Shakira may perform at Obama's party

Superstar singer Shakira is reportedly in talks to perform at U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration party on January

She may perform at a celebration to be held Obama is formally sworn into office, reports Peruvian newspaper El Comercio.

The paper further states that the Hips Don't Lie hitmaker may join stars including Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, and Anne Hathaway celebrate Obama’s historic White House Victory in Washington, D.C.

She was a vocal supporter of Obama during his election campaign.

"Obama can restore peace and the world''s confidence in the United States," Contactmusic quoted her as telling reporters at the time.

Her faith in Obama was later reciprocated with the Democrat voicing his admiration for the Colombian singer's charity work in aid of Latin American children.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment

The hips don't lie... Shakira IS a Latino dream

WITH a cry of "Arriba London!", a flurry of hair and the first of many thrusts of the hardest working hips in showbusiness, Shakira set about bringing some real Latin fire to town.

Most of Spanish-speaking London was there to greet her, to judge by the number of Mexican, Venezuelan and most of all, Colombian flags being flown throughout the audience.

Shakira Ripoll, from Barranquilla, Colombia, may have charmed Britain and America, but her core fans knew about her talents long before we caught up.

Refusing to compromise her setlist for the benefit of those of us not draped in yellow, red and blue, the majority of the songs she performed were in her native ..

Source:http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4623603.html

Stars align for Obama

Colombian superstar Shakira says Democrat Barack Obama is the best candidate for president, citing his leadership skills.

In a statement Saturday, the Grammy-winning pop artist said Obama can restore peace and the world's confidence in the United States. Obama faces Republican presidential nominee John McCain in the Nov. 4 election.

Obama said he was honored to receive the singer's endorsement. The Illinois senator praised Shakira as a role model for young Latinas in the U.S. and beyond.

Shakira encouraged U.S. Latinos to vote in November.

The United States "has a profound importance to me, and I think to the whole world as well," she said.

Source:http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news

Shakira to lobby on child welfare

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - Latin pop star Shakira, showing she can move more than her hips, will lobby Latin American presidents this week to start a regional project to pump money into children's health and education.
The singer will address a summit in El Salvador of Ibero-American leaders, including the presidents of Brazil and her native Colombia, over the need to feed and educate poor children, especially amid a global economic slowdown.

"There are difficult times coming in Latin America. Thousands and thousands of children will die if governments do not organize ways to distribute food during this crisis," Shakira told Reuters.

"I grew up in the developing world and I have witnessed the lack of opportunities that children have to live with," she added, speaking by telephone from Miami.
"In a country like mine, when a child is born poor, people die poor. But I'm fascinated by the fact that through education you can transform lives, you can end this cycle of poverty."

Some 35 million children live in poverty in Latin America with little or no access to proper food and education, Shakira said. Investing in a year of primary education can increase a person's adult income by up to 20 percent, she added.

Shakira's hip-swivelling dances and catchy ballads have earned her a huge global following and a string of Grammy awards. She began getting into social issues just a few years into her pop career, starting a Colombian children's charity called the Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) Foundation in 1997, named after her breakthrough hit album released a year before.

While celebrities like Bono and Angelina Jolie have focused on Africa, Shakira uses her fame to make headlines on Latin America, where stubbornly high poverty levels can get overlooked because of healthier overall economic indicators.

Shakira helped launch the Fundacion ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action), which is behind the new initiative, and has lobbied British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the U.S. Congress on the need to educate children in poor countries.

"My heart is committed to this cause and it has been there for a long time, since I was 18," said Shakira, now 31, who has sold some 50 million albums around the world.
"I like to think that I can use my public profile to bring attention to more important issues than my own."

Her new project will seek funding from organizations like the World Bank and would monitor governments' efforts closely, although the golden-tressed singer regretted she would not have time to get involved in inspection efforts on the ground.

Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/people

Columbian beauty to play Emirates Palace

SHAKIRA will headline the Rio Carnival themed New Years Eve extravaganza at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace.

The Hips Don't Lie singer brought Dubai to a standstill when she played here last year but this will be her first gig in the capital emirate.

The one-off party will include fireworks and DJ sets from international big hitters but as yet there are no more details on the event available.

Ticket details to be announced shortly

Source: http://www.ahlanlive.com/8366-shakira-shakira

Shakira is "Humanitarian of the year"

U.S. Magazine People en Español elected Colombian singer Shakira as Humanitarian of the Year, because of her work for children in Latin America.

The magazine, to be in the shops next Monday, will be dedicated to "the stars of 2008", will have Shakira on the cover, but will feature other Latin pop stars like Rocky Martin, Aracely Arámbula, Chayanne and Luis Fonsi.

Shakira is currently involved in two foundations. Both the Pies Diescalzos foundation and ALASare focused on improving the living standards of children in Colombia and Latin America.

Source: http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news

Shakira: 'I'm quite pregnant' with my album

NEW YORK (AP) — Shakira revealed Wednesday that she is, in fact, expecting. But it's not what you may think. "I'm quite pregnant with my album," the Colombian pop star told a reporter by phone — between laughs — when asked whether her foundation work on behalf of Latin American children has made her want to become a mother.

"Yes, I have plans, but not yet," said Shakira, 31. "I'm pregnant with my songs. But someday, yes."

The singer-activist plans to ask about 20 Latin American presidents at a regional summit in El Salvador on Thursday to direct more resources to poor children and to put early childhood development at the top of their agendas. She will appear on behalf of ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action) Foundation, a nonprofit coalition she helped create.

Asked whether she plans to write a song about ALAS, translated as "Wings" in Spanish, the Grammy winner and United Nations goodwill ambassador said it's out of her hands.

"I can't control my muses," she said.

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfSi0MQ

Shakira's personal poverty made her do charity

Before Shakira became a world famous singer, she was poor. And before she was poor, she was one of the few to enjoy Colombian middle class life. It was the poverty her family plunged into after the bankruptcy of her father's business that made her start Pies Descalzos, the foundation to help child education worldwide.

In an article in Newsweek, the singer writes how at age seven she went from riches to rags, because of the bankruptcy of her father's jewelry business.

"We had gone from being middle class to poor almost overnight, and from my 7-year-old child's perspective it was hard to imagine anything worse. I can still viscerally remember the seeming desperation of that moment," she writes in the magazine.

"My parents found ways to put our situation in perspective and to show me how fortunate we still were, especially given that—previously unbeknownst to me—so many families and children had so much less," she added.

Shakira remembers how she and her dad would take a walk through a Barranquilla park and she saw the children who really had nothing. "They lived in the dirt, in tattered clothes and with bare feet, scrounging through garbage for anything to eat. Many sniffed glue to dull the pain of their existence," she writes.

It was at that moment, she says, she promised herself she would help those children if she ever had the chance.

Now, after having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, the singer is keeping her her promise.

Her foundation Pies Descalzos (barefoot) already helped education in a number of schools in Colombia and, as she recently announced, will help children in other developing countries too.

Source:http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/

Shakira urges to include children in upcoming Latin American summit

Colombian singer Shakira urged Latin American presidents to include the development of children during the next Ibero-American summit to be held in El Salvador.

Shakira, together with Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz, attended a discussion at the Columbia University in New York where the artists debated with several Latin American heads of state.

"We want to propose that the topic of early childhood development is included during the Ibero-American summit in November,"Shakira told the Presidents.

Shakira, who through several foundations actively is trying to improve living conditions of children in Latin America, stressed the importance that the basic needs of children between 0 and 6 years old are met. Children lacking basic needs at an early age "will be sentenced to not have a decent life," the singer added.

The Latin American leaders joining the debate expressed their commitment to bring up the topic during the summit.

Source: http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news

360? Maybe Not

Live Nation may have signed huge deals with Madonna, Shakira, and Jay-Z, but the upstart music company is looking to the major labels to distribute its tunes. According to a report in the New York Post this morning, Live Nation has been in talks with the likes of Warner Music Group and the other big music companies to get the music out to customers.

Live Nation has made a splash in the business, signing so-called "360 deals" to handle everything from recording music to concert tours to merchandising for music acts. C.E.O. Michael Rapino has signed Madonna, Jay-Z, Nickelback, and Shakira to the deal but doesn't have a new album from any of them due out for at least 18 months, the Post said. Last week, Live Nation dumped three industry veterans originally signed to build a label within the company. The paper also posited the company could explore exclusive deals with major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target. Any deal with a major music company could be awkward: for instance, distributing a new Madonna album with Warner Music, her former label.

news source : http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets?

Colombians demand hostages’ release on Independence Day

Leticia (Colombia), July 21 (IANS) With marches and concerts, more than a million Colombians have celebrated their country’s 198th Independence Day and demanded the leftist rebels free everyone they have been holding hostage, EFE news agency reported Monday. In Leticia, the capital city of southernmost province of Amazonas, a military parade was organised to mark the day Sunday that was witnessed by President Alvaro Uribe and his Brazilian and Peruvian counterparts Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Alan Garcia, respectively.

Colombian pop singer Shakira kicked off the parade, singing the national anthem. The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer also recalled that Sunday was a historic day as all the countrymen united to demand the release of all kidnap victims and peace in the South American country, which has been in the grip of a bloody internal conflict for more than four decades. “I’m delighted and happy to be in Leticia, happy to take part in this historic day for all us Colombians who have united in the largest demonstration we have had in our history,” she said. Shakira travelled back to her country Sunday from London, where she is recording her latest album, to take part in the concerts being staged in most Colombian municipalities and in several cities around the world, calling for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas to release all their hostages.

“It’s a very important event for us, for the nation, for our president and for the presidents of our neighbouring countries,” Shakira said.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe thanked the singer for her generosity in coming and being with the countrymen on the special day. Uribe also thanked his counterparts from Brazil and Peru for becoming part of the Independence Day celebration. “Here in Leticia July 20 has much significance, a message … for each square (inch) of the homeland, a message … for each (citizen), a message of commitment to liberty that is expressed here with the singing of the little parrots, parakeets and all the little birds of the Amazon jungle that are free 24 hours a day,” he added.

Garcia, in his remarks, said that he felt “satisfaction and joy” at being in the border city “to accompany the Colombian people and their president” on Independence Day. Residents of more than 1,100 cities across the country held marches Sunday for the third time in five months to demand that illegal armed groups and criminals release the thousands of people they are holding hostage. According to officials, at least one million people, in seven marches along an equal number of different routes, took to the streets in the Colombian capital wearing white T-shirts, releasing balloons into the air and chanting “Freedom, freedom, freedom”.

news source : http://www.thaindian.com/

Shakira in top 10 worst lyrics poll

Shakira's club banging number Whenever Wherever has landed at number eight in the top ten worst lyrics poll. While, the 1992 hit song Rhythm is a dancer has been voted the song with worst lyrics of all time in a poll conducted by magpiemusic.com. The line "I'm serious as cancer, when I say rhythm is a dancer" topped the poll of terrible lines.

The top ten worst lyrics are:

1. I'm serious as cancer, when I say rhythm is a dancer - Rhythm is a Dancer

2. I don't want to see a ghost, it's a sight that I fear the most, I'd rather have a piece of toast, watch the evening news - Life

3. Is that yo ass, or yo mama half reindeer? - Shake Ya Tailfeather

4. He was a boy, she was a girl. Can I make it any more obvious? - Sk8er Boi

5. I love you like a fat kid love cake - 21 Questions

6. Time is like a clock in my heart - Time (Clock Of The Heart)

7. You got a Prada bag with a lotta stuff in it - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

8. Lucky that my breasts are small and humble, so you don't confuse them with mountainsI - Whenever, Wherever

9. She had dumps like a truck, truck, truck - Thong Song

10. Only time will tell if we stand the test of time - Why Can't This Be Love

news source : http://www.ndtvmusic.com/

Colombian pop star Shakira hails hostage rescue

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira on Thursday hailed the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages from Marxist rebels as a "historic day" for the country. The 31-year-old Grammy-winner, famed for her hit single "Hips Don't Lie," said the hostages' dramatic jungle rescue had restored Colombians' faith in the country's armed forces and institutions. "This is a historic day for all, for our country that has undergone so much. Today we cry tears of emotion and joy and we can look to a future with that hope that peace will arrive,"Shakira said in a statement. "Ingrid is a symbol of the suffering of all those who have been robbed of their freedom," Shakira added. "This has renewed our faith in democracy, our institutions, our own forces." Colombian-French politician Betancourt, who was abducted by rebels in 2002 while campaigning for the presidency, was on Thursday reunited with her children in Bogota following her rescue.

news source : http://afp.google.com/

Strategy for protection of women’s rights stressed

CHITRAL: A workshop on creating awareness of women’s rights among representatives of local support organisations (LSOs) has been held at Booni, some75km from here. The event was held under Easy and Equitable Access to Justice Programme (EEAJP), which is a project of Legal Aid Forum for Human Rights (LAFHR). Niaz Ali Shah, the project co-ordinator, briefed the participants on objectives of the programme. He said the LAFHR worked for welfare of the needy, helpless, oppressed and aggrieved people, especially women. He said the LAFHR had arranged for trial of some 230 cases of poor women in different courts of Chitral free of cost besides conducting 20 seminars on women’s issues.

Representatives of different LSOs from the area took part in open discussion on violation of women’s rights. They said women were facing numerous problems in this male-dominated society. The participants called for framing a strategy and mechanism for protection of women’s rights. They said women were an important component of the society and they could not be ignored when it came to making decisions regarding their issues. They said parents usually ignored education and nutrition of their daughters. Shakira, a social activist, said women should be encouraged to participate in developmental activities. Others said Islam had protected women’s rights better than other religions. They said women should remember their duties with the rights.

They said women should come forward for development of the country without compromising on their cultural values. Ghulam Ali Shah of the Free Legal Aid Centre, Booni, highlighted legal ways for protection of human rights. He said the law allowed women to live a life of their own choice. He said women could marry whoever they wanted to and were entitled to inheritance of family property. He said the practice of forced marriages should be abolished. A large number of social activists and other attended the event.

news source : http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

Heidi Montag Releases Another Song

The Hills star Heidi Montag released another single, “Fashion.” The Hills star Heidi Montag has released a new song that is destined to hit the floor along with her last single and video release, “Higher.” AOL News reported that The Hills star everyone loves to hate has stuck to her roots with “Fashion.” After creating a line and having a show, “Heidiwood,” Montag has found her niche: skimpy clothes, “music,” and her boyfriend and fellow Hills costar, Spencer Pratt, who says the new single is “the greatest song of my life.”

AOL says “Fashion” is a “chunky slice of Euro pop,” and that her “heavily digitized voice [is] reminiscent of Cher’s hit song, ‘Believe.’” Montag asks, “Don’t you wanna see these clothes on me?” and then continues to list off several top designers in a French-like accent. Montag’s song can be heard on AOL and People. People reported, “Heidi has started her own record label with Super Producer RedOne. RedOne will write and produce with Heidi an entire album of 13 songs.” RedOne has been credited for Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” and is currently collaborating with Michael Jackson. People even revealed that Akon will make a cameo appearance in the album.

news source : http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/

Live Nation bosses out of sync on strategy: report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A battle has broken out among Live Nation Inc's top executives over the concert-promotion company's strategy to reshape the music industry by making big, expensive deals with artists, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Wednesday. Live Nation Chief Executive Michael Rapino has tried to slow the pace of multimillion-dollar deals with artists, while Chairman Michael Cohl wants to accelerate it by striking deals with as many as 15 more artists, the Journal reported.

Live Nation struck a $120 million deal with Madonna and a $150 million deal with Jay-Z, the paper reported. It has held talks for a similar deal with South American pop star Shakira, according to several people involved, though no agreement has been reached, the Journal said. The disagreement between the two executives in recent weeks resulted in Cohl threatening to leave Live Nation, and the board at one point was prepared to intervene, the Journal reported. The executives are speaking again and Cohl has changed his mind about leaving, the Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. A Live Nation spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Music companies are trying to sign up artists to such "360-degree" deals which can include recording, publishing, touring, digital and other rights. The deals are all-encompassing as a way for music companies to try to make money even as their traditional business of selling music is undercut by free, and often pirated, music on the Internet. A 12-year global contract signed earlier this year with Irish rock band U2 includes merchandising and licensing rights, sponsorship and strategic alliances, digital rights, fan clubs and Web sites and other marketing and creative services.

news source : http://news.yahoo.com/

Puckerin leads Challengers over Cavs

Andrea Puckerin led the Challengers to a closely run 57-56 victory over the Station Hill Cavaliers in the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) Women's League action on Saturday night at the Sir Garfield Sobers Complex. After the Challengers squandered a 13-point half time lead, Puckerin took over in the fourth quarter and scored six of her 13 points. Teammate Shereece Shephard was also instrumental in the win. Shephard had five points in the fourth to finish with 11 total points. Susan Harris scored 10 for the Challengers.

For the Cavs, veteran player Astrid Alleyne scored 10 of her 18 points in the first quarter. Alleyne was only able to post four points in each of the last two quarters after a scoreless second quarter. Ruth Holder and Ria Phillips has eight points apiece in the loss.

Shorey silences Sonics

Shakira Storey rained 24 game high points on St John Sonics to lead the Clapham Bulls to a 66-57 victory at the Sir Garfield Sobers Complex on Saturday night. After a scoreless first quarter and three points in the second, Clapham Bulls guard, Sade Clarke, scored eight of her 13 points in the final quarter to give Shorey the support their team needed to keep the Sonics at bay. After a half time lead of 10 points, 34-24, the Sonics tied the score 40-40 at the end of the third. Shorey scored nine of her 24 points to give her team the lift they needed to put the game away. The Sonics' Tammy Hope and Tiffany Husbands both scored 12 points, while Rosalyn Davis scored 19 points, eight coming in the fourth quarter, to lead the Sonics in scoring.

news source : http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/

Shakira uses fame to help the poor, eyes motherhood

MEXICO CITY (Reuters Life!) - Colombian singer Shakira is using her fame as a top-selling artist and hip-swiveling dancer to help poor Latin American children but she also has her heart set on a new role - mother to her own children. "I want two," Skakira told Reuters on Thursday at an event to promote her charity, the ALAS Foundation (which stands for Latin America in Solidarity Action when translated into English) that was set up in 2006 to help needy Latin American children.

But asked when she would like to start a family, she laughed nervously and said: "That's a good question." Shakira, 31, has been dating Antonio de la Rua, the son of a former Argentine president, for nearly eight years, with swarms of photographers constantly tailing the celebrity couple looking for hints about a possible wedding. Shakira is the biggest-selling Spanish singer of all time, having sold more than 50 million albums in English and Spanish worldwide, and wants to use her fame to raise awareness about the extreme poverty affecting millions of Latin American children.

Recently she visited British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to talk about third world education and also went to Capitol Hill in Washington to urge U.S. Congress to approve more spending to help send the world's poor children to school. "There are 40 million children in Latin America who have no access to any kind of development program, who receive no stimulation, nutrition or education and need to be nurtured and taken care of," she said in an interview with Reuters. "Artists have a tremendous power to communicate, to reach people, to woo, to inspire. It's an important and fundamental part of my life to be able to use my public profile to make certain issues visible, issues that are more important than my own career, that are more urgent and need immediate attention."

Her own charity, the Pies Descalzos Foundation, has been raising money since 1997 for some of the poorest children in her home country, Colombia, where the singer is widely admired. Dressed in a grey vest, black denim pants and high-heeled boots, the petite singer said that regardless of her commitment to help those in need, she did not plan to quit singing. "It is very important to continue making music and continue doing my job," said Shakira, whose name means "thankful" in Arabic. "This is the life that I have to live and so far it hasn't been bad." On Thursday, Shakira announced that Carlos Slim, Mexico's richest man, and Howard Buffett, son of U.S. investment guru Warren Buffett, had pledged nearly $200 million between them to the ALAS Foundation.

Shakira and Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz will perform in Buenos Aires on Saturday along with other Latin American artists in a massive, free concert to raise awareness of about the 32 million children living in poverty in Latin America.

news source : http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

Shakira, Ricky Martin perform for children's charity

A host of Latin celebrities including the likes of Shakira and Ricky Martin are doing their share of charity by performing at two fundraising concerts to highlight the plight of some 32m Latin American children living in poverty. The concerts will be held in the two Buenos Aires and Mexico City and will be attended by many thousands of viewers. The proceeds of the two events, being held simultaneously in Argentina and Mexico, will be going to the Latin America in Solidarity Action (Alas) charity.


Earlier Shakira revealed that she had managed to get 200m dollars in donations from Mexican and US tycoons Carlos Slim and Howard Buffett and said that the eradication of poverty was "doable."While Slim is the telecommunications magnate, Howard Buffet is the eldest son of the US investment guru, Warren Buffett. "Imagine what Latin America could achieve if we invest in developing the potential of these children," BBC quoted Shakira, as saying earlier this week. She added: "The funny thing is that Latin America produces three times what it needs to feed its population. So, it is doable, we can really eradicate poverty." It was in 2006 that Alas was launched for dealing with poverty that kills an estimated 350,000 children each year in Latin America.

news source : http://www.newkerala.com/

The belly belle!

Turkish belly dancer Tanyeli on her item number in Mission Istanbul and why every woman must learn the dance form

Luscious curves, cascading locks, pouted lips and fiery eyes—that’s world renowned Turkish belly dancer Tanyeli, who will be seen performing an ‘item’ number in Apoorva Lakhia’s Mission Istanbul.

An act of prayer

Tanyeli who has performed for Princess Margaret of England and the former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, says belly dancing is like ‘prayer’. “I don’t believe in shaking the body and making seductive moves. My dance is about freedom of expression and delicate movements.”

Coming back to Mission Istanbul, Tanyeli is performing the Indian version of Bob Sinclar’s number World hold on, which goes as Ruba dilruba in the film. She agreed to do it because the film is based on her country. “I love losing myself in dance. India has a heritage of classical dance including Kathakali. I regard Madhuri Dixit, Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan as great dancers,” she says. Pop singersShakira and Beyonce are among her other favourite dancers.

Incidentally, belly dancing has been a tradition in Tanyeli’s family. “The number Aawara hoon in Raj Kapoor’s Awara has been a crucial part of my growing up years,” she says even as she hums the song.

Belly benefits

When told that belly dancing is not taken seriously in India she retorts, “If Indian folk dances, which involve the movement of belly, are considered pure then what’s wrong with belly dancing?” She adds, “I believe every woman should learn belly dancing. It is the best way to fire-up the seven chakras of the body, which are the crucial energy generators. It keeps you fit, helps in giving natural birth and is the best form of meditation. I am reborn each time I perform.”

Future form

Though she doesn’t have any plans to continue in films, Tanyeli is considering opening a training school here to make belly dancing a popular form. She is also currently hosting the dance training programme Oriental Live Show in Turkey. When asked if she looks up to anybody for inspiration, she says, “People look up to me for inspiration. I look up to no one but God.”

news source : http://www.dnaindia.com/

Achievements for May 6, 2008

Megan Granderson, a senior at Castle High School, was recently recognized for her achievement as a state officeholder in the Health Occupation Student Association at a ceremony in Indianapolis. Her parents are Victor Granderson of Evansville and Mary Jane Granderson of Chandler. She plans to attend the University of Southern Indiana in the fall as a nursing student.

Fourteen art students from Central High School received awards during the 2008 American General Financial Services Art Show recently. In the two-dimensional art category, Halli Nall took first place; Krya Schmidt, second place; Kristine Croxton, third place; and Rachel Cartwright and Lindsey Wannemuehler received an honorable mention. In the three-dimensional art category, Stormy Kennedy took first place; Brittany Steele, second place; Natalie Yesbick, third place; and Stephanie Rexing and Shakira Washington received an honorable mention.

In the photography category, Monica Block took first place; Theresia Russell, second place; and Amy Rexing received an honorable mention. Nicole Hensley received the Employees' Choice Award and Best of Show. The show was juried by David Rodenberg and Nancy Raen-Mendez. Each student received a gift card, a certificate of achievement and an award ribbon.

The Northside Kiwanis Club will award scholarships to high school seniors May 13 at a noon luncheon at Meadows Catering on First Avenue. They are Chelsie A Feagley, Memorial; Tabitha Cravens, North; Zachary K. Hermayer, Harrison; Ashley Adler and Pamela Weinzapfel, Mater Dei; Eric Hohimer, Bosse High; and Shakira Washington and Shelise Washington, Central.

news source : http://www.courierpress.com/

Shakira & Gordon Brown Fix Everyone’s Problems

Gordon Brown is in a pickle. Since he became Prime Minister he’s been hit with a credit crunch, floods, disease outbreaks and diplomatically awkward Olympic tensions. Clearly the man needs help to get his popularity shifting upwards again. And, having looked at the problem thoroughly, Gordon Brown found the only person on the face of the Earth who even came close to matching his requirements. Shakira.

No, really. Shakira. Shakira and Gordon Brown have been yammering away on the phone trying to thrash out a solution to third world education. We know, this news makes us want to rush out and vote for Gordon Brown immediately too, but let’s be smart here - if we play it cool enough, Brown won’t stop at Shakira. Finally, our dreams of seeing Eva Longoria as a Secretary Of State For Work And Pensions have got one step closer to reality! Politicians and pop stars aren’t so different, really. Take Gordon Brown and Shakira for example - recently Brown’s been busy examining his stance on biofuel in the wake of the global fuel crisis, and Shakira has been wiggling her tits around independently of each other while singing a song about how she shags blokes real good. One and the same, one and the same.

Of course, there are subtle differences between the two of them as well - recent rumours of a three-way Shakira sex tape got the world more excited than it had ever been, while the thought of Gordon Brown filming himself having sex just makes people want to throw up, rub the thrown-up vomit into their eyes until they’re blind, set themselves on fire and run screaming into a dirty syringe factory chased by an angry bear.

Despite this, though, one of two things were always going to happen when Shakira and Gordon Brown got together. Either a) they’d discuss the need for increased aid and debt relief in third world countries to help implement a universal basic education system, or b) they’d have a red-hot sexalicious rumpity-pump bonking sesh with three buckets of honey and a midget David Cameron lookalike dressed in a rubber gimp suit.

Yeah, it was the first one. Shame. The Press Association reports:

Pop star Shakira, famous for songs such as Hips Don’t Lie, heaped praise on the PM, saying he is “very smart” and “brave” with “wonderful intentions”. The unlikely pair came together on a conference call to discuss education in the Third World, with the world’s media listening in. In the call, which also featured World Bank president Robert Zoellick, the PM and the singer spoke of their backing for the Global Campaign for Education which aims to have every child in the world in school by 2015.

In fact, Shakira is just the latest piece of celebrity totty who Gordon Brown has pretended to be interested in recently. Not so long ago he was doing the exact same thing with Angelina Jolie, which at least proves that Gordon Brown is dedicated to getting every child in the world in school so long as a pretty lady is explaining it for him.

And, who knows, Gordon Brown might even get a bump in the polls by associating himself so closely with Shakira. If so, we can all look forward to Brown pushing through the Jessica Simpson-initiated Look At My Hair It’s Real Shiny And Cute Like A Princess Or An Angel Act 2008 any day now.

news source : http://www.hecklerspray.com/

Menendez meets with Shakira

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ Shakira is trying to shake things up to provide a basic education to every child in the world. The pop singer met with U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey Tuesday to discuss The Education for All Act.

The Democrat is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees U.S. foreign assistance programs and also is co-sponsor of the proposed bill. "I was delighted to meet an advocate who has repeatedly said that she prefers to use the light that is shone on her to shine it on the causes that are truly important, like basic education for children around the world," Menendez said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined a telephone conference Monday with the Grammy-winning singer famed for her hit "Hips Don't Lie." Shakira is working to highlight the cause of education advocacy group the Global Campaign for Education.

news source : http://www.newsday.com/

Shakira's Hips Not Lying in Sex Tape?

Shakira is the latest celeb caught in a swirl of sex tape rumors. First there were nude photos of “Sex and the City” star Kristin Davis, then Audrey Patridge of “The Hills”. The pornographic pattern was further perpetuated with Lindsay Lohan falsely identified in a sex film. Now the word is Latin pop singer Shakira was caught on tape doing the deed, with two dudes. How do you say ménage à trois in Spanish?

Shakira and her ex-boyfriend, lawyer Alejandro de la Rúa, may have recorded themselves having intercourse on a yacht and included a third party, Spanish pop star Alejandro Sanz. Right now these are merely rumors, reported by various news outlets. However, two of Sanz' former employees are accused of stealing the yacht-slash-sex studio.

If their case goes to trial, it could mean that prosecution may admit the yacht and its contents as evidence, which might showcase Shakira’s hip-shaking action in a new light. The 30-year-old Colombian star could gain even more international notice, but not for top ten hits like “Beautiful Liar”, her 2007 duet with Beyoncé, but for a threesome with two lucky guys. Shakira’s scandalous video would probably put Paris Hilton’s to shame, and Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee to shame.

Complicating matters is that Shakira’s ex, Antonio de la Rúa, is the son of the former president of Argentina, Fernando de la Rúa. When Shakira and de la Rúa first hooked up, news spread quickly throughout Latin America. And a porn video would really make headlines. As a Spanish radio host said, "if some of this tape's content would be made public, it could seriously threaten the singer and couple's private life".

Representatives for both Shakira and Alejandro Sanz deny that a sex tape even exists. Shakira’s hips don’t lie, and neither does videotape. So until the supposed sex tape surfaces, fans will just have to settle for her belly-dancing music videos.

news source : http://www.actressarchives.com/

Belly-dancing toward a dream

Regular Southern girl' finds self-expression in foreign-born art form
VANESSA WILLIS : Everything about Yasmine seems exotic, from her eye makeup to the way she describes how she feels when she performs. So how did a self-described "regular Southern girl" who grew up in ballet slippers and tap shoes end up traveling the world to dance in hip scarves and jingles?

It started with a Christmas gift nine years ago -- a gift certificate for a beginner's bellydance class at the Jewish Community Center. She connected to the dance form immediately during the first lesson. "I loved the movement and the music, and the self-expression it allowed," she says. "The individuality of it, being able to make it your own, spoke to me."

She continued taking lessons, and soon started traveling to attend workshops across the country. Word spread about her talent locally, and she started getting invitations to perform at restaurants including Sofram Turkish Cuisine at the Tower Place shopping center and Kebab Grill on East Boulevard. "I never would've thought I'd do this, but now I can't imagine doing anything else," she says.

Bellydance has exploded in popularity in the last decade. Pop star Shakira became known for her shimmying as she rose to fame. Instructional DVDs promoted through television infomercials tout the health benefits of the dance form, and classes offer instruction in it throughout the Charlotte region. Yasmine eventually formed Magic Hips Dancers, a troupe that performs with her at the restaurants and special events including weddings and family parties. They've also performed at the Carolina Renaissance Festival for seven years as the Jewels of the Caravan, along with her student troupe, The Beledi Beat Dancers.

In 2003, she was invited to guest star in the Bellydance Superstars performance in Charlotte. A couple of weeks later, the company called back to invite her to join them on the next tour. She spent nine weeks in 2004 performing with them in 58 American cities and Canada. They also spent six weeks in Barcelona. She is featured in the "Belly-Dance-O-Rama 3" instructional video produced by The International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance, based in California.

In 2005, she opened Mid-East Dance, fulfilling a life-long dream of owning her own dance studio. Her current students are as young as 9 years old and as old as... "Well, she won't tell me how old she is!" she says, laughing. Yasmine, who goes by her stage name for safety reasons, says she wishes more people knew the history of bellydance.

Contrary to popular belief, it was not created for the entertainment of men, but rather as a way for women to bond as a community and celebrate milestones or fertility. In ancient times, men weren't allowed to watch performances. "It's not hoochy coochie," Yasmine says, laughing. "This is an ancient dance form and an art. Bellydance tells a story. The older I get, the more I have to dance about."

She says the students wear the same clothing they'd use for a yoga class and add layers such as hip scarves to play with while they dance. "Most of us are more clothed than you'd be at a typical aerobics class," Yasmine says. "We don't hand you a bra and belt set in the first class." She initially fell in love with how exotic the movement felt, and then began learning about the rich cultural history behind bellydance. There are many forms of it, with each version having emerged from individual cultures the same way separate language dialects form.

She especially enjoys performing at weddings and family parties because it brings her closer to the Middle Eastern and Asian cultures that bellydance came from. "It's been wonderful how open these people are to me when I dance at events," she says. "Everyone's been accepting. I love that people push tables out of the way and dance with me." Most of her students at the studio are women in their late 20s to their mid 40s. "It's a really positive atmosphere and it's OK no matter what your background is or what size you are," she says.

She says she's watched many students become freed from negative body issues and emerge with better self-confidence. "Some of the students pick a dance name so they can leave `Judy' at the door and step out as this new identity that frees them to dance," she says. "So they're no longer `Suzy's mom' or `John's wife.' They can focus on doing something for themselves." VOICES

news source : http://www.charlotte.com/

Commentary: Slick Willy, Shakira and Scientologists party with miners

Are these boom times or what? The mining community in Toronto soaked in a rare bit of showbiz glamour in the lead up to the Prospectors and Developers of Canada convention in Toronto. The Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI) charity rolled into town on March 1 to hold a banquet and raise money for Third World mining communities. Guests and performers included former U. S. president Bill Clinton, Elton John, Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Shakira, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Burton Cummings and Eugene Levy.

While we applaud good works and hope this one becomes a success, it's been eight months since the CGSGI was launched and it's still not clear what the charity is actually doing to alleviate poverty, or even what the specific plans are. Clinton's larger umbrella charity, the William J. Clinton Foundation, has come under fire south of the border for its lack of transparency for refusing to reveal its list of donors, which include the Saudi royal family and foreign governments. The foundation has raised more than US$500 million so far, including US$131 million from mining financier and former movie mogul Frank Giustra.

Political donations to Bill's wife Hillary, who is running for U. S. president, are capped at US$2,300 per person per election and limited to U. S. citizens, while donations to the Clinton Foundation can be anonymous, unlimited, and made by anyone. Thus a concern is that major political influence with Hillary can be had by donating to the Clinton Foundation, especially with Bill insisting he would continue to raise money for his foundation if Hillary becomes president, and would then only reveal the donors on a "go-forward" basis. Hillary is also refusing to release her income tax statements unless she wins the Democratic Party's nomination as presidential candidate.

Media access was constrained at the CGSGI event, probably in response to recent, highly critical articles and editorials in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Bloomberg that looked at how Giustra flew Bill to Kazakhstan in September 2005 to meet with its strongman president, soon after which Giustra's company UrAsia Energy (since merged into Uranium One) was awarded lucrative state-owned uranium assets there. Giustra followed up months later with a US$31-million donation to the Clinton Foundation, a sum that was only acknowleged in December 2007. Giustra and Clinton say these things are unconnected. --The preceding appeared as an editorial in The Northern Miner

news source : http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/

Jessica Simpson Lap Dance for Tony Romo to Shakira's "Hips Don’t Lie"

By Christi Hall : Jessica Simpson's father Joe may be concentrating on her "Double D's" but Jessica seemingly wants to make sure her current beau and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo knows that she has the entire package and she is not afraid to use it. According to a report from Us Weekly magazine the former pop singer turned wannabe country singer also can show off the moves of a stripper.

The magazine reports on the couple's weekend and notes that on Saturday night the duo hit up Hollywood hotspot Villa with a few pals, including Simpson's former assistant Cacee Cobb and her boyfriend, Scrubs’ star Donald Faison and had what sounds like a pretty wild time.

"Jessica was super social and energetic," an onlooker there told Us Weekly according to a report on the website. If there were any camera phones it shouldn't be long until we see this one on YouTube. It doesn't give the details of how skimpy Jessica was dressed but the chatty source noted that between “singing and dancing with everyone,” Simpson gave Romo a lap dance to Shakira and Wyclef Jean’s “Hips Don’t Lie.”

Good for her. Jess was also laughing and dancing to Diana Ross’ ‘I’m Coming Out,’ and then a disco medley, where she did the disco finger dance move,” the onlooker said. “Everyone at the table was dancing goofy and laughing throughout the night.”

news source : http://www.nationalledger.com/

Fans clamour for Shakira's skirt

Mexico City - A Shakira fan forked out more than $3 000 to buy a bra once worn by the Colombian singer, while another paid $14 000 for front-row seats and the privilege of meeting the hip-shaking star.

The two bids were among the highest on 40 items Shakira donated to an Internet auction that has raised $76 000 for her Bare Feet Foundation, which is building a school for poor children in northern Colombia.

"We had bidders from 10 countries," Eric Gazin, president of the firm Auction Cause which hosted the sale, told reporters on Tuesday.

Another popular item was a shiny lavender skirt with turquoise and coral beading that Shakira wore while singing Hips Don't Lie, during her Oral Fixation tour. The skirt fetched more than $1 000.

Still up for grabs until Sunday are an electric Fender guitar and an acoustic Taylor guitar, both bearing Shakira's autograph. - Sapa-AP

news source : http://www.iol.co.za/

Fan forks out for Shakira's bra

A fan has paid $3,000 (£1,500) to own one of Shakira's bras in an auction for the pop star's children's charity. The singer, who noted that her "breasts are small and humble" in her hit single Whenever, Wherever, is clearing out her wardrobe for the Bare Feet Foundation.

More than $60,000 (£30,700) has been raised so far, with one fan paying $14,100 (£7,200) to meet Shakira. The charity is currently building a school for poor children in the singer's home country, Colombia.

The jewelled bra, which Shakira wore on her Oral Fixation world tour in 2007, was designed by Roberto Cavalli. Other items in the auction included a purple wig and Gibson guitar used in the video for Las De La Intuicion, which sold for $3,301 (£1,700).

Another popular item was a shiny lavender skirt with turquoise and coral beading that Shakira wore while singing Hips Don't Lie on tour, which fetched more than $1,076 (£550). However, a Garden of Eden-style figleaf costume worn on the cover of her Oral Fixation 2 album failed to attract a starting bid of $10,000 (£5,000).

Still up for grabs until Sunday are an electric Fender guitar and an acoustic Taylor guitar, both bearing Shakira's autograph.

news source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Shakira auctions off her costumes for Bare Feet Foundation

The clothes off her back

This weekend, Shakira auctioned off for charity more than 40 costumes from her 2007 Oral Fixation tour. The variously wild and wonderful outfits were bartered for on eBay's Giving Work Web site.

Among the hip-swiveling items: a lavender skirt with coral beads, a low-cut red frock with billowing sleeves and a blue tank top emblazoned with the slogan "For Those Who Love to Rock."

Proceeds will go to her Bare Feet Foundation, which is dedicated to building a school in the singer's native Colombia.

He fears for Scar

Scarlett Johansson has made it to the A-list, but her sometime director, Woody Allen, is cautioning her about the high life. He tells the New York Post's Page Six that she "is so beautiful and so sexy and so gifted ... she can do anything, but she has to make the right choices of films, and she's got to not go the Page Six party route.

"I don't want to read about her in the paper with this boyfriend or that boyfriend, or in rehab or taking pills. ... She has to take her acting seriously ... the way someone like Meryl Streep did it."

Says she

"When I look back on this last year, it's like, what was I thinking?" Lindsay Lohan

Birthdays

Tina Louise (Gilligan's Island), 74 ... Sergio Mendes, 67 ... Sheryl Crow, 46 ... Brandy (Moesha), 29 ... Kelly Rowland (Destiny's Child), 27CONTRIBUTORS: Ananova.com, news services

news source : http://www.dallasnews.com/

Shakira sells off her tour wardrobe for charity

Pop star Shakira is auctioning off items of clothing from her 2007 Oral Fixation tour for charity.

The big-hearted Latin beauty is selling more than 40 stage costumes to raise funds for her Bare Feet Foundation, which is leading a project to build a school for impoverished kids in her native Colombia.

Among the items up for sale on the eBay Giving Works website include a lavender skirt with turquoise and coral beading, a low cut red dress with large, wing-like sleeves, and a blue tank top baring the slogan, 'For Those Who Love to Rock'.

The auction, which began last Friday, is due to close on Sunday. Eric Gazin, president of Auction Cause, the Los Angeles-based firm running the sale, says: "We have bids from all over the world. It's very exciting."

news source :http://breakingnews.iol.ie/

Shakira's bra hot property

A Shakira fan has forked out over $US3,000 ($A3,325) to buy a bra once worn by the Colombian singer, while another paid $US14,000 ($A15,500) for front-row seats and the privilege of meeting the hip-shaking star.

The two bids were among the highest on 40 items Shakira donated to an internet auction that has raised $US76,000 ($A84,250) for her Bare Feet Foundation, which is building a school for poor children in northern Colombia.

Another popular item was a shiny lavender skirt with turquoise and coral beading that Shakira wore while singing Hips Don't Lie, during her Oral Fixation tour.

The skirt fetched more than $US1,000 ($A1,100).

news source : http://www.livenews.com.au/

Reality show casting calls

A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.

The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.

The Biggest Loser
"We are currently looking for outgoing and charismatic TEAMS OF 2 who have personality along with the WANT, DESIRE and COMPETITIVE EDGE to vie for this once in a lifetime opportunity to change your lives forever and compete for $250,000!"

America's Next Top Model - Cycle 11
"Are you a female, aged 18-27, and 5'7" or taller? Do you think you have what it takes to make it in the high stress, high stakes world of modeling? Casting now in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia and Alabama!"

MTV Tr3s Bust A Ritmo
"Have a secret that you wanna spill or a dream that should be a reality? MTV Tr3s needs your unique story, and fierce dance skillz for its new show BUST A RITMO. Bust A Ritmo is the new show from MTV Tr3s that puts your grooves to work! In each episode, we take one eager participant and pair him or her with a famous Latino choreographer to create a series of moves hot enough to put Shakira's hip-shaking to shame."

news source : http://www.tvsquad.com/