Saturday, November 26, 2011

'Botox Mom' Investigated by Child Services After 'Good Morning America' Interview

The outcry over a recent 'Good Morning America' segment, in which a San Francisco mother said she gave her 8-year-old daughter Botox injections before beauty pageants, has now prompted Bay Area child protective services to investigate the family.

Callers flooded the phone lines of the Human Services Agency, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, after Kerry Campbell appeared on 'GMA' with daughter Britney, 8, discussing the extreme beauty regimen, including hair-waxing as well as Botox.

The controversial mom, who claims she's a trained esthetician, wasn't making a first-time confession on 'GMA' -- earlier this year, the 34-year-old demonstrated for a British news outlet her technique for administering Botox injections into her little girl's face, and claimed the practice is growing on the kiddie pageant circuit.

Of her Botox shots, Britney told 'GMA' correspondent Lara Spencer, "It hurt sometimes, but I get used to it."


Britney also told 'GMA' she endured treatments of Botox (which cause facial bruising and swelling, as seen in photos of Britney) because she thinks she "looks way better, like, beautiful, pretty... like, all those kinds of nice words."

Is it possible Mom believes her child is a willing self-improvement fiend? "My friends think it's cool I have all the treatments and they want to be like me," Britney reportedly told the U.K.'s Sun. "I check every night for wrinkles [and] when I see some, I want more injections....They used to hurt, but now I don't cry that much...I also want a boob and nose job soon."

Campbell has also reportedly administered bikini waxes to her daughter in the hopes that she won't grow pubic hair. She told the Sun, ""All I want is for Britney to have the best start in life, so it is easier for her to become a superstar."

The Botox products for little Britney are allegedly purchased online by Campbell, who claims to have no doubts about the treatments' safety. The FDA approves the use of Botox in U.S. patients who are age 18 and older.

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Caught in Action: Celebrities Hard at Work

Jon Hamm, star of the hit series "Mad Men", is spotted filming scenes for the upcoming season. Jon was all smiles while filming in a red, vintage Imperial convertible.

Pacific Coast News

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Entertainment

Entertainmenttag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/index.ssf//2249Sun, 19 Jun 2011 2:47:15 UTCNJ.com: New Jersey Entertainment homeMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advanceClarence Clemons dies: Bruce Springsteen releases statementtag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/music/index.ssf//2250.65207782011-06-19T02:22:20Z2011-06-19T02:36:19ZAP File PhotoClarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen onstage together in 2004. Bruce Springsteen has released the following statement about Clarence Clemons' death: Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him....Jay Lustig/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/jlustig/index.html AP File PhotoClarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen onstage together in 2004. Bruce Springsteen has released the following statement about Clarence Clemons' death: Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him.... Five book reviews for Father's Daytag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/arts/index.ssf//2253.65156572011-06-19T10:01:03Z2011-06-18T14:14:28ZIn the spirit of Dad's Day, check out these booksStar-Ledger Entertainment Deskhttp://connect.nj.com/user/njoslced/index.html In the spirit of Dad's Day, check out these books Your comments: New Jersey reacts to the death of Clarence Clemonstag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/index.ssf//2249.65206932011-06-19T02:42:45Z2011-06-19T02:47:15Z"[T]here's a big piece of Jersey in Heaven tonight," one NJ.com user laments.NJ.com Staffhttp://connect.nj.com/user/njostaff/index.html "[T]here's a big piece of Jersey in Heaven tonight," one NJ.com user laments. Clarence Clemons dies of complications from stroketag:www.nj.com,2011:/news/index.ssf//1607.65193242011-06-19T02:39:09Z2011-06-19T04:42:54ZThe 69-year-old saxophonist was the Big Man whose solos keyed Springsteen's soundTris McCall/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/tmccall/index.html The 69-year-old saxophonist was the Big Man whose solos keyed Springsteen's sound New Jersey native chronicles 'rebirth' of motherhoodtag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/arts/index.ssf//2253.65134822011-06-18T12:00:28Z2011-06-17T20:04:29ZLisa Harper, author of "A Double Life: Discovering Motherhood." Author Lisa Catherine Harper spent a whopping 49 hours in labor with her first child, a daughter she named Ella. But after all that pain and pushing, South Orange native Harper...Meredith Galante/The Star-Ledger http://connect.nj.com/user/mgalante/index.html Lisa Harper, author of "A Double Life: Discovering Motherhood." Author Lisa Catherine Harper spent a whopping 49 hours in labor with her first child, a daughter she named Ella. But after all that pain and pushing, South Orange native Harper... Pier Sessions in Hoboken offers free concerts by local standoutstag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/music/index.ssf//2250.65134102011-06-18T11:53:36Z2011-06-17T19:57:29ZJoe Proudman/The Star-Ledger Singer Danielle Patoir of The Prettiest Meltdown performs during the Pier Sessions on the Hoboken waterfront on Thursday. A cool breeze wafts across the Hudson River as a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline looms in the...Jim Testa/For The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/njojtesta/index.html Joe Proudman/The Star-Ledger Singer Danielle Patoir of The Prettiest Meltdown performs during the Pier Sessions on the Hoboken waterfront on Thursday. A cool breeze wafts across the Hudson River as a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline looms in the... Baby Phat maxi worn by celebrities, now on sale for $31.99tag:blog.nj.com,2011:/fashiontoday//2487.65092662011-06-17T21:27:36Z2011-06-17T21:27:23ZLisa Irizarryhttp://connect.nj.com/user/lirizarr/index.htmlHoward Stern scribe Benjy Bronk disrupts Weiner press conference (video)tag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/index.ssf//2249.65127172011-06-17T18:28:26Z2011-06-17T20:41:08ZAmid a sea of reporters, Weiner dodged a few inappropriate questions. Was it comedy?Anthony Venutolo/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/acvenuto/index.html Amid a sea of reporters, Weiner dodged a few inappropriate questions. Was it comedy? Your comments: Results of 'So You Think You Can Dance'tag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/index.ssf//2249.65123882011-06-17T17:38:05Z2011-06-17T17:58:07ZHighlighting the best comments on NJ.comNJ.com Staffhttp://connect.nj.com/user/njostaff/index.html Highlighting the best comments on NJ.com Best bars in New Jersey: Submit your favorite watering holes tag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/dining/index.ssf//2254.65119522011-06-17T15:43:32Z2011-06-17T18:48:33Z The boat bar at the one-and-only Oyster Creek Inn, Leeds Point Since New Jersey didn't fare so well in the Best Bars in America ranking, it's time to show some Jersey pride and show the rest of the country...Peter Genovese/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/pgenoves/index.html The boat bar at the one-and-only Oyster Creek Inn, Leeds Point Since New Jersey didn't fare so well in the Best Bars in America ranking, it's time to show some Jersey pride and show the rest of the country... 'Glee' at the Izod Center: Gwyneth Paltrow makes surprise appearance for concert film tapingtag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/celebrities/index.ssf//2255.65112232011-06-17T14:46:18Z2011-06-17T16:13:02ZShe and Jane Lynch were on hand for the filming of the "Glee Live!" 3D movie, out later this summerVicki Hyman/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/vihyman/index.html She and Jane Lynch were on hand for the filming of the "Glee Live!" 3D movie, out later this summer Samuel L. Jackson reads 'Go the F---- to Sleep' on Letterman (video)tag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/index.ssf//2249.65096952011-06-17T14:24:59Z2011-06-17T14:19:48ZCheck out the hilarious video from Letterman as well as the full Audible.com versionAnthony Venutolo/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/acvenuto/index.html Check out the hilarious video from Letterman as well as the full Audible.com version Song of the Week: 'Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,' Coldplaytag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/music/index.ssf//2250.65076792011-06-17T14:00:22Z2011-06-16T21:57:06ZColdplay's Chris Martin likes to listen to other people's music. On this new track, he even sings about it. For a group that squats in the middle of the road, Coldplay sure is polarizing. The politeness of the London quartet?s...Tris McCall/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/tmccall/index.html Coldplay's Chris Martin likes to listen to other people's music. On this new track, he even sings about it. For a group that squats in the middle of the road, Coldplay sure is polarizing. The politeness of the London quartet?s... 'The Art of Getting By' review: Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts perform disappointingly in angst teenage filmtag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/movies/index.ssf//8000383.65075012011-06-17T12:13:18Z2011-06-16T21:24:19ZMark SchaferEmma Roberts and Freddie Highmore in "The Art of Getting By." ?We?re born alone, we die alone,? high school senior George Zinavoy tells us in the opening voice-over for ?The Art of Getting By.? ?Everything in between is an...Stephen Whitty/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/sjwhitty/index.html Mark SchaferEmma Roberts and Freddie Highmore in "The Art of Getting By." ?We?re born alone, we die alone,? high school senior George Zinavoy tells us in the opening voice-over for ?The Art of Getting By.? ?Everything in between is an... Open the Sesame review: Artful take on Asian foodtag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/dining/index.ssf//2254.65070332011-06-17T12:11:30Z2011-06-16T20:28:29Z Joe Proudman/The Star-LedgerOpen the Sesame owner Petom Kochawattana at his Thai and Japanese restaurant in Springfield. Just a few steps inside the door hangs a gallery-sized, grainy 1966 black-and-white family photograph; the face of Chef Petom, at age 6,...Teresa Politano/For The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/njotpolitano/index.html Joe Proudman/The Star-LedgerOpen the Sesame owner Petom Kochawattana at his Thai and Japanese restaurant in Springfield. Just a few steps inside the door hangs a gallery-sized, grainy 1966 black-and-white family photograph; the face of Chef Petom, at age 6,... 'Page One: Inside the New York Times' review: Newspaper fights for its life in new documentarytag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/movies/index.ssf//8000383.65073772011-06-17T12:10:51Z2011-06-16T21:13:04ZStephen Whitty gives 'Page One' three starsStephen Whitty/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/sjwhitty/index.html Stephen Whitty gives 'Page One' three stars CD reviews: Frank Turner, Sloan, Roxanne Potvin, Bon Ivertag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/music/index.ssf//2250.65069532011-06-17T12:09:56Z2011-06-17T15:11:00Z England Keep My Bones Frank Turner (Epitaph) It?s been awhile since we?ve gotten a wordy acoustic guitar strummer out of Great Britain. Leave it to punk imprint Epitaph to introduce America to Frank Turner, a fast-talking leftist folkie singer-songwriter...Tris McCall/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/tmccall/index.html England Keep My Bones Frank Turner (Epitaph) It?s been awhile since we?ve gotten a wordy acoustic guitar strummer out of Great Britain. Leave it to punk imprint Epitaph to introduce America to Frank Turner, a fast-talking leftist folkie singer-songwriter... 'Mr. Popper's Penguins' review: Jim Carrey mars otherwise charming cute-animal movietag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/movies/index.ssf//8000383.65072462011-06-17T12:04:48Z2011-06-17T14:55:14ZCarrey chews the scenery even when he's not in the sceneStephen Whitty/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/sjwhitty/index.html Carrey chews the scenery even when he's not in the scene Freespace Dance evokes the male spirittag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/arts/index.ssf//2253.65076542011-06-17T12:02:21Z2011-06-16T22:06:13ZChoreographer Donna Scro, from Montclair, doesn't want the seven guys in her new work to look like her.Robert Johnson/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/njorjohnson/index.html Choreographer Donna Scro, from Montclair, doesn't want the seven guys in her new work to look like her. 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' preview: Nitya Vidyasagar will play a pair of royal characterstag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/arts/index.ssf//2253.65068992011-06-17T12:01:15Z2011-06-17T19:05:17ZJoe GeinertNitya Vidyasagar who plays Titania, Queen of the Fairies rehearses a scene from A Midsummer Night�'s Dream. Most performers are interested in the parts that have the greatest number of lines. But of the two roles that Nitya Vidyasagar...Peter Filichia/For The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/njopfilichia/index.html Joe GeinertNitya Vidyasagar who plays Titania, Queen of the Fairies rehearses a scene from A Midsummer Night�'s Dream. Most performers are interested in the parts that have the greatest number of lines. But of the two roles that Nitya Vidyasagar... 'Sounds of the City' preview: World, jazz, hip-hop and house music figure heavily in NJPAC seriestag:www.nj.com,2011:/entertainment/music/index.ssf//2250.65071532011-06-17T12:00:57Z2011-06-16T20:43:21ZCourtesy of MozayikMozayik, performing at NJPAC's Sounds of the City on July 14. Kitab Rollins has no doubt what the ?sound of the city? is, when it comes to Brick City. ?What Newark loves is house music,? says Rollins, a...Amy Kuperinsky/The Star-Ledgerhttp://connect.nj.com/user/amykup/index.html Courtesy of MozayikMozayik, performing at NJPAC's Sounds of the City on July 14. Kitab Rollins has no doubt what the ?sound of the city? is, when it comes to Brick City. ?What Newark loves is house music,? says Rollins, a...

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Nobel literature juror in RI denies prize biases

By IAN MacDOUGALL, AP
Thu Apr 14, 12:13 AM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. ? The Swedish panel that awards the Nobel Prize for Literature isn't biased toward European writers or against American writers, a member of the panel said Wednesday.

Nationality isn't an important factor in selecting the prize winner, Swedish Academy member and acclaimed poet Kjell Espmark told The Associated Press.

Other members of the Swedish Academy have suggested both biases exist.

In 2008, the committee's then-permanent secretary, Horace Engdahl, said European writers tend to beat out American writers because American literature is overly insular. In 2009, his successor, Peter Englund, worried the prize was too "Eurocentric."

The list of the past 20 laureates includes one American ? novelist Toni Morrison, in 1993 ? and 11 European writers, including German novelist Gunter Grass and British playwright Harold Pinter. Some of the others selected during that time are not from Europe but have spent much of their writing careers there.

The literature prize election is by secret ballot among the 18 members of the Swedish Academy. Espmark has been a member of the Academy since 1981.

Engdahl sparked an uproar in 2008 when he declared in an interview with the AP that Europeans tend to win because they deserve to win, particularly compared with Americans, whom he dismissed as "too sensitive to trends in their own mass culture."

Engdahl's words were taken out of context, Espmark said Wednesday.

"That interview was summed up in such a way that could make you think that American writers were out of the question because they were too insular and so on. That's just nonsense," he said. "What he talked about actually is that very little translated literature is read in America."

Very few foreign-language books make it into English, especially in the U.S. market, and even fewer reach a wide audience, as Espmark pointed out.

"It's just a matter of a low percentage of translation that makes American audiences rather unaware of what happens in other countries," he said.

He also said he disagreed with Englund when he revealed in 2009 that he thought it was a problem that members of the Swedish Academy tend to "relate more easily to literature written in Europe and in the European tradition."

"The nation is not important, and balance (of laureates' homelands) is not interesting," Espmark said, noting that the panel tries to be impartial and make selections based purely on literary criteria.

Espmark, who is a professor emeritus of literary history at Stockholm University, was in Rhode Island as part of a tour to promote his latest collection of poetry, "Lend Me Your Voice." He gave a lecture at Providence College and read from the poetry collection; he spoke to the AP afterward.

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Is Bethenny Frankel Worth More Than the Kardashians?!

This is one savvy Skinnygirl.

Kim Kardashian may have the bigger booty, but reality star/mom/mogul/margarita mix master�Bethenny Frankel's got the�bigger bank account. This reality star trumps the Kardashian clan?who have pocked millions from best-sellers, numerous E! shows and even paid tweets?all with a cocktail and a dream.

So how did Bethenny do it?

Well, not from Bravo, that's for sure.

Rather than earning megaprofits from the former reality shows, the former Real Housewives of New York City castmember uses them to gain fans and plug her brand, reports The Hollywood Reporter, who sat down with the star right after she signed that massive liquor deal. Topping off all the TV exposure, Frankel's always been extremely savvy when it comes to using Twitter, Facebook and her website to promote her books, workout tips and recipes?amassing over 500,000 followers combined from the sites.

All of her outside moneymaking and branding ventures fall under her personal business umbrella, called Bethenny Frankel.

Running the now extremely successful business, which she began as a modest startup while living with her dog Cookie in her small Manhattan apartment, has worked out quite well for Frankel. Besides tying the knot with hubby Jason Hoppy and giving birth to daughter Bryn, the entrepreneur has managed to do the following after kicking off filming on the first season of RHONY with just $8,000 in her bank account:

? Lucrative Endorsement Deals: Frankel has starred in ads and commercials for Pepperidge Farm Cookies, Bluefly and Hanes.

? Three Published Books: Her first tome, Naturally Thin, was purchased in a "very lucrative" deal by publishing house Simon & Schuster, was on the New York Times best-seller list for 18 weeks. Just nine months later, she released her second book, The Skinnygirl Dish, full of recipes on what exactly she's putting in her skinny bod. She's now released a third book, A Place of Yes, after rewriting her entire first draft. Fun fact: She does most of her writing on planes or in bed wearing pajamas.

? RHONYC/Bethenny Ever After: This is where Frankel built her enormous fan following, who will buy basically anything she slaps the Skinnygirl title on. RHONY debuted in October 2008 and she did the next three seasons, outwitting and outplugging everyone and parlaying that fame into her own show, now titled Bethenny Ever After, which shows a softer side of the now married mom.

? Workout DVD: In Body by Bethenny, the personable Frankel makes yoga look fun while joking with her yoga partner and, of course, plugging her Skinnygirl brand on her shirt.

? Skinnygirl Extensions: The Skinnygirl "lifestyle" includes a shapewear line, diet cleanse and weight-loss supplements. Of her "lazy lingerie" Frankel says, "I don't like to wear lingerie, but my husband loves it. So I created lazy lingerie. You wear it under a blazer or sweater during the day, but when you pull it off, you have on lingerie. It solves a problem."

? Speaking Engagements: With an agent, a booker, manager and PR rep, Frankel earns cash speaking about everything from business to dating and love to food.

? Skating With the Stars:�Frankel cross-promoted this one, as it's currently living on in behind-the-scenes moments on Bethenny Ever After. She managed to squeeze in practice and a trip to Los Angeles with her hubby and 11-month old babyin tow and finished in second place?winning over even more fans in the process.�

? Liquor Deal: This is Frankel's bread and butter, creating the Skinnygirl margarita after looking for a way to down her favorite drink without all that sugar. After developing the idea for the mix, she began shopping it around to liquor distributors, but no one would take her seriously in a male-dominated market. Finally, after six months of back-and-forth with Beam, who showed interest, she struck a deal (estimated at around $120 million) with the company to produce her formula worldwide. "I created a sub-category that never existed. I wasn't an expert, I was just another person bothered by a 700-calorie margarita," she said.

Frankel's been so successful in her endeavors that network heads are now even rethinking the way their reality stars have been using the networks for personal gain. Some have even begun to include clauses in new talent contracts that would award the network a portion of the money made from the result of a talent's time on a show.

Looks like Frankel's changed the game. And beaten everybody to the punch.�

MORE: Bethenny doesn't care if you see her naked!

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Was Mariah Carey Reported for Drinking in the Hospital?

All new parents have their hands full, but Mariah Carey and husband Nick Cannon also dealt with a very unexpected visitor in the hospital where their daughter and son, Monroe and Moroccan, were born April 30.

"Child Protective Services actually came to me," Cannon told Piers Morgan on CNN Thursday, "And said that they were here to see me because there had been allegations that there was drug and alcohol use during the stay in the hospital."

But it's hardly as scandalous as it sounds: Cannon believes someone involved in Carey's care was overheard discussing a beer that allegedly boosts breastmilk production. Many moms of twins receive lactation tips specific to the challenges of feeding two newborns, but most can probably count on more privacy than Mariah Carey.

"It all started when a nurse suggested to my wife that if you drink Guinness, the dark beer, the yeast improves breastfeeding," Cannon added. "I don't know if someone heard that [and] were saying my wife was drinking beer. People will do anything to try to conjure up a story."


Cannon's theory is that a mundane conversation became a wild rumor only because of the new mom's celebrity. According to Us, he said the rep responding to information about alcohol in the patients' room understood the circumstances and agreed the allegation was ridiculous.

"To even have to deal with that, with my wife in the state that she's in while we're in the hospital, to even have to think about someone possibly wanting to investigate your children," Cannon said. "It's sad at the end of the day...when you think about people trying to make a buck off newborn babies."

Guinness beer tips aside, nursing twins is serious business for some moms, as 'Modern Family' star Julie Bowen proudly explained during a chat with George Lopez last year. On the other hand, twin mom Jennifer Lopez caused a mini-scandal in the parenting blogosphere when she confidently told People magazine she was forgoing breastfeeding altogether.

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Celebrity Children

Isla Fisher, who is currently pregnant with her second child, takes her daughter Olive for a treat at Milk on Beverly Boulevard.

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Was Robert Pattinson's Pachyderm Pal Treated Humanely on Elephants Set?

While we absolutely loved Robert Pattinson's dreamy-eyed flirting, there was one thing about Water for Elephants that made us scratch at our animal-loving brains.

How the hell did they make those elephant-training scenes (torture, really) look so horrendously and depressingly real?

We know the flick was certified for no abuse of animals, but we had to find out exactly how Rosie the elephant was treated.

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It's all done with positive reinforcement! And some of the specifics are too presh!

Jone Bouman, American Humane Association's Film & TV unit spokesperson, filled us in on how some of those scary, abusive-looking scenes were filmed without anyone (on-set trainers, aside) touching Tai, the elephant actress who plays Rosie.

"That is all done by CGI," Bouman said regarding the many scenes were Christoph Waltz's character pokes at the circus elephant with a bull hook. "What's really being used is just a Styrofoam stick. No one ever came even close to touching Tai, and it would not be allowed by us."

Good to know! Especially because some of those moments of torture made us turn our heads in horror. Very difficult to watch.

Bouman insists the moaning and crying noises were mere audio tracks, and that those horrific noises Rosie utters never, ever came out of Tai's trunk.

"All of us here know and love Tai. She lives on a beautiful ranch in Southern California. She is so well taken care of; one of the happiest creatures I have ever met."

So happy, Bouman tells us that Tai was even giggling on set! Yes, apparently elephants giggle, too.

"Tai loves to bang on garbage cans. So when we train her, we positively reinforce her by letting her bang as if on drums," Bouman informed us.

"She takes a stick between her trunk and bangs," she added. We can't help but smile. Can you just picture R.Pattz and Tai rocking out between takes? This is what we like to see?animals being treated like human beings!

The animal protector assures us that absolutely no harm was done to any of the animals?and that every second of training on and off the set has been documented for American Humane Association's records.

We're told movie crews actually have to earn their No Animals Were Harmed certificate, by which the rigorous animal welfare guidelines cover everything from food and rest to temperatures.

The Association will post a full-length animal-centric review of the care of the animals during the filming of Water for Elephants later this afternoon on its website.

We hope Tai's trunk keeps drumming that happy tune, but do you think it was also a celebratory dance because Tai knows her love scenes with Rob were hotter than those with Reese Witherspoon?

WATCH: Reese and Rob at the Water for Elephants premiere

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"I Never Wanted to Be the American Idol," Says Eliminee Stefano Langone

Say what?! Who goes on American Idol not wanting to win? Well,�Stefano Langone does just that?or so he claims, after the fact.

The morning after being booted off the Idol stage, he isn't wondering what he could have done differently to stay. Instead, he's thinking about his future and making sure his self-proclaimed "brother," James Durbin, is doing all right after last night's emotional meltdown. So what's Stefano's next move now that he's off the No. 1 show in America....and how did he console James after the cameras stopped rolling?

We reported last night that James was an emotional mess after Stefano's elimination. When he stormed offstage in tears and obvious discontent, we saw a new side of James. But while James took the elimination hard, Stefano himself says it was never his intention to make it all the way.

"When I came out for American Idol I never wanted to be the American Idol," he said, "It was getting my foot in the door of the music industry and taking a step forward in that way. I am so happy about my experience, so thankful for all of this and blessed.

"What I came out here to do, I did it. I succeeded. I got to lucky No. 7, and it doesn't really reflect on who I am as a musician or a performer at all. It's a show. That's one thing you've got to remember, it's a show, and now it's time for me to really move forward. There's a wide open crowd and market out there right now, and I'm ready to pounce on it."

As for James' postshow meltdown, Stefano says he was able to talk him down by reassuring him that everything was going to work out the way it's supposed to.�

"I told him not to worry about me," Stefano told us. "I did everything I set out to do on this show and it's going to pay off and I'm going to do great. I told him, 'Just keep focusing on the show and what you gotta do to keep succeeding and I'll be back in a couple weeks.' I talked him down a little bit. He's a big crybaby."

The pair have been close buddies and roommates since Hollywood Week, making it extra hard to say goodbye, but James guarantees Stefano will be an intricate part of one of the most important days of his life. �

"He's a brother to me, and I'm going to be his best man in his wedding," Stefano said.�

As for Stefano's future in music, well, he's pretty confident he'll have a career as successful as established stars�John Legend and Stevie Wonder.

"I have the range of Stevie Wonder," he said. "I have that range and I have that soul, especially when I get on the piano. People haven't seen that John Legend feel. I have a lot of stuff in the bag that I haven't really shown yet. I haven't gone and done my original stuff, I haven't gotten behind the piano and shown vocally what I am capable of. I am really going to show the world not just what I can do on American Idol but in the music industry the kind of impact I can make."

Those are some pretty big shoes to fill, but Stefano is nothing but excited.

"I cannot wait to start this long and successful journey."

Do you think Stefano has the talent of Stevie Wonder? Do you believe he didn't want to win Idol? Does James emotional meltdown make you love him more? Let us know in the comments!

READ MORE:�Live at�American Idol: Why Did James Durbin Storm Offstage After the Show?

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"I Never Wanted to Be the American Idol," Says Eliminee Stefano Langone

Say what?! Who goes on American Idol not wanting to win? Well,�Stefano Langone does just that?or so he claims, after the fact.

The morning after being booted off the Idol stage, he isn't wondering what he could have done differently to stay. Instead, he's thinking about his future and making sure his self-proclaimed "brother," James Durbin, is doing all right after last night's emotional meltdown. So what's Stefano's next move now that he's off the No. 1 show in America....and how did he console James after the cameras stopped rolling?

We reported last night that James was an emotional mess after Stefano's elimination. When he stormed offstage in tears and obvious discontent, we saw a new side of James. But while James took the elimination hard, Stefano himself says it was never his intention to make it all the way.

"When I came out for American Idol I never wanted to be the American Idol," he said, "It was getting my foot in the door of the music industry and taking a step forward in that way. I am so happy about my experience, so thankful for all of this and blessed.

"What I came out here to do, I did it. I succeeded. I got to lucky No. 7, and it doesn't really reflect on who I am as a musician or a performer at all. It's a show. That's one thing you've got to remember, it's a show, and now it's time for me to really move forward. There's a wide open crowd and market out there right now, and I'm ready to pounce on it."

As for James' postshow meltdown, Stefano says he was able to talk him down by reassuring him that everything was going to work out the way it's supposed to.�

"I told him not to worry about me," Stefano told us. "I did everything I set out to do on this show and it's going to pay off and I'm going to do great. I told him, 'Just keep focusing on the show and what you gotta do to keep succeeding and I'll be back in a couple weeks.' I talked him down a little bit. He's a big crybaby."

The pair have been close buddies and roommates since Hollywood Week, making it extra hard to say goodbye, but James guarantees Stefano will be an intricate part of one of the most important days of his life. �

"He's a brother to me, and I'm going to be his best man in his wedding," Stefano said.�

As for Stefano's future in music, well, he's pretty confident he'll have a career as successful as established stars�John Legend and Stevie Wonder.

"I have the range of Stevie Wonder," he said. "I have that range and I have that soul, especially when I get on the piano. People haven't seen that John Legend feel. I have a lot of stuff in the bag that I haven't really shown yet. I haven't gone and done my original stuff, I haven't gotten behind the piano and shown vocally what I am capable of. I am really going to show the world not just what I can do on American Idol but in the music industry the kind of impact I can make."

Those are some pretty big shoes to fill, but Stefano is nothing but excited.

"I cannot wait to start this long and successful journey."

Do you think Stefano has the talent of Stevie Wonder? Do you believe he didn't want to win Idol? Does James emotional meltdown make you love him more? Let us know in the comments!

READ MORE:�Live at�American Idol: Why Did James Durbin Storm Offstage After the Show?

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Montel Williams' drug paraphernalia charge dropped

MILWAUKEE ? A judge dismissed a drug paraphernalia possession charge against former talk show host Montel Williams, who was briefly detained at a Milwaukee airport in January after a search of his luggage turned up the type of pipe commonly used for smoking marijuana.

Williams, who says he legally uses marijuana to treat chronic pain caused by multiple sclerosis, was scheduled to stand trial in May on the charge. But a Milwaukee County judge dismissed the case Tuesday at the district attorney's request after the pipe tested negative for the drug, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

"We concluded that this case was not provable," Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern said.

Williams lives in New York but is participating in experimental treatment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He said he forgot the pipe was in his bag, and apologized for inconveniencing the airport security agents, deputies and court system. Williams said he is thankful that he can put the episode behind him.

"This isn't about somebody trying to do something illicit. I'm really just trying to take my medication. Hopefully this issue and this incident will spark some conversations that will help more rational minds find a way to solve the problem and take the patients off the battlefield."

___

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report can be found at: http://bit.ly/gIHdoG

___

Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com

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Entertainment - Latest News

Entertainment - Latest Newshttp://www.prlog.org/cat-entertainment/Entertainment - Latest News (Press Releases) - Read news before it's newsen-us3600Bettis on The Jimmy Star Show - American Idol Pop Recording Artist and Dancer to Guest July 13 2011http://www.prlog.org/11580178-bettis-on-the-jimmy-star-show-american-idol-pop-recording-artist-and-dancer-to-guest-july-13-2011.htmlBettis of American Idol and Bring It On fame to guest on The Jimmy Star Show live radio show. Listen to the live interview online worldwide Wed July 13 2011 from 3-5 pm ET | 12-2 pm PT at w4cy.com Radio | Details at www.jimmystarshow.comTue, 12 Jul 2011 00:57:41 GMTAaron Kinsley Brooks on The Jimmy Star Show - The Little Death NYC Drummer to Guest July 13 2011http://www.prlog.org/11580142-aaron-kinsley-brooks-on-the-jimmy-star-show-the-little-death-nyc-drummer-to-guest-july-13-2011.htmlAaron Kinsley-Brooks drummer of Moby and The Little Death to guest on The Jimmy Star Show live radio show. Listen to the live interview online worldwide Wed July 13 2011 from 3-5 pm ET | 12-2 pm PT at w4cy.com Radio | Details at www.jimmystarshow.comTue, 12 Jul 2011 00:17:25 GMTSCHEHERAZADE, TELL ME A STORY - a film about gender war in Egypt - opens in NYC Aug. 12http://www.prlog.org/11580085-scheherazade-tell-me-story-film-about-gender-war-in-egypt-opens-in-nyc-aug-12.htmlDirect, poignant and gorgeous, "Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story" connects the stories of ?women constrained by long standing social norms? that make their lives very hard to live in contemporary Cairo, Egypt.Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:13:57 GMTVirtuoso Guitarist Vinnie Moore To Perform Rare NYC Solo Showhttp://www.prlog.org/11580065-virtuoso-guitarist-vinnie-moore-to-perform-rare-nyc-solo-show.htmlVirtuoso guitarist VINNIE MOORE will treat New York City to a rare performance on July 25th. Moore will be joined by bassist JOHN "JD" DeSERVIO of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY as part of Les Paul Tribute Mondays at the esteemed Iridium.Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:45:41 GMTJuly 17, Scott Lindquist, Author, Crime Prevention Practitionerhttp://www.prlog.org/11579764-july-17-scott-lindquist-author-crime-prevention-practitioner.htmlAwake: Now What? EXTREME MAKEOVERS For The Spiritually Awakening! With Rev. Rhonda Smith TIME: 6:00P.M.- 8:00P.M. Eastern LOCATION: www.blogtalkradio.com/awake DATE: July 17, 2011 CALL IN: 646-716-8988Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:19:09 GMTPersonal Branding Expert J.W. Dicks Earns Emmy Nomination As Executive Producerhttp://www.prlog.org/11579708-personal-branding-expert-jw-dicks-earns-emmy-nomination-as-executive-producer.htmlJW Dicks, Founder of Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency, recently earned an Emmy� nomination for his work on the inspirational short film ?Jacob?s Turn.?Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:14:39 GMTJuly Jazz Jam Features Top Kansas City Talenthttp://www.prlog.org/11579689-july-jazz-jam-features-top-kansas-city-talent.htmlThe first ever ?Tim Whitmer Presents JULY JAZZ JAM? hosted by Community Christian Church will be an amazing night of music and fun July 31 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:08:00 GMTThe Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation receives Mississippi Arts Commission Granthttp://www.prlog.org/11579679-the-southern-cultural-heritage-foundation-receives-mississippi-arts-commission-grant.htmlThe Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation (SCHF) of Vicksburg has been awarded a $17,800 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC). This grant is a portion of the $1.5 million in grants the Commission will award in 2011-2012.Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:01:00 GMTR&B Singer/Songwriter, TENIN, to Record Debut Album with Top NY Engineer Anthony ?Rocky? Gallohttp://www.prlog.org/11579558-rb-singersongwriter-tenin-to-record-debut-album-with-top-ny-engineer-anthony-rocky-gallo.htmlIndie singer/songwriter , Tenin Baba Ndanani, heads to the studio this month to record her debut album with renowned NY engineer, Anthony ?Rocky? Gallo.Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:10:19 GMTMedia Alert: Well Done! NYC Press Conference to Announce Social Initiativehttp://www.prlog.org/11579454-media-alert-well-done-nyc-press-conference-to-announce-social-initiative.htmlFirst Annual Well Done! NYC Awards Honors Exceptional New York City Community LeadersMon, 11 Jul 2011 14:31:48 GMT

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Nobel literature juror in RI denies prize biases

By IAN MacDOUGALL, AP
Thu Apr 14, 12:13 AM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. ? The Swedish panel that awards the Nobel Prize for Literature isn't biased toward European writers or against American writers, a member of the panel said Wednesday.

Nationality isn't an important factor in selecting the prize winner, Swedish Academy member and acclaimed poet Kjell Espmark told The Associated Press.

Other members of the Swedish Academy have suggested both biases exist.

In 2008, the committee's then-permanent secretary, Horace Engdahl, said European writers tend to beat out American writers because American literature is overly insular. In 2009, his successor, Peter Englund, worried the prize was too "Eurocentric."

The list of the past 20 laureates includes one American ? novelist Toni Morrison, in 1993 ? and 11 European writers, including German novelist Gunter Grass and British playwright Harold Pinter. Some of the others selected during that time are not from Europe but have spent much of their writing careers there.

The literature prize election is by secret ballot among the 18 members of the Swedish Academy. Espmark has been a member of the Academy since 1981.

Engdahl sparked an uproar in 2008 when he declared in an interview with the AP that Europeans tend to win because they deserve to win, particularly compared with Americans, whom he dismissed as "too sensitive to trends in their own mass culture."

Engdahl's words were taken out of context, Espmark said Wednesday.

"That interview was summed up in such a way that could make you think that American writers were out of the question because they were too insular and so on. That's just nonsense," he said. "What he talked about actually is that very little translated literature is read in America."

Very few foreign-language books make it into English, especially in the U.S. market, and even fewer reach a wide audience, as Espmark pointed out.

"It's just a matter of a low percentage of translation that makes American audiences rather unaware of what happens in other countries," he said.

He also said he disagreed with Englund when he revealed in 2009 that he thought it was a problem that members of the Swedish Academy tend to "relate more easily to literature written in Europe and in the European tradition."

"The nation is not important, and balance (of laureates' homelands) is not interesting," Espmark said, noting that the panel tries to be impartial and make selections based purely on literary criteria.

Espmark, who is a professor emeritus of literary history at Stockholm University, was in Rhode Island as part of a tour to promote his latest collection of poetry, "Lend Me Your Voice." He gave a lecture at Providence College and read from the poetry collection; he spoke to the AP afterward.

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Kings of Leon Frontman Weds Model Lily Aldridge

� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

STICKMAN/bauergriffinonline.com

� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

STICKMAN/bauergriffinonline.com

� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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� BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, theiir daughter Suri (b. April 18, 2006) and Tom's son Conor (b. January 17, 1995) take a walk to lunch together at Charlie�s Saloon on Newbury Street. NON-EXCLUSIVE October 4, 2009 Job: 91004M3 Boston, Massachussetts www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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Is Bachelor Brad Really Broken Up With Emily?

Brad Womack destined to bachelorhood forever?

The reality stud?who has admitted that his TV-created romance with Emily Maynard has been "no fairy tale" since the love competition ended?has faced renewed scrutiny this week as Life & Style proclaimed their relationship dunzo.

But that's not exactly what Emily's own mom is saying...

"They have not officially broken up," Susan Maynard told People. "It's still kind of on and off."

Maynard's mom told the mag it's difficult to listen to all the rumors surrounding her 25-year-old daughter and her reality fianc�, adding they're "still just trying to get to know each other."

Emily and her daughter, Ricki, have yet to pull the trigger on a move to Austin, Texas, to officially move in with Womack, near where he owns a bar. But Susan says that it's unlikely it'll happen any time soon because there are "no plans to take Ricki out of school."

"I don't think there is any rush to move," Susan said.

Things don't appear to be going so smooth for the couple at the moment, since Womack will remain in Austin with his family for Easter weekend while Emily will bring her daughter to her parents home in West Virginia.

Of the separate weekends, Susan says she "can't say one way or another" what exactly is going on with the duo's future.

"I think they both have good intentions," she said.

Former Bachelor star Vienna Girardi also weighed in to E! News with her own take on the duo's relationship.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they broke up," she told us. "They were already not really together at the reunion show just a couple months later. I know Brad loves Emily, but I don't know her...I think they have extra baggage.

"My advice to them if they both want it they should go on a two-week cruise together to get away from everything."

Sure, a boat trip should solve it.

Or maybe not, according to Womack ex Laurel Kagay. She told E! News last month that her former boyfriend's "pattern has started" and warned Maynard that she better get out as fast as she can.

Now, regarding the Life & Style report of Brad and Emily's breakup, Kagay has more to say.

"It's sad how true and identical this sounds to how our relationship was," she tells us.

"I don't know what it will take to make Brad realize there is some work that needs to be done for him to move forward with a healthy, successful relationship. In the meantime, I think Brad is pushing away some incredible women who want to love him. Everyone deserves happiness and I hope somewhere, somehow Brad can find what he is looking for. He just needs to realize nobody is perfect."

?Additional reporting by Katie Rhames and Ken Baker

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PBS head: Public broadcasting funding intact

By DAVID BAUDER, AP
Wed Apr 13, 4:14 PM EDT

NEW YORK ? Despite efforts to strip government funding for public broadcasting, PBS chief Paula Kerger said the federal budget deal retains most of the money that President Barack Obama had set aside for public television and radio stations.

The deal allocates nearly $430 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a 0.2 percent cut from what the president had proposed. PBS is also due to receive $6 million to help public TV stations make the transition to digital services, less than it had hoped for, and another amount for an education initiative with the funding to be determined by the Department of Education, she said.

If passed by Congress and signed into law, this would make for another year where there was much talk about defunding public broadcasting, but no action.

Kerger, president and CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service, said the response of viewers and listeners was key. The advocacy group Association of Public Television Stations coordinated a lobbying effort that had a half-million people send emails to congressional offices and more to make phone calls on behalf of public broadcasting.

"That changed everything," Kerger said. "As eloquent as we hope we can be to articulate the case for public broadcasting, at the end of the day it's really the American people that count."

Three-quarters of the main CPB funding is distributed among the 360 public television stations, with the remainder going to 600 public radio stations across the country.

National Public Radio proved to be the focus of criticism, mostly from Republicans. NPR's president and CEO, Vivian Schiller, resigned last month after hidden camera footage from a conservative activist revealed a fellow executive there referring to the tea party movement as racist. NPR had also been criticized for firing analyst Juan Williams over comments he made about Muslims.

The House voted separately to eliminate CPB funding entirely and to eliminate funding for NPR, but those efforts went nowhere in the Senate.

Joyce Slocum, interim chief executive at NPR, said she was gratified that funding will be retained. "It's a recognition that public radio provides an essential public service," she said. In its lobbying, NPR stressed that the money was for local stations, not for NPR itself.

The budget deal also provides the system with hope for the future. The deal promises the CPB some $445 million in funding for the 2013 budget year, on top of $430 million more set aside for next year. It doesn't mean those appropriations can't be revisited, but it would take a specific effort to undo them, said Anne Bentley, Kerger's spokeswoman.

Critics will be back again, said Wesley Denton, spokesman for public broadcasting critic Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican.

It's a financial issue, Denton said: "They don't need it and we don't have it."

For television stations, an average of 15 percent of their funding comes from this CPB appropriation, Kerger said. But this amount varies across the country, with stations in rural areas far more dependent on the federal money, she said.

Kerger said many lawmakers also recognized the influence that PBS stations have on children with programming geared primarily toward pre-school youngsters. Children's viewership this season is up 21 percent over last year, the network said.

The funding threat also helped PBS with its fundraising among viewers, she said. The number of pledges during the system's March fundraising drive was up 17 percent, with 23 percent more money being given.

During meetings with lawmakers, some suggested that the government help PBS go commercial to avoid such threats in the future. But Kerger said some commercial networks that started with the intention of showing programming similar to PBS eventually had to turn to more lightweight fare.

"If you want to ensure that there is public broadcasting all over the country, then government funding is very important," she said.

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