Celebrity Blogroll

See the new collection! …read full story

http://www.neighborgoods.net

NeighborGoods News

Howdy neighbor!

Big news today! We learned a lot during our test run in SoCal. With the help of your thoughtful feedback and support, we re-designed the entire service and opened the doors to everyone in the US!

We launched late last night so please log in today and let us know what you think. Click the big FEEDBACK button to report any bugs or to share your thoughts or questions.

Here’s what you can expect:

Simpler design with personalized dashboard

Easier process to add items

Improved discovery of people and items near you

Check out our FAQs for more details on what’s new.

Here’s what you can do:

The most common bit of feedback we get is, “I wish there were more people near me to share with.” Now that NeighborGoods is open nationally, we’re counting on you to invite your friends. We’ve made that easier with the re-design including automatically connecting to your Facebook, Twitter and email accounts if you like. So log in today and invite your friends! Thanks so much for being one of our earliest supporters. You have set the course for this community which we are very proud to launch today. Happy Sharing!

Micki Krimmel
Founder, NeighborGoods.net

*Yet another crowdsourcing app. One wonders what happens when genuinely controversial histories get embedded into apps like this, like, say, the “Glories
of Fascism” series, or a history of “Cold-Hearted Bankers Evicting the Helpless.”

Filed under: Vienna Girardi, Jake Pavelka, Break-ups, The Bachelor

Way before she ever met Jake Pavelka … ” Bachelor ” winner Vienna Girardi got down and dirty in a spring break dance contest — and by the looks of it, she really got the shaft. It all went down in The Bahamas in March 2009 — mere months before Vienna…

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Filed under: will.i.am, Black Eyed Peas, Celebrity Justice, Budweiser Select 55

Will.i.am went on a furious hunt for justice after some scumbag broke into his Bentley last week and now cops say Will’s detective work — aided by his iPad — may have brought down a one-man crime wave. As TMZ first reported, some bad guy made off with…

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It’s known as “CowTown,” but thanks to one dedicated volunteer, it is cats who rule this historic site in Kansas.

Kayla Martell suffers from Alopecia, a disorder that causes people to lose their hair. She would not have competed in a beauty pageant without the help from a 5-year-old also suffering from Alopecia.

Has Shannon Price gone too far this time? First she poses for pictures while ex-husband Gary Coleman lay on his deathbed and then gave interviews within an hour of his passing (both of which she made a profit off of) and now she’s saying that the restraining order Coleman filed was not because of her, but rather he wasn’t "thinking rationally at the time" and his former attorney Randy Kester was actually to blame.

"I believe that Randy manipulated him to go against me," Price, 24, said in an interview with RadarOnline.com. She goes on to say, "I definitely know that Randy does not like me and I don’t know why he has been so vindictive, trying to crush my appearance and my credibility. I’ve never done anything to him.I do believe that Gary was very upset and very shocked about things in the restraining order and the restraining order itself. I’m sure Gary just wasn’t thinking rationally at the time." 

But, Kester insists otherwise, telling Radar, "If you look at his signature and the notary seal on that affidavit that wasn’t done at my office. He reviewed that and signed it. I wasn’t even there when he went through it. He went over it without me and signed it… so for her to say I made him do it, I wasn’t even physically there." 

Kester, who says he wishes Price no "ill will" in spite of all this, goes on to confirm Coleman’s allegations that Price was physically and emotionally destructive. "She was calling (the house) and driving him crazy,” Kester said, adding,  "He couldn’t get her to stop bothering the people there. And there’s a girl, a home health care nurse who will confirm it, that he’s the one who contacted me, he’s the one who got the note from some guy who said that Shannon was stealing the stuff out of his house and he’s the one who asked me to prepare (the restraining order)." 

Price then shockingly says, "I’d rather have someone shoot me in the head before they got any of our belongings because I cherished and respected Gary’s things as much as I respected my own property." She continues to insist that she and her Coleman simply "didn’t think rationally and we just let our tempers get the better of us" and that "We just do things based upon our anger." We’re guessing "anger" is how a lot of people feel about Price. 

Do you think Shannon Price has gone too far with her actions since Gary Coleman’s death? Chime in below!

Like This? Read These:
- Gary Coleman Got Restraining Order Against Shannon Price Prior to His Death
- Did Gary Coleman’s ‘Wife’ Sell Photos of His Death?
- Gary Coleman’s Memorial: No Ex-Wives or Parents Allowed
- Gary Coleman’s Revised Will: No Funeral at All
- Gary Coleman’s Cause of Death Revealed

On June 27, I sat with my daughters, excited to watch the Michael Jackson tribute at the 2010 BET Awards. We watched eagerly, wondering how the infamous Chris Brown, 21, described by many as a Jackson prodigy, planned to pay homage to his idol.

This was Brown’s first major TV performance after a year of laying low, following pleading guilty to assaulting ex-girlfriend Rihanna in Feb. 2009. The scandal greatly tarnished Brown’s image and caused his popularity to dwindlle: I personally chose not to listen to, buy or even play his music. My girls were no stranger to Brown’s reputation and crime. I used the incident as an opportunity to discuss domestic violence with my daughters, making clear to them that Brown’s behavior, which resulted in Rihanna’s injuries, was unacceptable. Filled with doubt and intrigue, I waited to see if Brown could actually redeem himself in the public eye through this national "comeback."

Brown was off to a great start, standing behind a white screen in silhouette, hat in hand. Then, the curtain dropped and he emerged dressed like Michael Jackson, dancing perfectly to a medley of MJ’s greatest hits. The costumes lit up and Brown managed to mimic Michael’s moves flawlessly, down to Jackson’s famous, and difficult to imitate, moonwalk. He was paying homage to his fallen idol and it all went so well, until Brown took to the mic to sing Jackson’s famous song "Man in the Mirror." Brown had only let out a few notes before his voice started to crack and he could no longer sing — not because the dancing had left him winded, but because Chris Brown, overcome with emotion, had started to cry.

Brown tried several times to continue singing but was unable to pull himself together — at one point he even dropped to his knees — before walking off of the stage. The background singers and music continued on while the audience sang along, and many looked very moved by Brown’s reaction. My daughters, however, were confused. My youngest daughter, a huge Michael Jackson fan, wanted an explanation. Had he injured himself while dancing or simply forgotten the words? She couldn’t understand why he couldn’t finish — or really even start — the song. I couldn’t immediately respond with an answer, because as moved as I was watching Brown’s breakdown, I was also perplexed. I explained to my daughters that due to Brown’s experiences during the past year or so, he was most likely overwhelmed by the significance of this performance and the subject matter of the song. When my older daughter asked if I believed that Brown’s reaction was the result of genuine remorse of his past, I questioned my emotions and then his motives. Did Brown actually have a "moment" when singing, or was his attention-getting breakdown part of a ploy to resurrect his dying career?

This also raised an even more important question: If Brown indeed was remorseful and trying to make amends, should my girls and I view him differently? Should we give him a second chance as an artist?

A main factor I had to consider was the song itself. "Man in the Mirror" is one of Michael Jackson’s most powerful and intense works. It begins with "I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life. It’s gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right." The message is to examine one’s life, take responsibility and right wrongs. I’ve gotten choked up a few times listening to Jackson sing it, but seeing Brown’s reaction to the song had me torn. Was he sincerely moved to tears or was this a publicity stunt?

As I watched a sobbing Brown on stage at the BET awards, I wanted to believe that he was truly moved by the words made famous by his idol. Like Jackson, Brown has encountered scandal and public scrutiny, but MJ’s troubles tragically resulted in his life ending prematurely. Later in the program Brown accepted the AOL Fandemonium Award, beating out Justin Bieber, and said to the world " I let you down before, but I won’t ever again. I promise."

So should we believe him? Some supported Brown, others mocked him, but many, like myself, remain unsure and torn between writing him off or allowing him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps in singing (or not being able to sing) the song forced Brown to carefully examine his own reflection in the mirror. Maybe he decided to become a man by acknowledging and accepting responsibility for the actions of his ill-tempered teenage self who hurt Rihanna. Let’s hope that Chris Brown is inspired by the song’s message to "make that change" so that he may have a second chance to follow Michael’s dance steps, instead of the footsteps to destruction.

As for my daughters and me, I’ve decided that the right thing to do is set an example and keep an open mind. By allowing Chris Brown’s future actions and music to speak for itself, we can move forward by watching, listening and then judging.

Did you think Brown’s reaction was genuine or a PR stunt? Chime in below!

Like This? Read These:
- POLL: Were Chris Brown’s Tears at the BET Awards Sincere?
- The Latest Michael Jackson News

We’re shocked! She usually never speaks to the press!

With a few small exceptions, Lauryn Hill has been been somewhat a recluse since the smash success of her 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and hasn’t recorded anything else.

Many have speculated that she had some sort of breakdown, but gurlfriend is finally putting all the rumors to rest by explaining why she left music behind!

She explains:

“There were a number of different reasons. But partly, the support system that I needed was not necessarily in place. There were things about myself, personal-growth things, that I had to go through in order to feel like it was worth it. In fact, as musicians and artists, it’s important we have an environment — and I guess when I say environment, I really mean the [music] industry, that really nurtures these gifts. Oftentimes, the machine can overlook the need to take care of the people who produce the sounds that have a lot to do with the health and well-being of society, or at least some aspect of society. And it’s important that people be given the time that they need to go through, to grow, so that the consciousness level of the general public is properly affected. Oftentimes, I think people are forced to make decisions prematurely. And then that sound radiates.”

But rest assured, she is starting to perform again, and may even record another album!

“I’m trying to open up my range and really sing more. With The Fugees initially, and even with Miseducation, it was very hip-hop — always a singing over beats. I don’t think people have really heard me sing out. So if I do record again, perhaps it will have an expanded context. Where people can hear a bit more.”

We hope so, bb! And if not, it’s still good to hear from you!

You have been missed!

[Image via AP Images.]

Although the pop star is used to frequenting high-end hotels in Barbados, Rihanna may have gotten herself banned from one.

The singer and her friends trashed a hotel room while drinking, pAARtying and smoking weed non-stop, according to local reports. Hotel staff had to keep knocking on the door because the smoke alarm was continually going off.

Considering she reportedly wrecked the place while staying there with an ex boyfriend, she will not be invited back. And we’re sure she’s gonna get a huge bill AGAIN.

WTF, RiRi?! No need to trash the place.

[Image via WENN.]

Get a sneak peak at “behind the scenes” footage from Britney’s new Candie’s shoot, and hear about the line from Brit herself!We can’t wait until July 1st to see the full Candie’s Limited Edition Collection design by Britney! Only… …read full story

Thanks to everyone who submitted a picture for the Be Britney’s Dancer picture contest! There were some amazing entries and we hope that everyone had as much fun taking them as we had looking at them.Winners were chosen at random… …read full story

*Oh brother…

via @augmented

*Mind you, I didn’t write this, I’m just posting it…

http://en.slow-media.net/manifesto

The Slow Media Manifesto

The first decade of the 21st century, the so-called ‘naughties’, has  
brought profound changes to the technological foundations of the media  
landscape. The key buzzwords are networks, the Internet and social  
media. In the second decade, people will not search for new  
technologies allowing for even easier, faster and low-priced content  
production. Rather, appropriate reactions to this media revolution are  
to be developed and integrated politically, culturally and socially.
 
The concept “Slow”, as in “Slow Food” and not as in “Slow Down”, is a  
key for this. Like “Slow Food”, Slow Media are not about fast  
consumption but about choosing the ingredients mindfully and preparing  
them in a concentrated manner. Slow Media are welcoming and  
hospitable. They like to share.

1. Slow Media are a contribution to sustainability. Sustainability  
relates to the raw materials, processes and working conditions, which  
are the basis for media production. Exploitation and low-wage sectors  
as well as the unconditional commercialization of user data will not  
result in sustainable media. At the same time, the term refers to the  
sustainable consumption of Slow Media.

2. Slow media promote Monotasking. Slow Media cannot be consumed  
casually, but provoke the full concentration of their users. As with  
the production of a good meal, which demands the full attention of all  
senses by the cook and his guests, Slow Media can only be consumed  
with pleasure in focused alertness.

3. Slow Media aim at perfection. Slow Media do not necessarily  
represent new developments on the market. More important is the  
continuous improvement of reliable user interfaces that are robust,  
accessible and perfectly tailored to the media usage habits of the  
people.

4. Slow Media make quality palpable. Slow Media measure themselves in  
production, appearance and content against high standards of quality  
and stand out from their fast-paced and short-lived counterparts – by  
some premium interface or by an aesthetically inspiring design.

5. Slow Media advance Prosumers, i.e. people who actively define what  
and how they want to consume and produce. In Slow Media, the active  
Prosumer, inspired by his media usage to develop new ideas and take  
action, replaces the passive consumer. This may be shown by marginals  
in a book or animated discussion about a record with friends. Slow  
Media inspire, continuously affect the users’ thoughts and actions and  
are still perceptible years later.

6. Slow Media are discursive and dialogic. They long for a counterpart  
with whom they may come in contact. The choice of the target media is  
secondary. In Slow Media, listening is as important as speaking. Hence  
‘Slow’ means to be mindful and approachable and to be able to regard  
and to question one’s own position from a different angle.

7. Slow Media are Social Media. Vibrant communities or tribes  
constitute around Slow Media. This, for instance, may be a living  
author exchanging thoughts with his readers or a community  
interpreting a late musician’s work. Thus Slow Media propagate  
diversity and respect cultural and distinctive local features.

8. Slow Media respect their users. Slow Media approach their users in  
a self-conscious and amicable way and have a good idea about the  
complexity or irony their users can handle. Slow Media neither look  
down on their users nor approach them in a submissive way.

9. Slow Media are distributed via recommendations not advertising: the  
success of Slow Media is not based on an overwhelming advertising  
pressure on all channels but on recommendation from friends,  
colleagues or family. A book given as a present five times to best  
friends is a good example.

10. Slow Media are timeless: Slow Media are long-lived and appear  
fresh even after years or decades. They do not lose their quality over  
time but at best get some patina that can even enhance their value.

11. Slow Media are auratic: Slow Media emanate a special aura. They  
generate a feeling that the particular medium belongs to just that  
moment of the user’s life. Despite the fact that they are produced  
industrially or are partially based on industrial means of production,  
they are suggestive of being unique and point beyond themselves.

12. Slow Media are progressive not reactionary: Slow Media rely on  
their technological achievements and the network society’s way of  
life. It is because of the acceleration of multiple areas of life,  
that islands of deliberate slowness are made possible and essential  
for survival. Slow Media are not a contradiction to the speed and  
simultaneousness of Twitter, Blogs or Social Networks but are an  
attitude and a way of making use of them.

13. Slow Media focus on quality both in production and in reception of  
media content: Craftsmanship in cultural studies such as source  
criticism, classification and evaluation of sources of information are  
gaining importance with the increasing availability of information.

14. Slow Media ask for confidence and take their time to be credible.  
Behind Slow Media are real people. And you can feel that.

Stockdorf and Bonn, Jan 2, 2010

Benedikt Köhler
Sabria David
Jörg Blumtritt

Confer also:

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elissa-altman/move-over-slow-food-intro_b_367517.html
• http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/11/17/pm-slow-media/
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/announcing-my-first-pick-_b_310544.html
• http://blog.oup.com/2008/11/slow_blog/
• http://www.shep.ca/?p=132

&

http://blog.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/?p=5122 (in German)

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