had test-fired a short range missile prior to the announcement of Kim's death.

It was the first known launch since June and in a bid to calm tensions, South Korea's defense ministry said it might abandon plans to light Christmas trees on the border, something the North has warned could provoke retaliations.

North Korea's official KCNA news agency lauded Kim's youngest son, Kim Jong-un as "the outstanding leader of our party, army and people."

"We have esteemed comrade Kim Jong-un," KCNA led a dispatch that said North Koreans from all walks of life are in utter despair but were finding comfort in the "absolute surety that the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un will lead and succeed the great task of revolutionary enterprise."
But there was uncertainty about how much support the third generation of the North's ruling dynasty has among the ruling elite, especially in the military, and worry he might need a military show of strength to help establish his credentials.
"Kim Jong-un is a pale reflection of his father and grandfather. He has not had the decades of grooming and securing of a power base that Jong-il enjoyed before assuming control from his father," said Bruce Klingner, an Asia policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.
"(He) may feel it necessary in the future to precipitate a crisis to prove his mettle to other senior leaders or deflect attention from the regime's failings."

Video from Chinese state television showed residents weeping in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. KCNA reported people were "writhing in pain" from the loss of the man who in 1994 assumed the leadership of the totalitarian state from his father Kim Il-sung, the North's first, and officially eternal, president.

Large crowds gathered at a massive memorial of Kim's father and state founder Kim Il-sung in central Pyongyang mourning the death of the "Dear Leader." Kim will be laid to rest next to his father, KCNA said.
The funeral of Kim, turned into a demi-god by his propaganda machine, will be held on December 28.

News of the death of the man whose push to build a nuclear arsenal left the North heavily sanctioned and internationally isolated, triggered immediate nervousness in the region, with South Korea stepping up its military alert.

China, the North's neighbor and only powerful ally, said it was confident the North would remain united and that the two countries would maintain their relationship.

"We were distressed to learn of the unfortunate passing of (Kim) ... and we express our grief about this and extend our condolences to the people of North Korea," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.

"We are confident the North Korean people will be able to turn their anguish into strength and unify as one," he said.
Graphics:
Kim family tree: http://r.reuters.com/quk65s
Power structure: http://r.reuters.com/puk65s
Nuclear facilities: http://r.reuters.com/nuk65s
While his father had 20 years as official heir, Kim Jong-un only became successor by taking on official titles last year, months after Kim Jong-il suffered a stroke around August 2008.

He takes over a hermit state whose economy has been ravaged by years of mismanagement under Kim Jong-il, who only briefly flirted with economic reform, preferring to stick with central planning and the brutal crushing of any opposition.

Under Kim Jong-il's rule, an estimated 1 million North Koreans died during famine in the 1990s. Even with good harvests, the state cannot feed its 25 million people.
Little is known of Jong-un, who is believed to be in his late 20s, studied for a short time at a school in Switzerland.
KCNA said Kim Jong-il died on Saturday after "an advanced acute myocardial infarction, complicated with a serious heart shock."

South Korea, still technically at war with the North, placed its troops and all government workers on emergency alert, but said there were no signs of any unusual North Korean troop movements.

The United States said it was committed to stability on the Korean peninsula as well as to its allies. There are some 28,000 U.S. troops on the divided peninsula. Across the heavily armed border, the North maintains an estimated 1 million troops, one of the world's largest standing armies.

Japan, too, said it was watching developments closely.
"We hope this sudden event does not have an adverse effect on the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula," Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a news conference after a hastily called ministerial meeting on security.
SHARES FALL

The fear of what might happen next in North Korea unsettled financial markets, with Asian shares and U.S. index futures falling. South Korean stocks tumbled as much as 5 percent, and the U.S. dollar gained. The Korean won fell 1.8 percent.

Kim Jong-un was at the head of a long list of officials making up the funeral committee, indicating he would lead it, and a key sign that he had taken, or been given, charge.
Zhu Feng, Professor of International Relations at Peking University, said it was clear the mechanism for transition was in place and working.
"The issue of primary concern now is not whether North Korea will maintain political stability, but what will be the nature of the new political leadership, and what policies will it pursue at home and abroad.
"In the short-term, there won't be new policies, only a stressing of policy stability and continuity. So soon after Kim Jong-il has died, no leader will dare say that an alternative policy course is needed," Zhu said.
But Chung Young-Tae at the Korea Institute of National Unification said there was "a big possibility that a power struggle may happen."

UNCHALLENGED HEAD

Kim Jong-il also promoted his sister and her husband, Jang Song-thaek, to important political and military posts, creating a powerful triumvirate.

Jang is seen as effective regent for the younger Kim. He holds a top position in the powerful Worker's Party providing some balance to the generals who have been seen as more hardline in pushing the North to develop an atomic arsenal.

Earlier this decade, Jang was forced into exile for what is thought to have been conflict over his push for economic reform.

Experts say Jong-un has the intelligence and leadership skills that make him suitable to succeed his father. He is also reported to have a ruthless streak that analysts say he would need to rule North Korea.

REGIONAL THREAT

North Korea, which tested a nuclear device in 2006 and again in May 2009, is seen as one of the greatest threats to regional security.

Last year, the secretive North unveiled a uranium enrichment facility, giving it a second route to make an atomic bomb along with its plutonium program.

Victor Cha, a Korea expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank in Washington, said communication among China, the United States and South Korea was vital.

"Because these are the three key players when it comes to instability in North Korea. And the Chinese have been reluctant to have any conversations on this," he said.

"Now the situation really calls for it. It will be interesting to see how much the Chinese will be willing to have some sort of discussion."

(Additional reporting by Seoul, Washington and Asian bureaux, Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)

$INS01; Line LNY Insave:- TI line name (Map report)

Life is a bitch

Beyoncé and Jay-Z 'welcome baby girl and name her Ivy Blue Carter'

CONGRATS TO THE CARTERS ON THE DELIVERY OF BABY GIRL, IVY BLUE CARTER!

Justin Bieber Reveals Latest Religious Tattoo – An Image Of Jesus

omg! NOW: Selena Gomez Opens Up About Being Hated by Justin Bieber Fans

Pagination

Cop Issues Speeding Ticket, Asks Driver for a Date and She Sues Him

Tiger Woods’ ex-wife bulldozes $12 million home

Video of marriage proposal gone wrong at UCLA basketball game

Newly Engaged Steven Tyler Reveals His Surprising Views on Monogamy

Woe is Serena: Tennis star says she doesn’t love tennis

Shaq promises a cool grand to anyone who gets a tattoo of a famous kiss

Retired linebacker’s wife dies one month after their wedding

APNewsBreak: Russell Brand, Katy Perry to divorce

REPORTS: Beyonce Checked Into Hospital, In Labor

N. Korea alters photo of Kim Jong Il funeral. North Korea Restores Order to Kim Funeral With Photoshop

North Korean heir leads funeral of Kim Jong Il

'Di ienjel go tu Mieri...': Jamaican church creates patois Gospel of Luke after congregation fail to grasp King James Bible

Top forward flattens defender with dunk, is immediately ejected

Justin Bieber Surprises BFF with Mustang Convertible for Christmas

Taylor Lautner’s Gay People Magazine Cover Fake (Photo)

New Air Jordans Cause Nationwide Shopping Frenzy

Trump opens way to independent White House run

Congress punts hard payroll tax work to 2012

Texas A&M lineman killed in car crash

Texas A&M lineman killed in car crash

Kim Kardashian’s Christmas family photo album – these pics are AMAZING

‘X Factor’ Finale Results: And The Winner Is…

"Space ball" drops on Namibia

Another holiday delivery goes wrong A UPS driver is caught carelessly dropping off a package while sending a crude message

RECAPS AND CLIPS

Pregnant Beyonce Steps Out in Animal-Print Leggings

Congressman apologizes for criticizing Michelle Obama’s ‘large posterior’

Miley Cyrus Defends Against Rude Fan

Adam Lambert Gets Arrested, Is Released, Lives to Tweet the Tale

Kris Humphries Booed, Heckled at Nets Game in NYC

Family hopes $150B civil award prompts charges

RELATED CONTENT

KATE UPTON AND MARK SANCHEZ DATING?

Brazilian baby 'born healthy with two heads... and both are suckling mother's breasts

More...

CONJOINED TWINS

2012 End-of-the-World Countdown Based on Mayan Calendar Starts Today

Highliner's Heart-Stopping Walk Over Yosemite

Giant Tsunami-Shaped Clouds Roll Across Alabama Sky

Billionaire's Daughter Pays Record Sum for NYC Pad

Jennifer Hudson: Has She Lost Even More Weight?

Chaz Bono Splits With Fiancee Jennifer Elias

Merry Christmas from the Kardashians … in 3-D. Kardashian Christmas card revealed

Suspect in NYC woman's burning appears in court

North Korea mourns dead leader, son hailed as "Great Successor"