Friday, July 31, 2009

Jackson's Mom To Get custody Of His Jackson Kids


In a new deal Michael Jackson's Mom is set to get custody of his kids.

Apparently Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe (The kids biological mother) have come to terms.

“It's an agreement, an agreement for the best interests of the children. This is not a money deal. This is not about money. ... "There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson," L. Londell McMillan, Mrs. Jackson's attourney told Price.

We hope that this is the best situation for the children.

The 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time


Here is the list of the 50 greatest coaches of all time.

1. John Wooden, college basketball
2. Vince Lombardi, NFL
3. Bear Bryant, college football
4. Phil Jackson, NBA
5. Don Shula, NFL
6. Red Auerbach, NBA
7. Scotty Bowman, NHL
8. Dean Smith, college basketball
9. Casey Stengel, MLB
10. Knute Rockne, college football
11. Pat Summitt, women’s college basketball
12. Paul Brown, NFL
13. Joe Paterno, college football
14. George Halas, NFL
15. Chuck Noll, NFL
16. Bob Knight, college basketball
17. Joe Gibbs, NFL
18. Tom Landry, NFL
19. Mike Krzyzewski, college basketball
20. Bill Belichick, NFL
21. Adolph Rupp, college basketball
22. Joe McCarthy, MLB
23. Eddie Robinson, college football
24. Bobby Bowden, college football
25. John McGraw, MLB
26. Bill Walsh, NFL
27. Woody Hayes, college football
28. Connie Mack, MLB
29. Bud Wilkinson, college football
30. Pat Riley, NBA
31. Pete Newell, college basketball
32. Joe Torre, MLB
33. Bill Parcells, NFL
34. Tom Osborne, college football
35. Walter Alston, MLB
36. Bo Schembechler, college football
37. Toe Blake, NHL
38. Sparky Anderson, MLB
39. Al Arbour, NHL
40. Amos Alonzo Stagg, college football
41. Tony La Russa, MLB
42. Geno Auriemma, women’s college basketball
43. Dick Irvin, NHL
44. Ara Parseghian, college football
45. Chuck Daly, NBA
46. Bobby Cox, MLB
47. Hank Iba, college basketball
48. Tommy Lasorda, MLB
49. Gregg Popovich, NBA
50. Herb Brooks, NHL

Clooney's New Girlfriend is Elisabetta Canalis


Take a look at at George Clooney's new Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis.

The couple were spotted in Italy together with George getting close and personal with the Italian model/actress. On July 22nd the two were seen dining at the Hotel Majestic on a double date in Rome. Sounds like the good life to me!

George currently resides in Italy and will also shoot his next film there, so their love has time to flourish.

Bud Light for Obama?


Did Obama pick the nation's most popular beer Bud Light with political outreach in mind?

Well you might think, like I mistakenly did, that Bud Light is as American as apple pie. But after some research I discovered that both you and I would be wrong. Despite the fact that the beer is brewed in the U.S. it is owned by a Belgium company therefore making it foreign. It was bought in 2008 though, so it was a very recent transition. Kind of a trick question, I know.

So Obama would have been better off picking Coors or Miller Light to look more American.

This was all part of the sit down with Henry Louis Gates Jr and his arresting officer Crowley. It was an attempt to quell the situation and slow the mounting racial tension. Gates Jr picked Red Stripe and Crowley picked Blue Moon as his favorite beer.

I just think it's odd for the President to try to solve such low level disputes in person. Doesn't he have bigger issues and foreign leaders to deal with? I guess it was because he stuck his nose in the matter that he ending up forcing himself to solve the dispute.

Man I would love to have heard the conversation between the three of them, too bad it was private. Would it have been extremely awkward or would it be Barack having to calm them both down the whole time?

No bar fights please!

Jon Gosselin Scavenger Hunt


Jon and Kate Plus 8 has resumed filming and Jon Gosselin was seen enjoying a scavenger hunt with his kids yesterday morning.

The scavenger hunt occurred at the Gosselin's family home in Reading, Penn. Viewers are going to have to tune in for this adventurous episode.

It seems Jon and Kate have put their difference by the way side for the sake of their kids. However, some bickering is still going on with regards to the money.

One source reports, “Jon is sure Kate’s keeping money from him, more than a million dollars. He thinks some of the money she’s made from her books and tours has been put someplace where he can’t access it. Jon says he found out Kate had been hiding about $100,000 in cash in the house…. It’s turned into an all-out war over money. Jon says Kate’s books and speaking engagements were based on their children and their relationship, so he rightfully deserves a cut.”

Jon's friends seem to have a different angle on the situation:

“Kate controlled the money for the longest time in their relationship,” a close friend of Jon’s tells Life & Style. “Now I don’t think he’s worried about money at all. He’s taking a bunch of us to Las Vegas at the end of August. It’s going to be wild!”

It would be hard being under the spotlight and having friends spill their guts about your financial situation. Then again, they did sign up to be on reality TV.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Cancer Study Shows Tanning Beds as Deadly as Arsenic


In a recent cancer study, expert research shows suspects that tanning beds can be as deadly as arsenic or mustard gas.

For years, scientists have described tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation as "probable carcinogens."

A new analysis of about 20 studies concludes the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75 percent when people start using tanning beds before age 30. Experts also found that all types of ultraviolet radiation caused worrying mutations in mice, proof the radiation is carcinogenic. Previously, only one type of ultraviolet radiation was thought to be lethal.

The new classification means tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation are definite causes of cancer, alongside tobacco, the hepatitis B virus and chimney sweeping, among others.

The research was published online in the medical journal Lancet Oncology on Wednesday, by experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization.

"People need to be reminded of the risks of sunbeds," said Vincent Cogliano, one of the cancer researchers. "We hope the prevailing culture will change so teens don't think they need to use sunbeds to get a tan."

Most lights used in tanning beds give off mainly ultraviolet radiation, which cause skin and eye cancer, according to the International Agency for Cancer Research.

The classification of tanning beds as carcinogenic was disputed by Kathy Banks, chief executive of The Sunbed Association, a European trade association of tanning bed makers and operators.

"The fact that is continuously ignored is that there is no proven link between the responsible use of sunbeds and skin cancer," Banks said in a statement. She said most users of tanning beds use them less than 20 times a year.

But as use of tanning beds has increased among people under 30, doctors have seen a parallel rise in the numbers of young people with skin cancer. In Britain, melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, is now the leading cancer diagnosed in women in their 20s. Normally, skin cancer rates are highest in people over 75.

Previous studies found younger people who regularly use tanning beds are eight times more likely to get melanoma than people who have never used them. In the past, WHO warned people younger than 18 to stay away from tanning beds.

Cogliano cautioned that ultravoilet radiation is not healthy, whether it comes from a tanning bed or from the sun. The American Cancer Society advises people to try bronzing or self-tanning creams instead of tanning beds.

Brad Pitt's Partying Ends at 6


Long gone are partying till the wee hours of the night for Brad Pitt. Now his fun with friends ends when the clock strikes 6.

He said:
“I’m a dad now. My partying ends at 6 p.m.”

Brad also joked about his tough life as an actor;

“It’s so hard being an actor. I sometimes don’t get coffee, or they bring you coffee and it’s cold and sometimes you don’t have a chair to sit on…It’s really hard.”

But Brad clearly knows how to enjoy himself. According to reports, Brad brought a beer into the screening and had a few more at the after party. You can see in the picture he does look a bit tired.

Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie took their gorgeous daughters shopping at Toys R’ Us in the Valley.

Heidi Montag Pratt to Sing at Miss Universe Pageant


No stranger to the spotlight, Heidi Montag Pratt is going to sing at the Miss Universe Pageant.

The ex-Hills star has decided to sing "Turn Ya Head" from her upcoming debut album, Unleashed.

I am guessing she is either going to lip sync or else we will get to hear what she sounds like outside the recording studios which may not be very pleasant (think Ashley Simpson at the Rose Bowl).

Maybe I should watch the show just to see Heidi tank, that would be an instant viral video!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Vick Gets Second Chance

Will Michael Vick Get a Second Chance at life in the NFL?

Vick is suspended indefinitely by the NFL, and Commissioner Roger Goodell had agreed to meet with Vick only after he sees remorse and change from the 29-year-old former Falcon. If he does get reinstated by the NFL, he won’t be sporting a Falcons jersey; they severed all ties with the player in June.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said:

“The review of Michael Vick’s status is ongoing. We are providing no other details right now.”

It has been reported that he can play for the UFL, but as far as Vick is concerned, that would be a last resort.

As Vick’s sentence ends, so does the removal of the ankle monitor he has had to wear the last two months of his 23 month sentence while being confined at home.

Mischa Barton Back at Work


Finally, Mischa Barton will be back at work after her recent stint in a psychiatric ward.

Mischa Barton’s worst days may very well be behind her. Just days after being put under a 5150 psychiatric hold, she’s reportedly doing much better. In fact, Mischa is apparently ready to return to work.

Her rep Craig Schneider told Us Weekly, "I can confirm that she's left the hospital with the intention to resume production."

Well, it looks like she was released just in the nick of time! Production on The Beautiful Life is set to begin this Friday.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Mary Jo Buttafuoco Book


Mary Jo Buttafuoco has come out with a book titled "Getting It Through My Thick Skull: Why I Stayed, What I Learned. The book is set to hit shelves soon, and she is going on a book tour.

Mary Jo has already appeared on several TV shows promoting her book and also done several interviews in which she talks about her reasons for writing the book.

She tells Time:

"Two years ago, I was complaining about the latest stunt that he had pulled, which was being out with Amy Fisher on a date and walking all over Central Park. I just was shaking my head for the umpteenth time, going, “why does he do this stuff?” And Paul, our son, very matter-of-factly said to me, “he’ll never get it, Mom. He’s a sociopath.” And that word — I didn’t like it. I thought it just sounded like a crazy, murderous person. That night I went on the computer and I looked up sociopathic behavior, and a light bulb went off in my head. I said, “Oh, my God, this is what I have been living with all my life.” So I thought, if I wrote it down and relived some of my own personal experiences, and tried to educate people, maybe they won’t have to go through what I went through."

Since that dreadful day back in 1992, Mary Jo has gone through a lot. She even stayed with her husband Joey after his mistress, Amy Fisher, shot her. She and Joey divorced in 2002, and now Mary Jo hopes to help others with her book, Getting It Through My Thick Skull.

Mary Jo says her mother always referred to he as having a thick skull when talking about her stubborn nature. And it became a joke in the hospital about how her thick skull finally served a good purpose.

Obama, Cop & Professor: Beer on Thursday!


Black professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. says he would have a beer at the White House with President Obama and the Cambridge, Mass., cop who arrested him.

Gates, a professor at Harvard University and friend of Obama, told The Boston Globe in an e-mail that he would join the other two.

“My entire academic career has been based on improving race relations, not exacerbating them,” Gates said. “It is time for all of us to move on, and to assess what we can learn from this experience.”

Sgt. James Crowley charged Gates with disorderly conduct after a confrontation that began with a call about a burglary in progress. The burglary turned out to be Gates, with help from a cab driver, trying to force open the door
of his own house after returning from a trip to China.

Obama angered police officers in Cambridge and elsewhere by telling reporters Crowley acted “stupidly.” But he cooled the dispute Friday with calls to both men.

“Sergeant Crowley was profoundly grateful that the president took time out of his busy schedule to attempt to resolve this situation,” three Massachusetts police unions said in a statement.

Kate Hudson and A-Rod?

A-Rod and Kate Hudson seem an unlikely pair, but the two were spotted at The Mustang Grill in New York City having a date in the back room.

This comes after A-Rod and Madonna went their separate ways. She got a younger Brazilian model and now he's with a younger, hotter actress. So neither are probably complaining.

There are reports that the two were making out in the closed off back room of the fancy restaurant:

“a bartender at the Southwestern joint at 85th Street was asking patrons not to go in the back room around 1 a.m. because A-Rod and Kate Hudson were back there making out.” an anonymous source reported.

It's pretty thin evidence, but we wouldn't doubt A-Rod's abilities to round third base with a popular celebrity.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Harry Patch Death


Mr. Harry Patch, who was known as the Last Fighting Tommy, was the last living soldier to have fought in bloody battle of Passchendaele, at Ypres, in 1917 in which more than 70,000 troops died.

The veteran's death follows that of Henry Allingham, also a veteran of the Great War who died on July 18 at the age of 113.

Mr Patch, who was a machine-gunner in the Duke of Cornwalls's Light Infantry, died on Saturday morning at Fletcher House care home in Somerset where he was living.

The Queen paid tribute to him, saying: "I was saddened to hear of the death this morning of Harry Patch, the last British survivor or the First World War. We will never forget the bravery and enormous sacrifice of his generation, which will continue to serve as an example to us all."

The Prince of Wales also expressed his sadness, telling the BBC: "The Great War is a chapter in our history we must never forget, so many sacrifices were made, so many young lives lost. So today nothing could give me greater pride than paying tribute to Harry Patch from Somerset.

"Harry was involved in numerous bouts of heavy fighting on the front line but amazingly remained unscathed for a while. Tragically one night in September 1917 when in the morass in the Ypres Salient a German shrapnel shell burst over head badly wounding Harry and killing three of his closest friends.

"In spite of the comparatively short time that he served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Harry always cherished the extraordinary camaraderie that the appalling conditions engendered in the battalion and remained loyal to the end."

Chief Executive of Somerset Care, Andrew Larpent, said Mr Patch had been unwell for some time and had died peacefully in his bed.

He said: "His friends and his family have been here. He just quietly slipped away at 9am this morning. It was how he would have wanted it, without having to be moved to hospitals but here, peacefully with his friends and carers."

Mr Patch never revelled in the fact that he was one of the last survivors of a war which had claimed the lives of so many of his friends. "I don't like it," he once said when asked what it was like. "I sit there and think. And some nights I dream – of that first battle. I can't forget it."

Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt said: "I know I speak on behalf of all ranks of the British Army in expressing my sadness on hearing the news of the passing of Harry Patch. Self-effacing about his experiences in the trenches he was no less effective in describing the horror they represented when invited to speak to schoolchildren about the realities of war. He was the last of a generation that in youth was steadfast in its duty in the face of cruel sacrifice and we give thanks for his life – as well as those of his comrades – for upholding the same values and freedom that we continue to cherish and fight for today."

Gordon Brown, added: " "I had the honour of meeting Harry, and I share his family's grief at the passing of a great man. I know that the whole nation will unite today to honour the memory, and to take pride in the generation that fought the Great War. The noblest of all the generations has left us, but they will never be forgotten. We say today with still greater force: 'We will remember them'."

Veterans Minister Kevan Jones, who has also met Mr Patch added: "It was my great pleasure to have met Harry Patch and I am deeply saddened by his death. Harry was a dignified and thoughtful representative of a brave and selfless generation. I am sure that I speak on behalf of veterans and serving members of our forces when I express my pride in his conduct as the last Tommy.

When Mr Patch was born in Coombe Down, near Bath, on June 17, 1898, the Marquess of Salisbury was Prime Minister and Queen Victoria had two and a half years still to reign.

Kitchener was 11 weeks away from fighting the Battle of Omdurman and the outbreak of the Boer War lay 16 months into the future. H G Wells's latest work, The War of the Worlds, had just been published in book form following its successful serialisation in Pearson's Magazine.

He grew up in Coombe Down, near Bath, left school at 15 and trained as a plumber. He was 16 when war broke out and reached 18 just as conscription was being introduced. He joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

"I knew what it was going to be like: dirty, filthy, insanitary," he said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

He was removed from the front line on September 22 1917, after being injured in an artillery bombardment which killed his friends.

Mr Patch recalled: "I can remember the shell bursting. I saw the flash, I must have passed out. The next thing I could remember was the dressing station. A wound in my groin. The nurse painted something around it to stop the lice getting at it. I was given a good hot bath. The lice came off – you could pick them up with a shovel – bloody things.''

He was too old to fight in the Second World War and worked as a sanitary engineer in American army camps in the south-west. He retired in 1963. Following his first wife's death in 1976, he married again at the age of 81. His second wife died seven years ago.

In March, Mr Patch received the insignia of the Legion d'Honneur from the French Ambassador, Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, at his Somerset nursing home. Mr Allingham received the same honour the following week.

'Star Wars in Concert'


Star Wars: In Concert, a unique multi-media event featuring music from all six of John Williams' epic Star Wars scores, begins its worldwide arena tour on October 1, 2009 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Narrated live by Anthony Daniels (the actor who portrayed C-3PO in all six films), the production features a full symphony orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen -- one of the largest ever put on tour. The live music and film elements are synchronized in order to create a full multi-media, one-of-kind Star Wars experience.

"We've taken the key themes from the music and cut together all the images that fit with each theme, so you can really get a sense of how the music played into the images," said George Lucas, creator of the Star Wars Saga. "The whole soundtrack is a testament to John Williams' creativity and his extraordinary ability to enhance the emotional aspects of the films."

"Creating the music for the Star Wars films has been an exciting and wonderful experience for me, and I therefore have derived particular pleasure in assembling a compendium of themes from all of the films to be presented in Star Wars: In Concert," said Williams. "The editors at Lucasfilm have created original film montages to accompany each of the musical selections, and in the process, I believe that a singular and unique Star Wars experience has been born."

"This event has been crafted to present Star Wars from many points of view; for the first time, the full dramatic sweep of Williams' iconic scores can be heard performed live in one evening," said Another Planet Touring Producer Spencer Churchill. "The show is a new way of experiencing the epic scope of the saga."

Accompanying the concert is an exclusive exhibit of Star Wars costumes, props, artifacts, production artwork and specially created behind-the-scenes videos from the Lucasfilm Archives. Many of these pieces are leaving Skywalker Ranch for the first time. The exhibit features many classic fan favorite artifacts, as well as several new and never-before-seen items, including:

* Full costumes for Jedi Masters Kit Fisto and Plo Koon will be on display.

* For the first time ever, pages from John Williams' original hand-written sheet music for Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace will be exhibited for the public.

* Also on display will be various never-before-seen props from the films, including blasters and helmets from Coruscant, Tatooine and other iconic Star Wars locations.

For more information, please visit www.StarWarsInConcert.com.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Armstrong to Ride for Radio Shack


Lance Armstrong is going to ride for Team Radio Shack in 2010.

With today's convergence between technology and sports maybe this pairing isn't as odd as it initially sounds.

We were pulling for Amstrong in the last Tour de France, however he only came in a very unsatisfying third place. After a three year absence from cycling I suppose it would be more difficult to compete. We're hoping that the 7 time gold winner of the Tour de France can come back next year and win one more.

Bill Gates Quits Facebook


Bill Gates, the man practically known mostly for technology and innovation, quits Facebook. Now a shocked and saddened social networking industry is left to wonder why.

In October, after Microsoft acquired 1.6 percent of Facebook for a whopping $240 million, Gates began receiving more than 8000 friend requests per day, causing him to quit using the site, according to the UK newspaper The Sun.

Also factoring into Gates' decision was the emergence of bizarre Facebook groups which bear his name, according to The Sun. Maybe Gates was spooked by the existence of groups such as "Kick Microsoft out of Facebook!" and "F--- You Bill Gates."

Or, perhaps Gates took issue with "Bill Gates Reads Your Facebook," a group that appeared shortly after Microsoft announced its Facebook investment, which warns members to "make sure anything you post online isn't something you wouldn't want Microsoft to take and resell."

It's even possible that Gates was still skittish about Facebook's controversial "Beacon" feature, which angered users late last year by sharing their personal user data and purchasing history with advertisers and other 'friends' on the network, prompting an apology from Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Whatever the reason, most industry analysts would agree that Gates would be best served by focusing his attentions on figuring out what he's going to do after his last day at Microsoft, just in case he's got any free time left over after his upcoming transition to the field of philanthropy.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Michelle Obama's New Do

Take a look at Michelle Obama's new do. She didn't quite pull a Solange and take most of it off.

Michelleobamahaircut First Lady Michelle Obama pulled into the Department of Transportation last Friday wearing a houndstooth check blazer by Chicago designer Peter Soronen — and a shocking new shorter hairstyle.

What do you think of the First Lady's new hair cut?

Good or Bad? You decide.

Ivanka Trump Engaged to Jared Kushner


Ivanka Trump, the daughter of business mogul Donald Trump, is engaged to her boyfriend Jared Kushner. US Weekly which runs an exclusive story of the news claims to have obtained a confirmation from the pair's representative who said engagement took place on Wednesday night, July 15.

Wasting no time to let public know about her engagement, Ivanka posted a short message on her Twitter early Thursday, July 16. "I got engaged last night...truly the happiest day of my life!!!" she tweeted.

Father Donald, meanwhile, was quoted as stating, "I'm very happy about it. They make a magnificent couple." And while there has been no further detail about the engagement, a source informed US Weekly, "The ring is stunning!"

Ivanka Trump is the executive vice president of development and acquisitions at the Trump Organization. She has been dating Jared Kushner, who works as the publisher of the New York Observer, since 2007. The pair reportedly briefly split, but reconciled back in July 2008.

As of the press time, there has been no word whether or not the newly engaged couple has already worked on wedding plans.

Dog Snatches Newborn From Crib


Any dog that snatches a newborn infant from a crib is not man's best friend.

A newborn baby remained in critical condition Tuesday in a Kentucky hospital after the family dog took him from his crib and dumped him in the woods.

Michael Smith of Nicholasville, father of the boy, told the Lexington Herald-Leader his son, Alexander James, disappeared Monday afternoon. After calling 911, he saw the dog in the yard with the baby.

"She was carrying A.J. like she would carry a stuffed animal, very gentle, kind of like a loaf of bread," Smith said.

The Native American Indian dog ran into the woods. Smith followed his son's crying and found him on the ground about 150 yards into the trees.

Smith said A.J. was born three weeks before his due date and he had not completed child-proofing the house.

The baby and his mother returned home from the hospital Sunday. By Monday afternoon, A.J. was in intensive care at the University of Kentucky Hospital.

Animal Control took the dog, but it has not been destroyed.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Sarah Jessica Parker Split With Matthew Broderick?


There are rumors that Sarah Jessica Parker has split up with Matthew Broderick.

However, the two have apparently got a new Apartment in Park Slope. Sarah stays there while Broderick stays in Manhattan.

Just because they are living in separate locations doesn't necessarily mean they are broken up. They both have movie careers and are never bogged down to one location.

"Matthew loves their townhouse in Manhattan because it's close to his work on Broadway. He's currently in negotiations to perform in an off-Broadway theatre production and it wouldn't make sense for him to commute into town every day for work..."

We will continue to update you on their status as more info arrives.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

So You Think you Can Dance Breast Cancer Video

We have the video of last night's heart felt performance on "So You Think You Can Dance" the dance was in tribute to those going through breast cancer.

The dance was performed by Kate Bush and Maxwell preformed the song so well, it moved the judges to tears.

Here is the video of the dance:


We look forward to more excellent performances for 2009 on "So You Think You Can Dance".

(Video) Boy Finds Gun in Drive Through


Las Vegas police are investigating how a 5-year-old boy apparently found a gun inside a car and accidentally shot himself in the head.

Police say the boy and his father were going through a drive-through window at a Walgreens on Monday night when the boy found a gun. They say he fired it once, hitting himself in the head, and that his father then rushed him to a hospital.

The boy is at the University Medical Center's trauma unit in stable condition.

Susan Boyle: The Impact of Fame (Video)

Susan Boyle talks about the madness and impact of being dropped into the spotlight of fame.

The starlet says when fame found her it was "like a giant demolition ball..."crashed into her world.

Here is a video with Susan explaining what it's like:


Seniors' Cane-Fu

There's a new exercise trend. It's not kung-fu. It's cane-fu, and it's empowering seniors to fight back.

They may have canes, but think twice before bothering one of these seniors. They're practicing cane-fu.

Cane-fu is the brainchild of Dr. Sheldon Zinberg, who thought elderly people who used canes were targets. The class is a mix of aerobics and self-defense, and canes are the weapons!

"We can teach almost anyone how to break a chokehold with a cane. That one movement alone makes them feel more secure," Zinberg said.

The class makes the students sturdier on their feet.

"I come here by referral by my doctor, and he's amazed," said 69-year-old Lewis Cable, a class participant.

The seniors also report feeling safer when they go out and being more independent.

"We've had people with walkers and canes, who a year after being in the program, no longer required their walkers or canes," Zinberg said.

Cable is one of those students. He came to the center 13 months ago in a wheelchair.

"It gives me much better balance. I'm not afraid to go up and down curbs. I have no fear of going anywhere because I think I can defend myself," Cable said.

Zinberg said reviews from members show his classes have helped reduce falls by 89 percent and fractures by 85 percent. Cane-fu classes are currently being taught around the country.

Billy Joel and Alex Donnelley


Billy Joel is single no more as a representative for him has confirmed that the music star is now dating actress Alex Donnelley, who is best known for originating the role of Diane Jenkins on the popular daytime soap opera "The Young and the Restless." The confirmation comes a month after Billy and his third wife Kate Lee confirmed their separation.

While the representative doesn't elaborate on Billy and Alex's romance, New York Post reports the twosome first met through friends backstage at his recent Washington, DC, concert. "The two hit it off immediately," an insider tells the publication. And since that time, Alex has been visiting Joel at his home in Sag Harbor, "where they go boating or ride around on Joel's custom motorcycles."

Billy Joel is a rock musician, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. He has one daughter named Alexa Ray Joel from her marriage to second wife Christie Brinkley. His first wife was his business manager, Elizabeth Weber Small.

Back in mid June this year, Billy and his third wife Katie Lee, who is a television food critic and chef, had their representative confirming, "After nearly five years of marriage Billy Joel & Katie Lee Joel have decided to separate." The representative, furthermore, stressed "This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration. Billy & Katie remain caring friends with admiration and respect for each other."

Bono to Bush: No Touchy


Did Bono try to dodge a friendly hug from President Bush?

On a BBC program last night, the superstar U2 singer recalled how he he stiffed President Bush out of the photo op in 2006 at the National Prayer Breakfast. The former President was on the stage with Bush when "Dubya" tried to hug Bono.

"There were all kinds of people in the audience," Bono recalled on Jonathan Ross' talk show.

Bono admitted he didn't feel like being the recipient of a hug from a man with whom he had so many political disagreements. As the affectionate President neared, Bono tried to "dodge the hug" by jumping behind a podium.


Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Taco Bell Dog Dies


Gidget, the Chihuahua best known for her Taco Bell ad campaign, died from a stroke on Tuesday night at age 15. The dog was beloved by all of her fans.

"She made so many people happy," says Gidget's trainer, Sue Chipperton. The pup was a consummate pro and delighted the crew with her playful nature.

The mostly retired actor lived out her days laying in the sun – "I like to joke that it's like looking after a plant," says Chipperton – and entertaining at shoots when her trainer brought her along. "Gidget," says Chipperton, "always knew where the camera was."

Gidget will be missed.

Adam LaRoche Traded


The Pirates have traded first baseman Adam LaRoche to the Red Sox. According to Boston radio station WEEI, Pittsburgh will receive Double-A shortstop Argenis Diaz and Class A right-hander Hunter Strickland.

Pittsburgh was known to be seeking a suitor for LaRoche, who is earning $7.05 million this season and will be a first-time free agent next season.

Diaz, who was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2003, is hitting .253 with 24 RBIs in 76 Double-A games this season. Diaz, 22, split last season between Class A and Double-A.

Strickland, an 18th-round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, is 5-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 18 appearances (12 starts) at the low Class A level. He has 51 strikeouts and 13 walks in 83 1/3 innings.

LaRoche has hit .247 with a team-high 12 homers and 40 RBIs this season. In Boston, he'll be reunited with former Pittsburgh teammate Jason Bay, who was dealt there at this time last season.

5 Legged Puppy Set for Surgery

A five-legged puppy could soon walk normally, thanks to a North Carolina woman who paid $4,000 to prevent Precious from becoming part of a New York sideshow.

The Charlotte Observer reported Saturday that Allyson Siegel, 45, of Charlotte bought the puppy last week because she couldn't bear for the Chihuahua-terrier mix to be sold to a Coney Island, N.Y., sideshow that features disfigured animals, CBS station WCBS-TV reported.

Siegel renamed the puppy Lilly and plans to spend an additional $2,000 to get the extra appendage removed. Surgery is set in two weeks. The fifth leg, which trips Lilly as she tries to walk, hangs limply between the puppy's two back legs.

Otherwise healthy, the puppy was born in a litter of six at Calvin Owensby's Chihuahua Diamond in Gastonia about six weeks ago.

The paper reported that sideshow owner John Strong, who heard about the puppy through a friend, had paid Owensby $1,000 as a deposit on a $3,000 agreement. Owensby, an electrician unemployed since December, said he needed the money.

But local reports of the planned sale caused an uproar among animal activists.

"I just called him and I said, 'How much?"' Siegel told the newspaper, adding that her motto is, "Don't do to animals what you wouldn't do to your kids."

Following the surgery, Siegel -- who already has six cats -- plans to give Lilly to her sister in Charlotte.

Strong, who got his deposit back, said he would have given Lilly a good life.

Though he's disappointed, he said, "Sometimes, you just gotta say, 'OK, I still have nine live, two-headed animals' and move on."

T.J. Houshmandzadeh Boycotting Madden


T.J. Houshmandzadeh has a beef with EA's Madden 10 game, so he's boycotting it.

You see, T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s Madden ‘10 player rating is at 91, which makes the WR none too happy. He explained to ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd:

“I understand I averaged 10 yards a catch, but it’s the offense, not me. I’m not playing Madden no more until they get my rating right. … I used to be the best in the world at Madden. I’m going to miss not playing it, but until they do me right, I’m not playing it any more.”

So he’s complaining that his player rating of 91 is too low. Hmmm. Who’s ahead of him in the wide receiver ratings? Larry Fitzgerald (99), Steve Smith (97), Anquan Boldin (94), Roddy White (93) and Calvin Johnson (92). If you look at last year’s numbers for the five players listed above, you can see that they all scored at least six touchdowns and 1,038 receiving yards. What do his 2008 stats look like? Housh had 92 receptions which garnered 904 receiving yards and four touchdowns. What did Houshmandzadeh expect his player rating to be? Who knows.

Ryan on Farrah's Last Moments


Ryan O'neal is the long time love of Farrah Fawcett and he had some touching words to say about her last moments.

"[Doctors] thought that she would live just another couple of hours, and she lived a couple of days," O'Neal says of his longtime love, who spent her last days at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. "So I had a bed put in the room for me. And I just lay by her side. She wouldn't -- move on. She wouldn't pass..."

Tyler Perry Treats Philly Kids to Disney World


Tyler Perry had it rough growing up, so he has decided to give back to kids and the community.

Tyler Perry, the star, writer and producer of films such as "Madea Goes to Jail" and the television show "House of Payne," could be adding philanthropist to his growing list of credits.

According to his publicist, Perry is sponsoring a Disney World trip for 65 Pennsylvania children at a largely minority day-care center after a group of African-American and Hispanic children were turned away from a suburban Philadelphia swim club.

Now they have a much more exciting field trip to look forward to.

The controversy between Valley Swim Club and Creative Steps Day Camp received national media attention and camp director Alethea Wright says it caught the eye of Perry:

"He has offered to take the children to Disney World, and their parents, give them a day at the park, give them a day at the water park and to include air fare as well."

Perry, a once homeless comedian, is now the 15th highest paid man in Hollywood, according to Forbes magazine.

Quarterback Denies Assault


A woman has filed a lawsuit accusing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her last summer in his penthouse room at a casino in Lake Tahoe during a celebrity golf tournament.


Roethlisberger's lawyer adamantly denied the allegations Tuesday.

"Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone. The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct. If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated," David Cornwell said in a statement.

The claim seeks at least $390,000 in damages from the quarterback, who has won two Super Bowls and is one of the biggest names in sports. The lawsuit also alleges hotel officials for Harrah's Lake Tahoe went to great lengths to cover up the incident.

Teresa Duffy, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office in Douglas County, which includes part of Lake Tahoe, said no complaints were filed about such an incident either with sheriff's deputies or the district attorney's office.

The woman's lawsuit says she didn't file a criminal complaint because she feared she would be fired and expected Harrah's would side with Roethlisberger.

The woman said she had been promoted from VIP shift manager and was working as an executive casino host when Roethlisberger struck up a friendly conversation at her desk during the golf tournament.

The next day, July 11, 2008, she said he telephoned her to tell her his television sound system wasn't working and asked her to look at it.

She said she was unable to find a technician so she decided to handle it herself because she had been told how important it was to please celebrities.

In Roethlisberger's room she said she determined the TV was functioning properly but as she turned to leave but the 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback stood in front of the door and blocked her, the suit claims.

The lawsuit said he then grabbed her and started to kiss her. It said she was "shocked and stunned that this previously friendly man, that appeared to be a gentleman in her previous contacts with him was suddenly preventing her from leaving, was assaulting her and battering her."

She said she feared that because he was a football player he could or would physically harm her if she tried to fight him off but that she objected and protested several times.

"But instead of stopping, Roethlisberger began fondling plaintiff through her dress and between her legs," the suit said. He then "held her against her will and physically moved plaintiff and pushed her onto his bed" where he raped her, the suit says.

She told him "You don't want to do this," and begged him "I am not on any type of birth control."

Afterward, he asked if there was a security camera in the hallway. She said he then instructed her to claim she had repaired his television if anyone asked why she was in his room.

The lawsuit says the woman required hospitalization for treatment for depression after the alleged attack.

The woman's lawyer, Calvin R. Dunlap, of Reno, declined to answer questions about the lack of a criminal complaint and why the civil action was brought a year after the incident allegedly took place.

"Neither I nor our client will be making any comment," Dunlap said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "We believe the matter should be resolved in court rather than in the media."

The lawsuit also names eight Harrah's employees as defendants and alleges the cover-up involved the chief of security at Harrah's Lake Tahoe and was carried out with the knowledge of John Koster, president of Harrah's northern Nevada operations.

John Packer, spokesman for the hotel-casino, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

The suit says Harrah's security chief Guy Hyder gained the trust of her parents while she was hospitalized for depression and persuaded them to give him a key to her home. She said Hyder and others then entered her home and allegedly erased information from her computer and confiscated it.

The lawsuit claims that when the woman first reported the attack to Hyder he dismissed her distress and crying and said she was "overreacting."

The woman said Hyder told her that "most girls would feel lucky to get to have sex with someone like Ben Roethlisberger" and that "Koster would love you even more if he knew about this" because Koster was good friends with Roethlisberger and admired him greatly.

Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said Tuesday the team is aware of the lawsuit, and "we are gathering information."

Britney Spears Converting to Judaism


It's looking like Britney Spears will convert to Judaism for Jason Trawick, the man she wants to marry.

"Britney Spears has never been one to take things slowly when it comes to relationships. So it's no surprise she's considering converting to Judaism to show her commitment to new bloke Jason Trawick. The singer has been spotted wearing a necklace with the Star of David symbol on during her world tour. She has even recruited a rabbi to help her study the faith --The Sun..."

Harry Potter Actor's Killer Sentenced


The killer of Harry Potter actor Rob Knox has finally been sentenced for his heinous crime.

The "habitual knife-carrier" who stabbed the Harry Potter actor Rob Knox to death was today sentenced to life imprisonment and told that he will spend at least 20 years behind bars.

Karl Bishop (pictured above), 22, was given four life sentences and will serve a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty yesterday of murdering Mr Knox. The 18-year-old was stabbed five times outside a club in their home town of Sidcup, southeast London, last May.

He was also convicted of injuring four of the actor’s friends. Dean Saunders, 23, was stabbed in the neck and suffered permanent spinal damage. Andrew Dormer, 17, was stabbed in the chest as he tried to disarm Bishop. Nicky Jones, 20, was knifed in the hand and Charlie Grimley, 17, was stabbed in the face and arm.

The young actor had completed filming on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in which he played the part of Marcus Belby, just days before his death and was due to reprise the role in the next instalment of the series.

Bishop, who had a conviction for a knife attack on two men and who habitually carried knives, lashed out in revenge after an earlier incident.

He had refused to return to court to hear impact statements from Mr Knox’s parents, Colin and Sally, after being convicted of the murder yesterday.

Today, however, he swaggered into court smiling at three friends in the public gallery and at one point was heard to giggle. He stood impatiently in the dock and smirked as he was sentenced by Mr Justice Bean. Mr Knox’s parents and brother sat at the side of the dock and listened with their heads down.

After dock officers were told to take him down, Bishop, who was wearing a grey jumper, bowed his head in acknowledgement and left.

Colin Knox, 55, told GMTV this morning: “His body language was disgusting. When it comes to the crunch and he’s found guilty, he disappears into a hole and he can’t face the parents, the friends of Robert and those people he attacked.

“It just shows the guy’s values. He’s got no morals, no values.”

Mr Knox’s mother, Sally, 51, said that Bishop should have been made to go into court for the impact statements.

“Personally, once he’s got his sentence and he’s gone, I will not waste my time thinking about him,” she said.

“I just think maybe somebody like him may have some kind of disturbed mind, which may not be due to the life he’s had, it just may be something in him. I don’t know.”

Mr and Mrs Knox said that they wanted to do something in their son’s memory, such as setting up a youth centre or a sponsorship scheme for actors.

Bishop was told he would also serve life with a minimum of five years for wounding Mr Saunders, who will never walk properly again after being stabbed in the neck.

The two other concurrent sentences had minimum terms of two years for wounding Mr Jones and Mr Grimley. A further concurrent two-year sentence was passed for stabbing Mr Dormer.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Daughter To Care For 13 kids

The daughter of the slain couple is going to care for the 13 kids who were left without parents.

A Florida Realtor has become the eighth person charged in the slaying of a couple known for adopting disabled children, police said Wednesday.

Also, it has been reporteed that the couple’s adult daughter will care for the 13 kids her parents had adopted. Ashley Markham, 26, and her husband will move into her parents home to care for the children to fulfill her mother’s wishes.

Paula Abdul's Future on "American Idol" Uncertain


Celeb judge Paula Abdul has an uncertain future with "American Idol".

"As American Idol prepares for its next season and Paula Abdul's contract runs out, she says"I don't know [if I'll come back]," speaking to WAPE radio. Paula Abdul says"I love my job. I've been invited for the duration of however long Idol lasts, but, you know, I'm considering other options because so many wonderful things are becoming a real chance for me to really actualize and do."Abdul, whose contract expires at the end of this season, did not specify what those options were, but was hopeful her multitasking ways would allow her to stay on the Fox juggernaut."

We certainly think that Paula balances out the judging core and would be sorely missed.

Vick's Sentence Ends, More Judgements Await


Michael Vick's sentence ends on Monday, and now he will go on trial yet again, this time with the judgments of the public and the NFL.

Vick is suspended indefinitely by the NFL, and Commissioner Roger Goodell had agreed to meet with Vick only after he sees remorse and change from the 29-year-old former Falcon. If he does get reinstated by the NFL, he won’t be sporting a Falcons jersey; they severed all ties with the player in June.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said:

“The review of Michael Vick’s status is ongoing. We are providing no other details right now.”

It has been reported that he can play for the UFL, but as far as Vick is concerned, that would be a last resort.

As Vick’s sentence ends, so does the removal of the ankle monitor he has had to wear the last two months of his 23 month sentence while being confined at home.

Jon Gosselin & Kate Major Dinner at Accademia di Vino


Jon Gosselin was spotted having dinner with Kate Major at Accademia di Vino.

"Has Jon Gosselin moved on from Hailey Glassman to another woman? The reality TV father of eight had dinner with a mystery blonde in New York at the Upper East Side's Accademia di Vino on Saturday evening...At least from what we can tell, ...the mystery woman is Kate Major, senior reporter for Star."

Some are saying she is just talking to him for a media story.

Is she more than just a friend?

Chris Brown Apologizes in Video to Rihanna

Chris Brown has made a YouTube video where he apologizes to both Rihanna and the public.

He had this to say, "Since February, my attorney has advised me not to speak out, even though since the incident I wanted to publicly express my deepest regret and accept full responsibility."

Brown indicated he would participate in interviews in the future. "I felt it was time for you to directly hear from me that I am sorry. I have tried to live my life in a way which can make those around me proud of me - and until recently, I think I was doing a pretty good job.

"I wish I had the chance to live those few moments again - but unfortunately I can't. I cannot go into what happened, and most importantly I'm not going to sit here and make any excuses..."

It's hard to tell if he is truly sincere, and abuse is something that is hard to forgive.

Do you think Chris Brown deserves a second chance at being a role model?

Monday, July 20, 2009

World's Strictest Parents

If you are one of the world's strictest parents you should audition for the TV show.

CMT has a new TV show on its line up and it is called World’s Strictest Parents. They are currently in Oklahoma casting for its upcoming season, and are looking for families to host unruly teens for a few days.

Here is the synopsis for the show:

CMT documents the journey of two unruly teens from different families as they are forced to adapt to the rules and regulations of very strict host parents. Living under different standards from their families back home, the misbehaving teens will be subject to punishment for breaking rules and skipping chores while the strict parents attempt to mend their ways.

So parents, if you think you run a strict household and can tame an unruly teen, this may be your opportunity to get on this reality show.

And teens if you are tired of your parents’ rules and restrictions and think that your parents are way too harsh, now is your chance to test the waters.

Producers are looking for teens of all types, between ages 15 and 17, who are still in school, and living at home.

To apply to be on the CMT TV show World’s Strictest Parents, go online to www.theworldsstrictest.com

Here is a preview:

Snail Racing Championships


Ever heard of a slow race, well the snail racing championships have to be one on the slowest.

Over 300 feisty little snails will compete on a 13 inch track for the title of "Fastest Snail in the World". Anyone with a snail can enter the competition and a series of heats are held before the final.

The winner will receive a tankard full of lettuce. A snail named Archie completed the course in a world record time of two minutes.

The championships are held as part of the Congham Fete which raises funds for the town’s 13th Century St Andrews Church.

ESPY Awards 2009


The 2009 ESPY Awards were shown on ESPN last night in Los Angeles. Here is the complete list of winners:


Special Awards
Arthur Ashe Courage Award: President Nelson Mandela
Jimmy V Award For Perseverance: Don Meyer, Northern State University coach
Best Comeback: Dara Torres, Olympic swimmer.

Best in Sport
Best Female Athlete: Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
Best Male Athlete: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming

Best Moment: US Swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay
Best Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Best Coach/Manager: Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Best Game: Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
Best Championship Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Play: Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
Best Upset: US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Best Record Breaking Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Sports Movie: The Express: The Ernie Davis Story
Best Male College Athlete: Tim Tebow, Florida Football
Best Female College Athlete: Maya Moore, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Jason Lester, Ironman Triathlete
Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Erin Popovich, Swimming
Best International Male Athlete: Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Sprinter)
Best International Female Athlete: Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, Golf)

Individual Sports
Best Baseball Player: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Best NBA Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Best WNBA Player: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Best NFL Player: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Best NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Best MLS Player: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Best Male Action Sports Athlete: Shaun White, Skateboarding/Snowboarding
Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Maya Gabeira, Surfing
Best Bowler: Norm Duke
Best Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Best Fighter: Manny Pacquiao, Boxing
Best Male Golfer: Tiger Woods
Best Female Golfer: Lorena Ochoa
Best Jockey: Calvin Borel

World's Oldest Man Dies


Henry Allingham has seen and experienced more in his life than most people would have in three lifetimes.

He went to war as a teenager, helped keep flimsy aircraft flying, survived his wounds and came home from World War I to a long — very long — and fruitful life.

But only in his last years did he discover his true mission: to remind new generations of the sacrifices of the millions slaughtered in the trenches, killed in the air, or lost at sea in what Britons call the Great War.

Allingham, who was the world's oldest man when he died Saturday at 113, attributed his remarkable longevity to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women."

Jokes aside, he was a modest man who served as Britain's conscience, reminding young people time and time again about the true cost of war.

"I want everyone to know," he told The Associated Press during an interview in November. "They died for us."

He was the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force, which was formed in 1918. He made it a personal crusade to talk about a conflict that wiped out much of a generation. Though nearly blind, he would take the outstretched hands of visitors in both of his, gaze into the eyes of children, veterans and journalists and deliver a message he wanted them all to remember about those left on the battlefield.

"I don't want to see them forgotten," he would say quietly. "We were pals."

Only a handful of World War I veterans remain of the estimated 68 million mobilized. There are no French veterans left alive; just one left now in Britain; and the last living American-born veteran is Frank Woodruff Buckles of Charles Town, West Virginia. The man believed to have been Germany's last surviving soldier has also died.

"It's the end of a era— a very special and unique generation," said Allingham's friend, Dennis Goodwin. "The British people owe them a great deal of gratitude."

Born June 6, 1896, during the reign of Queen Victoria, Allingham would later recall sitting on his grandfather's shoulders waving a flag for King Edward VII's coronation in 1902. Transportation was horse drawn, coal was the primary fuel, street lighting was gas and in the financial heart of London, there was same-day mail delivery.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Paul McCartney at Citi Field


Former Beatles member Paul McCartney is going to do a show at Citi Field.

McCartney played Shea Stadium, the then home of the Mets, with The Beatles in 1965 and closed the venue when he performed with Billy Joel in 2008. The new shows will mark Macca’s historic run of shows in New York.

“I am really excited about playing Citi Field - The Beatles were the first to play at Shea Stadium and along with Billy Joel, I was the last to sing at the old Shea,” said Paul McCartney. “So to be the first to play this stadium is incredible. I am really looking forward to a buzzing show.”

The concerts will take place on July 17 and 18, 2009 and include music from The Beatles, Wings, his solo years and his side-project The Fireman.

Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Monday, June 15 from www.507tixx.com.

George Carlin's Book "Last Words"


Many fans of George Carlin are awaiting his book "Last Words" to be published.

Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, said Tuesday that the comedian's book "Last Words" will be published in November. Carlin died in June 2008 at age 71 and worked on the book for the last decade of his life. He collaborated on it with author and humorist Tony Hendra.

Hendra is best known for the memoir "Father Joe." Carlin's other books included "Brain Droppings" and "Napalm and Silly Putty."

George Carlin was known for his iconoclastic and politically subversive social commentary, and followed in the tradition of Lenny Bruce to become a leader in breaking boundaries of what you can and can't say. Some believe that after Richard Pryor, George Carlin comes in second as greatest comic of all time. So we can't wait to see the George Carlin book and "Last Words."

Walter Cronkite Dies


The death of Walter Cronkite elicited tributes from colleagues, presidents past and present, world-famous astronauts and those who hoped in vain to fill his empty anchor chair, all honoring the avuncular face of TV journalism who became the "most trusted man in America."

Cronkite died with his family by his side Friday night at his Manhattan home after a long illness, CBS vice president Linda Mason said. Marlene Adler, Cronkite's chief of staff, said Cronkite died of cerebrovascular disease. He was 92.

"It's hard to imagine a man for whom I had more admiration," Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" said on CNN. "... He was a superb reporter and honorable man."

Cronkite was the face of the "CBS Evening News" from 1962 to 1981, when stories ranged from the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to racial and anti-war riots, Watergate and the Iranian hostage crisis.

It was Cronkite who read the bulletins coming from Dallas when Kennedy was shot Nov. 22, 1963, interrupting a live CBS-TV broadcast of a soap opera.

"Walter was who I wanted to be when I grew up," said CBS's "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer, 72, who began working at CBS News in 1969.

"He set a standard for all of us. He made television news what it became."

Cronkite died just three days before the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, another earthshaking moment of history linked inexorably with his reporting.

"He had a passion for human space exploration, an enthusiasm that was contagious, and the trust of his audience. He will be missed," astronaut Neil Armstrong said.

President Barack Obama issued a statement saying that Cronkite set the standard by which all other news anchors have been judged, echoing sentiments from former Presidents George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.

"He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down," Obama said. "This country has lost an icon and a dear friend, and he will be truly missed."

Cronkite was the broadcaster to whom the title "anchorman" was first applied; and his name was at one point synonymous with the role even outside the U.S. — in Sweden anchors were sometimes termed Kronkiters; in Holland, they were Cronkiters.

"Walter Cronkite was and always will be the gold standard," said ABC News anchor Charles Gibson. "His objectivity, his evenhandedness, his news judgment are all great examples."

CBS has scheduled a prime-time special, "That's the Way it Was: Remembering Walter Cronkite," for 7 p.m. Sunday.

"He was a great broadcaster and a gentleman whose experience, honesty, professionalism and style defined the role of anchor and commentator," CBS Corp. chief executive Leslie Moonves said in a statement.

A former wire service reporter and war correspondent, Cronkite valued accuracy, objectivity and understated compassion. He expressed liberal views in more recent writings but said he had always aimed to be fair and professional in his judgments on the air.

But when Cronkite took sides, he helped shape the times. After the 1968 Tet offensive, he visited Vietnam and wrote and narrated a "speculative, personal" report advocating negotiations leading to the withdrawal of American troops.

"We have been too often disappointed by the optimism of the American leaders, both in Vietnam and Washington, to have faith any longer in the silver linings they find in the darkest clouds," he said, and concluded, "We are mired in stalemate."

After the broadcast, President Lyndon B. Johnson reportedly said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost middle America."

He also helped broker the 1977 invitation that took Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem, the breakthrough to Egypt's peace treaty with Israel.

Off camera, his stamina and admittedly demanding ways brought him the nickname "Old Ironpants." But to viewers, he was "Uncle Walter," with his jowls and grainy baritone, his warm, direct expression and his trim mustache.

When he summed up the news each evening by stating, "And THAT's the way it is," millions agreed. His reputation survived accusations of bias by Richard Nixon's vice president, Spiro Agnew, and being labeled a "pinko" in the tirades of a fictional icon, Archie Bunker of CBS's "All in the Family."

Polls in 1972 and 1974 pronounced Cronkite the "most trusted man in America." Like fellow Midwesterner Johnny Carson, Cronkite seemed to embody the nation's mainstream. When he broke down as he announced Kennedy's death, removing his glasses and fighting back tears, the times seemed to break down with him.

Cronkite was the top newsman during the peak era for the networks, when the nightly broadcasts grew to a half-hour and 24-hour cable and the Internet were still well in the future. In the fall of 1972, responding to reports in The Washington Post, Cronkite aired a two-part series on Watergate that helped ensure national attention to the then-emerging scandal.

As many as 18 million households tuned in to Cronkite's top-rated program each evening. Twice that number watched his final show, on March 6, 1981, compared with fewer than 10 million in 2005 for the departure of Dan Rather.

Rather, who replaced Cronkite at the anchor desk, called Cronkite "a giant of the journalistic craft."

Cronkite had stepped down at a vigorous 64 years old with the assurance that other duties awaited him at CBS News, but he found little demand there for his services. He hosted the short-lived science magazine series "Walter Cronkite's Universe" and was retained by the network as a consultant, although, as he was known to state wistfully, he was never consulted.

He also sailed his beloved boat, the Wyntje, hosted or narrated specials on public and cable TV, and issued his columns and the best-selling "Walter Cronkite: A Reporter's Life."

For 24 years he served as onsite host for New Year's Day telecasts by the Vienna Philharmonic, ending that cherished tradition only in 2009.

After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Cronkite was asked to introduce the postponed Emmy awards show. He told the audience that in its coverage of the attack and its aftermath, "television, the great common denominator, has lifted our common vision as never before."

Cronkite joined CBS in 1950, after a decade with United Press, during which he covered World War II and the Nuremberg trials, and a brief stint with a regional radio group.

At CBS he found a respected radio-news organization dipping its toe into TV. He was named anchor for CBS's coverage of the 1952 political conventions, the first year the presidential nominations got wide TV coverage. From there, he was assigned to such news-oriented programs as "You Are There" and "Twentieth Century." (He also briefly hosted a morning show, accompanied by a puppet named Charlemagne the Lion.)

On April 16, 1962, he replaced Douglas Edwards as anchor of the network's "Evening News."

"I never asked them why," Cronkite recalled in a 2006 TV portrait. "I was so pleased to get the job, I didn't want to endanger it by suggesting that I didn't know why I had it."

He was up against the NBC team of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, which was solidly ahead in the ratings. Cronkite lacked Brinkley's wry wit and Huntley's rugged good looks, but he established himself as an anchorman to whom people could relate.

His rise to the top was interrupted just once: In 1964, disappointing ratings for the Republican National Convention led CBS boss William S. Paley to dump him as anchor of the Democratic gathering. Critics and viewers protested and he was never displaced again.

Cronkite won numerous Emmys and other awards for excellence in news coverage. In 1978, he and the evening news were the first anchorman and daily broadcast ever given a DuPont award.

Cronkite's salary reportedly reaching seven figures, he was both anchorman and star — interviewed by Playboy, ham enough to appear as himself on an episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." But he repeatedly condemned television practices that put entertainment values ahead of news judgment.

"Broadcast journalism is never going to substitute for print," he said. "We cannot cover in depth in a half hour many of the stories required to get a good understanding of the world."

Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was born Nov. 4, 1916, in St. Joseph, Mo., the son and grandson of dentists. The family moved to Houston when he was 10. He joked years later that he was disappointed when he "didn't see a single damn cowboy."

He got a taste of journalism at The Houston Post, where he worked summers after high school and served as campus correspondent at the University of Texas. He also did some sports announcing at a local radio station.

Cronkite quit school after his junior year for a full-time job with the Houston Press. After a brief stint at KCMO in Kansas City, Mo., he joined United Press in 1937. Dispatched to London early in World War II, Cronkite covered the battle of the North Atlantic, flew on a bombing mission over Germany and glided into Holland with the 101st Airborne Division. He was a chief correspondent at the postwar Nuremberg trials and spent his final two years with the news service managing its Moscow bureau.

Cronkite returned to the United States in 1948 and covered Washington for a group of Midwest radio stations. He accepted Edward R. Murrow's invitation to join CBS in 1950.

In 1940, Cronkite married Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Maxwell, whom he met when they both worked at KCMO. They had three children, Nancy, Mary Kathleen and Walter Leland III. Betsy Cronkite died in 2005.

In his book, he paid tribute to her "extraordinarily keen sense of humor, which saw us over many bumps (mostly of my making), and her tolerance, even support, for the uncertain schedule and wanderings of a newsman."

 


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