22-year-old Miss Indiana Crowned Miss America

Miss Indiana Katie Stam has been crowned Miss America 2009 in Las Vegas.
The 22-year-old University of Indianapolis student battled a throat infection and laryngitis throughout the week but still drew loud applause for her rendition of "Via Dolorosa" during the talent competition.

She also strutted onstage in a black bikini and an off-the-shoulder, white lace gown.

Stam, a communications major, plans to work in television news. She began competing in pageants at age 15.

The first runner-up was Miss Georgia Chasity Hardman.

Top 5

• Miss Indiana - Katie Stam
• Miss Georgia - Chasity Hardman
• Miss Iowa - Olivia Myers
• Miss New York - Leigh Taylor Smith
• Miss Florida - Sierra Minott

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel are resistance to corrosion and staining. It has low maintenance and relatively low cost. It is made up of alloy milled into coins, bars, wire, tubing to be used in cookware, cutlery and lots of more made of steel.

One thing I notice is that we already have stainless steel mailbox and stainless steel fire accessories, isn't that great? there is no need to use woods but a real steel. Low cost and no need for more maintenance. No need to worry from rains or from winter and summer, blomus stainless steel mailboxes is there to help you. It is a year round mailbox, a corrosion resistance and it is sure to be more secure.

Like a blomus stainless steel fireplace accessories with its modern style and functionality you can have a nice atmosphere sitting around in your fireplace. As we know all proper tool for fireplace is a must and stainless steel are there to help. Has a self-healing property because of its specific chemical composition, its rebuilds itself from scratch with assistance of oxygen and water. Remember all stainless steel are recyclable.

Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

Writers praise Barack Obama's inaugural address.

President Obama's address was full of soaring optimism but also seemed to criticize aspects of the administrations of both George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Most say that restraint and plain speaking distinguished the speech. One calls it a 'sophisticated view of the world and our role in it.'

More novel than short story; more ballad than poem -- most writers agree that restraint and plain speaking were the qualities that distinguished President Obama's inaugural address. Long on plot (and it will thicken), it did what literature does best: the backward glance, the standing on shoulders, the salute to ancestors and other sources of wisdom.

"He is our first (in the best sense of the word) aristocratic president," said author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell. "Bush was a buddy. Clinton was the kindly uncle. Obama is a prince." Read more

Read Transcript of Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address

Summer Fun

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Like summer is approaching, planning for a beach vacation somewhere else? Had you got any ideas what to wear or what is your swimsuit outfit for this summer? As we know all women swimsuit are hard to shop because it requires body type and size. Before buying know what kind of suit your loo small, make sure it works for you body type and importantly think about your figure and proportion before buying any style. If you follow this guidelines then for sure your now confident wearing your swimsuit outfit, a summertime fashion that you won't miss.

American Idol 8th Season Began!

One of the most popular reality TV shows that has taken over American entertainment is undoubtedly American Idol. The show is one of the most popular formats, and it borrowed the idea from its British counterpart. American Idol is not an ordinary reality show, as it is based on a talent show format.

Other reality shows, like Survivor, Big Brother or The Amazing race offer prizes in money, which motivates people to go through unbelievable hardships and complete exhausting tasks. To succeed on these shows, you don’t only have to be physically fit, but you also have to be personable to gain the trust of your fellow competitors and perhaps even manipulate them to win. On Idol, the prize is fame and stardom, as the contestants must prove their singing abilities.

American Idol organizes nation-wide auditions in search of the next singing sensation. Auditions can last for days in every place they visit, and thousands audition to prove that they have what it takes to become the next American Idol.

Two nights ago was the premiere of the 8th season of the reality show. There have been some changes, among which the most notable was the replacement of a judge.

The current panel of judges consists of Randy Jackson, a record producer and music manager, Paula Abdul, the famous pop-singer and choreographer, music manager and music executive Simon Cowell and, replacing sweetheart Nigel Lythgoe for the upcoming eighth season, songwriter Kara DioGuardi.

Shopwiki Buying Guides

Shopwiki is guide for all shoppers to find specific products on the internet. Helps you to think what is the best products and where to buy those products.

No need for you to go malling and canvassing products, shopwiki is there online to help you shopped with ease. for Shopwiki crawls more then 200,000 online stores, so now worries about prices and sales coming.

There are lots of sales and discount and you as a shopwiki member can avail this as shopwiki offers giveaways. Not only that if you are a shopaholic particularly on bags, shoes, sunglasses, dresses and etc, there are buying and gift guides that shopwiki provides. A very convenient shopping guide for all consumer. Especially now summertime is just a couple of months and best accessories to buy are sunglasses, protecting your eye from sunlight and uv rays, get the latest hip and guides where and what brands to buy. Sunglasses buying guides on shopwiki is designed to help you shop for styles, weight, sizes and colors. Be fashionable go to shopwiki.

American Idols Meet New Judge: Kara DioGuardi

Kara DioGuardi is the new judge for the eighth season on air of “American Idol.” The songwriter, who is now 38, tried 15 years ago to become a rock star. She moved from her native city, New Rochelle, to New York City after she had finished college, but found herself not being too fit for the career she had chosen.

She went from people who were telling her that she was too fat to people who were saying that her nose is too big and the ones who told her she wasn’t black enough or white enough. So she gave up this dream and started writing songs, discovering that she is the best in doing this.

Hits of Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson or Christina Aguilera came from DioGuardi and "behind these scenes" has become like her second home. She will be in the spotlights as a judge for the latest season of “American Idol,” aired on Fox.

DioGuardi is the first addition to the judges of the show, since it started back in 2002. She said that she doesn’t expect everybody to love her once she enters this competition as a judge but that none of them can take her what she had done until now.

The last season of “American Idol” premiered with 33.3 million watchers. And this was the fewest of any premiere of the show since its fourth season. Even if “Idol” remains the highest-rated series on network television, the ratings from 2008 descended 6% from the previous season, according to Fox.

Mike Darnell, president of alternative entertainment for Fox, stated that DioGuardi was chosen just a few days before auditions began in August and that they badly needed someone “who would be credible musically.”

Source: efluxmedia.com

The Best Job In The World

An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months.

The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the winner's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.

In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of "a few minor tasks" -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.

"They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.

"The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world."

Lucas said the campaign was part of a drive to protect the state's 18 billion Australian dollar a year tourism industry during the tough economic climate caused by the global financial meltdown.

"Traditional tourism advertising just doesn't cut it sometimes and we are thinking outside the box by launching this campaign."

Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said some people might question whether it was risky to let an unknown person become an unofficial tourism spokesperson for the state.

"I think the biggest risk will be that the successful candidate won't want to go home at the end of the six months," she said.

"This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone."

Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1.

Job-seekers can apply on .

Source: Yahoo News

Golden Globe Awards Winners

MOVIES

Motion Picture, Drama
Slumdog Millionaire

Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Director, Motion Picture
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Actress, Motion Picture, Drama
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Actor, Motion Picture, Drama
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Actress, Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Actor, Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Colin Farrell, In Bruges

Supporting Actor, Motion Picture
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Foreign-Language Film
Waltz With Bashir, Israel

Motion Picture, Animated
WALL-E

Original Score
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire

Original Song
"The Wrestler," The Wrestler; music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen


TELEVISION

Television Series, Drama
Mad Men

Television Series, Comedy or Musical
30 Rock

Actress, Television Series, Musical or Comedy
Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Actor in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Actress, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Laura Linney, John Adams

Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Paul Giamatti, John Adams

Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
John Adams

Actress in a Television Series, Drama
Anna Paquin, True Blood

Actor in a Television Series, Drama
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment

Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie
Laura Dern, Recount

Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

Who is Taylor Swift?

Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American country pop singer. Signed to the independent Big Machine Records label in 2006, she made her debut on the Billboard country charts with the release of her debut single "Tim McGraw". This song, which peaked at #6, was the first of five singles from her self-titled debut, which was released in late 2006 and re-issued in 2007, and has been certified 3× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. Following "Tim McGraw" were the #2 "Teardrops on My Guitar", the six-week Number One "Our Song", the #3 "Picture to Burn" and another Number One in "Should've Said No".
All five singles from her debut were Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, as was her song "Change" from the AT&T TEAM USA Soundtrack. Her second album, Fearless, was released on November 11, 2008 and its lead-off single "Love Story" has become her highest Hot 100 hit.

The New York Times described Swift as "one of pop’s finest songwriters, country’s foremost pragmatist and more in touch with her inner life than most adults".

According to Nielsen SoundScan, with a combined sales of more than four million albums sold, Swift is the biggest selling artist of 2008 in America. Swift's Fearless and her self-titled album finished 2008 at #3 and #6 respectively with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million. This is the first time in the history of Nielsen SoundScan one artist had two different albums in the Top 10 on the year end album chart. In early January 2009, Swift became the first country artist to reach the 2 million paid download mark with two different songs. Her current hit, "Love Story," has sold 2,026,000 downloads. Her 2007 hit, "Teardrops On My Guitar," has sold 2,052,000 downloads.

Elvis 74th Birthday

Fans gathered for a cake-cutting on Elvis Presley's 74th birthday and got word of two new residents at Graceland.

Presley's ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, led several hundred fans in singing "Happy Birthday" on Graceland's front lawn Thursday and announced that two rescue horses — named Max and Bandit — have taken up residence on the grounds of the famous white-columned house.

Elvis, who died at Graceland in 1977 at age 42, maintained stables and riding pastures for horses at his longtime Memphis residence.

With the addition of Max and Bandit, Graceland now has four horses residing in its eight-stall barn.

Following the sing-along and the reading of an proclamations, fans lined up for pieces of birthday cake handed out at Graceland's sprawling souvenir shopping center.

The Most Exposed Celebs of 2008

Tabloids and gossip blogs tend to go through phases of “It” girls and celebrities who hog the spotlight for a period of time before they step back for a little bit. It used to be Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan every day, but even they have ceded the exposure crown to other ladies.

Comeback queen Britney Spears tops USA Today’s 2008 "Celebrity Heat Index" for the second year in a row. The ranking measures exposure in print and online entertainment news outlets, and apparently people are equally interested in Britney’s successes (winning awards and a Billboard topping album) as her stints in psychiatric wards.

Angelina Jolie, who gave birth to twin Knox and Vivienne this summer, came in second place, while her partner Brad Pitt came in fourth. Sandwiched between them this year was Brad’s ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston. May we be the first to admit we’re getting sick to death of hearing about this whole love triangle, but in 2008 it seemed there was nearly nothing else to report on! We hope to hear—and write—much, much less about Jen and Brangelina in 2009.

Also making the list were Britney’s sister, Jamie Lynn Spears and Tom Cruise. Parish Hilton was noticeably absent, and we’re not complaining.

It’s fascinating how some A-list stars manage to avoid the tabloids and paparazzi, and it’s usually no accident. We love stars who allow their body of word to speak for itself. Some celebs like Madonna seem to just spark rumors at their every turn. Others provide intimate accounts of their sex life for press and we’re totally turned off by them (that means you, Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson)!

Sources: Shine.yahoo.com