The @KimKardashian WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA

Beautiful bride Kim Kardashian was a picture of happiness as she prepared to exchange vows

with fiance Kris Humphries

Details of Kim Kardashian's wedding to Kris Humphries on August 20 are out!
The glowing bride wore an ivory strapless Vera Wang gown with fitting bodice, tulle skirt and epic train, holding a bouquet of white roses.

Co-maids of honour Kourtney (left), 32, and Khloe, 27, are also seen in their cream, strapless gowns with their brunette tresses down in loose waves

The bridesmaids -- sisters Kendall and Kyle Jenner, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian along with mommy Kris Jenner -- were dressed in Vera Wang too, each trying to upstage the bride, it seemed.

Family snaps: Kim's mother Kris Jenner also takes a moment before the ceremony to pose with her two daughters and Kim's half sisters and bridesmaids, Kylie, 15, and Kendall, 14

The ceremony, which was held at a private estate in Montecito, California, also the site of the cancelled Jennifer Lopez-Ben Affleck wedding, started at around 6.30 pm and lasted approximately 30 minutes.

Mr and Mrs Humphries reportedly spent $10 million on the wedding but won't have to pay a cent as they've already earned close to $17 million from the hoopla.


The couple has reportedly sold four-hour-long footage to E! for a whopping $15 million and the wedding pictures to People magazine for a cool $2.5 million.

In their arrival, all the guests were handed programmes, which included tributes to Kardashian's late father, famed O J Simpson attorney Robert Kardashian, and Humphries' late grandmother and grandfather.

'I so wish my dad could be here today to walk me down the aisle,' the New York Daily News quoted Kardashian's passage as saying.

'But I know in a way he is here, and I feel his loving presence all around me. I love and miss you, dad,' she stated.


Pastor Joel Johnson, who officiated the traditional Christian ceremony and has known Humphries for years, told the guests that he had asked the bride and groom to write down what they loved most about each other, before the wedding, which he also made them share.

The invited guests included Ryan Seacrest, who's also the producer of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Rob Kardashian's girlfriend Avril Lavigne and former Spice girl Mel B. Everybody stuck to the bride's request of black and white outfits.


Johnson revealed that the socialite said the NBA star puts a smile on her face everyday, and that he's the "yin to her yang" bringing calm to her life and the fun out of her.

Kourtney Kardashian's 21-month-old son Mason clearly stole the show as he made his way down the aisle in a miniature cream tuxedo.

The couple laughing with one another before the ceremony began

The 26-year-old basketball player, he said he loved his bride-to-be for her compassion, how she treats every day as if it's her last and how, the first time they met, all she talked about was her family. Humphries even whispered to his groomsmen while Kim made her way down the aisle and said that he was nervous.

Preening: As Kim gets ready for their big day, Kris Humphries also spruces himself up with the help of his male buddies

R and B singer Robin Thick sang Angels before switching to Al Green's Let's Stay Together for the first dance of  'Mr and Mrs Humphries' as husband and wife.

Lavish: The wedding could only be described as grand

The $ 20,000 wedding cake baked by Hansen Cakes was a replica of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cake.

Kim flashed her famous grin to her guests as she walked down the seemingly endless white and black carpeted aisle to classical music, while on the arm of her stepfather, Bruce Jenner

While Kim glowed in her Vera Wang gown and diamond encrusted tiara, she faced tough competition from statuesque step sisters Kendall and Kyle as well as mom Kris Jenner.
While Kendal wore an ornate Vera Wang gown for the occassion, Kris Jenner went a step ahead and got some work done on her face for the ceremony. She wore a majestic Vera Wang gown.


Apart from the E! and People deal, Kim's also pocketed $300,000 for the engagement announcement back in May and another $100,000 from OK! magazine for the bridal shower photos.

Just hours before saying her 'I dos', Kim tweeted: 'Anxious,excited,emotional 3words 2describe what Im feeling right now @KimKardashian I LOVE U tomorrow will b MAGICAL.'

She also posted a message on her official website: 'Today is the day! I can't believe it's finally here! Thank you so much to everyone who made this day happen!!!!!'


Kim's wedding will be aired in full on the E! network two-part special on October 9 and 10.


The new bride stepped out the next day with her husband wearing a tracksuit with Mrs Humphries emblazoned on it. The reality TV star looked fresh-faced yet a bit tired.

rediff.com
dailymail

A long way down: The black and white carpeted aisle was endless on the grounds of the Montecito estate

Marriage and divorce 'up weight', says study

The study found getting a wedding ring on your finger - and losing it - could cause people's weight to rise

Both marriage and divorce can trigger weight gain, according to research being presented at the American Sociological Association.

There is an increased risk of piling on the pounds in the two years after a marriage starts or ends, according to their study of 10,071 people.

Newly-married women were at greatest risk of "large" weight gains.

Some gains may "pose a health risk", say the authors from Ohio State University.

The study followed people from 1986 to 2008 and monitored changes in body mass index (BMI) - a weight/height ratio measurement - and marital status.

The researchers compared the BMI of people who married or divorced with those who were already married or stayed single.
 
Life-changing
Even after adjusting the data for each person's health, education, employment, poverty and pregnancy - there was still an increased risk of weight gain associated with marriage and divorce.

“These are significant changes in someone's life. It can change their living situation and the types of food they eat” 

- Helen Riley British Nutrition Foundation-

In women, marriage increased the risk of a small increase in weight (up to a three point increase in BMI) by 33%. There was a 48% higher risk of large weight gains (more than a three point BMI increase).

Newly-divorced women had a 22% increased risk of small weight gain.

Men were 28% more likely to have small increases in weight after marriage and 21% after divorce.
The report concludes: "All marital transitions act as a weight shock, encouraging small weight gains regardless of the destination marital state."

Lead author, Dmitry Tumin, said: "To some extent, marriages for women promote weight gains that may be large enough to pose a health risk."

Helen Riley at the British Nutrition Foundation charity said: "These are significant changes in someone's life. It can change their living situation and the types of food they eat.

"But different people deal with it in different ways and it can be positive for some people."
BBC News HEALTH 

David Cameron says Libyan regime is 'falling apart'

David Cameron: ''The Libyan people deserve to shape their own future''

 

David Cameron: ''The Libyan people deserve to shape their own future''

Libya Crisis

• Battle for Tripoli Live
• Watching the regime crumble
• The Gaddafi story
• Libya conflict: Q&A

David Cameron has said the regime of Col Muammar Gaddafi is "falling apart and in full retreat".

The prime minister said there would "undoubtedly be difficult days ahead", but the Libyan people were "closer to their dream of a better future".

He said the UK could be "proud" of the part it had played, but stressed the future of the country - and Col Gaddafi himself - was up to Libyans themselves.

Rebel forces have taken control of large parts of Libya's capital Tripoli.

However, the Ministry of Defence stressed that fighting was still going on in the Libyan capital and Nato operations - including those by UK forces on strategic targets controlled by the regime - were continuing.

Mr Cameron interrupted his holiday to return to London to chair an hour-long meeting of the National Security Council, attended by Defence Secretary Liam Fox and International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell among other ministers.

It is the second time his holiday plans have been disrupted this summer, having abandoned a break in Tuscany earlier this month due to the riots across England.
 
'No complacency'
The prime minister committed British forces to conduct aerial and naval missions in Libya in March, enforcing the terms of a UN mandate to protect Libyan civilians from attacks.

The decision was overwhelmingly endorsed by Parliament, and in a statement in Downing Street on Monday morning, Mr Cameron again said it was "necessary, legal and right".

Insisting that Nato's mission in Libya would continue as long as it was needed, the PM went on: "The situation in Tripoli is clearly very fluid and there is absolutely no room for complacency.

"Our task now is to do all we can to support the will of the Libyan people which is for an effective transition to a free, democratic and inclusive Libya.

 

Some civilians have cheered rebels as they advanced on Tripoli

 

"This will be and must be and should be Libyan-led and a Libyan-owned process with broad international support co-ordinated by the United Nations."

The UK, France and the US have long called for Col Gaddafi to leave power and Mr Cameron again repeated that call, urging him to "stop fighting without conditions".

He said he wanted "to see Gaddafi face justice for his crimes" but insisted that his future would be up to the Libyan people, led by the interim political authority, the National Transitional Council.

Mr Cameron said he planned to speak to the council's leader Abdul Jalil later on Monday and would stress to him "the importance of respecting human rights, avoiding reprisals, and making sure all parts of Libya can share in the country's future".

He said Libyan assets in the UK would soon be unfrozen in order to help with post-conflict reconstruction, and the UK would be offering help with medical supplies, food provision and communications and utilities services.

He also said the UK would establish a diplomatic presence in Tripoli as soon as it was safe to do so.
 
Post-conflict planning
Libya's most senior diplomat in London has said rebel forces control more than 90% of Tripoli after they appeared to meet little resistance during a rapid advance on Sunday.

The International Criminal Court has confirmed the capture of Col Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam.

 

“The best way for Libya to move forward is through a transition led and enforced by the Libyan people” - Ed Miliband, Labour leader

• Battle rages at Gaddafi compound
• Oil prices decline on Libya hopes

But fighting is continuing in a number of areas and Col Gaddafi is believed to still have thousands of armed followers in the capital. Mr Cameron said the leader's whereabouts were still unknown.

The BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright said there would be some satisfaction in Downing Street about the apparent collapse of the Gaddafi regime, given that Mr Cameron was among the most vocal supporters of foreign intervention in Libya.

However, he said No 10 would be mindful of uncertainty over how events could develop and be aware that a lot of work would be needed to stabilise the country.

Labour leader Ed Miliband welcomed developments in Libya, but also stressed the need to ensure a orderly transition "from popular revolt against Colonel Gaddafi to stable government without him".

"The best way for Libya to move forward is through a transition led and enforced by the Libyan people that learns the lessons of the past, including Iraq," he said in a statement.

"The priorities are public order, improved lives for the people of Libya and an inclusive, peaceful settlement led by the Libyan people. "
 
'Degree of humility'
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has given a speech in London about the wider Arab Spring, which has seen uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa.

He said such countries were "on the right side of history" and the UK would do all it could to help them - for example, offering practical support to create new political parties, prevent corruption, promote a plural press and register voters.

He also said countries would be given help to access to global financial markets, but only if they could prove their commitment to domestic reform.

The deputy PM said the UK should show "a degree of humility" about its failure in the past to speak out against repressive regimes like that of Col Gaddafi or President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

"We attended to these autocrats in the name of stability, accepting their corruption and economic mismanagement as its necessary price and satisfying ourselves with false promises and cosmetic reform," he said.

"We have learned from those mistakes."

Human rights groups believe about 2,000 people have been killed by Syrian security forces in recent months, and Mr Clegg again urged President Assad to step down, calling him "as irrelevant to Syria's future as Gaddafi is to Libya's".

The Lib Dem leader added that the decision to support military intervention in Libya "was not one the UK took lightly", particularly his party and others who opposed the Iraq invasion, but the country was now "on the cusp of freedom".
BBC News

During a period that spanned six decades, the Libyan leader Gaddafi paraded on the world stage with a style so unique and unpredictable that the words "maverick" or "eccentric" scarcely do him justice.

#Today in #NFL #News: #Sports Update, vol. IX

PATS show midseason form

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images Contributor

Tom Brady looks to be in regular season form after tossing a pair of touchdown passes in the New England Patriots' 31-14 preseason win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night. 

HEADLINES

Steelers rough up Vick, Eagles

PFT: GQ curse? Vick throws 3 picks

PFT: What we learned from Thursday's games

  PFT Live: Another Michael Vick scandal?

PFT: Vick, NFL deny he was steered to Eagles

PFT: Alleged improprieties grow in Haynesworth case

  Is Goodell setting bad precedent with Pryor?

PFT: Pryor in supplemental draft, but is suspended

PFT: Goodell basically can do whatever he wants

Who should be No. 1 fantasy pick?

NBC Sports 

 

Larry Flynt to The Situation: You're 'good enough' for Hustler clothes

Mel Evans / AP

Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino

By Randee Dawn

Who knew that keeping the "Jersey Shore" cast well-dressed would become a matter of such contention?

Abercrombie & Fitch kicked off the discussion Tuesday when it announced it would pay the members of the MTV reality show not to wear its clothing. On Wednesday, Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino and Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio fired back, with The Situation suggesting in a Tweet that the announcement caused the company's stock drop of nine percent: "Looks like Abercrombie got themself into a Situation!"

For the record, Abercrombie & Fitch's earnings report also came out on Wednesday, a more likely culprit for the drop.

Fortunately, someone has been willing to fight for the rights of the heavily tanned. Yesterday, Larry Flynt -- publisher of adult publication Hustler magazine -- released a statement saying they would happily "pay Mr. Sorrentino to wear their clothing so that he can stay well dressed," according to TMZ.

"The Sitch may not be good enough for Abercrombie & Fitch, but he's good enough for us," Flynt's statement continued.

No Tweet or comment yet from "The Sitch" or Pauly D, but it's probably only a matter of time.

And it's always nice to know who your friends are.

Related content:

• 'Jersey Shore' stars call out Abercrombie over offer
• Abercrombie wants Situation out of its clothes
• Pauly D wants love life guidance
• Are Deena and Pauly D heading for a hook-up on 'Jersey Shore'?
• 'Jersey Shore' slideshow 

The CLICKER 

Sugarland Takes Stage For 1st Time Since Deadly Collapse: Country Western Group Pays Tribute To Indiana Concert Victims

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Sugarland took the stage at the Hard Rock Pavilion in Albuquerque on Thursday for the first time since five people were killed and dozens more were injured in a stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair.

The group was scheduled to be on stage and barely escaped the collapse during the powerful storm.
Thursday night, Sugarland paid tribute to those who lost their lives with a powerful opening performance that brought a lot of tears to a lot of people's eyes.

There was a moment of silence, and then the country western duo let loose.Sugarland's first song was a dedication to the crowd in Indiana. Their fans in New Mexico felt the ripple affect of what happened miles away.

Thursday night's performance went off without a hitch, but it was hard not to think about the weekend's incident.

The Hard Rock Pavilion's stage is concert-tested, and it proved a worthy venue for the return of a tour and thousands of fans who were trying to come to grips with the tragedy.

There had been a fear of severe weather over the venue Thursday night, but all went well.

Live Nation, who leases the pavilion, provided the inspections and said all checks for the Sugarland concert went just fine.

Copyright 2011 by KOAT.com. All rights reserved.

Brawl mars #Georgetown goodwill tour in #China: Coach Thompson pulls team off court

By Nathan Fenno

The Washington Times

 

Georgetown was involved in a brawl with the Bayi Rockets in an exhibition game in China on Thursday. Head coach John Thompson III had to pull his team from the court with 10 minutes to play. (Associated Press)

The goodwill tour of China by Georgetown’s basketball team turned ugly Thursday, after an exhibition game with the Bayi Rockets ended with an on-court brawl.

The game in Beijing ended in a 64-64 tie as coach John Thompson III pulled his team off the court because of the melee.

A two-minute video of the fracas posted on SportsGrid.com showed a physical contest quickly spiral out of hand. Shoves turned to punches in a wild, confused scene as both benches cleared. Chairs were thrown. When Georgetown’s players were rushed off the court by the coaching staff, the video showed a barrage of bottles heaved at them.

Georgetown spokesman Mex Carey, traveling with the team, told The Times via email no members of the Hoyas’ travel party were injured and the tour will continue as scheduled.

In an emailed statement, Thompson expressed sadness over the situation on a trip he hoped would bring his young team together.

“Tonight, two great teams played a very competitive game that unfortunately ended after heated exchanges with both teams,” Thompson’s statement said. “We sincerely regret that this situation occurred.

“We remain grateful for the opportunity our student-athletes are having to engage in a sport they love here in China, while strengthening their understanding of a nation we respect and admire at Georgetown University.”

The Rockets are a military team in the professional Chinese Basketball Association, with their players serving in the People’s Liberation Army.

Georgetown’s trip was off to a promising start after the Hoyas opened with 98-91 win over the Shanxi Dragons in front of Vice President Joe Biden.

Two more games are planned in Shanghai before Georgetown returns home Aug. 27.

WashingtonTimes.com
© Copyright 2011 The Washington Times, LLC.

3 #ABC #TV crew feared Dead in Helicopter Crash

Helicopter crash scene, remains

ABC director of News Kate Torney paid tribute to the three men...

Three members of a TV news team - including a veteran reporter - are feared dead after a helicopter crash in South Australia, police say.

Reporter Paul Lockyer, cameraman John Bean and pilot Gary Ticehurst are all employed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The helicopter went down in the Lake Eyre region. The cause of the crash is being investigated.

ABC described the men as "news gatherers at the peak of their craft".

 

Paul Lockyer is one of ABC's most experienced journalists

 

"This has been the longest of nights and we fear it will be the saddest of days,'' ABC managing director Mark Scott said.

"Paul, Gary and John have each given decades of service to the ABC. They are passionate about their work and finding great stories from all over Australia to bring to the public."

It is believed the aircraft crashed on Thursday evening local time.

Three bodies were later found at the scene of the crash - however, the victims' names have not been officially released.

The news crew was working on news and feature projects in the region.

ABC described Lockyer as one of its most experienced reporters, who had worked in Washington,
Singapore and throughout Asia in a career spanning more than 40 years.

BBC News 

Jihadist calls for Letterman's assassination: Online message urges readers 'to cut the tongue of this lowly Jew and shut it forever'

John Paul Filo / AP: An online jihadist is calling for the death of late-night host David Letterman.

 

By Anna Chan

TODAY staff and wire

Late-night host David Letterman is the target of an online jihadist, according to the website SITE Intelligence Group.

Adam Raisman, an analyst at SITE, told EW.com that the threat was posted on a website called Shumukh-al-Islam, and is used by al-Qaida.

“It’s a clearing house for al-Qaida material, it gets the most al-Qaida supporters,” he told EW.

SITE told EW.com that the poster became upset at a joke on "Late Show With David Letterman."

According to NYDailyNews.com, the "Late Show" segment that upset the person who posted the message showed Letterman drawing his finger across his neck when talking about the death of senior al-Qaida member Ilyas Kashmiri.
 

Story: Andy Dick's antisemitic rant at Howard Stern
The message reportedly threatens Letterman's life, saying, "Is there not amongst you a Sayyid Nosair al-Masri (may Allah release him) to cut the tongue of this lowly Jew and shut it forever. Just as Sayyid (may Allah release him) did with the Jew Kahane."

Letterman is not Jewish.

Nosair was acquitted in a state trial of the murder of Meir Kahane, the founder of the Jewish Defense League,  in 1991. Nosair was later retried and convicted in federal court.

A spokesman for the FBI told the Associated Press that the agency is looking into the threats. "We take every potential threat seriously," he said.

CBS has not yet responded to a request for comment.

TODAY News 

'Jersey Shore' stars call out Abercrombie over offer: 'Hmmm if They Don’t Want Us To Wear Those Clothes Why Make GTL Shirts,' Pauly D tweets

Elisabetta Villa / Getty Images: Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, left, and Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio tweeted their frustration at Abercrombie and Fitch.

 

Access Hollywood

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino has something to say about retailer Abercrombie & Fitch’s offer to pay him to wear another brand’s clothing on “Jersey Shore.”

“Looks like Abercrombie got themself into a Situation!” the MTV reality star tweeted on Wednesday, followed by a link to a CNN finance article noting that the brand’s stock had dipped by nine percent.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood’s Infamous Celeb Feuds

The retailer, whose outlets are known for their dark stores filled with loud music, said on Tuesday it would offer a “substantial payment” to The Sitch, or any of his castmates, as long as they stopped wearing the label’s gear on “Jersey Shore”...

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...Abercrombie said the series is “contrary to the aspirational nature of the brand.”

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Sookie Or Snooki? Take The Quiz!

Paul “DJ Pauly D” Delvecchio had his own comment, calling the brand out on Twitter for reportedly previously selling shirts with the “Jersey Shore” gang’s famous catch phrase – GTL – gym, tan, and laundry.
 
Story: Abercrombie wants 'Situation' out of its clothes

“Hmmm if They Don’t Want Us To Wear Those Clothes Why Make GTL Shirts #yourPRsux,” he wrote, tweeting to a picture of an Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt with “GTL” stamped on it above the word “Fitch.”

VIEW THE PHOTOS: It’s T-Shirt Time! Hot Shots Of ‘Jersey Shore’ Star Pauly D

TODAY access hollywood 
Copyright 2011 by NBC. All rights reserved.

Some #London riot sentences 'too severe' ??!

MPs and justice campaigners say some of the sentences given to those involved in the riots in England are too harsh.

On Tuesday two men were jailed for four years for using Facebook to incite riots and another was given 18 months for having a stolen TV in his car.

The former chair of the Criminal Bar Association, Paul Mendelle QC, said sentences were too long and harsh.

But Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said tougher sentences would show there were consequences to disorder.

More than 2,770 people have been arrested in connection with last week's riots in a number of English cities.
By Tuesday afternoon, 1,277 suspects had appeared in court and 64% had been remanded in custody. In 2010 the remand rate at magistrates for serious offences was 10%.

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police announced that it has charged 1,005 people after 1,733 arrests over the rioting that swept through the capital. The force has a target of 3,000 convictions.

The force's Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin said the investigation was "far from over".

The courts and tribunals service says legal advisers in court have been advising magistrates to "consider whether their powers of punishment are sufficient in dealing with some cases arising from the recent disorder". Magistrates are able to refer cases to crown courts which have tougher sentencing powers.

A spokeswoman from the service said magistrates were independent and did not have to take direction from their legal advisors who are themselves independent of government.
 
'Wild panic measures'
 The former chair of the Criminal Bar Association, Paul Mendelle QC, told BBC 5 live: "When people get caught up and act out of character, in a similar way, there is a danger that the courts themselves may get caught up in a different kind of collective hysteria - I'm not suggesting violence or anything like that - but in purporting to reflect the public mood actually go over the top and hand out sentences which are too long and too harsh."

  

Riot sentences

• Anderson Fernandes, 22, was warned by a judge at Manchester Magistrates' Court that he may face jail after he admitted stealing two scoops of ice cream. He will be sentenced next week.
• Nicolas Robinson, 23, of Borough, south-east London, was jailed for six months for stealing a £3.50 case of water from Lidl supermarket
• Mother-of-two Ursula Nevin, from Manchester, was jailed for five months for receiving a pair of shorts given to her after they had been looted from a city centre store.

• 2012 ambassador in riot charges

But Mr Pickles told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We need to understand that people for a while thought that this was a crime without consequence - we cannot have people being frightened in their beds, frightened in their own homes for their public safety.

"That is why these kind of exemplary sentences are necessary. I think people would be rightly alarmed if that incitement to riot got off with just a slap on the wrist."

Lord McNally, Liberal Democrat Justice Minister, said the courts must operate independently and warned "it's dangerous when politicians try to do the sentencing".

He said politicians make the laws, police do the arresting and judges do the judging and sentencing.

Cheshire men Jordan Blackshaw, 21, of Marston, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, of Warrington, were jailed for four years each after admitting using Facebook to incite disorder, although none actually resulted.

Defence solicitor Chris Johnson said Mr Blackshaw and his family "are somewhat shocked by the sentence and he will be appealing".

The Recorder of Chester, Judge Elgan Edwards, said he hoped the sentences would act as a deterrent to others.

Assistant Chief Constable of Cheshire Police Phil Thompson said it was "easy to understand" the sentence when you consider the impact technology had on the riots.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the offences committed carried maximum sentences of 10 years, but the four-year sentences were the lengthiest related to rioting so far.

Meanwhile a 17-year-old from Suffolk has been banned from using social networking sites for 12 months and ordered to observe a three month overnight curfew for using Facebook to encourage people to riot during last week's disorder.

Labour MP Paul Flynn wrote on his blog that the government was "throwing away sentencing rules".

 

Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan and Jordan Blackshaw were jailed at Chester Crown Court

"How can this make sense? How does it compare with other crimes? What will it do to prison numbers? This is not government. It's a series of wild panic measures seeking to claw back popularity."

Andrew Neilson, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "A four-year sentence would normally be associated with offences such as holding someone up at knife point, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, and I'm not sure that the offence in question was really related to those types of offences."

He added that over-sentencing would see more appeals and that the courts and prisons would struggle to cope.
 
'Sentencing discrepancy'
Leading criminal barrister John Cooper QC said he believed the sentences were "over the top" and were likely to be overturned by the Court of Appeal.

"What we need to remember here is that there's a protocol for sentencing, and there are rules and procedures in sentencing which make them effective and make them fair.

"What we can't do, in my view, in situations like this, is suddenly throw the rule book away simply because there's a groundswell of opinion."

BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman said what people were going to find troubling was the discrepancy in sentencing.

 

Croydon MP Gavin Barwell said his constituents wanted to see the courts get tough on rioters

He said an 18-year-old was imprisoned for one day for stealing two Burberry t-shirts while in another court, a 23-year-old man was sentenced to six months in prison for stealing £3.50 worth of water.

"There is always a discrepancy in sentencing around the country, although we try to make it as consistent as possible. I think this intense, feverish atmosphere that we've seen has magnified that somewhat," he said.

In another case, three men were jailed for up to two years in relation to the disorder in Manchester and Salford on 9 August. David Beswick, 31, Stephen Carter, 26, both from Salford, and Michael Gillespie-Doyle, 18, from Tameside, all pleaded guilty at earlier hearings.

Sitting at Manchester Crown Court, sentencing Judge Andrew Gilbart QC said: "I have no doubt at all that the principal purpose is that the courts should show that outbursts of criminal behaviour like this will be and must be met with sentences longer than they would be if the offences had been committed in isolation."

Beswick was sentenced to 18 months in prison for handling stolen goods.

Our legal correspondent said under normal circumstances Beswick would have been given a mid-range community sentence.

His friend Tony Whitaker said the punishment was disproportionate, given that he had pleaded guilty straight away.

BBC News UK 

Abercrombie and Fitch Messes With The Situation, Which Messes With Their Stock

by Jason Kaufman in Jersey Shore

 

Mike 'The Situation' doing the Abercrombie Sidewalk Shuffle

On Tuesday, Abercrombie and Fitch offered "substantial payment" to MTV's "Jersey Shore" cast members, specifically Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, to refrain from wearing their product.

"We are deeply concerned that Mr. Sorrentino's association with our brand could cause significant damage to our image. We understand that the show is for entertainment purposes, but believe this association is contrary to the aspirational nature of our brand, and may be distressing to many of our fans," an A&F spokesperson said in the statement.

Some thought brilliant publicity stunt, but the street didn't see any humor in this, um, situation.

Abercrombie and Fitch (ANF) posted one of Wednesday's biggest percentage decreases after trading stopped on the NYSE, falling nearly 8.7 percent to close at $64.87.



Our brothers and sisters at MTV Remote Control raise a good point that may give Abercrombie more reason to sweat. A good deal of the "Jersey Shore" fans are probably curled up at home in their A&F clothes watching The Situation's adventures each week. Does that mean they should stop buying the brand also?  

Read Remote Control's Open Rebuttal To A Certain Clothing Retailer Who Dissed Our 'Sitch'

MTV Newsroom 

Stacey Dash Fired from 'Single Ladies'

According to In Touch Weekly (the TV show, not the blog), actress Stacey Dash was fired from VH1′s popular scripted hit show, “Single Ladies.” According to Jawn Murray, a search has been underway for Dash’s replacement for weeks.

He tweeted that Dash clashed with co-star LisaRaye and other cast members of Single Ladies, which led to her dismissal from the show.

This is shocking news to “Single Ladies” diehard fans who tune into the hourly show each week to see Stacey’s adorable walk and what she’s wearing.

Murray tweeted that Inside Weekly is “recasting” for Stacey’s part. It seems strange that it would take so long to find her replacement. It’s also odd that Stacey tweeted this message to her 146,000 followers.

SandraRose.com

Abercrombie asks 'The Situation' to shop elsewhere

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  FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2010 photo, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino poses at GQ magazine's …

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (AP) — Abercrombie & Fitch is offering to pay to Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and his fellow "Jersey Shore" cast members so they'll stop wearing the brand on the show.

The clothing company says in a news release posted Tuesday that it's concerned that having Sorrentino seen in its clothing could cause "significant damage" to the company's image.

Abercrombie says a connection to The Situation goes against the "aspirational nature" of its brand and may be "distressing" to customers. The Ohio-based retailer says it has offered a "substantial payment" to Sorrentino and producers of the MTV show so he'll wear something else.

The company says it also is making the offer to others in the hard-partying cast.

An MTV spokeswoman did not immediately return messages for comment on Wednesday.

YAHOO News 

Jay-Z: Beyonce is 'the second coming' of Michael Jackson: Rapper says he knows it's 'blasphemy' to compare the two, but says she's inspiring

Julio Cortez / AP file: Rapper Jay-Z gushed about wife Beyonce during an interview.

After three years of marriage, Jay-Z and wife Beyonce have remained famously tight-lipped about one another.

But the 41-year-old rapper (real name: Shawn Carter) couldn't help but gush about his wife's talents as a performer while promoting "Watch the Throne," his smash, acclaimed new album with Kanye West.

PHOTOS: Beyonce and Jay-Z's sexy romance

MTV's Rap Fix reports that Jay-Z even compared Beyonce, 29, to the Gloved One himself, Michael Jackson, who died in June 2009 at age 50...

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"What I've learned from her is similar to what I learned from Mike [Jackson] — and I know that's blasphemy to compare the two because Mike was such an innovator — but I think she's like the second coming," Jay-Z said during a phone call to Miami, Florida, radio station 99 Jamz.

PHOTOS: Michael Jackson's most unforgettable moments

"You know, the hard work and dedication that she puts into her shows. It just makes you want to work harder at your own craft. She's like a machine," he raved of his wife, currently promoting her own album,"4," with intimate shows scheduled this week at NYC's Roseland.

PHOTOS: Beyonce's sexy bikini body

Meanwhile, the rapper lived very, very large on Sunday night celebrating his latest release at LIV Miami on Sunday — treating guests at the club to a reported $250,000 worth of Armand de Brignac Champagne.

TODAY Celebrities
Copyright 2011 Us Weekly

@LadyGaga to decorate Barneys #Christmas windows

By Courtney Hazlett

 

Lady Gaga: Fashion icon, musical superstar, Queen of Christmas. Well, maybe not yet, but she's taking her first step in that direction, decorating the windows of Barneys this holiday season.

Barneys via AP

In an image released by Barneys New York, artwork is shown from the Lady Gaga Holiday Campaign.

Starting in mid-November, "Gaga's Workshop will be brought to life throughout the fifth floor of the Men's Store and the store's iconic Madison Avenue windows," Barneys announced.

Gaga isn't just taking the reins on decor, but she's also designing a range of exclusive, small gift items, which will be sold in the workshop. Barneys will donate 25 percent of sales from all of those items to a charity of Gaga's choice.

"Lady Gaga is a rare cultural phenomenon, not only because of her exceptional talents as a singer, songwriter and performer, but also with regard to her support of equality and individuality and status as a fashion icon ... As a New York City landmark, we wanted to celebrate Lady Gaga as a fellow New Yorker and amazing talent," said Mark Lee, Barneys New York CEO.

Related content:

• Lady Gaga slideshow

The SCOOP

Red Hot Chili Peppers To Premiere 'Maggie' Video Live On MTV: 'The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie' will debut Wednesday, August 17, at 7:53 p.m., with an exclusive interview to follow on MTV.com.

By James Montgomery (@positivnegativ)

It's been more than five years since the Red Hot Chili Peppers released Stadium Arcadium, but later this month, they'll finally return with I'm With You, their hotly anticipated new album. And obviously, this is a fairly big deal.

Which is why it's only fitting that MTV is rolling out the red carpet for RHCP, with the exclusive premiere of their video for "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," the first single off You. The clip will debut live on MTV and MTV2 on Wednesday, August 17, at 7:53 p.m. ET/PT.

Immediately following the debut of "Maggie," the band will sit down with MTV News for an in-depth interview, to stream live on MTV.com. And since we know you've been waiting a long time for this, we're also allowing you to get in on the conversation. Fans can submit their questions (and video questions) for Anthony, Flea, Josh and Chad via Twitter, using the hashtag #AskRHCP

"The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" recently rocketed to the top of Billboard's Alternative Radio chart, giving the band their 12th #1 on Modern Rock radio (which, just in case you're keeping score at home, is a record no one can even come close to matching). I'm With You, their 10th studio album (and first with new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer), is due in stores on August 30.

Tune in for the premiere of "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" on Wednesday, August 17, at 7:53 p.m. ET/PT on MTV and MTV2. Then stick around immediately after for our exclusive interview with the band, streaming live on MTV.com. Fans can submit their questions for RHCP via Twitter, using the hashtag #AskRHCP.

MTV News 

Waka Flocka Flame Explains Retirement Talk: 'Yeah, I'm gonna retire — from the industry,' Waka says on 'RapFix Live.'

Waka Flocka Flame

Photo: MTV News

Jay-Z famously said that he would retire after he dropped his debut album Reasonable Doubt way back in 1996, and we all saw how that worked out. With only one solo album under his belt, could Waka Flocka Flame do what Jigga couldn't?

Last month, the "Hard in Da Paint" rapper tweeted "This game 2 fake I [quit] rap after this year," but when Sway asked Waka about his post-rap plans, he elaborated on the statement. 

 

"Nah, I am gonna retire. I'm gonna retire from the industry," Waka said on last week's "RapFix Live." "I'm not gonna kick it in the industry no more. I'm gonna do what I wanna do, how I started like from the beginning. I'm gonna do exactly what I wanna do." 

 

 Gucci and Waka Flocka

Flocka didn't exactly say that he'd quit making music, however. Instead, the Atlanta-based rapper said he would go on to operate outside the music industry's traditional avenues.

"I don't expect to win awards, I don't expect to go to big venues. I'm gonna really help the youth — this is what I started doin' it for, so I'm gonna finish doin' it," he said. "Yeah, I'm gonna retire — from the industry."

For now, though, fans can tide themselves over with Ferrari Boyz, Waka's joint album with mentor Gucci Mane, which dropped last Tuesday. "Man, we just came to smash the game — point blank, period," Waka told Sway when asked why the duo made Ferrari Boyz. "They chasin' our sound, folks' singles is on our sound, and we might as well just go 'head and give it all to 'em."

 

MTV News 

Pauly D wants love life guidance

(Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images)

 

By Randee Dawn

It appears that Paul "DJ Pauly D" DelVecchio can clean up for morning television. He certainly did an efficient job for his appearance on TODAY  -- you'd hardly know that he was the kind of guy who would wake up his roommates with a horn, or who will sit chained to a pole while Britney Spears grooves and grinds for him, or who gleefully asserts that his is the best body on "Jersey Shore."

It turns out that Pauly D can charm everybody, including Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, who asked him about whether the "Shore" folks trashed their Florence, Italy digs ("Maybe. A little bit," he grinned sheepishly) and who couldn't resist touching his solid-looking, tall-standing hair. What's in it? "A lot of gel," he admitted. "I like to keep my hair on point, like my style."

He also touched briefly on appearing on Britney Spears' Femme Fatale tour, where he puts his DJ skills to work opening for both Spears and Nicki Minaj. But Pauly D really may have won over a lot of hearts -- well, at least the hearts that weren't too hardened by the "Shore" cast's GTL lifestyle and hot tub games -- when he admitted that he feels like the oft-derided Snooki has settled down.

"Snooki is a great girl, and she was looking for the right one," he told Hoda and Kathie Lee. "For a girl it looks bad when you're looking a lot. I told her, I want to screen these guys first. She's like a little sister to me now. I want to meet the guy first."

"Jersey Shore" has been bigger than ever this season, which has the cast making mayhem in Italy -- the season premiere's Aug. 11 ratings brought in more viewers than most other networks (8.8 million), and more than the Republican candidates' debate on Fox. 

"The fact that people actually watch us, it's great," said Pauly D. "But it's a lot of people."

Still, not everything is coming up roses for Pauly D, who says he could use a little guidance in his own love life. He admitted he'd like to have someone out there vetting potential girls -- the way he would for Snooki's dates. "I need someone to approve of my girls, because I don't have anyone yet," he said, nodding at his hostesses. "All the good ones are taken."

The Clicker on TODAY 

The Game blames friend for troubling tweet: Rapper says friend took his phone while he was in a photo shoot

Jemal Countess  /  Getty Images

Rapper The Game now says he wasn't the one who sent the tweet that has him facing charges.

Hollywood Reporter

The Game says he isn't to blame for the tweet that caused a Compton sheriff's office emergency phone line to jam.

The rapper is facing charges following a tweet that was sent from his account Friday to his more than 580,000 followers.
 

Story: Rapper's tweet jams emergency phone system
The phone lines were jammed for about two hours after a tweet from the Game’s account said that if anyone wanted an internship, they should call that number...

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The Sheriff's Department told the Los Angeles Times that the problems began after 5 p.m. on Friday.

Nate Dogg honored by The Game in tribute song

"This was beyond irresponsible," sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker told the Times. "The deputies' ability to answer the phones and dispatch personnel to help these people in danger was significantly impeded."

But the rapper told TMZ he never wrote the tweet. He said he was at a photo shoot when a friend of his -- who goes by the Twitter handle @wackstar -- got ahold of the Game's phone and begin typing messages and numbers.

Lawsuit seeks to stop release of The Game album

The Game insisted he had no idea one of the numbers was to the Sheriff's Department. He said he shouldn't be charged with a crime.

"Casey Anthony can get away with murder, and the Game goes to jail for tweeting. God bless America," he said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department are considering misdemeanor charges against the rapper because the prank calls caused the office to delay response to real emergency calls including a missing person, a spousal assault, two robberies and a stolen car, according to reports.

Game, whose real name is Jayceon Taylor and who uses the name Charles Louboutin on Twitter, responded after the Sheriff’s office asked him to remove the phone number from his tweet, claiming it was an accident.

“Yall can track a tweet down but cant solve murders ! Dat was an accident but maybe now yall can actually do yall job !!!!” he wrote.

The Game rose to fame as a member of the group G-Unit and received two Grammy nomination for his solo album The Documentary.

TODAY News 
Copyright 2011 The Hollywood Reporter