Friday 16 April 2010

Is Nick Clegg the new Obama ?

He is relatively unknown and by general consensus stands very little chance of making it all the way to number 10, the Prime Minister's official residence. His party, the Liberal Democrats, has for decades has been viewed politically as second class citizens lorded over by the dominant Labour and Conservative parties, and at best were seen as a junior partners to whomever emerged as the leader.

Last night technology may have changed all that. Britain's first election debate on TV gave Nick Clegg an equal platform with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Conservative opposition leader David Cameron and boy did he make the most of it.

His charisma, poise and composure marked him as the clear winner form the debate.

Like Obama's coming of age moment in Iowa, Nick Clegg has seized the the baton in this race, the question is can he carry it all the way to the finish line.





Yes it might sound crazy, a Liberal Democrat Prime Minister but that's what they said about Obama and unlike in America where it was a seemingly endless marathon the British election campaign is a quick sprint and it will be all other by May 6, making it easy to sustain early momentum.

Prime Minister Nick Clegg anyone? Or is just a pipe dream....

Monday 12 April 2010

Lin Yu-chun hits all the right notes.

Yes he is a "He" He is Lin Yu-chun from Taiwan a contestant on the countries version of American Idol, X-Factor etc and his incredible rendition of "I would always love you" made famous by Whitney Houston has set the internet buzzing.




ABC News reports


As a younger man, Taiwan's Lin Yu-chun sang for hours on end, trying to get his mind off the sneers he endured because of his portly figure.

The round-faced soprano with the bowl haircut never imagined his voice would one day transform him into an international sensation.

But now, he is being compared to Britain's Susan Boyle, the plain-looking 48-year-old who shot to stardom after singing "I Dreamed a Dream" on "Britain's Got Talent."

Lin's Whitney Houston-like rendition of "I Will Always Love You" on Taiwan's "Avenue to Stardom" talent show last Friday has already racked up some 1.3 million views on YouTube, and the number is climbing fast.

For the 24-year-old with the disparaging nickname of "Little Fatty," the event has been a life-changer.

"I now have more confidence in pursuing a singing career," Lin told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "You don't have to be a good-looking man or woman to succeed. Just be yourself and try your best."

Lin said he had long suffered from a lack of self-confidence because of his plain looks and rotund figure.

"Being fat draws a lot of mockery in our society," he said.

To cope with the pain of his exclusion, he locked himself in his room and sang along with the songs of Celine Dion and Mariah Carey.

But the artist who really grabbed him was Houston — particularly the song "I Will Always Love You," from the soundtrack to the 1992 film "The Bodyguard."

"I played it again and again even though my parents couldn't stand it any more and asked me to stop," Lin said.

Lin has had a bumpy start to stardom.

After graduating from college last year, he failed to make much of an impression on another Taiwanese talent show, where judges criticized both his looks and his high-pitched voice.

"One said I should instead pursue the career of a comedian, and another questioned whether it was right for a man to sing soprano," he said.

Now all that is behind him.

"(The show) has reinvigorated me," he said.

Still, Lin said, he is doing his best not to let his new found fame go to his head.

"I'm trying not to be overwhelmed," he said.

Sunday 11 April 2010

Russell Brand and Katy Perry to tie the knot in India.

He was long regarded as the Bachelor's Bachelor but it looks like ladies man Russell Brand has not only found true love but is soon to head off to the alter with Soul mate Katy Perry in exotic India ...if the accidental revelation by pop princess Rihanna is to be believed.

The Rude Boy singer let it slip during a radio interview that the couple are set to wed in India after talking about her party plans.

“She put that (the hen party) on me last week.  Now I have to come up with something cool, because she’s getting married in India, so I’m like, okay now what do I do to match that for a bachelorette party?” Rihanna said.

We’re sure the Barbados beauty will come up with something extravagant, and now she’ll have to go the extra mile for spilling their secret wedding location.





The I Kissed A Girl singer started dating Brand in September and the whirl wind romance led to their engagement only six months later.

Saturday 3 April 2010

Erykah Badu charged over video shoot.

We reported on the brewing controversy over Erykah Badu's video shoot for her new single Window Seat. It seems it has all now come to a head as Dallas Police have charged her for stripping naked on a street among pedestrians for her music video shoot.

She ended by re-enacting receiving a fatal gunshot to the head at the spot in Dallas where President John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.

Sergeant Warren Mitchell said Badu was charged after a witness offered a sworn statement to police on Thursday.

Badu's spokeswoman had no immediate comment on Friday.

The singer, who was born in Dallas, performed a walking striptease in front of tourists and pedestrians during the shoot in Dealey Plaza on 13 March for her video for the song Window Seat.

Sgt Mitchell added that the police department has had "people calling from all across the country to express their concern".

"Having a fact witness that was there, is what let us file the charges," he said.

"After much discussion, we feel that these charges best fit her conduct. She disrobed in a public place without regard to individuals and small children who were close by."





He said Badu can either fight the charge or pay the fine. Disorderly conduct is punishable by a fine of up to $500 (£328).

Witness Ida Espinosa, 32, declined to comment to The Associated Press on Friday.

Friday 2 April 2010

More trouble for Badu over naked video stunt

More trouble seems to be brewing for Erykah Badu of her public nudity in the video for her single the Window Seat.

Ida Espinosa is upset that her 9-year-old daughter was in downtown Dallas, Texas on March 17, the same day neo-soul queen Erykah Badu filmed a video that included the removal of clothing in public as well as a mock shooting scene.

Badu has come under fire for stripping in her latest music video ‘Window Seat,” which was shot in and around Dealey Plaza in the singer’s native downtown Dallas. The controversial footage that continues to set the web ablaze features Badu walking down Elm Street while stripping her clothes off one piece at a time – until she’s fully nude.

Badu walks between several people on the street, and a few can be seen staring at her as she strolls and strips. Adding insult to injury, Elm Street is the place where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.





Dallas officials say Badu, a mother of three, didn’t have a permit to shoot the vid, but they don’t intend to file public indecency charges against the star. That’s not good enough, says Espinosa, who is considering filing a criminal complaint against Badu.

Ida is hoping police will force Erykah to issue a public apology and pay a small fine.

Thursday 1 April 2010

I am Bisexual - True Blood star Anna Paquin

True Blood star Anna Paquin has caused a stir after she came out today confessing to be bisexual.

Oscar winner Anna Paquin came out a video campaign for gay rights advocates, surprising the "True Blood" star's fans and causing the organization's web site to crash.


The actress' message came in a celebrity-laden public service announcement for the Give a Damn campaign, a web-based anti-discrimination effort backed by singer Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund.


"I'm bisexual," Paquin said, before adding that "one hate crime is committed approximately every hour of every day in this country."





Paquin last year confirmed that she is engaged to her boyfriend and "True Blood" co-star Stephen Moyer.

A representative for the actress could not immediately be reached for comment.

Lauper, Whoopi Goldberg, Elton John and Sharon Osbourne were among the other stars who appeared in the message.

"I've come to realise equality means a lot to people who don't have it and that, as a straight person, I have a responsibility to stand up for gay and transgender people each and every day," Lauper said in a statement.