Shania Twain engaged!

Shania Twain has found love again and is getting hitched according to Star magazine. Interestingly enough, she’s getting married to the ex-husband of her friend Marie-Anne Thiébaud, who was “the other woman” in the affair with Shania’s hubby, Robert “Mutt” Lange.

Star magazine reports that Frédéric Thiébaud and Shania Twain have been showing off their matching promise rings at Shania’s cottage in the Muskoka region of Ontario. A source dished that the couple have plans to get married next year.

Seems awfully fast to me. Guess we'll find out next year whether it's true or not.

Source: gabbybabblecelebuzz.com

Toilet paper roll face sculptures

Source: thisblogrules.com via geekologie.com

One the most creative and unique pieces of art I've found on the net thus far.

Who would have thought an ordinary toilet paper roll could be so inspiring! :D.

British press none too kind to Martina Hingis

DISGRACED former Wimbledon champion Martina Hingis – who is currently banned from tennis for using cocaine – will compete in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, despite her past.

The 29-year-old joins sports stars including former jockey Richard Dunwoody, 45, boxer Joe Calzaghe, 37, long jumper Jade Johnson, 29, and former cricketer Phil Tufnell, 43.

Hingis, thought to be pocketing £50,000 for the show, claims she is “100 per cent innocent”, but the International Tennis Federation ruled against her and ordered her to repay almost £80,000 in prize money.

Hingis, 28, was banned for two years after testing positive in Wimbledon 2007. John Beyer, of campaign group Mediawatch-UK, last night accused the BBC of sending out the wrong signals in a family show. “They could have chosen someone without that record,” he said.

But the Swiss star, to be partnered by dancer Matthew Cutler, said: “I want to put everything behind me now. This is a a new start. I hope to win.”

Source: Express.co.uk

Over the past few days I have seen a handful of negative press like the one above in regards to Martina participating in Strictly Come Dancing.

All of them with the same opinion, that a banned or disgraced as they put it former tennis champion should not be allowed to partake in these kinds of competitions.

To which I say, why the hell not?!.

Tennis has nothing to do with dancing, or vice versa for one. And two it's a freakin' reality show for cripes sake!. Not the Olympics.

And like I'm really gonna believe the rest of the participating contestants are all perfect upstanding citizens. Please.

Not that I believe one bit that Martina took anything in the first place. I always have and always will maintain that she is in fact innocent, and that someone set her up.

Seeing all this negativity in regards to Hingis has really made me dislike the British press (and I've always been a big fan).

I guess that's another reason to like America/North America in general they're more inclined to give people second chances whereas the British hang you out to dry.

I applaud Hingis for putting herself out there. I hope she does in fact win the whole thing, and proves them all wrong!.

Art in motion

See more at humanmotions.com via Neatorama

Summer Glau returns to Jossverse in 'Dollhouse'

Yep, it's finally official Summer Glau joins the cast of Dollhouse in season 2. Woo-hoo!.


SPOILERS AHEAD







Summer Glau ("Firefly," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") reunites with Joss Whedon when the actress joins the cast of DOLLHOUSE this fall in a recurring role as BENNETT, a Dollhouse employee who shares a past with ECHO (Eliza Dushku). The second season of DOLLHOUSE premieres Friday, Sept. 25 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Additional guest stars appearing throughout the upcoming second season include Alexis Denisof ("Angel"), Jamie Bamber ("Battlestar Galactica"), Michael Hogan ("Battlestar Galactica") and Keith Carradine ("Dexter"). DANIEL PERRIN (Denisof) is a U.S. senator leading a witch hunt to track down the underground organization. Mysterious, charismatic businessman MARTIN KLAR (Bamber) is Echo's new husband. BRADLEY KARRENS (Hogan) comes to the Dollhouse hoping to stop a psychotic family member's killing spree, while MATTHEW HARDING (Carradine), a nemesis of Dollhouse leader ADELLE DEWITT (Olivia Williams), stirs up trouble. Additionally, DR. CLAIRE SAUNDERS/WHISKEY (Amy Acker) and MADELINE/NOVEMBER (Miracle Laurie) return this season in multiple-episode arcs.

Source: thefutoncritic.com

Song of the Moment: Pink-What's Up

This song really takes me back to my childhood. My cousin's and I always had this blasting out of our stereos at full volume. Annoying the hell out of our neighbours *lol*.

As much as I do love when Linda Perry sings it. I find that Pink's version is equally as enjoyable.

If anyone could do justice to anything Linda Perry it would be Pink.

'Strictly Come Dancing' with Martina Hingis

Courtesy of hingis.org


Wow, first it was Beat the Star and now the original Dancing With the Stars. Martina must be a really big fan of British reality shows.

This one might prove to be a tad more difficult however. But who knows she might even do better then Monica Seles.

Federer gets revenge on Murray & Djokovic to win U.S. Open Series Championship!

Now before I go any further I have to confess that I saw the scores online before I watched the semi-final match.

Even as I read the headline I couldn't believe that Federer finally snapped his 4-time loosing streak to Murray in straight sets no less!.

I think a lot of Federer fans were pleasantly surprised with this result.

Roger went up 4-1 in the first set before clinching his second set point with a challenge and a ball that just clipped the outside of the line. Winning the first 6-1.

There were no breaks of serve in the second set (in the case of Federer there were no breaks of service at all!).

It went to a tie break where it was up and down with Federer leading 4-1 and 5-3 before Murray evened things out at 5-all. Murray threw in an ace to go up 6-5 and set point.

But Federer won the next 2 points to go up 7-6 earning him his first match point. He missed and Murray gained a set point at 8-7.

Roger won the next 2 points again and Murray gifted him with a double fault on match point at 10-8.

Roger was very much in control of the match with quick and short points not allowing Murray to get into his rhythm.

His forehand was very effective as well, usually that's the shot that often breaks down. And despite only having 36% of first serves.

He won virtually all of his points on the second serve.

I think perhaps Federer got tired of the Murray head 2 head comparison, or maybe he just wanted to send a message to all of his opponents that he's definitely ready for the U.S. Open in a weeks time.

That and I'm sure a big part of him also wanted to prove that despite what everyone seems to think fatherhood will not hinder, or stop him from winning more titles.

Of course no tennis match would be complete without a little drama courtesy of Murray.

Who kept punching his knuckles on his raquet so hard they started to bleed resulting in medical attention. Geez Murray, anger issues much?.

What a year it has been for Federer. It started out horribly and ended with him winning 2 grand slams putting him in a league of his own with 15.

And of course the birth of his twin girls. Now to make things even sweeter, he not only gets revenge on Murray but also Novak Djokovic (who has beaten him the last couple of times they've played).

Djokovic may have beaten Nadal in straight sets. But it's Federer who came up victorious in the end.

With a 6-1 7-5 win to capture the championship. Congratulations Roger!. Onward to the U.S. Open, and #16!.

Side note: This marks my 1000th post (who would have thunk it?!), and so it seems very fitting that the subject is tennis.

Since 4 years ago I started this blog as a way to share my passion for the sport.

Thanks to all of you who comment and visit (it gives me motivation to keep going).

Here's to a 1000 more! =).

Finally an explanation for all early risers

By Cassandra Willyard
ScienceNOW Daily News
13 August 2009

Don't hate those people who are perky and efficient after only a few hours of sleep. They can't help it. New research suggests that a genetic mutation may explain why some people sleep less.

Researchers don't know exactly why some people do fine with as little as 4 hours of sleep a night, while others need 12. "We've believed for a long time that there's a genetic basis," says Paul Shaw, a neurobiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. But scientists have only recently begun to ferret out which genes are responsible.

In 2001, geneticist Ying-Hui Fu and colleagues identified a mutation in a gene called Per2 that appeared to cause familial advanced sleep-phase syndrome (FASPS). People who have this condition sleep a normal 8 hours, but they go to bed earlier than most people, retiring at 6 or 7 in the evening and waking at 3 or 4 in the morning. "After that was published, a lot of these people [with unusual sleep schedules] came to us," says Fu, who is now at the University of California, San Francisco. "So we started to collect DNA samples." The team now has genetic information from more than 60 families.

Fu and her colleagues have spent the past several years mining this vast genetic storehouse for more mutations that might affect sleep patterns. In 2005, they uncovered another mutation associated with FASPS.

And now they say they have found the first genetic mutation in humans that appears to affect sleep duration rather than sleep timing.

The mutation lies in DEC2, a gene that codes for a protein that helps turn off expression of other genes, including some that control circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates a person's sleep-wake cycle.

The mutation occurred in just two people, a mother and her daughter. The women sleep an average of only 6.25 hours, whereas the rest of the family members sleep a more typical 8 hours.

To confirm that this mutation shortens sleep, Fu and colleagues engineered mice to carry the mutant form of DEC2. The mutant mice slept about an hour less than normal mice, the team reports today in Science. The finding also held for fruit flies: Mutant flies slept about 2 hours less than normal flies.

DEC2 likely isn't the whole story when it comes to short sleep. "Genetic control of sleep is going to be complex and is going to include multiple types of genes," says Shaw, who was not affiliated with the study. But that doesn't diminish the importance of this paper, he notes. "It's really an amazing piece of work."

The findings, says Fu, could lead to better treatments for sleep disorders. If the mutated form of DEC2 were available in a pill, Fu says she'd take it, noting that she needs about 8 hours of shuteye a night to feel rested. "All my life I've wanted to be able to sleep less.

Interesting, and yet it still doesn't change my dislike for people who easily get up at the crack of dawn.

Source: sciencemag.org via Neatorama

Too cool for school

Buses that is ;).


Source: WebUrbanist via Neatorama

Say it ain't so, Dirty Dancing 3?!

*sigh* Why must Hollywood insist on trying to recycle ideas that clearly don't work.

Note to movie exec's, leave Dirty Dancing alone!.

Have you learned nothing from Havana Nights?.

Unless you can turn back time and have Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey reprise their roles.

No one will care!.

While you're at it please stop attempting to revive all the other 80's dance classics.

Just because you can make a Footloose for the new generation it doesn't mean you should.

Etch-A-Sketch as you've never seen it before

You can see more of George Vlosich III work at gvartwork.com via Neatorama.

The above masterpiece took 150 hours to complete. Wow!.

Kim Clijsters claims another victory @ Rogers Cup

Well, I knew that number 9 seed Victoria Azarenka would be a tough test.

Since she's known for being a very dangerous player.

And some think a potential future #1. But Kim once again proved she was up to the challenge.

She was down 4/1 in the first set, and fought back to win it 7/5 with some amazing returns and retrievals.

Which aside from the splits was another thing she was known for. Her serve and anticipation remain solid.

She did make a bunch of errors in the second set which caused her to lose her 4/1 lead, and allowed her opponent to get back into the match.

Her opponent ultimately won the second set 6/4.

But despite that Kim didn't seem rattled and continued to play her game evenutally winning the match 6/1 in the 3rd.

I'm continually impressed by her serve and the deepness of her shots (that part of her game has also stayed miraculously intact).

Usually when a player is out for a long period of time they're really unsure of themselves and often can't find their rhythm on court.

That doesn't seem to be the case for Kim Clijsters. Next up for her will be Jelena Jankovic.

Since I really haven't been following the WTA much this year, I don't know how well Jankovic is playing these days.

But she is a big hitter so I expect a lot of ground-stroke exchanges.

It should be a very exciting match, and an excellent test for Kim. Looking forward to it.

Thanks to Kim I'm finally feeling something other then boredom while watching a women's match.

Kim Clijsters fairytale comeback continues @ Rogers Cup

Playing in her second tournament since returning to the tour. Kim dispatched her apponent Elena Baltacha of England in just over an hour.

Winning it in straight sets 6/3 6/4.

Very impressive performance for someone who has been away from the game for 2 years. In fact she played as if she never left.

Her serve is still phenomenal, as are her returns and anticipation.

Other then some forehand errors in the second set, there was barely any evidance of rust.

She even did a couple of her signature splits. I forgot how much I enjoyed those.

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I was never a big Clijsters fan when she was on the tour.

I think it was only after she retired (or close to retiring) that I realized how much better the game was with her in the mix.

Well, that and I guess I really enjoy rooting for players who want to make a second career comeback.

Overall she's handling herself extremely well. So far her comeback is looking very Hingis-like.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, watch out WTA!.

Celine Dion & Renee Angelil expecting 2nd child!

Celine Dion is pregnant with her second child!

Francine Challoux, the couple’s Quebec publicist, tells ET Canada, “They are crazy in love over the news.”

The 41-year-old Canadian singer and her husband, René Angélil, 67, conceived with the help of a team of fertility doctors in New York. The couple already has a son, René-Charles, 8.

Adds Challoux, “Rene starts his first day of private school today. They are overjoyed.”

Celine’s official site hasn’t confirmed the news yet but says, “If you hear a rumour, it will be confirmed here first. This is the only spot on the Internet where you’ll get the official Céline word!”

Source: justjared

Yay, finally Renee-Charles will have a little brother, or sister about time! *lol*.

Congratulations to the happy couple :).

Dancing with the Stars Season 9 celeb line-up

For the show’s ninth season, the program will start off with a whopping 16 celebrities. This means viewers will see three double-eliminations in the first few weeks.

As usual, ABC has roped in a handful of athletes, some reality stars, a few models and a number of D-listers. But unlike previous rounds, DWTS will now also feature it’s first disgraced politician.

Men

• Aaron Carter: Singer, former Lindsay Lohan/Hilary Duff boyfriend
• Mark DaCascos: Iron Chef America host
• Tom DeLay: Former House Majority leader
• Ashley Hamilton: Son of George Hamilton, Shannen Doherty’s ex-hubby
• Michael Irvin: Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
• Chuck Lidell: Mixed martial arts star
• Donnie Osmond: The other half of Donny & Marie
• Louie Vito: Professional snowboarder

Ladies

• Natalie Coughlin: Olympic gold medal swimmer
• Macy Gray: “I Try” Singer, known for raspy voice
• Melissa Joan Hart: Former Sabrina the Teenage Witch star
• Kathy Ireland: Former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue babe
• Joanna Krupa: Dubbed “the Sexiest Swimsuit Model in the World”
• Debi Mazar: “Entourage” actress, Madonna friend
• Mya: Singer, known for work on “Lady Marmalade”
• Kelly Osbourne: Reality star, Sharon & Ozzy’s daughter

Dancing with the Stars 9 premieres on Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Source: TV Envy

Yet another interesting mix. Should be a lot of fun to watch.

Here's hoping none of them pull out with injuries before the competition even starts as was the case last season.

End of the road for Kim Clijsters in Cincinnati

MASON, Ohio — Kim Clijsters' comeback ran into a No. 1 problem.

Playing her first tournament in more than two years, the Belgian couldn't keep up with the world's top-ranked player on Friday. Dinara Safina repeatedly broke her serve during a 6-2, 7-5 victory to reach the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open and finish Clijsters' uplifting week back on the court.

With both Williams sisters gone, Clijsters' return became the talk of the $2 million Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. The former No. 1-ranked player took a break in 2007, married basketball player Brian Lynch, gave birth to daughter Jada, then set about returning to the game at a top level.

While she was away, Clijsters watched one player improve more than any other: Safina.

"I really felt today that Dinara played some of her best tennis that I've seen," said Clijsters, who won six of their seven previous matches. "I think by far that's the best she's ever played against me."

No mother has knocked off a No. 1-ranked player since Evonne Goolagong Cawley beat Chris Evert in the finals of the Virginia Slims of Boston in 1978. Thirty-one years later, Clijsters got a good start at it, pushing the pace and getting a service break for a 2-0 lead.

It unraveled fast.

Safina used her powerful forehand to her advantage, hitting shots that eluded Clijsters' reach. She dominated the rest of the set, running off 24 of the last 31 points. For the first time all week, Clijsters looked like a player who had been off the tour for two years.

"I know exactly what to expect from her," Safina said. "For me, she's one of the best players. I thought I was very aggressive today and didn't let her dictate too much."

Clijsters started the second set by pushing the pace and getting another quick break to pull ahead 2-0.

Same beginning, similar ending.

Safina broke her serve three times in a row, the last on Clijsters' double fault to take a 6-5 lead. When Safina served it out, Clijsters calmly removed her black wristband and visor, walked to the net, shook her hand, packed quickly and headed out.

Disappointing, but not discouraging. Clijsters played well overall in her four matches during the week, surpassing her expectations in some ways.

"Obviously so far, it's working," she said. "I had really good results, and feel my level here has risen."

So much that she was already aching for another shot at No. 1.

"I kind of feel like I want to go out there and do it all over again," Clijsters said.

Source: The Associated Press

Darn, and it was going so well. She even beat Svetlana Kuznetsova!. I have no doubt though that with time her results will only get better.

I applaud her for giving her career another shot (I always thought she left the sport way too early).

After all Martina Hingis give it another go, climbing up the rankings to #6 in the world after a 3 year break.

If Hingis can get results like that. I think Kim has a good shot at being back on top. So I say, watch out WTA!.

Clijsters' comeback continues

MASON, Ohio — Playing her second competitive match in more than two years, Kim Clijsters reached the third round of the Cincinnati Open with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Patty Schnyder on Wednesday.

Clijsters who retired in May 2007 and gave birth to a daughter in February 2008, knocked out 12th-seeded Marion Bartoli in straight sets on Monday. The 2005 U.S. Open champion followed up by never losing her serve against the 20th-ranked Schnyder.

"Does it look easy?" Clijsters said. "I started off playing well. It's a really good feeling. I'm moving well. I'm very happy with the way I'm starting. It helps your confidence to get into a rhythm."

The 26-year-old Clijsters is scheduled to meet sixth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova in the next round, with a possible quarterfinal match looming against top-seeded Dinara Safina. Clijsters has won six of her seven matches against Kuznetsova.

"I knew coming in that this was a big tournament," Clijsters said. "I knew it was going to be tough from the start, and I'm glad I'm still going. Patty's a good player. We've had a lot of tough matches, a lot of three-setters, so I'm glad I got out in two."

Source: The Associated Press

This certainly says a lot about the state of the WTA doesn't it?.

Wimbledon 'graveyard court' demolished

Yep, that's right the court dubbed as 'the graveyard of champions' is no more.





I'm sure I speak for all the former champs when I say, good riddence!.

Photos courtesy of the Wimbledon Facebook page

Sandra Bullock double feature

As described on imdb Convinced that a CNN cameraman is her true love, an eccentric crossword puzzler (Bullock) trails him as he travels all over the country, hoping to convince him that they belong together.

Hmmm...can't say I'm really impressed by the trailer. It might turn out to be another dud. But it's still Sandra Bullock so I'll probably check it out on DVD.



imdb description "The Blind Side" depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential.

I can already tell this one is going to be a real tear-jerker. Can't wait!. It's been a while since Sandra played in a drama. Who knows, this one might even be an award contender.

All About Steve hits theatres on September 4th, 2009 and The Blind Side November 20th.

Evan Rachel Wood's Spider-Man Musical in jeopardy

Evan Rachel Wood strikes a pose in a Gucci halter dress at Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s installation luncheon held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Monday (August 11) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The 21-year-old actress helped present institutional support to California State University Northridge in the form of a a $26,000 check from the HFPA.

Evan stars as Mary Jane Watson in the upcoming Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark but work on the project has been suspended due to an “unexpected cash flow problem.” Producers said, “”Plans necessary for this correction are in hand now and it is expected that activities, including work in the theater, will resume within the immediate future.”

Source: justjared

No doubt the result of the struggling economy.

Hopefully the project won't be scrapped for good.

In the meantime I guess Evan could just continue to enjoy her vampire role in True Blood.

Kim Clijsters off to a good start in Cincinnati

More than two years after retiring as one of the top players in women’s tennis, Kim Clijsters announced her return with a resounding victory over 13th-ranked Marion Bartoli in Mason, Ohio.

Crisp ground strokes and a 28-5 advantage in winners led Clijsters to a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the first round of the Western and Southern Financial Group Women’s Open outside Cincinnati. Clijsters, an unseeded wild card, will face Patty Schnyder in the second round.

“I really feel like my movement is good,” Clijsters said. “It still could be better, but after the pregnancy and everything, I’m happy with the way I feel.”

Clijsters was 23 and ranked fourth in the world when she retired in May 2007, weary of injuries and ready for family life. She married in July 2007 and had a daughter, Jada, in February 2008.

An instant return into the game’s elite would give an adrenaline rush to the women’s tour, but also raise questions about its quality and depth.

Those discussions seemed imminent as Clijsters, more than 27 months after her last match and despite a shaky serve and 31 unforced errors, so easily dispatched one of the game’s hottest players.

Clijsters won 12 of the match’s first 15 points to take a 3-0 first-set lead. Bartoli, who recently beat Venus Williams in the finals at Stanford, pulled even in the set, 4-4, before succumbing. “I think I surprised myself a little bit with that start,” she said.

Clijsters plans to play the next event in Toronto, then the United States Open, where she captured her only major title in 2005.

Not too shabby for someone who's been absent for a couple of years. Good on you Kim!.

Continued success. Now I'm really looking forward to seeing her in Toronto.

Song of the Moment: Annie Lennox-Why

I also absolutely love Kelly Clarkson's cover of it. One of the few times where the cover artist really does the original justice. Simply beautiful.

Houses made of strange materials

I saw a show on TV the other day, about this little town in Arizona, where everyone builds these houses out of tires, and they are almost entirely self sufficient.

This got me wondering about what other types of housing material has been used. I found some pretty neat stuff.

A house made of trash. I guess no one will really notice that your house is messy, since it's made of garbage.


Another view of the same home.


A house made out of tires, like the one in the TV show.


A house made of newspapers. Pretty neat, until you need to use the stove, or turn on an electrical device...


A house made of doors. Perfect way to keep out intruders, cause they can't find the right door.


A house made of plastic bottles. An ideal building material, assuming there is no wind where he lives.


A house made of two old boats. When the rain starts falling, he'll have the last laugh.


A house decorated with beer bottles. Class act.


An airplane house. Check out the inside. Awesome.


A mud and straw house. Pretty typical in some regions of the world, though this one seems to be more of a designer house, than one built out of necessity.


A house made of glass bottles. I hear that the air trapped in the bottles makes a great insulator.


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Source: nowthatsnifty.blogspot.com via Neatorama