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Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson took part in a Republican Presidential Debate Wednesday night and touted his idea of fiscal responsibilty and small government.
“Throwing out the entire federal tax system and replacing it with a consumption tax – the fair tax, which would absolutely reboot the American economy because it does away with the corporate tax to create tens of millions of jobs in this country” – said Johnson.
It was the first debate Johnson participated in since May.
Johnson pledged to submit a balanced federal budget by 2013 and vowed to veto any deficit spending legislation.
“I think the biggest threat to our national security is the the fact that we’re bankrupt so I am promising to submit a balance budget to congress in the year 2013 and included in that is a 43% in military spending” – said Johnson.
He didn’t speak often but did have some memorable lines.
At one point he said his neighbor’s dogs had created more, “shovel-ready jobs,” than Barack Obama. The line drew laughter from the audience and the other candidates on stage.
However, Johnson seemed to disappear by the end of the debate with very little screen time.
After the debate Johnson’s campaign released a statement that said he seperated himself from the other candidates.
“Tonight, a great many people had their first opportunity to see that there is a candidate who will actually focus like a laser on the task of reducing government, eliminating deficits and freeing the economy to create real jobs” – the statement said. “From individual liberties to drug policy to immigration, too often the Republican field has sounded like a chorus rather than honest dialogue.”

Gary Johnson.

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What did you think of X Factor’s big debut last night?
Simon Cowell was back at the judges’ desk, along with his pal Paula Abdul and music producer L.A. Reid. We also got to see British judge Cheryl Cole in the first hour before she was replaced by former Sing-Off judge and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger.
Although there had been buzz that Cole’s accent was too much for American audiences, Simon told Piers Morgan this week that he axed Cole because she looked ‘bewildered’ on the panel.
As for Scherzinger? She’s not faring well with critics. USA TODAY’s Brian Mansfield writes in today’s Idol Chatter blog: “When she goes into her little-girl act, judge/mentor Nicole Scherzinger makes Paula Abdul look smart.”
The New York Times said Nicole is ‘a downgrade’ from Cheryl.
The Chicago Tribune notes “Scherzinger doesn’t come off as an obvious improvement in the early going. She’s more earnest like Kara DioGuardi than lovable like Jennifer Lopez.”
And TV Guide wondered why the change was necessary, saying: “Cheryl was awesome, made total sense and was adorable to boot.”

Cheryl Cole.

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In the lead-up to the f8 conference, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg unveils more new features for the site – but the initial reaction around the net is far from positive.
Mark Zuckerberg must have something big up his sleeve for Thursday’s f8. Facebook on Tuesday night unveiled the third (and biggest) update to the social network in 10 days, with a real-time ‘ticker’ that you might have read about in the Guardian on Monday.
The live ticker shows what you’re friends are talking about right now. From Thursday, this is where you’ll be able to see what your friends are listening to, reading or watching this moment.
It’s an unobtrusive little box in the top-right corner, meaning News Feed displays only the ‘Top Stories’ from the last day – turning Facebook into ‘your own personal newspaper’ – says Facebook engineer Mark Tokelowitz.
The idea is that Facebook addicts (sorry, users) will be able to easily catch-up on what their friends have been doing over the past 24 hours without having to scroll through endless updates. And it ostensibly nudges Facebook away from the irresistible theory that it wants people to stay on the site for as long as possible.

Facebook.

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Delores Hope (the widow of comedian Bob Hope) died peacefully Monday morning at her home in Toluca Lake, Calif. At the age of 102.
The former Delores DeFina was born in the Bronx. She was singing in a Manhattan nightclub under her professional name Dolores Reade when she met her husband – the iconic comedian Bob Hope.
The comedian said to dancer George Murphy after hearing Delores signing “It’s Only a Paper Moon” in New York City: “I am going to marry her.” And he did on Feb. 19, 1934.
The couple were married for 69 years. Delores gave up her career to raise their four children – Tony, Linda, Kelly and Nora. She was very active in charities and, like her husband, an avid golfer.
In 1966, Delores sang “Silent Night” in front of thousands of GIs and earned a standing ovation. In the late 1980′s, Delores came out of retirement and released CDs of old standards songs and sang at the Rainbow and Stars nightclubs in New York’s Rockefeller Center with her good friend Rosemary Clooney. Both the CDs and the acts were hits and were reviewed very well.
When Delores once asked her husband Bob where he wanted to be buried he said: “Oh, just surprise me.” Bob Hope died at the age of 100 in 2003. He is buried in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery. Delores will be buried in the plot beside him in a private ceremony on Friday.

Delores Hope.

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Watching Sunday night’s Emmy Awards was a little bit like going to the very bad wedding of people you really love – the happiness you feel for the people involved almost makes up for how otherwise unremarkable the experience is.
Many of the major categories were conservatively chosen – Mad Men and Modern Family repeated as Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series. Jim Parsons repeated as lead comedy actor for The Big Bang Theory, and Julianna Margulies won a widely anticipated statue for The Good Wife as lead dramatic actress. PBS’ Downton Abbey cleaned up in the miniseries/movie categories, and the reality/variety awards went largely to The Daily Show and The Amazing Race, just as they usually do.
The awards for supporting work in comedy contributed to Modern Family’s big night – Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell, nominated aside all their adult co-stars, were the winners for their portrayals of married couple Claire and Phil Dunphy. Bowen is probably the least showy actor in the cast, and seeing her win over Sofia Vergara was intriguing – Vergara is absolutely wonderful and would have been a richly deserving winner, but it’s not without its charm to see a smaller performance win out over one that is more widely discussed and more broadly written.
Departing series Friday Night Lights, which struggled without recognition for its first several seasons, won two major awards – writing for a drama for showrunner Jason Katims, and lead actor in a drama for Kyle Chandler, whose beautifully human performance as Coach Eric Taylor was a marvel throughout the series run. Of course, that meant that Mad Men’s Jon Hamm was denied again, after losing three times to Breaking Bad lead Bryan Cranston, but Hamm will be back. Chandler will not. This was a lovely way to say goodbye.

Kate Winslet.

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In one of the more ridiculous name changes in recent years, the Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Ron Artest is now to be known as Metta World Peace after a court approved the request.
Metta World Peace – this is first name Metta, surname World Peace – was approved his name change in a hearing that lasted less than a minute, reports the Los Angeles Times. The 31 year-old’s publicist Courtney Barnes commented that he’d been seeking a name change for years “but it took many years of research and soul-searching to find a first name that was both personally meaningful and inspirational.” Indeed, World Peace would’ve had his wish approved earlier, but an outstanding parking ticket last month under his previous name meant that he was unable to change it then.
In an official statement, the sports man said: “Changing my name was meant to inspire and bring youth together all around the world. I’m glad that it is now official.” He wasn’t at the hearing himself, with attorney Nahla Rajan representing him; World Peace cited a busy schedule for his no-show – he’ll be appearing on hit US reality show “Dancing With The Stars” on Monday and plans to explain the change further then.
The next step for World Peace now is to obtain a driving license and passport.

Ron Artest.

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Ace Hollywood actor Brad Pitt talked about his previous marriage with Jennifer Aniston, and his current partner Angelina Jolie, in an interview with the Parade magazine.
Brad Pitt called his life before meeting Angelina Jolie pathetic, owing to the fact that he spent a lot of time smoking drugs and hiding! Brad said – “I started to get sick of myself sitting on a couch, holding a joint, hiding out. It started feeling pathetic.”
The 47-year-old actor added – “I think my marriage (with Aniston) had something to do with it: trying to pretend the marriage was something that it wasn’t.”
After discussing his previous relationship, Brad also revealed how happy he is with his current partner, Angelina Jolie – “One of the greatest, smartest things I ever did was give my kids Angie (Jolie) as their mum. She is such a great mum. Oh man, I’m so happy to have her.”
Brad added – “With a partner like Angie, I know that when I’m working, the kids are happy, safe and prospering. And when Angie’s working, she knows she has the same.”
Well, one thing is for sure; this interview is as candid as it gets!

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.

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Newly released tapes of interviews Jacqueline Kennedy gave just months after her husband’s 1963 assassination show an outspoken and not always liberal former first lady.
Throughout the tapes, Kennedy (who died in 1994) describes various world leaders, including Lyndon B. Johnson, Martin Luther King, Charles De Gaulle and Indira Gandhi, in unflattering terms.
In the eight hours of tapes, she also mentions how President John F. Kennedy once joked about the threat of assassination.
“And then I remember Jack saying after the Cuban missile crisis, when it all turned [out] so fantastically, he said: ‘Well, if anyone’s ever going to shoot me, this would be the day they should do it.’”
The recordings are the subject of a book – “Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life With John F Kennedy” – published on Wednesday.
Jackie Kennedy agreed to talk to White House aide Arthur Schlesinger at her Washington home, four months after JFK was killed in Dallas, on the condition the tapes would not be released until long after her death.
Recalling the Cuban missile crisis and fears of a nuclear confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Kennedy proved her devotion to her husband by saying she told JFK: “If anything happens, we’re all going to stay right here with you. Even if there’s not room in the bomb shelter in the White House, I just want to be with you, and I want to die with you.”
While she admitted their marriage was “rather terribly Victorian or Asiatic” – she also said she was determined to provide a “climate of affection, comfort and detente” before adding their time in the White House were “our happiest years.”

Jacqueline Kennedy.

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Leila Luiliana da Costa Viera Lopes from Angola was crowned Miss Universe 2011, while Shamcey Supsup from the Philippines finished Third Runner-Up in ceremonies held at Sao Paolo, Brazil, and aired on local TV Tuesday morning.
The 25-year old Ms. Lopes from Benguela, Angola bested 88 other candidates from around the world.
During the question-and-answer portion, Ms. Lopes was asked by Filipina theater actress Lea Salonga – “If you could change one of your physical characteristics, which one will it be and why?”
Through an interpreter, Ms. Lopes replied that she is very happy about how she looked that she would not change a thing. Ms. Lopes (who became the first from Angola to win Miss Universe in the pageant’s 60-year history) was crowned by last year’s winner, Ximena Navarrete from Mexico.
Wearing a silver and transluscent white long gown, Ms. Supsup placed Third Runner-Up after answering a question from American actress and television producer Vivica A. Fox. Ms. Fox asked Ms. Supsup if she would marry someone who is of a different religion.
The 25-year old architecture graduate from General Santos City said she will not marry a man that will require her to change her religious beliefs, saying – “The first person that I love is God.”
Ms. Supsup, who graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines, was an early fan favorite – receiving the most number of online votes before the Miss Universe telecast from Sao Paolo’s Credicard Hall.
During the broadcast aired on ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.’s Channel 2, Ms Supsup received the second highest fan votes from the Internet during the swimsuit and evening gown competitions, before emerging as the online fan favorite after the question-and-answer portion. Olesya Stefanko from Ukraine was First Runner Up, while Brazil’s Priscila Machado was Second Runner-up. Zilin Luo of China was the Fourth Runner-Up.

Leila Lopes.

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Spartacus star Andy Whitfield has died aged 39 after an 18 month battle with cancer.
The dad-of-two (who was born in Amlwch, Wales, but moved to Sydney in 1999) died in his wife’s arms yesterday.
In a statement grieving widow, Vashti, paid a moving tribute to her “beautiful young warrior”.
She said – “On a beautiful sunny Sydney spring morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his loving wife, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18 month battle with lymphoma cancer.
“He passed peacefully surrounded by love. Thank you to all his fans whose love and support have helped carry him to this point.
“He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was.”
Andy’s colleagues on sex and sandals epic ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’ expressed their grief on Twitter.
Director Steven DeKnight wrote – “No words to express the depth of such a loss. You will be deeply missed, my brother.”
Chris Albrecht, president and CEO of US network Starz, which made ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’, added – “We were fortunate to have worked with Andy in Spartacus and came to know that man who played a champion on-screen was also a champion in his own life.
“Andy was an inspiration to all of us as he faced this very personal battle with courage, strength and grace.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. He will live on in the hearts of his family, friends and fans.”
The actor appeared in all 13 episodes of the Roman epic’s first series which aired in 2010.
He discovered he was suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma just ahead of shooting on the show’s second series.

Andy Whitfield.

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