The Aquapub

Although here in the Midwest pool season is almost over, there are those lucky to be living in areas where they may just be getting started with the warm season or else it's toasty all year round. For those folks (or those of us in colder climates can put it on our wish list for next year) this Aquapub not only looks like bunches of fun, but it looks like unique fun your neighbors probably aren't offering. It's one thing to enjoy a Mai Tai by the pool, but what about in it? That can be a little awkward unless you have the Aquapub that seats six and comes complete with cup holders, 2 stashes, and an umbrella. It drains water, is a portable 90 lbs and is made of recycled materials. What more could you want?

Make your Internet Speed 20% Faster

Make Your INTERNET SPEED 20% Faster - video powered by Metacafe


This only works on Win XP Pro. It really works. I've been using it for years, some time it goes over 20% faster

China to ban tobacco marketing within four years?

I find this fascinating -- the Chinese media said today that the world's largest country by population will ban all tobacco advertising by 2011. China is currently the largest cigarette producer and consumer, which makes this announcement even more baffling.

It's estimated that there are 300 million avid smokers in China, more than the entire population of the U.S. With that fact comes an intense focus of international health concerns, but banning tobacco marketing in four years seems too short a timeframe from my viewpoint, although I applaud it heavily.

Perhaps China does not want to see a cigarette-smoking epidemic alongside its rapidly growing economy after watching an obesity epidemic explode in the U.S. recently.

Sugar found to be more addictive than cocaine

We've known for years that sugar isn't good for us. It promotes tooth decay, provides quick highs and lows and offers nothing but empty, nutritionless calories that pack on the pounds. However, it appears that it is even worse than we previously thought. Researchers recently determined that refined sugar is actually more addictive than cocaine. In a recent study rats were given a choice between sugar water and cocaine, and 94% them chose sugar. Even the rats that had previously been addicted to cocaine switched to the sugar once it was a choice. No wonder it's so hard to give up that 3 pm pack of M&M's, it's more addictive than illegal drugs.

The 10 Most caffeinated diet sodas

When most people choose a diet soda over a regular one, they are doing it for their waistline. In other words, they are only paying attention to the zero or low calorie number. Very rarely are they looking at the caffeine content.

If you are watching your caffeine intake, it's worth noting that most diet versions of their regular counterparts contain more caffeine. Though it's not the highest content among all diet drinks, Diet Coke has 30% more caffeine that regular Coke! To get an idea of how much of a difference there is, and to see how the diet sodas stack up against each other, Diet Blog has put together a list of the 10 Most Caffeinated Diet Drinks. Number one? Pepsi Max, with 69 mg of caffeine. As a reference point, 1 tsp of instant coffee powder has 57 mg of caffeine.

Of course, if you're "dieting," then you might actually appreciate that extra caffeine.

The King Is Dead: The Truth About Elvis

Elvis Presley died 30 years ago on Aug. 16. End of story.

He did not fake his death. He did not enter the witness protection program. He does not troll the nation's back roads for cheeseburgers.

He died. And he died precisely because he trolled the nation's back roads for cheeseburgers or some comparable artery-clogging delicacy. At least that was the essential conclusion of the autopsy performed on Presley back in 1977.

You know, when he died.

For the hard to convince, Find a Death has the two-page autopsy report (page 1, page 2), which cites cardiovascular disease teamed with cardiac arrhythmia as the cause of death. The report can be found on other sites as well, but Find a Death gets points for posting a PDF version that's pretty easy to read, and even more points for translating the stuff that's not at all easy to read (like the cause of death). Suffice to say, the Tennessee medical examiner who signed the report, one Dr. Jerry Francisco, suffered from a bad, bad case of illegible handwriting.

Among the report tidbits that can be readily deciphered: Elvis died in the dressing room, unclothed and, per the checked box on page one, uncircumcised. As far as we can tell, there's no mention of drugs, 'nana sandwiches, and the bathroom, which later accounts would peg as the death scene. If this doesn't jibe with what we know of Elvis' final days today, keep in mind, Francisco was on a quick turnaround schedule, releasing the initial autopsy findings on the night of Presley's death.

Yes, the night of his death.

Sorry about that.

The $40,000 iPod Shuffle

I don't quite get it, but we seem to be seeing the smallest of the iPods, the Shuffle, getting decked out more than any of the others. Now don't get me wrong, the Shuffle is cute as a button and the bling looks good on it, I just can't understand why people would bother to decorate a gadget that costs less than $100 and is the "lowest" member of its own family.

But if you're going to do it then do it all out, right? How about $40,000 worth of 'all out?' Because that's how much this pretty little diamond and gold coated iPod will run you. And for that price no detail is overlooked -- there's even diamonds and gold on the earbuds.

Girls biologically pre-disposed to pink

As the father of a daughter, I've always fought the notion that little girls had to wear pink. Every time my family asked about the kinds of clothes she needed, I told them to "buy, yellow, green, purple, anything -- anything but pink!"
But in spite of it all, my daughter loves the very color I'd been hoping she would avoid. In fact, as soon as she learned how to talk, she proudly declared it was her favorite.

According to a recent study, there was nothing I could do about it. Scientists say that, based on the way humans have evolved, girls prefer pink and boys prefer blue and that's all there is to it. Says one researcher: "There are biological reasons for [women] liking reddish things."

So ladies, next time you're choosing between a cute new pink dress and one of another color, ask yourself: "Do I really prefer the pink one, or is this just my biological pre-disposition talking?"

by: jonathon morgan

Breaking up is not that bad after all

Breaking up from that relationship is displayed in the media as one of the hardest things to do in life. But, a recent study says that breaking up really is not that hard to do. Heartbreak is easy to recover from, in other words.

If you are an ardent giver of affection, you probably feel that you would be lost in the world if a serious relationship was to go south. However, results show that those expectations did not match reality

The next time a serious relationship you have starts turning sour, will you despair or realize that you will be able to recover? Quite an interesting thought to noodle over, huh? once a split was final and both parties went their separate ways.

It's Private Jets Only For David Beckham

The rules in major league soccer in the United States state that players are not to travel by private jet so as to not seem different from the fans. That just wouldn't do for superstar David Beckham. The LA Galaxy got a special dispensation to fly Becks and the squad via private jet because Beckham is so mobbed by fans and there are security concerns. I wonder how the rest of the team feels about the special treatment. It probably doesn't do wonders for the team's reputation around the rest of the league

The Top 10 Best First Class Airlines

Flying first class used to just mean more leg room and a better meal, but anymore some airlines are really going over the top. And the word is some airlines because not all of them even offer first class anymore, having done away with it to focus instead on business class. About 35 airlines offer first class right now, and the competition is getting steeper and steeper as they all compete to get that "wow factor" from customers. They're providing everything from fully flat beds, 3:1 passenger to crew ratios, exotic high end linens, pillows, toiletries, and even 7 course gourmet meals with caviar and Dom Perignon champagne. All that's missing is a jacuzzi!

Recently Skytrax came up with their annual list of the top 10 first class airline experiences, and here's who made their cut as the best of the best:

• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Malaysia Airlines
• Thai Airways
• Emirates
• Jet Airways
• Lufthansa
• Korean Air
• Qantas Airways

Agree? Disagree? I wouldn't be opposed to trying them all and giving my opinion, if someone else would sponsor me that is...

Telecommuters work naked

Sure, it's easy to pick out an outfit for the office. Even if you're only marginally interested in fashion, chances are that you'll outshine the lackluster efforts of your mostly drab co-workers.

But what should you wear when your office...is your couch?

For those of us who telecommute, or work from home, our standard get-up for the daily grind is our favorite pair of pajamas. However, the latest trend amongst home-office types is nothing of the sort -- it's nothing at all, actually.

Naked. Nude. In the buff. That's how 1 in 8 men and 1 in 14 women like to work from home. The desire to bare all while bringing home the bacon is becoming so popular that one California-based clothing-optional resort reports that 80% of their guests aren't on vacation -- they just like to work without covering their bits and pieces.

So the next time you're chatting with your accountant, graphic designer, publicist -- or anyone else who might be free to work out of their house -- picture them naked. It's quite possible that they already are.

"Light" cigarettes may lose label in Canada

Are you fooled by the "light" and "low tar" labels on some brands of cigarettes? Although there may be a smidgen of truth under those marketing claims, smoking is smoking. In other words, I highly doubt there is a "better" version.

Some in Canadian government must agree, as proposed regulations there may soon may claims like "light" or "mild" illegal to present on cigarette packages. Oh no -- the market segmentation of cigarettes may be shot to pieces!

Anyway, three Canadian-based tobacco companies must have seen this coming, as they have already agreed to change labeling (even as of late last year). Europe and Australia already have these regulations in effect, but they're nowhere to be seen in the U.S. I guess here, all those "light" ciggies are really better for you.

Girl sent to hospital from an overdose of coffee

Evidently drinking seven double espressos isn't all that good for you. Just ask Jasmine Wills, a teenager who was taken to the hospital after overdosing on 14 shots of espresso coffee.

In her defense, she thought the cups of coffee were only single doses -- even then seven cups of espresso is probably too much for anybody to handle. I can easily get the shakes after one shot of espresso, I can't imaging what she was feeling after 14!

Yes, coffee really can be good for you, but even still -- as with anything -- you shouldn't overdo it. Researchers at Duke University found that drinking five cups of coffee a day (not even espresso, just regular coffee) could raise your blood pressure enough to increase the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. Let's not forget: Caffeine -- as mild as it is -- is still classified as a drug.

Movies on your watch

First there were portable DVD players, then iPods that played video, and now the Home Theater Watch -- specially made on-the-go movie fans who have really good eyesight!

It seems stylish enough. The straightforward black band will go with most of your stuff, and the sleek, modern design will keep your new gadget from looking like a geeky sports-watch. And best of all, it holds up to 2GB worth of stuff, so you can watch a full-length movie wherever you want.

Waiting at the doctor's office? Killing time during an oil change? Stuck in traffic? Just pull up your newly downloaded copy of your favorite feature film, or a couple episodes of that hot new TV show, and you'll never have to be bored again.

Best of all, it even tells time.

Elvis Presley Piano on eBay

Elvis Presley may have forever left the building 30 years ago this month, but his memory is alive and well for fans the world over. I am one of those fans and if it were at all possible, I would buy this white Knabe & Co. Baby Grand piano, one of the original furnishings at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Alas, it is not possible. But for those who can afford the $250,000 starting bid on E-Bay, the King's very own piano could be yours.

The piano's original home was in the Ellis Auditorium & Performance Hall in Memphis where such notables as WC Handy, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Cab Calloway played it. Elvis bought it in 1957 and had it refinished to his taste - white with gold trim. It was placed in the music room at Graceland, where it remained until Priscilla Presley presented Elvis with another piano as an anniversary gift in 1969. The piano was stored until 1976, when Vernon Presley sold it to Ted Sturges, owner of Sturges Recording Studio. There, it was used during the recording of over 50 albums by various artists including Jerry Lee Lewis.

The baby grand is currently in private ownership and includes several certificates of authenticity. Pre-qualified buyers have until August 18th to bid on this piece of American music history. Oh, to be a pre-qualified buyer.

Oh The Horror! XM Makes Its Way Into a Ferrari

Ferrari purists, you might want to be sitting down for this one.

Years ago, it was sacrilege when Ferrari put so much as a radio in its cars, which at the time were likened to off-track race cars and sported similar amenities -- next to none. Now, as Rolls-Royce and other high-end brands are jumping on the infotainment bandwagon, Ferrari is following suit.

Modena has chosen XM over Sirius for its cars, opening Ferrari drivers up to the world of possibilities that not only offers up satellite radio programming, but also provides NavTraffic, a service alerting drivers to real-time traffic information en route.

The 612 Scaglietti is the first in Ferrari's stable to receive the equipment, which comes with a three-year subscription to new owners.

Milk or cheese? One of them sneaks past the radar

Your body has no idea that liquids contain nutrients.

Or so that's the theory scientists have come up with based on a recent study that took the idea that liquids are less filling to the next level. They found that although liquid and solid calories of comparable nutrient value filled people up about the same right away, the people who had the liquid calories reported feeling hungrier sooner afterwards. And in the study it didn't seem to matter if the liquid/solid fullness comparisons came from high carb, high fat, or high protein sources -- a glass of juice or milk isn't nearly as filling in the long-term as a piece of fruit or a hunk of cheese.

Interesting. I can totally see this principle working in my life everyday, can you?

How acidic are your favourite drinks?

We're usually too wrapped in in calories to consider another important factor to what we're drinking -- the acidity. Acidic drinks can not only lead to ulcers, but they can rot your teeth too. Fitsugar has a handy breakdown of the worst offenders acid-wise. What are the some of the worst offenders?

• Coke, with a pH of 2.63
• Pepsi at 2.49
• Gatorade at 2.95
• Doctor Pepper at 2.95
• Minute Maid at 2.8

For comparisons sake, consider this: Neutral pH (water) is 7.0. Battery Acid is 1.0 and you mouth's normal pH should be about 6.2-7.0. So if you haven't quit drinking soda for the sake of your health, maybe you should consider giving it up for the sake of your pearly whites?

Carbonated water: Good or evil?

Have you ever wondered if carbonated water was bad for your health? I've heard both sides, that it's good for dieting because it can help you feel fuller, and that it might have negative side-effects due to acidity and lack of fluoride. So is it or isn't it a bad idea? Honestly, there haven't been enough studies looking at just water (as opposed to other carbonated beverages) to really know for sure, but experts say that all arrows point to a very small risk, if any, for negative health effects. A bigger risk? Not drinking enough water of any kind, period.

The anatomy of a fainting spell

Do people still faint anymore? I don't think I've ever seen anyone faint in person, although I know it happens. Based on TV and movies it seems like people faint left and right, but have you ever wondered what exactly causes somebody to suddenly lose consciousness and hit the floor?

Fainting is caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain, which causes loss of consciousness usually just for a few seconds, and people often feel dizzy or nauseous after they wake up. Things that can trigger fainting include any kind of straining or pushing, excessive coughing, medications, drugs, low blood sugar, pain, and of course the Hollywood favorite: emotional distress.

Lindsay Lohan's Luxurious Utah Rehab

ET Online is reporting that Lindsay Lohan has entered rehab for the third time and this time the young starlet has not chosen Promises or any of the other Southern California rehabs. Instead, she is at the rustic Cirque Lodge drug and alcohol rehab in Sundance, Utah. The Cirque Lodge sounds more like some of the estates we have covered than a rehab. The Lodge has a log cabin look and can accommodate 16 residents. Rooms have access to a private bath including a Jacuzzi tub and shower and the bedrooms have fireplaces and views. The main room is a two-story great room with two fireplaces. There is also an exercise room, a media room, a cedar sauna and a circular meditation room on the third floor which is ideal for quiet contemplation. It is reported that Mary-Kate Olsen and David Hasselhoff have both spent time at Cirque and the rehab can cost upwards of $30,000.

How buses, lithium ion batteries are made

How It's Made is a great show on Discovery's Science Channel. This segment takes a look at the making of a city bus. You might be familiar with a regular car assembly line but making a bus is a little different. The part I found most interesting is the installation of air tanks. That strange sound you hear when a bus door opens is actually compressed air being released.

In this segment, How It's Made takes a look at the production of a lithium battery for an electric car. The coolest part of that video is the spraying on of molten metal. The electric car in the video looks like Th!nk's but I might be wrong. How It's Made has also taken taken a look at the making asphalt, which is made from oil. Many people know gas is made from oil but are surprised to learn things like plastics and asphalt are made from oil as well.

Fan Pulls Off Tim McGraw’s Ring

The crowd at Tim McGraw’s concert in Louisiana last Saturday really couldn’t keep their hands off the country singer.

This time, they grabbed his jewelry. In a second video from the Cajundome show now circulating online, McGraw is seen moving along a row of fans during the show, reaching out to touch them, when one of them pulls a ring off his left hand.

Usher Marries Tameka Foster in Private Ceremony

After abruptly canceling his Hamptons wedding to stylist Tameka Foster last Saturday, Usher became a married man Friday in Atlanta, a source confirms.

The two reportedly exchanged vows in the office of his lawyer – a far different affair than the event planned for last weekend at music mogul L.A. Reid’s Sagaponack, N.Y., home. The couple had spent $10,000 on invitations alone, and had lined up singer Robin Thicke to perform and renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, along with Sylvia’s of Harlem, to cook.

Porsche And Armani Set To Enter The Cell Phone Market

It's a busy few weeks for cellphone watchers as everyone wants to create the next phone that makes all the cool kids go crazy the way the iPhone has. Born Rich reports that Porsche Design is working on the shiny new gadget shown above. The P9521 cell phone is created from a block of aluminum and has a scratch-resistant screen which rotates 180 degrees, a three-megapixel camera, a fingerprint reader and a MP3 player. This baby will set you back way more than the iPhone, it is expected to sell fo $1600.

Another hot cellphone story is that Samsung is reportedly working with Armani to create a phone. The Armani phone is said to have "exclusive content" and undoubtedly minimalist design to die for.

Lennon's Glasses to Sell for $1.5 Million or More at Auction

John Lennon's glasses, yes the legend himself, are up for auction on the British site 991.com. The Beatle's gold wire rimmed sunglasses are currently owned by a Japanese TV producer named Junishi Yore who got them back in 1966 when he worked as a translator for the Beatles, and they'll come with a handwritten note from Yore explaining how he came to get them from Lennon. Estimates are predicting the auction will end somewhere around $1.5 million or higher, although it's a private auction so we'll have to wait and see when the bidding ends on July 31st.

Samsung Plans Gold Phone For The Olympics

Those at China's Olympics can keep in touch with a gold phone. Samsung will make a special 18-carat gold-plated mobile phone in China to celebrate the Olympics in Beijing. The P318 phone will be black with gold trim and gold along the bottom half of its back. The phone will only be sold in China and no launch date has been set yet.

Teen Buys PS2 on eBay and Gets a Box Stuffed with $90,000 in Cash

Well here's one way to get rich quick: order from the same eBay seller this kid did in the UK. A teen recently won an auction for a PS2 for £95 that was supposed to come with 2 games. He got the console but instead of the games the box was stuffed with £44,000 (or just over $90,000) in cash. The kids parents alerted police, who have confiscated the money and are holding it while the situation is investigated.

eBay was quoted as saying the contents of the box are "somewhat unusual." Only somewhat? I need to do more online shopping.

$100,000 Super Bowl Pepsi Can

Sports fans take note: at the Super Bowl this year, Pepsi will giving away a super can valued at $100,000, along with lifetime Super Bowl tickets. Pepsi sales have been in decline for the past year or so, so a contest is just what the brand feels it needs to reinvigorate its customer base. The can is one of a kind, made of sterling silver and studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires. It bears logos for both Pepsi and the NFL and was "inspired by 40 years of Super Bowl rings."

For a chance at winning, you can pick up a code for the contest at the Pepsi site. The winning code will be announced during the Super Bowl game on February 4th.

hummel 8.4 PIO FGX

It must be because David Beckham is moving to Los Angeles to play in MLS for the LA Galaxy, because I can't think of another reason why some fancy soccer cleats would otherwise be exciting for a nonsoccer player (albeit a soccer fan). The hummel 8.4 PIO FGX football boots were designed by Richard Kuchinsky to offer superior performance, comfort and looks to players. The insoles of the shoes, which will be released in limited quantities, custom mold to the players' feet using heat. Externally, the outsole is designed for ultimate precision and grip of the ground. The upper is made of white goat leather that has been laser-etched with a Monogram Bee logo pattern in gold.

Liverpool To Get The U.K.'s Highest Living Spaces

The town of Liverpool in England may become home to the highest living space in the entire U.K. The King Edward Tower is a £130m skyscraper which will have 54 stories with 412 apartments, 25,000 sq ft of commercial office space and 7,500 sq ft of retail and leisure space. The penthouses on the 54th floor will be the highest living spaces in the country. The top of the tower will also have a rooftop bar/ restaurant that will have an express elevator from the ground floor. Construction is planned to start in mid-2008 and is projected to take three years

Via Genova, A Cafe Devoted To Luxury Waters

While I've heard of a "water sommelier" at some restaurants in Los Angeles, in Bill and Hillary Clinton's adopted hometown of Chappaqua, New York there is a luxury water bar. Via Genova has nearly 80 different types of water from around the world including the 10 Thousand BC water from British Columbia for $30 U.S. and the crystal-covered Bling water for $55. The restaurant also serve a light menu. They will even cater water for events, doing water tastings and weddings. Would you go to a cafe just for the water?

The Mile Below Club

We've talked about the mile-high club before but the new frontier is the mile-below club. A unique place that can only be reached via submarine. it turns out that the intimate quarters of a sub traveling under the sea may be the new hot spot for romantic travelers who've done it just about everywhere else. The London Times picks up on a Bloomberg interview last week with Hervé Jaubert, a former French navy commando who founded the submarine company Exomos that mentioned the challenges of underwater love. Bruce Jones, the president of US Submarines confirms that the sight of couples en flagrante is interesting to dolphins who bang on the windows with their noses. How long before some enterprising person creates a service to offer travelers the chance to get busy below similar to the services they offer in the sky.

Brazil Are Copa Kings!

Brazil produced a ruthlessly efficient performance to beat old rivals Argentina 3-0 on Sunday and win the Copa America for the second time in a row.

Brazil stung Argentina with a fourth-minute goal from Julio Baptista then Argentina captain Roberto Ayala, making his 115th appearance, put through his own goal before halftime.

Although Argentina had more possession, Daniel Alves added a third as Argentina coach Alfio Basile, who won the 1991 and 1993 tournaments in a previous stint, lost a Copa America match for the first time in a run spanning 19 games.
It was a bitter pill for Argentina, who lost on penalties to the same opponents in the 2004 final and were favourites to win this time against a Brazil team missing Kaka and Ronaldinho, who asked to be rested.

Argentina had scored 16 goals in five games before the final while Brazil lost to Mexico in the group stage and needed a penalty shootout to beat Uruguay in the semi-finals.

Argentina were also attempting to end a 14-year title drought stretching back to their 1993 Copa America title under Basile.

With the temperature at kickoff time around 32 Celsius and the tropical sun still burning, a cagey opening had been expected but instead Brazil snatched a quick lead.

A long crossfield ball by Elano found Julio Baptista on the left and, as Ayala held off, the player known as 'the Beast' advanced menacingly and unleashed a shot into the top right hand corner.
Argentina nearly produced a quick reply when Juan Roman Riquelme rifled a shot against the post five minutes later.

The number ten was close again in the 35th minute but his shot was brilliantly turned away by Brazil goalkeeper Doni.

But Argentina's usual flowing game was interrupted by systematic Brazilian fouling in midfield, while their defence always looked shaky against Brazil's counterattacks.

Maicon nearly added a second in the 17th minute when Roberto Abbondanzieri fumbled his low shot and the same player forced Javier Zanetti to clear off the line one minute later.

Five minutes before halftime, Daniel Alves, who replaced the injured Elano, produced a dangerous inswinging cross from the right and Ayala turned the ball into his own net.

Brazil continued to frustrate Argentina after halftime as goalkeeper Doni and Gilberto were both booked for time-wasting.

And as Argentina struggled to impose their style, Brazil produced the killer punch as Vagner Love broke down the left and fed Daniel Alves, who scored with a clinical shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

The Desert Islands Project In Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is catching up with Dubai in terms of ambitious projects. The latest is their own island project. The Desert Islands will be a tourism destination off the coast of Abu Dhabi's western coastline. It will be eight separate islands including the Sir Bani Yas eco-resort and an onshore gate. The islands will include a nature preserve, a cultural destination and a showcase for world-class environmental, conservation and ecological tourism. The Desert Islands comprise the former Royal nature reserve of Sir Bani Yas Island, Dalma Island and the Discovery Islands – six nearby offshore outcrops, all of which will be linked by a ferry and hydrofoil service, water taxis and sea planes.The 'Marsa Jabel Dhanna' gate, which will include a 150-room beachfront hotel in Jabel Dhanna and will be the destination's arrivals, departure and logistics hub. Sir Bani Yas Island will be at the heart of the destination and the Arabian National Park, which will be home to free roaming animals, will take up more than three quarters of the entire island with resorts, eco-lodges and campsites, and at its center, the Falcon Lodge Peak, where visitors can take lessons in falconry. Dalma Island, will provide a heritage experience with archaeological finds and a place where traditional fishing, farming and aquaculture livelihoods continue. Two of the Discovery Islands will be protected areas reserved for existing breeding grounds for birds and turtles, two will be devoted to exclusive resort and the remaining two islands will provide a 'wild camp' experience delivering the experience of staying on a deserted island.The first place will be completed in 2010 and the hope is that the resort will attract over a million tourists by the time the resort becomes fully operational in 2017. An exhibition devoted to the Desert Islands has opened at the Emirates Palace Hotel in the UAE capital city.

Bipasha Basu’s Boyfriend Upset Over Ronaldo Kiss

According to sources he’s not taking the news too well...

John Abraham is reportedly fuming over pictures showing his girlfriend Bipasha Basu locking lips with Man United Ace Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to sources Abraham, who recently declared his love for Basu amid rumours of a split, is said to have found the pictures on the internet.

“When John started surfing the net, he was shocked to see pictures of Bipasha splashed everywhere” a source told the Mumbai Mirror “Obviously, Bipasha had not informed him about this whole episode”
“John seemed very upset and what added to his misery was that everyone knew about the episode,”
Whilst the Bollywood starlet claims that the photo was taken out of context, Abraham is reportedly refusing to discuss the matter with anyone;
“Yesterday he only came out of his make-up room when he was called for the shot. He shot for the film, but it was very clear that he was very embarrassed” adds the source.
“It is still very unclear whether he had spoken to Bipasha after this news had come out."

Beckhams arrive in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES --Soccer star David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, arrived Thursday night to begin their new lives in the United States. The British power couple smiled and held hands as they walked out of a Los Angeles International Airport terminal shortly before 8:20 p.m. after arriving aboard a British Airways flight from London.

Dozens of reporters and photographers pushed and shoved behind barriers set up at the terminal before the duo, surrounded by security guards, left in a black sport utility vehicle without commenting.

Their three children accompanied them on the flight, but didn't exit the terminal with them. Victoria Beckham, also known as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls, wore a sleeveless black dress and sunglasses and gave a quick wave to the paparazzi. David Beckham was dressed in a black jacket and jeans.

Several people at the airport to pick up passengers became paparazzi themselves, snapping images with their cell phones.

"It was so awesome, he looks better in person than in the magazines," said devoted Beckham fan Priscilla Flores, 15. "I'm really excited to see him play his first game here. He'll make soccer more popular here."

The media swarm also attracted curious onlookers, though not everyone knew what the big deal was.

"Who's David Beckham?" asked Austin Baker, an 11-year-old California boy waiting for a connecting flight, before the world's biggest soccer star arrived.

The English midfielder, who helped Real Madrid win the Spanish title last month, will play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. He's set to be introduced by the Galaxy on Friday, and make his playing debut in an exhibition match against Chelsea on July 21 in Carson, Calif.

Beckham, who has returned to the England lineup after initially being dropped following the 2006 World Cup, is scheduled to make around $32.5 million over five years with the Galaxy and millions more in endorsement deals.

Despite playing thousands of miles away, Beckham hopes to stay in the England lineup and help the team qualify for next year's European Championship.

The Beckhams will make their new digs in a reported $22 million, 13,000-square foot villa in Beverly Hills, where neighbors include their friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

Avril Lavigne sued for stealing tune

Avril Lavigne is being sued by the members of a 1970s rock band who claim her hit song "Girlfriend" rips off one of their tunes.

Songwriters Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer alleged in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court that Lavigne and her co-writers lifted their 1979 song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," which was originally performed by new wave band The Rubinoos.

"We are not so naive as to chalk it up to some sort of cosmic coincidence," Dunbar said Thursday. "The lyric, the meter, the rhythm -- they're identical."

The first court date has been set for Aug. 28 in Oakland.

A spokeswoman for Lavigne declined to comment.

Videos comparing Lavigne's song with the Rubinoos' tune were among the most popular on YouTube Friday. Nearly half a million people had watched various clips highlighting the similarities between the songs.

The lawsuit is not the first mention of the similarities between the songs. Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, in a review published on Billboard magazine's Web site, noted that the chorus of "Girlfriend" was a "total lift from the Rubinoos' 'I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.'"

The Rubinoos toured and recorded from 1975 to 1983 and had a hit with a cover version of Tommy James and the Shondells' "I Think We're Alone Now." They also wrote the theme song for the movie "Revenge of the Nerds."

"Girlfriend," from Lavigne's 2007 RCA Records release "The Best Damn Thing," topped the Billboard 200 singles chart in May. RCA is a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, a joint venture between Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG.

Snoop Dogg's life to be E! reality show

LOS ANGELES --Snoop Dogg's home and work lives will be on display in a new reality series, E! Entertainment Television said Friday.

The series, scheduled to debut in late 2007 and described by the cable channel as "hilarious and heartwarming," will show the hip-hop heavyweight trying to balance his different worlds.

"The juggling act that Snoop faces day-in, day-out between career and family is certain to resonate with our viewers," said Ted Harbert, president and CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group, which operates the E! channel.

The rapper, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., has three children, is active in community causes and is involved in a youth football league he founded, E! said.

He's also had court-ordered obligations on his plate. In April, he was sentenced to five years' probation and 800 hours of community service after he pleaded no contest to felony gun and drug charges. The charges followed his arrest last year at an airport in Burbank for investigation of transporting marijuana. Police later found a gun at his home.

Also recently, in 2006 he and five other men were arrested on charges of violent disorder and starting a brawl when some in his party were denied entry to British Airways' first-class lounge at Heathrow Airport.

His platinum-selling albums include his most recent, "Tha Blue Carpet Treatment." He's also a producer and actor.

Are You Ready For Mansinthe?

What does Marilyn Manson drink? Believe it or not the answer just might be Mansinthe his new absinthe which is set to debut in Europe in August. Liquor Snob reports that the distiller, Matter-Luginbuhl, is a famed maker of high-end absinthes in Switzerland. Manson is a noted lover of absinthe and the project has been in the works for several years. The absinthe is made from herbs such as grand wormwood, fennel and anise and is not sugared and the label artwork is by Manson. There are two pricey prereleases: a limited edition for 300 euros and a special signed edition with a different label available from Gallery Schenk in Cologne that sells for 500 euros. There are some more pictures on the Mansinthe website.

Eva Longoria's Wedding Photos Worth $2 Million

Most brides just have to worry about who they're going to have take their wedding pictures, but Eva Longoria and fiancé Tony Parker also had to decide who would get the rights to publish them. The biggest bidders for exclusive rights to wedding coverage were People magazine and OK!, with OK! coming out on top by offering $2 million dollars.

The wedding is planned for this weekend, July 7th, in a castle just outside of Paris. I wonder how much Eva and Tony are paying for their own personal wedding photos? Think $2 million will cover it?

Ferrari GTO cufflinks made of real Ferrari GTO

Much like the Sex Panther cologne in Anchorman, which was "made with bits of real panther," Alfred Dunhill's enthusiast-oriented Provenance cufflinks are shaped like miniature Ferrari 250 GTOs, and are made of actual Ferrari 250 GTO aluminum body panels. Worry not, friends, as we're quite certain that Dunhill isn't wantonly slaughtering GTOs for the sole purpose of keeping French cuffs stylishly managed. A few panels were probably enough to make a full production run of the limited-edition baubles, which are as close to actual Ferrari GTO ownership as some buyers are going to get. With a price tag of $1800, even that subset of customers will assuredly be among the very well-heeled.

Lamborghini, The Perfume

This week on Monday the world's leading fragrance company, Coty Inc., announced that they've agreed to create a new innovative fragrance line for men under the Tonino Lamborghini brand name. Coty plans to play off the brand's "sexy, sleek, and exclusive" appeal to create something "explosive" in men's fragrance. Expect to see the resulting Tonino Lamborghini fragrance in Europe and Asia in the spring of 2008, and in the U.S. and around the world sometime after that.

And if you go for auto-inspired fragrances but can't wait until next year or later to start smelling good there's always scents available from Mustang, Hummer, and even the Daytona 500 to hold you over.

Epic Elite Jet

Epic Aircraft's entry into the very light jet market is the twin-engine Elite. The Elite made its first flight earlier this month. The carbon-fiber Elite uses two Williams Jet FJ-33-4 engines and can cruise at 412 KTAS and travel more than 1600 nautical miles with a payload of nearly 1700 lbs. The cabin has leather seats with lavatory and mulitmedia options available. The Elite will be available as a six-seat experimental category jet in 2007. The six-to-eight-place certified version of the jet is scheduled for 2009. The Epic Elite will make its official debut July 23 during AirVenture in Oshkosh.

[via General Aviation News]

Nokia debuts totally fugly 7500 Prism in China

By all accounts, Nokia's designers are either on a cutting edge so far into the future and so deeply advanced that we can't understand it, or they've all gone off their medication. The bizarre 7500 Prism (which may or may not be the similarly styled 7900) made its debut at a Nokia fashion event in China today, along with the 8600, 8800 Sirocco, 6110 navigator, 5700 XpressMusic, 6500 classic, 6500 slider and the 3500 -- though none of them were as totally zany looking as the Prism. The phone's specs are at least fairly normal, featuring a 2 megapixel camera, microSD slot, a QVGA screen and rocking the S40 (version 5) OS. It's unclear at this point why the company believes people will want a diamond shaped keyboard, but since the FCC has already approved this model, we'll soon learn if they really do.

Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru

The Banyan Tree Hotels is opening their fourth property in the idyllic Maldives, the Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru. The property unveils the hotels first tented pool villa concept in the Maldives. Each villa is comprised of three tents that form living, sleeping and bath areas. The bath tent also includes spa beds for in-tent massages and facials. The tents have timber floors, rattan and teak furniture and big ceiling canopies. The villas are priced starting at $3900 but the resort is offering a special deal of 50% savings on accommodation, 25% savings on seaplane transfers, in-villa couple spa treatment, complimentary meals and selected beverages now through October 31st 2007 with minimum three nights' stay

Aston Martin, Give This Man a Job

Not since Chris Bangle's 7-series revolutionized BMW has a brand refresh been so dynamic and perfect. The Aston Martin DB-ONE is the fastest looking car standing completely still, embodying what could be the next generation of the famous British sports car.

The only problem is this: Spanish designer Ruben Vela doesn't actually work for Aston Martin. The recent Polytechnic University graduate developed the Aston Martin DB-ONE as a study in "dynamism," a play on the lines and planes of the vehicle that make it feel kinetic even when it's static. The big fat grille and exaggerated front end play on Aston Martin's typical long nose, yet the angles indicate thought beyond today's standards.

Criss Angel sued for divorce

According to the New York Post, Criss Angel's wife, Joanne Sarantakos (Sarantakos is Angel's actual surname), is suing her husband for divorce, claiming that he kept their marriage a secret to help his career and make him more appealing to fans.
Their marriage was enough of a secret that I had no idea he was even married, though it's not as if I spend every waking moment keeping up with Angel's personal life. Still, whenever a girl was by Criss' side on Mindfreak, she was always just credited as "Criss' girl" as far as I remember.

BECKHAM ANGERS FASHION DESIGNER

VICTORIA BECKHAM has angered a British fashion designer by wearing one of his designs in public without permission. Christopher Kane admits Beckham asked to borrow one of the items from his new collection, but he refused because he did not think her figure was right for his designs. But the former Spice Girl found a way around the problem - by buying the dress regardless of the designer's objections. Kane says, "I couldn't do anything about it, to be honest. She wanted to borrow something, but I said no, so she went out and bought it. "I've got nothing against her, but she's not the woman I imagine wearing my dresses. I think more of women like (French Vogue's Editor-In-Chief) Carine Roitfeld because she's sexy and intelligent. Posh Spice doesn't even get a look-in."

Angelina in black face?

Despite disappointing box office sales, Angelina Jolie's latest movie A Mighty Heart has sparked its fair share of controversy in the media. At the heart of the matter is not whether Hollywood exploited the tragic death of journalist Daniel Pearl to make summer blockbuster cashola (my beef with the movie, for the record).

Rather, critics are up in arms about the decision to cast a very white Angelina Jolie as a woman of color. Insult, they say, was added to injury by the production company's decision to darken Jolie skin, change her eye color with contact lenses, and put her in a wig that resembled the Afro-Cuban-Dutch heroine Marianne Pearl's dark, thick, curly hair.

K. Emily Bond of the Huffington Post calls it "black-face" and goes on to suggest that "this casting choice illustrates the magnitude of the time warp Hollywood got sucked into or the vacuum within which it exists." Bond also makes the point that if they film wanted to downplay the interracial aspect of Daniel and Marianne's relationship, they should have left Angelina fair-skinned and blue-eyed.

But since the film obviously opted to portray Marianne's race, Bond suggests it would have been more "sensitive" to cast one of the many talented actresses of color such as Thandie Newton or Halle Barry, who she points out is just as hot as Jolie according to AskMen.com.

So what do you think? Is it acceptable for Hollywood to cast white actresses as women of color? If it is, how should they negotiate the difference in skin color? Is it better to leave the actress as she is, or to, as Bond puts, dress her up in black-face?

What the butt?!

Could butts be the latest fashion accessory? Kim Kardashian clearly thinks so. In a barely there flesh toned dress, Kim's asset looks huge massive (which was clearly the goal, so well-played).

Having Kim's "junk" block my vision makes me wonder if she will bring asses back. JLo surely did a few years back. Remember when JLo took out a million dollars worth of insurance on her backside and everyone wanted a piece? I was in college at the time and the flat-backed girls were doing all that they could to fill their jeans. Now I was in fashion school, so they weren't eating to fill them ... they were making butt pads to put inside their pants. Sounds crazy, but at the time they were actually on the market (seriously).

Kimmy here obviously had some work done because that thing just isn't natural. Do you think women will get so inspired by her curves to start filling out some jeans with booty power? I think a butt that big would be a curse, imagine how hard it would be to find pants.

by Lauren Messiah

Maria Sharapova: tennis goddess/fashion icon

For better or for worse, women's tennis these days is as much about a player's looks as it is about her backhand.

At the moment, my favorite "fashionable" tennis player is Maria Sharapova. The blond Russian, who also moonlights as a spokesperson for Canon, showed up to her match against Severine Bremond of France on Thursday wearing an incredible white dress by Nike. The tiered skirt with distinctive ruffled angel wings along the back made the high performance outfit seem as street-worthy as it was court-worthy.

While the feminist in me hates to reduce talented female athletes to their looks, the fashionista in me says Maria's dress was a definite tennis DO!