The best-ugliest Dog 2008

You may argue, but I am convinced that our planet and our people are the most unique and extraordinary. We don’t know much about other civilizations and lives, but we are sure to be always #1! Why? The answer is clear: we are eager to see something original and even beautiful in the most unexpected things. Understand, what I mean?

I am speaking about World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. According to Wikipedia, World's Ugliest Dog Contest is an annual contest at the Sonoma-Marin county fair in Petaluma, California, U.S., to decide which of the dogs entered in the contest is the ugliest. Along with the title of "The World's Ugliest Dog", the winner's owned gets a USD $1,000. The winner of the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog was Elwood, a Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mixed breed dog owned by Karen Quigley, a resident of Sewell, New Jersey.

This year California Competition was fierce at the 20th World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Somona-Marin Fair in California, where the bald and drooling crossbreed Elwood was fighting to retain his title and secure the $1,000 (£510) top prize.

They are sweeties, aren’t they?

Rascal Elwood

And who will dare to say now that beauty will save the world??? :)

BELIEVE in Eurovision 2008

The 53-d Eurovision Song Contest, hosted by Serbia, came to an end on the 24th of May. 25 participants, who represented their countries in the final, were trying to win the main prize and get the right to host the well-known contest in their capital in 2009.

Among the favourites, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey were named. As the final showed, the representative of Russia, Dima Bilan, knew perfectly well, why he decided to take part in the contest for the second time. Among the large number of possible representatives of Russia at the contest, Dima represented his country with dignity and won – Russia is №1 this year and Eurovision 2009 will take place in Moscow. Dima Bilan and his friends figure skater Evgeni Plushenko and violin player Edvin Marton created unforgettable atmosphere on the stage and made the whole Europe BELIEVE! Dima claimed that the number 24 is lucky for him – he was the 24th at the final and was born at this very day!

As for other leaders of the contest, they are Ukraine and Greece – beautiful girls from these countries managed to make the real hit of their songs and the hall in Belgrade danced with them. Ukraine is trying to duplicate the success of Ruslana who won Eurovision 2004. Last year Verka Serduchka was the second and this year Ani Lorak again only the second… But I think the representative of Ukraine Ani Lorak was very convincing with her Shady Lady! Armenia is the fourth in the draw.

All countries who took part in the contest and all the audience were really fascinated by this bright show and thanked Belgrade for this nice opportunity to have rest and to enjoy the number of the most talented representatives of different countries all over Europe.

It is interesting to point out, that the contest like Eurovision became very popular and the rights for organizing such a show went to East and America. So perhaps, in the near future, some other countries will enrich their culture by organizing such contests!

As for Eurovision 2008, it didn’t lose its originality and novelty. The contest contained a number of interesting and original shows, thus, the procedure of voting and choosing the best from the best was not quite easy. At the same time, Dime Bilan managed to win with the large advantage.

The only possible problem which I see in connection with Eurovision is its policization. I’m afraid the contest may turn into political rivalry and playing numerous political games. I wish it remained the festival of art and song – and not politics and dirty political games!

What about a dance with a star?

Dances not only make us healthy and fit, but also bring us aesthetic satisfaction in both cases: for us as participants and for us as spectators, nothing to say about the measure of this satisfaction when we speak about the 6th season of Dances with the Stars! Lots of fantastic episodes, a number of victories and defeats, lights, costumes, beauty, judges… What else can be said about this season of this popular reality show?

Reality show Dances with the Stars is based on the United Kingdom BBC Television series Strictly Come Dancing and is part of BBC Worldwide's international Dancing with the Stars franchise. This show is known all over the world and in every country it became popular and a real hit. The reasons for its popularity are clear enough: it is great, fantastic, a sight for sore eyes. People have an opportunity to observe their favorite celebrities in quite an unexpected role – as dancers. And it is necessary to admit that all participants managed to show their talent. As they say, talented people are talented in everything!

As far as the judges are concerned, their function was the most difficult. They had to choose the best from the best! Sometimes they were too strict and gave their points rather to professionals than to amateur dancers. But on the other hand, they couldn’t be too mild – in that case all celebrities might have become winners! I would say that notwithstanding some defeats, misunderstanding and mistakes, all the celebrities are winners. They had enough courage to start doing something new for them and did it professionally, didn’t they?

It is early to speak about new season of Dances with the Stars so far, but what is absolutely sure is that this show bit all other reality TV shows. And together with its positive features I’d like to point out another one, not less important: such shows have important social meaning – they develop our aesthetic taste, the feeling of beauty. People who are fond of dances and emotional life are not likely to begin wars. Isn’t it that what we need in the 21st century???

Jimmy Hendrix: Poking into the private…

Why do so many people like to poke into other people’s private lives??? Even if a man or a woman is a public figure, he/she still has the right for privacy and his/her own intimate life! Agree? The thing is that we are so interested in all the details of their lives, especially, intimate life, that we are ready to sell everything we have (or can allow ourselves to sell) in order to hear new gossip and updated version of new celebrity’s affair.

It is not pleasant if the person is alive and has to live with all that mud which is slang at him/her. But it is simply outrageous when we start analyzing people who are not with us any longer and give assertion of their sex life and number of partner they used to have!

I do mean this scandal with the sex tape with Jimmy Hendrix. Just imagine, how could that tape lie somewhere for 40 years and now somehow appeared available. Perhaps, someone needs promotion and is playing without rules? Of course, the main purpose of the porn company is to attract audience and make profits, I understand it, but, at the same time, the person on the tape is not proved to be Hendrix and all his acquaintances say it couldn’t be him. But as far as I understood, nobody is going to stop this and the aesthetic tape will soon see its audience in all the shops with similar products…

Enjoy Asparagus Festival!

You still don’t know where to spend the end of May??? Then do not sit in your arm-chair dreaming of having rest and eating something delicious, but buy tickets to the National Asparagus Festival, which will take place from Sunday 25th May to Monday 26th May 2008.

The festival features two performing stages, an Asparagus Alley with the best deep fried asparagus found anywhere, one of the finest celebrity chef cooking demonstration kitchens, a fabulous Spear-Its of the Valley wine and beer pavilion, a craft show, 600 booths, displays and exhibits in the show. While the asparagus auction will take place on Sunday 25th May, the focal point of the festival is ‘Festival Day’ on Monday 26th May, which this year will include cookery demonstrations by Rachel Green – TV’s Flying Cook, a craft fair, farmers market, silver band and tutored asparagus tasting.

The Stockton Asparagus Festival is honored to work with the City of Stockton to bring you this wonderful community event. Children under 10 may visit the festival free of charge.

Based at the historic Fleece Inn, in the tiny village of Bretforton, the Festival has grown out of the historic asparagus auctions, which have taken place in the area for generations.

A must for the asparagus lover, the Festival offers the opportunity to taste, buy and learn about one of the country’s most sought after delicacies.

Local hotels and restaurants across the Vale will also be getting in on the act and offering a range of delicious asparagus menus to tempt the palates of visitors.

Is the world going mad???

I couldn’t help asking this myself when I first heard about pregnant man who is going to give birth to a girl in summer. It was so until I got some additional information on this matter. As it turned out, this man was not quite a man, but ex-lesbian woman Tracy, 34, who having realized her real natural, decided to become a man, but did nothing to her sex organs. "I actually opted not to do anything to my reproductive organs because I wanted to have a child one day. I see pregnancy as a process and it doesn't define who I am," Beatie told in one of his (?) interview. "I feel it's not a male or female desire to have a child. It's a human need. I'm a person and I have the right to have a biological child."

Beatie’s wife Nancy cannot have a baby, thus, this mission was given to her husband. The couple is happy and is waiting for this baby. They say, it doesn’t matter, who gave birth to a child – parents are not going to mix their roles in the family.

Beatie says it was not that easy to find a doctor who took up the case, but at last they managed to do it, and Dr. Kimberly James defines this pregnancy as absolutely normal.

The case caused a real stir all over the world – so many people, so many opinions. I am not going to judge anybody, our life is so unpredictable! You never know where you win and where you lose. If these people feel comfortable in this situation (and I believe, they do, if speak about this case so openly!) I can wish them and their future daughter good luck. And if this case is so extraordinary, it doesn’t mean that everything they do is wrong. In the long run, it is their life and they made their decision.

America's Best Dance Crew is already known!!!

Yesterday finally fans of Jabbawockeez could triumph over their new title of America's Best Dance Crew! 12 best groups took part in this competition trying to win and get this desired title, but as it always happens, wins the best!

Week after week, each dance crew, consisting of five to seven members, worked really hard to demonstrate their most innovative choreography and sick dance skills. The crews were asked to recreate the moves seen in the hottest music videos, use their fancy footwork to reenact their favorite movie scenes and pay homage to the classic grooves (and moves) of the past. All these crews needed to impress the panel of judges, including JC Chasez and choreographer Shane Sparks, host Mario Lopez and, yes, American Idol's Randy Jackson, 'cause after the first dance-off, only the elite eight stayed in the competition. And finally yesterday at 10.00 MTV transmitted the final step of the competition and the winner was discovered! Jabbawockies got lots of support and votes and fought their main opponents Status Quo.

Jabbawockeez is an all-male crew made up of 6 members from San Diego, California. The name originated from Lewis Carol’s book entitled “Through the Looking Glass.” In this children’s book, Jabberwocky is a dragon who roamed the woods. The crew members wear white masks so that people will focus on their dance moves and not on the individuals. They have lots of fans not only in their country, but also abroad. This once again proves that they won this game not accidentally, but deservedly and can be proud of having the title of America's Best Dance Crew!

P.S. All other teams were great and did their best at the competition – this made it even more interesting and exciting! I want to say thank everybody who was somehow connected with this event – it was a great show!

Marriages are made in heaven: there is a proof

Marriages are made in heaven. You are sure to know this saying. And each of us, proposing to our sweetheart or saying “yes” to this proposal hope that our marriage will also be strong, happy and last for ever – will be made in heaven. You will say, not now, at the time of high divorce rate and adultery, at the time when eternal values have turned into bookish things and are almost forgotten. What I can answer you – it is never late to do a good thing, especially when we have such great examples – while they live among us.

Clarence Vail and his wife Mayme have been living together for 83 years. They got married in 1925, survived the Great Depression and World War II, brought up six children. Today the couple shares their secret of their long and happy (though not always easy) married life. They say they don’t have any special recipe or magic spell; they just took seriously what they said to each other in 1925 staying at the altar. “You take your vows, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer,” Mayme said. “I guess you just stick to it, come what may.” And it came. Together with all grand and great-grand children the couple has 186 descendants. Clarence and Mayme are proud of their family and are going into “Guinness World Records” for being married longer than any other living couple on earth.

What is even more interesting and seems almost incredible for all modern people, is that the couple is said to have had no quarrels since 1946!!! That’s a real art – art of communication, art of hearing and listening, art of compromising and forgetting… Isn’t it that recipe or magic spell we all need badly?! It’s a nice lesson to all of us – it teaches how to love, how to live together, how to understand and forget each other, how to be happy in marriage…

I want to wish the long-livers health and more joy from their children, grandchildren, great grand-children and great-great grandchildren! God bless you!

Sophie Sandolo – golf at the Olympics?

Sexy golfer Sophie Sandolo started playing golf at the age of 14 and since that time it is not only her hobby – it became her life, her career, her recognition. At the age of sixteen she entered the Italian National Team. In 2000 she began her professional career and still enjoys it greatly! Sophie is convinced that golf, especially played by women, is more than sports – it is somehow art, an ability to be sportsman and woman at the same time – an excellent opportunity to remain sexy, glamour, attractive and well-known. And Sophie’s fans have to admit that she really manage to achieve all this. At the beginning of 2008 Sandolo has got another idea – to introduce golf into the program of Olympic Games. “Professional sports like tennis and soccer made it, so why not golf” says Sophie. We’ll see whether Sophie really means it!

What may be even more appealing to Sophie’s fans – is her 2008 sexy calendar. After success of several previous ones, Sophie decided to present another one – for year 2008. Sophie worked once again this year with photographer Paolo Ranzani, and with him forged another artistic, adventurous calendar. Sophie says that in this calendar, she wanted to play on her belief that golf should be part of the Olympics, so her poses evoke Olympic sports. With the small amount of nudity, Sophie has taken sports and calendar world by storm, as it is even more popular than 3 previous.

International Women’s Day – past, present and future

When only spring comes, women all over the world celebrate International Women’s Day. Today no one knows for sure when and how this day appeared in the world history and why it gained its worldwide recognition. Wikipedia and some other internet sources explain how and due to what or whom we started celebrating this holiday. I thought it might be interesting to know a bit more about this holiday.

In the past. Humanity got to know this holiday in 1909. The first Women’s Day was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. According to one of the legends, connected with this holiday, women from clothing and textile factories staged one such protest on 8 March 1857 in City. The garment workers were protesting against very poor working conditions and low wages. The protesters were attacked and dispersed by police. These women established their first labor union in the same month two years later.

More protests followed on 8 March in subsequent years, most notably in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. In 1910 the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen by the Second International and an 'International Women's Day' was established, which was submitted by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin. The following year, IWD was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. However, soon thereafter, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed over 140 garment workers. A lack of safety measures was blamed for the high death toll. Furthermore, on the eve of World War I, women across Europe held peace rallies on 8 March 1913. In the West, International Women's Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled. It was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s.

Demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Russia proved to be the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik feminist Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in Russia, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared as a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of outstanding merits of the Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, their heroism and selflessness at the front and in rear, and also marking the big contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples and struggle for the peace" (Wikipedia).
Since that day International Women’s Day has got its popularity all over the world.

At the Present moment. The day remains an official holiday in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, and is observed by men giving the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc., flowers and small gifts. In some countries it is also observed as an equivalent of Mother's Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers. Each country has its own customs and traditions of celebrating this holiday. In Italy, to celebrate the day, men give yellow mimosas to women. Yellow mimosas and chocolate are also one of the most common March 8 presents in Russia. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Macedonia, the custom of giving women flowers still prevails. Women sometimes get gifts from their employers too. School children often bring gifts for their teachers as well.

What about future? I’m not much of a seer, but something prompts me we shall not lose this nice spring holiday. Our women are the most valuable treasure, and we should always remember that. For those who may overwork and somehow forget about it, we have this holiday. We are nothing without our women, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives etc. we should be grateful to them for everything we have in our life. And I believe the celebration of this holiday at the beginning of spring is rather symbolic. In spring everyone has new hopes, new expectations, new relations… We want to be better, brighter, happier! And that’s why at this very time we celebrate the holiday of everlasting beauty, love, tenderness. Frankly speaking, we don’t need another holiday to say “I love you”. We can do it every day, every hour, every minute of our life, because a Woman really deserves it!

Happy birthday, “leaplings”!

Do you remember what kind of day it is today? You do? Sure, it is the 29th of February, the date, which occurs once in four years due to the existence of leap years. Especially those who are born this day, have been looking forward to celebrate their real birthday for three years!!! Now you have a chance to do your best, get presents, warm words and plenty of positive emotions, because it is only your day, and you have the right to enjoy it in full!

And what about a leap year in general? According to Wikipedia, February 29 is a date that occurs only every four years, in years evenly divisible by 4, such as 1988, 1996, 2008 or 2016 (with the exception of century years not divisible by 400, such as 1900) for the Gregorian calendar, which is most widely used in the world today. These are called leap years, and February 29 is the 60th day of the Gregorian calendar in such a year, with 306 days remaining until the end of that year. February 29 is also known as bissextile day or Leap Day.

Although the modern calendar counts a year as 365 days, a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, an extra twenty-four hours have accumulated, so one extra day is added to that calendar to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position.

The leap day was introduced as part of the Julian reform. The day following the Terminalia (23 February) was doubled, forming the so-called "bis sextum". The first day of the bis sextum (February 24) came to be regarded as the intercalated or "bissextile" day. February 29 came to be regarded as the leap day when the Roman system of numbering days was replaced by sequential numbering in the late Middle Ages. It’s worth mentioning that in the European Union, February 29 officially became the leap day only in 2000.

People were always interested in different traditions and superstitions connected with the leap year and the leap day. There is a tradition that women may make a proposal of marriage to men only in leap years, further restricted in some cases to only February 29. There is a tradition that in 1288 the Scottish parliament under Queen Margaret legislated that any woman could propose in Leap Year; few parliament records of that time exist, and none concern February 29. Another component of this tradition was that if the man rejects the proposal, he should soften the blow by providing a kiss, one pound currency, and a pair of gloves (some later sources say a silk gown). There were similar notions in France and Switzerland.

A person who was born on February 29 may be called a "leapling". In non-leap years they may celebrate their birthday on 28 February or 1 March. There are not so many people born on the 29th of February. They say there are about 4 million of leaplings in the world. Among those people are Gioacchino Rossini (Italian composer), Pepper Martin (baseball player), Dinah Shore (American singer), Jaguar (Brazilian cartoonist) and many other people. Whether the date of birth influenced their life or not is difficult to say. Even if it does, let’s hope, in a positive way. Happy birthday, leaplings!!!!

Sarah Palin – not just “another” women in the world politics

As a majority of men, I adore women and though we very often fail to understand each other, I’m inclined to think, that we cannot be apart. We need each other as two opposite things which are constantly attracted to each other. Some women are fond of feminism and think they need more rights. But do they? Those times when women’s main duty was to take care of their home, sank into oblivion. Now they, together and very often much better than men, manage the world economy and take an active part in the world politics. Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, Yulia Tymoshenko… These women have done a lot to be part of the world history (and the subject of my article).

Today I’d like to mention another women in politics, who is also does her job in a good way. Even men-politicians cannot but admit this. I mean Sarah Palin, Alaska Governor. She is the youngest governor in Alaskan history (42 years old upon taking office), as well as the first woman to hold the office in Alaska. In addition to being Alaska's youngest governor, Palin is also the first who was born after Alaska achieved statehood. She is also the first Alaska governor not to be inaugurated in Juneau, instead choosing to hold her inauguration ceremony in Fairbanks.

She took office on Dec. 4, 2006. Since taking office, her top priorities have been resource development, education and workforce development, public health and safety, and transportation and infrastructure development. Under her leadership, Alaska invested $1 billion in the state’s education fund and implemented the Senior Benefits Program that provides support for low-income older Alaskans. She created Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office to provide oversight and maintenance of oil and gas equipment, facilities and infrastructure, and the Climate Change Subcabinet to prepare a climate change strategy for Alaska.

She is married to Todd Palin, a lifelong Alaskan, a production operator on the North Slope and a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, the world's longest snowmachine race.Todd and Sarah have four children – Track, Bristol, Willow and Piper.

Palin is a lifetime member of the NRA and enjoys hunting, fishing, Alaska history, and all that Alaska's great outdoors has to offer.

Will you still claim that women do not have enough rights or cannot do their job in a proper way? I can hardly believe that! I admire those women who managed not only to combine career and family (a lot of women say so), but also to achieve recognition and respect in such a “male” thing as politics. But I also think that men play their role here too. Sarah is sure to feel the support of her husband and her children and that helps her to remove mountains!!!

Yulia Tymoshenko – a dark horse in the politics of Ukraine

Yulia Tymoshenko is known as one of the most powerful politicians in Ukraine. Though I don’t quite like to write about politics, I believe, Yulia is one of those who people who are often discussed not only in their own country, but also abroad. The prime minister of Ukraine, a key person in the Orange revolution, an active fighter for the rights of Ukrainians, an iron lady in the history of Ukraine… She has both, supporters and opponents, but among all those politicians who pretend to be working in Ukrainian Parliament, she seems to be the only one, who really tries to do something for the sake of her voters and other citizens of Ukraine.

Nowadays, it is still rather difficult to give a detailed and exact portrait of Yulia Tymoshenko. She entered the politics in the mid-1990s and since that time managed to become a multi-billionaire, worked as prime minister, was sacked and afterwards still got what she wanted. She tries to look like a peasant girl with a plait against the back of her head. But Tymoshenko's peasant look is somewhat misleading. She is in fact a very wealthy woman, who gained her fortune in highly debated circumstances before entering politics. She made the transition from a member of Ukraine's disliked new moneyed elite to a skilled marshal of the anger of the public square three years ago, when she mounted an energetic, if ultimately unsuccessful, campaign to topple the increasingly loathed president, Leonid Kuchma. Her original entry into politics came earlier; but her Hromada party was seen then as only one of a rash of factions cynically created by the new tycoons to advance their business interests.

Now Yulia continues fighting for the rights of Ukrainian people. Her government is said to be the most democratic in comparison with ex-prime minister Victor Yanukovych. The political situation in Ukraine is still uncertain due to different reasons and it still remains unknown whether Yulia Tymoshenko and her government will be able to fulfill all their pre-election promises. At least many Ukrainians believe in this fair-haired woman. And if she really wants to change the situation for the better, she has the age!

Shooting at Illinois University: regularity or tragic exception?

What’s going on, guys? Are we losing our mind? Is it the end of the world coming? How can a person enter a lecture hall and start shooting trying to kill as many people as possible? Is it ok in the 21st century?

I still cannot calm down. The world seems to have gone mad!!! Shooting at school and at the university have become regular practice! You cannot be sure, that you may see your child after he/she has gone to study! It’s terrible.

You know what event I mean. Sure thing, this terrible shooting at Northern Illinois University. The killer was unofficially named Steve Kazmierczak, age 27. One of the possible reasons of the shooting is some failure in relations. The killer is said to have been rejected and wanted to revenge. But what all those 162 students who were to be present at the lecture have to do with Kazmierczak’s problems??? Especially those, who died: Catalina Garcia, 20; Ryanne Mace, 19; Julianna Gehant, 32? Is it another way of solving the problems and getting rid of depression?

Some people died, others were injured and still suffer not only physically, but also mentally.
Witnesses said the gunman kicked open a door near the stage in Cole Hall just 10 minutes before the end of the lecture and started shooting with the shotgun without saying a word.

Dispensing with the shotgun, the gunman - who was wearing a black ski cap and black trenchcoat - pulled out a pistol and walked down the aisles firing it into the crowd of terrified students. He aimed at the heads of the students.

Writing this, I still cannot come to myself. It’s really hard to believe in these and many other recent not less tragic events. Trying to find an answer to my own numerous questions, I analysed this and some recent similar murders, in which many innocent people died. And I’m really scared because of this uncontrolled level of aggression. It’s psychologists’ work to identify the reasons and possible salvation of this problem. But from my point of view as an ordinary citizen, if we do nothing with this, we are really risking our life and limb. We may be afraid of getting out of the house…

Kathryn Faughey found dead in her office

New York City psychologist Kathryn Faughey was found dead in her office. She had been hacked to death by a meat cleaver according to police detectives. Another therapist was seriously injured and probably heard the screaming of the woman and rushed to help, but he was "slashed numerous times in the face and neck," according to the Daily News.

The police believe that the suspect is a white middle-aged male with blond/light hair who possibly fled through the basement. Moreover, he was Kathryn Faughey’s patient.

Faughey, a licensed psychologist, a 56 year-old woman, practiced cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing thoughts that cause feelings or behaviors.

It was really terrible to be attacked in such a severe way. There were two weapons found on the scene: a meat cleaver and a 9-inch knife, both of which were bent from the attacks. A doorman said that he witnessed the suspect go into the building, but didn't see him leave. He also added that the man looked like a real psycho.

Dr. Shinbach is at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell in serious but stable condition. Let’s only hope that the police will be able to find this man and he will get his just deserts!

Cher is over sixty and doesn’t care!

I'd better do what I can do while I can do it
Cher

There are some people who seem to have no age. They are always full of life, active and never stop at what they already have. Cher is one of them. She is not afraid of her age and is perfectly sure that this cannot prevent her from being the best. And that’s true!

Cher’s life wasn’t an easy one. She, as well as all of us, had problems with her family, with her private life and career. Even now Cher admits, that “Gay men understand that I understand what it's like to be an outsider. To singers, I wasn't a singer. To actors, I wasn't an actor. I know what it's like to fight for your place. Besides, gay men are very choosy, and they have great taste.”

Cher is not only a chart topping singer, television star, academy award winner, a disco diva, rock'n'roller and a fashion icon, she is also interested in politics and from tike to time discusses political issues with her close pal Lou Dobbs. She has worked for Jimmy Carter, Al Gore and John Kerry. Though she's committed to Hillary Clinton, Cher isn't beholden to Democrats.

Despite all her liberalism, Cher was shocked when she found out her daughter was a gay. At first she didn’t know what to do and it took quite a loot of efforts to take things for granted. Now Cher and Chastity are very close, and mother admits she has learned to love her daughter for what she is.

Cher still has lots of plans for the future, she is sure she'll reclaim an entertainment niche in a culture awash in trash TV and tabloids. But her shrine of shiny awards hasn't entirely erased her misfit issues. "In my business, you're only as good as what you do today," she says. "But I think people like me. People feel friendly toward me, maybe because I've been around most of their lives. And their parents' lives."

Such people as Cher never give up, till they can and want to work. For people who really like her and are her fans, she will always remain the icon of style, industriousness and optimism, despite all problems and misunderstanding. Our life is so short, why should we waste it on trifles…

Brazilian bombshell Izabel Goulart

“I believe that one of the saddest things in the world today is that some people don't have enough food to nourish themselves. It's the 21st century and that's really not acceptable, so if I could do something that would change that I would be really happy.”- Izabel Goulart

The saying says everything for its author, doesn’t it? But when you look at the photos of this young beautiful Brazilian model, you cannot expect anything else. She is a real sex symbol of Brasilia and gains more and more recognition day by day.

It didn’t take much time to discover her beauty and her talent. Notwithstanding some problems with the clothes during her first runway show, Izabel managed to achieve quite a lot during several years. By 2005, Izabel’s success on the catwalk prompted a move to the Big Apple, where she was instantly signed to a multiyear contract by Victoria’s Secret and put on the catwalk with Gisèle Bündchen, Marisa Miller, Adriana Lima, Petra Nemcova, and Alessandra Ambrosio. Izabel made her debut for the company later that year by modeling a bikini made out of candy at the 2005 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The girl was afraid that some of her outfit might fall, bur everything was OK and it was a real success!

But the girl didn’t want to stop at what she already had: in addition to being a Victoria’s Secret Angel, she was also recently named to Esquire magazine's annual list of 100 things, people, ideas, and trends that readers need to know. Perhaps that’s because she’s spent the past few years sashaying down the runway for top designers like Bill Blass, Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren, and appearing in ads for big-name brands like Diesel, Forum, Yohji Yamamoto, and Zoomp. Izabel increased her portfolio in 2007 when she made her acting debut in an episode of Entourage.
But apart of her work as one of the most popular models, she enjoys playing bowling, tennis, shooting hoops and cooking. Her favorite designers are Betsey Johnson and Marc Jacobs. Even without make up this girl looks her best and may be proud of herself! She really became of the sexiest girls of the 21st century.
But why should we talk, if we can look instead…

Rebecca De Mornay – Milady of the 21st century?

Is it an easy task to remain popular and live in the public eye? Perhaps, not always. Celebrities have no chances to relax and to live for themselves. But, perhaps, they are used to this constant attention and do not find it embarrassing any more… We’d better ask them about it.

When only a person makes a step in a wrong direction, this misbehavior is noticed and described in details at once. All celebrities have gone through this, notwithstanding their age, moral principles and convictions. Remember, last year it was Rebecca De Mornay, who was arrested for drunk-driving in November 2007. It was rather widely discussed and analyzed at that time.

In general, Rebecca has gained her popularity having taken part in several films, including “Risky Business”, “One from the Heart”, “And God Created Woman” and some others. She has always been dreaming of gaining recognition and only she herself can say whether she is satisfied with what she has or not. She divorced her husband Patrick O’Neal in 2002; she has two daughters and is really obsessed with her main role of a mother.

Some critics claim that Rebecca didn’t manage to show all her potential in those films she had starred in (they didn’t become rather popular, even taking into account her partners Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas). They also say that, perhaps, she will get more popularity and recognition as a writer… At the same time nobody underestimates her talent and sexy appearance.

From rags to Riches: Daniela Cott

Do you believe in magic? Have you ever seen miracles in your life? I’ve already convinced myself, that our life with all its cruelty, injustice and meanness can sometimes make good and unexpected surprises. The same happened to a young 15-year-old girl Daniela Cott. Several months ago she gathered rests from garbage in order to feed her family and earn 5 Euros a day. May be she appeared in the right place at the right time. And this meeting (I can hardly call it coincidence) changed the life of the girl forever.

A scouter was impressed by her beautiful green eyes and almost anorexic beauty. This man was really a messenger of destiny. In several days Daniela called him, as he asked her to do that, and soon she became part of Haru Models modeling agency.

Her first work as a model was a photo session for a clothing brand and she earned 125 Euros in clothes and 75 Euros in cash. She used part of that money for inviting her family to dine out in a buffet restaurant. The girl is really very excited and doesn’t know whether to cry or to laugh.

Daniela is said to have nice model future, and even her bulimic past is unlikely to play an important role now. She has to learn a lot, she has to realize what has happened to her, and as soon as the first shock will be over, she will know what is what and who is who. Good luck! As they say, God sees everything, and you cannot say that our life is a mess! As it turns out, not always…

Could a bodyguard Anna Loginova protect her own life?

Our life is so unpredictable! You never know where you lose, and where you win… Luck was not with Anna that evening. Though everything began in a usual way, she simply went to buy a kitten and was never to come back…

Anna Loginova, a 29-year old female, was a Russian model who started a bodyguard agency with females, some trained by the ex-KGB, to protect Moscow’s newly rich businessmen. But, unfortunately, she was killed, while trying to stop a young man from stealing her silver Porche Cayenne on Sunday night.

According to the evidence, the man pulled the door open, grabbed the woman and dragged her out of the car. Afterwards, he quickly got into her Porsche Cayenne and shut the door. Everything happened in an instant. However, the young woman did not intend to give up without a fight. She got up onto her feet and gripped the handle on the door of her car. The woman did not let it go even when the car tore away. The hijacker dragged the Porsche owner several meters before she released her hands. The woman hit her head on the asphalt road and died of a serious cranial injury.

Anna Loginova was known as the most glamorous bodyguard. She took part in advertising campaigns for BMW, Chanel and other world-known brands. Collaborating with BMW, Loginova took a course of extreme driving…

Anna by all her actions and behavior tried to prove that a woman is not a representative of a fair sex – a woman can also be strong, powerful and… know what to do with a gun. Unfortunately, this knowledge didn’t help her to protect herself…

To Johnny Weir’s funs dedicated…

A 23-year-old Johnny Weir after having moved to a separate flat and having found a new coach Galina Zmievskaya, really got the second wind, changed the whole program and was inspired and eager to win at U.S. Competition in Saint Paul, Minn. Last year Johnny was the third and this time he was determined to show judges, audience and all his rivals, that he was working his fingers to the bone in order to prove that this third place will never happen again. And really, with his new coach he had time only to eat, sleep, clean and skate, skate and skate.

Johnny’s main rival is current U.S. Champion Evan Lysacek, with whom Weir has developed the most intriguing rivalry in U.S. men's skating in recent years. Johnny himself explains this rivalry in the following way, “I think that there is a rivalry just because we both compete for the United States and we both are competing for the same title. I think that it is exciting for figure skating, especially U.S. Men's figure skating, but that is where I see the rivalry ending. It doesn't matter to me what he does in his life or on the ice. [Lysacek] is just another person out there.”

But this time luck seemed to have forgotten about both: both sportsmen’s programs contained small mistakes. Still Johnny presented his program in a much better way, besides he got 1.5 points more. But the final result was a shock to everybody. The final score was equal for both sportsmen: 244.77. This result is sure to be debated and discussed. In order to make this score equal, the judges gave Lysacek more for elements, and gave Johnny less for technical merit. Free skating won Lysacek, as the result, he became the winner. Johnny took the second prize accordingly.

Unjust refereeing is now being widely discussed. Still Johnny’s fans and other people who have seen everything with their own eyes, know for sure, who was better this time…

Liz Murray – a heroine of today?

We often grumble that we don’t have something, deprived of something and that the whole world is against us! And we are so nice, so clever and so diligent! How can other people and the whole world fail to understand this???

It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? People, who are really SOMETHING, will always find themselves despite all hardships and problems, because they want it, they want to live and enjoy the life. There are many such examples, but today I’d like to speak a bit about Liz Murray. Everybody must have heard her story. What do you think of it? Did she have enough reasons to be angry with her parents, who had sold all valuable things, to get more drugs, with the school, where she hadn’t wanted to go in order not to be offended, with the whole society, that allow such things as drug addiction, AIDS, homeless children… But she wasn’t… And she isn’t…

She managed to escape from that terrible life and began her own, happy, bright and kind. She doesn’t have any malice in her heart and says that she loves her parents, notwithstanding all problems and hardships of her childhood. Determined not to be defined by her circumstances, she recognized education as the key to a fresh beginning and a whole new life. She earned her high school diploma in just two years — and won a scholarship to Harvard University that would turn a penniless girl into a well-educated young woman with a bright future. With her examples of hard work, determination and daily commitment to achievement, she instantly becomes an inspiration to audiences everywhere. That same gutsy strength that pulled her from the streets now transforms the lives of others, from student groups to business audiences in need of inspiration to overcome their own obstacles. And everybody listens to her and believes her, because she doesn’t intend to teach others, she simply tells her life-story, sincerely, truly, clearly. And this makes her stand out from the herd of other speakers, who do have the gift of the gap, but, perhaps, they have not gone through all those hardships and obstacles.

They say, that hardships and problems make us stronger. I’d probably agree. Especially, taking into account Liz’s example.

Now almost the whole world know Liz’s story, due to the film Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story.

I’m fascinated by the strength and endurance of this young woman. In one of her interviews Liz said that she want to have a good stable family, children, all that she was actually deprived of in her childhood. Besides, she doesn’t give up her work with homeless people. I want to wish her all the best in her life and work! She has suffered enough to have right to begin a really new life!

Robyn Bercovici

Robyn Bercovici, 27, was found dead in Lake Michigan near Fullerton Avenue on the North Side in Chicago Saturday afternoon. She is said to have left her building last Wednesday night wearing a down coat, but never went back. It is not so far clear, what caused the girl’s death. Officially it is "an unwitnessed drowning", but whether it was or not is not so far clear.

Robyn Bercovici was 27 year old and lived in a Gold Coast high rise tower near the lake in Chicago. She was just an ordinary girl and liked those things which most of young girls like. She liked TV shows such as “The Office” and “Arrested Development.” She liked movies such as Shawshank Redemption. The 27 year old graduated with a Masters Degree from Loyola and did her undergraduate work at Boston University. She was working as a psychiatric social worker prior to her death.

I wish I could write about Robyn Bercovici at present and then in future… But unfortunately it is impossible. The aim of this post is to make you remember this girl not only by her name, but taking into account who she was and was she did, what she wanted to do…

All my thoughts and prayers are with Robyn's family and friends!

Tara Guelig and “a reality show” ad

Trade and services are impossible without ads. And recently advertisements have begun to look like reality shows with real people taking part in them. A bright example of such an ad is that with participation of Tara Guelig, a girl of 26, who holds a bachelor's degree from The College of William and Mary and a master's degree from George Washington University.

Tara did not expect to become a hero of the ad. It so happened that some time ago she met with an accident - ran into the back of a truck at very low speed. She wrote GEICKO (the insurance giant) a letter. When everything was arranged, she just sent them a note saying thank you for great customer service. And in a year she got an invitation to take part in an ad, acting herself. So GEICO flew Tara and a guest (sister and Wellsboro High School senior Julian Guelig) to Los Angeles, first-class, in October. GEICO planned originally to pair Tara with world-renowned magician David Copperfield. But when Copperfield disappeared, GEICO brought in The Pips, Gladys Knight's backup singers, to pinch-hit.

Tara knew almost nothing about the Pips, but her mother told her about these nice well-known people. The Pips are actually a brother of Gladys Knight's, and a cousin, the third Pip passed away, so they have one of Gladys Knight's backup singers from Vegas to fill in.

Tara enjoyed working with the Pips who were really friendly and sociable and seemed to enjoy what they did. Even the number of takes (in one day of taping, a crew of 30 to 40 workers did 70 takes of Tara with the Pips) didn’t spoil the whole impression of the action.

Tara appeared in the ad without makeup and in her usual clothes. "They wanted to contrast me with The Pips and make it believable that I was a real person," Tara said. She expected that the whole team of specialists would work with her, but representatives of GEICKO wanted to emphasize that she was a real person and not an actress with the learned part of words. Even when she looked too unnatural or the words seemed to be too rehearsed, thay had to do everything once again.

Tara became famous after the advertisement had been shown on TV. She got a number of calls from her friends and acquaintances. "One of my old track coaches from college called me (Sunday). My ex-boyfriends are calling me. It has been a lot of fun in that sense," Tara said. Tara’s mother Daria said that her daughter had a nice ability of turning bad events into good events!

Alexandra Kerry’s Dress is still in the memory?

As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. And several years ago everyone spoke about Alexandra Kerry and her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in a see-through dress. But apart from wearing such a dress, Alexandra has other factors of her biography to be proud of.

Alexandra Forbes Kerry was born in September 5, 1973. She is the elder daughter of 2004 US Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. Her mother is Julia Thorne, who was married to John Kerry from 1970 until 1988. The couple subsequently divorced. Kerry holds a B.A. from Brown University and an M.F.A. degree from AFI Conservatory. She had a minor acting role in the 2000 Movie State and Main, appeared in a short film entitled The Last Full Measure and took a part in the 2004 film Spartan playing a bartender.

Kerry's appearance at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival received much media attention as a result of her father's presidential bid and her attire. Flash lighting from cameras reflecting off her body made the fabric of her dress almost transparent, similar to the effect of one-way glass. She wore no brassiere. Normally lit, the dress was not transparent. Nonetheless, critics questioned whether Kerry knew of the effect beforehand. The controversy was brief. Kerry in one of her interviews said, that she didn’t know about such a “quality” of her dress. Answering the question if she knew that her dress became see-through, Alexandra said: “No! I walked through the whole thing and nobody said a word. It wasn't until the next morning when my press person said, "We have a little problem..." Then my stepbrother checked the Internet, and he was like, "Don't look!" It was a complete shock and surprise. Even more of a surprise was that people made it as much of an issue as they did”. Her father eventually turned everything into a joke, but Alexandra herself couldn’t tell her father about this incident. Her younger sister Vanessa did.

I still cannot understand, what so unusual is in this incident!!! Our celebrities allow themselves to wear almost nothing, and that seems to be ok! The fewer clothes a woman has, the better impression she makes on the public. Sure thing, here we should also take into account Alexandra’s father. But as far as this point is concerned, I see nothing bad here either. In the long run, any father may be proud if his daughter is so pretty and has such a nice va-va-voom body!

Old and nice “Lonesome Dove”

So many men, so many minds. This saying is familiar to all of us and may be referred to different spheres of our life. But it is also true that almost all people (who like westerns, of course) find an old film “Lonesome Dove” one of the best films in its genre. What makes it so special, everyone decides for himself/herself taking into account his/her own preferences and professional qualities. The specialists of film industry pay attention to the quality of shooting, episodes, play of light, number of takes etc. But we, ordinary viewers, are looking forward to real emotions, those we feel every day, perhaps, sometimes a bit ideal, but human, characteristic of all people. The book was published in 1985 and already next year it became a bestseller and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It was then made into a four-part TV miniseries, which won six Emmy Awards and was nominated for 13 others. It spawned two follow-up miniseries, Return to Lonesome Dove and Comanche Moon.

The plot of the book is not very complicated. But it comprises everything typical of westerns: adventures, danger, love, dreams etc. Who wouldn’t like to distract from everyday life and watch this nice old movie?

If you ask me why I decided to recall “Lonesome Dove” and write about it, I won’t be able to answer this question at once. Probably, I simply wanted to express my own feelings and come back to something pleasant and nice. I have several favorite old films and books, and “Lonesome Dove” is one of them. Even of you know how all the events are going to develop and what happens next and next, you still watch it with pleasure emphasizing with the characters and feeling what they are likely to feel. And even if you say that this is not quite a “hot topic” I won’t get offended, because everything new is simply well forgotten old and from time to time we need to come back to those things, books and movies which are dear to us and not because of socko box office success, but because of some other things, clears and close to all of us! You know what I mean, don’t you?

Tenzing Norgay and His Dearest Wish…

Do we know much about those people, about whom we really should have the least inkling, be aware of what they had done and why they had gained posthumous recognition.

Tenzing Norgay, often referred to as Sherpa Tenzing, a man who came from a peasant family from Khumbu in Nepal, couldn’t read or write, became known all over the world due to his reaching the summit of Everest – the highest mountain in the world.

The young Tenzing knew nothing of this mountain called Everest, but soon found out that it was the same mountain as Chomolungma. Tenzing knew something about Chomolungma. While grazing his father's yaks he had seen it many times rising high above the nearer peaks, exalting the final rays of daylight with its crystal pennant of wind-blown snow. His mother, like all Sherpa mothers, had told him about Chomolungma; in the Sherpa tongue it was said to mean “The Mountain So High No Bird Can Fly Over It.”

Since his early childhood he has been dreaming of climbing the mountain and took part in numerous expeditions to Everest, but due to different reasons and circumstances all the attempts fell flat up to the 29th May 1959. He and his companion Edmund Hillary were first people to reach the summit of Everest. Technically it is still unknown who of two men was the first, but Tenzing Norgay never wanted to make a mountain out of a molehill and used to say: "If it is a shame to be the second man on Mount Everest, then I will have to live with this shame." Two companions remained good friends till the end of their lives.

Almost everything is known about the life of the world known mountaineer. He was married three times, had 5 children and a number of followers. His son Jamling Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest in 1996.

After his dearest wish had come true, Sherpa became director of field training for the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling. He died of bronchial condition in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India in 1986.

This information is not full, of course, but I didn’t put such a task – to retell the biography of Sherpa – I simply wanted to attract your attention to actions of such people as Tenzing Norgay, who spent his entire life trying to achieve his aim. His life was far from being easy: in his childhood he ran errands for his family (there were 13 children there), later worked hard to earn money for his family; wars, hardships, misunderstanding and lots of other problems didn’t break him, but made him strong and ready to fight till the end. Otherwise he wouldn’t have managed to reach the summit of Everest. "It has been a long road...From a mountain coolie, a bearer of loads, to a wearer of a coat with rows of medals who is carried about in planes and worries about income tax." The whole life story is combined in one sentence. I have nothing more to add…

Where is the secret of S.J. Parker’s “Bitten’s” popularity?

Probably, creating her own line of clothes Sarah Jessica Parker didn’t even expect to get such a success. Since summer 2007 it hasn’t lost its popularity – on the contrary, more and more women give preference to style, suggested by the celebrity. Her words "Fashion is not a luxury, it's a right" has really become a motto of millions of women who have an opportunity to dress themselves fashionably and do not pay through the nose.

Where is the secret of “Bitten’s” popularity? In the price? In the quality of things? In the name of the designer? Everything, I believe is here included. The collection is affordable to all women, the clothes are very practical, convenient and qualitative. But what makes this fashion line so special? First of all, sizes range from 2-22 - a huge change from the usual celebrity lines that cater to the thin shopper! And each woman without ideal 90-60-90 is sure to find a good thing for herself and feel at ease wearing it. And in addition to having plenty of sizes available the biggest draw for "Bitten" is that nearly everything costs less than twenty dollars!

Sarah didn’t try to sell her name – she did what she considered to be right and didn’t lose! Here are some models from “Bitten”:

The collection consists of different styles: an office line “Classics”, everyday clothing “Casual”, ultra fashionable “Trend” and evening apparels and lingerie line “Lounge”. In the clothes from Sarah Jessica Parker each woman feels like a queen and as Sarah rightly points out, "Women should be able to wear great clothes and not lie in bed at night feeling guilty about how much money they've spent. High quality, luxurious clothes do not need to cost as much as we've been led to think."

I am really grateful to Sarah Jessica Parker for “Bitten”. A woman should always be a woman, despite the fact how much money she has in her purse and without thinking how much money she can spend on her clothes this month.

Sarah created “Bitten” according to her own feelings and preferences in fashion. And her desire to do something pleasant for each woman – that is worth a lot! If it hadn’t been done in all sincerity, it wouldn’t have gained such popularity. Agree?

Britney’s popularity has sunk into oblivion???

People say that life is a rather changeable and unpredictable thing. Today you find yourself in the floodlight, enjoying the fame of a pop queen and tomorrow you have neither your career, nor your family or close people’s support. The same happened to the long-suffering Britney. After her divorce with Federline she couldn’t come around. She was seen in public without underwear, drunk, she shaved her head, beat a car with an umbrella and spent a month in rehab. But misfortunes never come single. And a week ago Britney was taken to hospital after she had refused to return her children to her ex-husband. A court commissioner gave sole physical and legal custody of the former couple's two little boys to Federline and suspended the troubled pop star's visitation rights. But as a jealous mother, Britney couldn’t agree to such a state of things, but she didn’t manage to prove her ability to take care of her children.

The people of art are known to be very emotional, hot-tempered and energetic. All these qualities may be referred to Britney. She gained recognition and popularity in the young age and can be really proud of it – the whole world knew and still knows her, but, unfortunately, in the worst light. What I meant to say is that popularity passes very quickly and it’s not an easy thing to try to live with the realization that you are not popular any longer. But where there is a will, there is a way. And the strong-willed Britney is unlikely to give up. As each normal human being she has a very difficult period in her life, but we choose for ourselves how we solve our problems and whether we remain human after we have come out of it, or … we don’t have enough spiritual strength to resist all the troubles of our life.

Nevertheless the celebrity is now in hospital, visitations are limited, she is sure to undergo examination. And “Spears’ scandal” is being discussed all over the world. The details of her meeting with police are interpreted, misinterpreted and will soon become the property of nation.

I don’t approve of Britney’s behavior; I can only sympathize with her – when her life goes all to pieces she can not even concentrate on her own problems without their reflection in newspapers. The constant lack of privacy and constant attention of paparazzi do not add moral health. And we are not ideal either to judge this confused young woman of 26 years old, who has lost her guidelines and faith in her own strength. I hope, she will find some inner strength and her close people will help her to go through these difficulties.

If you have anything to add or simply want to express your point of you, I’ll be glad if you leave a comment to this hot topic. I have expressed my point of view and what do you think?