Saturday, April 30, 2011

Here's Hong Kong Airlines Kung Fu Flight Attendants


In order to deal with drunk and unruly passengers, the cabin crew of Hong Kong Airlines is now required to train in martial arts.

She can take you down with a center punch back fist.

Hong Kong Airlines has made it mandatory for the cabin crew to train in wing chun — a kind of kung fu — in order to deal with drunk and unruly passengers, which apparently happens at least three times a week, according to Reuters.

Wing chun is a close-range form of combat and involves a lot of striking and grappling, according to wing chun instructor Katherine Cheung, who told the South China Morning Post that the martial art was ideal for airline crews.

"Wing chun can be used in small, confined spaces so it's suited for an airplane," Cheung said. "It's easy to learn but difficult to master."

Earlier this month, a flight attendant reportedly had the pleasure of putting her training to the test, wrangling a drunkard on a flight from Beijing to Hong Kong.

Airline spokesperson Eva Chan said that the close-combat martial art is particularly helpful for slight stewardesses looking to get an edge on heftier passengers.

"Normally, female cabin crew can't handle a fat guy, especially if he's drunk," Chan said. "But because of the training, she can handle it quite easily." (R)



Jessica Simpson | Embarrassing celebrity wardrobe malfunctions

Jessica Simpson gives America a great morning while performing on 'Good Morning America' in 2008. (S)

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Jennifer Hawkins | Embarrassing celebrity wardrobe malfunctions

Uh oh ... Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins loses her skirt while strutting her stuff on the catwalk. (S)

Katherine Heigl | Embarrassing celebrity wardrobe malfunctions

Katherine Heigl narrowly avoids an embarrassing moment while accepting an award ... (S)

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Kate Middleton, what are you doing?

Kate Middleton-Royal Wedding. Oh, what you think about this? LOL

Jordana Brewster Biography | Galleries

Jordana Brewster Profile | Jordana Brewster Biography | Jordana Brewster Hot Pics

Jordana Brewster (born April 26, 1980) is an American-Brazilian actress. She began her acting career with an appearance in the soap opera All My Children (1995). After that, she joined the cast of As the World Turns (1995–2001), as a recurring role, Nikki Munson. Jordana Brewster was later cast as one of the main characters in her first film feature film The Faculty (1998). Her role brought her to the attention of a much wider audience. She also landed a starring role in a NBC television miniseries entitled The 60s (1999).

Her breakthrough role came in the action film The Fast and the Furious (2001). Other film roles include the action comedy film D.E.B.S. (2004), the horror film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006), and the fourth and fifth films of the The Fast and the Furious film series, Fast & Furious (2009) and Fast Five (2011). Jordana Brewster has appeared as a recurring role in the NBC television series Chuck (2008–2009).




[VIDEO Trailer] Fast Five (2011)

Fast Five (2011)
Since Brian O'Conner and Mia Toretto broke Dom Toretto out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead.

But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first.

Also Known As:
  • Fast Five: The IMAX Experience
  • The Fast and the Furious 5
  • The Fast and the Furious V
  • Untitled (Universal Pictures/The Fast and the Furious Sequel)
  • Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Genres: Action/Adventure and Sequel
Running Time: 2 hr. 10 min.
Release Date: April 29th, 2011 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, sexual content and language.
Production Co.: Original Film, One Race Films
Studios: Universal Pictures
Filming Locations:
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Puerto Rico 
  • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  • Parker, Arizona, USA
Produced in: United States

VIDEO Trailer Fast Five (2011)

Friday, April 29, 2011

[VIDEO Trailer] Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011). When Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with the enigmatic Angelica, he's not sure if it's love -- or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the "Queen Anne's Revenge," the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.

Also Known As:
  • Pirates of the Caribbean 4
  • Pirates of the Caribbean IV
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides An IMAX 3D Experience
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in Disney Digital 3D.
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Logline: Captain Jack Sparrow sets out to find the Fountain of Youth.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy and Sequel
Release Date: May 20th, 2011 (wide)
Production Co.: Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Studios: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Filming Locations:
  • Oahu, Hawaii, USA
  • Kauai, Hawaii, USA
  • London, England, United Kingdom
  • Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
  • Los Angeles, California, USA
Produced in: United States

Here is Video Trailer Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Royal Wedding: Victoria Beckham With Minimalistic Navy

For the catwalk that was yesterday’s royal wedding, Victoria Beckham wore a boat-necked navy dress of her own ‘design’ (meaning she wrapped some fabric around her tiny frame a few weeks ago and said: ‘Um, yeah!’) with a pretty, scooped asymmetric hem and short sleeves, and a jaunty pillbox titfer by Philip Treacy. The effect was more suitable for a funeral than a wedding.

Her very high shoes, custom-made by Christian Louboutin and costing well over £1,000, were surely as hazardous to her unborn fourth child as smoking 20 Capstan Full Strength.

Her large envelope clutch bag, too, was by VB, made from lizard skin and possibly costing more than the royal reception and honeymoon together.

Her bare twiglet legs were as well-oiled as the royal wedding machine itself, while her make-up was wildly inappropriate for such a formal day occasion: far too much blusher, which made her face even more gaunt than normal, and smudged, inky eyes.

David Beckham was dressed head to toe in Ralph Lauren, a designer who does English style through the prism of waspish Americanism, every bit as fake as Victoria Beckham’s hair and pedigree as a fashion designer. Why did David not choose a struggling British tailor from Savile Row? His quiff (I noticed he did not once wear his top hat, fearing helmet-hair no doubt) was reminiscent of Ricky Gervais

Perhaps Victoria Beckham’s sombre outfit was appropriate to her mood, given an apparent tiff between the pair on their way into the Abbey. (R)



Wow! Hot Kiss Kate Middleton and Prince William

Hot Kiss Kate Middleton and Prince William
One of the most anticipated traditions of the Royal Wedding is the kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Crowds awaiting the iconic moment erupted in cheers when Prince William and Kate Middleton finally appeared and soon afterward came together for the royal smooch.

Hot Kiss Kate Middleton and Prince William



Pippa Middleton: The Younger Sister of the New Duchess of Cambridge


Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of the new Duchess of Cambridge, took her place on the world stage Friday by supporting her sister during her wedding to Prince William. Pippa served as maid of honor for the ceremony, and drew widespread raves for her choice of bridesmaid's dress.

Designed by the same designer that designed Kate's wedding dress, the Alexander McQueen sheath has attracted a lot of Internet buzz in the hours after the official ceremony. A form-fitting A-line, the ivory gown featured a few of the same small details as the bride's wedding dress, including the row of small buttons down the back.

Like her sister, Pippa Middleton wore her hair in a half-up, half-down flowing style as well. As maid of honor, she was responsible for watching over and arranging the train on her sister's wedding dress, among other duties.

Although her sister may now be in line to one day be England's queen, Pippa is not unaccomplished herself. A graduate of Edinburgh University, Pippa, or more formally, Phillipa, is a writer for the online magazine connected with her family's business, Party Pieces, and it is being widely speculated that she is in line to take a much more prominent role in the company.

She also is involved in charity work, specifically with the fundraising group Too Many Women, which gathers funds for breast cancer research. She's been known to attend other charity events and fundraisers as well.

Now that the royal wedding is over, some are postulating that Pippa Middleton might continue to be seen at her older sister's side as her lady-in-waiting. The role often goes to someone in the royal's immediate circle, and indeed, both Princess Diana and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, chose their own sisters for the job.

Either way, whether she chooses to stay with the family business or accompany her sister to the palace, with today's wedding ceremony and the ensuing hubbub surrounding her well-received appearance and poise, Pippa Middleton may well be in for a whole lot more scrutiny. Many media outlets are already referring to her as one of England's most-eligible bachelorettes. (S)


Kate & Pippa Middleton


Christina Aguilera | Embarrassing celebrity wardrobe malfunctions

Christina Aguilera references the Janet Jackson 'Nipplegate' as she makes sure she's covered while accepting the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal for 'Beautiful' in 2004.

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Blake Lively | Embarrassing celebrity wardrobe malfunctions

Ahh, Blake Lively wardrobe malfunctions ...

Blake Lively was a train wreck at the Time 100 gala. The actress and Chanel spokesmodel was on her way into the NYC bash when society photographer Patrick McMullan accidentally stepped on and ripped off the train of her Zuhair Murad dress. Ouch! (S)

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Royal Wedding Ceremony VIDEO

12.15 p.m. London time (4.15 a.m. PT/7.15 a.m. ET) - Following the ceremony, Prince William and Princess Catherine, now husband and wife, will return to Buckingham Palace in a procession of horse-drawn coaches (with the newlyweds in the 1902 State Landau carriage), passing by the thousands of well-wishers who will be lining the streets.

12.30 p.m. London time (4:30 a.m. PT/7:30 a.m. ET) - Once back at the Palace, the newlyweds will be met by the queen and enjoy a swanky champagne reception.

1.25 p.m. London time (5.25 a.m. PT/8.25 a.m. ET) - The couple and their families will take a moment to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Chances are William and Kate will share a kiss for the crowds and cameras.

1.30 p.m. London time (5.30 a.m. PT/8.30 a.m. ET) - The royals watch a flypast by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight before returning inside for the queen's reception.

7 p.m. London time (11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET) - Following that epic soiree, the Prince of Wales (William's father, Charles) will host a private dinner and dance, also at Buckingham Palace. This event will be for just the bride and groom's closest friends and family. If ever there was an opportunity for the Queen to bust out the Electric Slide, this will be it.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Body of missing Maine woman found in NH pond

The body of a missing Maine woman whose car was abandoned at a ski area with her toddler unharmed inside was recovered Wednesday from a nearby pond.

Divers retrieved the body of Krista Dittmeyer about a quarter-mile from where her car was found idling early Saturday in the parking lot of Cranmore Mountain ski area in Conway, a town of 10,000 people.

Police said previously that they believed Krista Dittmeyer, 20, was a victim of a crime, but Senior Assistant Attorney General Jane Young said Wednesday that the case was being investigated as a "suspicious death." She declined to elaborate.

The search for the single mother from Portland, Maine, drew national attention.

Krista Dittmeyer was last seen Friday. Her mother is caring for her toddler, 14-month-old Aliyah, in Bridgton, Maine, where she grew up, about 25 miles from Conway.

On Wednesday, investigators zeroed in on the retaining pond. By late afternoon, the Dittmeyer family's worst fears were confirmed when a hearse retrieved the body, which was taken to the medical examiner's office in Concord, the state capital. An autopsy was to be conducted Thursday, Young said.

The family had offered a $3,000 reward for information and had planned a candlelight vigil Thursday night in Bridgton, Maine.

Dittmeyer moved to Portland shortly after her 2008 high school graduation and had been working as a waitress at a South Portland restaurant, said her older sister, Kayla Dittmeyer, who lives in Colorado.

Dittmeyer's mother, LaNell Shackley, had said she didn't believe anyone had "a vendetta against her."

"She's very lovable, very outgoing" the mother told NBC's "Today" show on Wednesday. "I've asked all of her friends, and they tell me the same thing. They don't know who would want to do something to hurt her."

Krista Dittmeyer's sister said that "for some reason somebody was after her, but we don't know who or why."

Shackley said she last spoke with her daughter on Friday night and was supposed to see her on Easter.

The man identified as the toddler's father was in prison in Maine at the time of the disappearance, although investigators haven't ruled him out as a suspect. Police said he and Dittmeyer were living together in South Portland, Maine, when he was arrested last year on drug charges.

The ski area, which closed in early April, is popular among joggers and dog walkers. It also has a fitness center that is open year-round, but it was not yet open for the day at the time police got the report about Dittmeyer's car, which was found with its engine running and its hazard lights flashing.

WMWV-FM reported Wednesday that a Conway police officer questioned two men who were walking on a road near the ski area just before midnight Tuesday. The men, one of whom had the same last name as the baby's father, told police they were friends of Krista Dittmeyer's, went to Cranmore to look for her and found one of her flip-flops.

Young would not comment Wednesday on what connection the encounter has, if any, to the ongoing investigation. (S)

Dozens of Tornadoes in 6 Southern States

Dozens of tornadoes spawned by a powerful storm system wiped out entire towns across a wide swath of the South, killing at least 200 people in the deadliest outbreak in nearly 40 years, and officials said Thursday they expected the death toll to rise.

Alabama's state emergency management agency said it had confirmed 131 deaths, while there were 32 in Mississippi, 15 in Tennessee, 13 in Georgia, eight in Virginia and one in Kentucky.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said it received 137 tornado reports around the regions into Wednesday night.

Dave Imy, a meteorologist with the prediction service, said the number of deaths was the most in a tornado outbreak since 1974, when 315 people died

One of the hardest-hit areas was Tuscaloosa, a city of more than 83,000 and home to the University of Alabama. The city's police and other emergency services were devastated, the mayor said, and at least 15 people were killed.

President Barack Obama said he had spoken with Bentley and approved his request for emergency federal assistance.

"Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by this devastation, and we commend the heroic efforts of those who have been working tirelessly to respond to this disaster," Obama said in a statement.

The storms came on the heels of another system that killed 10 people in Arkansas and one in Mississippi earlier this week. (R)

VIDEO: Real Madrid Vs Barcelona 0-2 | 1st Leg Semi Final Champions League

Here Video Real Madrid vs Barcelona Champions League semi-finals Leg 1. Results Semi Final 1st Leg match Champions League is won by a 0-2 advantage over Barcelona.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Christina Aguilera Praises 'Lovely' Boyfriend

Christina Aguilera, The 30-year-old singer has been romancing set designer Matthew Rutler since they met while working on her movie 'Burlesque', and Christina Aguilera admits she is delighted to have found love again after splitting from husband Jordan Bratman last October.

The blonde beauty - who has a three-year-old son Max with Jordan - famously stumbled over the lyrics to American National Anthem when performing at the Super Bowl NFL game earlier this year, but she admitted she has learned to laugh about creating such an embarrassing memorable moment for herself.

Christina Aguilera told TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres: "I think had a moment where I was at the Super Bowl at 30 years old. I took in the moment a little bit too much. Shoot me for appreciating the moment but here I am at the Super Bowl, singing for a team and in front of the world. And remembering what it was like to be that young and look where I made it now. And then it was like, 'Oh.'

"That night I knew, I just made myself a Trivial Pursuit question - 'in 2011 what female singer, you know, flubbed the lyrics?' It's just insane. But I have a really good laugh about it and you get over things. You get back up again and you just prove to yourself and to everyone you're much stronger." (R)

Titanic's Unknown Child Given New, Final Identity

Five days after the passenger ship the Titanic sank, the crew of the rescue ship Mackay-Bennett pulled the body of a fair-haired, roughly 2-year-old boy out of the Atlantic Ocean on April 21, 1912. Along with many other victims, his body went to a cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the crew of the Mackay-Bennett had a headstone dedicated to the "unknown child" placed over his grave.

When it sank, the Titanic took the lives of 1,497 of the 2,209 people aboard with it. Some bodies were recovered, but names remained elusive, while others are still missing. But researchers believe that they have finally resolved the identity of the unknown child -- concluding that he was 19-month-old Sidney Leslie Goodwin from England.

Though the unknown child was incorrectly identified twice before, researchers believe they have now conclusively determined the child was Goodwin. After his recovery, he was initially believed to be a 2-year-old Swedish boy, Gösta Leonard Pålsson, who was seen being washed overboard as the ship sank. This boy's mother, Alma Pålsson, was recovered with the tickets for all four of her children in her pocket, and buried in a grave behind the unknown child.

The effort to verify the child's identity using genetics began a little over a decade ago, when Ryan Parr, an adjunct professor at Lakehead University in Ontario who has worked with DNA extracted from ancient human remains, watched some videos about the Titanic.

"I thought 'Wow, I wonder if anyone is interested or still cares about the unidentified victims of the Titanic,'" Parr said.

A name for the unknown child?

In 2001, with permission from the PÃ¥lsson family, the unknown child's remains were exhumed from Fairview Lawn Cemetery, one of the Halifax cemeteries where Titanic victims were interred. Parr had hoped to investigate the identities of other victims as well, though decomposition interfered. Two of the coffins held only mud, and only a 2.4-inch-long (6 centimeter) fragment of an arm bone and three teeth remained of the unknown child. But this was enough.

From these remains, Parr and his team extracted DNA from a section of mitochondria (energy-producing centers of the cells) that rapidly accumulates mutations, called HV1. Mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to offspring, so the team compared the unknown child's DNA sequence with samples from the maternal relatives of the PÃ¥lsson child. These didn't match.

They broadened their search to include five other boys under age 3 who had died in the disaster. Alan Ruffman, who became involved in the project as a research associate of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, ultimately tracked down the maternal lines of all six children (including the PÃ¥lsson child) with help from genealogists, historians, Titanic researchers, translators, librarians, archivists and members of the families.
By comparing the unknown child's HV1 with these other young Titanic victims, the researchers eliminated all but two of the boys -- Eino Viljami Panula, a 13-month-old Finnish boy, and Sidney Goodwin.

An expert analysis of the child's teeth put his age somewhere between 9 months and 15 months -- seeming to eliminate Goodwin, who was older. So, the researchers concluded the boy was Panula and, in 2004, published their results.

A second try

But doubts remained. Ultimately, a pair of leather shoes recovered from the unknown child and held in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic caused the researchers to question the identification.

The shoes had been saved by Clarence Northover, a Halifax police sergeant in 1912, who helped guard the bodies and belongings of the Titanic victims, according to the museum's website. A letter from Northover's grandson, Earle, recounts how the victim's clothing had been burned to stop souvenir hunters. Clarence Northover couldn't bring himself to burn the little shoes, and when no relatives claimed them, he put the shoes in his desk drawer at the police station. In 2002, Earle Northover donated them to the museum. These shoes were too large for a 13-month-old to wear.

Parr and his team attempted the identification again, this time with the help of the U.S. Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory.

They looked at another, less mutation-prone section of the mitochondrial DNA, where they found a single difference that indicated that Goodwin might actually be the unknown child. The Armed Forces lab confirmed this when they found a second, single difference in another section of the DNA.

"Luckily, it was a rare difference, so that is what gives you 98 percent certainty the identification is correct," Parr said.

The loss of a family

Before he died, Sidney Goodwin was traveling on the Titanic with his parents, Frederick and Augusta, and five siblings from England to Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Carol Goodwin, a 77-year-old Wisconsin resident, heard about the ill-fated family from Frederick Goodwin's sisters, one of whom was Carol's grandmother.

"I can't say that it really startled me or amazed me," Carol Goodwin said of the news that the unknown child was her relative. "I guess maybe it had been so long in coming."

As a child, she learned about Frederick Goodwin's family by eavesdropping on conversations between her grandmother and her great aunt.

"They didn't talk about the children that much," Carol Goodwin told LiveScience. "It was their brother who was a favorite brother, how kind he was to them growing up."

Goodwin's interest in family history didn't spark until her 13-year-old granddaughter Becky saw a Titanic exhibit and wrote an essay for school. When her teacher wanted to submit the article to the magazine "Junior Scholastic," Goodwin wanted to check the facts first.

Now Goodwin is working on two books on the subject, a smaller one about the unknown child and a larger book she has titled "The Goodwins Aboard the Titanic: Saga of a Third-Class Family." (The family was traveling third class.) And, in a year, she and her husband plan to take a centennial cruise in memory of the Titanic.

On Aug. 6, 2008, relatives of the Goodwin family held a memorial service in Fairview Lawn Cemetery where they now believe Sidney Goodwin was buried under the unknown child's headstone. A cousin read the names of about 50 children who had also perished when the Titanic went down and a bell was rung for each, she said.

A soft, drizzling rain began to fall as the first name was read, and stopped when the list was finished, she recalled. Ultimately, the family left the headstone and the grave as it was.

"The tombstone of the unknown child represents all of the children who perished on the Titanic, and we left it that way," she said.

The remains of the rest of the Goodwins family have never been recovered.

"From those (unidentified bodies) that were buried in Halifax, I have read the coroner's reports for each of them, and nothing fits," she said.

An article describing the genetic analysis that led to the final identification of the unknown child's remains is scheduled to be published in the June 2011 issue of the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics and is already available online. (S)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Teen Girl Patient at Psych Ward was Brutally Sodomized

A Bronx teen sought refuge at a facility designed to help patients like her - vulnerable teens battling emotional issues.

But once inside Metropolitan Hospital's child psychiatric ward, the 15-year-old girl was forcibly sodomized by another patient - an 11-year-old boy, authorities said.

The teen's torment has only compounded in recent weeks because she is still in the same unit where she was attacked last month, awaiting a transfer to a state facility.

The troubled girl arrived at the city-run hospital on Manhattan's East Side on Feb. 23. The girl then described the assault in wrenching detail, telling her mother the boy crept into her room the night before while she was sleeping.

He sat on her back and tapped her on her shoulder. The boy then started feeling her breasts, the girl told her mom.

He pulled down her pants and underwear. She tried to resist, but still he sodomized her. "I tried to push him off, but I couldn't," the girl told prosecutors, court documents say. "I told him to stop a lot of times, but he didn't. He told me to shut up."

The boy was arrested March 11 and charged with a criminal sex act. The boy was arraigned March 29 in family court, officials said.

He pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and is awaiting sentencing. He faces up to a year in a juvenile detention center. (Reference)

6 Lost Cities Of The World

6 Lost Cities Of The World
These ancient wonders are well worth a visit, even in troubled times.

Gazing at the Andean peaks soaring above the Lost City of the Incas and the lush valley below, it's easy see why it was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The 15th century A.D. Peruvian site was abandoned shortly after Spanish conquistadors invaded the neighboring areas, falling to ruin until 1911, when an American scholar stumbled across the remains.

History's once glorious metropolises have become ever more sought-after destinations as Americans get back into travel mode. Machu Picchu welcomes as many as 1 million tourists annually, and that number is said to be growing as much as 6% per year.

The Americas offer travelers dozens of lost cities to explore. Mexico has the Mayan city of Chichen Itza, with Mesoamerica's largest ball court and the hulking pyramidal remains of Teotihuacan, with its well-preserved, color-splashed murals. There's Tical in Guatemala and Copan in Honduras. Even the the Western U.S. boasts the tumbleweed-strewn ghost towns of two centuries ago.

Chichen Itza, Mexico
Country: Mexico
Civilization: the Mayans
Inhabited: 600 to 1000 A.D.


Site of one of Mesoamerica's largest ball courts, this royal city is located near a massive underground cenote, or sinkhole, where the bodies of human sacrifices were dropped.

Derinkuyu Underground City, Turkey
Country: Turkey
Civilization: possibly the Phrygians
Inhabited: Approximately eighth century B.C.to 10th century A.D.


This underground network has more than 10 floors and room for up to 50,000 people, plus livestock. It is rumored to have been a hideout for early Christians escaping Roman persecution.

Machu Picchu, Peru


The results of the survey suggest that ease of learning the local language and adapting to the local culture are areas in which the U.S. fares well in as an expat destination--despite low scores in organizing finances and health care.

Angkor, Cambodia
Country: Cambodia
Civilization: the Khmer Empire
Inhabited: ninth century to 15th century A.D.


More than a thousand temples, including Angkor Wat, populate this long-time Khmer capital. It declined after a successful attack by invaders from what is now Thailand.

Pre-Roman Carthage, Tunisia
Country: Tunisia
Civilization: the Phoenicians
Inhabited: 650 to 146 B.C.


Carthage was home to the Roman Empire's arch-nemesis, Hannibal. It was burned and the earth salted during the final Punic War.

Pompeii, Italy
Country: Italy
Civilization: the Roman Empire
Inhabited: seventh/sixth century B.C. to 79 A.D.


Pompeii was a cultural center and vacation destination for Roman high society until it was destroyed in 79 A.D. by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Left behind are naturally ash-encased mummies.

Click here to see the full list of 15 Lost Cities Of The World

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Lakers Back in Control Against Hornets

The Los Angeles Lakers regained their homecourt advantage Friday night with a 100-86 victory against the Hornets in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series, but they hardly looked like the well-oiled machine that has rolled to the past three N.B.A. Finals.
Related

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 30 points on 10-of-20 shooting and Pau Gasol added 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Lakers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes Sunday at New Orleans Arena.

Phil Jackson, the Lakers coach, had promised that Bryant would take more than the 10 shots he tried in a 9-point victory in Game 2 in Los Angeles, when he concentrated on containing the Hornets’ Chris Paul. And so it was. After 10 minutes, Bryant had 10 points; he took 11 shots in the first half.

The Lakers led by 13 points after Bryant made a 3-pointer in the first minute of the third quarter. But they could not find another gear to shake off the Hornets, who pulled to 5 points behind, at 73-68, in the final minute on a 15-footer by Paul, who finished with 22 points and 8 assists.

Bryant started the fourth quarter on the bench, which left Gasol as the team’s go-to player. He responded with 7 points in less than four minutes, including the 3-pointer, as the Lakers outscored the Hornets, 25-16, in the final 11 minutes 16 seconds. (Reference)

Kelly McGillis is Back On The Two Movies

Kelly McGillis was one of the hottest stars of the 1980s. Between her work in "Top Gun," "Witness" and "The Accused," she looked poised to rush the '90s as an A-list movie star. But her struggles with her sexual identity had her deciding to leave the spotlight.

The tells EW about her decision to finally come out of the closet.

"Fundamentally, I was just tired of lying about who I am. I've reached a point where my kids are grown, they're out of the house, they no longer have to be concerned that their friends, their friends' families, will put them in compromising emotional situations because of my sexual preference," Kelly McGillis said. "That was a big concern of mine because, unfortunately, a lot of people are not very tolerant. I got to a certain age and I didn't give a s*** anymore. Ultimately, all I have to offer anybody is my truth. I don't have any profound wisdom, no profound insight, I only have my truth and my experience to offer others. And I was living a frigging lie."

And now Kelly McGillis is back on the big screen with two movies - "Stake Land," a scary movie that sees religious fanatics using vampires to punish non-believers, and "The Innkeepers," where Kelly is an aging actress at a reportedly haunted inn. (Reference)

Nicki Minaj To Reveal New Album Details

Known for keeping her music plans under wraps Nicki Minaj has finally revealed details about her sophmore album, somewhat. The Young Money mistress recently appeared on KIIS FM and revealed to JoJo that she will make an announcement regarding her follow-up to Pink Friday in September.

“You’ll get another album within 12 months,” Nicki Minaj told KIIS FM’s JoJo. “You’ll get the announcement for the next album in—and I’m saying the announcement—that you’ll get the announcement in September. That’s all.”

While fans wait for Nicki Minaj to release new music they can catch her currently on the road with Lil' Wayne for the "I Am Still Music" tour and see her traveling with Britney Spears for the "Femme Fatale" tour starting in June. (Source)

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Heidi Montag returns to reality TV

Heidi Montag is returning to reality television with a new VH1 show, "Famous Food,". The series also stars Ashley Dupre, Jake Pavelka, Danielle Staub, Vincent Pastore and DJ Paul and Juicy.

Heidi Montag "not only has a passion for food, but also knows a thing or two about the restaurant business, especially after dealing with the unfortunate demise of her parent's restaurant.

Heidi Montag is known for her role on the MTV reality show "The Hills," which also featured her husband Spencer Pratt, the series' villain. The show ended last year. The couple also starred on the reality series "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!."

Heidi Montag made her big-screen acting deput in the movie "Just Go With It," which stars Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler. (worldztuff)


Heidi Montag | Embarrassing celebrity wardrobe malfunctions

Heidi Montag almost makes a boob after suffering an embarrassing bikini malfunction while on holiday. Oops...