Saturday, June 30, 2012
Daily Feng Shui June 30, 2012
On ‘Meteor Day’ I’d like to share a Feng Shui way to give your career a meteoric rise in recognition and reward, no matter the field you’re in. One way to do that is to activate the Feng Shui ‘Wish Fulfilling’ gem. In this case, we want to trigger energies in the Fame arena of your home or office, so we will use a red gem or crystal. Once cleansed of any previous energies, leave this gem outside to soak up sunshine for three consecutive days, or on any windowsill that gets sunshine for a part of the day so that the solar rays can also activate the energies. After three days, place this gem anywhere in the Fame area for at least forty-nine days. During that time, you should hold the gem three times a day and focus your intentions and energies into it. At the end of the forty-nine days you should begin to see opportunities abounding that will manifest your dreams. Once your wish has been fulfilled then you can either leave your gem in place or cleanse it and put it away until the next ‘Meteor Day.’ Either way, you can be sure that your name will soon be on everyone’s lips and that career rewards are now heading your way.
Kristen Stewart: Gorgeous In New Balenciaga Ad For Florabotanica
K-Stew is always radiant, and we’re loving this creative promo for her new scent — do YOU like the look?
Kristen Stewart is the face of Balenciaga‘s new fragrance Florabotanica, and we now have the first look at her promotion of the brand!
K-Stew, 22, looks stunning in the shot, and we hope the are more pics that emerge from the campaign!
The scent is scheduled to be released in September.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Jay-Z & Beyonce Plan To Attend 2012 BET Awards
The proud parents will be stepping out for the big show — and only HollywoodLife.com has all of the EXCLUSIVE info!
Beyonce, 30, and Jay, 42, will both be at the HUGE event!
“It’s confirmed that Jay-Z and Beyonce will in fact be at the award show Sunday,” a source close to production tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.
Will YOU watch the 2012 BET Awards, HollywoodLifers?
Justin Bieber Angrily Cuts Off Interview: Doesn’t Want To Talk About One Direction
Oh no! Justin Bieber gets extremely upset after radio DJ compares him to Justin Timberlake and makes a joke about One Direction and Justin’s mother! Things get really tense and he hangs up the phone — listen to the interview!
Justin Bieber did a very strained interview with Detroit’s 106.7 show, “Mojo in the Morning” today and he ended up hanging up the phone on Mojo! Everything went down after questions involving One Direction and Harry Styles.
The interview with Justin started out friendly and sweet with the DJ complimenting Justin on his charity work and his new Believe album but things got a bit awkward when Mojo tried to give Justin praise on the song “Boyfriend” by saying “I thought it was Justin Timberlake.” Mojo adds, “I hope you take this as a compliment, I really mean it as that.”
But the Biebs was not pleased. “Man that’s crazy ’cause our voices sound nothing alike. I mean, saying I sound like someone else is not really a compliment.
They continue the conversation, speaking about Mariah Yeater and Justin’s song “Maria” and then Mojo brings up One Direction and Justin’s new friendship with the group. Bieber calls them “good kids” and said “They were in town a while ago and came over and stuff,” although he didn’t seem interested in speaking about it.
This is when the interview really started going downhill. “Do you worry about Harry [Styles] being around your mom since it seems like he likes older women?” joked Mojo. “I think you should worry about me around your mom, bro,” snapped Bieber.
“Justin my mom’s dead so unfortunately that wouldn’t work,” revealed the DJ, whose mom is in fact deceased.
At this point Justin hangs up the phone and his rep from the record company comes on and says “Hi so he got a little upset with the question and he probably won’t be coming back.”
The DJ explained to his fans that the reason he asked Justin about Harry Styles and his mom in the first place is because in a recent interview Selena said Justin joked about it since Harry’s known for his taste in older women! So this was actually a joke Justin had apparently made in the first place!
What do you guys think? Do you think Mojo went to far in his questioning or was Justin overreacting in his responses? Let us know in your comments!
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes: Their most memorable moments
TomKat is no more. Katie Holmes, 33, has filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, who turns 50 Tuesday, her lawyer told People magazineFriday. While of course it means an end to their romance, it also means the end of one of the most high-profile celebrity couples, well, ever. No more couch-jumping. No more serenading. No more public declarations of love. To mourn the end of Tom and Katie's love story, take a look back at some of their most memorable moments together.
Cruise jumps on Oprah's couch. In April 2005, Holmes was best known as the former Joey Potter from "Dawson's Creek." And Cruise? He was still the guy who slid across the floor in his underwear in 1983's "Risky Business," but a whole lot more successful. But Holmes soon became better known as the girlfriend of mega-movie star Cruise that month when the two were photographed holding hands in Rome, and People quoted a source as saying the two had been dating "a couple of weeks." (Nevermind that Holmes had just ended her engagement to "American Pie" actor Chris Klein the month before!) By the time Cruise appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in May 2005, he was smitten! He shocked everyone when he jumped on Oprah's couch and pumped his fists in the air when the talk show queen asked about the affair. "I love relationships," Cruise said. "It just happened. I kept looking [at Katie] and thinking, 'This woman's amazing.' I'm happy that I'm with her. She's amazing, and I'd think the same of her even if she wasn't with me — she's just amazing." The couch-jumping later became a moment the actor would rather forget. For the record, the two reportedly met after Cruise called Holmes out of the blue and asked her to meet at his office, where he asked her out, then wined and dined her with a sushi dinner on his private jet.
TomKat cruises into the "War of the Worlds" premiere on a motorcycle. By June 2005, it was official that Holmes would become Mrs. Cruise. He proposed to her that month with a five-carat diamond ring during a candlelit dinner in – get this – Paris' Eiffel Tower. That's so romantic, how could she have said no?! The newly engaged couple showed just how much their romance had revved up when they rode a motorcycle into the NYC premiere of "War of the Worlds" on June 27. They continued to be just as lovey-dovey as usual on the red carpet and off. "I've found the man of my dreams," Holmes gushed to W magazine in 2005. "From the moment I met him it just felt like I'd known him forever. I was blown away. He's the most incredible man. He's so generous and kind, and he helps so many people, and, um, he makes me laugh like I've never laughed, and he's a great friend." And by October, Holmes and Cruise announced one more development in their surprising relationship: They were expecting!
They introduce Suri to the world. Baby Suri arrived in April 2006, but fans first laid their eyes on her when she, along with her famous parents, graced the cover of Vanity Fairthat fall. Famed photographer Annie Leibovitz took the first of many photos of Suri at Cruise's home in Telluride, Colorado, when she was about 3 months old. "It seemed only natural to have Annie take the first public photographs of Suri," Cruise said at the time. "Annie is the only professional photographer who ever shot [Cruise's kids with ex-wife Nicole Kidman] Bella and Connor as children." And we've been fascinated with the little fashionista – who likes to pick out her own clothes and don high heels – ever since.
Cruise and Holmes make it official with a lavish wedding. Even Kim Kardashian would be envious of TomKat's nuptials. The two swapped vows and Cartier rings in a castle in Lake Bracciano, Italy, in front of 150 guests, including Victoria Beckham, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, and plenty more celebs. The wedding party's wardrobe was designed by Armani, and Cruise's navy tux even had a label that read "Giorgio Armani for Tom Cruise." The soiree was filled with the tunes of Andrea Bocelli (who was there in person, of course!) and included a multi-course meal. The total cost was estimated at $2 million, among the most expensive celebrity weddings ever. Holmes must've been elated. She once told Seventeenmagazine, "I think every little girl dreams about (her wedding). I used to think I was going to marry Tom Cruise."
Holmes serenades her man ... in public! Holmes has made no secret of the fact she adores Broadway. She once performed an homage to Judy Garland on "So You Think You Can Dance," and is a founder of the Dizzy Feet Foundation, which supports dance education. Still, it was a little surprising to see the straight-laced Holmes get racy when she performed "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets" from "Damn Yankees" at a Los Angeles fundraiser in May 2010. Cruise, who recently starred as a rocker in the musical "Rock of Ages," happily played along.
Sigh. It was fun while it lasted. What do you think caused Cruise and Holmes’ split?
More Celebrity Features on Yahoo!:
America's most expensive homes
It’s always entertaining to see how home prices vary from place to place, and to see what homes command the highest prices. Usually, the priciest properties have names. They also tend to have swimming pools on landscaped grounds, a gourmet kitchen and very often a wine cellar.
But what else do they have that commands such prices? It’s not always obvious.
But what else do they have that commands such prices? It’s not always obvious.
What follows are the priciest listings posted on Realtor.com in each of the five most populous cities in the U.S. This list is an indicator of the top end of real estate offerings in these cities. However, it should not be considered comprehensive as it does not include pocket listings, which may appear on each property’s exclusive broker website but are not distributed to other sites through the multi-listing system (MLS).
Here are the priciest homes in the five biggest cities in the U.S.
PhiladelphiaPrice: $15 million
Square Footage: 9,153
This building is located right on Rittenhouse Square, named for astronomer-clockmaker David Rittenhouse. The structure most recently served as a club called The Mansion at Rittenhouse Square, and this historic mansion is currently three floors of raw space.
It features a 905-square-foot balcony overlooking the square and a 582-square-foot terrace overlooking its private courtyard. There’s a private entrance available through the parking garage, and while a parking spot is available, it will run the buyer an extra 50 grand. The buyer of this property gets such amenities as a 24-hour doorman and concierge, chauffeured Mercedes, valet parking, indoor pool, fitness center and yoga room, as well as room service by Serafina.
DallasPrice: $29.5 million
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 11
Square Footage: 10,511
The neoclassical Georgian mansion Mount Vernon overlooking White Rock Lake was built in 1930 and first occupied by oil magnate H.L. Hunt and his family. Luxury features of this 10-acre estate include a two-story guesthouse, a pool house, a four-lane bowling center, a 16-car collector’s garage, lighted tennis courts, swimming pool (one of Dallas’ first residential pools), putting greens and a gazebo. The house has nine marble fireplaces; original wood paneling, doors and wide plank floors; a “Spirit of America” mural like the one in the White House; a steam room; and a private deck offering sunset views.
ChicagoPrice: $32 million
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 9
Square Footage: 14,260
The 89th-floor penthouse of Chicago’s Trump Tower is billed as the highest residence in the Western hemisphere. It offers panoramic views of the city and Lake Michigan through its floor-to-16-foot ceiling windows. The new owner can build the bare-bones residence to their specifications, but it already includes a theater room, wet bar and exercise room. As part of the Trump Tower condo-hotel, the penthouse owner has access to its amenities, including gym; the spa (which offers gemstone-infused oil massages); indoor pool; valet; and the restaurant Sixteen on the 16th floor, which offers 24-hour room service.
New York
Price: $90 million
Square Footage: 19,950
The French Gothic Woolworth Mansion was completed in 1916. This seven-story residence is actually the middle one in a row of three limestone mansions on East 80th Street off Fifth Avenue. They were built for retail magnate Frank Woolworth’s daughters as he was building the golden-topped Woolworth Building skyscraper downtown. It features a grand entry hall and foyer and a grand master staircase. The upper floors have ceilings more than 14 feet high and floor-to-ceiling windows. The dining room can seat more than 50 and ends in a rear solarium.
Los AngelesPrice: $125 million
Bedrooms: 12
Bathrooms: 15
Square Footage: 35,046
This romantic French style mansion in a Bel Air gated community has classic looks but was built just 10 years ago for then-wedded couple David and Suzanne Saperstein. It was inspired in part by Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicompte in France. The two have since divorced, and in the process Suzanne Saperstein picked up this estate, which she’s been trying to sell since last year. The interiors of the Fleur De Lys mansion feature soaring, coffered ceilings and a spacious, castle-like dining room with barrel vault ceilings. The 4-acre estate features a guest house, manicured gardens and a huge swimming pool flanked by hedge walls for privacy.
What ObamaCare Means for Your Taxes
President Obama's Affordable Care Act, which was deemed constitutional Thursday by the Supreme Court, includes some major tax changes that will take effect next year. Here's a refresher course on how sweeping health-care reform will impact individual taxpayers like you.
Medicare Tax
Right now, the Medicare tax on salary and/or self-employment (SE) income is 2.9%. If you're an employee, 1.45% is withheld from your paychecks, and the other 1.45% is paid by your employer. If you're self-employed, you pay the whole 2.9% yourself.
Starting in 2013, an extra 0.9% Medicare tax will be charged on: (1) salary and/or SE income above $200,000 for an unmarried individual, (2) combined salary and/or SE income above $250,000 for a married joint-filing couple, and (3) salary and/or SE income above $125,000 for those who use married filing separate status. For self-employed individuals, the additional 0.9% Medicare tax hit will come in the form of a higher SE bill.
Medicare Tax on Investment Income
Right now, the maximum federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains and dividends is only 15%. Starting in 2013, the maximum rate on long-term gains is scheduled to go up to 20% and the maximum rate on dividends is scheduled to increase to 39.6% as the so-called Bush tax cuts expire.
[Related: Could the Republicans really repeal Obamacare?]
But that's not all. Also starting in 2013, all or part of the net investment income, including long-term capital gains and dividends, collected by higher-income folks can get socked with an additional 3.8% "Medicare contribution tax." Therefore, the maximum federal rate on long-term gains for 2013 and beyond will actually be 23.8% (versus the current 15%) and the maximum rate on dividends will be a whopping 43.4% (versus the current 15%). Yikes!
The additional 3.8% Medicare tax will not apply unless your adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds: (1) $200,000 if you're unmarried, (2) $250,000 if you're a married joint-filer, or (3) $125,000 if you use married filing separate status.
The additional 3.8% Medicare tax will apply to the lesser of your net investment income or the amount of AGI in excess of the applicable threshold. Net investment income includes interest, dividends, royalties, annuities, rents, income from passive business activities, income from trading in financial instruments or commodities, and gains from assets held for investment like stock and other securities. (Gains from assets held for business purposes are not subject to the extra tax.)
For example, a married joint-filing couple with AGI of $265,000 and $60,000 of net investment income would pay the 3.8% tax on $15,000 (the amount of excess AGI). If the same couple has AGI of $350,000, they would pay the 3.8% tax on $60,000 (the entire amount of their net investment income).
$2,500 Cap on Health-Care FSA Contributions
Right now, there's no tax-law limit on contributions to your employer's healthcare flexible spending account (FSA) plan (although many plan impose their own limits). Amounts you contribute to the FSA plan are subtracted from your taxable salary. Then you can use the funds to reimburse yourself tax-free to cover qualified medical expenses. Good deal! Starting in 2013, however, the maximum annual FSA contribution for each employee will be capped at only $2,500.
[Related: What health care ruling means for consumers]
Higher Threshold for Itemized Medical Expense Deductions
Right now, you can claim an itemized deduction for medical expenses paid for you, your spouse, and your dependents, to the extent the expenses exceed 7.5% of AGI. Starting in 2013, the hurdle is raised to 10% of AGI. However, if either you or your spouse is age 65 or older at yearend, the 10%-of-AGI threshold will not take effect until 2017.
That said, the fate of these four ObamaCare-related tax increases may hinge on what the Supreme Court decides next month. So maybe you have more reasons to be interested in that decision than you initially thought. Stay tuned. I'll keep you posted.
Medicare Tax
Right now, the Medicare tax on salary and/or self-employment (SE) income is 2.9%. If you're an employee, 1.45% is withheld from your paychecks, and the other 1.45% is paid by your employer. If you're self-employed, you pay the whole 2.9% yourself.
Starting in 2013, an extra 0.9% Medicare tax will be charged on: (1) salary and/or SE income above $200,000 for an unmarried individual, (2) combined salary and/or SE income above $250,000 for a married joint-filing couple, and (3) salary and/or SE income above $125,000 for those who use married filing separate status. For self-employed individuals, the additional 0.9% Medicare tax hit will come in the form of a higher SE bill.
Medicare Tax on Investment Income
Right now, the maximum federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains and dividends is only 15%. Starting in 2013, the maximum rate on long-term gains is scheduled to go up to 20% and the maximum rate on dividends is scheduled to increase to 39.6% as the so-called Bush tax cuts expire.
[Related: Could the Republicans really repeal Obamacare?]
But that's not all. Also starting in 2013, all or part of the net investment income, including long-term capital gains and dividends, collected by higher-income folks can get socked with an additional 3.8% "Medicare contribution tax." Therefore, the maximum federal rate on long-term gains for 2013 and beyond will actually be 23.8% (versus the current 15%) and the maximum rate on dividends will be a whopping 43.4% (versus the current 15%). Yikes!
The additional 3.8% Medicare tax will not apply unless your adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds: (1) $200,000 if you're unmarried, (2) $250,000 if you're a married joint-filer, or (3) $125,000 if you use married filing separate status.
The additional 3.8% Medicare tax will apply to the lesser of your net investment income or the amount of AGI in excess of the applicable threshold. Net investment income includes interest, dividends, royalties, annuities, rents, income from passive business activities, income from trading in financial instruments or commodities, and gains from assets held for investment like stock and other securities. (Gains from assets held for business purposes are not subject to the extra tax.)
For example, a married joint-filing couple with AGI of $265,000 and $60,000 of net investment income would pay the 3.8% tax on $15,000 (the amount of excess AGI). If the same couple has AGI of $350,000, they would pay the 3.8% tax on $60,000 (the entire amount of their net investment income).
$2,500 Cap on Health-Care FSA Contributions
Right now, there's no tax-law limit on contributions to your employer's healthcare flexible spending account (FSA) plan (although many plan impose their own limits). Amounts you contribute to the FSA plan are subtracted from your taxable salary. Then you can use the funds to reimburse yourself tax-free to cover qualified medical expenses. Good deal! Starting in 2013, however, the maximum annual FSA contribution for each employee will be capped at only $2,500.
[Related: What health care ruling means for consumers]
Higher Threshold for Itemized Medical Expense Deductions
Right now, you can claim an itemized deduction for medical expenses paid for you, your spouse, and your dependents, to the extent the expenses exceed 7.5% of AGI. Starting in 2013, the hurdle is raised to 10% of AGI. However, if either you or your spouse is age 65 or older at yearend, the 10%-of-AGI threshold will not take effect until 2017.
That said, the fate of these four ObamaCare-related tax increases may hinge on what the Supreme Court decides next month. So maybe you have more reasons to be interested in that decision than you initially thought. Stay tuned. I'll keep you posted.
Katie Holmes Fed Up With Scientology — Why She’s Divorcing Tom Cruise?
Katie doesn’t want Suri to practice Scientology, a source tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively. Plus, she’s tired of being controlled by the church! Read on for more details!
Katie Holmes reportedly doesn’t want her six-year-old daughter Suri to become a Scientologist which is what ultimately led her to leave Tom Cruise!
“Katie just couldn’t take Tom and his whole Scientology worship anymore. She got sick and tired of being controlled not only by Tom but by the bizarre belief system of Scientology. She does not want Suri to be a Scientologist,” a source close to the situation tells HollywoodLife.com.
Katie was reportedly so blinded by Tom’s charm in the beginning of their relationship that she wasn’t fazed by his religious beliefs.
“When Katie first met Tom, she was really naive and smitten with him. But now that she is older and has more confidence, she is no longer willing to sacrifice her well-being and the well-being of her daughter. This divorce has been a long time coming. No one in their circles are surprised,” a source tells us.
Tom and Katie were married in Nov. 2006 in Italy and welcomed daughter Suri, 6, into the world in April 2006.
Tom has long been public about his religion. Recently, Tom was asked about his religion in the June 2012 issue of Playboy and he said: “What I believe in my own life is that it’s a search for how I can do things better, whether it’s being a better man or a better father or finding ways for myself to improve. Individuals have to decide what is true and real for them. ”
Clearly, Katie is doing just that.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Divorce: How They Should Break The News To Suri — Experts
With the shocking news of TomKat’s divorce, what’s going to happen with their 6-year-old daughter Suri? We asked a family psychologist how they could have broke the terrible news.
After Tom Cruise, 49, and Katie Holmes, 33, announced their divorce on June 29, all eyes are on Suri. What would have been the best way to tell their daughter?
“I would think that this is a series of conversations, with the first that it’s not her fault,” said family psychologist Dr. Jeff Gardere. “The second conversation is that even though mommy and daddy are no longer married they will always be mommy and daddy and they’ll always, always make sure they are friends so that they can be good parents.”
Dr. Gardere advises that even though they are divorcing, the best steps to take are that the three of them should spend time together especially through the divorce process, like eating and doing events together.
“There is certainly some confusion and sadness, but a 6-year old is young to process it all,” he continued. “You cannot be untruthful or try to hide something like this because later on they will be angry or they will have issues. You have to prepare her. She will have questions.”
Psychotherapist Dr. Gilda Carle, 30-second therapist on Today.com, stressed the importance of showing her love and affection rather than spoiling her with material possessions.
“Don’t go buying her new toys and clothes and think money is going to be the answer to get to her heart, ” she said. “That’s going to be a very hollow attempt. It’s not going to make her feel any better.”
Dr. Gilda also said that Tom and Katie must not put Suri in the middle, and bad-mouthing each other is a major no-no. “They cannot make her the sounding board for their problems.”
Because Suri will continue to grow up in the public eye, it is important to make her emotional health a priority. “Her parents will make sure she has as natural a life as possible,” she said
Savannah Guthrie Named Co-Anchor, ‘TODAY’ Confirms
Savannah Guthrie will be the new co-anchor of ‘TODAY’ starting July 9, the show officially announced on June 29.
Just one day after Ann Curry told viewers she was leaving her position as co-anchor, TODAY has named Savannah Guthrie as her replacement.
Guthrie joined the show as the host of the third hour in June 2011 and also contributes as the shows chief legal analyst.
The new TODAY team will include Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales and will debut on Monday, July 9th.
Adele Is Pregnant With Her First Child — Congrats
Adele broke the big news herself, and says she’s ‘delighted’ to be having a baby with boyfriend Simon Konecki.
No more sad songs for Adele, as the singer announced via her website June 29 that she and boyfriend Simon Konecki are having a baby! “Im delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together,” she wrote to fans. “I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we’re over the moon and very excited but please respect our privacy at this precious time. Yours always, Adele xx”
Congratulations to Adele and Simon! We’re sure the baby will be adorable — and absurdly talented.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
R. Kelly Describes Angry Ex-Wife Throwing $50,000 Ring In A Pond In New Book, ‘Soulacoaster, The Diary Of Me’
R. Kelly shares candid details of his 12-year marriage toHollywood Exes star Andrea Kelly in his autobiography,Soulacoaster, The Diary of Me, out Thursday on SmileyBooks.
Andrea, who is the mother of Kelly's three children, is a cast member on the VH1 reality show that also stars former spouses of Eddie Murphy, Prince, Jose Canseco and Will Smith.
[Related: R. Kelly in debt]
In the Soulacoaster chapter "The Breakup," Kelly describes the day a frustrated Andrea took off her $50,000 wedding ring and threw it in a pond in their backyard.
The problems in Kelly and Andrea's marriage had been mounting. According to Kelly, he continued to struggle with infidelity, Andrea was unhappy walking away from her dance career to be a stay-at-home mother, and they were constantly fighting.
Andrea KellyOne day, Kelly said he confronted Andrea about her feelings for him and it backfired.
"The way you're acting around here," he wrote, "I don't think you love me anymore." He repeated the statement, but she did not respond. So he challenged her.
"If you really don't love me, I dare you to take off your wedding ring and throw it in the pond out back," he wrote.
Andrea replied that the proposal wasn't a good idea. "You might not like what your dare will make me do," she said.
Kelly continued.
"Drea took the dare," he wrote. "She marched out to the yard and threw the ring in the pond — 'plunk!' Man, I couldn't believe it. I offered $10,000 to anyone who could fish that ring out of the pond. No one could."
R. KellyTheir problems escalated. They began discussing divorce. When Kelly realized that the relationship was over, he went to the movies by himself to see The Notebook. Though he enjoyed the love story about a couple who grew old together and died in each other's arms, he got visibly emotional in the theater.
"As the film credits started to roll, I couldn't move," he wrote. "I burst into tears. People walking past me patted me on the back, trying to console me. The Notebook was beautiful, and I was crying because its hero and heroine had died together. But I was also crying because I remembered a Valentine's Day — when a helicopter dropped a rainfall of roses — that had come and gone. My marriage had died. And there was nothing I could do to bring it back."
Kelly met Andrea when she auditioned to be one of his background dancers. He described their meeting as love at first sight. Though his initial attraction was physical, he loved her confidence. He described her as a lioness who "calmed [his] inner storms."
In the book co-authored by David Ritz, who also has titles with Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Janet Jackson, Kelly discusses being molested by a teenage girl when he was a child, being illiterate, his elementary school teacher who recognized his musical talent, and his fallout with Jay-Z during the promotional run of their Best Of Both Worlds album and tour.
Kelly released this week his album, Write Me Back.
Savannah Guthrie Replacing Ann Curry On ‘Today Show’ Starting Tomorrow — Report
Ann Curry is reportedly being replaced as early as tomorrow! Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer are anchoring ‘Today’ on Friday!
Wow — poor Ann Curry. The anchor announced she was leaving The Today Showthis morning, shedding many tears as she said goodbye to her beloved fans. Now, TMZ reports NBC is wasting no time in replacing her!
Savannah Guthrie is apparently taking Ann’s place tomorrow, anchoring the show with Matt Lauer. And sources tell TMZ it’s “likely” they will formally announce Savannah as Ann’s replacement during the show.
Matt is on vacation next week for the July 4 holiday and, according to the new report, NBC wants to announce Savannah as the new host while he is there in order to show the duo as a united front.
Do you guys think it is too soon to announce Ann’s replacement? Do you like Savannah as Matt’s new co-host? Sound off in your comments!
Daily Cosmic Calendar for Thursday, June 28, 2012
It would be great to report that yesterday's Venus station and shift forward is continuing like gangbusters. However, realism intervenes early as the Moon unites with Saturn in Libra (1:23AM PDT) - a somewhat constraining vibration that also begins a 12+ hour void lunar twilight zone that lasts until 1:33PM PDT.
During this void-of-course time-period, there is a strong urge to send out delayed correspondence and catch up with messages as Mercury parallels Jupiter (4:59AM PDT). Nevertheless, going overboard is not a good idea since Mercury moves on to make an off-kilter, 150-degree link to often illusory Neptune (10:29AM PDT). Pushing a personal agenda too far too fast can easily boomerang with nasty results.
A Sun-Venus 30-degree rapport (1:15PM PDT) happens shortly before the Moon leaves void status by entering strong-willed Scorpio (1:33PM PDT). Once the Moon is floating through Scorpio waters, tune back into yesterday's Venus shift and make the most of your creative, artistic and magnetic resources. Attract what you need and who can assist you in making your fondest dreams come true during the next 18 months when Venus remains in forward motion.
Don your detective garb this evening to solve mysteries and get to the core of puzzles, secrets and enigmas with the Moon in the transformative and psychic eighth sign of the zodiac.
During this void-of-course time-period, there is a strong urge to send out delayed correspondence and catch up with messages as Mercury parallels Jupiter (4:59AM PDT). Nevertheless, going overboard is not a good idea since Mercury moves on to make an off-kilter, 150-degree link to often illusory Neptune (10:29AM PDT). Pushing a personal agenda too far too fast can easily boomerang with nasty results.
A Sun-Venus 30-degree rapport (1:15PM PDT) happens shortly before the Moon leaves void status by entering strong-willed Scorpio (1:33PM PDT). Once the Moon is floating through Scorpio waters, tune back into yesterday's Venus shift and make the most of your creative, artistic and magnetic resources. Attract what you need and who can assist you in making your fondest dreams come true during the next 18 months when Venus remains in forward motion.
Don your detective garb this evening to solve mysteries and get to the core of puzzles, secrets and enigmas with the Moon in the transformative and psychic eighth sign of the zodiac.
Did Arie Luyendyk Jr. Reveal He’s Engaged To ‘Bachelorette’ Emily Maynard?
Plus, front-runner Jef Holm’s reaction to the engagement news. Read on for more details!
Uh oh! Race car driver and Bachelorette finalist Arie Luyendyk Jr. may have slipped about a potential engagement to Emily Maynard.
During a conference call with reporters, Arie was asked if he would be the nextBachelor if he doesn’t win the Bachelorette — and his response threw everyone off-guard.
“Well, you know my fiance might not approve of that. No, I’m just joking I mean,” he said. “No, I said, you know, basically it’s hilarious because I know that’s a hot topic right now but, you know, who knows what happens and if I am engaged to Emily, I don’t think it would be possible for me to become the next Bachelor.”
Hmm! It sounds like he totally slipped! Am I right?
In another interview with reporters, Jef Holm was questioned about Arie’s potential engagement and his response was even MORE suspicious.
“I don’t know if he’s engaged or not. If he is, that’s awesome. And I’m pretty confident that he’ll invite me to the wedding, I hope. So, but I don’t know that I’m. I didn’t. I am not sure if he is. And if he is, you know, congratulations to him,” Jef said.
Jef began to stumble on his words though when he was asked if he would go to the wedding if Arie’s “fiance” is Emily.
“Man, that’s a touch question actually. I don’t – I don’t know if I – I don’t know if – I don’t. I know for a fact it wouldn’t be awkward between Arie and I if I was invited to the – to the wedding. But, I would worry about if it would be OK with Emily if I was there,” he said. “You know, because we had something completely different than anything she had – anything she had with any of the other guys. And it was really special. But, I would want to be there, you know, because I love and care about Emily. And I love and care about Arie. I think he’s great. So, I would hope that I would be invited.”
Yikes! It sounds like
‘Awkward’ Season 2: Ricky Schwartz Has ‘Something Up His Sleeve’
‘Awkward’ returns with new episodes at 10:30 p.m. TONIGHT! Read our interview with Matthew Fahey, who plays Ricky, the awkward-est one of all.
While the second season of Awkward brings a boatload of new drama with it, viewers will also be happy to know that some things never change — like Ricky Schwartz being a clueless, heartbreaking doofus! HollywoodLife.com chatted with Mr. Schwartz himself, Matthew Fahey, for the scoop on Ricky’s relationship with Tamara (Jillian Rose Reed) this season. Spoiler alert: It does not get better.
I love Ricky, because I feel like he embodies everything this show is about. There’s no one more awkward than Ricky.
I would say so. He doesn’t know who he is yet. He has a girl that’s in love with him, and I think he doesn’t realize how much she likes him. But he does know she’ll forgive him anytime he does something wrong. Ricky’s off his rocker. He talks to Tamara and then, like a dog who just saw a squirrel run by, he’s looking at another girl’s a**. He’s like a little puppy.
So is there any hope for him getting his act together?
There’s a good heart in there somewhere. Like I said, he’s a puppy. He doesn’t know what he wants. He’s always screwing things up, but not on purpose. He wants to love everybody and please everybody.
Can you relate to him at all?
I’ve never been one to play a girl. My mom brought me up to be respectful. But in the way I am like Ricky, I’m a nerd. I just went to E3, and I was there for a long time playing video games. I knew all the new games, and I waited 30 minutes to go into a room and play a game.
The ‘Awkward’ set seems like such a fun place. Do you guys have a blast?
We go on set and take our jobs very seriously, but when we’re off set, we all hang out. We’re all really comfortable with each other, like one big family. We try to keep the mood light and just have a good time.
So what can we expect this season from Ricky and Tamara?
You’ll see the whole back-and-forth thing happening again. She loves Ricky, but he always has something up his sleeve. She does slap me pretty hard.
Is he doomed to disappoint Tamara forever?
It’s fun, and I think it adds a different aspect to the show. It adds a thing for Tamara where it gives her a range of different emotions. I think it’s a good little set-up. And everybody has known a Ricky Schwartz, even if it’s in girl form.
Daily Feng Shui Tip Thursday, June 28, 2012
Ah, summertime, when the living is easy. It’s also a time for wearing sunglasses, preferably of the rose-colored variety, especially on this ‘Sunglasses Day.’ And speaking of the rose color, rosewater has been used throughout the ages when manifesting hopes and wishes. Put the petals from a dozen roses in a glass jar and cover them with water. Let this jar sit outside in the sun for a day. Discard the petals and save the water. Write a wish on a piece of paper and place the paper in the rosewater. The ink should slightly dissolve. Then remove the paper and drink the rest of the water in order to make the wish come true. This might sound too good to be true, but I know people who have manifested their wishes simply by doing this exercise. Can’t you just see your dream coming true right now?
Romeo Miller on The Wendy Williams Show
Wendy, we know you're a busy woman. We understand if you're not able to do the after show. Unless you've made some big announcement I missed, PLEASE tell us if they will resume. We love and miss you saying it like you really mean it.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Daily Feng Shui Tip Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Whether or not today is your birthday, I'm acting as if it is and celebrating you! So here's a gift that keeps on giving with all my good wishes and love! Buy five helium-filled balloons, one of each of the following colors: red, yellow, white, pink and purple -- never use blue, green or black balloons! Tie a tail on each balloon with nine or eighteen inches of red ribbon, string or thread. Use a new black felt-tip marker to write on each balloon one treasured wish that completely describes your heart's desires. You can have five different wishes or write the same wish on all five balloons. Then take the balloons to an open space and release the 'wish' balloons one at a time. Visualize them turning into small golden orbs that are heading into the mouth and belly of the Sky Dragon. In gratitude for filling his tummy, he will then make your wishes come true sometime within the next year. Blow up your birthday and make a wish! This time you can count on it coming true!
Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart’s Baby Plans: Want To Be Young Parents
After playing parents in ‘Breaking Dawn Part 2′, Kristen and Rob have been bitten by the baby bug! They’ve realized they can’t wait to be parents and want to start a family together as soon as possible! Read on for details!
Kristen Stewart, 22, and Robert Pattinson, 26, are both method actors, so they completely threw themselves into the role of parents in Breaking Dawn Part 2. According to a new report, Kristen and Rob are ready to start their family together!
“Breaking Dawn Part 2 changed them and made them realize it’s something they’re ready for sooner than they thought,” a source close to the couple told OK! Magazine. “They’ve known for a long time that they wanted kids, but always thought of it as something they would do down the line — but then they shot this movie and they started imagining being parents together.”
According to a source on the set of Breaking Dawn Part 2, Kristen and Rob couldn’t keep quiet about their plans to have a baby during rehearsals. “They would talk a lot about having a baby and all of their feelings about what sort of parents they’d like to be,” the source shared.
The couple is so eager to have kids together, they wouldn’t mind if Kristen got pregnant beforetheir wedding planned for the fall! “They don’t have to wait for a ceremony to start planning a family — and that’s exactly what they plan to do,” a family friend told OK!
Kristen’s family is totally cool with the idea of Rob and Kristen starting a family so soon! “When Kristen told her family that she may not wait to get married before having Rob’s children, they were thrilled,” a family friend reveals. “They didn’t mind at all. Kristen’s mom and dad, John and Jules, are old hippies from way back and don’t believe their daughter needs to marry first before having babies. Rob is thrilled that Kristen’s parents approve.”
If Kristen did become pregnant before the wedding, their fall wedding would be moved up and downsized. “They’ve hinted at even eloping and doing a quickie wedding,” says a family pal. The pal also shared that Kristen and Rob feel like they’re already married anyway.
Adoption is also an option the couple definitely wants to explore. Kristen has two adopted brothers of her own and and would like to adopt after having a baby of her own with Rob. “[I]t’s something she’s always wanted to do,” a source reveals. “And Rob is all for it, he just loves the idea of having a family.”
Now that the couple has realized how much they want to be parents, they are going to let things happen naturally and see what happens. “They’re not exactly trying — but they’re also not doing anything to prevent it. They know they want to spend their lives together and they’re kind of like, ‘Well, if it happens, it happens.’”
Kristen thinks that Rob will make a great father, so of course she can’t wait to have a baby with him! “Rob’s really good with [kids],” Kristen gushed about her British beau. “Every time they started crying, I would be worried about the baby. I’d go, ‘Oh, God, where’s its mom?’ And he would literally go into the corner and rock it to sleep.”
Rob has even started writing lullabies for his future baby with Kristen! “Every time he gets his custom-made guitar out, Rob will start strumming lullabies and making up silly baby songs. It’s really sweet,” shared a friend.
Royce White hopes his admitted fear of flying won’t cost him in the NBA draft
LostLettermen is a college football and men's basketball website. Today it looks at the NBA draft prospects of Iowa State's Royce White.
Iowa State forward Royce White is projected to be a first-round pick in tomorrow's NBA draft, but there have been concerns he could fall all the way into the second round in part over — of all things — a fear of flying.
The difference between his selection points could be significant. Though White is rumored to have a guarantee that he won't fall below the Boston Celtics (who are working with the 21st and 22nd picks in the 2012 draft), a dip into the second round could mean suffering the disparity between signing a four-year deal guaranteed at around $6 million in total, or an non-guaranteed two-year deal with a starting salary of about a third of the probable $1.2 million White would make in his first year if he were selected by Boston.
White burst onto the scene this past March when he put forth big performances against Connecticut and eventual champion Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. As a result, the 6-foot-8 forward vaulted into the consciousness of NBA talent evaluators and was thought by some to be a lottery pick after declaring early for the draft as a sophomore.
But, like many Americans, White hates to fly. And that's a big obstacle in the eyes of some NBA executives as players annually face a gauntlet of flights and hotels involved in 41 regular-season road games.
More from LostLettermen.com
White's aversion to flying could cause teams pause when it's time to make selections tomorrow, especially when you consider how easily they are spooked over physical red flags leading up to the draft. Darrell Arthur (alleged kidney condition), DeJuan Blair (no ACLs) and Jared Sullinger (back spasms) are three recent players whose reported medical issues have affected their draft stock over the years, even when it's unclear how much of an effect there is on the court.
White's mental red flags certainly appear to be the most trivial of them all.
Many players in the league have voiced their anxiety over flying in the past and have terrifying turbulence tales from their basketball travels. Former NBA player Eddie Robinson best summed up the feeling of many when he told the Chicago Sun-Times in 2003, "Every time I get on a plane, I get something to eat real quick and get my headphones on and close all the blinds. I don't want to see nothing. I hate flying. There's no reason to go up that high.''
Unfortunately, White's candor about his flying concerns may cost him tomorrow.
"There's guys that have been in the draft before where there have been concerns they didn't like to fly, but Royce is very unique," one general manager told NBA.com.
"It's going to be something that a team taking him on is going to have to have something in place, whether it's a staff member or a plan in place to help him accommodate some of his fears with the travel aspect because that's such a huge part of an NBA season."
White flew to many games this past season for Iowa State but drove to some contests with his grandfather, including games against Missouri and Kansas State and the team's NCAA tournament contests in Louisville, KY, over 600 miles away.
The fear of flying is part of a larger anxiety disorder for White, who has also admitted to struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder and uses medication to control both. That concerns NBA evaluators in light of former NBA draft picks like Eddie Griffin, the No. 7 overall pick in 2001 who battled depression before tragically dying at the age of 25 after his car crashed into a train in 2007 while he was under the influence of alcohol.
A second GM told NBA.com that White's situation is similar to a player who has off-the-court problems — presumably meaning run-ins with the law or substance abuse — in regards to how it may affect his stock. White has rightfully taken offense to comparisons like that for something that he can't control and afflicts millions of Americans.
"It's like cancer or heart disease. Are those character issues, too?" White told the Akron Beacon Journal. "I don't like when that association is made. There's a lot of people out there who have an anxiety disorder and don't talk about it for that reason. People think it's a character issue and it's not.
"I'm going to continue to be me, I'm going to continue to be an advocate for the mental illness community. I'll continue to talk about it and be forthcoming about it. When a person or public figure talks about it, it lets people know that haven't been diagnosed to go and get checked. You're not alone."
To be fair, scouts are also worried about erratic behavior in White's past. He pleaded guilty to shoplifting and was also accused of stealing a laptop computer when he was a freshman at Minnesota during the 2009-10 season before quitting the team over YouTube.
But from all indications, those issues are now in the past as White led the Cyclones in five statistical categories last season and was a First Team All-Big 12 performer while displaying a charming personality.
Calls to White's agent, Andrew Vye, were not immediately returned and White has refused interviews leading up to the draft as many believe he has been promised a selection by the Boston Celtics at the No. 21 spot if he's still on the board. That means White could end up in the same frontcourt as future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett on a team that was recently one game away from the NBA Finals.
So while White's anxiety disorder may cost him money in the short run, it ultimately could lead to an ideal landing spot.
And nothing sounds better for someone who hates flying.
Most read on LostLettermen.com:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)