Must See

I don't know about you, but I am a lover of a hearfelt captivating film, and from the looks of the trailer this movie is going to be one of those films that everyone needs to see. The Stoning of Soraya M. won't be out until September, but critics are already anticipating this fall's release.

The film was adapted from French-Iranian journalist Freidoune Sahebjam's 1994 novel. Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, the film is set in a remote Iranian village where academy nominated actor Shohreh Aghdashloo plays Zahra, a woman who risks her life to tell the story of her niece who, just weeks earlier met her unfortunate end. Her powerful tale not only exposes the despicable law-less treatment of women, but also unveils secrets of the Iranian mob. Her only hope is that Sahebjam can escape with her story in order for the world to see the rampant violence of a country where women are worthless.

Check out the trailer. Definitely a must see.

Ellipse Album Cover!!!

YES!

Just found the new cover of Imogen Heap's upcoming album Ellipse! Seriously have been waiting for this for two years.

See my previous Immi post for more details on this FANTASTERRIFIC artist.

Sad day in Hollywood

Today, two Hollywood legends have passed.

Farrah Fawcett had been struggling with cancer for nearly three years.

She fought a good fight, but today was the end of her difficult battle.

Fawcett was a legenary beauty and she will never be forgotten.

At just 50 years old, Michel Jackson passed away today sometime

around 1p.m. due to cardic arrest. He leaves behind three children.

Known throughout the world as an unfrogetable entertainer, his music will live on forever.

Congrats SJP!

Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick are the elated new parents of twin girls! The couple was having issues with fertility so they opted to go the surrogate route. The birth took place at the East Ohio Regional Hospital and it has been reported that the couple was present at the time of birth.

CONGRATS SJP!

PS. Check SJP and the rest of the SATC cast in the Sex and the City 2 movie, in theaters May 2010! So excited!!!

Dishing it

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton (a.k.a. Mario Armando Lavandeira), is famous for his outlandish commentary about celebrities and the like. His last outburst about former Miss California, Carrie Prejean was all over headlines for weeks (she didn't deserve that much airtime). But his latest headline event included an assult after the Much Music Awards in Toronto on June 21st. Words between Black Eye Peas frontman Will.i.am and Hilton were exchanged regarding things Perez posted about Black Eye Pea band member, Fergie. Some name calling occurred including Perez shouting "Your not a f***ing artist, your a f***ing Faggot." to Will.i.am, which led to punches being thrown by Will.i.am's manager. With Lady Gaga by his side, Perez not only called Toronto police, but also began tweeting about the event.

"I was assaulted by Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas and his security guards. I am bleeding. Please, I need to file a police report. No joke."

"Still waiting for the police. The bleeding has stopped. I need to document this. Please, can the police come to the SoHo Met Hotel."

"I spoke to my lawyer. I really need to talk to the authorities. Please come to the SoHo Met Hotel. Have called the police. Need them here."

"The Toronto police are here now. Thank you. Please stop calling them."

Once the dust had settled, in true Perez fashion, he posted a video blog about the event in which he calls Will.i.am "shameful", a "liar", a "Faggot", and even took a hit at Fergie calling her a "Fugly Bitch." Will.i.am's manager pled guilty to one count of assault and was released. Following the event many people didn't seem at all upset, and in fact, were shocked it had taken this long for something like this to happen to the controversial blogger. Perez had this to say in response to the outpouring of tweets against him.

"I am honestly SHOCKED at the amount of people saying I deserved to be hit. Shame on you! NO. Violence is never the answer. NEVER."

Personally, I do agree, violence is never the answer, and it was clearly wrong to take it to that level, however; you cannot expect for everyone to love you, when you spend you life reporting on mostly embarrassing, negative information about celbrities you don't happen to like, and doodling penises and pee stains all over them. Also, you cannot call yourself an "activist for gay rights", and go around calling people faggots. Not cool.

Here's the video that the Assoicated Press posted on the "assult".

Who didn't see this coming?

Jon & Kate+8... PLUS The divorce that everyone saw coming.

Finally they are making it official. As of Monday afternoon the couple's marriage of ten years is coming to an end.

To be honest, I could really care less about either one of them, and I am sick of hearing about problems within their marriage. Many sources have reported on Kate's suspected "bitchiness", but lets get real, wouldn't you be a tad moody if you were carting around 8 kids all the time, (aka your meal ticket). I am sure TLC will enjoy the rating boost due to the split. Poor kids. Dysfunction is never a good environment to grow up around.

PS. Kate, for the love of God, stop cutting your hair in that hideous manner. You look like a lesbian porcupine.

Please and thank you.

Twitter Takeover.

In case you haven't noticed, twitter is taking over the world.
From people amidst the crisis in Iran, to celebs, to musicians...you can follow anyone and everyone. (If you don't have one, consider yourself socially incapacitated.) Larry King has even included a twitter section as part of the show, allowing another level of interaction between viewers.

The amount of information coming out of Iran is limited considering American media is only allowed to report on location once a day. This leaves the Iranian people as the main source of information, using social networking sites such as twitter and youtube. Even though the government has shut down access to most of the internet, twitter is so accessible it cannot be silenced.

Just yesterday California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger TWEETED about his jets emergency landing and even included a picture once safely on the ground.

"A little adventure just now when my plane made an emergency landing. All's OK, though," he posted. And also included a photograph of the jet after landing.


I am not going to lie, at first I thought the site was incredibly stupid..."why do I want people to know what I am doing every second of the day...", but twitter has proved to be a very useful tool.
Follow me on twitter!

Perfection: Imogen Heap

If you don't know of her (which would be difficult, especially if you know me), you need to get yourself aquatinted. You won't regret it.

Imogen Heap is far by my most favorite recording artist ever. And for good reason. She is simply fantastic, and her music has comforted me in times when I needed it most. Her music has this quality that speaks to me in a way that no other ever has. One thing I adore about Imogen is that she loves her fans, and she keeps them constantly informed about new happenings and events. For over two years I have religiously been keeping up with her progress on her new record, Ellipse via her updates on her twitter, u-stream, and video blogs posted on youtube. Her vblogs are an inside glance at the recording process. Its almost like having an intimate conversation with Imogen herself. Since her last album, Speak for Yourself was released, I have been utterly astounded by her one-of-a-kind melodic style. Her songs are captivating from beginning to end, and there is always something to take from each one. I just can't get enough of her.

Her last v-blog is somewhat bittersweet for me, but her new album will be her on AUGUST 24!

I CANNOT wait!

This morning on NPR.

AMAZING. Two strong steps forward today, God I love NPR. Those who entered this country LEGALLY seeking citizenship should not be punished becasue of those who cross the border ILLEGALLY. We would not be the UNITED states if immigration wasn't in place.

Obama Repeats Call For 'Immigration Reform'

By Mark Memmott

Speaking just moments ago at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference in Washington, President Barack Obama said again that he is committed to "passing comprehensive immigration reform."

He added that he wants to "clarify the status of millions who are here illegally." Those who wish to become U.S. citizens, he said, should pay a penalty, pay taxes, learn English and "go to the back of the line behind those who played by the rules."

An auido clip is availabel here:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/06/obama_repeats_call_for_immigra.html#email

Now THERES the man I voted for.

This morning, President Obama signed an executive order extending certain benefits to same-sex partnerships. This is only one small step toward equality, something President Obama did in fact recognize. I have to say, his words were quite moving.

"This is only one step..."

"Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, I believe its discriminatory, I think it interferes with states rights, and we will work with Congress to OVER TURN it."

"We've got more work to do to ensure the government treats ALL its citizens EQUAL. To fight injustice and intolerance in all its forms, and to bring about that more perfect union."

"I am committed to these efforts, and I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of these issues in years to come."

MUSIC TO MY EARS.

...watch for yourself.

Jonas Mania.

Tonight, Larry King had a sit down with every 13 year old girls (and boys) fantasy. The Jonas brothers are on top of their game, and looking quite cute in the process. I think they have killer style, huge props to their stylist. They explain how their family went from being thousands of dollars in debt to their current financial situation, which I am sure is looking much better...They discuss touring, dating, and their purity rings. Which one is the cutest? You be the judge.

PS. Love that Marc Jacobs tee, ummm, middle brother?

Who the hell is Lady Gaga?

Promo photo for "The Fame"

Lady Gaga circa 2006

Well, we know she is a fabulous, sexually explicit singer/songwriter/performer, but where the hell did she come from? Born March 28th 1986 (just 6 days after me), Gaga, or Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (her birth name) in Yonkers, New York. Her talent was evident early on, by the age of 4 she had already learned to play piano by ear, and at age 11 she was sent to Juilliard School, and instead attended Covenant of the Scared Heart Catholic School. By 13, she had even written her first piano ballad. At 17, she gained early admission to the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She began to perform at burlesque shows in downtown New York City, something her parents took issue with. Gaga received her stage name when a producer compared her style to that of Queen front man Freddie Mercury, and took the name Gaga from a Queen single titled "Radio GaGa". At 19, she signed with Def Jam Records, but eventually moved to Interscope in 2008 and began writing songs for groups such as The Pussycat Dolls. It was eventually through her affiliation with rapper Akon that Gaga began work on her own material. By 2008 Gaga relocated to Los Angeles to work on her debut album The Fame. Gaga had this to say about the album, "Pop culture is art. It doesn’t make you cool to hate pop culture, so I embraced it and you hear it all over The Fame. But, it’s a sharable fame. I want to invite you all to the party. I want people to feel a part of this lifestyle." Her first single "Just Dance" released April 8th 2008 was internationally recognized, and reached number 1 in seven countries including the United States. My favorite single off the album, "Paparazzi", is as infectiously catchy as the rest of the album. Her electo-glam pop style is impossible to ignore. One thing is for sure, Gaga is her to stay.

Must Have: 365

Looking for all natural, organic, paraben-free products, without spending a fortune?! Then you must try Whole Foods 365 brand body products. I was first introduced to them by my best friend Jaimie and they are fantastic, and most are under $5! So far I have tried the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and even chapstick. The fragrance is also all natural, there is no animal testing, and the bottle is made using 35% post consumer material. I have the spearmint chapstick on me at all times. Definitely a must have! Whole Foods 365 brand body product are available at Whole Foods Markets across the country.

Kate Elizabeth Winslet

At age 33, this phenomenal actress has accomplished more in her short career than most ever will. By 29, Winslet was the youngest actor ever to receive four Academy Award nominations.

Born into a family of actors, both stage and screen, her talent was evident at an early age. At 17, she starred in the critically acclaimed film, Heavenly Creatures. In 1995, she went on to play Marianne Dashwood in Ang Lee's screen version of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, for which she was awarded both a British Academy Award and an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. Then came her most famous role to date, that of Rose DeWitt Bukater. James Cameron's Titanic (1997) won a staggering 11 Oscars, and granted Winslet international stardom. From there she went on to play several challenging and signifigant roles, but most notably her recent role in The Reader (2008). Her portrayal of the nazi security guard turned train car worker was a powerful, moving performance that solidifies Winslet's unquestionable talent. For this she was awarded the Oscar for Best Actress, a win that in my opinion, was much deserved. This mother of two is truly one of our generations most brilliant actresses.

Here is just a glimpse of her performance in The Reader.

The Circus is Back.

Yes, the rumors are true...Britney Spears is bringing The Circus tour back to North America, hitting 20 more cities in Canada and the United States. The new round of tour dates will commence on August 20th in Hamilton, Ontario. Tickets go on sale on June 19th! I'll definitely be at her show in Miami!

Still Not Happy...

Where is the self proclaimed "fierce advocate for gay and lesbian Americans" that I voted for?!

This article on CNN.com was brought to my attention, and is a sad excuse for a reaction to the harsh criticism the Obama administration received after the motion passed last week which compared a gay partnership to an incestuous one. So disappointing. I'll let you read for yourself.

Obama to OK benefits for same-sex partners of federal workers

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama will sign a memorandum Wednesday granting some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, two senior administration officials said.

President Obama has been criticized by gay rights activists for not doing more since taking office.

It will provide some health care benefits, but will stop short of full health coverage, the officials said. Details of the benefits were not immediately available.

The signing, which will take place in the Oval Office, follows sharp criticism of the president over a Justice Department motion filed last week in support of the Defense of Marriage Act -- which effectively bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions by defining marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband wife" and a spouse as "a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife."

The motion used the government's interest in opposing incestuous marriages to support its position against same-sex marriage.

Gay and lesbian advocates have also faulted the Obama administration for not moving to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars officials from asking about a service member's sexual orientation but also bars the service member from revealing it, and allows the dismissal of a service member if a same-sax orientation is discovered.

"There's so little we can say until we know what it is," said Carisa Cunningham, a spokeswoman for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, a legal advocacy group that is challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in federal court in Massachusetts.

Section 3 prevents the federal government from giving Social Security and other protections to same-sex married couples.

"Laws have to change ... and in particular, the Defense of Marriage Act needs to change, so whatever the few benefits that the president as an employer can grant, there won't be a lot of them," Cunningham said.

President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996.

Obama rankled gay advocates in January when he selected mega-church pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. Warren, in an interview with Beliefnet, likened homosexuality to bestiality and incest. He also supported California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in that state.

During the Warren controversy, Obama -- who frequently spoke out in favor of gay and lesbian rights during the campaign but has said he opposes same-sex marriage -- declared himself "a fierce advocate for gay and lesbian Americans.

Lauren Who?

The MTV reality series "The Hill's" will continue next season without its most popular "character". Lauren Conrad has left the show after five seasons of drama with friends, with boys, & with (insert topic here). She will be replaced with former Laguna Beach "character" Kristin Cavallari, who is reportedly going to be making $63,000 per episode, just $2,000 less than Conrad. Last night, Conrad appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Looking fabulous as always, she discussed her book series, a crazed fan experience, and what is to come for the young fashion designer.

Ear Candy: Sia

Quirky sound, powerful lyrics, and a style all her own. Sia, born Sia Kate Isobelle Furler in Adelaide, Australia, has been delightfully surprising auidences since 2000 with her album Healing is Difficult. Before that, she was the melodic voice behind the band Zero 7 and their most notable single "Destiny". Since then, Sia's other two solo works included 2003's Colour the Small One, and her most recent in 2008, Some People Have Real Problems. Her chart topping single "Breathe Me" was featured on the series finale of HBO's Six Feet Under. Sia also provided the vocals for the cover of the Bee Gee's "How Deep is Your Love", which appeared on the soundtrack for the Sex and the City motion picture. Her current work includes collaborating with Christina Aguilera for Aguilera's new album Light & Darkness. Sia posted this on her blog regarding the collaboration: ‘‘We've written some really wonderful songs. I would put any of the songs we've written on one of my albums. And it's a total collaboration. There are some artists who walk in and say ‘I want to write a song about a stiletto', then walk out again. You write the song and they take a third. That's not at all what it's been like working with Christina. Often she saves the day when we're stuck." In 2008 Sia addressed rumors of her bisexuality on AfterEllen.com saying, "I've always been open about it. People are making a fuss of it now because I'm getting successful." Sia is listed on the Advocate's "Forty under 40"'s list of openly gay entertainers. A force to be reckoned with, I am sure we will be hearing much more of Sia in the future.

Check out Sia's video for "Soon We'll be Found" off of her album Some People Have Real Problems.

Sia | Soon We'll Be Found from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.