Assange attorney: Secret grand jury meeting in Virginia on WikiLeaks

A secret grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, is meeting to consider criminal charges in the WikiLeaks case, an attorney for the site's founder, Julian Assange, told the Al-Jazeera network in an interview.

"We have heard from Swedish authorities there has been a secretly empaneled grand jury in Alexandria ... they are currently investigating this," Mark Stephens told Al-Jazeera's Sir David Frost on Sunday, referring to WikiLeaks. The site, which facilitates the disclosure of secret information, has been slowly releasing a trove of more than 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables since November 28.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said last week he had authorized "significant" actions related to a criminal investigation into WikiLeaks' publication of the cables, but has declined to elaborate.

Assange is sought for questioning in connection with allegations of sexual assault in Sweden. He surrendered to British authorities last week.

"I think that the Americans are much more interested in terms of the WikiLeaks aspect of this," Stephens told Al-Jazeera. He said it was his understanding that Swedish authorities have said that if Assange is extradited there, "they will defer their interest in him to the Americans ... it does seem to me that what we have here is nothing more than a holding charge." The United States just wants Assange detained, he said, so "ultimately they can get their mitts on him."

"He is entitled under international law, under Swedish law, to know the charges or the investigation that's going on, the allegations made against him and the nature of the evidence which is said to support it," Stephens said. "As I sit here talking to you now, he hasn't that that information, so he's not been able to comprehensively rebut (the allegations)."

Assange is next set to appear in court Tuesday. Stephens said his client is ready to meet with the Swedish prosecutor if she travels to London, but she has not done so.

The legal process could be a long one, he said. "There are a number of issues in this particular case which raise European Convention and human rights points."

Meanwhile, The U.S. House Judiciary Committee plans to hold a hearing on "the Espionage Act and the legal and constitutional issues raised by WikiLeaks," according to its website. More details on the hearing and a witness list had not been posted as of Monday morning.

Before WikiLeaks began posting the cables, Assange wrote to the United States and told them he did not want to imperil any ongoing operations or put anyone at risk, Stephens said. Redactions put in place are not seen to have exposed anyone to risk, he said.

Beside the United States, WikiLeaks has apparently angered Russia and China, Stephens told Al-Jazeera. Russia has accused him of being a CIA operative, according to the attorney, while cyberattacks against WikiLeaks have appeared to come from Russian and Chinese computers. "He does seem to have picked enemies, if you like, with the three major superpowers," Stephens said of Assange.

Last week, supporters of WikiLeaks calling themselves "Anonymous" and "Operation Payback" claimed responsibility for disabling or disrupting the websites of MasterCard, Visa and PayPal. The group tried unsuccessfully to bring down Amazon.com, tweeting on the website Twitter, "We don't have enough forces."

Anonymous made the attacks not through hacking, but by directing a giant traffic surge to the targeted website in a distributed denial-of-service, or DDoS, attack. Such attacks are hard for most websites to defend against, and they can significantly slow or crash a website.

Read more »

Reports: Iranian president removes foreign minister

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has removed and replaced Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, state-run Iranian media reported Monday.

Ahmadinejad appointed Ali Akbar Salehi, current nuclear chief and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, as the interim head of the Foreign Ministry, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

In a letter, the president thanked Mottaki for his service, according to Fars and the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Neither report said why the move was made.

Mottaki has been one of the public faces in the international debate over Iran's nuclear program. Tehran maintains the program exists for peaceful purposes, but the United States and other Western nations have expressed concern that the program's goals are more nefarious.

Read more »

Explosion in Pakistan kills school bus driver, injures 2 children

An explosion Monday near a school bus in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar killed the bus driver and injured two children, police said.

Two suspects were detained at the blast site, said Ejaz Khan, a senior police official in Peshawar.

Authorities do not believe the bus was the target of the bomb, which was planted in the road, said Salim Khan, another senior police official in Peshawar.

The explosion occurred in the area of Bhana Marri, Khan said.

Read more »

Sweden bomb went off early, authorities say

A bomber who apparently killed himself in central Stockholm on Saturday was probably on his way to a more crowded location, but his bomb went off prematurely, Swedish authorities said Monday.

He sent a warning to a Swedish news agency from his phone shortly before the explosion, said chief prosecutor Thomas Lindstrand, in the first official confirmation of a link between the blast and the warning.

The warning came from a man called Taimour Abdulwahab, the news agency that got the e-mail told CNN Monday.

Lindstrand said authorities were almost certain that he was the bomber, but that authorities have not yet carried out DNA testing or spoken to his family.

A car exploded shortly before Abdulwahab's bomb, injuring two people, in an explosion that police are also linking to him.

No one other than Abdulwahab was killed.

The Swedish Security Service said the incidents appeared to be the work of "a single perpetrator."

He appears to have been acting alone at the time of the explosion, prosecutor Thomas Lindstrand said Monday.

Police believe he had some kind of outside help in preparing the explosives, but they have no additional suspects at the moment, Lindstrand said.

On Sunday, Anders Thornberg of the Swedish Security Police called the explosions "an act of terrorism."

But he said Monday that there was no reason for the public to be worried, and that Sweden was not raising its terror threat level.

The two explosions occurred within minutes of each other Saturday in a district full of Christmas shoppers, Swedish authorities said. Swedish news agency TT and police said they received e-mailed threats 10 minutes before the explosions.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt called the explosions "completely unacceptable" as he mounted an impassioned defense of Swedish society in the face of what seems to be its first suicide bombing.

"This is not the path we want to go down," he said Sunday.

"Sweden is an open society," Reinfeldt added. "It is an open society which has demonstrated a will that people must be able to come from different backgrounds, believe in different gods or not believe in any god at all. Be able to live side by side, together, in our open society."

Regional police chief Carin Gotblad said the bomber had "failed."

"While this was a very serious event, no innocent people were seriously hurt. If that was the intention, then the perpetrator failed," she said.

On Sunday night, London's Metropolitan Police searched a property in Bedfordshire, north of London, in connection with the Stockholm probe, a police spokesman said.

The spokesman, who would not give his name, said the warrant was executed under Britain's Terrorism Act 2000 and that "no arrests have been made ... and no hazardous substances have been found."

The writer of the e-mailed threats to the Swedish news agency and police mentioned the presence of Swedish troops in Afghanistan and a Swedish cartoonist who depicted the prophet Mohammed, according to TT, a Swedish news wire that received the threats.

The e-mails contained sound files featuring a person speaking in Swedish and Arabic, TT reported.

About 500 Swedish troops are in Afghanistan, according to NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

The sender referred to Swedish silence regarding the Afghanistan troops and the controversial cartoon by Lars Vilks that depicted Mohammed as having the body of a dog.

"Now your children, daughters and sisters will die like our brothers and sisters and children are dying," the e-mail states, according to TT.

"Our actions will speak for themselves," the person said in an audio recording attached to the e-mail. "As long as you don't end your war against Islam and the humiliation against the prophet and with your stupid support to Lars Vilks the pig."

Thornberg said over the weekend that authorities are working on both intelligence and a normal police investigation and will try to determine "if there may be any more acts of terrorism like this one being planned. At this point, we don't think there are more acts coming, but we can't say for sure."

Read more »

Oprah's visit Down Under brings joy to fans, Australian tourism

For the 300 fans who are accompanying talk show host Oprah Winfrey on what is being billed as the Ultimate Australian Adventure, the trip is a unique opportunity to take in the sights and wonders of the country with the TV icon.

But for Australia -- a country that heavily relies on tourism -- the investment is expected to pay off manifold in publicity, the government said Monday.

The eight-day trip began last week and ends with two taped shows at the Sydney Opera House, which has been renamed Oprah House.

Footing the bill for Oprah and her guests will collectively cost the government AUS $5 million, said Andrew McEvoy, managing director of Tourism Australia.

But the value equivalent in exposure has already made it a smart investment, he said.

"Just before Oprah turned up into our country, the number was $38 million," McEvoy said Monday. "So that was three or four days ago. I can imagine that to double in the time that she's been here. And I can imagine that to treble."

He said the number could further skyrocket next year if Oprah commits to making "at least four hours of Oprah Winfrey television, which will go to 145 countries around the world."

Oprah and her group have visited the Great Barrier Reef, gone on a wine-tasting excursion to Hunter Valley, taken in a scenic flight over the Australian outback, partied in the Royal Botanic Gardens and trekked up the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which adorned with a big 'O' in her honor.

"I can't believe the energy of Oprah herself, her crew -- they're phenomenal," McEvoy said, adding "everyone is full of adrenaline."

During the media mogul's career, many have cashed in on the "Oprah effect," which has launched sales of what she promotes.

Oprah is in the midst of her farewell season of her show. Earlier this year, she showed her gratitude to her audience by announcing the all-expenses paid excursion.

Read more »

Italy's Berlusconi fights for his political life

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi fought for his political life Monday in a speech to lawmakers a day before a vote which could see him dumped as head of government.

He is scheduled to face a confidence vote in Parliament Tuesday, the latest in a series of votes on his leadership since a dispute with a former ally over the summer.

"He who votes against us is betraying the mandate received from the electorate," Berlusconi said in his half-hour speech.

"In these particularly hard times for our country, we all have to find a way to be united and do what is best for the country," he said, adding that "a crisis" was the last thing Italy needed now.

He said he needed a mandate to complete judicial and institutional reforms and deal with the country's economic problems.

And he called on supporters of his rival Gianfranco Fini not to support the left by voting against him, saying they must not "subtract" votes from the right "in order to add them to the opposition."

Both Berlusconi and Fini's parties are on the center-right. The prime minister threw Fini out of his party over the summer, and Fini took about 40 lawmakers with him to form a new party.

Berlusconi Monday accused Fini of betraying him.

And he reached out to the Christian Democratic Union, which is allied with Fini, for support.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who has the authority to dissolve parliament, has said he opposes new elections because it would create instability at a time of economic crisis.

Last month, Fini accused Berlusconi of a lack of attention to the economic crisis and structural reforms that Italy needs.

Berlusconi faces a difficult economic picture as he looks ahead to the rest of his term, which expires in 2013 if he survives confidence votes.

Italian unemployment is running at 8.5 percent, the highest level since 2003, according to the Italian statistical office, and public debt is 120 percent of the country's gross domestic product, the Bank of Italy says.

Read more »

Fox 8 News

Fox 8 News anchor Tim Taylor was a terrifying experience years ago. “My son was walking down the street with her brother and sister, four and a half years old. Suddenly, he ran forward and a neighbor of his support came not just seeing the hit, the have dragged on for about 30 feet below the bottom of the car. “Fox 8 News Two women died in an accident after his car slid on an icy road and a track of an SUV, Cleveland Sunday.

It visible military occurred around 2:40 near Woodhill Road and Parkview Avenue on Sunday. Researchers reveal a 2004 Buick lost Woodhill make roads and cars cream.The ice has left the base and a track from a 2002 strike Dodge Durango Durango.The the right side of a Buick, trapping two passengers, women. Cleveland Firefighters had to cut the tip of a gift shop Buick badly worn.

Rudolph Ohio for the last 26 minutes without telling a story local news they do care about local news or events of interest has nothing to Cleveland BP Compensation Fund to provide more payment Happy Holidays MiamiHerald.com BP, the gift that keeps giving blog Huffington Post all 31 news articles Mandy Moore movie musical “Tangled,” a new look at the princess fairy tale Rapunzel with long hair, sewed the No. 1 spot with $ 21.5 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Read more »

Kim Kardashian is Dead

Kim Kardashian is dead. The lifeless body of the starlet is laid to rest- her eyes barely closed, the glue still drying on her skyrocketing lashes as the photo of it all is splashed about the Internet. What's worse is that the ghostly form of the celebutant is just clicks away from other similarly sallow-faced icons: Serena Williams, Ryan Seacrest, Elijah Woods, Jay Sean- all dead.

This apparent massacre of talent and stardom is being called the "Digital Life Sacrifice" and is all Alicia Key's fault. The Keep A Child Alive foundation, co-founded by Leigh Blake and advocated by Alicia Keys, has asked Hollywood's top celebrities to commit digital "suicide" and stop using Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets until fans can raise one million dollars for the charity. It is done in the hopes that sacrificing their digital lives will help others have a chance at a real life. Specifically, HIV/AIDS patients and orphans in India, Kenya and Rwanda, who will receive aid and care from the Keep A Child Alive foundation and the efforts of the ongoing digital life sacrifice.

The campaign may be sarcastic, shocking and slightly dark, but it will save lives. The merits of the fundraiser are honorable without doubt, but what of the method? Despite the purest of intentions, the campaign has fostered quite a bit of controversy and criticism.

The argument is that wanting to save lives should be more than enough incentive to donate. What kind of people are we if we are unwilling to drop some change to better the life of an orphaned African child, but are willing the pay an asking price in order to access Lady Gaga's Twitter account? The Digital Life Sacrifice blocks the real issue and merely replaces it with a frivolous and fabricated one. Humanity has failed if a tweet is worth more than a life.

And let's not forget the millions upon millions of dollars that this star powered group is collectively worth. Any one of them alone could meet the quota in the amount of time it takes to whip out a checkbook and scribble down some numbers. Numbers that, perhaps, are not substantial enough. When said in accordance with the names of those working the project- America's rich and powerful- one million transforms into a rather quaint goal. After all, Lady Gaga alone has 7 million followers on Twitter and 24 million Facebook Friends.

Read more »

"Narnia," "Tourist" bomb at North American box office (Reuters)

The third movie in the shaky "Narnia" fantasy franchise and a romantic thriller starring ubiquitous celebrities Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp both fell flat at the weekend box office in North America, according to studio estimates issued Sunday.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" opened at No. 1, as expected, but with three-day sales of about $24.5 million across the United States and Canada. Industry pundits had predicted a $30 million to $40 million start for the third adaptation of C.S. Lewis' Christian-themed books.

The film got off to a much better start overseas, earning $81 million, and distributor 20th Century Fox said it was "excited" about its overall prospects.

"The Tourist," starring Jolie and Depp as a mismatched pair cavorting around Venice, came in at No. 2 with $17 million -- short of dampened forecasts in the $20 million range.

Both films were lambasted by critics, and both carried hefty price tags -- $150 million and $100 million, respectively -- requiring strong overseas sales to make them profitable.

"Narnia" marks the follow-up to "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," which opened to $55 million in 2008 on its way to a weak total of $142 million. The overseas haul was $278 million. The first film, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," ended up with $292 million in North America after a $66 million debut. Foreign fans kicked in an additional $453 million.

The latest film was distributed by News Corp-owned Fox, which took over the franchise after Walt Disney Co dropped it in the wake of the "Caspian" flop. The series is produced by family-friendly film company Walden Media, which is owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz.

"The Tourist" marks the worst start in years for its high-profile stars. Jolie's last big flop was "A Mighty Heart," which opened to $3.9 million in 2007. Depp has to go back to 2001 for a worse performance: "From Hell," with $11 million.

Jolie was last in theaters with "Salt," whose so-so domestic total of $118 million (including a $36 million opening) was boosted by foreign sales of $175 million.

Depp starred in one of the biggest movies of the year, "Alice in Wonderland," which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, two-thirds coming from overseas.

The new film also did worse than a recent pair of unloved match-ups between big stars, "The Bounty Hunter," with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler ($21 million); and "Knight and Day," with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz ($20 million). They finished with $67 million and $76 million, respectively, in North America. "Bounty Hunter" made a similar amount overseas, while "Knight and Day" earned $185 million internationally.

"The Tourist" was distributed by Sony Corp's Columbia Pictures, which has limited financial exposure. The studio is receiving a distribution fee from Oscar-winning producer Graham King ("The Departed"), who arranged financing himself.

Last weekend's champion, the Disney cartoon "Tangled," slipped to No. 3 with $14.6 million. Its total rose to $115.6 million after three weekends. Foreign sales stand at $77 million from 17 markets.

Read more »

Figgy Pudding

Some say the popularity of administrative officers peaked in the 19 th century. I guess, why not OC OSA a staple in the Baltimore area for Christmas. Fresh fruit can be stored over a week in the refrigerator. Do not wash until ready to serve. Dried figs have a shelf life much longer, but should be stored away from direct sunlight. Each brings a unique added value to breakfast, lunch or dinner. A British-style pudding, or dessert, fig pudding is a mixture of finely chopped apples, dried figs and other dried fruits, nuts, combined with the bread crumbs, eggs and seasonings and baked in the steam baked or boiled. Is, am a bit like fruitcake, so that the AM definitely spread acquired taste with the figure of bread jam sandwich to a hot open face. Sprinkle with mascarpone cheese, cream cheese, Italian. A simple and rapid room for a homemade lunch, I saw a few heads hungry press two of them together for lunch or dinner at the beginning.
Figs and nuts. It is moist, delicious and easy to do.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Ingredients:
butter 1 / 2 cup (1 stick) at room temperature
2 eggs
1 cup molasses
2 cups dried figs (about 1 pound), stems, finely chopped
1 / 2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup buttermilk
1 / 2 cup chopped walnuts
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 / 2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 / 2 c. teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 / 4 teaspoon nutmeg
Garnish: Whipped cream

Read more »

Sancho Panza

Who is the master of Sancho Panza? “It is Don Quixote and Don Quixote was Nat and Kat Quixote Studios. In Quixote Studios, Nat and Kat, had to play a game challenge. Sancho Panza himself is a fictional character in the novel Don Quixote written by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605. Sancho acts as squire of Don Quixote, and feedback about the spirit of the novel, as sanchismos known that a combination of means of broad humor, irony, proverbs in Spanish and the earth.

“Panza” “belly” and alternately. There were spelled panca bungee swing to the next song to get it was unbelievable, like bungee jumping, but not so scary during the bungee swing, “said Nat,” I have not even pee your pants.

“We are sad that this is not the episode title. forced The next track, collect evidence, including the Sancho Panza was love. Don Quixote is the answer and are intended to Quixote Studios, where they played a game presented as a challenge. The challenge was to select the 11 hosts each pit stop (from a grid of 48), then put them in order.

Read more »

Kimbo Slice Dead? NO

Is Kimbo Slice dead? Did Kimbo Slice die on Sunday? So many questions, so few answers, are driving MMA fans crazy on this early Monday morning.

Well, we have the answer for you: Kimbo Slice is NOT dead. Slice addressed the death rumors himself saying, “I’m straight y’all. Thnkx for the concern. Some1 else with the same name passed away earlier from my old neighborhood..”

Kimbo Slice knows the origin of this rumor, he explained: “My government name is Kevin Ferguson and somebody from the place where I once frequented died. There are a lot of Kevin Fergusons in the Miami area.”
Kimbo Slice who is a boxer now, will start his new career in mid 2011.

Read more »

Obama prays for envoy Holbrooke's recovery

President Barack Obama on Saturday night called Richard Holbrooke "a towering figure in American foreign policy" and said he is praying for the critically ill diplomat's recovery.

Holbrooke, 69, the president's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was described as being in stable, but critical condition after undergoing more than 20 hours of surgery for a torn aorta, the large artery that takes blood from the heart.

The veteran diplomat was meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the State Department on Friday when he suddenly collapsed and was taken to George Washington University Hospital a few blocks away. Holbrooke was seen walking under his own power to the department's parking garage with a person from State's medical office.

His family as well as Clinton and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have been with Holbrooke at the hospital. Clinton visited on Friday night and agaain on Saturday.

"Richard Holbrooke is a towering figure in American foreign policy, a critical member of my Afghanistan and Pakistan team, and a tireless public servant who has won the admiration of the American people and people around the world," Obama said in a statement.

Obama said he had spoken to Holbrooke's wife, Kati, on Saturday "and told her that Michelle and I are praying for Richard."

"We continue to pray for his recovery, and support his family in this difficult time," said the president..

Hospital officials referred all questions about Holbrooke's to the State Department.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the surgery on Holbrooke's torn aorta was completed Saturday morning.

A torn aorta, or aortic dissection, is a condition in which a tear develops in the inner wall of the aorta allowing blood to enter the vessel wall and if not treated quickly can lead to rapid death. As blood enters the wall it reduces blood flow just as if there were a severely bleeding wound, leading to possibly serious complications in the brain and other areas of the body, according to medical experts.

Even if the surgery has stabilized Holbrook's condition, recovery can be expected to take considerable time.

Holbrooke's illness comes just days before the Obama administration is expected next Thursday to roll out the results of its review of the Afghanistan war and to push for Afghan forces to assume a greater role in the fighting. It is a transition in which Holbrooke was expected to play an important part, having made many visits to the region and having developed personal relationships with leaders in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The veteran diplomat is perhaps best known for helping broker the 1995 agreement that ended the war in Bosnia.

He served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration. He also was U.S. ambassador to Germany from 1993 to 1994 and then assistant secretary of state for European affairs.

Holbrooke's career with the foreign service dates back to his posting in South Vietnam in 1962 and included time as a member of the U.S. delegation to the Paris Peace Talks on Vietnam.

Read more »

Top Ten Reasons We Can't Get Enough White Christmas

When you're talking Christmas classics, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better movie than White Christmas. Great songs? Check. Uplifting story? Check. Holiday romance? Double check on that one. No wonder the movie has become required viewing at this time of year, or that AMC is celebrating the perennial with a Can't Get Enough White Christmas marathon: On Sat., Dec. 11, and Sun., Dec. 12, the classic airs at 8PM | 7C and 10:45PM | 9:45C. In the meantime, here are the top ten reasons we can't get enough White Christmas.

10. Danny Kaye, the Adorable Dork
A retread of Irving Berlin's 1942 musical Holiday Inn, White Christmas subbed in Danny Kaye for Fred Astaire. And while Kaye's not as good a dancer as Astaire (duh), he is a lot funnier. So if you believe that the best way to win a woman's heart is by making her laugh, then your heart belongs to Danny. (Sorry Fred.)

9. VistaVision
White Christmas was Paramount's first movie to use VistaVision -- the studio's then-new wide-screen format came with a higher resolution than ever before. Even by today's standards, the movie's nightclub numbers look pretty damned good.

8. An Eisenhower Look-a-Like
Celebrity impersonators are not generally associated with Christmas movies (unless you count Santa stand-ins), but one of the best performances in White Christmas comes from Dean Jagger who, as General Thomas Waverly, looks and sounds exactly like then-president Dwight D. Eisenhower. How's that for brilliant casting?

7. The "Sisters" Number (The Drag Version)
Who can forget Crosby and Kaye's "Sisters" duet? No one who's seen it! The song, memorably performed by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen earlier in the movie, is reprised by Kaye and Crosby in drag as they cover for the two sisters, who are escaping an evil landlord. More than five decades later, that campy routine is still pretty funny.

6. Better Than Holiday Inn
Regardless of where you fall on the Kaye versus Astaire question, no one in their right mind would choose Marjorie Reynolds over Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. Furthermore, the update has a much livelier plot, complete with an ending that will leave you feeling weepy.

5. The Snazzy Costumes
If you've ever wondered why Edith Head was a household name for costume design back in the day, then look no further than the stunning, richly colored gowns worn here by Clooney and Vera-Ellen, or the fur-trimmed ensembles donned by the entire cast in the show-stopping final number. (More on that later.)
4. Irving Berlin's Theme Song

"White Christmas" has got to be among the most popular Christmas tunes out there having been re-recorded by Smokey Robinson, Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, and Taylor Swift among others. Naturally, Bing Crosby's version is the best-selling -- and best -- one of all time. Why not see it as well as hear it?

3. Vera-Ellen's Dancing
She never achieved the name recognition of her co-stars, but this blond beauty is pretty unforgettable once you've seen her trotting around with Kaye to the tune of "The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing," or furiously tap-dancing during the "Abraham" number.

2. Bing Crosby's Voice
In one of the movie's opening scenes, Crosby croons "White Christmas" to a crowd of World War II GIs. The soldiers are mesmerized; once you've heard his baritone you will be, too. Voices like this make you long for the death of Auto-Tune.

1. The Grand Finale
If you're selecting a quintessential Christmas movie you'd be right to pick White Christmas, if for no other reason than the movie's stunning grand finale. As ballerinas in red-and-white tutus pirouette and the quartet warbles the movie's theme to the sound of jingling bells, you can actually hear the melting of Grinchy hearts everywhere. Merry Christmas!

Read more »

Why you should go see Christina Perri at WRMF’s No Snow Ball

Free shows are a gift in themselves – as much money as the holidays cost most of us, a good show with musicians you’ve actually heard of put on at no cost to you in like a musical bow on top of a big fat present. WRMF’s No Snow Ball features Sara Bareilles, who you may have met when she explained that she wasn’t gonna write you a “Love Song,” and the electric Michael Franti and Spearhead, who you may have met at their energy-charged SunFest show in 2009.

But the Ball also features singer Ryan Star (who was a contestant on CBS’ “Rock Star: Supernova”, and the lovely Christina Perri (seen here), whose success is not only a tale of technology and gumption, but also as a Palm Beach County connection (doesn’t that seem to happen a lot lately?)

The Pennsylvania native moved out to L.A. to try to make it, but got nowhere until a friend sent a YouTube clip of her performing, that was recorded in her bedroom, to someone in the business. And then, choreographer Stacey Tookey was given a copy of her song “Jar of Hearts” and used it in a dance routine featuring Kathryn McCormick and our own Billy Bell. It took off, and now Perri, who was supplementing her art while waiting tables, has hit the big time. Her EP “the Ocean Way Sessions” just came out last month, and you can hear it live tonight at 7:30 at the Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park in Boca!

Read more »

Elizabeth Edwards 1949-2010

Elizabeth Edwards was born July 3, 1949 and died December 7, 2010 of cancer at the age of 61. She was an attorney and best-selling author.

Upon the death of her 16 year old son in a traffic accident, she retired from legal practice. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. Her cancer returned in 2007.

In January 2010 she legally separated from her husband, John Edwards, the former US-Senator from North Carolina who was the 2004 United States Democratic vice-presidential nominee. She actively took part in John Edwards' 2008 presidential bid. Elizabeth Edwards is survived by her three other children: Catharine, Emma Claire and Jack.

Read more »

John Lennon Quotes: The Best Quotes From Beatle John Lennon

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 30 years since John Lennon’s death. The father of two who sang about peace and love was murdered 29 years ago, but his legacy has lived on through his songs, his children and of course his many wonderful quotes, which are just as insightful now as they were three decades ago.

Here’s a list of the best John Lennon quotes, including some “Imagine” lyrics and other favorite tunes. Have any favorite quotes of your own? Please add below.

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” (From John Lennon’s “Imagine”)

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace.”

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”

“Count your age by friends, not years Count your life by smiles, not tears.”

“Living is easy with eyes closed.”

“One thing you can’t hide – is when you’re crippled inside.”

“God is a concept by which we measure our pain.”

“War is over … If you want it.”

“I get by with a little help from my friends.”

“Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.”

“I’m not afraid of death because I don’t believe in it. It’s just getting out of one car, and into another.”

Read more »

Hit the Like Button: The Social Network Moves Into Serious Oscar Contention

Along with the main prize, the Facebook-conceiving flick also earned its main star a Best Actor award, the prize taken home by Clooney last year, as well as the Best Director nod for David Ficherand writing kudos for Aaron Sorkin, who won Best Adapted Screenplay.

Which could either be really good news for the film, or really, really good news for the film.

While the National Board of Review isn't the most accurate harbinger for Oscar night, like all awards shows that take place in the lead up to the Academy Awards, it does count for something. While last year's Best Picture winner, Up in the Air, failed to score the same prize at the Oscars, the previous two recipients of the Board's honor, Slumdog Millionaire and No Country For Old Men, did wind up at the podium come Oscar night.

So, get those grains of salt ready.

Meanwhile, the Best Supporting Actor prize went to Christian Bale, for his work in The Fighter, and Ben Affleck, Blake Lively, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall need to collectively clear a space on their mantles, as the group nabbed the award for Best Ensemble Cast.

Rounding out the acting categories were Another Year's Lesley Manville, and Animal Kingdom's Jacki Weaver, who took home Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress honors, respectively. Winter's Bone star Jennifer Lawrence, coming off a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination, earner the Breakthrough Performance award.

Toy Story 3 was named Best Animated Feature, and the plaudits didn't stop there. As always, the Board named a heap of other honorable mentions for the year, breaking down the top 10 films, top 10 independent films, 5 best documentaries (including one from our own Fashion Police chief Joan Rivers!), and 5 best foreign films.

Read more »

Britney Spears: "Kiss My Lily White Southern Louisiana Ass"

"Ok, off on a romantic weekend with Jason for my birthday. xoxo Brit," the now 29-year-old singer tweeted right before flipping the verbal bird at Star, Radar and her incidental onetime husband.

RadarOnline posted an audio recording of a purported conversation between Britney and Alexander in which he asks if she and Trawick are engaged and a female voice replies, "Was that before or after he beat me?"

Star, which shares a parent company with Radar, simultaneously ran a cover story announcing, "Jason Beat Me Up."

"What StarMagazine & RadarOnline did is disgraceful and irresponsible! We will not take this sitting down," tweeted Britney's manager, Larry Rudolph, using his client's Twitter account.

Added Rudolph colleague Adam Leber: "Radar Online clearly has no idea what Britney Spears sounds like. These recordings are a joke."

Read more »

Rob and Kristen Make Out on the Beach—Again and Again and Again!

After hearing Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart giggle and flirt their way through the Eclipse commentary yesterday, you Breaking Dawn fans get another sneak treat today.

This time it's one of Robsten filming one of their many make out scenes!
A video hit the web from Edward and Bella's honeymoon in Brazil.
Make out. Stop. Repeat.
That's pretty much how the minute or so clip goes.

And while we love seeing our fave couple go at it, natch, it really does give you an idea of how unromantic filming those kinda scenes can be, no?
All of the strangers standing around, watching, directing...it's just not exactly sexy.
Do you think Robsten's smoochfest is totally hot? Or are you more excited for the semi-real thing when the film comes out next year?

Read more »