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DC5m United States music in english 73 articles, created at 2016-12-08 22:42 articles set mostly positive rate 6.7

1 7.9 Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer dies at 69 Legendary prog rock singer/bassist/lyricist Greg Lake, has died at age 69 following a battle with cancer. 2016-12-08 12:24 6KB www.aol.com (11.99/12)

2 0.9 Remembering the Oakland Ghost Ship fire victims 'You don't forget people like that' (8.93/12) The stories of the victims of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire extend beyond their work. Kiyomi Tanouye was a music manager at Shazam and friends say she was much more: 'open and willing,' and 'absolutely inspiring.' 2016-12-08 00:20 2KB abc7news.com

3 1.0 Madonna Vogues, Twerks and Splits Her Way Through ‘Carpool Karaoke’ (Video)

(6.40/12) “Hairspray Live” wasn’t the only musical programming on broadcast television last night: The two vogued together through the streets of New York City — in a loaded Range Rover, of course — and Madge twerked on her own from the passenger seat. Yes, that apparently happened... 2016-12-08 11:17 1KB www.sfgate.com

4 4.3 'Hairspray Live!': What Was Different From the 2007 Movie Musical? (5.43/12) There were a few noticeable differences from the film starring Zac Efron and John Travolta. 2016-12-08 01:33 4KB feedproxy.google.com

5 1.2 Ratings: ‘Hairspray Live’ Sings and Dances to 8.9 Million Viewers

(4.28/12) NBC musical tops “Empire” in overall audience, but will it adjust up enough in final Nielsen numbers to overtake “Peter Pan Live”? With those subject to adjust up in final figures, will it overtake “Peter Pan Live’s” 9.211 million tally? NBC was first in ratings... 2016-12-08 12:26 2KB www.sfgate.com

6 3.7 Justin Bieber's 'Sorry' tops Vevo's most-watched of 2016 By The Associated Press Justin Bieber dominates Vevo's list of its most-watched (4.20/12) music videos of 2016. 2016-12-08 10:32 1KB www.cbs46.com

7 7.7 Kanye West working on new music as he recovers from medical scare: report (3.11/12) There's no rest for Yeezus. 2016-12-08 12:13 2KB feeds.nydailynews.com 8 0.8 'New York Times' Executive Editor On The New Terrain Of Covering Trump (2.19/12) Dean Baquet talks about covering tweets as news, his decision to use the word "lie" in a headline about Trump and why he's not worried about libel suits from the new president. 2016-12-08 12:33 733Bytes www.npr.org

9 5.9 Mick Jagger is again a daddy at 73 Rock and Roll star has five grandchildren, and is a great grandfather 2016-12-08 12:27 (2.06/12) 1KB www.scmp.com

10 2.7 Rosenberg: Israelis 'Cautiously Optimistic' about Trump Victory Best-selling author Joel Rosenberg believes the mood in Israel is upbeat following (2.06/12) Donald Trump's surprising victory in the U. S. presidential election. Best-selling author Joel Rosenberg believes the mood in Israel is upbeat following Donald Trump's surprising victory in the U. S. presidential election. 2016-12-08 09:20 2KB www.cbn.com

11 1.6 US, Russian officials meet to discuss Aleppo initiative

(1.16/12) Aleppo, Syria (CNN)The US and Russia's top diplomats are meeting to discuss ways to end the bombing of Aleppo, allow safe passage of those who want to flee the war- torn northern Syrian city and deliver humanitarian aid to its remaining residents, according to... 2016-12-08 02:22 1011Bytes article.wn.com

12 5.6 WATCH: Sfiso Ncwane’s Durban memorial service Gospel singer Sfiso Ncwane's memorial service is underway, here are the live (1.11/12) updates. 2016-12-08 05:34 848Bytes www.channel24.co.za

13 1.6 John Legend impersonates wife Chrissy Teigen on Watch What Happens Live (1.09/12) The 37-year-old singer put on a wig to pretend to be his wife Chrissy Teigen on Watch What Happens Live on Wednesday after embarrassingly speaking about their sex life. 2016-12-08 04:53 5KB www.dailymail.co.uk

14 2.4 Iran's FM: It's in US interest to stay committed to nuclear pact Mohammad Zarif's strong statement makes waves as US President-elect Donald (1.05/12) Trump continues to vocally oppose the nuclear agreement. 2016-12-08 06:12 2KB www.jpost.com

15 1.1 Rep. Gutiérrez: Trump On DREAMers Shows

(1.04/12) Pressure Working President-elect Donald Trump’s softer stance on so-called DREAMers demonstrates that Democratic pressure is having an impact on the billionaire businessman, according to one of Congress' most vocal 2016-12-08 12:12 3KB dailycaller.com 16 0.4 Jennifer Hudson leaves cast in tears with racial equality anthem I Know Where I've Been on Hairspray Live! (1.04/12) The 35-year-old singer appeared to leave some of her cast mates in tears with a stunning performance on Wednesday during NBC's spectacular Hairspray Live!. 2016-12-08 02:18 8KB www.dailymail.co.uk

17 2.0 Mandolin whiz Thile brings younger crowd to 'Prairie Home' (1.02/12) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mandolin whiz Chris Thile (THEEL'-ee) says he still feels 2016-12-08 12:55 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

18 2.8 To do this weekend: 5 Triangle towns host Christmas parades

(1.02/12) Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Clayton and Bahama all have parades with floats, music and more on Saturday. Also this weekend, see Historic Oakwood by candlelight or check out the Governor’s Mansion. See our other weekend picks. 2016-12-08 12:00 2KB www.newsobserver.com

19 3.1 Exclusive photo: Spider-Man Tom Holland unmasked in 'Homecoming'

The Marvel webslinger copes with teen troubles in his new solo movie. 2016-12-08 07:00 (1.02/12) 3KB rssfeeds.usatoday.com

20 0.6 For the Record: What the devil? Donald Trump won Time's "Person of the Year" honors! But they inadvertently (or (1.02/12) totally advertently) gave him devil horns on the cover -- sad! 2016-12-08 06:52 4KB rssfeeds.usatoday.com

21 3.4 Nikkei closes over 11-mth high on upbeat China data TOKYO, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average closed at the highest level since last December on Thursday as upbeat Chinese trade data boosted sentim... (1.02/12) 2016-12-08 02:23 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

22 3.7 Dolly Parton organizes musical telethon for Tenn. wildfire victims (1.02/12) Dolly Parton has organized a musical telethon to raise money for victims of the Tennessee wildfires with performances by Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Alison Krauss 2016-12-08 02:23 4KB www.cbsnews.com

23 0.0 Tony Bennett sings for the Saenger in New Orleans The crooner made a stop on his most recent tour. 2016-12-08 00:38 1KB www.nola.com

(0.04/12) 24 1.3 Niall Horan shops for baby GIRL gifts as Liam Payne prepares for child with Cheryl (0.01/12) The singer, 23, was stocking up on adorable gifts - possibly for the imminent arrival - as he was seen leaving baby boutique Petit Tresor in West Hollywood on Wednesday. 2016-12-08 05:48 5KB www.dailymail.co.uk

25 1.5 Park Bo Gum Calls Song Joong Ki And Song Hye Kyo ‘Almighty’ Couple, Will They Take Home KBS Crown? Park Bo Gum believes that the “almighty Song-Song” couple will take home the crown at the upcoming 2016 KBS Drama Awards. The prestigious event will take place 2016-12-08 12:48 1KB www.inquisitr.com

26 2.9 Martha Stewart and Vanderpump Rules cast enjoy Jason Derulo performance in NYC Among those in attendance were Lisa Vanderpump, Ramona Singer, Stassi Schroeder, Jax Taylor, Katie Maloney, Tom Sandoval, and Dorinda Medley and John Mahdessian. 2016-12-08 12:43 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

27 5.6 Music: Flute of gold from the Emerald Isle Sir James Galway will perform with the Paris Vox Musicorum Orchestra. 2016-12-08 12:38 6KB www.jpost.com

28 0.5 Aleppo White Helmet rescuers call for safe passage The White Helmets rescue group on Thursday urged international organisations to protect its members in rebel-held parts of Syria's east Aleppo in the face of an advance by government forces. 2016-12-08 12:30 2KB www.digitaljournal.com

29 1.4 EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Mexican Senators Beat Trump Piñata, Chant Gay Slur Mexican senators celebrated Christmas by beating a piñata of Donald J. Trump while chanting "faggot" and other expletives. 2016-12-08 12:28 1KB feedproxy.google.com

30 7.7 Music: Love, Ethiopian style Vocalist Aster Aweke will perform at the Hullegeb Festival in Jerusalem. 2016-12-08 12:19 5KB www.jpost.com

31 4.2 50 Interesting Facts About Zayn Malik: Things to Know about Gigi Hadid’s Boyfriend Check out these 50 Zayn Malik facts to learn more about the “Pillowtalk” singer. 2016-12-08 12:15 1KB www.earnthenecklace.com

32 3.5 Hollywood Reporter Lee Daniels' new Fox musical drama features a great Queen Latifah performance, but may not be as broadly appealing as 'Empire.' 2016-12-08 12:15 7KB feedproxy.google.com 33 0.0 At 29, this 'El Niño' singer is the buzz of California's opera world Davone Tines is an opera wunderkind of sorts, following his stunning debut at the Ojai Music Festival with a part in the L. A. Phil's presentation of John Adams' "El Nino. " 2016-12-08 12:00 9KB www.latimes.com

34 2.9 Vinyl album sales outpace digital downloads for first time in U. K.: Report Sales of albums on vinyl records in the United Kingdom outpaced digital album sales for the first time ever, an entertainment industry trade group reported Thursday. 2016-12-08 11:50 1KB www.washingtontimes.com

35 3.1 A hacker's ultimate guide to staying safe online: Expert reveals the safest browsers and best messaging apps Timothy Summers, an ethical hacker and director of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Engagement at the University of Maryland, explains how to stay cyber safe. 2016-12-08 11:43 6KB www.dailymail.co.uk

36 4.8 Christina Milian reveals the gift she'd give a 'secure' man We caught up with the Grammy-nominated singer at the quirky 'Curve Your Reality' soirée. 2016-12-08 11:34 4KB www.aol.com

37 0.0 Macy’s, Sears, JC Penney and Kohl’s discounts too good to be true, LA city attorney says LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles city attorney’s office is expected to file suit today against four big retailers for deceptive advertising, which allegedly misled shoppers into believing that thousands of products were on sale at a hefty d 2016-12-08 11:29 2KB www.presstelegram.com

38 1.9 Cheyenne Tozzi opens up about transitioning from modelling to singing Cheyenne Tozzi, 27, revealed she does not become affected by what critics think of her transition from modelling to singing. 2016-12-08 11:26 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

39 1.9 Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra strike ends with $700K donated Musicians with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra have ended their three-month strike by approving a new contract bolstered by a $700,000 donation. Symphony officials and the American Federation of Musicians... 2016-12-08 11:04 770Bytes article.wn.com 40 1.0 Rihanna responds to Beyonce feud rumors: 'We don't need to be putting black women against each other' Rihanna took to Instagram on Wednesday to clear up rumors that she and Beyoncé were feuding over GRAMMY nominations. 2016-12-08 11:03 2KB www.aol.com

41 2.9 Jazz Picks: ‘Big Band Holidays’ features Marsalis, Lincoln Center Orchestra The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis will offer swinging performances of holiday favorites with special guest vocalist Catherine Russell, Saturday at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill. 2016-12-08 11:00 1KB www.newsobserver.com

42 1.8 Taylor Swift Faces Jessica Simpson Feud Rumors As She Prepares To Release New Album [Debunked] Taylor Swift is not feuding with fellow singer Jessica Simpson ahead of the rumored release of her highly anticipated new album. 2016-12-08 09:16 2KB www.inquisitr.com

43 1.0 Dear Millennials, Please Stop Trying To Ruin This Classic Holiday Song People are apparently upset by the lyrics of the classic Christmas song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” because it’s “too rapey. " 2016-12-08 08:54 4KB thefederalist.com

44 2.0 'Preggo but I’m still doin moves like Beyonce': Surrogate mother in labour performs energetic dance routine to the song Baby Momma Dressed in just her surgical gown and a fetching pair of yellow socks, Alexandra Theriault (pictured), from Florida, tried to hurry her labour along by dancing while four centimetres dilated. 2016-12-08 08:54 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

45 2.2 Blake Shelton Reveals His New Single Was Inspired By Gwen Stefani: When I’m With Her ‘No One Notices Me’ Blake Shelton’s new song, “A Guy With A Girl,” is all about Gwen Stefani. The country star, who has been dating the “No Doubt” alum for over a year, sat down 2016-12-08 08:48 3KB www.inquisitr.com

46 4.2 Atlanta's homeless choir performs in free concert this weekend Sixty percent of the men from last year’s choir are no longer homeless and are working and living independently. 2016-12-08 08:31 2KB rssfeeds.11alive.com 47 1.4 Kerry Katona is photobombed by a cheeky co-star as she leaves theatre after panto performance as the Fairy Godmother The former Atomic Kitten star, 36, looked as though her wholesome role was suiting her down to the ground as she posed for photographs outside Lincoln's New Theatre Royal on Wednesday. 2016-12-08 08:20 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

48 0.6 I'm A Celebrity: Martin Roberts hints there was more 'bullying' from Larry Lamb off air He famously locked horns with Larry Lamb and Danny Baker on I'm A Celebrity - but Martin Roberts hinted that there were more incidents which weren't shown on air. 2016-12-08 08:18 7KB www.dailymail.co.uk

49 0.0 Mariah Carey shows off assets in corset and fishnets after holiday concert in NYC Ignoring the chilly NYC weather Mariah turned heads in her black zip-up number with a very low neckline to flaunt her ample assets. 2016-12-08 08:12 984Bytes www.dailymail.co.uk

50 3.0 Little Shop of Horrors musical to be remade by Warner Bros Greg Berlanti will direct new version of the black comedy but whether songs from the 1982 classic will be retained has not yet been confirmed 2016-12-08 08:09 2KB www.theguardian.com

51 3.6 Pink Martini joins the NC Symphony for Christmas concert tradition The genre-crossing “little orchestra” returns to the Triangle for three holiday shows at Meymandi Concert Hall this weekend with the North Carolina Symphony. 2016-12-08 08:00 3KB www.newsobserver.com

52 4.5 Meghan Trainor pens, performs song for new 'Smurfs' adventure Meghan Trainor has written and recorded a song for the latest Smurfs movie, Sony Pictures Animation announced. 2016-12-08 07:51 1KB www.upi.com

53 2.0 Amazon: Triangle home shoppers buying high-tech Amazon says its Prime delivery service in the Triangle continues to grow as Christmas nears. And the Echo Dot - Amazon's own smart home device - is among the hottest selling items along with tech device cables. Also hot: Bottled water! 2016-12-08 14:22 2KB wraltechwire.com 54 1.4 Adriana Lima flaunts cleavage in plunging midi at New York red carpet The model mum-of-two stunned in the figure-hugging plunging navy number that displayed her ample cleavage as she posed for pictures at the event on Wednesday in NYC. 2016-12-08 07:37 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

55 2.1 Amazon: 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' is 2016's best-selling book Amazon says its best-selling book of 2016 is "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2, Special Rehearsal Edition Script. " 2016-12-08 07:25 2KB www.upi.com

56 4.8 A quest to make Blue Ribbon-worthy Buttermints My grandmother, Faith Garrard, had many signature dishes. But the one that was magic was her buttermints. 2016-12-08 07:00 4KB www.newsobserver.com

57 7.1 Triangle bakeries taking December 2016 holiday orders Leave the holiday baking to these Triangle bakeries, which are taking orders. 2016-12-08 07:00 10KB www.newsobserver.com

58 3.4 Petula Clark discusses turning down Elvis Presley on Good Morning Britain The Downtown singer, 84, put in an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Thursday to chat about her 45th studio album. 2016-12-08 06:48 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

59 4.3 All the President-Elect's Generals Why has Trump shown such eagerness to select former military brass for his Cabinet? The reasons may be both pragmatic and political. 2016-12-08 05:50 6KB www.theatlantic.com

60 4.0 State gives lodge a $150,000 grant Virginia is giving a $150,000 grant to help a build a new lodge and conference center near the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. 2016-12-08 05:04 1KB www.washingtontimes.com

61 4.3 German department store Kaufhof upbeat for Christmas DUESSELDORF, Germany, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The head of German department store chain Kaufhof, owned by Canada's Hudson's Bay , says the 2016-12-08 05:01 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 62 3.3 Christina Milian Nipple Show In Super Sheer Dress Christina Milian stunned the audience after showing up clad in a blue Laquan Smith Sheer Dress that flashed her nipples and gave a clear glimpse into what she 2016-12-08 04:33 4KB www.inquisitr.com

63 10.0 British Composer Awards: Tansy Davies’s 9/11 show triumphs

Image copyright Rikard Osterlund Image 2016-12-08 00:00 2KB headlinenewstoday.net

64 0.9 Watch ‘Hairspray Live!’ Online If You Missed It Streaming On NBC, Check Out Original 1988 ‘Hairspray’ Movie [Video] Watch Hairspray Live! online! Streaming NBC coverage and watch full musical on Hulu! Don’t miss the original Waters’ movie Hairspray on Netflix! 2016-12-08 03:01 1KB www.inquisitr.com

65 5.9 French singer resurrects 'Mama Africa' Mama Africa Miriam Makeba's beat is going global again, thanks to a young French singer. 2016-12-08 02:58 1KB www.timeslive.co.za

66 0.0 Sophie Monk jokes she's not releasing another racy carol rendition this year for pop diva's sake The charismatic radio host made a comedic return to music last year in a sexy carol parody of Drummer Boy. And Sophie Monk claims she's steering clear of another racy rendition for Mariah Carey's sake. 2016-12-08 01:55 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

67 4.2 Atlanta's own Kenny Leon helps make live musical magic NBC brought the excitement of live theater right into your living room. But what exactly did it take to successfully pull off the live production? 2016-12-08 01:35 1KB rssfeeds.11alive.com

68 4.2 Tim McGraw and Faith Hill spread holiday cheer at a Walmart in Macclenny Country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw helped spread some holiday cheer at a Walmart in Macclenny, Fla. on Tuesday. 2016-12-08 01:27 1KB rssfeeds.11alive.com

69 0.0 ‘Ok Go’ Features Chicago-Based Organization And Students In New Video Grammy-nominated band “OK Go” is teaching the kids the chords to their latest song and features a Chicago-based organization giving back in a loud way. 2016-12-08 01:07 2KB chicago.cbslocal.com 70 1.7 Dami Im says she will no longer be pushed around by makeup artists who would alter her natural complexion to 'look darker' in Australia and 'white and pale' in Korea She's the Korean-Australian singer who has previously voiced concerns about makeup artists altering her natural complexion. 2016-12-08 00:58 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

71 0.6 Mad Solutions Launches Innovative Arab Cinema Incubator in Dubai DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An innovative incubator for Arab movies is being launched by Cairo-based marketing and distribution company Mad Solutions at the Dubai Film Market where footage … 2016-12-08 00:22 3KB variety.com

72 2.6 Dallas Summer Musicals to shutter academy Dec. 31, but DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards will continue After 17 years, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts will close Dec. 31. Dallas Summer Musicals' interim managing director David Hyslop and DSM... 2016-12-07 23:13 2KB www.dallasnews.com

73 0.0 Are Britney Spears And Christina Aguilera Finally Ending Feud And Recording A Duet? Britney Forgets Where Own Catchphrase Began It’s been more than 15 years since Britney Spears and Christian Aguilera owned the pop star spotlight and battled it out for the princess title. The two former 2016-12-07 22:59 2KB www.inquisitr.com Articles

DC5m United States music in english 73 articles, created at 2016-12-08 22:42

1 /73 7.9 Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer dies at 69

(11.99/12) Legendary prog rock singer/bassist/lyricist Greg Lake , has died at age 69 following a battle with cancer. Best know as the bassist for King Crimson and guitarist/singer for Emerson, Lake & Palmer , Lake scored one of his biggest solo hits in 1975 with "I Believe in Father Christmas. "

In a statement, Lake's former bandmate, Carl Palmer, paid tribute to his friend and collaborator. "It is with great sadness that I must now say goodbye to my friend and fellow band-mate, Greg Lake," wrote Palmer. "Greg's soaring voice and skill as a musician will be remembered by all who knew his music and recordings he made with ELP and King Crimson. I have fond memories of those great years we had in the 1970s and many memorable shows we performed together. Having lost Keith this year as well, has made this particularly hard for all of us. As Greg sang at the end of 'Pictures At An Exhibition,' "death is life. " His music can now live forever in the hearts of all who loved him. "

As alluded by Palmer, it has been a difficult year for the fans of the pioneering band, as their third member, Keith Emerson, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March of this year. Lake's manager told the BBC that Lake died on Wednesday (Dec. 7) after fighting a "long and stubborn battle with cancer. "

See photos of Greg Lake:

13 PHOTOS

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer through the years

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Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer through the years

UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of Greg LAKE; Posed portrait of Greg Lake (Photo by Gems/Redferns)

DENMARK - JANUARY 01: Photo of ELP and EMERSON LAKE & PALMER; Greg Lake, Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Photo by Jorgen Angel/Redferns)

Emerson Lake & Palmer 1972 ELP at Melody Maker Awards. Greg Lake, Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) DENMARK - JUNE 01: Photo of EMERSON LAKE & PALMER; Keith Emerson Greg Lake Carl Palmer, Emerson, Lake & Palmer ELP, Copenhagen, Denmark June 1972 (Photo by Jorgen Angel/Redferns)

Emerson Lake and Palmer Carl Palmer live at Korakuen Baseball Stadium, Tokyo, July 22, 1972. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)

September 1972: Pop musicians (from left to right) Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer, of the group Emerson Lake And Palmer - or ELP for short, receive their awards at the 1972 Melody Maker Pop Poll; readers of the weekly music paper voted ELP the World's Top Group, and between then they won seven awards. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO - February 17: Greg Lake W/ ELP performs at the Civic Center in San Francisco, California on February 17, 1974. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

English progressive rock group Emerson, Lake and Palmer, taking a sauna during rehearsals for the band's 'Works' tour, at the Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada, February 1977. Left to right: keyboard player Keith Emerson, bassist Greg Lake and drummer Carl Palmer. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Bassist Greg Lake, of English progressive rock group Emerson, Lake and Palmer, during rehearsals for the band's 'Works' tour, at the Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada, February 1977. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer performs at the Gorge in George (Photo by Dana Nalbandian/WireImage)

ABC IN CONCERT - Shoot Date: February 13, 1992. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) GREG LAKE OF EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER

ABC IN CONCERT - Shoot Date: February 13, 1992. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) L-R: CARL PALMER, KEITH EMERSON, AND GREG LAKE OF EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER

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Lake was born in Bournemouth, England on Nov. 10, 1947, and befriended future King Crimson bandmate Robert Fripp when the two were in school, later contributing lyrics, vocals and playing bass on the band's 1969 debut, In the Court of the Crimson King, considered by many to be the first true progressive rock album and a template for what came after. One of the most-beloved songs from the group's debut, "21st Century Schizoid Man," was memorably sampled by Kanye West on the song "Power. " It was during the U. S. tour for Crimson's debut album that Lake met keyboardist Emerson and the pair formed a trio with drummer Palmer (Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster) in 1970.

The group's signature mixture of classical, jazz, rock and symphonic elements made them one of the leaders of the emerging prog rock movement across a series of influential albums, including their 1970s self-titled debut (featuring the Lake-penned radio hit "Lucky Man"), 1971's Tarkus and Pictures at an Exhibition and 1973 landmark Brain Salad Surgery, establishing their signature mix of multi-part suites, fanciful instrumentals and the occasional radio-friendly track. Brain Salad Surgery featured one of Lake's best-known ELP compositions, "Still... You Turn Me On. "

While the band's over-the-top light shows and unlikely chart success with efforts such as their 1977 cover of composer Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" made them one of the most popular prog rock acts of the 1970s, their florrid compositions -- often produced by Lake -- are credited with influencing the stripped-down, no-frills sound of punk.

ELP broke up in 1979, after which Lake launched a solo career, releasing a self-titled debut in 1981 and following with Manoeuvres in 1983 and Ride the Tiger in 2015. He scored one of his only solo hits, "I Believe in Father Christmas," in 1975, reaching No. 2 on the UK singles chart (behind Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody") and briefly joining the prog-survivors supergroup Asia in 1983. A few years later he reconnected with Emerson and drummer Cozy Powell in the short- lived Emerson, Lake & Powell and reconnected with Palmer and Emerson in July 2010 for what turned out to be ELP's final concert at the High Voltage Rock Festival in London.

Tributes to Lake poured in on social media from a variety of contemporaries, friends, fans and fellow musicians.

Greg Lake Dead: Emerson, Guitarist-singer Greg Lake of Guitarist/singer Greg Lake of British prog rock musician Lake & Palmer Bassist and Emerson, Lake and Palmer Emerson, Lake and Palmer Greg Lake dies of cancer Singer Dies at 69 dies dies dailymail.co.uk variety.com pressherald.com cbs46.com Emerson, Lake and Palmer Emerson, Lake and Palmer Greg Lake, progressive rock Rock musician Greg Lake of co-founder Greg Lake dies founder Greg Lake dies at pioneer dead at 69 King Crimson, Emerson dies at 69 69 upi.com of cancer at 69 latimes.com chicago.suntimes.com feeds.nydailynews.com

2016-12-08 12:24 AOL Staff www.aol.com

2 /73 0.9 Remembering the Oakland Ghost Ship fire victims 'You don't forget people like that' (8.93/12) We're learning more about the victims in the warehouse fire. Many who died were talented artists who passed before their time. Hanna Ruax was a yoga instructor and jewelry maker who had just relocated to Oakland from Finland. She was engaged to Alex Ghassan, a filmmaker. They weren't the only couple who passed away in the Ghost Ship fire. Alex Vega and his high school sweetheart Michela Gregory also spent their final moments together. "They loved each other very much," said Lucero Govea, a Capuchino High School wellness counselor. "It's just very tragic for them to just have been taken from us so soon. It just really hits close to home. "Vega made quite the impression on his former counselor, who says he was a creative and gentle soul. "There's just something about him, his presence that definitely sticks out to me. You don't forget people like that, you just don't forget," said Govea. Sonia Kominek-Adachi says her friend Amanda Kershaw was also memorable. "She's an infectious personality and she comes in and she's a firecracker," she said. Kominek-Adachi got to know Kershaw as her hairdresser before encouraging her to share her photography in the salon she worked at. "She has grown so much personally, professionally and artistically in the five years that I've known her," Kominek-Adachi told ABC7 News. These young people represent many artists in their prime whose lives ended too soon.to donate and help the families of the victims. College Roommates Among More victims in Oakland fire College roommates among ‘Ghost Ship’ fire illustrates Oakland Warehouse Fire publicly identified Oakland warehouse fire importance of safety Victims mynorthwest.com victims regulations abcnews.go.com article.wn.com sfexaminer.com

Raging Oakland warehouse LA artist colonies brace for Raging Oakland warehouse Oakland Fire Victims fire trapped victims in backlash from Oakland’s fire trapped victims in heavy Included Performers and smoke tragic Ghost Ship warehouse smoke, investigators say Educators post-gazette.com fire presstelegram.com nytimes.com presstelegram.com

2016-12-08 00:20 (Copyright abc7news.com

3 /73 1.0 Madonna Vogues, Twerks and Splits Her Way Through ‘Carpool Karaoke’ (Video) (6.40/12) “Hairspray Live” wasn’t the only musical programming on broadcast television last night: Madonna joined James Corden Wednesday for some pre-recorded “Carpool Karaoke.”

The two vogued together through the streets of New York City — in a loaded Range Rover, of course — and Madge twerked on her own from the passenger seat. She also did an impressive in-car split or two, something the “Late Late Show” host tried but failed to match.

Later, the Material Girl talks about french-kissing Michael Jackson. Yes, that apparently happened — thanks for the visual, chardonnay!

Also Read: Here's How the Grammys Told LL Cool J They're Going With James Corden

Now Corden and Madonna are officially friends. Or as the CBS personality put it, he’s her “b— h.”

Watch the video above.

Read original story Madonna Vogues, Twerks and Splits Her Way Through ‘Carpool Karaoke’ (Video) At TheWrap

Madonna sings classic Watch Madonna go full diva Madonna Carpool Karaoke Madonna twerks, reveals songs, talks kissing Michael on Carpool Karaoke: “I With James Corden: Watch she kissed Michael Jackson Jackson on Carpool Karaoke mean, baby, I’ve been the Full Video on ‘Carpool Karaoke’ upi.com around” variety.com rssfeeds.freep.com vox.com

Madonna confesses she Madonna reveals she kissed made out with Michael Michael Jackson in James Jackson during Carpool Corden's Carpool Karaoke Karaoke – video dailymail.co.uk theguardian.com

2016-12-08 11:17 Tony Maglio www.sfgate.com

4 /73 4.3 'Hairspray Live!': What Was Different From the 2007 Movie Musical? (5.43/12) 9:34 PM PST 12/7/2016

by

Taylor Weatherby, Billboard

Hairspray Live! was quite the exciting TV event for those who really love Hairspray, no matter if we're talking about the 1988 movie, the Broadway play or the 2007 big-screen remake (or all three).

But with the Adam Shankman-directed film -- starring Zac Efron, John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky and more -- being the reprise of most recent memory, it's hard not to compare the movie musical version to NBC's live-action special. So we did.

Check out the differences we noticed between the 2007 movie musical and Hairspray Live! below.

Noreen and Doreen Are Missing Perhaps one of the smaller details that only mega Hairspray movie fans will notice (Noreen and Doreen weren't in the Broadway version), there's nobody with rhyming names in the role call during "Nicest Kids in Town. " In Hairspray Live! , Luanne is followed by a girl named "Kooks," while in the movie it's Joey, a quick-take of several people and then the ever-so-memorable Noreen and Doreen. Sorry gals, guess you didn't make the cut for live television.

"Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now" Wasn’t Staged in the Movie

While this song did make it onto the movie's soundtrack, the scene was too difficult to stage for the movie version, so they put the track in the credits rather than featuring it in the film. But it was one of the first numbers in the live TV special, featuring Penny Pingleton (Ariana Grande), Amber Von Tussle (Dove Cameron) and Tracy Turnblad (Maddie Baillio) and their moms. Staging it was apparently not a challenging task for the Hairspray Live! gang, because it was flawless.

"New Girl In Town" Was Given the Boot

There were a few songs included in Hairspray Live! that didn't make it into the movie, but with one track it was the opposite situation: "New Girl In Town," performed by Brittany Snow's Amber in the movie, was totally cut from the live-action special. Perhaps it was the joke about the girl getting hit by a moving van at the very end of the song...

The Location of "I Can Hear The Bells" Changed

In the movie, this scene took place at school, with Tracy and Penny walking the halls as Tracy daydreams about being with the handsome heartthrob Link Larkin (and eventually creeps on him in the bathroom). But in Hairspray Live! , Tracy sings "I Can Hear The Bells" in the Corny Collins Show studio before she tries to audition for the show.

"Ladies' Choice" Was Sung by a Different Dreamy Dude

As indicated by the song's name, "Ladies' Choice" is a tune fit for a hunk -- but apparently not always the same hunk. While the track is Link’s song in the movie (as played by Efron), it was Derek Hough's Corny Collins’ tune in the TV musical.

"It Takes Two" Wasn't a Thing in the Movie

Just like "Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now," Link Larkin's swoon-worthy love song was on the movie's soundtrack, but not a scene in the film. But Garrett Clayton certainly got his solo in Hairspray Live! , crooning to all of the ladies -- mostly a flustered Tracy -- and making Efron lovers everywhere wish this scene had been part of the 2007 movie version.

Velma Von Tussle Did a Lot More High-Pitched Singing

While Michelle Pfeiffer made for one classic evil lady in the movie role of Velma, it was apparent that a Broadway star had taken her place in the live-action TV special. There were quite a few over-the-top, high-pitched endings to her numbers that Pfeiffer definitely didn't attempt on the silver screen.

The Dodgeball Scene Was Different

Similar to that of the original 1988 film, the dodgeball scene was definitely prominent -- with Tracy getting totally clocked by Amber. If this didn't look familiar to those who love the 2007 movie, it's because they snuck the dodgeball knockout into one of the songs. Featured in "I Can Hear The Bells" (as you can see above), Tracy still gets taken down by a ball, but not nearly to the degree that she did on TV.

Amber Didn't Sing "Cooties" in the Movie

Apparently the movie producers thought that Tracy had suffered enough teasing throughout the first three-fourths of the movie because Amber didn't perform the song "Cooties," which is all about making fun of Tracy. But that didn't stop NBC from including it in the live version. (Spoiler alert: Tracy still comes out on top.)

This article originally appeared on Billboard.com .

Review: ‘Hairspray Live!’ Why John Waters Wasn’t TV Ratings: NBC’s 'Hairspray Live!' has Had Power Voices but Still On ‘Hairspray Live,’ And ‘Hairspray Live!’ Down From infectious beat on NBC Lacked Power Why He Hasn’t Watched It ‘The Wiz’ rss.cnn.com nytimes.com Yet variety.com inquisitr.com

TV Review: NBC’s Review: 'Hairspray' has ‘Hairspray Live!’ plenty of luster as NBC's variety.com best live musical rssfeeds.usatoday.com

2016-12-08 01:33 Taylor Weatherby feedproxy.google.com

5 /73 1.2 Ratings: ‘Hairspray Live’ Sings and Dances to 8.9 Million Viewers (4.28/12) “Hairspray Live” hauled in 8.9 million total viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen numbers. With those subject to adjust up in final figures, will it overtake “Peter Pan Live’s” 9.211 million tally?

We’ll find that out soon enough, but for now we know it was enough to top “Empire” among overall audience tallies. It also handed NBC the No. 1 primetime slot outright on Wednesday. However, Fox’s hip-hop soap actually took its 9 o’clock hour in the key 18-49 demographic.

Read all about “Hairspray’s” earlier overnight numbers here , which placed it down 25 percent from December 2015’s “The Wiz Live.”

Also Read: 'Hairspray Live' Drops 25 Percent From 'The Wiz' in Early Ratings NBC was first in ratings with a 2.3 rating/8 share in the advertiser- coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 8.9 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Hairspray Live” was only show on NBC’s primetime schedule.

Fox was second in ratings with a 1.9/7 and third in viewers with 6.6 million. “Lethal Weapon” at 8 p.m. had a 1.4/5 and 6.2 million viewers. “Empire” at 9 earned a 2.5/8 and 7 million viewers.

CBS was third in ratings with a 1.4/5 and second in viewers with 7.6 million.

More to come …

Read original story Ratings: ‘Hairspray Live’ Sings and Dances to 8.9 Million Viewers At TheWrap

Review: ‘Hairspray Live!’ Hairspray Live! Doesn’t TV Ratings: NBC’s ‘Hairspray Live’ Drops 25 Had Power Voices but Still Have the Ratings Staying ‘Hairspray Live!’ Down From Percent From ‘The Wiz’ in Lacked Power Power of The Wiz and Fox’s ‘The Wiz’ Early Ratings nytimes.com Grease variety.com sfgate.com feeds.adweek.com

TV Ratings: 'Hairspray Live!' Matches 'Peter Pan' in Early Numbers feedproxy.google.com

2016-12-08 12:26 Tony Maglio www.sfgate.com

6 /73 3.7 Justin Bieber's 'Sorry' tops Vevo's most-watched of 2016 (4.20/12) Justin Bieber dominates Vevo's list of its most-watched music videos of 2016. Bieber scored three of the top 10 most-watched Vevo videos this year. Vevo says Bieber's "Sorry" topped the global list with more than 1.8 billion views. The Canadian singer's "What Do You Mean? " and "Love Yourself" placed fifth and sixth on the list. Adele's "Hello" was second with more than 1.2 billion plays. Fifth Harmony placed third with "Work from Home. " Vevo also says David Bowie's videos received the biggest number of views in a 24-hour period outside of new releases. Bowie's videos were viewed 51 million times in the period following his death in January. Vevo is the music video platform of Sony and Universal. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Justin Bieber’s ‘Sorry’ tops Selena Gomez And Justin GET READY! Justin Bieber Justin Bieber is returning to Vevo’s most-watched of Bieber Aren’t Back Together is headed to Mzansi SA! 2016 — They’re Both Single And timeslive.co.za channel24.co.za wtop.com Planning To Keep It That Way inquisitr.com

2016-12-08 10:32 www.cbs46.com

7 /73 7.7 Kanye West working on new music as he recovers from medical scare: report (3.11/12) There's no rest for Yeezus.

Kanye West, who was recently hospitalized for exhaustion, is working on new music in the wake of his alarming medical scare, TMZ reports.

The "Fade" artist has experienced a major uptick in creativity and focus since checking out of the UCLA Medical Center last week, sources close to the rapper told the gossip site.

Because of this, he's currently in an extremely inventive state of mind, making a new album a legitimate possibility, according to TMZ.

Kim Kardashian doesn’t want a divorce from Kanye West: source West has reportedly likened his latest ordeal to previous tribulations such as the car crash that broke his jaw in 2002 and the untimely passing of his mother Donda five years later.

Those tragedies led to West releasing his breakout hit "Through the Wire" and his innovative fourth album "808s and Heartbreaks," which the rapper reportedly considers two of his greatest works.

Upon his release from the hospital last week, West has reportedly stayed on top of taking medication for psychological issues, allowing him to rev up the creative juices.

West dropped his seventh solo album, "The Life of Pablo," in February and was in the midst of his supporting "Saint Pablo Tour" before canceling the final 21 shows on the day of his hospitalization.

Chyna’s lawyer ‘shocked’ by Kardashians’ trademark block attempt

The 39-year-old ended up remaining under the care of doctors for a few days longer than anticipated as he dealt with long-standing issues with paranoia and depression, TMZ reported last month. He reportedly checked into an outpatient treatment center upon his release.

Speculation has swirled in recent days about the state of West's marriage to Kim Kardashian, who has dealt with her own troubles since being robbed at gunpoint inside her Paris hotel room two months ago.

A source told the Daily News, however, that Kardashian does not want a divorce.

Canine stars recreate Kanye Kanye West is 'making new Kim Kardashian And Kanye West's 'Famous' music music' amid Kim Kardashian West’s Marriage Is video split rumours Reportedly Strained, But upi.com dailymail.co.uk They Aren’t Getting Divorced [Debunked] inquisitr.com

2016-12-08 12:13 Peter Sblendorio feeds.nydailynews.com

8 /73 0.8 'New York Times' Executive Editor On The New Terrain Of Covering Trump (2.19/12) Dean Baquet talks about covering tweets as news, his decision to use the word "lie" in a headline about Trump and why he's not worried about libel suits from the new president. Trump’s TIME cover fans flames of devil conspiracy — RT Viral rt.com

People are seeing horns on Donald Trump's TIME cover independent.ie

'When you see it, you can't unsee it' - Did Time magazine troll Donald Trump on its cover? independent.ie

2016-12-08 12:33 www.npr.org

9 /73 (2.06/12) 5.9 Mick Jagger is again a daddy at 73 Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger became a father for the eighth time on Thursday when his ballet dancer girlfriend gave birth to a son in New York, his publicist said. “Melanie Hamrick & Mick Jagger’s son was born today in New York and they are both delighted. Mick was at the hospital for the arrival. Mother and baby are doing well and we request that the media respect their privacy at this time,” Fran Curtis, the long-time publicist for the Rolling Stones, said in a statement. The 73-year-old singer already has seven children with previous partners, as well as five grandchildren, and he became a great-grandfather in May 2014. Jagger and Hamrick, 29, began dating about two years ago, according to media reports. Mick Jagger welcomes baby Mick Jagger a dad again at no. 8 73 rss.cnn.com dailymail.co.uk

2016-12-08 12:27 Reuters Reuters www.scmp.com

10 /73 2.7 Rosenberg: Israelis 'Cautiously Optimistic' about Trump Victory (2.06/12) Best-selling author Joel Rosenberg believes the mood in Israel is upbeat following Donald Trump's surprising victory in the U. S. presidential election.

Rosenberg, a former advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now lives in Israel with his family but is in the United States for a month-long visit.

The question he says he is asked far more than any other by Americans is, "What do Israelis think about the election of Donald Trump and the transition to a Trump-Pence administration? "

On his Epicenter blog, Rosenberg summarized his analysis of the Israeli reaction.

He believes the Netanyahu government is "enormously encouraged" by the results, and that optimism is high because "they will have true and dependable friends and allies at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue [in the White House and Congress] beginning on January 20th. "

Since he took office in the spring of 2009, Netanyahu has been heavily pressured by the Obama administration, especially in the lead-up to and aftermath of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Netanyahu denounced as a "terrible deal," potentially deadly for both Israel and the United States.

Rosenberg wrote that Netanyahu addressed a diplomatic conference sponsored by The Jerusalem Post just before Thanksgiving. While the prime minister didn't mention Trump specifically, he described himself as "supremely optimistic" about Israeli's economic and diplomatic environment and the long-term future.

Among Rosenberg's other conclusions: "Israelis were as stunned as the rest of the world by the elections – especially since the media said Hillary Clinton was a 'sure thing.'" The Israeli public is "steadily warming towards Trump," with a recent poll in The Times of Israel showing that 83 percent of Israelis view Trump as "pro-Israel. " Still, only 3 percent of Israelis believe that Trump will make good on his pledge to move the U. S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Rosenberg points out that in contrast, the Palestinian leadership is "cautiously pessimistic," fearing that the incoming administration will be "too pro-Israel. "

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Russians flock to U.S. real Political Divide on estate after Trump victory Campuses Hardens After rss.cnn.com Trump’s Victory nytimes.com

2016-12-08 09:20 www.cbn.com

11 /73 1.6 US, Russian officials meet to discuss Aleppo initiative

(1.16/12) Aleppo, Syria ( CNN ) The US and Russia 's top diplomats are meeting to discuss ways to end the bombing of Aleppo , allow safe passage of those who want to flee the war-torn northern Syrian city and deliver humanitarian aid to its remaining

Russian Official: Russia, US Near Deal on Aleppo Cease- Fire abcnews.go.com

Russian official: Russia, US The Latest: Turkish, near deal on Aleppo cease- Russian leaders discuss fire Aleppo truce article.wn.com article.wn.com

2016-12-08 02:22 christos article.wn.com

12 /73 12 /73 5.6 WATCH: Sfiso Ncwane’s Durban memorial service

(1.11/12) Cape Town - Gospel singer Sfiso Ncwane's memorial service is underway. Sfiso passed away on Monday.

The memorial service is taking place at eThekwini Community Church in Durban.

The event started at 11:00 on Thursday and is open to the public.

Follow News24 journalist Kaveel Singh on Twitter for more.

See the video of the start of the memorial service here:

WATCH: Linda Sibiya Tobeka Madida-Zuma LIVE: Sfiso Ncwane Durban Sfiso Ncwane to be hijacks Sfiso Ncwane's defiant at Ncwane memorial memorial service honoured with a memorial memorial, blasts the media timeslive.co.za timeslive.co.za service today timeslive.co.za timeslive.co.za

2016-12-08 05:34 www.channel24.co.za

13 /73 1.6 John Legend impersonates wife Chrissy Teigen on Watch What Happens Live (1.09/12) John Legend put on a wig to pretend to be his wife Chrissy Teigen on Watch What Happens Live on Wednesday after embarrassingly speaking about their sex life. The 37- year-old singer appeared on the Bravo chat show with fellow guest Trevor Noah and they played a game reading out tweets from some of Chrissy's feuds. With his wife looking on from the audience, John put on a wig with long blonde hair going dark at the roots to pretend to be her. He even held a fake baby while reading tweets where she was accused of holding their daughter Luna the wrong way. Chrissy, 31, was shown laughing along nervously - nothing compared to the shock she showed when her husband spoke about the intimate moment he first told her he loved her. 'We were both drunk and had just had sex,' John smiled, with the camera cutting to an open-mouthed Chrissy saying: 'Oh my God!' 'You're not supposed to say I love you after you have sex, and you're not supposed to say it when you're drunk - but we did it,' John smiled, with his wife shouting out: 'I thought it was during.' 'But I do love her, it was the truth, it was the truth,' the singer quickly added, as the camera once again cut to model Chrissy, this time holding a hand over her eyes. The already surreal show got stranger at the end when Real Housewives icon Lisa Vanderpump came on carrying shots for them to do after the shots plank fell over and broke during the show. Chrissy then came up onstage at the end of the night - just to watch her husband be humiliated as only 30 percent of viewers voted for him in a poll saying they wanted to take him home for Christmas, with the remaining 70 percent instead preferring Trevor. 'It's because my wife is here, she scared them away!' John pleaded, still ending the night a winner as Chrissy slid onto his lap and gave him a big kiss. Host Andy Cohen, meanwhile, had said of his guests: 'It's like there's a most handsome, charming man in the world competition and I'm here with the two finalists.' The star had also provided an unexpected musical highlight, too - putting the lyrics of a love song that reality TV star Joe Giudice had written wife Teresa to music on the spot. Andy had appeared to be joking when he handed John a keyboard and some lyrics, asking him: 'John Legend, can you make Joe Giudice's dream come true?' He happily took up the challenge, coming up with a melody to go with the lyrics that started: 'Cos I'll love you forever, I'll never lie, no never.' 'After singing ''Cos you are my baby my empress, my lady, Teresa you are my heaven'' he then went into the final line of 'my heaven' - singing it as he says Joe wrote it, 'My, I, I heaven.' John was asked serious questions too, saying of close friend Kanye West and his breakdown: 'We're just rooting for Kanye to get better. We're all fans of him and friends of him and want him to get well and be able to do what he loves to do.' He insisted Kanye's wife Kim Kardashian is doing 'good,' before admitting: 'It's tough - it's tough to deal with all of this - so we're rooting for them to get better.' Having come straight from working with Mariah Carey, he was also asked about her rumored new love interest, backing dancer Bryan Tanaka, diplomatically answering: 'I do know that I met the guy tonight and he's a very good dancer.' 'He can get it, too - he's hot,' Andy added with a smile. While he did not name her, Trevor, 32, spoke about girlfriend Jordyn Taylor, saying: 'I do have a very serious lady - and a very funny lady as well, she's both.' As for his recent on-air war of words with conservative pundit Tomi Lauren, he praised her for 'sticking to her guns' and - referring to the shots they were planning to do - joked: 'We should have given her a drink, that's what we should have done.' Asked about Time magazine naming Donald Trump as Man of the Year he pointed out that 'the same magazine also had Stalin and Hitler on it,' before conceding: 'You cannot argue that he was the person of the year.' He added: 'But ironically, just like in the election, the popular vote went to Hillary. People voted more for Hillary, but Donald Trump got that as well, so I guess he's got a streak going.' Asked if he thought Hillary Clinton's political career was over, he predicted: 'I wouldn't count her out. I feel like she's building her strength in the woods, wherever she is.

John Edwards puts estate John Legend reveals he and Why John Waters Wasn’t John Legend grabs wife he lived with cancer-stricken wife Chrissy Teigen want On ‘Hairspray Live,’ And Chrissy Teigen's bum at wife Elizabeth up for sale 'three or four' kids Why He Hasn’t Watched It premiere of mini holiday dailymail.co.uk dailymail.co.uk Yet musical inquisitr.com dailymail.co.uk 2016-12-08 04:53 Dailymail.com www.dailymail.co.uk

14 /73 2.4 Iran's FM: It's in US interest to stay committed to nuclear pact (1.05/12) Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said during a seminar in Tokyo on Thursday, when filming was not allowed, that it was in the interest of the United States to remain committed to a multilateral nuclear treaty. The US Senate voted last week to extend the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) for 10 years, and Iran vowed to retaliate, saying it violated last year's agreement with six major powers to curb its nuclear program in return for the lifting of international financial sanctions.

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A diplomatic thaw between the United States and Iran over the past two years appears in jeopardy with US President-elect Donald Trump taking office next month. Trump said during his election campaign he would scrap the nuclear agreement, calling the pact "a disaster" and saying it could lead to a "nuclear holocaust". Zarif, in Japan as part of an Asian tour that included India and China, told the seminar that while the agreement was multilateral and endorsed by the UN Security Council, this did not mean it might not be violated by the United States, which he said had a "less than respectable" history in respecting international laws.

US officials said the ISA renewal would not infringe on the nuclear agreement. US lawmakers have also said the ISA extension would make it easier for sanctions to be quickly reimposed if Iran contravened the nuclear deal.

But Iran 's nuclear energy chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, who played a central role in reaching the nuclear deal, described the extension as a "clear violation", if implemented.

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Iran minister says in US Iran minister says in US interest to stay committed interest to stay committed to nuclear pact to nuclear treaty dailymail.co.uk dailymail.co.uk 2016-12-08 06:12 www.jpost.com

15 /73 1.1 Rep. Gutiérrez: Trump On DREAMers Shows Pressure Working (1.04/12) President-elect Donald Trump’s softer stance on so-called DREAMers demonstrates that Democratic pressure is having an impact on the billionaire businessman, according to one of Congress’ most vocal amnesty advocates.

“My reaction is, it’s working. It’s working. The fact that we are raising the issue of the DREAMers is working. The pressure is beginning to reverberate in his own comments. Let’s keep it up,” Illinois Democrat Rep. Luis Gutiérrez said Wednesday, during the unveiling of House Democrats’ latest call for a presidential pardon of DREAMers granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or — as critics have called it — executive amnesty.

Wednesday, Time magazine released an interview with Trump showing him as more open to compromise on the question of DREAMers, or undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.

“We’re going to work something out that’s going to make people happy and proud,” he told Time, in the issue naming him “Man of the Year.”

“They got brought here at a very young age, they’ve worked here, they’ve gone to school here,” he added. “Some were good students. Some have wonderful jobs. And they’re in never-never land because they don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The shift in tone was striking for a former presidential candidate who ran on stopping illegal immigration and holding law breakers accountable. The comments come as Democrats push for a solution to the concerns of DREAMers who signed up for DACA and now fear that their information could be used against them during an administration focused on law and order.

According to Gutiérrez — who initially joked that perhaps the comments would have more gravity if Trump put them on Twitter — Trump’s comments show their efforts are having an effect. “Let’s keep the pressure up. I understand that there are others that are going to see Donald Trump today, and are going to take petitions for the DREAmers,” he said.

The Illinois Democrat added, however, that he still believes it is incumbent on Obama to grant DREAMers additional protections.

“More than ever I say to President Obama, he says he wants to work something out, well guess what you work it out for them okay, because you’re the President of the United States and you asked them to join this program,” Gutiérrez said. “You use your power of pardon and pardon them, make it a little bit easier for Donald Trump to keep his promise and do something that is nice and great for them.”

Watch:

Trump’s DREAMer drivel: Saying “we’re going to work something out” is meaningless salon.com

2016-12-08 12:12 Caroline May dailycaller.com

16 /73 0.4 Jennifer Hudson leaves cast in tears with racial equality anthem I Know Where I've Been on Hairspray Live! (1.04/12) Jennifer Hudson appeared to leave some of her cast mates in tears with a stunning performance on Wednesday during NBC's spectacular Hairspray Live!. The 35-year- old performer was one of the most eagerly-awaited star in the three-hour show appearing as 1960's singer Motormouth Maybelle. The live production — which went off with only minor technical glitches — was the leading trending topic on Twitter during its live broadcast and West Coast replay. The Dreamgirls star's show-stopping performance of I Know Where I've Been in the final hour prompted a rush of tearful memes on social media. The powerful rendition left Maddie Baillio, the 20-year-old newcomer playing lead role Tracy Turnblad, with visible tears rolling down her cheek as she stood beside her. 'Did anyone else notice the (what I can only assume to be real) tear on Maddie's cheek at the end of that song?' wrote Kaitlyn Lane, one of many Twitter users to spot the emotional moment, with another writing: '”I Know Where I've Been" is so impactful because even the actors were crying. We need this song more than ever.' Jennifer - who wore a blonde 60's-style wig as well as a gold jumpsuit at the end of the show - sent social media on fire with the performance, with one fan, Hallie Quinn, writing: 'I am not ok. Jen messed me UP. One of the best live performances I have ever witnessed. Wow.' 'Awestruck, emotional, floored,' another fan wrote, while another, Daniel Burko, said: 'OMG Jennifer Hudson is giving me chills. Get this woman a fire extinguisher. I mean seriously that was unbelievable!' Dana Ernest, meanwhile, joked: 'Guys remember when a**hat Simon Cowell told Jennifer Hudson she wasn't good enough? Hahahahahahahaha.' The song carried extra power as it summed up the play's message of fighting for racial equality - a message that did not fail to touch a nerve with viewers feeling the same message is just as important as ever five decades later. Alex Goldschmidt pointed out that 'integration issues in the 60s is way too relevant in 2016,' while a Twitter user named Nicole added: 'I hope people are carefully paying attention to the very relevant lyrics of most of the songs in this musical.' 'Honestly, the messages of #HairsprayLive are SO relevant right now. It's fun to watch but also so important,' @yankeeclassic46 added. Others, meanwhile, made more direct references to president-elect Donald Trump - especially because his biggest celebrity nemesis, Rosie O'Donnell, was one of the star's to make a guest appearance, playing the tough Gym Teacher. 'I wonder if Trump will make it through today without tweeting about #HairsprayLive,' Brittany Ramsey tweeted, adding: 'Has two things he loves to hate: civil rights and Rosie.' A user called Danielle made a similar point, writing: 'This show has everything Trump hates. Singing, dancing, joy, black people, and Rosie O'Donnell.' Along with Jennifer and Rosie, other stars included Dancing With The Stars fan-favorite Derek Hough - who sang as well as danced - Kristin Chenoweth, Will & Grace star Sean Hayes and even a quick cameo by the actresses best known for previously playing the lead role of Tracy, Ricki Lake and Nikki Blonksy. The original Dynamites also came back to sing Welcome To The 60's, and Hamilton star Ephraim Sykes played a key role, with some fans picking up on a Hamilton line added in. Chart- topper Ariana Grande also had a key role as Penny Pingleton and got to close out the night with a special duet with Jennifer. But while her brother Frankie James Grande gushed that she was 'SLAYING,' the singer got a lot harsher judgment from most viewers who took to social media. 'Arianna Grande is out of her league. She's got a good voice but not for show tunes. She can't compete,' Frank Tierney wrote on Twitter. Ben Habegger felt the same, writing: 'Ariana Grande has a good voice, but she just doesn't have the comedic timing for Penny. Glossing over so many great lines.' Sophia Ash was even harsher, insisting: 'My goodness.... Ariana. Well my parents taught me if you can't say anything nice don't say it all. I'm trying.' Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle had a far better response, with Randi Wallace writing: 'Miss Baltimore Crabs herself, @KChenoweth, is about to give me a heart attack with that INCOMPARABLE voice!' 'Kristen Chenoweth is the greatest thing in this entire live production/world/universe,' Mollie Goldstein insisted, albeit before Jennifer Hudson's appearance. The production took a risk getting a newcomer to take the lead role, and Maddie initially appeared to let her nerves get to her a little, struggling to hold back giggles in her opening number. But she soon settled and was widely praised for her role - including by two of the most important people who count. Early in the night, someone had asked Ricki Lake - who played Tracy in the 1988 John Waters film - what she thought of Maddie, and the actress gushed on Twitter: 'I love her!!!!' along with a heart emoji. She then made a quick cameo along with Nikki Blonsky, who played her in the 2007 remake, with the two women briefly pausing either side of Maddie onscreen. They were then shown backstage during a break from the production, with Ricki saying proudly: 'I think it's safe to say from one Tracy to another to another - Maddie you're killing it!' 'You're killing it, you're wonderful,' Nikki agreed with a huge smile. The sight of the actresses together was a thrill for fans, too, including Bravo host Andy Cohen who wrote: 'Seeing @RickiLake and @MarissaJWinokur is giving me a big HeartBoner.' Cohen had tweeted excitedly throughout the show, gushing early on: 'This is so freaking good. What a cast! What a score!! What a show!' Later, he added: 'PURE JOY! Thank you #HairsprayLive! We needed that'. Maddie also had another glowing review - from a former teacher at a special viewing party at her old school, Falls High School in Houston, saying during one of the breaks: 'We couldn't be more proud - we always knew she was gonna be amazing.' The show had an extra layer where fans watching it being filmed live also then became a part of the show, with the actors running past host Darren Criss while still pretending to be in character as he gave commentary about the production itself. The audience also ended up being the audience on the show at the end of the musical, with the audience watching the Corny Collins Show ending up being in Hairspray Live! itself, cheering as the actors took a final curtain call and bowing for the cameras. The ad breaks were even part of the live experience, too, with many of them being acted out before going to regular ads, something not all viewers appreciated while others called it a 'very clever $$ scheme.' While the show mostly went smoothly, a few glitches happened with mics going quiet for a second, and a crew member heard giving a 30-second call warning during a quiet moment. Ariane Rinehart also asked online: 'Is the steady cam guy also step touching?' Other viewers were less than impressed when, during the final musical number, a hand kept on showing right in front of the camera, with Chris Hill writing: 'Nice choreographer in the front showing them the moves... RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. It's like a 2nd grade dance recital.' Others, meanwhile, poked fun at Jennifer Hudson singing a song about being overweight - despite showing off her slim figure. 'It's a little ironic for Jennifer Hudson to be singing "Big Blond and Beautiful" when she's SO TINY,' Elizabeth Maxman wrote, while another user said: 'Jhud.. you not big no more tho'. But overall the show seemed to have thrilled viewers, such as Theresa J. Reed who gushed: 'AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, BREATHTAKING, IRRESITIBLE! Not enough words to describe #HairsprayLive.' Kyler G, meanwhile, asked: 'Is it too early to state that #HairsprayLive is the best live musical NBC has done since re-inventing the live TV musical?'

‘Hairspray Live’: Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande Draw Raves in NBC’s Musical variety.com

2016-12-08 02:18 Dailymail.com www.dailymail.co.uk

17 /73 2.0 Mandolin whiz Thile brings younger crowd to 'Prairie Home' (1.02/12) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mandolin whiz Chris Thile (THEEL'-ee) says he still feels "like a kid in a candy store" taking over as host of the long- running public radio show "A Prairie Home Companion. " The 35-year-old Thile was chosen by creator Garrison Keillor to replace him on the Saturday-evening show. Thile began his first season of 13 shows in October and is drawing musical guests such as Jack White, Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio and singer-songwriter Jason Isbell. But the energetic Thile says he knows he can be "so much more of a relaxed host. " "Prairie Home" was drawing more than 3 million listeners weekly when Keillor stepped down this summer. Thile's audience is projected at more than 2 million. Thile hopes to do 26 shows next season, closer to what Keillor would do. Mandolin whiz Thile brings younger crowd to ‘Prairie Home’ wtop.com

2016-12-08 12:55 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk

18 /73 2.8 To do this weekend: 5 Triangle towns host Christmas parades (1.02/12) See the governor’s mansion decorated for the holidays and enjoy seasonal music by local groups. The first floor will have N. C.-grown Christmas trees.

The genre-crossing Pink Martini ‘little orchestra’ returns for three holiday shows with the North Carolina Symphony.

There are Christmas parades Saturday all over the Triangle: Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill- Carrboro, Clayton and Bahama all have parades with floats, music and more.

Tour 12 of the area’s grandest homes dating from the mid-1800s to early 1900s. Docents will offer information about the history of the property at each home stop..

The Durham partners with Spoonflower and TangleWild Designs for a holiday pop-up crafting event: a 20-minute embroidery workshop and a custom gift tag station. Plus, it happens around the corner from the Patchwork Holiday Market at The Armory (noon-5 p.m. at 220 Foster St, Durham; thepatchworkmarket.com ).

A rare chance to see North Carolina’s original copy of the Bill of Rights, on view through Dec. 17 in the exhibit “The Story of North Carolina.”

Christmas arrives in York at parade (PHOTOS) heraldonline.com 2016-12-08 12:00 www.newsobserver.com

19 /73 3.1 Exclusive photo: Spider-Man Tom Holland unmasked in 'Homecoming' (1.02/12) We’ve already seen five big-budget Spider-Man films. Get ready for the first Peter Parker movie.

Tom Holland follows up his introduction as the wall-crawling Marvel hero in last May’s Captain America: Civil War and digs into the daily life of the New York City teenager underneath the mask in Spider-Man: Homecoming (in theaters July 7). Directed by Jon Watts ( Cop Car ), the coming-of- age story features Peter attending his high school for gifted kids, trying to impress his new benefactor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and also dealing with a pesky arch enemy, the Vulture (Michael Keaton).

For Holland, it's less an action movie and "more a character piece about this kid who's struggling to talk to girls and also struggling to save the city," says the 20-year-old British actor.

The first trailers will be unveiled online Thursday.

Homecoming begins with Peter wrestling with a return to his normal life in Queens after being recruited by Stark and surviving his first huge superhero battle (see: Civil War ). Taking the subway to school again for his sophomore year is tough for the kid.

“He literally just went to Europe with the coolest clique of them all,” says co-producer Eric Hauserman Carroll. “And now he’s back with the academic decathlon and the mathletes and going, ‘What am I doing here?’ ”

Both the previous Spidey incarnations — in the 2000s with Tobey Maguire and the more recent pair of Andrew Garfield movies — featured Peter getting his powers through a radioactive spider bite and his Uncle Ben's wise words (“With great power comes great responsibility”) becoming a heroic mantra.

But Homecoming is skipping that backstory. The filmmakers want to focus on his life as a teen crushing on girls and navigating his formative years, albeit with really cool abilities.

“This is really a movie where Spider-Man’s not the finished article,” Holland says. “He really does learn and he makes massive mistakes. It’s nice to see a kid do that and then try to rectify those mistakes.”

Peter is also still figuring out the high-tech suit that Stark gave him. The getup fans saw in Civil War “can do a lot more than he even realizes right now,” says producer and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. In Homecoming , “you begin to see just how much Tony Stark loves bells and whistles. " The young supporting cast includes Jacob Batalon as Peter’s best friend Ned Leeds, Laura Harrier as his dream girl Liz Allan, Tony Revolori as bully Flash Thompson and Zendaya as their classmate Michelle.

Marisa Tomei reprises her Civil War role as Peter’s Aunt May, while Keaton co-stars as the movie's resident bad guy Adrian Toomes, an average Joe with criminal tendencies and a wicked wing suit.

“The first time we see the Vulture is terrifying,” Holland teases. “It’s like a horror movie: really scary, very intense and shocking.”

The Spidey foe is different than other Marvel baddies such as Thanos and Ultron, Watts says. “It’s fun to think that if Spider-Man is a regular kid who becomes a superhero, there’s got to be a bunch of regular guys who become supervillains, too.”

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ First Official Image Swings Onto the Web (Photo) sfgate.com

2016-12-08 07:00 Brian Truitt rssfeeds.usatoday.com

20 /73 (1.02/12) 0.6 For the Record: What the devil? Embed

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Donald Trump won Time's "Person of the Year" honors! But they inadvertently (or totally advertently) gave him devil horns on the cover -- sad! On the other hand, we're sure we could have ended up with a much worse Trump cover. Let's call this one a wash.

Today's FTR features exciting Trump vs. Trump action, plus the end of Jill Stein's dream to capture at least 1% of the Michigan vote. The details...

USA TODAY

For the Record: Sign up for our politics newsletter I’m encouraged by @realDonaldTrump ’s comments on #DREAMers —he has a real opportunity to do the right thing for 744k young people

Ever have one of those dreams where you're fighting against yourself? Donald Trump is living it out on a weekly basis, with his campaign self and his elected self clawing each others' eyes out. On Wednesday, Elected Trump threw down the gauntlet on immigration , telling Time magazine he planned "to work something out" for DREAMers -- undocumented immigrants who came into the country illegally prior to age 16, have lived in the country for at least five years, and have received a high school or GED diploma.

“We’re going to work something out that’s going to make people happy and proud,” Trump said. “They got brought here at a very young age, they’ve worked here, they’ve gone to school here. Some were good students. Some have wonderful jobs. And they’re in never-never land because they don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Campaign Trump disagrees , saying that he would "(i)mmediately terminate President Obama’s two illegal executive amnesties. " In other words, his immigration policy specifically mentioned Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals as something he'd revoke after his inauguration. "All immigration laws will be enforced - we will triple the number of ICE agents," says his campaign website. "Anyone who enters the U. S. illegally is subject to deportation. That is what it means to have laws and to have a country. "

Which version will take charge after Inauguration Day? Master Yoda isn't quite sure if Trump is ready to face himself, but only one can prevail.

After two days of recounting , including the realization that at least 17 precincts couldn't be recounted at all, a federal judge put a stop to Michigan's hand recount of 4.8 million ballots cast for president. Why? Because Jill Stein won't win. Stein, not Hillary Clinton, is the one who applied for the recount, and U. S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith said that with less than 1% of the vote she wasn't an aggrieved candidate.

"It is at least arguable that the Michigan Legislature intended to confine costly and disruptive recounts to cases where a losing candidate stood a reasonable chance of changing the outcome of the election," Goldsmith wrote. Goldsmith didn't mention whether or not Hillary Clinton, who lost the state by fewer than 11,000 votes, would have qualified as an aggrieved party had she requested the recount.

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The city of Chicago says Trump is trashing their city's reputation by referring to it as a "war-torn country. " A local architecture firm has fired back at Trump by proposing the installation of four flying pig balloons to block Trump Tower Chicago's 2,900-square-foot sign facing the Chicago River. Next up: flying pigs on the Soldier Field sidelines to block the view of Bears games. The devil in the detail: Time magazine explains Donald Trump cover while social media lights up over his red ‘horns’ scmp.com

2016-12-08 06:52 Brett McGinness rssfeeds.usatoday.com

21 /73 3.4 Nikkei closes over 11-mth high on upbeat China data

(1.02/12) TOKYO, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average closed at the highest level since last December on Thursday as upbeat Chinese trade data boosted sentiment, while Tepco shares soared on news Japan will increase an interest-free loan related to its Fukushima costs. The Nikkei ended 1.5 percent higher at 18,765.47, the highest level since December 2015. Risk appetite got a boost after China reported upbeat trade figures with exports and imports both beating forecasts. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc jumped 18 percent after a source said Japan will increase an interest-free loan by more than a third to 14 trillion yen ($123 billion). The broader Topix gained 1.5 percent to 1,512.69, while the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 also added 1.5 percent to 13,545.11. (Reporting by Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Vyas Mohan)

Global stocks advance ahead of ECB decision article.wn.com

2016-12-08 02:23 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

22 /73 3.7 Dolly Parton organizes musical telethon for Tenn. wildfire victims (1.02/12) NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Country icon Dolly Parton has organized a musical telethon to raise money for victims of the Tennessee wildfires that destroyed more than 1,700 homes in the resort town of Gatlinburg. The event, which will air Dec. 13 on Great American Country, will include performances by Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Alison Krauss and Parton, whose Dollywood theme park in neighboring Pigeon Forge escaped damage from the fires. Proceeds from the telethon will go to the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund, which was created to provide $1,000 each month to Sevier County families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires. Investigators in Tennessee said the fire that swept through the Great Smoky Mountains last week was arson. Two juveniles have been charged in rel...

Officials say 14 people have died and more than 145 others were injured in the fire that spread from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Authorities on Wednesday charged two juveniles in an East Tennessee wildfire. Officials offered few other specifics about how they think the two started a fire that leveled buildings into charred scraps, carving a deadly path through the Gatlinburg area. People scrambled in terror to try to flee on foot or drive out of the inferno that often cloaked them from all sides, shooting hot embers through the winds. Some spent days hoping for good news about their missing loved ones. Many learned they would soon be planning funerals. The juveniles face aggravated arson charges in the fire in the Chimney Tops area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Nov. 23. That fire grew amid drought conditions and ultimately rode winds exceeding 87 miles per hour into the Gatlinburg area early last week. Authorities have not yet announced a dollar amount on the damaged caused by the wildfire.

Wildfires in Tennessee have destroyed hundreds of buildings in the Gatlinburg area, where the death toll has risen to 11. CBS News' DeMarco Morga...

The two are being held in the Sevier County juvenile detention center. “Our promise is that we will do every effort to help bring closure to those who have lost so much,” said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn. The juveniles are from Tennessee, but not Sevier County, where the fires spread. Otherwise, officials said state law prevents releasing more information about them. Karyssa Dalton, a 19-year-old whose grandmother Pamela Johnson remains missing in the blaze, said the two should be held accountable, even though they’re young. “I mean, what if somebody came through their town, and set their town on fire, and lost their loved ones, and lost all their homes?” Dalton said. “It’s not fair.”

Thousands forced to evacuate resort town of Gatlinburg, as drought conditions and high winds help fire spread through the foothills of the Great ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Chief Ranger Steve Kloster said the public was “critical” in offering investigators information through a tip line. Previously, the National Park Service said it believed the fire was human caused, and set up a tip line for people to call if they hiked that trail on Nov. 23, or knew anyone who did. The investigation is ongoing and more charges could come. It’s also possible that the case could be transferred to an adult criminal court, said local District Attorney General James Dunn. The juveniles are entitled to a detention hearing within 72 hours in which a juvenile court judge will decide to hold them without bond, hold them with bond, or release them, Dunn said. Dunn constantly said everything was “part of the investigation” when asked for details. Asked if others could be charged in the fire, Dunn repeated that “everything’s on the table.” “We don’t know,” he said. On Wednesday, Gatlinburg residents and business owners were allowed to move back into homes and establishments permanently. They had been allowed to visit during daytime hours since last Friday. The city is slated to open to the public on Friday morning. Though swaths of the city were decimated, the main downtown strip appears to have been spared.

Dolly lines up Reba, Kenny, others for wildfires telethon rssfeeds.usatoday.com

2016-12-08 02:23 AP www.cbsnews.com

23 /73 0.0 Tony Bennett sings for the Saenger in New Orleans

(0.04/12) Tony Bennett sang for the Saenger Theatre crowd Wednesday (Dec. 7), stopping by in New Orleans on his current tour.

The New York-born crooner was last in town with Lady Gaga for a delightful stop at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell. That partnership spawned both a live and a studio album.

Bennett's other recent projects include a 2015 album of Jerome Kern songs and a new book, "Just Getting Started," which examines the people who influenced his life, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Amy Winehouse and his own mother.

5 things to do in New Orleans this weekend (Dec. 9-11) nola.com

2016-12-08 00:38 Chelsea Brasted www.nola.com

24 /73 1.3 Niall Horan shops for baby GIRL gifts as Liam Payne prepares for child with Cheryl (0.01/12) His bandmate Liam Payne, 23, is preparing to welcome his first child into the world with girlfriend Cheryl, 33, in early 2017. And it looked as though Niall Horan was stocking up on adorable gifts - possibly for the imminent arrival - as he was seen leaving baby boutique Petit Tresor in West Hollywood on Wednesday. The singer, 23, was pictured carrying a white basket full of pretty pink items for a baby girl as he emerged from the upmarket store with his generous haul of presents. Scroll down for video The Irish heartthrob kept it casual for his day of shopping, dressing down in a sky blue Nike T-shirt and grey jogging bottoms. Opting for comfortable white trainers, the former One Direction hunk accessorised with a stylish watch and sunglasses to shelter his eyes from the Californian rays. The This Town hitmaker was sporting a healthy glow from his stint in Los Angeles and blond highlights in his short hair. Appearing to have enjoyed the relaxed Californian lifestyle, Niall sported a spot of facial hair and short beard as he went about his day. Cheryl, 33, and Liam, 23, are believed to be expecting their first child in early 2017. While they haven't formally announced the singer's pregnancy, the Fight For This Love hitmaker revealed a huge baby bump as she attended the Quintessentially Foundation fair of St James Christmas Carol Concert in London last week. A spokesperson for Cheryl told MailOnline that she will not be commenting on the matter. The couple first met in 2008 when Liam was a teenage contestant on The X Factor and Cheryl was a judge. They went public with their romance in February, just weeks after Cheryl announced her split from husband Jean- Bernard Fernandez-Versini after 18 months of marriage. But the genetically-blessed twosome are said to have started dating in secret as early as December 2015. Baby-faced Liam was 14 when he first auditioned for the show but he returned as a solo artist in 2010 only to be partnered with Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, who went on to become global boyband One Direction. Cheryl first set tongues wagging about her rumoured pregnancy in September when she looked fuller-faced in a L'Oreal promotional video. Fans speculated that Liam was using his social media to send a hint about Cheryl's 'pregnancy' when he changed his Twitter bio to say he was 'the happiest man in the world'. The singer's management, Supersonic PR, then added fuel to the fire when they tweeted a snap of Cheryl from the waist up, just days after fans started speculating about the couple's happy news. The couple are believed to have started trying for a baby as early as June. 'It’s very serious now between Cheryl and Liam and they have been talking among close friends about starting a family,' a source told The Sun at the time. 'Her dream is to become a mum. But she also wants to get her divorce to JB out the way and be able to have a complete fresh start.' Cheryl and Liam's close friends have heaped praise upon them as a couple, with the One Direction heartthrob's former bandmate Niall Horan hinting there is a 'little bit of a story' behind their romance. He said: 'There's a little bit of a story behind it but I won't be telling you that. 'She's a great girl, really fun. He's a top man and one of my best friends. She seems happy, he's happy, so I'm happy for them.' Music mogul Simon Cowell, 56, said the smitten couple are 'like two little chipmunks madly in love' and hinted they were ready to start a family during an interview with the Daily Mirror back in July. He said: 'Cheryl would be an amazing mum. I have seen her with my son Eric and other kids over the years and she is incredible. 'She is very good with them. I think she is in a good place in her life right now. I had dinner with her a couple of months ago with Liam and they were great.' Simon joked to The Sun newspaper: 'I saw them together and we had a really nice dinner. They were on good form. They’re like two little chipmunks madly in love. Literally, they were so cute.' Cheryl and her second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini are yet to finalise their divorce, after their separation was announced in January. The couple had been married for just 18 months but living apart for five months by this time, splitting on their secret second wedding anniversary. The Geordie beauty married Jean-Bernard on the private island of Mustique in 2014 after a three-month courtship. She announced their separation earlier this year. And it is his strong-willed stance against signing the papers that will inhibit Cheryl from ploughing ahead with her relationship with One Direction's Liam. Cheryl was previously married to love rat footballer Ashley Cole, 35, for four years, between 2006 and 2010. The couple parted ways amid multiple allegations of cheating on his part. Niall, meanwhile, is reportedly dating bikini model Jessica Serafty, 25. The pair were first linked back in March, when they were seen at a number of events in the US.

Liam Payne is planning to propose to pregnant Cheryl dailymail.co.uk

2016-12-08 05:48 Matthew Wright www.dailymail.co.uk

25 /73 1.5 Park Bo Gum Calls Song Joong Ki And Song Hye Kyo ‘Almighty’ Couple, Will They Take Home KBS Crown? “There’s the almighty Song- Song couple, right behind,” he declared.

While the actor is grateful for his career, he also admitted that fame comes with a price.

“I can’t take the subway anymore. I think I can still take the bus, though. It’s a double-edged sword because I’m grateful that people recognize and support me, but there are definite downsides to that.”

“To be honest, I’m a little upset these days. My family has been exposed to the media. Some people break into our house. My ex-girlfriend’s photos are circulating online. To say that these are things I need to endure for the sake of celebrity, that’s sad. I want to respectfully request that my private life remain private.”

For him, he is only famous at the moment and that the “real stars” are Song Hye Kyo and Lee Kwang Soo. Apart from his charisma and acting skills, Song Joong Ki’s humility is another reason that makes fans adore him. He was recently voted by consumers as their most favored endorser in a poll conducted by the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation.

It remains unknown if Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo will reunite for a future project. Ever since their series ended, fans of the two have been hoping for a Descendants of the Sun Season 2 even if the show’s director and scriptwriter have already switched networks.

[Featured Image by KBS]

2016-12-08 12:48 Eunice Alcala www.inquisitr.com

26 /73 2.9 Martha Stewart and Vanderpump Rules cast enjoy Jason Derulo performance in NYC It was a star-studded night as Martha Stewart joined a host of stars at Unwrap The Holidays with DailyMail.com and Elite Daily. This year's event was held at New York City hotspot Vandal, where guests were treated to a performance by singing sensation Jason Derulo. Among those in attendance were Lisa Vanderpump, Ramona Singer, Stassi Schroeder, Jax Taylor, Katie Maloney, Tom Sandoval, and Dorinda Medley and John Mahdessian. Scroll down for videos Others stopping by the festive gathering included Stephanie March, Jonathan Cheban, Nancy Grace, Crime Watch Daily's Chris Hansen, Sean Kleier of Odd Mom Out, the Fat Jew, Sammi Sweetheart and Bachelor stars Olivia Caridi and Izzy Goodkind. Cheban took some time to chat with DailyMail.com after a report had surfaced earlier in the day claiming that his good friend Kim Kardashian was splitting from her beau Kanye West. 'It's kind of funny to me,' said to Cheban, who added that 'I didn't know there was rumors about it.' He then confided: 'I didn't hear any rumors today, 'cause I've been busy today, but it's - I mean, I just literally got off the phone with them.' Cheban added: 'We were FaceTiming. I literally, just before I came here was FaceTiming with the two of them and going over some stuff.' Derulo meanwhile took some time to talk with DailyMail.com about some of the projects he has on the horizon, promising that he had both a big al;bum and big single coming up in the new year. The singer said that because of this he was just looking to relax and spent some time with family over the holidays. Vanderpump, who attended with her husband Ken Todd and their two dogs Giggy and Harrison, was also in town for an in-store appearance on Thursday at PetCo in Union Square to promote her new Vanderpump pets line. She will be in the store from noon until 2pm, and a percentage of every purchase goes towards the Vanderpump Dog Foundation, which is focused on ending dog torture both locally and internationally.

2016-12-08 12:43 Dailymail Reporter www.dailymail.co.uk

27 /73 27 /73 5.6 Music: Flute of gold from the Emerald Isle There are not many musicians whose names have become synonymous with their chosen form of expression. One could comfortably mention “Pablo Casals and cello” in the same naturally fitting breath, and the same goes for Arthur Rubinstein and the piano or Itzhak Perlman and the violin. Then again, those three luminaries played instruments that have been identified with frontline classical music endeavor for centuries. The same could hardly be said of the flute.

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However, Sir James Galway changed the perception of the wind instrument more than three decades ago, and the 77-year-old Belfast-born flutist continues to shine and entertain audiences worldwide with peerless musicianship and signature charm. It is not for naught that Galway is known as “the man with the golden flute.” Galway will perform here with the Paris Vox Musicorum Orchestra, conducted by Ada Pelleg, along with his wife, Lady Jeanne Galway, an internationally renowned flute player, in a rendition of Cimarosa’s Concerto for Two Flutes in G Major. He will also be the soloist in Mozart’s Concerto for Flute in D Major. The program also features a couple of more contemporary works: Britten’s Simple Symphony and Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Galway grew up in a musical family, which he says helped in all kinds of ways. His father was an avid flutist, and his mother was a pianist. “You could play the flute anytime of the day or night and no one would care, so that was one good thing,” he chuckles. “There was music in the house all the time.” Mind you, quantity did not necessarily translate into clarity. “My dad was in love with Viennese waltzes, and half the time I wondered whether we were living in Belfast or Vienna,” he laughs. The youngster cut his musical teeth in various fife and drum marching bands, and his early musical diet consisted largely of that and his dad’s beloved Viennese waltzes, “and Gilbert and Sullivan operas and Bach’s B Minor Mass, which we played in the local orchestra,” he adds. As a teenager in the 1950s, one might have expected the young flutist to be wooed by the captivating dynamics of rock and roll, but that was not the case. “There was pop music around – people like Bing Crosby – but I didn’t really get exposed to that sort of stuff because I exposed myself to other kinds of music that I liked better,” he explains, referring to classical music. Over the last 40 years, Galway has gained a reputation for flitting easily among various genres. During his long career, he has released dozens of albums, selling them in the millions, and gained popularity with renditions of such pop hits as John Denver’s “Annie’s Song” and “I Will Always Love You,” written and originally performed by Dolly Parton and later by Whitney Houston. Galway has also shared bandstands with the likes of Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, The Chieftains and Andrea Bocelli. The flutist says he began to branch out a long time ago. “When I moved to London in the 1960s, I started to do things like jingles, and there was also some sort of crossover idiom,” he recalls. It was very much a matter of bread- winning back then. “You had to fall in with the idea. I got more into falling in with the idea than the actual playing.” While Galway has been feted by music critics and fans of all stripes, there are some who have voiced disappointment with his propensity for stepping outside the confines of classical music. But Galway has no time for the purist approach. “If you look at actors, they do all sorts of things – they do comedy, murder stories, Shakespeare, they direct films, they do everything. But as soon as you step out of a box as a musician, you’re branded as somebody weird. By playing all these things, I wasn’t doing anything that hadn’t been done before,” he counters. Artists have to display courage in exploring new fields of endeavor and wearing their heart on their sleeve on stage. But in the mid-1970s, Galway displayed a tremendous amount of daring. After six year as principal flute player with Herbert von Karajan’s Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, considered the world’s top classical ensemble, Galway departed to pursue a solo career. “It was quite a move,” he confesses. “Not everybody leaves the Berlin Philharmonic.” But Galway wanted to follow his own path. “It’s another way of thinking to be a soloist,” he states. “I did very well in the orchestra; but if you want to be a real soloist, you have to take things on board like a soloist. You have to study as a soloist.” Of course, that involves taking on a lot more responsibility, in addition to grabbing the limelight. “In the orchestra, if you try something and it goes okay, then that’s it, you’ve done it, you don’t need to practice it more. But when you practice as a soloist, you take bits from pieces – they don’t have to be difficult but just things that require some sort of expression. You play it maybe 10 times, and if you don’t get it right, you keep on playing it until it becomes second nature,” he explains. Presumably, soloists tend towards the virtuoso side of the performance track, but Galway begs to differ. “It’s not really a matter of virtuosity, it’s a matter of expression. By that I mean really singing the music, knowing the music that’s inside your heart,” he says. Practice, as they say, makes perfect, and Galway maintains a rigorous practicing regimen. Even after well over half a century of wowing audiences around the world, he is still as keen as ever to give every concert his utmost. He recounts that he recently had to refuse an offer to lunch with “a distinguished colleague who plays in a very distinguished orchestra,” telling him that he had to practice for an upcoming recital. When his friend suggested that Galway didn’t have to spend more time preparing, as he knew the works back to front, the flutist insisted that he had to put in practice time. “He couldn’t understand that because for him, if he got the works up to the standard that I start at, he would happy. But I’m not happy with the standard I begin with; I’m only happy with the standard at the end, if it’s really good,” he says. The audiences here are clearly in for a treat.

The concerts will take place on December 12 at Heichal Hateatron in Kiryat Motzkin; December 13 at the Culture Hall on Kibbutz Yifat; and December 14 at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Tickets and information: 050- 534-2687

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2016-12-08 12:38 BARRY DAVIS www.jpost.com

28 /73 0.5 Aleppo White Helmet rescuers call for safe passage The White Helmets rescue group on Thursday urged international organisations to protect its members in rebel-held parts of Syria's east Aleppo in the face of an advance by government forces.

"If we are not evacuated, our volunteers face torture and execution in the regime's detention centres," the rescuers said in a statement released by the Syria Campaign advocacy group that handles communications for them.

The White Helmets, which was nominated this year for a Nobel Peace Prize for its work, said it believed it had "less than 48 hours left" before the army arrived in parts of east Aleppo still held by rebels.

Addressing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations and Security Council members, the group called for an "urgent safe passage" for its staff, their families and other humanitarian workers.

In the last three weeks, government forces have seized around 85 percent of territory rebels controlled in east Aleppo.

A rebel call for a five-day ceasefire and the evacuation of civilians to opposition territory elsewhere has gone unanswered.

"We have good reason to fear for our lives," the White Helmets said.

It charged that the Damascus regime and its allies have "falsely claimed many times that our unarmed and impartial rescue workers... are in fact affiliated with radical extremist groups".

The group said its members in the city feared they would "be treated as terrorists" and could face detention or execution by advancing regime troops.

"We hold the ICRC, the United Nations and the Security Council responsible for our lives and we call on you to secure safe passage," it added.

The White Helmets operates in rebel-held territory throughout Syria and has won international acclaim for its daring rescues in the aftermaths of government attacks.

It was widely considered a frontrunner for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, and in September won a Swedish right award often described as an "alternative Nobel".

It is not without its critics, mostly backers of the government of President Bashar al-Assad who accuse it of being a tool of international donors that support the opposition.

But it contends it has no political affiliation, working only to save civilian lives in highly dangerous circumstances.

2016-12-08 12:30 www.digitaljournal.com

29 /73 1.4 EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Mexican Senators Beat Trump Piñata, Chant Gay Slur The celebration took place in Mexico City where the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) held its yearly “posada” or Christmas celebration. The PRD is a far left party known for its populist measures and protest marches around Mexico City.

A video taken by one of those in attendance at the party shows the senators call for a salute to Donald Trump. In Mexican humor, “a call for a salute” is when one person asks the rest to shout out an expletive. In this case, the assembled group echoed the chant, “chinga tu madre”, calling for the President-Elect’s mother to be violated sexually. Many senators whistled the insult in lieu of saying the exact words.

Soon after, the senators chanted another insult, “Hey Faggot”. The expression is commonly used in soccer matches to distract a rival goalie.

PRD’s current leader, Miguel Barbosa, referred to the antics as “Christmas humor.” The Mexican politician said his party is strongly opposed to Trump and his nationalist message.

The luxurious posada by members of the PRD comes at a time when most Mexicans live on a minimum wage of approximately $5 USD per day. On the other hand, Mexico spent more than $362 million Pesos or approximately $20 million U. S. to pay the salaries and benefits of its 128 senators.

Tony Aranda is a contributor for Breitbart Texas.

2016-12-08 12:28 by feedproxy.google.com

30 /73 7.7 Music: Love, Ethiopian style Like any wave of immigrants, the members of the Ethiopian community have had their fair share of challenges and all kinds of trials and tribulations connected to finding their place in Israeli society. However, over the last decade or so, some things have taken a turn for the better, part of which is due to the fact some of the younger members of the community have found ways to express their creative gifts.

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The annual Hullegeb Festival, which will take place for the seventh time in Jerusalem from December 15 to 21, features a wide swathe of acts, including several star turns from outside the Ethiopian community. The festival takes place under the auspices of Confederation House in Jerusalem and its artistic director and general manager Effi Bnaya, who has endeavored to present the Israeli populace with some of the brightest stars in the Ethiopian-Israeli artistic firmament over the years. “The festival exposes the enormous riches of Ethiopian culture in Israel, the many talents of members of the first and second generations of the Ethiopian aliya,” Bnaya notes. “They are making their unique voice heard in the areas of music, dance and theater, and drawing audiences that are not necessarily from the Ethiopian community.” As we well know, there is a period of identity searching after olim come to Israel which may, in fact, continue throughout our lives. We tend to mix our native sensibilities with our adopted culture, and hopefully arrive at some kind of comfortable identity equilibrium. Bnaya says that artistically inclined members of the Ethiopian community also feed off their domestic cultural origins. “The creative work of the younger generation is fueled by their home roots but is also bona fide contemporary art, with a new multifaceted artistic language,” he says. This year’s offshore attraction is veteran Ethiopian vocalist Aster Aweke, who will perform at the Jerusalem Theater on December 15 (9 p.m.). The 50something singer will make the relatively short trip over here from northeast Africa, although she has been largely based in the US for the past three decades. Aweke, who hails from Gondar, where many Ethiopian olim used to live, discovered her musical aspirations early on. “I was about seven years old when I started to have a great interest in music,” she recalls. That infant ambition was fired by titans of the trade from across various genres and cultures. “I loved great singers from home, like the late Tilahun Gessesse and Bizunesh Bekele, and many more Western singers, such as Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday,” she says. In fact, more than a few music critics and fans have compared Aweke’s on stage delivery to that of soul and R&B First Lady Franklin. Aweke says she eagerly imbibed a rich and varied diet of sounds as a youngster, which included “songs from home, traditional and modern, and from the West, like R&B, jazz, opera. If it’s music, I love it!” she laughs. Since she first entered a recording studio as the leader of the musical pack in the late 1908s, Aweke has released 10 albums of her own and contributed to many more. To date, all her vocal work has been in her native language of Amharic. Considering her lengthy US sojourn, that is a little surprising; but Aweke says she prefers to go with the natural flow, her interest in other genres notwithstanding. “I like listening to songs in English, and I think about singing in English too. But it is just a passing thought. I am not sure if I can be good at it,” she says. Although she sticks to the homegrown vocal side, there is some cross-cultural side to the non-vocal output. “I rarely use African instruments in my gigs, but I do mix it with Western instruments in the recording sessions – whenever there’s an opportunity,” she says. There is also an on-the-fly aspect to her work, fueled by her interest in jazz. “I like jazz,” she notes. “We might improvise some jazzy style in the performance in Jerusalem.” Aweke likes addressing various topics in her work but says there is a central warm theme to her offerings. “I love singing about love,” she declares. “Most of the time, that is what I do best.” She is also looking forward to seeing some familiar faces in the Jerusalem Theater audience. This will not be her debut in Israel, and she says she always enjoys working here. “I have good friends and fans in Israel. “I have been coming here for years and have been greeted with love and great hospitality, for which I am always grateful,” she smiles. Aweke says she is planning to reward her faithful fans with a memorable experience.

“We are going to perform great tunes, popular songs. I am rehearsing with a five-piece band – keyboards, drums, bass, guitar, and sax. It’s going to be an amazing concert. I hope to see you all there!” she says.

The Hullegeb Festival takes place December 15 to 21 in Jerusalem. For tickets and more information: (02) 623- 7000, http://tickets.bimot.co.il/; and (02) 624-5206 ext. 4

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2016-12-08 12:19 BARRY DAVIS www.jpost.com

31 /73 31 /73 4.2 50 Interesting Facts About Zayn Malik: Things to Know about Gigi Hadid’s Boyfriend Zayn Malik was not able to be with his girlfriend Gigi Hadid to personally congratulate her for winning Model of the Year at the 2016 British Fashion Awards, but an insider told HollywoodLife.com, “He did make sure to let her know how proud he is of her. He had three dozen red and pink roses delivered to her in London.” The insider said the model was “blown away” and dedicated the award to her boyfriend. “She told him that he’s the reason she won. That he makes her a better person, and without him he wouldn’t be as confident as she is today.” To celebrate her sweet boyfriend, we’ve got 50 Zayn Malik facts to share with you!

Is Dolly Parton Married? Facts about her Upcoming North American Tour & Personal Life

On January 19, country music icon Dolly Parton celebrated her 70th birthday, and to celebrate, she is going on ... Click here to read more

On January 19, country music icon Dolly Parton celebrated her 70th birthday, and to celebrate, she is going on... Click here to read more

Sources: https://goo.gl/UOOLUJ https://goo.gl/niGidg https://goo.gl/8RtwLe https://goo.gl/fQYWK https://goo.gl/qSeq7D https://goo.gl/gwyoWa

2016-12-08 12:15 Sarah Dos www.earnthenecklace.com

32 /73 3.5 Hollywood Reporter 8:15 AM PST 12/8/2016

by

Daniel Fienberg

With the shocking success of Empire , Lee Daniels made an unlikely leap from polarizingly odd cinematic auteur to ostensibly mainstream TV visionary. Daniels' newly claimed populist mantle will be tested by his next Fox musical drama, Star , which shares some DNA with Empire but may actually be a purer small- screen distillation of Daniels' vision from films like Precious and The Paperboy , which means it can be off-putting.

Star focuses on prophesy-fulfillingly named Star (Jude Demorest), a sassy 17-year-old chanteuse certain that if she can just escape the nightmare of Pittsburgh (and horrifying foster care and other blue collar nightmares), she can become a major star as part of a girl group with her sister Simone (Brittany O'Grady), trapped in an even worse foster nightmare in Harrisburg, and spoiled rich girl Alexandra (Ryan Destiny). After a sudden act of violence, the three girls are off to Atlanta and into the arms of Star and Simone's godmother Carlotta (Queen Latifah), a hairdresser with impressive singing chops of her own. It's a world of salon banter, club contests, tawdry strip clubs and a down-on-his-luck talent manager (Benjamin Bratt's Jahil), who sees the girls as his ticket back to the big time.

Daniels co-created Star with playwright and The Whole Truth creator Tom Donaghy. It's effectively a tonal inversion of Empire , in which the aspirational bling porn predominated and miserable economic realities have generally been restricted to traumatic flashbacks or cautionary glimpses at the world escaped by the Lyon clan. While initial reviews mentioned the show's King Lear or Lion in the Winter literary trappings, Daniels has been just as proud to compare the show to a black Dynasty , and audience hunger for that milieu has been unquestionable. With Star , devoid of a clear literary pedigree unless you want to count something like Berry Gordy's Mahogany , it's the dour melodrama that predominates, with glimpses of fame and fortune the stuff of literal and figurative fantasy.

Where the shows live, be it aspiration-achieved glitz or in-the-gutter-looking-up poverty, plays a big role in how Daniels' love for heightened behavior is received. Perhaps the biggest reason Empire played to such a wide audience is because Daniels' directorial outlandishness didn't feel out of place in its genre of choice. It was an environment in which a Cookie could feel at home, rather than asking us to accept how a character of that size might function in a more recognizable world.

The first two episodes of Star , both directed by Daniels, are a reminder of how hard it can be to embrace his excesses when he’s wallowing in the mud of mankind rather than having campy, Cookie-driven fun. Daniels’ reliance on working-class grotesques can be effective — think Mo’Nique’s turn as the monster mom in Precious — but in this case undermines what seem to be attempts at realism. This, by the way, is completely Daniels' intention. There's a blending of organic and operatic in his film work, where he aspires to make jarring, outsized emotions and abrupt detours into unwatchable behavior.

As of now, Star is a tough show to evaluate, because the overheated tone Daniels establishes early — a grungy ’70s aesthetic of desaturated grit spiked with doses of exploitation-flick sex and violence — isn’t likely to be sustainable for subsequent writers and directors. It's hard to imagine any other director using a burning photograph to transition from a character awkwardly selling her soul and body at a grimy strip club into a glossy musical number, interrupting a scene of workplace drudgery with a celebration of Dee-Lite, or treating the bloody act that instigates the plot as something almost out of a slasher film. Those stylistic tics could vanish without losing any of the thematic concerns Daniels is working with, though, including the clash between church and secular music, the complex racial dynamic in the singing group, and the butting of heads between a gay stylist at Carlotta's shop and their trans receptionist. The tics could vanish and the show could just become about the music and maybe the performances.

Moving past Daniels' sometimes tin ear for dialogue — or insistence on saddling actors with clumsy soap dialogue in scenes that are staged as naturalistic — wouldn't hurt the actors, because it's hard to find praise for Destiny, O'Grady or Demorest, each struggling with broad or inconsistent character introductions. Demorest is older than her character, but that doesn't make it less awkward that the writers can think of no better way to illustrate her scrappy ingenuity than Star using her body to gets what she wants three times in the first two episodes. A scene of flirtation with an older football player in which they banter over the word "balls" is especially bad. O'Grady's got several beats of comedy that feel accidental and undermine the impression that Simone is supposed to be messed up in some really unfunny ways. And in order to make us get that Alexandra is the writer in the group, Destiny has to wade through a lot of musical jargon she can't sell, as well as several strained scenes with her famous parents, played with initial disinterest by Lenny Kravitz and, in the second episode, Naomi Campbell.

Are the girls actually good enough to become stars? Apparently? But Daniels sells out any revelations about their talent by staging songs with wildly overproduced backing tracks that make the trio sound like lip-synching pros instead of high-potential, raw upstarts. Any distinctiveness the three actresses have to their voices has been smoothed out completely. The speed with which Bratt's character comes to believe in the girls may be meant to reflect on his desperation, but it makes him, and all of this, hard to take seriously. There also really needed to be a memo sent around, because nobody in the first two episodes pronounces "Jahil" the same way.

No surprise, but the one performance that hits immediately and unconditionally is Queen Latifah, whose introduction soloing a hymn in church marks the rare time that singing and acting intersect. Carlotta shares flashes of style and a take-no-prisoners toughness with Cookie, but Latifah keeps it from feeling like a duplication of a popular character. If Taraji P. Henson introduced her brood mama as an uncoiled spring of energy and ambition after years in prison, dangerous and unpredictable, Latifah foregrounds faith and the weariness of years setting dreams aside for the day-to-day grind, while remaining a potential threat.

Empire premiered either at the vanguard of a movement in TV inclusivity or else it spawned or enabled that movement. Star , however, enters terrain that has been well-trod. The past few months have seen the Southern black experience diversely depicted for both drama and comedy in shows like Queen Sugar , Greenleaf , Atlanta and Survivor's Remorse. That doesn't mean that Star has become superfluous, but in lieu of market scarcity and the indisputable force of nature that was Henson's Cookie, it may have a harder time finding a place. Queen Latifah's great, but calling Star the Lee Danielsiest show on TV — which may make Lee Daniels happy — is sure to leave some viewers scratching their heads as well.

Network: Fox

Cast: Queen Latifah, Benjamin Bratt, Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny, Brittany O'Grady, Amiyah Scott

Creators: Lee Daniels and Tom Donaghy

Showrunner: Chuck Pratt

Special premiere on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. Airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Fox starting on January 4.

2016-12-08 12:15 Daniel Fienberg feedproxy.google.com

33 /73 33 /73 0.0 At 29, this 'El Niño' singer is the buzz of California's opera world Standing ovations at performances get handed out like Halloween candy, a reflexive exercise that shows how the over-liking of anything has long since become the norm.

On the rural outskirts of Ojai one Saturday morning in June, an audience of 230, crammed into tiny Zalk Theater, rose as one. But this response felt different, real. And then surreal.

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, whose song “By and By” had just been performed, cut through the applause as, tears streaming down her face, she emerged from the seats and flung herself onto the small stage, prostrate at the feet of the singer, Davóne Tines.

A couple of hours later and a few miles away at Libbey Bowl, where larger crowds at the 70th Ojai Music Festival had assembled for the afternoon program, buzz was building. Something special had happened that morning.

“Everyone was talking about it,” said Tom Morris, artistic director of the festival.

The wording spreading through the crowd: A striking, young singer had emerged through a sun- drenched opening at the back of the darkened theater, planted himself amid the Calder Quartet and delivered a soulful rendition of a plaintive song. Most compelling, Tines’ rich bass-baritone somehow ranged up to an equally resonant falsetto.

Reflecting later, Peter Sellars, music director of the festival and the man who had organized the performance, had an assessment:

“You know, nobody, ever, ever forgets that astonishing moment when there is someone new on the scene and we feel in a moment they are not just entering the scene, but can be part of shaping it.

“You could feel that so powerfully. Just exhilarating.”

Tines went on to sing a deliberate, powerful reading of Kaija Saariaho’s “Sombre,” and at a free street party concert closing the festival in nearby Santa Paula he soloed stirring spirituals to a rapt audience near a Goodwill storefront.

Now Tines, 29, is lined up to be in composer John Adams’ “El Niño,” set for Dec. 16 and 18 at Walt Disney Concert Hall with Grant Gershon leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

For many in the audience, the question likely will be: Who is this guy?

Davóne Tines was born in 1986 in rural Virginia — “horse country,” he describes it — and grew up largely in Orlean, an unincorporated village small enough to be uncounted in the 2010 census. It lies about 50 miles east of Washington, D. C.

Tines began playing violin at 7. He put the instrument aside three years ago, explaining why during a recent interview.

“Like a lot of things, I think I thought about the violin too much and overprepared,” he said. “This is a little bit of a blessing and a curse.”

The discovery that he might be a singer came from his grandfather, John Hilton Tines Sr., a Navy officer for about 30 years who also ran three church choirs.

“He came to the house when I was young and would pronounce with operatic enunciation: ‘Howww arrre youuu?’’’ Tines recalled. “On one occasion I responded in kind, ‘Iii ammm fiiine.’ He peered down and said he thought I had a voice.”

As Tines started to sing in African American church and high school choirs, further musical connections were forged.

“What struck me was the happiness I felt in encountering gospel or church music I would then find that same feeling inside a Mendelssohn piece or a chord structure in Beethoven,” Tines said. “Not the same kinds of music, structurally, but they would appeal to me not just intellectually, but emotionally.

“‘Soulful aspects,’ I would say.”

Jump ahead to Harvard: He continued with the violin, explored fashion design and served as president of Harvard’s orchestra.

A younger classmate noticed. Matthew Aucoin, then a freshman and now a composer and conductor, was struck by “not just his voice of enviable lushness and uncanny power but all the things he was undertaking.”

Aucoin, now Los Angeles Opera’s first artist in residence, views it as Tines “drawing on every aspect of his intelligence and his experience when he sings.”

Sellars initially encountered Tines at Juilliard, where he earned a master’s degree in music in 2013.

“I am always interested in working with young singers that are emerging, and Juilliard had arranged auditions for us,” Sellars said. “He sang a spiritual” — Sellars burst out with a trademark gust of laughter at the recollection — “that I will never forget! It went on for 15 minutes. It was truly overwhelming.”

For Aucoin, who created the role of the escaped slave Freddie for Tines in the well-received 2015 opera “Crossing,” the singer’s range is a huge slate on which to compose.

“I was able to write music both at the very bottom of the bass range and waaaay up in the falsetto range — we’re talking countertenor territory,” Aucoin said. “But when Davóne sings at these extremes, it’s not grotesque. The bottom is rich and resonant, and his falsetto is like an instrument-within-his-instrument, with its own beauty and penetrative power.”

Sellars believes Tines’ vocal prowess derives from his background and experience. “I think what you are hearing there is deeply within the tradition of the black church, where you have to go way down and way up,” he said. “And that poses a spiritual question as well as a vocal question, something that is conveying the range of the human soul.”

Tines finds his singing perhaps at its most engaged in making new music.

“It’s not exactly new music that I love, but it’s the act of creating something with explicit context. New music projects tend toward explicit relevance because of their very nature; the composer, the director, the organizations that mount the work are motivated by clear and present impetus which makes my role of being a vessel delivering this amassed energy crazy thrilling.”

Tines is anticipating some crazy thrilling in Adams’ “El Niño.”

“The Christian basis of the piece taps into my background, and the explorations about these themes are ones I am drawn to, plus I can rock out to shake the heavens, some of the coolest orchestral rock songs ever written,” he said.

Tines will again sing Adams, with Sellars writing the libretto and directing, in a world premiere at San Francisco Opera next year. Called “Girls of the Golden West,” the work in part references Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West” but will be a deeper exploration of California’s roots that, Sellars feels, haven’t been adequately communicated before. Adams wrote music for, and in response to, Tines’ voice.

Sellars marvels at the journey of a performer who has not reached 30.

“How many singers have three new major operas with parts being written for them in the space of two years? That is astonishing. You really have to go back to Verdi and Mozart’s time for that.” Tines has other projects in progress, including “The Black Clown,” which he is writing the libretto for as well as playing the title role.

He will be backed by a Greek chorus of male and female voices in a piece based on Langston Hughes ’ poem of the same name that examines challenges of black life in America through time.

“I met [composer] Mike Schachter in college, and he has a sort of jazz tradition, so this will have a chamber orchestra with a jazz trio built into it. We have worked on and off for over five years, and Mike wrote a song-cycle and from that, the idea became, ‘Why not develop these 10 to 15 miniatures?’”

It is set to be unveiled in 2018 by the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass. Tines is “so damn excited to be saying the most personal thing I can think of and to get to do it at Harvard.”

Missing from this narrative are the usual trappings of a music career on the rise: management- directed roles focused on standard repertory. (Tines has cut a swath through European houses this year, singing in the Netherlands, Finland and Portugal, as well as performing “El Niño” in Paris and London.)

Tines said he’s had conversations with industry people who ask, “What do you like to sing?” His answer is, “I like to sing things I think are truthful.” If they reply,“Well, you don’t always get to do that,” Tines said his reply is, “Why not?” “So far I have been able to pay the bills doing things I connect to and I am walking on stages to try to deliver something that counts,” he said.

“Hopefully, that is not naïve or me sounding like trying to be special, but if I make choices to sing otherwise, what am I doing, why am I even bothering?”

------

Who: L. A. Phil, Los Angeles Master Chorale , Los Angeles Children's Chorus, conductor Grant Gershon

Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L. A.

When: 8 p.m. Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Dec. 18

Tickets: $53-183

Information: (323) 850-2300, laphil.org

The classical world’s celebration of Adams’ 70th birthday in 2017 will include three concerts at Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge: Jacaranda Music’s “America Beserk” on Jan. 14, the St. Lawrence String Quartet’s concert on Feb. 3, and Wild Up conducted by Christopher Rountree on Feb. 16.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has concerts celebrating Adams on Feb. 25 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale and Feb. 26 at Royce Hall at UCLA.

The L. A. Phil will present Adams conducting his opera “Nixon in China” on March 3 and 5 at Disney Hall.

2016-12-08 12:00 Christopher Smith www.latimes.com

34 /73 2.9 Vinyl album sales outpace digital downloads for first time in U. K.: Report Sales of albums on vinyl records in the United Kingdom outpaced digital album sales for the first time ever, an entertainment industry trade group reported Thursday.

“In this past week in the U. K. we saw vinyl sales of 2.4 million pounds, and a digital download album sales of only 2.1 million pounds,” said Kim Bayley, CEO of the Entertainment Retailers Association, reported WTOP.com. “That’s the first and only normal week for many years where vinyl albums have outsold digital albums, other than Record Store Day.”

By contrast, here in the U. S., the Recording Industry Association of America found vinyl album sales in the first half of 2016 were slightly more than half the amount of digital downloads, WTOP reported.

Even so, vinyl sales in the U. S. are at a 28-year high and rising, while compact disc sales are dropping, as Fortune reported in April. While for older consumers, buying a record is partly based on “nostalgia,” for younger consumers a vinyl record “creates a new experience for people who were born during the digital age,” said consumer electronics researcher Barbara Kraus, Fortune reported.

“In terms of accessing music on the go, streaming is really now the dominant format, because it offers all you can eat: everything in a very easy way. But others want to own the product — they want the physical, tangible product,” Ms. Bayley said, WTOP reported.

2016-12-08 11:50 By www.washingtontimes.com

35 /73 3.1 A hacker's ultimate guide to staying safe online: Expert reveals the safest browsers and best messaging apps With devices connected to the internet these days, protecting your privacy has never been more challenging. Malicious hackers and governments can monitor the most private communications, browsing habits and other data breadcrumbs of anyone who owns a phone, tablet, laptop or personal computer. Now Timothy Summers, an ethical hacker and director of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Engagement at the University of Maryland, explains how to stay cyber safe in an article for The Conversation. As an ethical hacker, my job is to help protect those who are unable, or lack the knowledge, to help themselves. People who think like hackers have some really good ideas about how to protect digital privacy during turbulent times. Here's what they - and I - advise, and why. I have no affiliation or relationship with any of the companies listed below, except in some cases as a regular user. PHONE CALLS, TEXT MESSAGING AND EMAIL When you're communicating with people, you probably want to be sure only you and they can read what's being said. That means you need what is called 'end-to-end encryption,' in which your message is transmitted as encoded text. As it passes through intermediate systems, like an email network or a cellphone company's computers, all they can see is the encrypted message. When it arrives at its destination, that person's phone or computer decrypts the message for reading only by its intended recipient. For phone calls and private text-message-like communication, the best apps on the market are WhatsApp and Signal. Both use end-to-end encryption, and are free apps available for iOS and Android. In order for the encryption to work, both parties need to use the same app. For private email, Tutanota and ProtonMail lead the pack in my opinion. Both of these Gmail-style email services use end-to-end encryption, and store only encrypted messages on their servers. Keep in mind that if you send emails to people not using a secure service, the emails may not be encrypted. At present, neither service supports PGP/GPG encryption, which could allow security to extend to other email services, but they are reportedly working on it. Both are free, and can be used on PCs and mobile devices. My biggest gripe is that neither yet offers two-factor authentication for additional login security. AVOID BEING TRACKED It is less straightforward to privately browse the internet or use internet-connected apps and programs. Internet sites and services are complicated business, often involving loading information from many different online sources. For example, a news site might serve the text of the article from one computer, photos from another, related video from a third. And it would connect with Facebook and Twitter to allow readers to share articles and comment on them. Advertising and other services also get involved, allowing site owners to track how much time users spend on the site (among other data). The easiest way to protect your privacy without totally changing your surfing experience is to install a small piece of free software called a 'browser extension.' These add functionality to your existing web browsing program, such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari. The two privacy browser extensions I recommend are uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger. ENCRYPTING ALL YOUR ONLINE ACTIVITY If you want to be more secure, you need to ensure people can't directly watch the internet traffic from your phone or computer. That's where a virtual private network (VPN) can help. Simply put, a VPN is a collection of networked computers through which you send your internet traffic. Instead of the normal online activity of your computer directly contacting a website with open communication, your computer creates an encrypted connection with another computer somewhere else (even in another country). That computer sends out the request on your behalf. When it receives a response – the webpage you've asked to load – it encrypts the information and sends it back to your computer, where it's displayed. This all happens in milliseconds, so in most cases it's not noticeably slower than regular browsing – and is far more secure. ADDITIONAL TOP TIPS If you don't want anyone to know what information you're searching for online, use DuckDuckGo or F-Secure Safe Search. DuckDuckGo is a search engine that doesn't profile its users or record their search queries. F- Secure Safe Search is not as privacy-friendly because it's a collaborative effort with Google, but it provides a safety rating for each search result, making it a suitable search engine for children. To add security to your email, social media and other online accounts, enable what is called 'two-factor authentication,' or '2FA.' This requires not only a user name and password, but also another piece of information – like a numeric code sent to your phone – before allowing you to log in successfully. Most common services, like Google and Facebook, now support 2FA. Use it. Encrypt the data on your phone and your computer to protect your files, pictures and other media. Both Apple iOS and Android have settings options to encrypt your mobile device. And the last line of privacy defense is you. Only give out your personal information if it is necessary. When signing up for accounts online, do not use your primary email address or real phone number. Instead, create a throw-away email address and get a Google Voice number. That way, when the vendor gets hacked, your real data aren't breached.

2016-12-08 11:43 Timothy Summers www.dailymail.co.uk

36 /73 4.8 Christina Milian reveals the gift she'd give a 'secure' man By Cristina Corvino

Christina Milian loves a good fragrance on a man.

In fact, she told us that she's fallen in love with men simply over their scent. So naturally, it comes as no surprise that Milian would be pegged to host Curve's "Curve Your Reality" party held at Lightbox in New York City on Tuesday.

We caught up with the Grammy-nominated singer at the quirky soirée meant to celebrate the "wildest, weirdest, and most amazing fantasies happening in your head" -- and she dished on her ultimate "curved reality," her 6-year-old daughter Violet's favorite part about the holidays and the ideal gift for a "secure" man.

Check out our conversation below:

In what way did this particular campaign speak to you?

It spoke to me because I'm all about a guy with personality [who] thinks out of the box. And I'm definitely about leaving an impression. I've literally fallen in love with men over a scent. They were not my type at all. I'm not even going to name names. Because I could literally name names. I literally left them, not thinking anything of them, and walked away thinking about the scents -- and not realizing that it was lingering with me. It simulates you without even being there.

I just love how [Curve has] taken a new approach of engaging the newer generation with fragrance and understanding the importance of it. When you're younger, you don't get it. Eventually younger guys get you need a little bit [of something] extra. I'm all about that. Even as a woman, for me, I like to do something that stands out when it comes to fragrance, because some women forget -- but I remember.

See photos from the event below:

If you could spray perfume and be transported to a "curved reality" -- much like the realities in the new Curve ads -- what would that reality look like to you?

The reality would be me inside of a pyramid, men feeding me grapes with my family sitting there at a big table eating delicious food -- with my daughter eating sushi, because she loves sushi. And a big warm swimming pool in the middle of it all. Sounds good, right? I need a couple men there.

With holiday gift-giving approaching, what's the most well-received gift you've given a man in your life?

A fragrance is nice -- if I'm with a secure man and they understand it's something that I think personally could be a good scent that I found in the store, not because it came from another boyfriend. If it did, we don't have to tell them). Personally, I think fragrance is to enhance the senses of love, so I do think fragrance is really nice.

Then you can't go wrong with of course, you know, sneakers -- a nice pair of high-end sneakers or something like that.

Take a peek at our gift picks for guys:

Is there any gift that's gone over terribly?

I've done pretty good when it comes to gifts. I haven't had any issues. You can get them a bag of candy [and] they'll be happy. So true. What's your daughter's favorite part about the holidays?

That she has a break from school, and we can spend a lot more time together. That's her favorite part. And everything that comes with it, of course -- the cooking in the kitchen, no homework. Off from school, good to be with mom, I can go wherever she goes, no excuse!

Do you have any upcoming projects fans can be excited about?

I have a new project with FOX coming out next year called "Superhuman" -- that's going to be coming out with Mike Tyson and a gentleman named Dr. Jandial. Then I'm working on new music and DJing -- so I'm excited about that. I can't wait to hit the road.

Ultimate destination to DJ?

Ooh, Ibiza! I love Ibiza, I've partied in Ibiza, I would love to DJ there.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

More from AOL.com : Lonely Planet names top US destination of 2017 10 holiday gifts for the jet setter This life hack will make hanging holiday lights easy

2016-12-08 11:34 AOL Staff www.aol.com

37 /73 0.0 Macy’s, Sears, JC Penney and Kohl’s discounts too good to be true, LA city attorney says LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles city attorney’s office is expected to file suit today against four big retailers for deceptive advertising, which allegedly misled shoppers into believing that thousands of products were on sale at a hefty discount.

The retailers — Macy’s, Sears, JC Penney and Kohl’s — falsely advertised high “list” or “regular” prices on merchandise that was never actually available at that price, according to the lawsuits. That allegedly caused customers to believe they were getting a better bargain with the “sale” price than they actually were.

California law bans retailers from advertising a higher original price unless a product was actually available at that price within three months of the ad running.

Feuer planned to hold a news conference at City Hall today to discuss the suit with reporters. He’s expected to stress that customers have the right to know the truth about the prices they’re paying and to know if a “bargain” is really a bargain. The suits will seek civil penalties and injunctions to prohibit such practices. This is not the first time that retailers have gotten in trouble for false reference pricing schemes, the Los Angeles Times reported. In 2015, class action lawsuits were filed against JC Penney and Kohl’s accusing the retailers of tricking customers by inflating original prices. JC Penney eventually settled the suit for $50 million in cash and store credit to customers, and Kohl’s agreed to pay $6.15 million.

2016-12-08 11:29 By City www.presstelegram.com

38 /73 1.9 Cheyenne Tozzi opens up about transitioning from modelling to singing She recently added professional singer to her already-impressive resume. And numerous contracts and media exposure, has led model Cheyenne Tozzi, to not become affected by what critics have to say. '[I don't need] anyone's tick of approval,' the 27-year-old revealed to the Daily Telegraph. Scroll down for video 'It's [singing] more for me, and you live once,' Cheyenne told the publication. 'You've got to try everything in life,' the Cronulla native continued. Early last month, Cheyenne revealed to Harper's Bazaar the meaning behind the lyrics to her second single 'Swept Up,' off her self-titled album. 'Every girl understands that swept up feeling, everyone's had it. And if not, it's coming!' The beginning of the music video sees Cheyenne clad in a semi-sheer frock walking along the water's edge with her long locks cascading down her back. Soulful beats are played in the background, while the Sydney-based star whispers the words 'Swept Up' in a sultry voice. A montage then sees a woman embracing a hunky male on a bed, before taking viewers back to the stunning beach landscape. Cheyenne also explained the song's production to Harper's Bazaar. 'We were in the studio with the boys and they just had this really cool little riff on the guitar,' she said. 'We started singing and it grew from there and then one night we just had this really beautiful song.' Cheyenne has certainly been keeping busy, having wrapped up filming and promotional duties for the tenth season of reality show Australia's Next Top Model. The brunette beauty returned to the cast alongside host Jennifer Hawkins, Alex Perry, Megan Gale, and newcomers Zac and Jordan Stenmark. Cheyenne has also been spotted at numerous media events, including a Louis Vuitton male pop-up store at Sydney's Westfield.

2016-12-08 11:26 Kristy Johnson www.dailymail.co.uk

39 /73 1.9 Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra strike ends with $700K donated Musicians with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra have ended their three-month strike by approving a new contract bolstered by a $700,000 donation. Symphony officials and the American Federation of Musicians...

2016-12-08 11:04 system article.wn.com

40 /73 1.0 Rihanna responds to Beyonce feud rumors: 'We don't need to be putting black women against each other' Rihanna is setting the record straight.

The 28-year-old singer took to Instagram on Wednesday to clear up rumors that she and Beyoncé were feuding over GRAMMY nominations, after she unintentionally added fuel to the fire by liking a fan's photo with a controversial caption slamming the "Sorry" singer.

WATCH: Rihanna Throws Serious Shade at Exes in Instagram Post

"Congrats and all to @badgalriri and all for her 8 Grammy nods but tbh f**k them because they snubbed her for Song of the Year and Album of the Year... I think they didn't want her tied or passing someone else *cough cough*," the caption read, referring to Beyoncé's Lemonade album.

RELATED: Beyonce's 17 Biggest Moments of 2016: Grammy Noms, the Super Bowl, and a Little Album Called 'Lemonade'

While Rihanna initially liked the picture, which showed her wearing a carnival outfit and the word "SHOOK," once she was made aware of the controversy, she quickly commented back on the photo.

See photos of Rihanna through the years:

"I never actually read your caption, thought the pic was funny and moved right along! Til I seen it pop up over and over!," she wrote. "I'm petty af, yes. But this is just unnecessary! "

"I wish y'all would drop this topic and see things from the bigger picture! We don't need to be putting black women against each other! " she continued. "We deserve to be celebrated, and the Grammy Academy agrees! "

With a combined 17 nominations between Rihanna and Beyoncé this year -- RiRi snagged eight for ANTI, while Queen Bey received nine GRAMMY nods for Lemonade -- both women definitely have a lot to be proud of.

WATCH: Beyonce on Track to Make GRAMMY History

See the GRAMMY nominations' biggest snubs and surprises in the video below.

2016-12-08 11:03 AOL Staff www.aol.com

41 /73 2.9 Jazz Picks: ‘Big Band Holidays’ features Marsalis, Lincoln Center Orchestra In this annual “Big Band Holidays” concert, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis offer swinging performances of holiday favorites, arranged this season by saxophonist Sherman Irby. In addition to classic selections, this year’s program includes new arrangements of sacred and secular songs, from Billie Holiday’s “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Vocalist Catherine Russell will perform as a special guest.

The show is 8 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Hall on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill. For more information visit carolinaperformingarts.org .

2016-12-08 11:00 By Cicely www.newsobserver.com

42 /73 1.8 Taylor Swift Faces Jessica Simpson Feud Rumors As She Prepares To Release New Album [Debunked] Taylor Swift and Jessica Simpson are not involved in a feud.

According to a new report, Taylor Swift and her fellow singer, who shares two children with husband Eric Johnson, are at odds because Swift is allegedly refusing to write a new song for Simpson, who hasn’t been doing much on the musical front in recent years.

Earlier this week, a source suggested Jessica Simpson had allegedly reached out to Taylor Swift in hopes of making a career comeback. However, rather than help the ex-wife of singer Nick Lachey, Swift reportedly informed her that she was far too busy. This year, Taylor Swift has endured a nasty feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian — and a couple of breakups. So, when it comes to her new album, she surely has plenty of inspiration.

At the end of spring, Taylor Swift split from her boyfriend Calvin Harris, whom she dated for 15 months, and weeks later, she went public with her relationship with Tom Hiddleston and the pair dated for a few months. Then, in September, Taylor Swift and the actor went their separate ways and Swift has appeared to be single ever since.

Meanwhile, as she continues to focus on herself and her career, a source claims she’s been inspired by her breakup from Hiddleston.

A new album is “still a work in progress because when she puts something out she wants to fully support it with a tour and television appearances,” the source continued. “She is enjoying a little break so there is still some time for all of that.”

Following her split from Hiddleston, Taylor Swift was linked to Drake, but after the alleged couple was seen together at his 30th birthday in Los Angeles, rumors of a romance between them were shot down and they haven’t been seen together since.

[Featured Image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

2016-12-08 09:16 Lindsay Cronin www.inquisitr.com

43 /73 1.0 Dear Millennials, Please Stop Trying To Ruin This Classic Holiday Song People are apparently upset by the lyrics of the classic Christmas song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” because it’s “too rapey.”

As we all know, the original 1944 version is sexy as hell. It’s about a couple who, after attending a holiday party together, find themselves at a somewhat awkward crossroads. The woman, who very clearly doesn’t want to go home, makes up little excuses as to why she should leave, but her date convinces her to stay by pointing out how cold it is outside.

The tension between the two is steamy — and not just because our guy has a roaring fire going, which he alludes to in the lyrics — but because it’s an elaborate dance of subtleties during which a man successfully seduces a woman into staying just a bit longer. The beloved holiday song encapsulates sexual tension and the art of seduction in a way that is interesting and relatable. Here’s Joseph Gordon Levitt and Lady Gaga singing it together in 2013. The roles are reversed — Lady Gaga plays the part of the seductress and tries to sweet talk JGL into putting off his departure.

My favorite take is with Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton, who perform a version riddled with humorous improvisations.

But apparently this is all too much for the “can I touch you here” generation. A couple from Minneapolis (who probably shop at Whole Foods and wear Warby Parker glasses) say the song made them feel uncomfortable, so they decided to rewrite the lyrics.

“You never figure out if she gets to go home,” Lydia Liza told CNN . “You never figure out if there was something in her drink. It just leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth.”

Uhhhh. Okay. It’s obvious the song is left vague on purpose so the listener can intimate what happens, because seduction is a mysterious thing. Also, we know she probably does leave in the end, so why finish the song on a low note when you can end one a nice one?

Their version is the unsexiest thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life. Here’s a portion of the newly updated lyrics:

The neighbors might think / That you’re a real nice girl

What is this drink? / Pomegranate La Croix

I wish I knew how / Maybe I can help you out

To break this spell / I don’t know what you’re talking about

I ought to say no, no / You reserve the right to say no

At least I’m gonna say that I tried / You reserve the right to say no

I really can’t stay / Well you don’t have to

Baby it’s cold outside.

First of all, our boy here is apparently offering her POMEGRANATE LACROIX to drink. No wonder girlfriend is trying to GTFO as quickly as she can — her man is offering her a can of carbonated water that tastes like fermented garbage.

Second, “you reserve the right to say no” is robotic and unnatural. Anyone who’s ever been on a date once in his or her life knows that a woman wouldn’t have this long of a back-and-forth discussion about her departure if she really did want to leave. It’s obvious the original “I really can’t stay” is code for “I don’t want to go, but I also don’t want to overstay my welcome, so if you want me to stay tell me why I shouldn’t leave.” Anyone who really wanted to leave would just grab her keys and go, likely mumbling a wan excuse. He’s not forcing her to stay, he’s just making it clear that he wants her to stick around for a bit longer. It’s an invitation. Yet in the age of affirmative consent, it’s apparently sexier when a man practically pushes you out the door for fear one might mistake flirting for something sinister.

Also, this dude’s obliviousness of the “spell” to which his gal is referring to is face-palm worthy. She’s obviously into him, but he’s too dumb to understand what’s going on, and treats it almost as if it’s an accusation that he’s coercing her into a situation she doesn’t want to be in.

That a flirtatious song from 1944 is triggering tells us that men and women simply don’t trust each other anymore. Using the legal system as a vengeful battering ram, like so many college students are apt to do, isn’t helping the situation either. Rather than hyping up legalistic interactions, we ought to repair the breakdown of trust between the sexes. To do my part, I’ll be listening to the original version of this song on repeat ’til 2016 comes to a close.

2016-12-08 08:54 Bre Payton thefederalist.com

44 /73 2.0 'Preggo but I’m still doin moves like Beyonce': Surrogate mother in labour performs energetic dance routine to the song Baby Momma A surrogate mother in labour energetically danced to the song 'Baby Momma' while four centimetres dilated. Dressed in just her surgical gown and a pair of socks Alexandra Theriault, from Florida, completed the routine in an attempt to hurry her labour along. The 25-year-old first time surrogate was already in her second day of labour on Friday December 2 when she decided to dance her pain away. While clutching her surgical drip at the Sacred Heart Family Birth Place in Sandestin, Ms Theriault gets down to the Starrkeisha supported by best friend Kassandra Hanks, 26. Ms Theriault even manages to crouch down and dance on the floor to the song which includes the line, 'Preggo but I’m still doin moves like Beyonce'. The physical activity seemed to work and Ms Theriault gave birth to a healthy boy on Saturday, December 3. Ms Hanks, from Mary Esther, Florida, said: 'It was an extremely fun and hilarious thing to be a part of. 'Alexandra was pretty desperate to get things moving. 'This was already her second day but she was only four centimetres downloaded. 'The song came on and we thought a bit of dancing might hurry the labour along. 'Alexandra and I danced along while our friend Kennedy filmed and we really enjoyed it. 'We have been best friends for almost two years and have been with her since day one of the surrogacy. 'It must have had some effect as the next day her waters broke and the little man was born.' This was Alexandra's first surrogacy and the child is going to a man who lives in Japan.

2016-12-08 08:54 Rachael Burford www.dailymail.co.uk

45 /73 2.2 Blake Shelton Reveals His New Single Was Inspired By Gwen Stefani: When I’m With Her ‘No One Notices Me’ “You know how it is, when you’re in a supermarket or something with her — nobody notices me – she’s GWEN STEFANI!” Shelton explained.

“I think I get a little bit better performances out of myself when she’s around just because she’s Gwen Stefani and you feel pressure when she’s around watching. She’s like Santa Claus, she knows when I’ve been bad.”

Stefani was spotted during a trip to the park in Los Angeles over the weekend. The singer, who was joined by her three sons – Kingston, 10, Zuma, eight, and Apollo, two – wore a gray sweater for the outing complete with denim pants and heels.

The family appeared to enjoy themselves at the park and Stefani wasn’t afraid to show her affection. At one point, the mother of three gave Apollo a tender kiss while the one young remained close by her side.

Although Shelton did not join the family at the park, he did spend Thanksgiving with Stefani. The country crooner shared a sweet Thanksgiving pic of Stefani and the family during the holidays on social media.

“I love talking about Gwen. Are you kidding me?” Shelton stated. While DeGeneres added, “You were going through something at the same time and it brought y’all together. You are just an adorable couple. Whenever I see y’all together, I mean — you’re just both crazy about each other, and I’m happy for both of you.”

Shelton continued, “Believe it or not…I mean, you think Gwen Stefani and ‘No Doubt’, and she is literally maybe the most normal person that I’ve ever met in my life. It’s been good for me to be with somebody that’s so grounded and just a good human being with a great heart.”

While DeGeneres agreed that Stefani likes to stay at home most days, Shelton was quick to point out just how “hot” she really is. “Have you seen her? I mean look at that!” he added.

Both Shelton and Stefani went through divorces last year. A month after Shelton parted ways with Lambert, Stefani called it quits with her long-time husband and fellow rocker, Gavin Rossdale. Unlike Stefani, Shelton did not have any kids with Lambert.

Tell us! Do you think Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani will eventually make it down the aisle? Let us know in the comments below.

[Featured Image by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images]

2016-12-08 08:48 Perry Carpenter www.inquisitr.com

46 /73 46 /73 4.2 Atlanta's homeless choir performs in free concert this weekend ATLANTA – One year after they sang at the White House, the Atlanta Homeward Choir is preparing to take the stage again. The choir, made up of men currently battling homelessness, will perform at the 4th annual Christmas on the Hill at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday at 5 p.m..

The concert is free and open to the public. 11Alive’s Jaye Watson and Crash Clark will narrate the concert.

The Shrine’s Music Director, Donal Noonan, created the choir after seeing the homeless people hanging out around the church. After receiving national and international media coverage, the group has spawned homeless choirs in other cities.

The mission of the choir continues to grow. Choir members now work with local support agencies that assist the men with everything from job searches to balancing a budget. Sixty percent of the men from last year’s choir are no longer homeless and are working and living independently.

Noonan says attending Sunday’s concert is a gift to the men. “This event is one of those events that is unique because you’re not only going to be entertained but by you attending, you’re giving purpose to someone. The men who are in our choir get the inspiration from applause, from a job well done, so when you attend a homeward choir concert, you’re not just being entertained, your heart is being filled and you’re turning someone’s life around. I’m not talking about by money, I’m talking about by smiling and looking someone in the eye with dignity and saying ‘well done.’ That’s what you’re doing by attending a homeward choir concert. For us to be able to provide that to people is a gift, a complete gift.”

Donations fund the non profit and make it possible for the men to receive the help they need to transform their lives. To learn more about the Atlanta Homeward Choir, click here.

2016-12-08 08:31 Jaye Watson rssfeeds.11alive.com

47 /73 1.4 Kerry Katona is photobombed by a cheeky co-star as she leaves theatre after panto performance as the Fairy Godmother She made her eagerly anticipated pantomime debut as Cinderella's Fairy Godmother on Monday. And Kerry Katona looked as though her wholesome role was suiting her down to the ground as she posed for photographs outside Lincoln's New Theatre Royal on Wednesday night. The former Atomic Kitten star, 36, couldn't contain her happiness at her latest gig's early success as she worked her magic in front of the cameras - but was upstaged somewhat by one cheeky photo-bomber. Scroll down for video Working her very best angles, the mother-of-five looked as though she was having a ball as one of her co- stars larked around behind her. Kerry looked in high spirits as she slipped on a casual pair of stone-wash skinny jeans and a grey top, which sported a glitzy red anchor symbol. Already half prepped for another night on stage, the performer sported immaculately applied bronzed make-up, while her bleached blonde tresses were piled atop her head with loose tendrils framing her face. Knowing she'd be in heels for the rest of the night, Kerry kept it super comfortable in a pair of tan suede UGG boots. Striking a number of playful poses, the former pop star also joined her equally bubbly co-stars for a photo session before another spectacular take on the fairytale classic. Kerry made her big pantomime debut earlier this week as she slipped her heaving bust into a corseted gown to take on the role of the Fairy Godmother. The former pop star was squeezed into the tailored corset, which nipped in at her waist with a sweetheart neckline which highlighted her bust. As she larked around on the stage singing and dancing with her wand, it was clear the star had nailed her role in the spectacular. The blonde beauty leads an all star cast for the show as she takes the stage alongside CBeebies presenter Chris Johnson starring as Buttons atop Coronation Street's Ian Reddington, playing Baron Hardup. Earlier this year, sources revealed that the songstress was in talks with bosses to scoop a role in the seasonal show, where she would perform a whopping 68 shows in 32 days. In May, it was claimed that she was paid a huge £50,000 for her part in the pantomime, which is reportedly much-needed income for twice-bankrupt Kerry. Insiders told The Sun : 'She has also been given a seven-bedroom house for the run so that her entire family can join her. 'It has literally saved her as she had nothing else of any significance lined up. It’s huge money for her.' It is reported that Kerry has moved her whole family, including her kids - Molly, 15, Lilly- Sue, 13, Heidi, nine, Maxwell, eight, and Dylan, two, to Lincoln to be near the show after bosses at the show delightedly informed panto goers. A source told The Sun : 'Lincoln has never known a panto like it and it is on track to be the most successful ever.'

2016-12-08 08:20 Jabeen Waheed www.dailymail.co.uk

48 /73 0.6 I'm A Celebrity: Martin Roberts hints there was more 'bullying' from Larry Lamb off air He famously locked horns with Larry Lamb and Danny Baker on I'm A Celebrity - but Martin Roberts hinted that there were more incidents which weren't shown on air. Talking to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning on Thursday, the 53-year-old presenter said viewers didn't see the full story. He said: 'I got in the car with my wife after the jungle and she told me some of the things that Larry had said that I didn't know about, like the middle class snob thing and was really trying to get the rest of the group against me. Scroll down for video 'Then I asked her if she had seen certain things and she said they hadn't been shown but I know they can't show everything, so I forgive them for that.' 'So by the time I arrived at the hotel… there’s this reunion, and the last person I expected to see there was Larry. But I thought I’ve just got to put this behind me and give him a hug, but I was not feeling that inside and I think some people could see that.' Martin continued: 'Some of the stuff he did was over the top… and the first day I was really angry, but my overall experience of the jungle was so positive. 'And the anger had gone. So by the time it was our final morning - I was having breakfast with Kirsty and the kids. 'Who should walk up but Larry and his lovely lady, and it was the last I was probably going to see them and I just grabbed Larry and hugged him. 'And I kept hold of him and said this is a real hug, and he just broke down in tears. He said, "I am so sorry about the way I acted towards you, and I am so sorry about what I said"...' Holly asked Martin, 'And do you accept that apology?' Martin replied, 'Of course, of course. I think Larry said if we’d met at a party or some social event we’d probably get on fine, but you’re thrown into that environment...' On the times he was upset and seen crying, Martin confessed, 'That wasn’t a particularly good night to be honest… there are all these cameras there but very quickly you forget. 'You’re in such an intense experience. And that night, I was on my own, Danny had has a real go at me - I’d felt like I’d gone from hero to zero. 'I’d won the stars and then he had a go at me about not carrying water because Adam had been a little lazy, whatever, and I suddenly felt like the whole camp was against me.' When asked if it took him back to emotional times he had experienced at school, Martin revealed, 'Yeah.' 'The emotions you go through in the jungle are intense, and that explains some of the things that happen, but it does dig deep into your internal psyche. 'So things from your past - like that fact I was badly bullied at school and always the last to be picked for sports things - it was five years of bullying, really badly, and it’s going to do bad things to your self esteem. 'And in normal life if there are people you didn’t get on with, you’d give them a wide berth, but you’re stuck in the middle of the jungle and you can’t get away!' Martin and Larry couldn't hide their feelings about each other as they were reunited after Martin left the jungle. In scenes aired on Wednesday night's Coming Out show of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Outta Here, viewers were left in hysterics over their awkward reunion scene. 'He called you a lower middle class snob', Martin's wife revealed of Larry as they rode towards the hotel together, having left the jungle. 'He said what?' Martin responded, flabbergasted. And as he entered the Versace hotel he excitedly greeted his former campmates with bear hugs and squawks of delight. However it was a different story when it came to Larry, with them embracing him in an awkward hug. 'Welcome to the outside world,' he bellowed as Martin thanked him. 'Yeah thank you mate,' he replied, patting his back just a little harder than normal. 'It's nice to be here in reality, how are you,' he added backing away. 'Very good', Larry responded, also backing off. 'Lovely,' Martin replied. 'Good', Larry concluded. And viewers quickly took to Twitter to share their laughter over the moment. 'Was that the most awkward moment on tv in 2016- Larry Lamb and Martin's wife at the hotel entrance', one viewer tweeted. 'How two faced is Larry Lamb am dead', another responded. 'Martin's wife looked like she wanted to knock Larry out lmao', another added. Last week Martin claimed his I'm A Celebrity co-star Larry was out to 'destroy' him in the jungle. The Homes Under The Hammer star, who regularly clashed with the EastEnders actor on the show, alleged that his rival called him a 'porker' and a 'f*****g t**t' in shocking unaired scenes. Martin, 53, told the Daily Star : 'Whenever he could, Larry tried to put me down. He tried to undermine me and he tried to turn people against me.' The father-of-two added: 'During that trial when we were fishing, he said, "Get out of the way you f*****g t**t". 'I was like, "Why are you doing this? What is your end game here? Are you trying to destroy me like the bullies used to try to destroy me? "' Martin, who was bullied in school every day for five years, was convinced Larry, 69, was determined to make their fellow campmates dislike him. MailOnline has contacted a representative of Larry and Martin for comment. The TV property expert also claimed his co-star made jibes about his weight in scenes which were not screened by ITV. He told The Daily Mirror : 'I lived a long time in the jungle with Larry and it turns out a lot of the stuff that he did to me wasn’t shown. 'One thing that hurt most was when he was interviewed after a challenge and I heard him say: "He doesn’t need to win, because he’s a porker and he doesn’t need the food". 'The day before, I talked about how I was badly bullied because I was fat, so Larry heard all of that.' The pair had an explosive row last week, with Larry taking exception to Martin loudly weighing in on who would be taking part in the next Bushtucker Trial. After Martin had suggested drawing straws to decide whether Sam Quek or Wayne Bridge should take part in Panic Pipeline, Larry immediately turned around and snapped: 'They're sorting it out between themselves.' After Martin attempted to push forward with the suggestion, he was dismissed by various campmates - who then ultimately decided that pulling straws was in fact a good suggestion. Attempting to clear the air after the dispute, Martin approached the Gavin and Stacey star and said: 'I'm sorry if I antagonise you with my suggestions, I don't mean to, ever.' 'Look, everyone plays it off the back foot. Everyone has a suggestion "let's do this, let's do this, let's do this" nobody is trying to seize control,' Larry replied. 'Everyone assumes a role in it and your tendency if I may say...' 'You may say,' said Martin. 'You go wallop in like that,' Larry shot back. Discussing the incident, Larry recalled: 'I told him that he’s like the kid in class who’s always sticking his hand up and going, "I know that, I know that. " 'Every time something happens he’s always worried about him, more than anything.' As Wayne reasoned 'Martin is harmless,' Larry shot back: 'He’s harmless because he’s rendered harmless. He’s a f***ing lower middle class snob that’s what he is.' Pointing at the Bush Telegraph, Wayne smiled and said: 'I feel like going in there, slating him and get him voted off.'

2016-12-08 08:18 Rebecca Davison www.dailymail.co.uk

49 /73 0.0 Mariah Carey shows off assets in corset and fishnets after holiday concert in NYC When asked about the songstress, the dancer, 33, told E! News that 'I've always had a thing for Mariah. I love her so much.' Mariah's World airs Sundays on E!

2016-12-08 08:12 Joanna Crawley www.dailymail.co.uk

50 /73 50 /73 3.0 Little Shop of Horrors musical to be remade by Warner Bros

Cult man-eating plant comedy film Little Shop of Horrors is to get another remake, three decades after it was filmed as a movie musical featuring Steve Martin in 1986.

According to Deadline, a new version is in the works at Warner Bros, with Greg Berlanti on board as director. Berlanti directed the 2010 romcom Life as We Know It , starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, but is better known as the writer and producer of a string of TV projects, including Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl. Matthew Robinson, who co-wrote and co-directed The Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais, is writing the script.

Little Shop of Horrors originated as a low-budget 1960 comedy-horror film directed by Roger Corman, featuring a dorky flower-shop assistant who lavishes his affection on a flesh-craving plant called Audrey. It is chiefly remembered for an early role for Jack Nicholson as a dentist’s patient – and for the fact that the entire film was supposedly shot in 36 hours.

Alan Menken and Howard Ashman turned Little Shop into a successful off-Broadway musical in 1982, which was adapted into the Frank Oz-directed 1986 film , featuring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin, with Bill Murray in the role earlier played by Nicholson. It is thought that the new version will also be a musical, but there is no word on whether any of the Menken/Ashman songs will be retained.

2016-12-08 08:09 Andrew Pulver www.theguardian.com

51 /73 3.6 Pink Martini joins the NC Symphony for Christmas concert tradition Holiday performances by Pink Martini have become a winter tradition in the Triangle, with the “little orchestra” playing shows filled with Christmas classics in the globally influenced style for which they are known. The fact that the band is known at all on the East Coast is a Christmas miracle of sorts. Portland, Ore.- based bandleader Thomas Lauderdale had the idea one night in 1994, while attending a political fundraiser, to form a band that could take the place of those he encountered at local parties. Instead of blaring, lackluster tunes, he imagined pleasant musical soundtracks that would enhance the evenings.

The vision blossomed into the touring phenomenon that is Pink Martini. It’s something Lauderdale says he could never have envisioned for the band, set to perform three shows Friday and Saturday with the N. C. Symphony in Raleigh.

“The concept of the band seems unlikely – and a little preposterous – to travel around the world playing this type of music with twelve band members, he says. “It just seems like something that wouldn’t really work, but we’ve been very lucky. Part of it in this country has been the opportunity to play with so many great symphonies.”

While it isn’t a surprise to see popular acts performing with symphonies in concert these days, Pink Martini was one of the first major musical acts to embrace a partnership that comes with such a massive artistic undertaking. Since their orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998, the band has collaborated with more than fifty orchestras around the world.

Working with symphonies has brought Lauderdale and his bandmates onto the home stages of many great conductors, and the bandleader says that their visits have never been less than welcoming.

“We’ve worked with some conductors that were better than others, but they’ve all been great experiences,” he explains. “Orchestras generally hate playing pop music shows, because they feel that they don’t really have the opportunity to play anything interesting, but the music that we bring offers the chance to integrate orchestra members into it in a meaningful way.”

Playing music in a meaningful way is especially trying during the holiday season. During December, audiences may show up unaware of a musician’s prior work, only expecting – or caring – to hear the same Christmas classics they’ve been humming all of their lives. While it’s safe to say you’ll hear plenty of songs along the lines of “White Christmas” and “Santa Baby,” Lauderdale notes that there will be plenty of the group’s holiday originals – found on their 2010 perennial bestseller “Joy to the World” – performed as well.

“There isn’t a lot of difference between our regular shows and the holiday shows,” the Lauderdale says. “When people come out to see us perform, there is a certain expectation when it comes to the songs that we will be performing, and I don’t know that people come to our shows with a certain set of unreasonable expectations. The band is great, and most of the time I believe we deliver performances beyond audiences’ expectations. I’ve always approached the holiday shows as being just as important as any show that we perform in the summer.” 2016-12-08 08:00 By Isaac www.newsobserver.com

52 /73 4.5 Meghan Trainor pens, performs song for new 'Smurfs' adventure CULVER CITY, Calif., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Meghan Trainor has written and recorded a song for the latest Smurfs movie, Sony Pictures Animation announced.

"I'm a Lady" will be heard in Smurfs: The Lost Village when it debuts in U. S. theaters on April 7. The film will feature Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Rainn Wilson as Gargamel, Joe Manganiello as Hefty Smurf, Jack McBrayer as Clumsy Smurf, Danny Pudi as Brainy Smurf and Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf.

"I love the Smurfs and was honored when they asked me to write a song for this new movie. I was so excited – I wrote the whole thing in one evening! " Trainor said in a statement Monday.

Directed by Kelly Asbury, the cartoon adventure follows Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty "on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does," a press release promised.

2016-12-08 07:51 Karen Butler www.upi.com

53 /73 2.0 Amazon: Triangle home shoppers buying high-tech By WRAL TechWire

Research Triangle Park, N. C. — Amazon says its Prime delivery service in the Triangle continues to grow as Christmas nears. And the Echo Dot - Amazon's own smart home device - is among the hottest selling items along with tech device cables. Also hot: Bottled water!

On-demand, home delivery via the Internet is rapidly becoming a major business. According to a recent study published in the Harvard Business Review, more than 22.million consumers annually are spending close to $60 billion a year

That growing demand drew Amazon to the Triangle.

The ecommerce giant launched its Prime delivery service in the Triangle last April and since then has expanded the range both geographically as well as in the range of items.

And so far this month as consumers gear up for the holidays, Amazon data shows that the latest generation Echo Dot is a big want. The Dot, which sells for $49.99, is a hands-free, voice- controlled device that uses Amazon's Alexa digital assistant/entertainment service to play music, control smart home devices, provide information, read the news, set alarms, and much more.

Triangle shoppers also are ordering high-speed high-definition cables and Apple certified "Lightning"cables to link Apple devices through USB ports.

But Amazon points out that shoppers are also using Prime Now for more standard fare.

Big sellers include Aquafina and Dasani bottled water, 2% reduced fat milk from Maola and Diet Coke in cans.

"Raleigh Prime Now hub plans to leverage this data, along with recent Prime Now shopping data, to curate and update selection throughout the month to ensure a breadth of in-demand products for impatient holiday shoppers and procrastinators alike," a spokesperson for Amazon says.

Amazon Prime Delivery competes with a number of players in the Triangle for at-home, on- demand service, such as Google and specifically focused food delivery offerings.

Amazon Prime offers a wide variety of products from hot meals to alcohol in some markets. For information about what Amazon is offering in the Triangle, visit: https://primenow.amazon.com/

Enter your zip code and Amazon will provide a detailed shopping list.

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2016-12-08 14:22 WRAL TechWire wraltechwire.com

54 /73 1.4 Adriana Lima flaunts cleavage in plunging midi at New York red carpet She's made a name for herself strutting her enviable curves on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway since 1999. And now, Adriana Lima was sure to exhibited her incredible figure on Wednesday night as she slipped into a skintight leather dress as she attended the Corkcircle Presents Sword & Sound at Shop Studios in New York. The model mum-of-two stunned in the figure-hugging plunging navy number that displayed her ample cleavage as she posed for pictures at the event. Scroll down for video the richest Victoria's Secret Angel, with an estimated worth of $75 million - worked her best angles for the camera as she attempted to contain her bust in the calf grazing midi. Adriana's eye-popping display highlighted her delicate décolletage as the daring neckline cut all the way down to her narrow waist. Upping the sex factor, the saucy wardrobe choice featured a full-length silver zip detail that teased at her never-ending lithe limbs as she sashayed her way up the red carpet. Adriana - who is to Valentina, seven, and Sienna Jarić, four - injected height into her already towering frame with a pair of black patent leather pointed pumps as she teetered into the venue. Accessorising her look, she kept her fashionable additions to a minimum as she draped her black handbag with gold detailing over her shoulder, before placing gold drop earrings in her lobes. She then styled her raven-coloured mane into a centre parting as her tresses cascaded down her back to her waist. Accentuating her plump pout, she applied a slick of lipgloss and lashings of mascara to widen her dazzling eyes. Later, the supermodel swapped her usual heels for a pair of Nike trainers as she tried her hand at fencing alongside US Olympic fencer Miles Chamley-Watson. Sporting black gym leggings, Adriana dressed to impress the sports star as she covered her locks with her patriotic mask, holding her foil for their friendly game. Although she is practically the face of the Victoria's Secret brand, having walked in the Fashion Show since 1999, the supermodel has not let it get to her head. The Vogue Eyewear spokeswoman is known for her kind spirit and bubbly personality among her peers and the press. While on the Today Show on Monday, Adriana praised fellow model Elsa Hosk, 28, who opened this year's show. 'She did awesome! Now she know how it [opening the show] feels,' she said, as she sweetly hugged the fellow beauty. Last week, the beauty also had kind words to say about Kendall Jenner, 21. 'I have worked with Kendall on runways before when we were in Europe, like Versace and also with Victoria's Secret. Kendall is very sweet and very nice, and it's always pleasant to work with someone like that,' she told E!. 'You know, she works as hard as we [VS vets] do, so I give her credit for all the effort. And I think she is going to do great because Victoria's Secret is all about personality, and she has her own personality.'

2016-12-08 07:37 Lisa Mcloughlin www.dailymail.co.uk

55 /73 2.1 Amazon: 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' is 2016's best-selling book SEATTLE , Calif., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Amazon says its best-selling book of 2016 is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2, Special Rehearsal Edition Script by J. K. Rowling , Jack Thorne and John Tiffany.

The play continues the story of Harry Potter -- now an adult wizard and family man -- who was the main character in seven blockbuster novels penned by Rowling. The staged version of the drama is currently the hottest ticket in London. It is heading to Broadway in 2018.

"This year's best-selling list showcases the variety of Amazon readers' tastes, from literary fiction to thrillers to memoirs," Chris Schluep, Amazon's senior book editor, said in a statement Wednesday. "The power of Potter is still strong, and readers of all ages can't get enough of Hogwarts. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was the most anticipated book of the year, breaking pre-order records months before its release. " The Top 10, best-selling books of 2016 are:

1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2, Special Rehearsal Edition Script by J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany

2. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

3. The Whistler by John Grisham

4. The Last Mile by David Baldacci

5. Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

6. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

7. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

8. Night School: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child

9. The Black Widow: Book 16 of Gabriel Allon Series by Daniel Silva

10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid No. 11: Double Down by Jeff Kinney

2016-12-08 07:25 Karen Butler www.upi.com

56 /73 4.8 A quest to make Blue Ribbon-worthy Buttermints My grandmother, Faith Garrard, had many signature dishes. But the one that was magic was her buttermints.

She made mints for friends or special occasions, working on a marble slab she acquired from a scrap pile at the Monument Works. And she became quite the expert. Of course there was that time when my dad (oldest of five and the first to marry) brought my mom home to meet the family. Granny Faith was so excited that she forgot to add the peppermint to the batch of mints she was making. But she didn’t own up to that mistake until many years later.

Only once did my sister and I get to actually watch her making mints. We saw that it consisted of a meticulous process, bringing the ingredients to the exact temperature, pouring the mixture onto the marble and then taking it in your hands and pulling it as it cooled. (A friend whose grandmother also made mints said she claimed that drinking beer kept her from burning her hands. A dubious story, now that I think back.) Finally, the mints were packed away in a canister where they could “cream,” a process that can take an hour or a few days or even a week.

Fortunately, before Granny Faith died, my uncle Sam documented the full process, and shared it with me. The recipe is simple but the technique is everything. All these years later, I still haven’t perfected it. Any given batch is as likely to be a dud as it is to be a hit. The secret, though, is that it’s still just butter and sugar and therefore, delicious.

After I’d been making mints for a few years, I got the notion to enter them in the N. C. State Fair. That first year, I ended up winning a third-place ribbon. But the fair’s online database listed no first-place winner, so I called to ask just what my competition had been.

While I waited on hold, I tried to temper my expectations. Surely there couldn’t have been more than a couple dozen entries. Then came the answer: 3. And why no first place? Apparently the judges didn’t feel any of the entries “were of blue ribbon quality.” (Pity the guy who didn’t even get third place in a three-person contest.)

The next year, I decided to do some reconnaissance at the fair to figure out what it would take to win a ribbon. The winning mints that year were much bigger and more pillow-y than mine. And I noticed something really interesting: although the rules require that the entry include 12 mints, each plate on display contained 11 mints. That meant that only one mint from each entry was ever tasted. Now, my idea of state fair judging was based on Aunt Bea’s pickles being judged at the county fair. I thought there would be a team of experts who had to sample several mints to narrow down the ultimate winner. Evidently, that’s not the way it works.

So I decided not to fret over whether the mints had the right flavor and had creamed properly. I needed to concentrate on looks. After all, it doesn’t matter how delicious they are if the judges can tell just by looking that a batch isn’t in the running.

A few weeks later, I got a call from someone at the State Fair office. Nita Whitfield of Durham, a repeat blue ribbon winner (and subject of profiles in both The N&O and “Our State” magazine), asked if I wanted to contact her for pointers and advice. She ended up coming to my house and making a batch of mints in my kitchen.

Whitfield had very specific requirements. For instance, she used only Dixie Crystals sugar and a Revere Ware pot. Her recipe made batches twice the size of mine and used more than twice the amount of peppermint oil. While I eventually stuck with my Granny Faith’s original recipe, I did adopt some of Whitfield’s techniques. And I inherited my other grandmother’s Revere Ware pot, giving my mints a lovely connection to both grandmothers.

I usually start getting ready for the fair in September. I make four to six batches and take samples of each to my dad for testing. I make all my trial mints the same color in case I need to pull from multiple batches to get the perfect dozen.

Each year when the fair rolls around, I’m surprised to see there’s still a category for pulled mints. As I picked up my fifth blue ribbon, I knew better than to ask how many entries there had been. I just take heart in knowing that even if there’s not much competition, the judges still consider them “blue ribbon quality.”

2016-12-08 07:00 By Teresa www.newsobserver.com

57 /73 57 /73 7.1 Triangle bakeries taking December 2016 holiday orders Nuremberg Lebkuchen, Pfeffernuesse, German Christmas Stollen, Pear Bittersweet Chocolate Tart, German Chocolate Cookies, Heidelberg Thalers, Cranberry Lime Tart. Prices vary.

Order: Email [email protected] or call 919- 294-8040 by Dec. 20.

Info: They sell daily at State Farmer’s Market, 1249 Farmers Market Dr., Raleigh and 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays at Western Wake Farmer’s Market. facebook.com/AnneloresGermanBakery

Cranberry Wreath Bundt Cake, $40-$55; Gingerbread Cake, $39-$69; Winter Mint Cake, $39- $69; Merry Christmas Red Velvet Cake, $59-$89; Carrot Cake, $39-$69; Bundt Bite Assortment Platter (32 pieces), $59; and Brownies and Cookies Assortment Platter (32 pieces), $59.

Order: Call or stop by the store by Dec. 17.

Info: 721 Broad St., Durham, 919-537-5522, bigbundts.com

Spiced Date Levain Bread, $7.50; Apple Pie, $25; Kouign-amann, $16; plus Soft Gingerbread and Cranberry Chess Pie.

Order: Call, visit store or online by Dec. 18.

Info: 614 W. South St., Raleigh, 919-999-3984, boultedbread.com

Apple Pie, $25; Cherry, Mixed Berry, Mincemeat, Ritzy Pumpkin, Pecan, Bourbon Chocolate Chip Pecan, Key Lime, Lemon Meringue, Chocolate Cream, Coconut Cream, Banana Cream, $30; Holiday Cakes: Santa Cake, $49; Rudolph and Friends or Holiday Wreath, $65; Sweet Breads (Apple Harvest, Cranberry Orange, Rum Raisin), $7.99; Decorated Cookies, $3.50 each/$40.00 per dozen; Signature Coffee Cake (Old Fashioned Cinnamon, Apricot Danish, Pumpkin Crumb) $3.25/slice, $28/cake; $40/large cake.

Order: Call or go online by Dec. 21.

Info: 101 N. Salem St., Apex, 919 362-8408, buttercreamsbakeshop.com

Christmas Sugar Cookie Box, $25, Gingerbread House Class, $79.

Order: Order online at squareup.com/store/carrollskitchen by 10 a.m. for pick up the next weekday.

Info: 19 E. Martin St., Raleigh, 919-670-3622, carrollskitchen.org Ten-inch deep-dish pies to serve 8 to 10 people cost $28 each. Flavors: Cranberry Apple, Peppermint Chocolate, Praline Sweet Potato or Pumpkin. Also offering boxes of 1 dozen miniature galettes for $30. Flavors: Handmade Mince, Spiced Apple or a mix of both flavors.

Order: Order online. Pick up at either Ponysaurus Brewing Co. or Funny Girl Farm, both in Durham, on Dec. 22-24 or local delivery available prior to Dec. 22. More details on website.

Info: store.eastdurhampie.com

Cookie trays, $22-$36; Decorated Shortbread Cookies, $2.50 each; Rugelach (chocolate, cinnamon raisin, apricot, raspberry), $12.95 per pound; Pies, $18-$26; Holiday mini cakes: Christmas tree, Hot Cocoa Mug, Elf House, $18; Cupcakes (Mocha Mint, Spiked Eggnog), $4.35; Tiramisu Yule Log, $35; Red Velvet Birch Log, $35; Fresh Local Pumpkin Walnut Bread, $9.95; Yeast Rolls, $6.95/dozen; Seasonal muffins (Fruitcake, Mint Chocolate Chip, Gingerbread, Apple Pie), $2.95; Holiday Cheesecakes (Eggnog, Mint Chocolate, Red Velvet), $34; Holiday Pound Cake, $14. Custom cakes, call for a quote.

Order: Call or in store by Dec. 17.

Info: 3434 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, 919-787-9233, groovyduckbakeryllc.com

Weihnachts Stollen, $6.25-$23.50; Buche de Noel, $48; Tiramisu, $25; Red Berry Tart, $5.25- $30; White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Demi-Tart, $22; Apple and Cherry Strudel, $4.95-$28; Coffee Cake, $12; Eggnog Eclair, $4.95; French Macarons, $9.95/six; sugar cookies, $4.75. Christmas specialty cookies: Spekulatius $4.95/quarter-pound; Zimtstern, $4.95/quarter-pound; Gingersnaps, $5.95/five; Linzauer, $7.95/six; Florentiner, $9.95/three. Savory party specialties: Cheddar Cheese Shortbread, $6.95/quarter pound; Black Pepper Sea Salt Crackers, $5.95/quarter pound; Cranberry Roll with Orange, $1.25-$6.75; Harvest bread, $8.95.

Order: Call or online by 4 p.m. Dec. 21.

Info: 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham. 919-401-2600, guglhupf.com

Christmas Cookie assortment, $24-$35; assorted breakfast pastries, $16; Yule Log, $31-$57; Red Velvet Cake, $31.50-$41.50; Cupcakes, $19/six, $35/dozen; Pumpkin or Zucchini bread, $7-$15.

Order: Call or visit store by Dec. 23.

Info: 2603 Glenwood Ave., Suite 123, Raleigh, 919-787-3995, hereghty.com

Stollen with marzipan, $22; Fruitcake, $9.50; Chocolate truffles, $5.50/5-ounce box; Gingerbread Cookies, $1.25 each; Italian Torrone (assorted flavors), $7.50; Panforte, Margherita or Nero, $6 per piece, also available whole; Babka (chocolate or cinnamon walnut), $12.

Order: Visit store or call (no answering machine orders) by 2 p.m. Nov. 19.

Info: 111 W. Parrish St., Durham, 919-797-1254, nando.com/loafdurham

Linzer Challah, $7.99; Stollen, $8.99-$15.99; Giandjua Babka, $12.99; Brioche Pullman, $14.99; Oprah Gift Box (Stenciled La Farm, Scandinavian Rye and Multigrain), $45

Order: Call, visit store or online by Dec. 21. Info: 4248 NW Cary Parkway, Cary, 919-657-0657, lafarmbakery.com

Red Velvet Buche de Noel, $39; Gingerbread Buche de Noel, $39; Chocolate Brownie Buche de Noel, $42; Christmas Brunch Box (each box contains three of the following: cream-filled fruitcake brioche, ham and cheddar croissants, Dixie Cannonballs and pistachio pain au chocolate), $37.

Order: Call or visit store by Dec. 19. Pickup is after 4 p.m. Dec. 23 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 24.

Info: 235 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, 919-307-4950, lucettegrace.com

Carrot Cake, $30; Pecan Pie, $29; Apple Pie, $24; Huckleberry Pie, $29; Pumpkin Pie, $29; Cinnamon rolls, $17-$33; Assorted cookie trays, $25-$65; Brownies, $25-$51; Assorted cookies and brownies, $35-$75; Decorative Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Cookies, $2.75- $27.50/dozen; Cheesecakes (pumpkin, eggnog, New York plain or with blueberry, cherry or strawberry) $39-$45; Ice Cream Pies (Turtle, Mocha Flack, Peppermint Oreo, Mint Chip Brownie, Salted Caramel, Eggnog, Apple Pie and Banana Cream Pie), $22.

Order: Call 919-762-7808 or email [email protected] by Nov. 20. Pick up on Nov. 23.

Info: 304 N. Main St., Holly Springs, mamabirdsicecream.com

Holiday Cookies, $1.25-$2; Cranberry-Orange Tea Cake, $6.50; Apple-Cranberry Bread Pudding, $20; Maple Pecan Tart, $24; Linzertorte, $24; Apple Almond Tart, $24; Flourless Chocolate Walnut Torte, $28; Pithivier, $28. Breads: Soft butter rolls, $7.50; Brioche loaves $4- $7.50; Cranberry Pecan Levain, $5.75; Golden Raisin and Fennel, $5.75; Cinnamon Swirl Pan Bread, $6.50; Stollen, $9.50-12.50.

Order: Call, visit store or email [email protected] by 5 p.m. Dec. 20. Pick up orders on Dec. 22, 23 and 24.

Info: 10 W. Franklin St., Suite 140, Raleigh, 984-232-8907, raleighnightkitchen.com

Stollen, $7.75; Pan Forte, $12; Gingersnaps, $7.95 (1 pound); Holiday Cookie Platter, $18.95 (2 pound).

Order: Customers can place orders by Dec. 21 via [email protected] and include a preferred pickup date.

Info: 136 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham, 919-688-5606, ninthstbakery.com

Pies: Apple Cranberry, Apple Crumb, Apple with Lattice Crust, Cherry Crumb, Cherry with Lattice Crust, Chocolate Chess, Coconut Cream, French Silk, Key Lime, Lemon Chess, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Pecan, Wild Blueberry Crumb, Vegan Pumpkin Pie, $15.99-$22; Gluten-free pies (Pumpkin, Cherry Crumb, Pecan, Sweet Potato, French Silk), $21.99; Cheesecakes, various flavors, $38.99-$43.99; Bars and brownies, individual and assortment trays, $3.25-$58.99; Assorted holiday cookies, $1.89-$59.99; Breads (Banana Walnut, Brown Sugar Pound, Chocolate-Chocolate Chip, Orange Cranberry, Pumpkin Apple, Sour Cream Pound), $7.95. (A more detailed menu is available at the bakery.)

Order: Orders must be placed 72 hours ahead of time; so that would be Dec. 20 for pick up on Dec. 23.

Info: 115-G W. Chatham St., Cary, 919-319-6554, bluemoonbakery.com

Wedding Cake: Yellow Vanilla Cake, $30; Lemon Layer Cake, $30; Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake, $30; Coconut Macaroon Cake, $42; Pineapple Buttercream, $30; Old South Hummingbird Cake, $40; 14K Carrot Cake, $35; Red Velvet Cake, $35, Coconut Pineapple Cake, $42; Sweet Potato Cake, $35; Tortuga-style Vanilla Rum Cake, $35; Old Fashioned Pound Cake in Vanilla or Lemon, $30; Sis Gal’s Coconut Pie, $18; Sweet Potato Pie, $18; Pecan Pie, $22; Pumpkin Pie, $22; Bread Pudding, $35; German Chocolate Cake, $44; Chocolate Chess Pie, $22.

Order: Call or visit store by Saturday, Dec. 17. Orders will be available for pick up Dec. 23 and 24. Customers will be called when your order is ready.

Info: 6617 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite 105, Raleigh, 919-703-0095, premier-cakes.com

Apple Streusel Pie, $30; Chocolate Chess Pie, $30; Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie, $32; Coconut Cream Pie, $30; Fresh Ginger Cake, $30-$45; Salted Caramel Bread Pudding, $25-$40; Pie Dough, $5; Gingersnaps, $5.50-$17.

Order: Call, online or visit store by Dec. 20.

Info: 121 N. Gregson St., Durham, 919-797-2233, rosesmeatandsweets.com .

Pies and Tarts: Toasted Oat and Salted Honey, $20; Buttermilk Sweet Potato, $20; Coconut Caramel Cream, $24; Brown Butter Pecan, $24; Apple Cranberry with Sesame Streusel, $24, Shaker Lemon, $26; Dark Chocolate Chess, $24; Lemon Chess, $20; Vanilla Grapefruit Tart, $18; Shaved Brussels Sprout and Bacon Crostata, $16; Potato and Creamy Green Onion Crostata, $16; Ham, Cheddar and Chive Farmhouse Pie, $24.

Cakes and Cookies: Espresso Mandelbrot, $10/dozen; Rugelach (poppy seed or green olive), $12/dozen; Fullsteam Gingerbread, $24; Challah (sesame or cinnamon raisin), $8; Chocolate Raspberry Babka, $24; Pigs in a Blanket (two dozen), $15; Lunn Buns, $6/dozen; Sweet Potato Biscuits, $14/dozen.

Order: Call or email [email protected] or download online form and return it to store. Please allow 72 hours for all orders. Pick-up locations at shop until Dec. 24. (Shop is closed Dec. 25 and 26.)

Info: 111 Orange St., Durham, 919-956-5200, piefantasy.com

Salted Pecan Pie, $20; Cranberry Apple Pie, $25; Sweet Potato Cheesecake, $28; Coconut Cake, $25; Decorated Gingerbread Folk, $3.50; Pumpkin Walnut Bread, $7; Stollen, $8; Yeast Rolls, $6/Dozen.

Order: Call or visit store by Dec. 21.

Info: 219 E. Franklin St., Raleigh, 984-232-0291, yellowdogbread.com

2016-12-08 07:00 By Andrea www.newsobserver.com

58 /73 58 /73 3.4 Petula Clark discusses turning down Elvis Presley on Good Morning Britain She's one of the best loved musical icons of her generation. And Petula Clark has confirmed she turned down another chart-topping legend, snubbing none other than Elvis Presley's romantic advances. The Downtown singer, 84, put in an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Thursday to chat about her 45th studio album. Scroll down for video Quizzed whether the rumour was true, Petula said: 'Yes I did. There's no more to say on that.' She also revealed that the lyrics to hit tune Downtown were finished by songwriter Tony Hatch in the toilet. Petula previously recalled meeting The King in the 60s, where he flirted with her and The Carpenters singer Karen Carpenter. She told the Irish Independent newspaper: 'I think he wanted to be more than friends. Well, I know he did. 'It was flattering but I shuffled out, dragging Karen behind me, saying we had other things to do. 'He was very amused by that. It was probably the first time anyone had ever turned him down.' Petula's music career is still going strong, over seven decades after she first started out in showbusiness. The star has accumulated a staggering 159 top 40 records around the world. She recently told The Guardian : 'I think I must be a loner. I enjoy being on my own. 'There’s so much madness and noise and too many people, it’s kind of nice to be in your own surroundings and let the world go by.'

2016-12-08 06:48 Kate Thomas www.dailymail.co.uk

59 /73 4.3 All the President-Elect's Generals Donald Trump didn’t always speak highly of military brass. “I know more about ISIS than the generals do,” he said in fall 2016. “Believe me.” In September, he added, “I think under the leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the generals have been reduced to rubble. They have been reduced to a point where it’s embarrassing for our country…. And I can just see the great—as an example— General George Patton spinning in his grave as ISIS we can’t beat.”

But Trump’s disdain had a caveat : “I have great faith in the military. I have great faith in certain of the commanders, certainly.”

These days, he’s leaning toward the second pole. Already, Trump has selected three retired generals for Cabinet-level jobs. On Tuesday, he formally announced that he’s nominating retired Marine General James Mattis as defense secretary. On Wednesday, multiple outlets reported that he has selected John Kelly, another retired Marine general, as secretary of homeland security. Former Lieutenant General Michael Flynn got the nod as national security adviser on November 17.

That may not be the last of it. Trump has met with General David Petraeus, the former head of the CIA, apparently about the secretary of state position. Stanley McChrystal, a former Army general, said this summer he’d decline a job with Trump if offered, but his name remains in circulation. So is that of Admiral Mike Rogers, the head of the NSA. Retired Army General Jack Keane says he declined an offer to lead the Pentagon.

It’s hard, if not impossible to remember such a brass-heavy Cabinet. Ulysses S. Grant, a former general, once had four former generals serving in his Cabinet in the same year—but that was in an era just after a disproportionate share of politically involved white men had served in high- ranking positions in the Civil War.

The predominance of generals is already raising some conflicts. Mattis’s appointment specifically contravenes a law, intended to help preserve “civilian control” of the armed forces, that says that no one who has served on active duty within the last 10 years can lead the Pentagon. A candidate can, however, obtain a waiver from Congress to circumvent that, and it appears Mattis will get one without too much trouble. Democrats (like Leon Panetta) seem to either think he should receive the waiver, or not to care enough to put up a huge fight.

There’s a debate between policy experts about the wisdom of appointing so many generals, and whether it poses a risk to the nation. Too many military leaders, critics say, warp national priorities at best and slouch toward a junta at worse.

“Appointing too many generals would throw off the balance of a system that for good reason favors civilian leadership,” writes The New York Times ’ Carol Giacomo . “The concern is not so much that military leaders might drag the country into more wars. It is that the Pentagon, with its nearly $600 billion budget, already exercises vast sway in national security policymaking and dwarfs the State Department in resources.” In The Washington Post , Phillip Carter and Loren DeJonge Schulman warn that “great generals don’t always make great Cabinet officials” and add that “relying on the brass, however individually talented, to run so much of the government could also jeopardize civil-military relations.” Rosa Brooks, meanwhile, suggests this isn’t much to worry about, saying that the old, formalized notions of civilian control are obsolete.

There’s some concern within the military, too. During the presidential campaign, two former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff criticized Flynn and retired Marine General John Allen, who backed Hillary Clinton, for intervening in politics, worrying about what effect their campaigning might have on civilian-military relations. One can imagine that leaders in the Navy and Air Force, thinking of the longstanding rivalries between branches, might be getting nervous seeing former Army and Marine generals gaining so much influence at the White House.

But setting aside the good or bad of the appointments, what might account for Trump’s disproportionate reliance on brass? It’s tempting to offer a psychoanalytic explanation. Trump seems somewhat star-struck by generals; this is a man who attended military school, but repeatedly obtained draft deferrals on somewhat questionable bases, and may glamorize generals in a vicarious way. Trump, the consummate entertainer, also seems enthralled by dramatic figures like Patton and MacArthur, either in real life or through on-screen depictions.

Some of the reasons may be more pragmatic, though. First, Trump has no national-security experience, and has shown very little interest in gaining it. It’s important for both his administration and his credibility to have people who know what they’re talking about around him, and the military imprimatur provides that. Second, Trump alienated so many civilian Republican figures —especially those in the national-security and defense realms—that he has little choice but to look outside the proven class of civil servants.

There’s also a political valence to it, however. Trump has spent the last few months promising to “drain the swamp,” and railing at the establishment and the Republican Party. That rules out almost anyone traditionally qualified for top jobs, even ones willing to serve in a Trump administration. The military is one of the few institutions that remains widely trusted by American society. In a Gallup poll this summer , it was the most highly ranked option, exceeding even small businesses and churches. At 73 percent, the number of people saying they trusted the military at least “quite a lot” was more than double those who said the same about the presidency.

Choosing ex-generals for top spots, then, checks a lot of boxes for Trump: He can appoint proven leaders who are willing to serve and will start out with a baseline level of trust with the American public. Of course, this explanation only goes so far: Trump’s other picks have included billionaire business leaders and former bankers including Steven Mnuchin, Wilbur Ross, and Betsy DeVos. In the Gallup poll, banks and big business, fared much worse, at 27 and 18 percent, respectively.

2016-12-08 05:50 David A www.theatlantic.com

60 /73 4.0 State gives lodge a $150,000 grant RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia is giving a $150,000 grant to help a build a new lodge and conference center near the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s office announced the Virginia Tourism Growth Fund was awarding the grant to Lydia Mountain Lodge and Log Cabins.

State officials said the state-funded project will create an estimated 19 new jobs and increases tax revenues.

The planned lodge, about 30 miles north of Charlottesville, will have new accommodations and dining rooms, as well as new meeting and wedding space.

2016-12-08 05:04 By www.washingtontimes.com

61 /73 4.3 German department store Kaufhof upbeat for Christmas DUESSELDORF, Germany, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The head of German department store chain Kaufhof, owned by Canada's Hudson's Bay , says the "Black Friday" discount day went well and the Christmas season has got off to a good start. "Christmas trading has started very well," Kaufhof boss Olivier Van den Bossche told journalists, adding that the Black Friday sale was a success. "We are very satisfied. " Hudson's Bay, which also operates U. S. department store Saks and the upmarket Lord & Taylor department store chain, bought Germany's leading department store from Metro for 2.8 billion euros ($3.01 billion) last year. Germany's HDE retail association expects sales over the crucial Christmas period to rise 3.9 percent this year to reach more than 90 billion euros for the first time, the group said last month. ($1 = 0.9289 euros) (Reporting by Matthias Inverardi; Writing by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Maria Sheahan)

2016-12-08 05:01 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

62 /73 3.3 Christina Milian Nipple Show In Super Sheer Dress Christina Milian stunned the audience after showing up clad in a blue Laquan Smith Sheer Dress that flashed her nipples and gave a clear glimpse into what she was hiding underneath.

Christina Milian showed up wearing the racy dress at an event in New York. The dress featured a see- through mesh design, long sleeves, and a tight neckline. The controversial dress was racy enough to leave nothing to imagination. She was clearly not wearing a bra but the dress did a good job holding her beautiful boobs in place while flashing her nipples. In fact, the only thing she wore on the inside was a pair of white panties.

“The benefits of overeating and sleeping during the holiday…,” Milian captioned on her social media post of the dress.

Milian’s see through dress was quite a masterpiece and thanks to its designer, we got to see more than we expected and it is in order to say that the 35-year-old musician has it going for her. Though she did not wear a bra, her nipples were not exposed because she wore nipple pasties. Although the rest of her boobs were clearly visible. The see-through nature of the dress only contributed to half of Milian’s sexiness. The singer has clearly been maintaining her body in good shape. Her curves would probably have made the dress look good on her even if it was not sheer.

Aside from flashing her nipples, which were covered, the area around her waist was relatively conservative because she was wearing a high-waist nude thong. If it were not for the fact that the dress was sheer, it would have been considered conservative because of the long sleeves, and the fact that was long enough to almost touch her ankles. Also, it had a tight, round neckline, which means her breasts would otherwise not be exposed. It also eliminated any chances of a wardrobe malfunction such as her breasts popping out.

A Wardrobe malfunction with that dress would be a nightmare and she would never hear the end of it from critics. Milian also accessorized the dress with silver colored Manolo Blahnik sandals with straps and a long blue Helen Yarmak chiffon fur coat that almost touched the floor. A closer look at her nails revealed that they were painted dark blue and they matched well with the dress. She also rocked a nice pulled back hairstyle with a slight wave clearly revealing some shiny earrings. The 35-year-old looked quite tasteful in her attire and she confidently smiled as the photographers rushed to take photos.

#ChristinaMilian wears sheer mesh #dress at #NewYork #event https://t.co/kfw24R80cY #CurveYourReality #makeup #hairstyle #celebrity #Nigeria pic.twitter.com/XKbeaP74hZ

— KOKO TV Nigeria (@KOKOTV_NG) December 7, 2016

Milian also seemed very relaxed despite the frenzy that was caused by her controversial dress. She knows that she has a sexy physique and is usually afraid to show it. She has posted lots of photos showing off her curves on her Instagram account and as usual, she receives a lot of compliments. She clearly has what it takes to turn heads and keep guys interested even when she is not performing on the stage.

Various other celebrities including Rihanna and Lady Gaga have also been known to have quite a noticeable and controversial sense of style and Christina’s blue dress proved that she is not afraid to go over and under as far as making a fashion statement is concerned. She is also one of the celebrities that have done a great job evading scandalous moments. She had her bad moments after her breakup with Lil Wayne but she has also enjoyed great moments during her career and is proud of her achievements. Christina could not escape the cameras and tabloids this time as photos of her flashing her boobs become the subject of gossip.

[Featured Image by Jim Cooper/AP Images]

2016-12-08 04:33 Ruchi Gupta www.inquisitr.com

63 /73 10.0 British Composer Awards: Tansy Davies’s 9/11 show triumphs An show set in a World Trade Center during a 9/11 attacks has won a British Composer Award.

Between Worlds by Tansy Davies, staged by a English National Opera in 2015, triumphed in a theatre works difficulty during a awards ceremony. The show explores a feelings of fear, bravery and detriment gifted by those held adult in a attacks.

Other winners this year enclosed a sound gathering designed to move a sight tour to life.

Sonorama by Claudia Molitor, that was stoical to soundtrack a tour between London’s St Pancras and Margate, won in a sonic art category.

The square brings together music, interviews, readings and archival element and reflects what a listener can see from a sight window during a journey. ‘More alive than ever’

The ceremony, hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Sarah Walker and Andrew McGregor, took place during a British Film Institute in London on Tuesday evening.

Alba, an strange combination desirous by a papers of Samuel Beckett, netted Rebecca Saunders composer her second British Composer Award.

Ten of a 13 awards this year were won by first-time winners.

Shri Sriram took home a breeze or coronet rope endowment for Just a Vibration – a work that combines Indian melodies with a coronet band.

Roderick Williams won a choral endowment for Ave Verum Corpus Re-Imagined while Freezywater by Leo Chadburn won a cover garb prize.

Alan Davey, controller during BBC Radio 3, said: “This year’s rare numbers of first-time winners ring a extended array of opposite low-pitched genres and ideas, demonstrating that a UK’s contemporary exemplary song stage is some-more alive than ever.”

BBC Radio 3 is broadcasting highlights of a rite during 22:00 GMT on Saturday 10 December. The programme will be accessible online shortly after broadcast.

You can follow us on Facebook , on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts , and on Instagram , or if we have a story idea email [email protected] .

2016-12-08 00:00 admin headlinenewstoday.net

64 /73 0.9 Watch ‘Hairspray Live!’ Online If You Missed It Streaming On NBC, Check Out Original 1988 ‘Hairspray’ Movie [Video] Amazon Prime members with unlimited streaming can listen to the Hairspray Live! soundtrack for free. The track listing is as follows.

There was so much social buzz during the live show, that Twitter Moments might be the best way to relive the excitement. If you haven’t watched the show and are going to watch on Hulu video Dec. 8, 2016, you might not want to check out the videos below as they might spoil the show.

Hairspray Live brought the 60s to life again???? [Featured Image by Brian Bowen Smith/NBC (used with permission)]

2016-12-08 03:01 Charisse Van www.inquisitr.com

65 /73 5.9 French singer resurrects 'Mama Africa' The video, released last week, has attracted more than 750,000 views on YouTube.

Makeba, a singer and civil rights activist best known for the song Pata Pata, played a key role in popularising African music internationally.

In a post on Facebook, Jain wrote: "Miriam Makeba's songs have always followed me through the countries where I lived. By her strength and her voice, she became for me a symbol. It is a symbolic clip, where South Africa is put forward, where art and rhythm are mixed, and where cultures are in harmony. Greg and Lio, the two directors, knew perfectly how to capture this.

"It is also a personal meeting with South African artists around the music. Viva Mama Africa!

"Her voice is part of my childhood. In Paris I discovered that a lot of my friends knew nothing about her. I found that sad so I wrote the song. The idea was to modernise Miriam Makeba so people my age might search her out," said Jain in a biography on her website.

The 24-year-old singer-songwriter released her first album, Zanaka, in November 2015.

The music video, which was filmed in South Africa, features pantsula dancers, children playing on the street and local musicians.

In her song, Jain says, "Nobody can beat the Mama Africa. You follow the beat that she's gonna give you. I need a smile you can love. "

2016-12-08 02:58 TASCHICA PILLAY www.timeslive.co.za

66 /73 0.0 Sophie Monk jokes she's not releasing another racy carol rendition this year for pop diva's sake Scroll down for video The conversation began when Channel Nine hosts asked whether she would be transforming another festive classic this year, to which she denied. 'I don't want to make Mariah Carey jealous with my amazing music. I'm not sure. I don't think this year we're doing one,' the singer said.

2016-12-08 01:55 Candice Jackson www.dailymail.co.uk

67 /73 4.2 Atlanta's own Kenny Leon helps make live musical magic Singing, dancing and drama – all unfolding live!

It took a lot of moving parts, and hands, to pull off the show.

“It takes a village,” Atlanta- based director Kenny Leon said. “Hairspray Live! takes a village.”

So how exactly does this show compare? Think of it as the Super Bowl of theater – on TV.

(© 2016 WXIA)

WXIA

Your guide to NBC's 'Hairspray LIVE!'

WXIA

Listen to the soundtrack for 'Hairspray Live!' now

2016-12-08 01:35 Shiba Russell rssfeeds.11alive.com

68 /73 4.2 Tim McGraw and Faith Hill spread holiday cheer at a Walmart in Macclenny BAKER COUNTY, Fla. -- Country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw helped spread some holiday cheer at a Walmart in Macclenny, Fla. on Tuesday.

Tim McGraw's mother, Betty Trimble, paid $5,000 worth of layaway items on behalf of the superstars!

One customer received money complete with a Christmas card reading, "Merry Christmas, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. "

“It’s great that Tim and Faith’s generous giving has made Christmas brighter for some unsuspecting customers in our store," said Leslee Wright, the Walmart communications manager. "It’s an honor to be a small part of these random acts of kindness and see the joy on our customers’ faces.”

McGraw and Hill were not physically at the Baker County Walmart, which is about 35 miles west of Jacksonville.

(© 2016 WTLV)

2016-12-08 01:27 Sarah Kimbro rssfeeds.11alive.com

69 /73 0.0 ‘Ok Go’ Features Chicago-Based Organization And Students In New Video CHICAGO (CBS) — Here they go again, “OK GO” the Grammy-nominated band, famous for their treadmill music video is back again with a new single and eye- catching video with strong ties to Chicago.

Their latest video features a Chicago-based organization giving back in a loud way. CBS 2’s Charlie De Mar has the original report.

At Benito Jaurez High School, four substitutes took over music class.

Grammy-nominated band “OK Go” is teaching the kids the chords to their latest song. The video for, the one moment, a chaotic series of explosions and blasts shot in about four seconds, then given a new meaning when slowed down.

“It’s about how sad and how beautiful it is that our lives are so temporary,” said Damian Kulash, OK Go. “Within those few moments we get, only a few of them really matter.”

Wednesday’s visit inspired by Chicago-based charity ‘Music Unites’ is also featured in the new video, giving underserved students instruments and exposure to music.

“Music programs throughout the city are amazingly advantageous,” said Joe Passi, teacher. “Especially to high risk youth who may not have resources and opportunities.”

“To sit down with people and really see their lives changing is so much more meaningful,” Kulash said.

There’s another Chicago connection in all of this, OK Go teamed up with Chicago-based Morton Salt to create the music video, who provided all the salt seen in the video’s explosions.

2016-12-08 01:07 chicago.cbslocal.com

70 /73 1.7 Dami Im says she will no longer be pushed around by makeup artists who would alter her natural complexion to 'look darker' in Australia and 'white and pale' in Korea The 28-year-old said she's figured out a lot about herself over the years, including her choice of makeup tones, during an interview with Yahoo!7on Wednesday. 'After some of those years, you figure out what you want and who you want to be and you don't get pushed around as much,' she said with an air of confidence. The dark-haired beauty insists she requests looks that suit her style better, 'instead of being pushed around by different people who have different ideas of what you should and shouldn't look like.' She added that over the last three years in the spotlight she came to terms with how she wanted to present herself and what type of makeup she wanted to wear.

2016-12-08 00:58 Candice Jackson www.dailymail.co.uk

71 /73 0.6 Mad Solutions Launches Innovative Arab Cinema Incubator in Dubai DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An innovative incubator for Arab movies is being launched by Cairo-based marketing and distribution company Mad Solutions at the Dubai Film Market where footage of eight hotly anticipated projects from the region will unspool.

Called Arab Cinema Lab, the new initiative for film development and financing will be a mix of sneak peeks and keynote presentations from leading industry figures focussed on “fast-tracking a sustainable, self-sufficient ecosystem for Arab filmmakers,” says Mad Solutions CEO Alaa Karkouti.

Projects set to be showcased on December 12 at the Arena Theatre in Madinat Jumeirah, the fest’s main venue, include “Sheikh Jackson,” about an Egyptian Islamic fundamentalist cleric with a secret passion for the music of Michael Jackson, directed by Amr Salama, known for Aids drama “Asmaa” and black comedy “Excuse my French”; Palestinian auteur Rashid Masharawi’s “Writing on Snow,” on the roots of different sub-groups in Palestinian society and how these divisions contribute to religious extremism; big-budget thriller “Man of the Impossible,” based on a bestseller about an Egyptian super spy, Egypt’s attempt to emulate James Bond; and soccer- themed “Shoot,” by Saudi director Aymen Khouja, produced under his Khoja Bros production shingle and touted as the first Saudi-U. S. film.

Besides Karkouti, other speakers will comprise: Mohamed Hefzy, who heads Egypt’s leading indie Film Clinic; Gianluca Chakra, chief of Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment; Jacques Kruger, general manager of the VOX Cinemas chain; Vincenzo Bugno, manager of the Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund Project; and Frank Albers Film Prize Program Officer at Germany’s Robert Bosch Stiftung foundation.

“Like the best laboratories, Arab Cinema Lab has been designed as both a testing ground and launch-pad for what’s next,” says Colin Brown, managing partner and director of international operations at MAD Solutions. “When you examine the risk/reward profile for Arab feature films on a macro level you see a golden opportunity for private financiers – if only there was a more user-friendly business environment through which to invest and lend with greater confidence.”

The initiative takes to the next level the work of the Arab Cinema Center launched last year by MAD Solutions as a promotional platform for Arab filmmakers at major festivals and markets worldwide.

2016-12-08 00:22 Nick Vivarelli variety.com

72 /73 2.6 Dallas Summer Musicals to shutter academy Dec. 31, but DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards will continue After 17 years, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts will close Dec. 31.

Dallas Summer Musicals' interim managing director David Hyslop and DSM Director of Education Kevin Cook sent out a letter to DSM Academy parents notifying them of the end of the program. The final youth shows were presented in November.

It's the second big departure from local control for the 77-year-old company since the Board of Directors ousted longtime president Michael A. Jenkins in May. The first move was to outsource the booking of its shows by signing a 10-year contract in September with Broadway Across America to select the seasons for Fair Park Music Hall and to end its own investments in Broadway productions. The new selections will begin in the 2017-18 season.

DSM's other educational programs, including the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards, College Audition Prep Weekend and Kids Club, will continue, according to the letter. Kids Club, a free pre-show event offered for kids before one matinee performance of many shows, will partner with Big Thought for more activities, starting with the Kids Club for Broadway Christmas Wonderland on Saturday.

DSM decided to move its organizing and fundraising efforts to its other programs, the letter noted.

"Dallas is a competitive market for arts programs and for philanthropic donors to support programs like the DSM Academy. "

2016-12-07 23:13 Theater Critic www.dallasnews.com

73 /73 0.0 Are Britney Spears And Christina Aguilera Finally Ending Feud And Recording A Duet? Britney Forgets Where Own Catchphrase Began #Boatoney Do You Wanna Come Over? feat. Christina Aguilera! https://t.co/qFIrlHYsTa

pic.twitter.com/5PwDJs0kXm — Britney Spears BR (@BritneySite) December 7, 2016

The publication notes details of the discovery and why it is that fans believe Brit and Christina are ready to make music together after all these years.

“The just-turned -35-year-old cannot remember where the iconic phrase originated from. In a radio interview with 99.7 Now Britney credited her 2012 collaboration with will.i.am as the origin of ‘It’s Britney, B*tch’ — when in fact it had been around for five years before that.”

The publication reminds that the phrase was first uttered in her 2007 hit “Gimme More,” after Spears had connected it to a performance with will.i.am in 2012. However, perhaps Brit can be cut a bit of slack seeing as the year the catch phrase became a thing for the diva was the same year that she had her infamous meltdown. It’s likely that Spears has simply tried to forget that difficult time in her life.

Happy birthday to an artist that always makes amazing music, @britneyspears !???? pic.twitter.com/YxMmfzxCU0

— Taylor Swift Updates (@1989TUpdates) December 3, 2016

Did Britney really forget meeting Taylor or is she following suit behind ultra diva Mariah Carey who has cheekily denied meeting or knowing Jennifer Lopez and a number of other female artists on various occasions? Nope, Spears likely just forgot.

[Feature Image by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia]

2016-12-07 22:59 Jessica Dafoe www.inquisitr.com

Total 73 articles.

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Created at 2016-12-08 22:42