Curried Peanut Chicken

Ingredients:

* 1-1/2 cups orange juice
* 3/4 cup Jif® Peanut Butter
* 2 tablespoons curry powder
* 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
* 2 medium sweet red peppers, cut in half
* 1/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted
* 1/4 cup dried currants
* Hot cooked rice

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the orange juice, peanut butter and curry powder. Pour 2/3 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade.
Drain chicken and discard marinade. Grill chicken and peppers, covered, over medium heat for 5-8 minutes on each side or until chicken juices run clear and peppers are tender.
Warm the reserved marinade. Cut chicken and peppers into 1/2-in. strips; sprinkle with coconut and currants. Serve with rice and reserved marinade.
Yield: 4 servings.

David Cook Album Makes Impressive Chart Debut

The latest season winner of the "American Idol" David Cook's new album made its highly successful debut on the music charts Wednesday.

Cook's self-titled, first album sounded off at No. 3 on the Billboard charts. It also notched No. 1 on the digital album chart -- reportedly the best debut from an "Idol" winner since 2006.

Meanwhile, the album's first single, "Light On," remains hugely popular on the Internet and public radio.

Conquer Your Cravings

It's 8:00 p.m., and you're sitting comfortably in front of the television when suddenly the urge hits:

You must have a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream. You can't stop thinking about it. Your craving is so intense that if you don't find ice cream hidden in the back of your freezer, you may even run out to the store to pick up a half-gallon.
We've all experienced those strong urges for a particular food -- whether it be ice cream, greasy French fries, or Oreo cookies. So how do you prevent your craving from turning into an out-of-control binge? Nutrition experts offer these simple tips to tame your urges.
We've all experienced those strong urges for a particular food -- whether it be ice cream, greasy French fries, or Oreo cookies. So how do you prevent your craving from turning into an out-of-control binge? Nutrition experts offer these simple tips to tame your urges.

• Let it pass. Studies suggest that the average craving lasts only about 10 minutes, so try to let the urge subside before you even walk into the kitchen or toward the vending machine.
• Practice portion control. While it's okay to slip up occasionally, you need to keep an eye on how much you're eating. Try to prevent yourself from overindulging by placing only a certain amount of food in front of you. For instance, try putting potato chips in a small bowl rather than eating them right out of the bag.
• Reach for healthy substitutes. Try to eat a similar food that has a better nutritional value than the one you crave. A glass of chocolate skim milk instead of a candy bar is a healthier choice. Or, instead of regular ice cream, try low-fat frozen yogurt.
• Don't be too restrictive. Any food is okay in moderation and depriving yourself may lead you to overeat something else.
• Write sown this the underlying trigger. Once you figure out what's causing your urges, try looking for other ways to address those emotional needs. If you're having a stressful day, take a break and go for a walk or call a friend. If you're feeling down, try renting a funny movie.

Raw Food Diet -- Extremely Healthy or Just Extreme?

And the diet leaves out a lot of foods ... A balanced diet includes raw and cooked foods. Severe diets are making headlines, claiming to reverse diabetes and cut heart disease risk.

In the upcoming documentary Raw for 30 Days, six diabetics eat a vegan, organic diet of uncooked nuts, seeds and veggies. By the end, all have gone off insulin and most have lost about 25 pounds.

A raw-food diet consists of mostly plant-based foods that aren't heated above 115 degrees or so. Proponents say it helps ease many conditions, from migraines to arthritis.

But it's hard-core. "And the diet leaves out a lot of foods," says Andrea Giancoli of the American Dietetic Association. "A balanced diet includes raw and cooked foods."

Another trendy plan: no food at all. In a study, people who fasted one day a month had lower rates of heart disease. Fasting may give a rest to cells constantly exposed to glucose.

Both diets look promising but are tough to stay with. Until research confirms the findings, your best bet is a healthy, diverse diet that you can stick to for life.

The Way We Were Meant to Eat

If you capture a wild animal for a zoo, what kind of diet do you feed it? Something like what it ate in the wild, of course. So why shouldn't a good human diet follow the same theory?

The diet the hunter-gatherers ate is the diet we're genetically programmed to consume, the one humans ate for 99.6 percent of their time on earth. While it varied depending on geographic area, the basic breakdown looked like this:

• Up to 30 percent of calories from protein.


• Between 45 and 60 percent of calories from carbohydrates (all complex carbohydrates high in fiber).


• Between 20 and 30 percent of calories from fat (primarily unsaturated)
• Evidence from our ancestors shows us that eating foods high in cholesterol may not raise our cholesterol levels.

Our ancestors certainly ate meat, when they could get it, suggesting that meat by itself is not a bad thing. But the meat they ate came from wild game, not cows penned into small spaces, chickens raised in miniscule pens, or pigs crowded into corrals. Because that game grazed in the wild or on grasslands, its meat had more of the beneficial unsaturated fatty acids, called omega-3 fatty acids. Today, because most animals raised for meat are fed diets high in processed feed -- instead of grazing on grass or being fed the grains, nuts, seeds, and algae critical for the formation of omega-3 fatty acids -- they contain very few of these essential nutrients. Also, wild animals have a low total fat content: around 5 percent of calories, compared to the 30 percent found in today's corn-fed domestic cattle.

Because they ate every bit of the animals they killed, including the bone marrow, liver, and other organ meats, our ancestors got quite a bit of cholesterol -- even more than is found in the typical American diet. They ate lots of eggs (sometimes raiding the nests of birds), and those who lived by the sea consumed a great deal of shellfish, all high in cholesterol. But you can bet they didn't have cholesterol levels off the chart. (How do we know? For one thing, modern hunter-gatherers and indigenous peoples of preindustrial societies don't have high cholesterol.) That's why a successful diet doesn't focus on limiting your intake of cholesterol. While the evidence is still mixed on whether or not we can simply ignore dietary cholesterol altogether, particularly in people at high risk for heart disease, there is increasing evidence that when your overall diet is good, the cholesterol in your food has little impact on the cholesterol in your blood.

So perhaps we can learn something from our heart-healthy predecessors!

Migraines and Risk of Stroke

As many as 17 percent of women and 6 percent of men have experienced the debilitating pain of a migraine. Research shows that women who have migraines accompanied by their distinctive "aura" symptoms are at greater risk of having a stroke than those who don't get migraines.

Why the link? Migraine headaches are caused by inflammation of the arteries surrounding the brain. Other arteries inside the brain may spasm during an attack as well, temporarily cutting off circulation, thus increasing the odds of a stroke.
Migraine and Stroke
ComstockComplete
Migraine headaches are caused by inflammation of the arteries surrounding the brain.

Additional risks. Abnormalities in the lining of arteries may also allow blood to clot more readily. "And in rare cases, arteries leading to the brain may tear more easily," says Gretchen Tietjen, MD, a professor of neurology at the University of Toledo. These tears can cause vessels to narrow and clots to form. Extra estrogen from oral contraceptives (especially in smokers) or hormone therapy can further boost clotting factors to create a perfect storm for a stroke.

How to reduce your risks. Low-dose aspirin has b

Young Musicians Shine at 'American Music Awards'

The 2008 "American Music Awards" welcomed many young musicians to the stage including Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and Rihanna -- get the recap here, including the winner's list!

Jimmy Kimmel hosted the "AMA"'s at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Christina Aguilera started off the show on an exciting note, belting out a medley of her hits!

"Christina Aguilera had a baby ... Mariah Carey married one," Kimmel joked recapping musician headlines from the year.

Mariah was escorted on stage by her husband Nick Cannon to perform her song "I stay in Love". Prior to her performance, Terrence Howard presented her with an "AMA" for breaking records in music.

Annie Lennox received the Award of Merit by surprise guest Justin Timberlake. Kanye West accepted the award for Rap/Hip Hop Album. "I wake up in the morning thinking about what stereotypes I wanna break," Kanye said as he accepted the award. "I wanna be Elvis."

The star studded list of performers included: New Kids on the Block, Pink, Taylor Swift, The Fray, Beyonce, Coldplay, Jonas Brothers and more!

Miley celebrated her 16th birthday by performing on the "AMA"'s and entering the stage driving a car!

Pop star Rihanna took two trips to the podium winning awards for favorite Soul R&B Female and Pop/Rock Female. The coveted Artist of the Year award was presented to Chris Brown.

The show concluded with an stunning performance by Alicia Keys who was accompanied by Queen Latifah and Kathleen Battle.

2008 "AMA" Winners:

Soul R&B Female - Rihanna

Pop/Rock Male - Chris Brown

Country Band/Duo/Group - Rascal Flats

Rap/Hip-Hop Album - Kanye West (Graduation)

Country Male - Brad Paisley

Pop/Rock Album - Alicia Keys (As I Am)

Award of Merit - Annie Lennox

Country Female - Taylor Swift

Pop/Rock Female - Rihanna

Rap/Hip-Hop Male - Kanye West

T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award - Jonas Brothers

Soul/R&B Album - Alicia Keys (As I Am)

Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group - Daughtry

Artist of the Year - Chris Brown

The Power of Prayer

Want to live seven years longer? Start praying. We're not joking here; seven years is the increase in lifespan you can expect if you nurture your soul and your health through prayer, faith, and religious involvement, according to various studies. For one thing, research shows a strong connection between heart health and religious faith. In one study, people who went into open-heart surgery and reported feeling strength and comfort from their religion were three times more likely to survive the surgery than ­people with no such spiritual grounding.

Research shows a strong connection between heart health and religious faith.

If there's a placebo effect at work here—if ­people get better because they believe they will—who's to argue with the benefits? Whether praying calms you, gives you hope, or helps you tend to your inner self, if you feel you're getting something out of it, it's time well spent.

Light ’n’ Luscious Blueberry Pancakes

Wake them up with pancakes sizzling on the griddle. These are overflowing with juicy berries and are so light they melt away with every bite. Call them griddle cakes, batter cakes, hoecakes, or flapjacks - or just plain pancakes. But make them often, for they’re a healthful way to start the day.

Prep time 15 min.
Cook time 12 min.
Serves 4

You Will Need
1 cup self-rising flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pint fresh blueberries
1/4 cup blueberry or maple syrup
What to Do
1. Whisk flour, sugar, and baking soda in medium bowl. Make a well in center of mixture. Measure buttermilk in large measuring cup; whisk in oil, egg, and vanilla until blended. Pour into well and whisk just until moistened. Let stand 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, coat large nonstick griddle or skillet with nonstick cooking spray and set over medium heat until hot but not smoking. For each pancake, pour about 2 tablespoons batter onto griddle and scatter a few blueberries onto each pancake.

3. Cook until bubbles appear all over cakes and those around edge start to burst, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook until undersides are golden, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Serve pancakes topped with remaining berries and syrup.

Cook’s Clue
Cook pancakes just the way you like them. For light-golden cakes with no crispy edges, turn them just when the tops are covered with bubbles but none have burst, about 2 minutes. For crispier edges, as in this recipe, wait until the bubbles around the edges have just started to burst before turning, about 1 minute longer. Then cook the underside about 2 more minutes until lightly browned.

Health Hint
If possible, use fresh fruit with your pancakes; avoid frozen. When fruit is frozen, it often loses its color and taste.

Living Smart for a Healthy Heart
Blueberries contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds found in a wide variety of plant foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help neutralize destructive forms of oxygen in our bodies called free radicals that can harm cells and are thought to contribute to chronic disease. Free radicals are the result of normal metabolism and are caused by environmental factors, such as ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, cigarette smoke, and other forms of pollution. While there are hundreds of different forms of antioxidants, those most recognized for their ability to fight disease and enhance immunity include vitamins E, C, and beta-carotene, and the mineral selenium.

Per serving
348 calories / 26% from fat
2 g saturated fat, 10 g total fat
56 mg cholesterol
674 mg sodium
58 g total carbohydrate
4 g dietary fiber
8 g protein

Madonna and Guy Ritchie Divorce Update

The most controversial couple. The superstar and her husband announced their split last month, and now ET has the details on Madonna and Guy Ritchie's latest divorce developments!

Madonna and Ritchie have just been granted a preliminary decree of divorce by a London court, says the Associated Press.

The divorce can become final after six weeks and a day, says the AP.

Madonna and Ritchie, who have been married for eight years, were not at Friday's court session.

Baby Alert! Forbes Names Suri Cruise #1 Hottest Tot!

The cute and beautiful Suri Cruise flashes her baby blue eyes in awe at a ball game she enjoys with her parents. Suri just edged out another two-year-old celebrity offspring, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, for the top tot spot.

The other celeb babies who made the list are three-year-old Zahara Jolie Pitt and four-year-old Pax Jolie-Pitt, who nabbed the third and fourth spots respectively.

And they're followed by Sam Alexis Woods (daughter of Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren), Cruz Beckham (the three-year-old son of Victoria and David Beckham), Matilda Rose Ledger (Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger's three-year-old daughter), David Banda (Madonna and Guy Ritchie's adopted son), and Sean Preston Federline (Britney Spears and Kevin Federline's older son) also made the cut.

Rounding out the list in the 10th spot is Sam Sheen, the four-year-old daughter of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen.

Brad Pitt: I'm Hard as Nails

Brad Pitt tells Oprah Winfrey that fatherhood has made him "hard as nails."

"I'm impervious to poo, snot, urine, vomit," Brad said when asked how being a dad has changed him. "You can't get me. You cannot break me down."

Brad says his children don't know how funny they really are. "Right now [Shiloh's] in this thing. First of all, she only wants to be called John. John or Peter. " he explains. "So it's a 'Peter Pan' thing."

Brad and Angelina Jolie are parents to six children: Maddox, Pax Thien, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.

Catch the rest of Brad's candid interview tomorrow on Oprah.

Fresh Details on New Kelly Clarkson Song

New details are emerging about a song that could turn out to be Kelly Clarkson's first single off her upcoming album. What does the tune sound like and when it might drop? Read on to find out!

Kelly's producer Dr. Luke tells Entertainment Weekly that the song, "My Life Would Suck Without You," is free of "country twang," and could get released as early as December.

Dr. Luke adds that the "Idol" champ has been a knockout during studio recording sessions: "It's sick. She sings a song in two hours and kills it," he tells the mag. "She has powerful lungs. She's like the Lance Armstrong of vocal chords."

David Cook Opens Up About Kimberly Caldwell

The hottest "American Idol" winner explains why he finds it easy to date Kimberly, who was also a contestant on the popular singing competition.

"I think she just gets that this is all nuts," the 25-year-old singer tells People magazine at the Do the Wright Thing Gala at the Hard Rock Café in New York. "She's a nice break from the chaos," David adds.

Kimberly, 26, from the second season of "American Idol," and has a music career of her own and released two singles earlier this year. But David, who confirmed last May that he was dating Kimberly, said there are no plans for the duo to perform duets.

David Cook's self-titled album is due to be released November 18. Good Luck Bro..

'Quantum' Conquers Box Office, New 007 Record

The anticipated James Bond new film 'Quantum of Solace' took the box office by storm this weekend with projected sales of $70.4 million -- and broke a 007 record!

Sony's latest action-packed offering easily set a new opening record for James Bond films in North America, beating the 2002 opening of 'Die Another Day,' which made $47.1 million. The last 007 film released was 'Casino Royale' in 2006, which opened to $40.8 million.

'Quantum of Solace,' starring Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko and Judi Dench, takes James Bond on a global mission to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country's water supply. The film opened outside of North America two weeks ago and has so far made $251.6 million in 73 countries.

Dropping to No. 2 this weekend was the DreamWorks' animated sequel 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,' which brought in $36.1 million. The children-friendly comedy, with the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith, had a huge opening last week and now has a total gross of $118 million.

Universal's comedy 'Role Models' finished in third place with $11.7 million, while Disney's 'High School Musical 3: Senior Year' came in fourth with $5.9 million. This movie is so cool.

Barack Obama Makes Big Offer to Hillary Clinton

The newly elected President Barack Obama has a new report says President-elect Barack Obama had a "serious discussion" with Hillary Clinton on Thursday.

Obama reportedly asked Clinton if she'd be interested in joining his cabinet as secretary of state, multiple Democratic sources tell CNN. Though Clinton's answer is unknown, CNN's sources say she left the meeting thinking the job is hers if she wants it.

A source close to the Obama transition team tells CNN that a president-elect doesn't meet with cabinet secretary prospects unless they seriously intend to make an offer. Good Luck to you Sir!

Kim Kardashian on her 'How I Met Your Mother' Experience

The uprising star and the heiress and Former "Dancing With the Stars" contestant Kim Kardashian guest-stars on an upcoming episode of "How I Met Your Mother," and the role she plays hits very close to home!

Kim blogs about the experience and reveals what character she plays on the show: "I played the role of -- wait for it -- myself."

In the episode, Marshall (Jason Segel) reads an issue of a weekly magazine with Kim on the cover, and to his surprise she comes to life! The 28-year-old beauty appears on the same episode as reality couple Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt of MTV's "The Hills."

Kim who is a fan of the show was supported by her mother Kris Jenner. The reality star is excited to see herself on the sitcom and also hoping for more acting opportunities in the future. "I can't wait to see the show! I really had a great time and hope this opens up other opportunities for me in the acting world." I cant wait to see her again on tv.

Michael Jackson Gives Up Neverland?

There was a news that shock the public because Michael Jackson has transferred the deed to his fabled Neverland ranch to a company that he reportedly has a controlling interest in.

According to the papers filed at the Santa Barbara County clerk-recorder's office, the new owner of Neverland is Sycamore Valley Ranch Co. LLC, which the Associated Press reports is a joint venture between Jackson and an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC.

The fate of Jackson's 2,500-acre property in Santa Barbara, CA -- complete with estate, amusement park and zoo -- is not known. Facing foreclosure and financial woes, Jackson has not lived there since his arrest in 2003 and subsequent trial on child molestation charges, of which he was acquitted. Good Luck Pal!

Warshock your the best!

I want my template to be cool just like the others. When my sister told me about her friend that He is willing to help me out to edit my template. I was so exited and grateful to him. Even though we didn't meet personally but I know deep inside that he has a good heart. To you warshock, my friend thank you so much!

I love HamBurger

Yesterday, I went to trisha's burger station. One of the old store selling delicious Burger. I love Hamburgers. I ordered one pepsi 12 oz and hamburger with chili sauce.

What's Barack Obama's Favorite Sweet!?

The first family and President-elect Barack Obama and the rest of the Obama clan may be the next First Family, but that doesn't mean they don't have a hankering for sweet snacks just like the rest of us!

The Obama's treat of choice -- Fran's Chocolates! Mmm-mmm good!

Since 1982, the Seattle-based company has been anything but your run-of-the mill chocolate producer. Fran's designs its products keeping the chocolate connoisseur in mind with delicious delights like handmade truffles, award-winning Dark Hot Chocolate, and the NASFT Gold Medal-winning Smoked Sea Salt Caramels.

President-elect Obama's chocolate of choice is the Smoked Sea Salt Caramel in Milk Chocolate, while wife Michelle prefers the dark chocolate confections, says Sean Seedlock, Fran's marketing chief.

The treats are available at Fran's Chocolates, as well as select stores nationwide. For more information on these tasty morsels, go to www.franschocolates.com.

I'm a hog raiser

Aside from working in the government I also have sidelines in the farm. Well, of course all of us has a sideline in order to have extra money. Because my salary alone cannot give the things that I want. Here are the photos of my pet.

Brooke Shields On Adoption Rumors

Brooke Shields is in the "Lipstick Jungle" of New York City, where she accepted her honor as a "Woman Who Gets It Right" Monday night! She also took time to dish on her hit NBC show -- and address those adoption rumors!

"We moved to Friday nights so that seems to be a better move -- they're pretty excited about that," she says of "Lipstick Jungle. "It's heating up even more ... and some exciting things happen."

Watch the video to find out what Brooke has to say about rumors that she might adopt!

Brooke was honored with the Wo(men) Who Get It Right award at an event put on by the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Former President Bill Clinton also attended and addressed the audience.

Person of Interest in Hudson Slayings to Get Parole Hearing

William Balfour, a person of interest in the murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, has a parole hearing on Monday. What might happen if the hearing goes in his favor?

Balfour hasn't been charged in the shootings of Hudson's relatives, and the Associated Press says he could be released from custody if, during his hearing, an administrative officer determines there is no reason to keep him detained.

Balfour, 27, is the husband to Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson, but they are separated. The AP says he missed his meeting with his parole agent on the day Hudson's mother and brother were killed.

Barack Obama Offers Apology to Nancy Reagan for Remark

What did the President-elect say about the former first lady?

A presidential transition rep says Obama called Reagan to voice his regret over making a "careless and off handed remark" about her during a press conference, reports Politico.

Politico says that at the press conference, a reporter asked Obama if he'd talked to all the "living" presidents, and Obama replied, "I have spoken to all of them who are living," adding: "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any séances."

Reagan reportedly conferred with an astrologer, Politico says.

The New President of US

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — It wasn't so long ago that Barack Obama himself considered the idea of a President Obama to be "hooey."
Four years later, he's headed for the White House, after a campaign that had more than its share of bizarre twists, unexpected controversies and the occasional stroke of bad luck.
A look back at some key moments:
---
HERE'S LOOKING AT YOUTUBE
The Illinois senator's presidential campaign showed how it gained pop culture status when it inspired the "Obama Girl" video that became a hit on YouTube.
Millions of people watched a busty woman in a tight Obama T-shirt lip-synch such lyrics as "You're into border security, let's break this border between you and me."
Then another video came along to give Obama a different kind of boost. Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas set an Obama speech to music and invited a red-carpetful of celebrities to sing along.
There was Scarlett Johansson purring, "We want change," and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talking about blazing "a trail toward freedom." John Legend, Kate Walsh and Herbie Hancock declared, "Yes, we can."
Suddenly, earnest patriotism was hip.
---
TEARDROPS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton battled for months before he clinched the Democratic nomination, but the Primary That Wouldn't End almost came to an early close in January.
Obama had beaten Clinton in the Iowa caucuses. If he had done it again in the New Hampshire primary, her campaign would have been mortally wounded.
Everything looked good for Obama, but then came a Clinton moment that shook things up. Her campaign mask seemed to crack briefly.
Asked by a sympathetic voter how she kept going in the grueling campaign, Clinton replied, "It's not easy. It's not easy." Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice grew hoarse.
It would be silly to think Clinton won New Hampshire solely because of that moment, but there's no doubt it helped.
---
"BITTER" REGRETS
Obama's worst gaffe of the campaign was his statement that some voters in depressed rural areas "get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them."
He made the comment at a private fundraiser. It went public thanks to a blogger with a tape recorder who was present. Once it was out, the remark reverberated across the country.
For many, it confirmed their beliefs that Obama didn't share their values, that he didn't understand their concerns and looked down on them.
Obama has called it his "biggest bonehead move." He said he was trying to say that those voters have a right to be frustrated because Democrats haven't addressed their cultural concerns.
Other Obama gaffes: saying he'd visited 57 states, brushing aside a female reporter by saying, "Hold on one second, sweetie," and complaining to an Iowa crowd about the cost of arugula at Whole Foods, even though Iowa doesn't have a Whole Foods store and arugula doesn't exactly make him sound down-to-earth.
---
PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN
Obama endured repeated questions about his patriotism. He's the son of an African man, sports a strange name and spent part of his childhood in Muslim Indonesia. Could he truly be a red-white-and-blue American?
Critics found lots of reasons to say no.
They produced a picture of him without his hand over his heart during the national anthem and claimed that he had refused to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance.
They accused him of dissing the Stars and Stripes by refusing to wear a flag pin on his lapel - ignoring the fact that he did wear such pins occasionally and that other politicians often didn't wear one.
And they leaped on his wife's statement that, "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country."
Michelle Obama wound up explaining that she has always been proud of America and that her comment was about pride in the political process. Barack Obama began wearing a flag pin.
---
PARIS, BRITNEY AND BARACK
Republican John McCain used Obama's popularity and Hollywood connections to try to portray the Democrat as just another vapid celebrity.
"He's the biggest celebrity in the world," a McCain ad said amid camera flashes and images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. "But is he ready to lead?"
The ad exploited an Obama weakness - that he was relatively unfamiliar to most Americans, known more for giving speeches than getting things done.
But the ad also inspired a wave of criticism that McCain was going negative and attacking Obama unfairly. It also inspired mockery, including a video response from Hilton, who pretended to take McCain's comments as an endorsement.
"Thanks, white-haired dude," she said. "I want America to know I'm, like, totally ready to lead."
---
(HOT) AIR PRESSSURE
For a few days in August, tire pressure was the hottest issue on the campaign trail.
McCain repeatedly mocked Obama for saying his energy plan included encouraging Americans to step up their conservation efforts - for instance, by making sure their tires are properly inflated.
McCain claimed Obama's entire energy plan consisted of inflating tires. His campaign even distributed pressure gauges labeled "Obama Energy Plan."
But the attacks faded away after McCain admitted that, you know, he actually agreed with Obama.
McCain later accused Obama of insulting vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin with a reference to putting "lipstick on a pig," but then admitted Obama never called her a pig.
---
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
If the Obama campaign is remembered for anything (aside from raking in hundreds of millions of dollars), it will be big events. Obama liked to take familiar political scenes and make them seem fresh, usually by turning them into outdoor events that were as much concerts or revivals as political speeches.
So when he launched his campaign, it was in front of the former Illinois Capitol where Abraham Lincoln once served - never mind that thousands of people had to spend hours waiting in 15-degree weather. And when he announced his vice presidential pick, it was back to Springfield and all the Lincoln symbolism.
Accepting the Democratic nomination? Forget about dropping balloons - move the entire event to a football stadium and shoot off fireworks.
Touring foreign countries? What could be better than an outdoor speech to 200,000 people in Berlin?
Celebrating Election Day results? Sounds like the perfect time for partying in a Chicago park with 70,000 invited guests and 55,000 gawkers.

Kate Perry's wild Night!

The awesome Singer Katy Perry is most known for her hit song "I Kissed a Girl," and her wild and wacky fashion choices. The young rebel certainly didn't disappoint her fans when she hosted the 2008 MTV European Music Awards in Liverpool, England. Take a look at her many zany and playful ensembles she donned throughout the night! Good luck Girl..

What You Don't Know about 'Twilight'!

The hottest couple today.OK! magazine is dishing 10 Things You Must Know about 'Twilight,' and we're sharing some of the secrets here!

Did the real-life Edward Cullen, 'Twilight' star Robert Pattinson, get carried away while kissing the movie's heroine Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart? OK! says that's true! The film's director, Catherine Hardwicke, told OK!, "In one of the kissing scenes, Rob got a little passionate and fell off the bed."

Another secret OK! divulges is how Pattinson keeps his spiky hair standing at every angle. "You just don't wash it," he told the magazine!

And, just like the vampires they portrayed, some cast members feared cloudy days. "On 'Twilight,' we needed [an] overcast [sky] as a backdrop, so we prayed for cloudy days," Peter Facinelli, who plays Cullen dad Carlisle, said. "Sunny days held up shooting."

To hear the rest of the 10 Things You Must Know about 'Twilight,' pick up OK!'s November 17 issue, on newsstands now. And this year's most highly anticipated vampire love story hits theaters on November 21. They are cute together.

Brad Pitt's parents, "upset" over Angelina Jolie breastfeeding pictures for W?

Hot Daddy Brad Pitt's parents, are "upset" at the photos the actor took of partner Angelina Jolie for the November issue of the fashion and culture magazine W, FOX reports.

A source tells Star magazine, "Brad's dad won't talk about it — that means he's upset.

"Brad's mom feels they're using their children as a marketing campaign tool and thinks it's unacceptable.".. I hope they can fix their problem.

Samantha Ronson dumps Lindsay Lohan over photo scandal?

The very talented DJ Samantha Ronson has told Lindsay Lohan "it's over" after a photo scandal showing the actress enjoying sex with a mystery man, NW reports.

Sex addict Lindsay, is pictured lounging in bed next to a mystery man in the never-before-seen photos.

Showing off a self-satisfied smile as she enjoys some downtime from shooting her latest movie Labor Pains
, lingerie-clad Lindsay doesn't seem to care she's been busted in such a compromising situation.

"Linds is adamant she's not a lesbian and still loves men," insists Hollywood insider Jo Piazza. "She says Sam is the only girl she would go for."

While she may have kicked her addiction to drugs and alcohol
, Lindsay's refusing to give up her obsession with men — and the on-set hook-up isn't her only relapse.

The playful actress left Sam devastated after a recent wild night out with Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford.Good Luck to you both!

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