Google Corporate Logo "Google doodle celebrates"

Google's chief doodler, Michael Lopez, and his team of five artists took a total of 250 hours spanning over five months to create the holiday Google doodle. Discussions of the holiday Google doodle started as far back as July, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It's the holiday Google doodle that has replaced Google's corporate logo on its homepage today. Although less flashy in comparison to Google's bouncing balls doodle on the eve of Google Instant search's release, the current holiday Google doodle has taken a considerable amount of time to achieve.


Google Corporate Logo, For fashion screen appraiser netzens, 17 themed doodles have been unveiled by Google, celebrating the holiday.

“We call our special holiday logos, Google doodles”, said the VP of Search & User Experience at Google, Marissa Mayer on Google Sidewiki.

“The first Google doodle appeared on August 30, 1998. The new holiday Google Doodles are available on Google.com web page.

Prince Nicolas marries Tatiana Blatnik in Greece PHOTOS

Royals from all over Europe gathered to see Prince Nicolas of Greece and Denmark, the longtime bachelor prince, finally marry. His bride was Tatiana Blatnik, a 29-year-old fashion events planner. The couple met in 2003 during a ski vacation in Switzerland through mutual friends and became engaged last year after the long courtship. The bride's engagement ring is a sapphire stone, which was given to Nicolas by his mother Queen Anne Marie, who had received it from her parents - the late King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark.

                         At the wedding, as expected, were many royals from throughout Europe, as Prince Nicolas is directly related to many of the families. His father King Constantine was obviously in attendance, as was the King’s sister Queen Sofia of Spain. All senior members of the Spanish royal family were present, except the King. Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia, Infanta Elena, Infanta Christina and the Duke of Palma de Mallorca were all there. Queen Anne Marie of Greece, the mother of the groom was obviously there, as was her older sister Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary, her younger son Prince Joachim along with his wife Princess Marie. Sweden’s royal family was well represented with Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Madeleine, and Prince Carl Philip. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands were there, as was Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. About 350 guests attended the wedding, singer Elton John was reported to be one of them. Yachts began gathering in the surrounding harbor as early as Monday. There were pre and post wedding receptions highlighted by the breezy Mediterranean fashions.

America Got Talent Final 4: Prince Poppycock, Michael Grimm, Jackie Evancho, and Fighting Gravity

Congratulations, PopWatchers. After endless rounds of terrible auditions and prolonged canned moments of suspense courtesy of Nick Cannon, we have finally reached the finals of America’s Got Talent. Last night America voted Prince Poppycock, Michael Grimm, Jackie Evancho, and Fighting Gravity into the finals, leaving Michael Grasso, Taylor Matthews, Jeremy Vanschoonhoven, Christina & Ali, Anna & Patryk, and Studio One Young Beast Society behind. There was no judges’ choice this time, so the four advancing acts were clearly the most popular (and arguably the most deserving) acts of the entire competition.

Prince Poppycock has a beautiful voice and a way with sequins. Yes, he went for flag-waving (and dancing) in this last performance, and some think that it was a ploy for votes. Personally, I think he was celebrating like only he could the theme of the show: America's Got Talent. And he does, and America agrees. Can't wait to see what he does for the finale.

Michael Grimm isn't some silly teeny bopper, he has a voice that speaks of experience and pain, and he sings from the heart. America has really embraced him and there's a strong chance he could win this thing if he chooses the right song next week.

Jackie Evancho is a textbook act for a show like America's Got Talent. She is, in many ways, like Susan Boyle: they both have this amazing voice in an unlikely package. However, where Ms. Boyle was frumpy, Jackie is angelic. There are a lot of people who feel that Vegas is the wrong venue for such a small girl, which is a fair concern. But a little secret: there has actually only been one winner of America's Got Talent who went on to have an ongoing act on the Vegas strip: Terry Fator. Yes, the winner this season will perform in Vegas along with the traveling tour, but there's no indication that it will be a permanent act. So the question, really, is not, "does Jackie Evancho belong on the Vegas Strip?" but instead, "does Jackie Evancho deserve the $1 million prize?"

Fighting Gravity did not put on their best performance Tuesday night, but they are still the most interesting variety act of this entire season, and they belong in the finals. However, if they want to win this thing, they need to make sure their choreography is absolutely perfect in the finals. Oh, and that they bring it bigger and more astonishing than ever before.

Robert Schimmel Comedian Dead Video & Photo

   
Comedian Robert Schimmel tragically lost his life in a car accident on Friday, he was 60 years old. Today, many people have turned only to seek the Robert Schimmel photo. There are some sites saying that there is a photo form the accident, but it appears to be just a rumor.
Schimmel was in company of his son and daughter, who was driving the car, when suddenly in an attempt to avoid an oncoming car, the car flipped several times. His son ended up unarmed, while his daughter is recovering on the hospital.

It’s never funny when someone gets hurt…unless it’s in a monologue. Comedian Robert Schimmel and his 19-year old daughter were involved in a car crash suffering injuries in Arizona. Be sure to check out videos below.

As a biography, funny man Robert Schimmel was born in Bronx, New York on January 16, 1950 so his age is 60. He is most-known as a comedian who has worked for HBO and The Howard Stern Show. Following a heart attack in 1998, Schimmel was given the news that he also was suffering from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He underwent treatment and later his cancer was in remission. During this time of weak health, he met his daughter Jessica’s friend, Melissa while he was still married to his first wife, Vicki Rhoades, the mother of their four children. As a result, he divorced Vicki and married Melissa in 2000. Together, they have two children. Melissa Schimmel filed for divorce.

According to reports, it is said that Schimmel’s daughter was behind the wheel when she tried “to avoid an accident in her lane” which resulted in a rollover on the side of the freeway.

Schimmel and his daughter are being hospitalized in an Arizona hospital. His daughter is in “stable condition” while Robert is in “very serious” condition. Also, the comedian’s 11-year old son was in the car who was treated and released, with no injuries.

Let’s hope comedian Robert Schimmel gets well really soon! Not only does he suffer from the injuries from this car accident, but also with cirrhosis, from the contraction of Hepatitis C.

Best wishes to you and your entire family! You may leave your thoughts in the comment box and also see a video below!

Camp Rock 2 rock your world tonight

MANILA, Philippines - Disney Channel’s multitude of young followers (and their parents) across the Philippines are in for a rousing treat.

Camp Rock, America’s No. 1 cable TV movie for 2008 — featuring the megastar trio of the Jonas Brothers (Kevin, Joe and Nick) and young superstar Demi Lovato, plus a bunch of Disney’s top teen artists led by Fil-Am Anna Maria Perez de Tagle — is back with a bigger and more electrifying sequel called Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.

The original movie franchise, which will premiere tonight at 7:30 on Disney Channel, is packed with elaborate production numbers showcasing cool and more demanding dance routines to a great soundtrack that spans pop, hip-hop and rock.

Anna Maria, who returns to the sequel as a completely changed Ella (she’s now friendlier and smarter), raves about Camp Rock 2’s catchy songs, and reveals that the dance numbers are “much more daring and more exhausting.”

“Exhausting but fun,” the granddaughter of the legendary Filipino actress and singer Sylvia La Torre points out. “The choreographer (Rosero McCoy) is so amazing he brought into the movie new and harder dance styles. He challenged us all and then brought out the best in us. He’s simply unbelievable.”

And like other Disney’s smash musicals, one of the movie’s strengths is its ability to convey to young audiences valuable messages in life that could inspire and guide them till their maturity — resilience, perseverance, loyalty, respect and teamwork — while providing solid (and clean fun) entertainment they will never forget.

During its Aug. 18 premiere at New York City’s Lincoln Center, adoring fans — groups of teens and tweens from all walks of life — gave the entire cast a rock star welcome with deafening screams and shrieks, as they watch them walk the red carpet in style and strike a pose before blinding bulbs of the international press.

Aside from the Jonas Brothers, Demi and Anna Maria, fans cheered the arrival of other Camp Rock stars like Alyson Stoner, Meaghan Martin, Jasmine Richards, Roshon Fegan, Jordan Francis, Matthew “Mdot” Finley, Maria Canals-Barrera, Daniel Fathers, Daniel Kash and Frankie Jonas, the youngest brother of the famous Jonas trio.

“People, the kids most specially, will be able to relate to the characters, what they’re going through,” Joe told reporters from across the globe. “Visually, it’s pretty stunning... and you will love the performances of all the amazing characters.”

In time for the showing of Camp Rock 2 is the ongoing US and world tour of Camp Rock that kicked off in July and ends in January 2011. Still the high-prized and most bankable Disney stars, the Jonas Brothers and Demi, along with Anna Maria and other select Disney teen artists, have been packing large arenas all over — as much as 25,000 capacity in some areas.

We got to witness the New Jersey leg of the concert tour at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J. and we were overwhelmed by a crowd of 16,000 die hard fans who gave the Jonas Brothers and co-stars a Beatles reception, and us their eardrum-piercing screams from start to finish. Another 16,000 trooped to the venue the following night. It was a clear testament to the extreme popularity of the Jonas Brothers as among the world’s top bands, and Demi as the reigning Disney princess.

Camp Rock 2, which was also filmed in Ontario, Canada and directed by Paul Hoen, is about the reunion of Camp Rockers all longing for a summer of fun and music, only to face a serious challenge from a state-of-the art and well-funded music camp (Camp Star) just across the lake. Camp Rock’s existence is threatened by Camp Star’s poaching of its counselors and campers.

Placed in a hapless situation with Camp Rock’s director (played by Daniel Fathers) already bent to shut down Camp Rock, it’s a thrill to see how the young campers would defy the odds and outsmart the other camp.

In the middle of tense scenes, the campers would break into song numbers that only pump up the audience’s energy to root for the underdogs.

Can’t Back Down is our most favorite cut in the film’s 14-song soundtrack. Here, Mitchie Torres (Demi) asserts her leadership and galvanizes her fellow campers to stand up and fight for Camp Rock in a big percussive rhythmic dance number that is a mix of rock and urban sounds.

“We can’t back down, not right now...don’t close your eyes, we’re in this together,” Mitchie and the campers sing in a superb production number.

Another crowd pleaser is the equally exhilarating It’s On, a magnetic hybrid of classic rock and hip-hop performed during the two camps’ first face-off as they agree to a showdown to prove who is the better camp.

As a Filipino, try not to get distracted by Anna Maria during those two high-octane dance sequences. The girl’s got the moves, and you’ll end up marveling at the sight of her on screen — and feeling proud that a young and seemingly fragile porcelain doll can hold her own in the presence of those hyper and multi-talented Disney artists.

Another Fil-Am in the cast is the delightful Roshan, who is reprising his role as Sander, the director of activities at Camp Rock. The son of TV actor Roy Fegan, Roshan is a noted freestyle dancer and is starring in the upcoming Disney series Shake It Up.

Watch out also for Mdot who plays the extremely talented but cocky Luke Williams from Camp Star. The handsome young actor, who is being introduced in the movie, is oozing with talent and charisma. Already playing front act for Jonas Brothers, Ciara, Mod Def and other major artists, Mdot must be destined for greatness as his searing, beat-driven solo number, Fire, can attest.

In between the fast numbers are beautiful love songs — and subplots of budding romance between Mitchie and Shane Gray (Joe Jonas), and Nate (Nick Jonas) and Dana Turner (Chloe Bridges) — that will surely touch the hearts of both the young and old. Try not to cry when Mitchie and Shane perform the pop/rock duet Wouldn’t Change A Thing that conveys the joy and anguish of the state of young love. And be ready to get amused by Introducing Me, an ultra fast-paced song by Nate as he charms the gorgeous Chloe by saying all the things about himself in two minutes.

UFC 118 Results: Frankie Edgar Beats BJ Penn For 2nd Time

Saturday night in Boston Frankie Edgar retained his lightweight UFC belt via unanimous decision by frustrating, exhausting and demoralizing BJ Penn. Looking like the only fighter to improve since their previous bout, Edgar was faster, crisper and more energetic than Penn. BJ on the other hand seemed to have learnt nothing from his title loss months ago. Penn looked like a sparring partner for a jumpy, dynamic and almost casually confident Frankie Edgar.
Upon walking into the ring, Penn had a depth of focus that seemed inhuman and frankly, scary. Edgar bounced into the octagon looking like he was about to go for a workout. Up until 10 seconds into the bout, the aura of invicibility surrounding Penn seemed to foreshadow an inevitable comeback victory. But Edgar began to float into and out of Penn's reach and to outscore the former champ. Penn was flat footed while Edgar looked like an upside down bungy-jumper with his incessant and visually confusing -- and therefore highly effective -- bob n' weave. The crisp snap of Edgar's kicks and punches did not always land but they did keep coming. Whereas Penn seemed content to react to Edgar, appearing to look for that one lucky combo to rattle and slow down the buoyant Edgar. A combo which never came. Edgar did not manage to overwhelm Penn but he did outscore him and force him to play at his pace. Penn stuck to mostly countering Edgar. Always a bad game plan for a challenger.

Although the actual punch count would have been in Edgar's favour by slightly less than a dozen, the lightweight champ had the more stunning shots and took Penn down 3 times and kept the Hawaiian prodigy on the canvas for minutes on end. Penn managed only two take downs but he had to scrap and scramble for them and both were eventually reversed or escaped from by Edgar. In the end, Edgar did not finish or overwhelm Penn but he stunted and confused him much more soundly than in their first match.

The biggest disappointment for BJ fans should not be the final outcome but the road to that outcome. BJ had a ferocious vibe as he entered the octagon. If only he had fought as ferociously, Penn fans would have a certain satisfaction to help nurse their disappointment. But within a minute of this rematch, it appeared Penn's gameplan was not proving difficult for Edgar and Penn went into an Edgar/Penn 1 trance and marched himself to a predictable technical defeat. The Randy Coutures, Chuck Liddels and Matt Hughes of the sport loose but they do so only after letting it all hang out. When a gameplan is not working, you do not become your opponent's sparring buddy, coasting to a comfortable defeat and avoiding drama and trauma. You dig deep and you try everything... EVERYTHING in your arsenal. Both the well practiced and the spontaneously created come out and you fight for your title, career and legacy. True champions have heart. That kind of heart. Unfortunately, this was distinctly absent from BJ Penn on Saturday night. In the pre-fight interviews from his fight camp, Penn stated that he surrounded himself with sparring partners that were not "here to hurt me." Perhaps this was a strategic mistake. That kind of fight camp may make for good friendships, but it isn't the cauldron from which you can forge a comeback. Between the 4th and 5th rounds, Penn's corner was not giving him D-Day instructions. There was an awkward silence and someone said something along the lines of "hey, he stole [the belt] now you go get it back." This is barely motivational to someone currently frustrated by a guy who has already beat him only several weeks ago. What BJ needed from round 2 onwards was a consistent dose of reality. "Hey, Penn. You're the better fighter, but you're not fighting like it. You need to risk getting knocked out by letting your hands, feet, knees and elbows go. Now."



The overall disappointment is that Penn is a better fighter than Edgar. But the size of Edgar's heart and the depth of his will were twice that of Penn. And it was enough to turn off Penn's will to win. BJ is an emotionally motivated figher. He is not quiet and cerebral like Couture and he is not relentless like Clay Guida. Purely emotional fighters can ride a tidal wave of optimism when things are going their way. But they can crash stunningly when their bubble is popped by stubborn opposition.

Two Moons on August 27-Hoax

There is a very large hoax widely circulating the Internet. It originated in the summer of 2004, and it’s now rising up once more. This hoax comes in the form of an email titled “Mars Spectacular,” it originates from an unknown source.
The Mars hoax email has been passed on to countless people who haven’t been able to resist forwarding it to their entire address book. In some cases, the message has been more than just an email. It’s been a full-blown presentation with photos and graphics that seemingly provide a sense of authenticity to the message.

The email says that on the night of August 27, the planet Mars will be closer to Earth than it has been in 60,000 years. This will supposedly offer spectacular views of the Red Planet.

The email also proclaims that Mars will be as big as the moon, and will be very visible in the night sky.

The only problem with this is the dates and a few specifics. The August 27 is actually August 27, 2003. That was when Mars made a historically close pass by Earth that night (34.6 million miles). The Hubble Space Telescope used this opportunity to take some fantastic images of Mars, however, to the naked eye, Mars was nothing more than a very bright yellow-orange star. It was nothing like the full moon.