From Anne Hathaway to Jennifer Lawrence, the red carpet's most glamorous and fashion-forward celebrities.
From sophisticated metallic gowns to a whole lotta leg, celebrities brought some unexpected style to the Golden Globes red carpet.
Nicole Kidman wore a sexy cut-out gown, Anne Hathaway looked polished in white, and Lucy Liu got festive in a floral gown.
Which star had the best look? Check out our slideshow and cast your vote.
Who had the best red carpet style?
More from TODAY: Heavy metal: Shimmer and shine on the Globes red carpet Red rules for Golden Globes fashion Look back: Nicole Kidman's glamorous red carpet history
A Sony executive has hinted the company?s next-generation PlayStation will be revealed some time around May.
Speaking to Chilean news agency El Mercurio, Hiroshi Sakamoto ? Sony Home Entertainment?s vice president ? confirmed the company has big news coming around the mid-way point of the year.
?It's still a big secret, but our Sony PlayStation friends are getting ready,? he says, ?I only can say that we're focused on the games related E3 event, booked for June. The announcement can take place there or even before, in May.?
?We plan to release big news for this date, but we have to wait at least until May.?
In this July 24, 2004, file photo, overall leader Lance Armstrong, right, of Austin, Texas, follows compatriot and teammate Floyd Landis, left, in the ascent of the La Croix Fry pass during the 17th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Bourg-d'Oisans and Le Grand Bornand, French Alps.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong negotiates the route on the way to his second-place finish in the Power of Four mountain bicycle race at the base of Aspen Mountain in Aspen, Colo., on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. The race is the first public appearance for Armstrong since the U.S. Anti-Doping Association stripped him of his seven Tour de France championships and banned him for life from professional cycling.
Lance Armstrong
FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2011, file photo, Lance Armstrong pauses during an interview in Austin, Texas. Armstrong said on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012, that he is finished fighting charges from the United States Anti-Doping Agency that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his unprecedented cycling career, a decision that could put his string of seven Tour de France titles in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Thao Nguyen, File)
ARMSTRONG
FILE - This July 25, 1999 file photo shows Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong being kissed by his wife Kristin, left, and his mother Linda after the 20th and final stage of the Tour de France cycling race in Paris. The superstar cyclist, whose stirring victories after his comeback from cancer helped him transcend sports, chose not to pursue arbitration in the drug case brought against him by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. That was his last option in his bitter fight with USADA and his decision set the stage for the titles to be stripped and his name to be all but wiped from the record books of the sport he once ruled. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)
Lance Armstrong
FILE - In this July 6, 2010, file photo, Lance Armstrong grimaces prior to the start of the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race in Wanze, Belgium. Armstrong said on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012, that he is finished fighting charges from the United States Anti-Doping Agency that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his unprecedented cycling career, a decision that could put his string of seven Tour de France titles in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
ARMSTRONG JALABERT MC EWEN
FILE - This July 28, 2002 file photo shows Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, center, flanked by best sprinter Robbie McEwen, of Australia, right, and best climber Laurent Jalabert, of France, after the 20th and final stage of the Tour de France cycling in Paris. The superstar cyclist, whose stirring victories after his comeback from cancer helped him transcend sports, chose not to pursue arbitration in the drug case brought against him by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. That was his last option in his bitter fight with USADA and his decision set the stage for the titles to be stripped and his name to be all but wiped from the record books of the sport he once ruled. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
ARMSTRONG
FILE - This July 23, 2000 file photo shows Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong riding down the Champs Elysees with an American flag after the 21st and final stage of the cycling race in Paris. The superstar cyclist, whose stirring victories after his comeback from cancer helped him transcend sports, chose not to pursue arbitration in the drug case brought against him by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. That was his last option in his bitter fight with USADA and his decision set the stage for the titles to be stripped and his name to be all but wiped from the record books of the sport he once ruled. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)
Lance Amrstrong
FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2011, file photo, former cycling champion Lance Armstrong smiles during a news conference at the Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, granted Armstrong an extension of up to 30 days to contest drug charges while the seven-time Tour de France winner challenges the case in federal court. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich
FILE - In this July 24, 2005 file photo, Lance Armstrong gestures from the podium after winning his seventh straight Tour de France cycling race, as second-placed Ivan Basso of Italy, left, and third-placed Jan Ullrich of Germany, look on, after the 21st and final stage of the race in Paris. Armstrong, he superstar cyclist whose stirring victories after his comeback from cancer helped him transcend sports, chose not to pursue arbitration in the drug case brought against him by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. That was his last option in his bitter fight with USADA and his decision set the stage for the titles to be stripped and his name to be all but wiped from the record books of the sport he once ruled. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong, right, chats with other riders at the start line of the Power of Four mountain bicycle race at the starting line in Snowmass Village, Colo., early Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. The race is the first public appearance for Armstrong since the U.S. Anti-Doping Association stripped him of his seven Tour de France championships and banned him for life from the sport.
Lance Armstrong, Keegan Swirbul
Lance Armstrong, front, talks to reporters after his second-place finish in the Power of Four mountain bicycle race at the base of Aspen Mountain in Aspen, Colo., on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. Race-winner Keegan Swirbul, 16, of Aspen, left, clapso his hand.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong guides his bicycle down the steps after his second-place finish in the Power of Four mountain bicycle race at the base of Aspen Mountain in Aspen, Colo., on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. The race is the first public appearance for Armstrong since the U.S. Anti-Doping Association stripped him of his seven Tour de France championships and banned him for life from professional cycling.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong listens at the World Cancer Congress in Montreal Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong speaks to delegates at the World Cancer Congress in Montreal Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong signs autographs for supporters after a run, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, on Mont Royal Park in Montreal.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong talks to supporters prior to a run, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, on Mont Royal Park in Montreal.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong competes in the Rev3 Half Full Triathalon Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 in Ellicott City, Md. Armstrong joined other cancer survivors in the event which raised funds for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong crosses the finish line of the Rev3 Half Full Triathalon Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 in Ellicott City, Md. Armstrong joined other cancer survivors in the event which raised funds for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
Lance Armstrong crosses the finish line of the Rev3 Half Full Triathalon with his ten-year-old twin daughters Grace, left, and Isabelle, right, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 in Ellicott City, Md. Armstrong joined other cancer survivors in the event which raised funds for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
Lance Armstrong
In this Aug. 25, 2012, file photo, cyclist Lance Armstrong prepares to take part in the Power of Four mountain bicycle race in Snowmass Village, Colo. With U.S. anti-doping officials set to issue their report on Armstrong's case, a lawyer for the cyclist on Tuesday again criticized the process which led to himn being banned from the sport for life.
Lance Armstrong
In this Aug. 25, 2012, file photo, Lance Armstrong considers a question from a reporter after his second-place finish in the Power of Four mountain bicycle race at the base of Aspen Mountain in Aspen, Colo.
Lance Armstrong
This April 1, 2012 file photo shows seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong grimacing during a news conference after the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas triathlon in Galveston, Texas.
This is a July 24, 2005, file photo showing overall leader Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, surrounded by press photographers, signaling seven, for his seventh straight win in the Tour de France cycling race, prior to the start of the 21st and final stage of the race, between Corbeil-Essonnes, south of Paris, and the French capital.
Lance Armstrong
This July 5, 2004 file photo shows U.S. Postal Service team leader and five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, third from right, framed by his teammates as the pack rides during the second stage of the 91st Tour de France cycling race between Charleroi and Namur, Belgium.
Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie
This March 21, 2009 file photo shows Lance Armstrong, of the United States, beside fellow countryman George Hincapie, left, during the Milan-San Remo cycling classic?in San Remo, Italy.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong waits for the start of the Ironman Panama 70.3. triathlon in Panama City, Panama.
Lance Armstrong
This May 11, 2012, file photo shows cycling great and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong at a rally in favor of Proposition 29, at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong (center) leads the pack coming to Jack's restaurant in Pleasant Grove, Ala., Friday, April 27, 2012,, on the fourth day of the Bo Bikes Bama charity bike ride on the one-year anniversary of the deadly Alabama tornadoes.
Lance Armstrong
From left, Bo Jackson, Lance Armstrong, Picabo Street and Ken Griffey, Jr. gather for a photo as the greeted fans and signed autographs in Pleasant Grove, Ala., Friday, April 27, 2012,, on the fourth day of the Bo Bikes Bama charity bike ride on the one-year anniversary of the deadly Alabama tornadoes. Jackson and about 140 bicyclists and the celebrity bikers rode from Cordova, Ala. to Bessemer, Ala. on Friday.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong waits for the start of the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas triathlon, Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Galveston, Texas. Armstrong finished in seventh place.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong competes in the Ironman Panama 70.3. triathlon in Panama City, Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. The race consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong competes in the Ironman Panama 70.3. triathlon in Panama City, Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. The race consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong competes in the Ironman Panama 70.3. triathlon in Panama City, Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. The race consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong competes in the Ironman Panama 70.3. triathlon in Panama City, Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. The race consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong competes in the Ironman Panama 70.3. triathlon in Panama City, Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. The race consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
Medium Light Stone w/Perf. Leather Heated Bucket S
K2021
3.5L V6
2FMHK6DC4ABA25404
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37,637 mi.
AWD SUV (4 Door)
127106|3484
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Interior
Leather seats
Heated drivers seat
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8-way power adjustable drivers seat
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Bluetooth
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Driver memory seats
Universal remote transmitter
Memory settings for 2 drivers
Power windows with 1 one-touch
Audio controls on steering wheel
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
Multi-function remote - Trunk/hatch/door
Navigation system - With voice activation
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Air conditioning with dual zone climate control
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262 hp horsepower
Automatic Transmission
3.5 liter V6 DOHC engine
Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 22 and EPA city (mpg): 16
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Xenon headlights
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4-wheel ABS brakes
Traction control - ABS and driveline
Head airbags - Curtain 1st, 2nd and 3rd row
Payment $438.16
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72
12
72
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Sunday, January 13th, 2013.Author : Max Cohen.18 views.
Self improvement is a way to improve who you are as a person, both mentally and emotionally, and to improve the life that you lead. In order to begin furthering your personal development, you need to be aware of the different self improvement techniques and strategies available, and then you need to find ones that work for you. There are some great ideas for personal development in the article below.
Take care of yourself physically to get the most out of your self improvement activities. Achieving your self improvement goals is more likely if you keep your energy levels high by getting a sufficient amount of sleep, exercising on a regular basis, and maintaining a nutritious diet. It may seem easy, but it can be quite difficult to properly care for yourself.
Set reasonable, achievable goals for yourself. Figure out what you do and do not do well, and you will learn a lot about yourself.
Picture how your life is right now and where you want it to be in the future. See your shortcomings. This is the beginning to starting a journey to a better you. By living in denial of these facts, you will sabotage your efforts of reaching your true potential.
TIP! Always be ready to write down any ideas that you may have at any time or location. Start out by carrying a small notepad whenever you go out.
Your personal goals should be concrete and specific. If you have more tangible goals in mind, you?ll be able to better resolve how you might accomplish them. By meeting challenges, experiencing success will shortly follow.
Someone might have told you that listening skills are just as essential as speaking skills. This is particularly sage advice if you are working on your self improvement. You should make sure you are always listening when talking to yourself. If you do not listen to yourself, you will not understand your needs, which makes it impossible to better yourself.
Personal Development
An excellent personal development suggestion is to always ensure you value what you think is best. Value your qualities and skills and learn to love yourself.
TIP! Direct your personal development efforts toward the values that are important to you. By concentrating your emotional energy on the positive aspects of everyday life and shutting out the negative, you will be on the road to inner peace.
A new trait that has recently come about is called sexual capitol. Right now, it is being research and looked at as important to personal development. This isn?t about sexuality, but rather about personal charisma. Many people aren?t born with excellent social skills, but developing them can make achieving your other personal development goals easier.
If you have extensive personal development goals, consider enlisting the help of a therapist. Self help books are useful to an extent, but they lack the substance or personal touch that a therapist can provide to a patient. Sometimes, success happens by simply talking problems through. Books can be useful tools but a psychiatrist is able to respond and answer your questions.
You deserve to have only the best in life, and until you realize this, you can?t really move forward. You should do your best because your best is what you deserve. At the end of the day, you can feel satisfied that you have given it your all, and you will have nothing to regret.
Staying positive takes a lot of willpower and it might mean that if you are positive towards others, then good things will come to you. If you consider things this way, you will wish only good things for those around you. You are less likely to experience extreme negative energy if you maintain your focus on sending positive energy to everyone you encounter.
TIP! You can?t change unless you make a directed, continuous effort to do so. If you want to change and grow, accept it, and do it.
The people in your life should have similar interests. Not only will this strengthen your resolve and reinforce positive attitudes in yourself, but it will also allow you a break from people who are toxic that badmouth your goals and dreams at every turn.
Use your strengths and patience to make difficult changes. Employ your skills, talents and abilities to make your self improvement program successful. You should not bemoan skills you have yet to acquire and instead focus on the good the skills you already possess can bring.
Not only is getting organized an achievement in itself, but it will help you to meet other goals faster. By taking a large goal and breaking it down to more manageable segments, you will see that completing your goals has become easier. Monitor how you are doing using your daily planner, or you can make a journal that is specific to your goals for personal development.
Do you consume alcohol more than you should? The harmful ingredients in cigarettes can cause COPD, cancer and a huge list of other diseases. Your body can best be described as a temple; make sure you treat it as such. A great way to improve your life is to say goodbye to bad habits that are only hurting you. Evaluate your lifestyle and habits honestly to see what you can start working on today.
TIP! Since nobody?s perfect, you?re going to fall off your diet plan sometimes and eat junk food instead of a healthy meal. Just like eating too much cake can negativity affect your health, stress can also have severe detrimental affects on your body?s health.
If you suffer from anxiety, try going to see a movie with a friend. This is a good way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. You can be social with your friend before and after the movie and will have to be around strangers, but you won?t have to be overly social and can recharge during the movie. You can use the trip as an opportunity to become accustomed to the company of others.
Regardless of what your needs are and how you decide to pursue them, there is one thing that is absolutely crucial. That one thing is you must choose to be an active person and live your life, not be a spectator. Being alive means learning, exploring, and forever enhancing your own personal development.
Don?t put off making decisions, as this could deny you opportunities. Do not fear decisions that need to be made, even if you do not have all of the information that you need to be sure of the decision. You will need to develop your instincts to make good choices. If you make mistakes, take the time to analyze what you did wrong, and learn from them. If you make the wrong choice today, you are almost certain to make a better choice the next time around.
Your body?s health and your mental health are two sides of the same coin, and each has a close effect on the other. Regular exercise and a healthy, nutritionious diet are two things every person should aim for. Remember, a healthy, fit body can contribute to a healthy mind.
TIP! When angry, simply count to ten without speaking. Breath deeply and imagine a calming scene.
Usually what brings your happy mood down is stress. Stress can take both a physical and an emotional toll on your body. Eliminating stress is essential for thinking clearly and achieving goals. Find some spare time during the day to be by yourself and to clear out your mind by relaxing. Taking the time to renew your center will help you to find peace within yourself.
Keep in mind that everyday should be better than the previous one. Steady, unending improvement should be your goal. Set a goal to do something you couldn?t do yesterday, or improve on something you were able to do.
Personal development goals that improve your health will improve many other areas of your life. People feel better physically and mentally when in the best shape. Taking care of your health will allow you to avoid illness and save money on unnecessary visits to the doctor. In other words, better health is one of the most gratifying goals you can achieve.
You can try writing yourself a motivational speech. Take a postcard and write down all the things that you like about yourself. Keep it with you, and pull it out if you are feeling discouraged. Take it a step further and record yourself reading your list. For what reason?
TIP! Try to make the most of your time at work and get more done. One effective way to work more efficiently is to schedule more regular break times.
As mentioned above, self improvement is the process of improving yourself, which can then lead to improvements in your life. If you want to make advances in self improvement, you need to understand what strategies will or will not be effective. By putting into practice the advice offered in this article, you will be well on your way to improving your life!
This is a Guest Post. Read more about the author here: Click Here
Increase Your Personal Development Success By Trying These Tips
University of Westminster offers master?s scholarships for the students from?Eastern European countries. The students must hold an offer for a full-time Masters degree at the university. The scholarship covers?full tuition fee waiver, accommodation, living expenses and flights to and from London. Awards will be given on the basis of?academic excellence, development potential and financial need.
Study Subject(s):?Scholarship is provided to learn all subjects offered by the university at master?s level. Course Level:?This scholarship is available for pursuing master?s degree?level. Scholarship Provider:?University of Westminster Scholarship can be taken at:?UK
Eligibility: -Applicant must be from Eastern Europe and hold an offer for a full-time Masters degree. -Applicant must intend?to return home to assist in benefiting a developing area of Eastern Europe.
Scholarship Open for International Students:?Eastern European?countries? students can apply for this scholarship.
Scholarship Description:?The Eastern European Scholarship is one the University?s most competitive scholarships and is meant to fund a student who intends to return home to assist in benefiting a developing area of Eastern Europe. Scholarships can be taken at?University of Westminster for pursuing Master?s level. Applicants need to apply before?31st May 2013.
Number of award(s):?Not Known
Duration of award(s):?Not Known
What does it cover??Full tuition fee waiver, accommodation, living expenses and flights to and from London.
Selection Criteria:?Academic excellence, development potential and financial need.
How to Apply:?The mode of applying is by post.
Scholarship Application Deadline:?The?application deadline is?31st May 2013.
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RALEIGH, N.C. -- Following the public inauguration Saturday, thousands took to the streets of downtown Raleigh for the inaugural parade.
Among the floats, convertibles and dancers were a few special requests by the state's newest governor.
"It's an incredible honor to be here today, we're really proud that Pat McCrory graduated from Ragsdale," said Ragsdale drum major Addison Prestwood.
McCrory requested that the band from his former high school, Ragsdale High, take part in the parade. But his requests didn't stop there.
McCrory also wanted the Charlotte Humane Society, where he adopted his dog 'Mo,' to take part in the parade.
"The fac that Gov. McCrory and his wife adopted their pet means the world to us," said Donna Canzano with the humane society. "We hope that other people follow suit and visit their shelters."
People smiled and cheered as the governor drove by in a classic red convertible. Many are hoping McCrory can turn the state around.
"Get us some jobs back to North Carolina, get us back on our feet and get us going for our kids and grandkids," said Keisha Powers from Granite Falls.
Alan Branson is the Guilford County Commissioner and also attended the parade. He's hoping for change too.
"A little better economic incentive packages, taxes, new jobs," said Branson. "Mend the transportation business out of Greensboro and I look forward to a turn of events for the better for all of us here in North Carolina."
Following the parade, McCrory and his wife hosted a public open house at the Governor's Mansion.
Rhone Fraser is an independent writer and playwright who earned his Ph.D. in African American Studies in 2012 from Temple University, where he has taught Caribbean and African American History as an Instructor and Adjunct Faculty since 2008. His work focuses on anti imperialist organizing in the African LGBTQ communities in Philadelphia, and he currently teaches African American History at Delaware County Community College. He also hosts of a cultural talk show, Freedom Readers, on WPEB 88.1FM West Philadelphia Community Radio on Thursdays 7-9pm.
As I read yesterday about the case of Goche Lamine, a medical merchant who was lynched this week in Cameroon after being outed by a yelling child, I am deeply saddened by the homophobia in traditional African communities. As the child of Black immigrants from Jamaica, part of me feels ashamed that traditional interpretations of Islam and Christianity can render homosexuals' lives so meaningless. The community that lynched Lamine was a traditional Muslim community, very much like the traditional Christian communities that persecute gays in Jamaica. Being a practicing Christian, I am fascinated with the reasons behind the deliberately fundamental, and conservative interpretations that colonized African communities choose to enforce based on traditional Christian or Islamic beliefs. Why do they use these interpretations to justify murder?
The countless murders of gays in Jamaica, and this lynching in Cameroon goes to show that men in these places are safe only if they blindly follow religious interpretations that require they deny their sexuality. Communities in these and other colonized countries are willing to kill to enforce these traditional beliefs, which are remnants of colonization. Reading details about the lives of these victims, I remind myself of Frantz Fanon's point (translated to the English by Richard Philcox) that the church in the colonies is "a white man's church," and that these conservative interpretations are trying to emulate the norms of a sex-based gender identity, and rigid heterosexuality. They do not allow for the complex, diverse identities of African people, exactly because they are symptoms of Western colonization.
I pity those who participate in such murders as victims themselves of colonization. These murderers, in killing Lamine only uphold their French colonizers' traditional beliefs, and further the pervasive influence of French colonization. There are many churches and mosques that receive funding only so long as they support a conservative interpretation of religion, and by extension the murders that can result. Homophobic Christianity and Islam have no tolerance for homosexual relationships because they do not procreate, and in doing so create more consumers to enrich the oil dependent Western economy, it's that simple.
The murderers might well justify their actions on moral and religious grounds, but they are ultimately serving economic motives. They serve as mercenaries for higher political powers whose motives are economic, not moral. If Lamine were allowed to cultivate his relationship, he would not "naturally" be able to procreate and would be the wrong kind of example to young people, who supposedly need to see only heterosexual men in order to keep the community alive. This conservative idea again privileges the profit margin of Western economies most of all, rather than any religious idea.
Along with being a Christian, I am also a playwright. Recently I posed a question on Facebook to my playwright friends about which works we felt adequately address issues of colonialism, war, and peace. I am interested not only in editorializing about tragic lynchings like that of Goche Lamine, but also exploring such dynamics in a fictional way in order to curb and stop this hate. While I appreciated seeing a production of Lynn Nottage's play "Ruined," which was set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I thought that she could have engaged the war and peace issue more deeply by showing how the U.S. supplied both the rebel forces and the government forces.
Julian Assange noted in a Rolling Stone interview last year that corruption of African leaders can always be traced to corruption that is supported by Western hands. In this way, the Muslim and French influence is related to this week's lynching in Cameroon. Likewise, laws in Uganda that call for the hanging of gays can be traced to the influence of Western hands, as Lucy Judith Adong brilliantly shows in her play "Just Me, You, And the Silence."
In it, an American evangelical has a conversation with a Ugandan church apostle about the money he is giving, as long as the apostle promises support of an "anti-gay bill." I can't help but wonder if Adong's play locating a Western hand in the persecution of gays has anything to do with her play not being produced. Nottage's play, which seems to identify African male misogyny as more of an issue than Western colonialism, has been both produced, and awarded the Pulitzer Prize. As playwrights, we have to, in the words of Langston Hughes, tell the truth as artists "without fear or shame." That has to include identifying the imperialist role of this nation in supporting and condoning bills that persecute gays. This most recent lynching has brought a new sense of urgency for me as both a Christian and a playwright, towards working for the anti-colonial cause.
(image source: Viper Islands, Andamans by Flickr user Snap?)
After 85 years, the world's most famous movie theater will finally be living up to its name.
Chinese TV maker TCL has paid more than $5 million for the naming rights to the venerable Grauman's Chinese Theatre opened in 1927 by showman Sid Grauman.
The Hollywood Boulevard landmark will now be called the TCL Chinese Theatre, helping the Chinese company raise its profile. The theater is used almost weekly for red-carpet premieres, and draws nearly 4 million visitors a year.
"This is one of the landmarks of North America," said Hao Yi, vice president of TCL Group. "It can be a bridge to link the cultures of China and North America."
REEL CHINA: More from the series
Indeed, the deal spotlights the growing ties between Hollywood and its most important overseas movie market. Major studios have cut billion-dollar deals to build theme parks and production facilities in China, which last year surpassed Japan as the largest foreign market for U.S. films.
At the same time, Chinese investors are acquiring high-profile American entertainment assets.
In September, China's Dalian Wanda Group bought AMC Entertainment, the nation's second largest theater chain, for $2.6 billion. Another Chinese company partnered with an Indian corporation to acquire Digital Domain, the special effects company co-founded by filmmaker James Cameron.
Declared a historic and cultural landmark in 1968, the single-screen Grauman's is known for its giant red Chinese pagoda and 30-foot-tall Chinese dragon ? and the cement foot- and handprints of cinema's most famous stars.
The theater's cultural links to China date back to its origins.
During construction, permission had to be obtained from the U.S. government to import temple bells, pagodas, stone Heaven Dogs and other artifacts from China. Construction of the $2-million theater was overseen by Chinese poet and film director Moon Quon, who supervised a team of Chinese artisans, according to the Grauman's website.
Hollywood showman Sid Grauman and partners that included silent screen stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks financed construction of the theater, which opened with the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille's film "The King of Kings."
TCL is not the first name change for Grauman's. For nearly three decades it was known as Mann's Chinese Theatre after Ted Mann, owner of an Encino-based theater chain, bought the cinema house in 1973. Warner and Viacom acquired the theater after the Mann chain filed for bankruptcy.
During the 1940s Grauman's hosted the Academy Awards ceremonies. The site has been used for numerous high-profile premieres, from "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939 to "Gangster Squad" last Monday. Actress Myrna Loy was among the first to memorialize her handprints in Grauman's cement. The cast members of "Twilight" were among the most recent.
"Sid Grauman was a showman," said Donald Kushner, who currently owns the theater with Elie Samaha. "We're trying to bring showmanship back to theater."
By putting its own footprint on Hollywood's best-known landmark, TCL hopes to expand its presence in the U.S., where the world's fourth largest manufacturer of flat panel television sets is relatively unknown. TCL has previously done product placement deals and marketing promotions on such movies as "The Avengers" and "Transformers."
The 10-year licensing deal will help fund improvements to the 85-year-old property. TCL has also agreed to sponsor a national and international campaign to promote Hollywood and its most famous theater.
The naming rights deal, to be announced Friday, comes 18 months after Samaha and Kushner acquired the theater. The previous co-owners were Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures' parent Viacom Inc.
"This is a monumental day," Samaha and Kushner said in a statement. "The milestone relationship between TCL and the Chinese Theatre will allow us to do many of the upgrades and the preservation projects we earmarked."
Planned improvements include a new extra-wide screen, stadium seating, superior sound and projection systems, and a new box-office marquee on Hollywood Boulevard.
Kushner and Samaha selected TCL from a list of prospective corporate sponsors culled by Premier Partnerships, the L.A.-based sports and entertainment sales firm that brokered the naming rights last year for the Chinese Theatre's Hollywood and Highland Center neighbor ? the Dolby Theatre, formerly the Kodak Theatre.
Some of TCL's technology, including large LED screens and digital signs, will be featured in the movie palace.
richard.verrier@latimes.com
Times staff writer Hugo Martin contributed to this report.
Jan. 11, 2013 ? An international team of astronomers, led by academics from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), has found the largest known structure in the universe. The large quasar group (LQG) is so large that it would take a vehicle travelling at the speed of light some 4 billion years to cross it.
The team publish their results in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Quasars are the nuclei of galaxies from the early days of the universe that undergo brief periods of extremely high brightness that make them visible across huge distances. These periods are 'brief' in astrophysics terms but actually last 10-100 million years.
Since 1982 it has been known that quasars tend to group together in clumps or 'structures' of surprisingly large sizes, forming large quasar groups or LQGs.
The team, led by Dr Roger Clowes from UCLan's Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, has identified the LQG which is so significant in size it also challenges the Cosmological Principle: the assumption that the universe, when viewed at a sufficiently large scale, looks the same no matter where you are observing it from.
The modern theory of cosmology is based on the work of Albert Einstein, and depends on the assumption of the Cosmological Principle. The Principle is assumed but has never been demonstrated observationally 'beyond reasonable doubt'.
To give some sense of scale, our galaxy, the Milky Way, is separated from its nearest neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy, by about 0.75 Megaparsecs (Mpc) or 2.5 million light-years.
Whole clusters of galaxies can be 2-3 Mpc across but LQGs can be 200 Mpc or more across. Based on the Cosmological Principle and the modern theory of cosmology, calculations suggest that astrophysicists should not be able to find a structure larger than 370 Mpc.
Dr Clowes' newly discovered LQG however has a typical dimension of 500 Mpc. But because it is elongated, its longest dimension is 1200 Mpc (or 4 billion light years) -- some 1600 times larger than the distance from the Milky Way to Andromeda.
Dr Clowes said: "While it is difficult to fathom the scale of this LQG, we can say quite definitely it is the largest structure ever seen in the entire universe. This is hugely exciting -- not least because it runs counter to our current understanding of the scale of the universe.
'Even travelling at the speed of light, it would take 4 billion light years to cross. This is significant not just because of its size but also because it challenges the Cosmological Principle, which has been widely accepted since Einstein. Our team has been looking at similar cases which add further weight to this challenge and we will be continuing to investigate these fascinating phenomena."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
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Journal Reference:
Roger G. Clowes, Kathryn A. Harris, Srinivasan Raghunathan, Luis E. Campusano, Ilona K. S?chting And Matthew J. Graham. A structure in the early Universe at z ? 1.3 that exceeds the homogeneity scale of the R-W concordance cosmology. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, January 11, 2013 DOI: 10.1093/mnras/sts497
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
It's a simple trick that serves no other purpose than to impress your friends, but that doesn't make these sunglasses from Parabellum and Oliver Peoples any less awesome. The shades feature almost no branding, until you breathe on and fog up the lenses—then the company's logo is conspicuously revealed. More »
Muhsin Muhammad, former Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl WR, joins Thursday Night Tailgate. He'll talk about his 14 year career, playing in the 2004 Super Bowl, his charity M2 Foundation for Kids and assisting impoverish women's shelters.
The Voice contestant, Diego Val, and Black Eyed Peas guitarist, George Pajon Jr. join On-Air with Douglas as they talk about Val's experience on "The Voice" plus their new project, Sons of Mariel, as they wrap up their debut EP, and take fans calls as well.
Tune in to listen to Season 2, Episode 2 of Verses and Flow with Luke James, and spoken word by Omar Holmon, Tasha Jones and Javon Johnson. Brought to you by Lexus.
WAFCA film critic Travis Hopson is joined by Flixist's Matthew Razak to discuss the newly announced Academy Awards nominations. Plus, the Cinema Siren joins in to talk about Kathryn Bigelow's controversial 'Zero Dark Thirty'.
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This week on the BIG show, with one month to go before the 13th Annual Black Reel Awards, host Tim Gordon sits down with two nominees, director Victoria Mahoney (Yelling to the Sky) and composer Kathryn Bostic (Middle of Nowhere).
Kay Lam welcomes Catriona MacGregor,MS,DD to share the spiritual meaning of Winter, what Mother Nature intends for us in this season. Catriona is a Gold Medal award-winning author, an authority on global environmental trends, a bridge between man and nature.
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On the next Storytellers, we'll be talking with multi-award winning Director Patrick Shen and Grammy-winning Composer Mateo Messina about their critically acclaimed Haitian documentary La Source, narrated by Don Cheadle.
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10 January 2013Last updated at 07:50By Michelle WarwickerReporter, BBC Nature
Bamboo shark embryos developing in egg cases stay still to evade predators, scientists say.
Australian researchers found that the embryos could identify electric fields simulating a nearby predator, despite being confined to a tiny egg case.
On sensing danger, they "froze" and temporarily stopped breathing to avoid being detected.
Sharks use jelly-filled pores on their heads called electroreceptors to recognise other animals.
These highly sensitive receptors enable sharks to locate prey, predators or potential mates from minute bioelectric fields.
The study, by scientists from the University of Western Australia, Crawley, near Perth, suggests brownbanded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) embryos are able to employ similar methods to detect predators.
"Embryonic sharks are able to recognise dangerous stimuli and react with an innate avoidance response," explained Ryan Kempster, a shark biologist and member of the research team.
The team's findings are published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Brownbanded bamboo sharks grow up to 1.2m (3.9ft) in length and are found in the Indo-West Pacific region as well as coastal areas of northern Australia and southern New Guinea.
Embryos of some shark species are deposited in leathery egg cases to develop independently of the mother. This renders them vulnerable to predators such as other sharks and marine mammals.
As the embryo grows the seal of the egg case begins to open. This means predators are able to detect sensory cues given off by the embryo's movements inside the case.
"This is the first study that shows a shark embryo's ability to detect and 'hide' from a predator by staying completely still and stopping its breathing," said Mr Kempster.
By simulating the electric fields given off by predators in a water-filled test tank, the team found the embryonic sharks responded by stopping movement of their gills and staying very still.
And if the embryos continued to be exposed to these electric fields when they needed to start breathing again, they did so at a reduced rate of movement of their gills, suggesting they were "hiding" from the perceived predator.
Shark-repellent potential
The scientists had predicted that the embryos would demonstrate a response to predator-like stimuli but were surprised by further findings.
Continue reading the main story
?Start Quote
There is more to sharks than just a sharp row of teeth?
End QuoteRyan KempsterShark biologist, University of Western Australia
The embryos also displayed an ability to "recognise" previous stimuli when exposed to the electric fields, and accordingly "[reduced] their future responses when repeatedly exposed," explained Mr Kempster.
"This means that sharks may become conditioned to current repellent devices if the signals that these devices produce do not change substantially over time," he commented.
Mr Kempster, who also founded shark conservation group Support Our Sharks, said the results of the study may provide "a stepping stone" to producing more effective shark repellents.
The organisation aims to save sharks from being killed as by-catch in fishing nets and as a pre-emptive way of protecting human swimmers from potential attacks.
He said he hoped to test the study's findings on larger adult sharks to see how the results may be used for the development of such repellents.
He added: "It is my goal to show the world that there is more to sharks than just a sharp row of teeth, and that we have so much more to learn from these amazing animals."
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ROME (AP) -Italy's watchdog body for sports events has announced that only a special public order officer will have the power to suspend matches in cases of racism, intolerance or anti-Semitism.
The announcement comes after racist chants prompted AC Milan players to walk off the pitch during a friendly last week with fourth-division club Pro Patria.
The watchdog body, presided over by Italy's police chief and the Italian Football Federation, says referees need to contact the public order officer via the fourth official. The officer can then decide whether to suspend the match temporarily and warn fans via the public address system, or suspend the game definitively.
Earlier Wednesday, a preliminary judge barred six Pro Patria fans accused of inciting racism from all sports events in Italy for five years.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A Microsoft legal representative has alleged foul play on the part of Google in withholding critical YouTube components from Windows Phone, relegating users of the mobile operating system to a second-class experience of the world's most popular video site. Google denies it.
Dave Heiner,?Microsoft vice president and deputy general counsel,?wrote Wednesday on a company blog?that Google refuses to let YouTube work properly with Windows Phone, and contends that's?because Microsoft offers a competing search engine, Bing.
But is Google really withholding features? A spokesperson for the company issued the following statement to NBC News:
Contrary to Microsoft?s claims, it?s easy for consumers to view YouTube videos on Windows phones. ?Windows phone users can access all the features of YouTube through our HTML5-based mobile website, including viewing high-quality video streams, finding favorite videos, seeing video ratings, and searching for video categories. ?In fact, we?ve worked with Microsoft for several years to help build a great YouTube experience on Windows phones.
In other words, the Web?browser version is feature-complete and should suffice.?
Still, Heiner said having "proper access" to YouTube on Windows Phone is "an important issue because consumers value YouTube access on their phone," and wrote?that "just last month we learned from YouTube that?senior executives at Google told them not to enable a first-class YouTube experience on Windows Phones."
Google's spokesperson did not?answer questions on this statement directly, but did tell?NBC News that "it?s not scalable to build and support individually tailored YouTube apps for every mobile platform."
This implies that?Windows Phone may be out of luck. Heiner's comments?come?in the wake of remarks last month by a Google Apps executive who indicated that they would not be working on Windows 8 or Windows Phone apps, citing a lack of users. "We are very careful about where we invest and will go where the users are but they are not on Windows Phone or Windows 8," he told the website V3 at the time.
Perhaps Google's tune will change if Windows Phone gains more market share. But for now its focus on iOS and Android, which together represent nearly 90 percent of phones on the market.
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBCNews Digital. His personal website is?coldewey.cc.
fund a student who intends to return home to assist in benefiting a developing area of Eastern Europe. Scholarships can be taken at?University of Westminster for pursuing Master?s level. Applicants need to apply before?31st May 2013.
