R.I.P. Nelson Mandela

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela - Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who fought to end apartheid and served from 1994-1999 as the first black president elected to office in his country, has died. He was 95. Mandela was hospitalized June 8 for a lung infection following a history of recurring health issues, and his family began gathering at his Johannesburg home earlier today. South Africa President Jacob Zuma made the announcement just now in a national address.
 
The news comes as the Weinstein Co’s biopic Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom is having its UK premiere, with members of the royal family in attendance.

Jailed in 1962, Mandela spent 27 years as a political prisoner in his own country before his 1990 release and subsequently led the charge to end apartheid with the African National Congress. His fight made him an international symbol for peace and progress, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Less than five months after his release from prison, Mandela embarked on a grueling, eight-city tour of the U.S., which included an address before Congress and a speech on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. The visit helped cement his hero status, and he became a pop culture icon who inspired feature films and TV movies, saw his likeness on mass-produced T-shirts and had close ties with high-profile figures from Bill Clinton to Bono. Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, the most recent film based on his life, premiered to a standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, opened in theaters November 29 and is getting awards-season buzz. It stars Idris Elba and is based on Mandela’s autobiography.

Mandela’s life has been repped onscreen many times throughout the decades, starting with the 1987 made-for-TV pic Mandela, starring Danny Glover. In 2010, Morgan Freeman earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Mandela in Clint Eastwood’s Invictus, about his efforts to unite his fractured country through the 1995 Rugby World Cup held in South Africa. Terrence Howard played him in 2011’s Winnie, told from the perspective of Mandela’s second wife.

source : http://www.deadline.com/2013/12/nelson-mandela-dead-south-africa-nobel-peace-prize/

readmore »»  

Paul Walker death: Video shows fire moments after fatal crash

Paul Walker death: Video shows fire moments after fatal crash - A video taken moments after a car crash that killed "Fast and Furious" actor Paul Walker and another man shows their red Porsche in flames next to a toppled street light standard.

The one-minute video shows black smoking coming from the vehicle and debris scattered on the roadway.

"The car is in half. I can't tell if there is someone in there," one person on the video is heard saying.
Second later comes an answer: "Yes, there is someone in there."

At least on person in the video expresses concern that the burning car could explode.

Walker was apparently the passenger in the Porsche, which crashed Saturday afternoon.
Sheriff's officials said speed may have been a factor in the crash, which took place on a normally quiet street with a 45 mph speed limit. The Porsche was badly burned and mangled.

Witnesses said the car was fully engulfed in fire.
“When I went out there, it was just smoke. Just black smoke. I thought it was a brush fire,” Alyssa Yorton told the Los Angeles Daily News.

"It was engulfed in flames. There was nothing. They were trapped," Antonio Holmes, who said he was a friend of Walker's, told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. He added the actor had been at a charity event earlier in the day. Holmes said the Porsche appeared to hit a tree and then slam into a light standard.

KTLA News reported that debris from the crash shattered a window in a nearby building.
The single-vehicle crash occurred about 3:30 p.m. in the 28300 block of Rye Canyon Loop.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, sheriff’s Deputy Kim Manatt told The Times.
According to a statement posted on his Twitter account, Walker, 40, was attending a charity event to aid Filipino victims of Typhoon Haiyan for his organization Reach Out Worldwide, formed in 2010 as a quick-response first-aid organization.

“It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide,” the statement said. “He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives. We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news.”
Universal Pictures released a statement:

“All of us at Universal are heartbroken. Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the 'Fast and Furious' films, and to countless fans. We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Paul's family.”

At the time of his death, Walker, who also starred in "Pleasantville" and "Varsity Blues," was working on the seventh film of the “Fast and Furious” franchise.

There was a growing memorial at the crash site as people paid their respects.

Thus the article in Paul Walker death: Video shows fire moments after fatal crash, hopefully useful information I provide. goodbye

readmore »»  

Toys "R" Us deals gone in a flash

Black Friday? More like Black Thanksgiving.

Toys "R" Us deals gone in a flash - Hundreds of shoppers wandered through the sprawling Toys "R" Us store in Times Square at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving -- a time when the store used to be closed for the holiday.

Toys "R" Us opened its doors at 5 p.m. on Thursday for Black Friday shoppers this year ... even though it wasn't yet Friday. The early opening thwarted the holiday shopping plans of Agata Nowak, an IT worker from Millbrook, N.Y., who was in New York City on a business trip. 

She showed up at the flagship store at 8 p.m. -- that's when it opened for Black Friday last year -- in pursuit of a discount Furby for her six-year-old daughter. But alas, she was hours late this year, and the furry robot could no longer be bought for $29.99.
"I missed it," she said. "The price is now doubled." 

Nowak went shopping anyway and accumulated a bag full of Thomas & Friends train toys. But the discount magic of Black Friday was lost to her. 

"I would say prices are probably the same as any other day," she said.
Related: Disgusted shopper threaten to boycott Black Thursday
Thomas Hetherington, who lives near the store in midtown Manhattan, made a similar observation while shopping in the video game section with his wife and infant child.
"This year, I feel like there's more hype and not as many deals," said Hetherington, who makes a living selling used maternity jeans on eBay (EBAY, Fortune 500)

 

Wal-Mart preps for Black Friday

He said the Xbox One was going for $499, the same price that 

he'd found elsewhere. The best deal he'd managed to find was buying one video game at full price, and getting the second one at 40% off. 

"That's pretty decent," he said, "but as a Black Friday deal, it's not blowing my mind."
In an interview with CNNMoney prior to Black Friday, Richard Barry, chief merchandising officer for Toys "R" Us, listed some of the so-called "door busters" meant to lure shoppers: 55% off the Cra-Z-Loom Bracelet Maker, 50% off Disney Infinity and Skylanders Swap Force video games, 50% off Despicable Me, $100 off Power Wheels 12 Volt Corvette, $90 off the Kindle Fire with a $20 gift card, and the aforementioned Furby for 45% off. 

Poll: Do you think Black Friday is worth it?
"We're planning significant intensity" for this year's holiday shopping season, said Barry. "If you're a procrastinator out there and you're thinking you've got a long time before the holidays, you'd better shape up." 

So with that in mind, Blake Lipper, a student at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, was at Toys "R" Us with his mother and two sisters on Black Thanksgiving, looking for deals. But he said the discounts were more scattered compared to previous years

source: http://money.cnn.com.

readmore »»  

American Music Awards 2013: Full Winners List

American Music Awards 2013: Full Winners List - Justin Timberlake accepts Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist award onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards on November 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.

Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, One Direction and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis were the biggest winners at the 2013 American Music Awards on Sunday. Check out a full list of winners below.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift

ICON AWARD
Rihanna

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL'S
Ariana Grande

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly, "Cruise"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Justin Timberlake  

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
One Direction

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
One Direction, "Take Me Home"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Luke Bryan

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE BAND, DUO or GROUP - COUNTRY
Lady Antebellum

FAVORITE ALBUM - COUNTRY
Taylor Swift, "Red"

FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "The Heist"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Justin Timberlake

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Rihanna

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Justin Timberlake, "The 20/20 Experience"

FAVORITE ARTIST - ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Imagine Dragons

FAVORITE ARTIST - LATIN
Marc Anthony

FAVORITE ARTIST - ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
Avicii

FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Maroon 5

FAVORITE ARTIST - CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Matthew West

TOP SOUNDTRACK
"Pitch Perfect"
 
Thus the article in American Music Awards 2013: Full Winners List, hopefully useful information I provide. goodbye

readmore »»  

One Direction ’1D Day’ Live Stream — Watch The Event Online

It’s finally here! With just a few days before One Direction releases their album ‘Midnight Memories,’ the band is celebrating on Nov. 23 with 1D Day — SEVEN straight hours of 1D performances, behind-the-scenes clips, and tons of fan interaction. And you can catch all of the action right here!

Are we dreaming? Can somebody pinch us? Is this real life? Amazingly yes, it is. One Direction is turning Nov. 23 into 1D Day with a seven-hour live broadcast from Los Angeles, Calif. featuring the boys – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson — and countless special guests. Read on to watch and join in on all the fun starting at 2 p.m. ET!

One Direction 1D Day Video — Watch The Live Stream Here

The unprecedented 1D Day promises to be a dream come true for Directioners. First off, the boys of 1D will be taking the stage several times throughout the day — and they’ve already promised to play many of their new songs off of Midnight Memories (out Nov. 25).

As if that wasn’t reason enough to cry tears of joy, 1D Day will also include funny sketches and a ton of fan interaction. The boys will be airing fan-made videos as well as featuring the winners of the 1D Day Challenges, in which fans were asked to do things like find One Direction look-alikes and make special works of art.

And just to put a cherry on top of an already perfect day, 1D Day will also feature guest appearances from Robbie Williams, Celine Dion, Simon Cowell, and many more!
It all starts at 2 p.m. ET, so make sure you tune in throughout the day!

source: http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/11/23/one-direction-1d-day-video-watch-live-stream/

readmore »»