Whitney Houston laid to rest in New Jersey

Whitney Houston was laid to rest on Sunday in a private burial before family and close friends near her birthplace in Newark, New Jersey, more than a week after her sudden death shocked the world.

"In the End you always come back to JERSEY"!!!

Whitney Houston's hometown remembers her fondly

The New Hope Baptist Church, where pop star Whitney Houston first sang and family and friends will gather on Saturday to pay her a final tribute, sits in a hardscrabble corner of Newark, New Jersey. Its well-maintained red-brick facade seems at odds with the dusty parking lot and derelict housing projects around it.

Bill Murray not in the next GhostBusters

Who you gonna call? For "Ghostbusters 3," not Bill Murray.

The Ghostbusters retired a long time ago, after a 1984 hit film, 1989 sequel, and two animated TV shows. But their spirit is still haunting the entertainment world.

In a webcast with Empire magazine, former Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd implied he and co-star Rick Moranis were actively working to bring "Ghostbusters 3" to theaters sometime in the next few years.

"If we can get the script to 'Ghostbusters 3' right, then it would definitely have Moranis as a major component. None of us would want to do the movie without having him as a participant,” said Aykroyd.

He also responded to questions that another star, Bill Murray, wasn’t into the idea, denying reports that Murray actually shredded a potential script and included the note note, “No one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts.”

Replied Aykroyd, “Bill Murray is not capable of such behavior. This is simply something that would not be in his nature. We have a deep, private personal relationship that transcends business. We communicate frequently and his position on the involvement in 'Ghostbusters 3' has been made clear and I respect that.

Relaxing

Nothing like relaxing after a hard day at work. Especially when I get to watch my favorite show. At least one of my favorite shows. Anyways it's pizza time time to make food.

feb 11

Taliban threatens Prince Harry with death, capture

The Taliban says it is gunning for Prince Harry just days after Britain's defence ministry confirmed that the 27-year-old royal will redeploy to Afghanistan.

A spokesperson for the insurgent group warned Britain's Daily Telegraph that it plans to capture or kill the prince, who is third in line to the British throne.

"A prince should use his position to help people, not to come and kill people around the world," Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid told the paper.

The chilling warning came the same week the prince completed a rigorous, 18-month training program to fly Apache attack helicopters. Prince Harry graduated as the best co-pilot gunner after training stints in California, Arizona and Britain.

The prince, who is known in the military as Capt. Wales, will fly air missions in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. Ministry of Defence sources told the Telegraph he will serve a four-month mission. It's not known when he'll deploy.

As a co-pilot gunner, he'll operate Hellfire missiles and a chain gun.

In an interview with the Telegraph, the prince took the Taliban warning in stride.

"To be honest . . . I supposed I would be in that position anyway just being a part of that sort of family," the unshaven prince said in a videotaped interview from the Arizona training centre. "There's threats coming in all the time."

The insurgent Taliban group told the British newspaper that it will use "all its power" to kill or capture the royal soldier. Mujahid said if the prince was captured he would be treated like any other prisoner.

The prince spent more than two months as an infantry officer in Helmand in 2008, but his deployment was never made public. The secrecy was to protect him and his fellow soldiers from becoming targets. His tour was cut short when the media learned his whereabouts.

A blackout wasn't necessary this time, according to British officials, because he will be less vulnerable as a pilot.

The prince's deployment will be subject to review by senior generals and even the Prime Minister, the Telegraph report said.

In an interview with the British paper, the prince said he relished the opportunity to return to Afghanistan.

"Anyone who says they don't enjoy the Army is mad," he said. "You can spend a week hating it and the next week it could be the best thing in the world and the best job you could ever, ever wish for. It has got so much to offer."

The prince said he knows he's a target and worries his stature could endanger fellow troops.

"I would never want to put someone else's life in danger when they have to sit next to the bullet magnet," he said. "But if I'm wanted, if I'm needed, then I will serve my country as I signed up to do. "

Singer Whitney Houston dead at age 48

Houston's No.1 hits include:

‘I Will Always Love You' – 1992

‘I'm Your Baby Tonight' – 1990

‘All the Man That I Need' – 1990

‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go?' – 1988

‘Didn't We Almost Have It All?' – 1987

‘So Emotional' – 1987

‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)' – 1987

‘Greatest Love Of All' – 1986

‘How Will I Know' – 1985

‘Saving All My Love For You' – 1985

Singer Whitney Houston, whose reign atop the pop charts was derailed by drug use and a tumultuous high-profile marriage, has died at the age of 48.

Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, confirmed the singer's death on Saturday evening, but did not reveal the cause.

Houston was pronounced dead in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton Hotel at 3:35 p.m. Saturday, Lt. Mark Rosen of Beverly Hills police told reporters. Attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.

There were no obvious signs of foul play and a coroner has been called in to investigate along with detectives, Rosen said.

Houston was reportedly at the hotel with a large entourage. Just two days ago, she performed at a pre-Grammy party with singer Kelly Price.

Houston's death came on the eve of the biggest night in music -- Sunday's Grammy Awards. She was expected to attend an annual pre-Grammy concert and dinner Saturday night hosted by her mentor, legendary producer Clive Davis.

A spokesperson for the gala said the show would go on.

"I just can't talk about it now," Houston's godmother, Aretha Franklin, said in a short statement issued late Saturday. "It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen."

The Rev. Al Sharpton said he would offer prayers for Houston during a Sunday morning service at Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy, hailed Houston as "one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time," in a statement released Saturday evening.

"Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs," Portnow said. "A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice."

Legendary music producer Quincy Jones said he was "heartbroken" by the news of Houston's death.

"I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her," Jones said in a statement. "She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly."

Tributes to Houston were pouring in on social media networks Saturday night. Mariah Carey, who has called Houston a role model, tweeted: "She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth."

Rihanna, Christina Aguilera and Justin Bieber were also among the celebrities expressing shock and sadness over Houston's death on Twitter.

The Associated Press reported that Houston attended Grammy rehearsals Thursday, where she looked disheveled and was sweating profusely, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous.

No price tag on Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby photos

Sidestepping tabloids and outmanoeuvring paparazzi, Beyonce and Jay-Z are offering fans a glimpse of their first child on their own terms.

The hip hop power couple decided to share the first public photos of baby Blue Ivy Carter on Tumblr, a free blogging service.

"We welcome you to share in our joy," reads an apparent handwritten note on the website, which accompanies five photos of Blue Ivy swaddled in a white blanket.

Photographs show the one-month-old child with a full head of hair, dark almond eyes and ample lips, perhaps an inherited trait from her dad.

It's an unexpected move from the superstar couple, who were encouraged by actress Jessica Alba to sell the first snapshots of their newborn.

Alba and her husband Cash Warren reportedly received $1.5 million from OK! Magazine for photos of their daughter Honor in 2008.

However, there doesn't appear to be a price tag on Blue Ivy's first photos.

There have been no reports of a deal between Beyonce, Jay-Z and Tumblr and each singer has included a link to the photos on their individual websites.

Selling baby photos to tabloids certainly isn't unheard of in Tinsel Town.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, known to diehard fans as Brangelina, received a reported $14 million to fawn over twins Vivienne and Knox in a People magazine photo spread.

Jennifer Lopez reportedly received $6 million to cuddle up to twins Max and Emme on the cover of People in March 2008.

But the Carter Family appears content with the decision to post Blue Ivy's photos online.

One photo shows an out-of-focus Beyonce grinning as the one-month-old baby squirms in her arms. Another shows proud papa Jay-Z cradling the child against his chest.

It isn't the first time the couple has invited the public to share in their newborn baby bliss.

Shortly after Blue Ivy's birthday, Jay-Z released a song called "Glory" which announced the baby's arrival. The track featured Blue Ivy wailing in the background, making her the youngest person ever to appear on a Billboard chart.

Creative inspiration aside, the new parents aren't abandoning the business savvy that helped build their individual brands either.

Beyonce and Jay-Z filed an application to trademark Blue Ivy Carter's name on Jan. 26, the Washington Post reported. If approved, the trademark would allow the couple to reserve little B.I.C.'s name, perhaps for a future line of baby products. It would also prevent strangers from capitalizing on the newborn's unique name.

According to the Post, two applicants unsuccessfully tried to trademark Blue Ivy's name before her own parents.

Madonna’s Stalker Escapes, Gets Arrested Again

Madonna’s half-time show was impressive, to say the least, but while I thoroughly enjoyed singing along to “Like a Prayer,” I had no desire to find her house and scale the fence in order to cozy up to the pop star. 

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Madonna-stalker, Robert Dewey Hoskins.

According to the LA Times, Hoskins, 54, walked out of Metropolitan State Hospital sometime last week. The LAPD warns that he is considered “highly psychotic” and has violent tendencies. Another reason to be extra cautious when you walk passed any middle-aged man humming the sweet melody of “Like a Virgin.” 

Robert Dewey Hoskins was previously serving a ten year sentence after climbing onto Madonna’s property in the Hollywood Hills and threatening to kill her. Luckily, he was unable to get to the Queen of Pop because he was spotted by a bodyguard and shot down. Madonna testified against him in court and Hoskins was sentenced to a ten year stint in prison in 1996. 

But it seems as though Hoskins has moved on these days. As reported by ABC News, Robert Dewey Hoskins now has his eyes set on Halle Berry. Apparently, he has been stalking and threatening the actress.

Luckily, authorities located him Friday, February 10th, not far from the mental facility he escaped a week prior. Hopefully, there will be no more escapes and no reason for Halle Berry to worry.

Hero’s Welcome New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning, MVP of Super Bowl XLVI, at Walt Disney World Resort

After leading his team to a game-winning drive and the Super Bowl championship Sunday night, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning led another drive Monday: down Main Street, U.S.A. to cheering fans at Walt Disney World Resort.

“I’m going to Disney World!” proclaimed Manning Sunday shortly after his team scored a dramatic 21-17 win over the New England Patriots to capture Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. In a gala parade Monday at Magic Kingdom, Manning made good on that promise, waving and smiling alongside Mickey Mousefrom a red convertible in the shadow of Cinderella Castle.

Fans of the Giants and Manning, including those sporting team jerseys Monday, got to see their hero up-close in the place where memories are made. New York Giants balloons mixed in with red, white and blue balloons along the parade route, Mickey Mouse was joined by other Disney characters and confetti in the shape of the Lombardi Trophy (awarded to the NFL champion) rained down on the happy scene. Manning was joined in the Magic Kingdom by NFL Youth football players.

Manning – who was named the game’s MVP — is no stranger to storybook finishes. Sunday’s late, game-winning drive marked the seventh fourth-quarter comeback Manning led this season. His 15 fourth quarter touchdown passes set an NFL single-season record.

Manning’s “I’m going to Disney World!” — anchoring one of TV’s most enduring and iconic Super Bowl commercials — was captured seconds after the final whistle. Monday’s visit marked his second “What’s Next…?” appearance in the Disney commercial. In 2008, Manning was celebrated following the Giants’ 17-14 upset win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

This latest commercial is the 45th in a series that began in 1987 following Super Bowl XXI. The first “I’m going to Disney World” commercial, featuring New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, was regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks within hours of its conclusion. Manning again joined a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have celebrated milestone accomplishments in “I’m going to Disney World” commercials.

Cars Land to open at Disney California Adventure Park in June

The wait is almost over for Disney's latest Southern California attraction. The company announced Cars Land at California Adventure will open in June.

Cars Land is being called the largest and most exciting part of a five-year, $1 billion expansion project. It includes 12 acres of fun, three rides, stores and restaurants, all set in Radiator Springs, a fictional town from the Disney-Pixar movie "Cars."

The new Buena Vista Street entry into California Adventure, featuring red car trolleys and the Carthay Circle Theatre, will also be unveiled in June. The Carthay Circle Theatre, modeled after the site of the 1937 world premiere of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," will feature a new lounge and elegant restaurant.

And beginning in summer, guests can take part in the Mad T Party, inspired by the world of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland." The new nighttime family celebration will feature a live band, fun-filled games, dancing, food, and other unique entertainment.

World Trade Center cost rises to $14.8 billion

The agency that is building the new World Trade Center is "dysfunctional" and has let costs get out of control on the $14.8 billion project, auditors said Tuesday.

The projected cost of the complex has risen $3.8 billion since 2008, when it was estimated at $11 billion, Navigant Consulting, Inc., said in its audit of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Third parties have promised to reimburse the Port Authority for much of the construction, but the agency's remaining bill is still expected to reach $7.7 billion, up 28 percent from the last estimate of $6 billion, auditors said.

The audit was ordered by the governors of New York and New Jersey. It strongly criticized the Port Authority, which also runs New York area airports, seaports and Hudson River crossings.

The Port Authority is "a challenged and dysfunctional organization suffering from a lack of consistent leadership, a siloed underlying bureaucracy, poorly coordinated capital planning processes, insufficient cost controls, and a lack of transparent and effective oversight of the World Trade Center program that has obscured full awareness of billions of dollars in exposure to the Port Authority," auditors wrote.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the increase "staggering" in a joint statement.

"This record of historic failure must be reversed," they said.

Scott Rechler, vice chairman of the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners, said costs went up after the Port Authority stepped in to manage delayed projects that were being built by third parties, including the 9/11 memorial and a performing arts center.

"We got the memorial open by its 10-year anniversary, and I think it's something we were all very proud of and proud of how it turned out," Rechler said. "But now we're at a crossroads and we have to take a step back and focus on where we are from a cost standpoint."

The authority's new director, Patrick Foye, said Tuesday the agency was taking the findings seriously and would begin an overhaul of the agency's structure. Administrators were already considering one of the auditors' recommendations, putting capital spending decisions in the hands of one person, he said.

"Recommendations like that are going to be very helpful in maximizing the value of every dollar we spend at the World Trade Center and every other capital project in the port's portfolio," Foye said.

The agency's debt has risen from $9.1 billion in 2001 to $19.5 billion, auditors said. The Port Authority receives no tax money, so those funds will have to be paid off through airport surcharges, bridge and tunnel tolls, port fees and rent from the agency's other properties.

Cuomo and Christie ordered the review after the agency's board voted to raise bridge and tunnel tolls in August.

The Port Authority has lost millions of dollars in revenue because of lower traffic at its ports, airports and river crossings due to the economy.

Meanwhile, the World Trade Center has suffered a number of construction setbacks.

The company that is laying steel for One World Trade Center, the signature tower, has run into financial problems, and the Port Authority has stepped in to pay some of its bills. A mistake in the design means the Port Authority will have to spend millions of dollars on temporary loading docks for the building. And the builders of the 9/11 museum are fighting with the agency over infrastructure costs.

The 104-story One World Trade Center is now 90 stories high, but the pace of construction has slowed. Foye has blamed winter weather and says it is still on schedule to open in late 2013.

The World Trade Center plan calls for five office towers, a 9/11 museum, the 9/11 memorial, a large subway station and a performing arts center.

But construction of Two World Trade Center, the second-tallest building in the complex at 88 stories, has been postponed because of a lack of tenants.

Three World Trade Center, which was supposed to be 80 stories high, is under construction but has also struggled to find tenants. Developer Larry Silverstein has said he may have to cap the building at seven stories if he cannot get more companies to move in.

Silverstein's company also owns two other buildings on the site, Four World Trade Center and the already-completed Seven World Trade Center.

Britain marks Charles Dickens' 200th birthday

He wrote about life in the modern city, with its lawyers and criminals, bankers and urchins, dreamers and clerks. He created characters still known to millions — Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim, Pip and Miss Havisham, Fagin and Oliver Twist. And it made him a star, mobbed by fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

Britain on Tuesday marked the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, the first global celebrity author and chronicler of a world of urban inequality that looks a lot like the one we live in today.

"You only have to look around our society and everything he wrote about in the 1840s is still relevant," said Dickens' biographer, Claire Tomalin. 

Super Bowl Sunday

They go again another pointless game. Another pointless game between two teams I don't like. all I can say is I hope the commercials are good!! Lol anyways it's Sunday morning, and it's time to make breakfast!! Bacon egg and cheese here I come. Rah! Rah!

All I did this weekend was rest, and played words with friends which is very addicting, especially when you play good people :) I am really not looking forward to work this week. Work is getting really long and hard "that's what she said" lol I think I work too much, after two years I finally admit to this!! Haha

Time to make the donuts!! Happy blogging people!? I'm out!!

Examples of Misguided Superhero Casting

Nic Cage as Ghost Rider

Starting things off with a bang is Nic Cage because, if you’re talking about ridiculous casting, Nic Cage is a great place to start. The context barely even matters. But in this case, it’s Nic’s second most preposterous role (after the Wicker Man) that makes him fodder for our criticisms. Nic and his hairpiece play Johnny Blaze, who becomes the Ghost Rider and hangs out with Sam Elliot’s character from The Big Lebowski to hunt down an emo asshole in a crappy town in Texas where everyone was a jerk. Or something like that.

Nic Cage may be the precise dictionary definition of every antonym for super that there is. Maybe in his 20’s he could have convinced someone that this would work, but these days he seems like a Mad Hatter who everyone refuses to institutionalize. He’s not intimidating or heroic particularly and even if he were, his hairpiece throughout this entire movie looks like a deformed honey badger trying to eat his scalp

Tom Welling as Clark Kent

If you are not now or have never been a teenaged girl, you may not have ever seen Smallville. It apparently had something to do with Superman and a bald boy. No one cares because it was Dawson’s Creek-level drama with pseudo superpowers and was, arguably, the worst superhero adaptation ever and that includes the Justice League movie that featured Charles Emerson Winchester III as the Martian Manhunter.

Tom Welling played young Clark Kent and it wasn’t that the kid was so bad at first as Superman it’s that he wasn’t Superman. The show ran for God knows how many seasons and he never became Superman ever. On the one hand the producers were awkwardly trying to tell the story of Superman before he was Superman, but on the other hand Clark Kent was always Superman so he should have at least slapped an S on his chest and flown to the hamburger stand in downtown Smallville at least once. But he didn’t. So this kid was cast in a pointless role for no reason, really.

Halle Berry as Catwoman

One of the most curious things in the history of acting is Halle Berry and her entire career. She’s won an Academy Award and yet it seems like every role she takes is worse than ever other role. If you were to watch two of her movies at the same time and try to decide which performance was worse your ears would likely start bleeding as you blacked out and lost your memory of the previous 24 hours. Despite this, she’s very popular, possibly because she’s hot. Or maybe because of The Last Boyscout. That was a great movie.

No one liked the movie Catwoman because it was worse than Hitler AIDS. Halle Berry was cast in the role because of two things – she was riding high on a wave of superhero goodwill from her useless turn as Storm in the X-Men and it was during Hollywood’s curious “let’s intentionally unintentionally cast people of different races in roles” phase that also saw Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin, Cedric the Entertainer as Ralph Kramden and Ashton Kutcher in Guess Who as who cares. All of those movies sucked, too.

When you think of women who can kick your ass, you probably don’t think of Halle Berry. While she’s in shape, she also seems like she spends most of her day just looking pretty and maybe fretting over her lack of Perrier.

Topher Grace as Venom

Toper Grace as a superhero would be preposterous. Topher Grace as a menacing supervillain is as ridiculous as FOX news anchors teaching journalism classes. In the comics Eddie Brock is a monster of a man who hates Spiderman for ruining his life. He finds the suit and becomes Venom and thinks he’s a good guy, wants to be a superhero, is a giant beast that scares everyone and still hates Spiderman. However, in the movie, he’s basically exactly the same as Peter Parker, hates Peter Parker and just becomes more of an asshole with the suit on.

Venom should have been a big, misguided fool, not a weiner. Remember that, casting directors – only cast Topher Grace in roles that require wieners.

Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl

After Tim Burton’s tolerable run with Batman, Joel Schumacher took over after abusing a cocktail of mind-altering substances. The results are two of the worst pieces of shit ever put on film. But the final piece of shit really takes the cake for any number of reasons – George Clooney’s abhorrent Batman, Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, those guys on ice skates, etc. And then there was Alicia Silverstone. She was supposed to be Alfred’s niece, despite not being English and has all the energy of a dog being put to sleep. She also evokes the idea of superheroism in much the same way a hobo makes you think of cleanliness.

Ben Affleck as DareDevil

I can go on and on about how horrible this movie is. The fact that every character belongs on this blog (but I dont have the time or energy). Flat out horrible

and the worst Misguided Superhero Casting is......

Shaq as Steel

Steel was originally a Superman, which you may not have known if you saw the movie as they didn’t really mention it ever. See, back in the day, DC made a big deal out of killing Superman in the comics and then having new Supermen take his place, including Superboy, a cyborg Superman, a clone and Steel, a man named John Henry Irons who was inspired by Superman to do good but, having no powers of his own, he made a suit out of steel to help him in his quest to right wrongs.

The weird thing is Shaq looked just like the comic book hero. The bad thing is Shaq's acting carrier was just like his basketball carrier "EMBARRASING". By the way There was no good thing

BONUS!!!! **HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ARTICLE**

 Natalie Portman’s ass!!!!