top chef

Top Chef Winners: Where Are They Now?

1. The winner of the first season of Top Chef took the top prize in October, 2005. Before being on the Bravo show, he had trained at the Culinary Institute of America and in the kitchens of The Hamptons' Della Femina and NYC's The Harrison. He left The Harrison in 2006 and opened his own spot Perilla, named for an Asian mint-like herb. The Greenwich Village "neighborhood" restaurant opened to pretty good reviews and is still going strong today.

2.
  Ilan Hall took top honors in the show's second season. Previously, he had trained at Italy's Lorenzo de Medici School, the Culinary Institute of America, and at a laundry list of prestigious NYC kitchens, including Casa Mono. After winning the show, Hall opened his first restaurant, The Gorbals, in LA in 2009. After being shuttered by the health department due to an inadequate water heater, the restaurant, known most for its bacon-wrapped matzah balls, reopened.

3. 

The charasmatic Vietnamese-American chef was a favorite on the show's third season. Born in Vietnam, Huynh earned a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and served as sous chef at the ultra-luxe Vegas spot Guy Savoy. Since the show's finale in 2007, Huynh served as guest executive chef at NYC's Solo, competed in the Bocuse d'Or (where he won the Best Fish award), and is now cooking at NYC's Buddha Bar (despite some buzz that the chef was going to open his own kosher restaurant).

4.
The too-nice-for-reality-TV chef won the show's fourth season. After earning a sociology degree from the University of Michigan, Izard studied culinary arts at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute. Izard closed her own restaurant Scylla to compete in Top Chef, and has been busy since getting her second restaurant, "Girl & The Goat" (background on the name here), opened in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood. It will be opened by the end of the month. She recently shared her recipe for asparagus, rhubarb, and goat cheese salad with Time Out Chicago.

5.


The Colorado-based chef made odd use of his BA in Engineering Physics. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Rosenberg worked in the kitchens of West Coast chefs like Wolfgang Puck. He became sous chef at Colorado's Jax Fish House in 2004 before going on Top Chef. Since the show, he's been traveling and helping to support sustainable agriculture.

6.

The sixth season winner has been working in restaurants since he was 15. After training in Europe, he moved back to the States to work in West Virginia's Greenbrier Hotel, Healdsburg's Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen, and Jose Andres' Bazaar in LA. Since winning the show, he's served as Chef de Cuisine at The Dining Room at The Langham Hotel in Pasadena, California.

saints super bowl ring

Super Bowl ring day is coming up for the New Orleans Saints Saints. Several players who were released or signed elsewhere, free agent defensive end Charles Grant, have returned to New Orleans for the ceremony. New Orleans Saints players and coaches will receive their Super Bowl XLIV Championship rings in a ceremony Wednesday night.
Despite all the accomplishments they have racked up over a professional athlete’s career, the Saints said nothing compared to this. After the Lombardi Trophy, the Super Bowl ring is the one item the New Orleans Saints played their hearts out for. Team members have arrived in the team hotel here in down town New Orleans.
The New Orleans Saints aren’t finished celebrating last season’s Super Bowl title quite yet. Saints officials are keeping details about the ring secret until the ceremony. Created by Tiffany & Co, which also makes the Lombardi Trophy, the ring was designed by a committee representing players, coaches and ownership.

calista flockhart

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart -- Married

We got the tip from Lisa Stanley at K-Earth 101 in L.A. and just confirmed it ourselves.

We're told the couple was married in the Governor's mansion in Santa Fe. Their marriage license was filed today in the County Clerk's Office.

Harrison and Calista have been together for almost 8 years, and got engaged over Valentine's weekend in 2009.

Harrison is filming "Cowboys and Aliens" in New Mexico right now.

miles austin

Is Miles Austin in relationship with Kim Kardashian?

It could be possible but we don’t now yet for sure. Miles Austin and Kim Kardashian were seen together a few times but they did not confirm their relationship yet.
Everybody knows that Kim Kardashian’s relationship with Reggie Bush is over, even if, in the past, they talked about marriage.
Sports by Brooks, the National Enquirer said that Miles Austin was invited by Kim at a game of the NBA Finals and that they had dinner after the game. The dinner or the game does not make them have a relationship but the idea is not excluded.
Kim Kardashian is 30 years old and rumors say that she is looking for a husband. Could Miles Austin be the match for Kim?

there will be blood

There Will Be Blood

The latest poll by National Public Radio is filled with very bleak news for Democrats.

NPR polled people who live in the 70 most competitive races in the House this year, 10 of which are Republican seats and 60 of which are Democratic seats. Overall, Republicans lead the generic ballot by eight points (49 v. 41) in these 70 districts. In the Democratic districts, Republicans lead by five points (47 v. 42). And in GOP districts Republicans lead by 16 points (53 v. 37). Those are awful numbers for Democrats — but they get worse.
While Republicans lead on the generic ballot 47 percent v. 42 percent in the 60 Democratic districts, among voters who rate their interest in the election as 8 or higher on a 10-point scale, the data shows a 14-point advantage for Republicans (53 percent v. 39 percent). Among independent voters in Democratic districts, the GOP has a lead of 21 points (50 v. 29). And nearly half of those in Democratic tiers self-identify as conservatives (see the full data set here).
It is hard to imagine the data being much worse for the Democrats at this stage. It is now to the point where even some of Obama’s courtiers in the press recognize that, “Yup, November Will Be a Bloodbath.”
Yup, it will.

Hitachi Consulting UK Helps JLT Further Extend the Benefits of BenPal via the iPhone Platform

Hitachi Consulting UK Helps JLT Further Extend the Benefits of BenPal via the iPhone Platform
LONDON, UK — 9 June, 2010 — Hitachi Consulting UK today announced the development and delivery of a standalone version of the BenPal pension modeller for use on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch platforms for JLT Benefit Solutions Limited. The new modeller is a standalone version of the existing enterprise class integrated pension and benefits management system that HCUK originally designed and built with JLT, delivered as an iPhone application available for download free in the iTunes App Store from 7th June.

The BenPal modeller allows an employee to determine the projected value of their pension based upon a number of simple facts about themselves and their pension scheme and provides the employee with a rich, graphical interface which can be used to model the effect of changes in contribution, retirement age and other variables on the final value of their pension. The modeller can also be used to determine what the employee would need to contribute in order to retire with a pension of a certain value.

HCUK was appointed by JLT to scope, design and build an iPhone version of the original modeller, taking into account BenPal’s look and feel, to reflect the central branding and creative imagery. The project, adhering to Apple’s development and human interface guidelines, was completed within eight weeks, which included the design and build of a calculation engine and automated testing.

Charlie Carrick, solutions director at JLT Online Benefits, said, “The best way to encourage UK employees to engage with their pension is to make it simple to understand and easy to access. With the BenPal system already available to clients via iPhones, as well as PCs and laptops, the development of a modeller application is a natural progression for us. We hope it helps the wider community to appreciate that pensions planning in a defined contribution world means taking greater responsibility and personal control, and having a bit of fun at the same time.”

Mark Smith, Enterprise Solutions Operation Director, Hitachi Consulting UK, commented, “This was a great project to embark on with JLT which delivers real benefits in an intuitive way. This first version of the iPhone pension modeller provides a platform for possible next steps such as integration with the BenPal online system, modelling other benefits and of course an iPad version.”

###
About JLT Group plc
Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (JLT) is an international group of Risk Specialists and Employee Benefits Consultants and one of the largest companies of its type in the world. JLT offers a distinctive choice to clients and partners through our combination of independence, scale and specialism. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and employs 6000 people worldwide and through JLT NetworkTM provides services in more than 120 countries. http://www.jltgroup.com

About Hitachi Consulting Corporation
As Hitachi, Ltd.'s (NYSE: HIT) global consulting company, with operations in the United States, Europe and Asia, Hitachi Consulting is a recognized leader in delivering proven business and IT strategies and solutions to
 
Global 2000 companies across many industries. With a balanced view of strategy, people, process and technology, we work with companies to understand their unique business needs, and to develop and implement practical business strategies and technology solutions. From business strategy development through application deployment, our consultants are committed to helping clients quickly realize measurable business value and achieve sustainable ROI.
Hitachi Consulting's client base includes 25 percent of the Global 100 as well as many leading mid-market companies. We offer a client-focused, collaborative approach and transfer knowledge throughout each engagement. For more information visit www.hitachiconsulting.com

About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2009 (ended March 31, 2010) consolidated revenues totaled 8,968 billion yen ($96.4 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.

derek fisher

Going into the fourth quarter, the Lakers only held a six point lead, a far cry from the 17-point lead that the Lakers held earlier in the game. With their new found momentum, the Celtics opened up the fourth with two Glen Davis layups followed by a Rajon Rondo lay up, cutting the Laker lead down to one.
With 8:56, the Lakers savvy veteran got to the rim to stop the bleeding. His layup pushed the lead back to three points. After a Kevin Garnett jumper and a Davis free throw, he went to work again, hitting a barrage of jumpers and leaners in the paint.
6:20 – 12 footer in the lane after creating space from Ray Allen
5:33 – 19 foot jumper to extend the lead to six points
4:33 – 15 footer following two straight Glen Davis buckets
We’ve become accustomed to scoring barrages like this since 1996. Kobe Bryant has always had the ability to light up the box score in short periods of time. Eight points in just over four minutes isn’t something we haven’t seen before – but this time it wasn’t from Kobe. It was Derek Fisher who almost single handedly kept the Lakers alive with the Celtics threatening to retake their first lead since just under five minutes left in the first quarter. And it would be Fisher who would ice the game. With just under a minute left to play, Fish grabbed a defensive rebound, pushed the ball and scored while getting fouled. His free throw moved the lead to seven and completely out of reach for the Celtics.
It’s always great to see a guy like Derek Fisher come through in the clutch. 11 points in the fourth quarter, closing the game for the Lakers much like his draft mate Kobe has done countless times over the years. It’s the ability to close games that gets you championships – the Glengarry Glen Ross principle as I like to call it:
To win championships, you have to know your ABCs. You have to Always Be Closing. In Game 2, the Lakers were given the conjectural Glengarry leads (a three-point lead with about five minutes left to play) and they couldn’t close the door. The leads were thrown away, allowing the Celtics to close and go back to Boston with home court advantage. Game 3, the opposite happened. The Celtics put them in a position to take another win from the Lakers and Derek Fisher came through for the Lakers despite the poor shooting from Kobe and huge game from Kevin Garnett. To further the GGR analogy, Game 3 can be broken down into four categories: AIDA (Attention, Interest, Decision and Action).
Attention: The Lakers really paid more attention to detail in Game 3, especially on the defensive end of the floor. I thought the Lakers did a fantastic job on Ray Allen. The Laker bigs were showing on screens, not allowing Allen to get off uncontested jumpers. They packed the paint when Paul Pierce had the ball, not allowing him to get going. He made three 3-pointers, but you can live with that when he isn’t able to get to the rim or knock down that shot he loves to take at the elbow. Keeping Pierce on the parameter also meant keeping him off of the free throw line. Rajon Rondo didn’t come anywhere near 10 rebounds this game and was held to 11 points. Kevin Garnett finally got going scoring 25, but he was making a lot of tough, contested shots. I can live with that if the Celtics, especially since the rest of the Celtics only scored 59 points.
Interest: One of the things about Lamar Odom is, on nights where he’s not playing well, he looks disinterested. Tonight was not one of those games. Odom came in right away and created a good look for Pau Gasol which led to two free throws. 12 points and five rebounds are a far cry from his most productive game of the season, but it was a huge improvement from his first two games. I also thought he made one of the biggest plays of the game that won’t be found on the box score. With about 1:45 left to play, Pau Gasol and Kobe had to switch on a Rondo-Garnett screen and roll. Kobe was on the block guarding a hot Kevin Garnett (he had just made two straight shots on Gasol) one-on-one. Lamar Odom rotated over from the right block to double-team Garnett, which ended in a Garnett turnover. (You also have to give some credit to Ron Artest for rotating down to a wide open Glen Davis, who was having a great quarter at that point, also. Garnett saw him as Artest rotated down, if not for Odom and Artest, the lead is cut to two, and the Fish three point play probably doesn’t happen.)
Decision: The Lakers offense in the first half was much improved from what it was in Game 2. The ball was constantly moving, guys were moving without the ball, and most importantly, they were making quick decisions. For much of Game 2, I wondered what happened to the crisp passing and quick, smart decisions that gave the Lakers the Game 1 win. Well, those offensive principles came back for Game 3. There were very few possessions in the first half where the ball was held for too long, there wasn’t any over dribbling and the Lakers were attacking the rim which gave them the 12 point edge going into the half. Those principles disappeared in the third quarter, allowing the Celtics to come roaring back into the game. The Lakers decisiveness is going to be key in Game 4.
Action: Action is simply the state of doing, and the Lakers had loads of action in Game 3. They were active on the boards (43 to 35 advantage), they were active defensively and they were active when their collective backs were against the wall. Before the game, I talked with a friend about how I’d like to see the Lakers win a tough one in Game 3. There is nothing that puts more confidence in a group of guys winning a tough playoff game on the road – especially when it’s the NBA Finals in the Boston Garden. The Lakers acted upon the Celtics initial run by closing out the 1st quarter on a 21 to five run. After a big lead, the Celtics made it much closer than it should have been, but he Lakers fought through the adversary and closed the game on an 8-2 run.
The Lakers are now in a great position as far as this series is concerned, but it’s not over. There are still two more games to be won before they can put up their 16th banner, but knowing that they’re only two games away from the title because of Derek Fisher’s clutch play down the stretch is a great feeling. Game 4 is on Thursday.

pretty little liars

'Pretty Little Liars' Stars Talk Secrets, Lies & Guilty Pleasure Goodness

The newest summer guilty pleasure has arrived in the form of ABC Family's 'Pretty Little Liars.'

The show is based on the young adult novel series by Sara Shepard and offers up the same kind of tawdry goodness that we've come to love in our summer TV. There's scandal, intrigue and just about something for everything. And according to star Chad Lowe, even the parents will like it.

'Pretty Little Liars' (Tues., June 8 at 8PM ET on ABC Family) follows the lives of Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily who were all in the same clique until their queen bee, Alison disappeared.

It's now three years since Alison went MIA and the four girls are receiving messages from someone using the name "A," who knows their secrets. Secrets only Alison knew.

I sat down with series stars Lowe, Holly Marie Combs, Shay Mitchell, Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson and Troian Avery Bellisario to get the lowdown on all things 'Pretty.'

here is the interview video:

http://video.aol.com/aolvideo/AOL Television/pretty-little-liars-interview/89867752001

fighting gravity

Here they are, dancing in the dark – literally! Yes, we mean literally dancing in the dark. ‘Fighting Gravity‘, the name of the group, is also fighting darkness now that they have decided to dance with the lights off. This group’s performance in tonight’s  America’s Got Talent episode is a kick-ass surprise.


Nick Cannon, the host of America’s Got Talent warned the audience that every light in the building has to be to turned off giving way for a very special performance by the group Fighting Gravity. A guy is dressed in
white vest and is positioned at the top of three other guys wearing white. It’s like three puppets with their master controlling them. The dark concealed their secrets and the audience could only witness an entertaining act. The white guys looked like they were floating up in the air with these green balls in between them that detailed their floating act.
This group also added dramatic elluminating factor as they were
amazingly glowing in the dark and looked like really floating in mid-air.
Th audience, including the judges and host Nick Cannon could not help but pay attention to the stage where this cool group was performing. Yells and cheers are all you can hear. Everybody went crazy for the unusual setting and the great dance performance of Fighting Gravity dance group. Here’s their video.

freddie fackelmayer

Samantha Swetra and Freddie Fackelmayer attend the I Want Now fashion show benfiting Haiti at Tenjune on March 25, 2010 in New York City.
credit – getty images
They make a striking “couple”!

sandra bullock and scarlett johansson

Sandra Bullock and Scarlett Johansson Kiss At The MTV Movie Awards

 

scarlett johansson sandra bullock

Sandra Bullock Kisses Scarlett Johansson!

Sandra Bullock just sucked face with Scarlett Johansson at the MTV Movie Awards -- talk about one helluva rebound!!!

follow this link to see the act: The girl-on-girl action went down just moments ago -- after Sandy got a huge standing ovation while receiving something called the Generation Award.

After the smooch, Bullock addressed the attention now placed on her personal life, saying "Can we please go back to normal because therapy is really expensive. Go back to making fun of me, I don't care, its time to get back to normal."

The kiss comes around the 4:00 mark.

hard times of rj berger

'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' Fails to Use its One "Asset"

  

This summer, MTV is getting into the scripted programming game, which I'm guessing they're doing because they figure everyone else on cable is making a mint with it. Once the network decided to surgically remove the words "Music Television" from their logo, they figured anything was game.

(And, yes, I know that 'The Hills' and 'The City' aren't exactly spontaneous. But they're considered reality shows, no matter how unreal they are.)

But the folks at the big M aren't giving us their version of 'Breaking Bad' or 'Sons of Anarchy.' No, they know who their audience is -- horny teenagers. So their latest foray into the scripted television, 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger,' should satisfy those folks, as there is a lot about it they can identify with.

It's essentially about the trials and tribulations of a typical high school nerd, who just happens to accidentally reveal to the entire school that he has been, um, blessed in a very evident way. The problem is, at least in the episodes MTV sent for review, RJ's prowess doesn't seem to factor into much of the show beyond the pilot episode.

There are some quirky aspects in the life of RJ (played by Paul Iacono) that make his life difficult. His parents (Beth Littleford, Larry Poindexter) are so open sexually that they toss single entendres with swinger couples at the family dinner table. His friend Lily (Kara Taitz) is obsessed with him to the point of being a stalker. He's in love with all-around popular beauty Jenny Swanson (Amber Lancaster), who's dating dumb jock Max Owens (Jayson Blair). Oh, and his best friend Miles (Jareb Dauplaise) is obsessed with sex.

Ok, the last part isn't that quirky. But the mostly unknown RJ becomes infamous around school when his pants fall down during a basketball game (long story) and the entire school sees everything. And that "everything" is impressive.

In the series' pilot, the consequences of that accident, including the confidence it gives RJ to not only talk to Jenny but deal with Max, makes for some pretty funny scenes. Don't get me wrong, the show is raunchy as hell; the pilot's climactic confrontation is something out of a gym locker room. But the language -- bleeped when needed -- and actions aren't much different than you'd see the typical 15-year-old talk about in school nowadays.

But whatever potential the show has to explore what it's like to be a well-endowed high school nerd gets lost in the second and third episodes. In the second episode, RJ runs against Max for student-body president; in the third, RJ tries out for the school's musical -- a cross between 'West Side Story' and 'Twilight' -- in order to get closer to Jenny. Except for a scene at the end of the third episode, both stories could have been taken out of every coming of age show from the last twenty years, from 'Square Pegs' to 'Freaks and Geeks' to 'Glee.' And, not coincidentally, the second and third episodes weren't nearly as funny as the first.

Iacono does a good job playing RJ as a fumbling nerd who's finding his social sea legs. And anyone who's been beaten up by the jocks will cheer as RJ tries to befriend Jenny while fending off both Max and Lily. But while we see that RJ's infamy has given him a smidgen of confidence, we don't explore what other consequences come from everyone's knowledge of his physical gifts.

In fact, the "gaining confidence" theme of the show could have been explored without the conceit that RJ is so well-endowed. But, then again, just calling the show a 21st century version of 'Head of the Class' probably wasn't going to fly with MTV.

Then again, world-weary old farts like myself aren't the intended audience. But I'm not even sure your typical teenage boy is going to like it either. Even among the fart and sex jokes, there has to be something clever there. Kids these days are too smart to expect less.

obama violated my private parts

Obama violated my private parts!

This is the statement that keeps on circulating in the internet. An unnamed White House Representative allegedly cracked the joke saying… Obama violated my private parts! Hearing a statement- Obama violated my private parts – will remark a big issue to the US President.
There could be something more about the “Obama violated my private parts” statement as the speaker continued to go in detail elaborating the released statement.
President Barack Obama has not reaction yet in regards with the spreading intriguing statement of a White House Representative saying- Obama violated my private parts!
Check other hot news with these tags: www.hotmail.co.uk, www.amazon.co.uk, be naughty, lespac, pennswoods classifieds, obama violated my private parts, lakers celtics, www.hotmail.co.uk, lakers celtics game 2, trader joe s, kelley blue book used cars How do you view the intriguing statement of “obama violated my private parts”?

whale wars

Here's tonight's lineup of new shows and events (all times Eastern). Check your local TV listings for additional information.

* = Series/Season Premiere
** = Series/Season Finale

8:00 to 9:00
ABC: 'The 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee' -- Two hours
FOX: 'Past Life'
MNT: 'WWE Friday Night Smackdown!' -- Two hours
NBC: 'Friday Night Lights'
PBS: 'Washington Week With Gwen Ifill' and 'Need to Know'
Animal Planet: 'Whale Wars: The Aftermath'
Cartoon Network: 'Ben 10: Ultimate Alien' and 'Generator Rex'
Current: 'Media Massacre' -- 8:30 start
Discovery: 'Six Versus the World'
ID: 'Call 911' and 'Main Street Mysteries'
Nickelodeon: 'iCarly' -- The new one-hour movie 'iPsycho'

The rest of the schedule, and the late night talk shows, after the jump.

9:00 to 10:00
CBS: 'Flashpoint'*
NBC: 'Dateline' -- Special on the Gulf Oil Spill. Two hours
Animal Planet: 'Whale Wars'*
BBC America: 'Gavin and Stacey' and 'Not Going Out'
CMT: 'Gator 911' and 'Danger Coast'
Disney: 'Wizards of Waverly Place'
DIY: 'Man Caves' and 'Garage Mahal'
ID: 'Cold Blood'
Nickelodeon: 'Victorious' and 'Big Time Rush'
Science: 'How It's Made'
Sundance: 'Shameless'
SyFy: 'Stargate Universe'
TLC: 'Say Yes to the Dress' -- Two 30-minute episodes

10:00 to 11:00
ABC: '20/20'
CBS: 'Miami Medical'
Current: 'Sex & Relationships'
E!: 'The Soup Presents' -- 'Swappin' Spit: TV Love at Its Finest'
Food Network: 'Food Feuds' -- 10:30 start
History: 'Gangland'
Science: 'How Do They Do It?' -- 10:30 start
Showtime: 'Hal Sparks: Charmageddon' -- New comedy special starring Hal Sparks
Starz: 'Party Down' and 'Gravity'
SyFy: 'Merlin'
TruTV: 'Forensic Files'

And now, the late night talk shows. Scheduled guests subject to change.

10:00
'Real Time With Bill Maher' (HBO): Judd Apatow

10:20
'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross' (BBC America): Kevin Bridges; Pendulum

11:00
'The Mo'Nique Show' (BET): Rappers Xzibit, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em and Roscoe Dash
'Charlie Rose' (PBS): Actress Rachel Weisz
'Chelsea Lately' (E!): Dan Levy, Josh Wolf and Jen Kirkman make up the comic panel

11:30
'Late Show With David Letterman' (CBS): Russell Crowe; performance by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (repeat)
'The Tonight Show' (NBC): Eddie Murphy; Mary Lynn Rajskub; performance by Nas and Damian Marley (repeat)

Midnight
'Jimmy Kimmel Live' (ABC): Kathy Griffin; actor Sam Trammell; performance by the Deftones
'Tavis Smiley' (PBS): Sir Ben Kingsley; jazz musician Trombone Shorty

12:30
'The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson' (CBS): Jennifer Tilly; magician Ed Alonzo
'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' (NBC): Gwyneth Paltrow; Colin Quinn; performance by JabbaWockeeZ (repeat)

1:30
'Last Call With Carson Daly' (NBC): Jesse Ventura; illustrator Matthew Inman; performance by the Doves (repeat)

richard dunn

Richard Dunn of the Tim & Eric show, RIP

There have been way too many RIP posts these days, and I hate to have to contribute to the grim tally, but it is with a heavy heart that I must report that Tim & Eric Awesome Show Great Job staple Richard Dunn (aka Pep Pep) passed away this morning at 7:14am after suffering a stroke.
Pep Pep was unconditionally adored by thousands of loyal fans and he always made sure to try and reciprocate that adoration. Always smiling, Pep Pep was always willing to pose for pictures with fans and often times took pictures of himself with the various bits of fan art he'd receive in the mail. Most often seen on the show in his trademark sweater, thick-rimmed glasses, and comb over, Pep Pep was just as much a staple of the show as Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim. One never got the impression when seeing him on the show that he was playing a character; it always looked and felt like Richard Dunn was just playing Richard Dunn. He was an asset to the show and to the people who loved him. A memorial site will be up and running soon, so keep your eyes on Tim and Eric's individual Twitter feeds for updates.

usa network

Preview Trailers for the USA Network’s New Spy Show Covert Affairs

I’ve been waiting to get a glimpse of the USA Network’s new comedy/action spy show “Covert Affairs” for a while now, so here it is — three preview trailers for the show, starring the adorable Piper Perabo as the “girl next door turned CIA spy”. And yes, the trailers certainly sell that premise like gangbusters, and why not? It’s kind of hard to buy Perabo as a CIA spy, so turning her into a “cute girl who stumbles into becoming a spy” is probably the best route they could have possibly taken. The first three trailers are all fun and games, but the fourth one is a little bit more serious. It looks very promising.

"New jobs are tough- especially when your new employer is the CIA. Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) is fluent in six languages, has traveled all over the world and is besting her fellow CIA trainees in every test, but that doesn’t explain why she’s suddenly summoned by CIA headquarters to report for active duty as a field operative a month before her training is over. What she doesn’t know is there may be something-or someone-from her past that her CIA bosses are really after".

Starring Piper Perabo as Annie Walker, fresh-faced CIA recruit; Christopher Gorham is Auggie Anderson, Annie’s CIA contact, blind guy, and love interest; they are joined by Peter Gallagher and his massive eyebrows as the CIA head honcho; the lovely Kari Matchett, who has been in an obscene amount of shows too numerous to name here; “Heroes” outcast Sendhil Ramamurthy; and “House” outcast Anne Dudek. And in one of the trailers that I can’t locate, the awesome Oded Fehr (“Sleeper Cell”) is seen as a loose cannon-type fella who appears to be working Annie Walker.
“Covert Affairs” premieres on July 13 at 10/9c on the USA Network.

danny aiello iii

Danny Aiello III Dead at 53

Danny Aiello III, the 53-year-old son of The Godfather: Part II star Danny Aiello, passed away on May 1, 2010 after struggling with pancreatic cancer. He died at his home in New Jersey, LATimes.com reports.
Aiello followed in his father's footsteps, pursuing a career in film. But instead of acting, he was mostly interested in stunts and directing: He worked as a stuntman for years, in addition to serving as a stunt coordinator.

He was also the stunt double for his father in the film Do the Right Thing, which won the elder Aiello an Academy Award nomination. Needless to say, his father didn't much like watching him perform the dangerous stunts.

maytag dishwasher recall 2010

Whirlpool Corp.'s Maytag unit is recalling about 1.7 million dishwashers because of a fire hazard.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the recall Thursday, says the company, part of Whirlpool Corp., has received 12 reports of electrical failures in the dishwasher heating element that led to fires and damage.
One kitchen fire caused extensive damage, the agency said. No injuries have been reported.
The recall includes Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag and Crosley brand dishwashers with plastic tubs. The recalled dishwashers were made with black, bisque, white, silver and stainless steel front panels and sold at department and appliance stores nationwide from February 2006 through April 2010. They cost between $250 and $900.
CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using the recalled dishwashers and disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it.
Consumers can schedule a free in-home repair or receive a rebate of $150 or $250 toward the purchase of select new Maytag dishwashers. The amount of the rebate depends on the type of model to be purchased.
A company spokeswoman says Whirlpool set aside $75 million to cover the costs of the recall.
More information on the numerous serial numbers involved in the recall can be found at the company's website or the website for the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The recall is Maytag's second of more than a million major appliances in a little more than a year. It recalled 1.6 million refrigerators because of fire risks in March 2009.

reshma shetty

Reshma Shetty

After spending one full hour on the treadmill at a New York health club, Reshma Shetty had to huff-and-puff back to a place where she can accept a phone call by her publicist, himself setting up the British-born Indian actress to chat exclusively about her recurring role on USA Network’s top-rated cable television series starring Mark Feuerstein, Royal Pains. Reshma, a former stage actress who debuted in the touring company of the 2006 musical Bombay Dreams before starring in the 2007 film Steam and appearing in an episode of 30 Rock, was excited to share with Buzzine the evolution of Divya Katdare, the character she so aptly plays on the much-watched cable program directed by Jace Alexander. As she finally got to a phone just in time for an early afternoon phone conversation with this writer, the face of Dove moisturizer bar in India and a regular guest panelist on Fox News Channel’s satire show Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld told Buzzine that fans of Royal Pains will begin to see Divya in a different light after the show’s second season debuts on June 3rd.
Specifically, Reshma, who is slated to star in Hated, said that Divya’s evolution this season was natural. After all, fans were already introduced to her last season. Now they want to get to know her and grow with her — something audiences will definitely get to see, according to the actress.
“I think it’s the case with any kind of dramedy — that they get to learn about the story in first story, but they delve into the characters and their relations in the second season. (Divya has) definitely evolved,” Reshma excitedly said as she caught her breath after an intense workout at the gym. “It’s always going to have a metamorphic storyline. That’s what USA is known for — ‘Characters Welcome,’ and (Royal Pains) is about four separate characters.”
Accordingly, Reshma said it was vital to the specific development of her character that audiences see a different side of her that was not on display during last year’s pilot season. If such a development did not happen, audiences would not be able to distinguish her from the rest of the cast, and Divya’s character probably would not be able to make a valuable contribution to the storyline.
“She’s completely changed from … the pilot. It was a very generalized role — a very simple, businesslike woman. But now there is a glamour factor, so it’s a huge change,” she humbly said. “There was also a mystery behind her in the first year, but toward the end, she really cared about her patients. She’s definitely coming out of the shadows. Why does she have all these secrets? People are learning more about her.”
In fact, Reshma herself is learning about Divya, as the Indo-Brit actress candidly confessed she has little in common with the person she portrays on Royal Pains. Even more, Reshma wanted to keep her real-life personality traits separate from the fictitious ones possessed by Divya.
“I didn’t want to make her like me. Divya isn’t me,” the 32-year-old British-born actress emphatically told Buzzine, adding that Reshma, in real life, is almost the polar opposite of Divya. “With Divya, she is so put together. She’s someone one should emulate to become.”
Yet Reshma said there was one trait both her and her character shared that neither could escape from no matter how much they tried — their respective Indian roots.
“We have a common thread in our heritage. My knowledge of being a first-generation Indian and trying to please my family and peers (helped me identify with Divya). I was pre-med in college, but I had a bit of a dream and I knew I would regret it if I didn’t pursue it. Divya is going through the same thing.”
Reshma went on to elaborate on her Indian roots, explaining how, while her personality is very different from Divya’s, they both share a common struggle with the difficulty of being a person with Indian roots growing up in the West.
“It’s different when its East meets West. I don’t think people understand the pressures of pleasing your parents,” she stated. “You have to hide things. When I was a kid, it was difficult to go out with boys. I wasn’t allowed to date. It’s being ‘Indian.’ I am sure other cultures get this, but it’s all I know. You are always faced with stereotypes and you have to battle them to put food on the table. All we have is what our parents taught us, and that is to work hard.”
Oddly enough, it was that prickly relationship with her parents — the type where an optimum balance of mutual understanding between Eastern thought and Western lifestyle — was what allowed her to ditch her plans to be a doctor and instead pursue her dreams of becoming a talented actress. It is this same struggle, Reshma says, that Divya endures on Royal Pains — a struggle audiences will probably see more of as the second season unfolds during its 18-episode schedule.
“You don’t think like (your parents), and they don‘t see us (their offspring) as Westerners, but they see us as their children,” she explained about the differences in mentality of immigrant Indian parents and their Western-born (and raised) sons and daughters. “No one else will understand that battle.”
While that struggle and battle helped Reshma bring a very real and unique (but still relatable) edge to Divya, the beautiful actress also has personal perspective to apply to her own life. Accordingly, such perspective in real life places Reshma in a very respectable position, as audiences will be able to relate to her both as an actress and as a human being.
It is a perspective that Reshma explained through the development of her personal dreams, putting in context how her acting career came to a tee despite the struggles she faced as an ethnic Indian — a struggle obviously shared by many other ethnicities and cultures.
“Nowadays, careers are so important. I grew up thinking you go to med school, go through residency, and that was that. But life is different and doesn’t work that way,” she explained, adding that she only views herself as a “role model” because she is in the public eye (and for no other reason). “I studied through school, (but) ever since I made a choice to (be an actress), I have felt a bit of a role model in the sense that just because you are an Indian doesn’t mean you have to be a doctor or lawyer or engineer to be successful. If you want something, go for it.”
Just be sure not to “go for it” as you are running in place on a treadmill. After all, Reshma clearly made her career happen in the moments between cardiovascular workouts, all because she wanted it badly. Going for it definitely put her on a path to personal happiness and success. Clearly, she urges others to pursue their own dreams so as to prevent their own lives from being a “royal pain.”

lakers vs celtics

Lakers vs. Celtics: NBA Finals Predictions 

Josh just had to supplement his pick with a fancy schmancy table, so he's getting the authorial credit on this round of roundtable previews. As you will see, the Finals brought out the best in our authors, or at least the most expansive. Click on through the jump for not one, but six  exhaustive accounts (okay 3, with another 3 that are regular size) of what we think will happen

Josh Tucker 

Lakers in 6

Let's pretend I'm a nationally televised announcer working for ABC, and I'm about to give you my "Keys to the Series," accompanied by a nifty graphic that shows up on your screen while I speak. Here they are:
Kobe Bryant vs. Boston's Defense
One of the biggest keys for Boston in 2008 was their defense against Kobe Bryant. They funneled him into help, ran multiple guys at him, collapsed hard on him when he drove, and forced him to either take tough shots, or pass. This strategy worked well, because Kobe's teammates weren't able to sufficiently punish the Celtics for that strategy. This leads us to two questions: First, are the Celtics as capable of executing this strategy as they were two years ago? Perhaps the best indicator is LeBron James, since he also struggled against the same defense in 2008. The following table shows how LeBron and Kobe did versus the Celtics in 2008, and then how LeBron did against them this year. Below each year, I've indicated how those numbers relate to his season averages.

	FG%	TO	PTS	REB	AST
LeBron James vs. 2008 Celtics	.355	5.3	27.0	6.4	7.6
↑ compared to 2007-08 season	- .129	+ 1.9	- 3.0	- 1.5	+ 0.4
LeBron James vs. 2010 Celtics	.447	4.5	27	9.3	7.2
↑ compared to 2009-10 season	- .056	+ 1.1	- 2.7	+ 2.0	- 1.4
Kobe Bryant vs. 2008 Celtics	.405	3.8	26	4.7	5.0
↑ compared to 2007-08 season	- .054	+ .67	- 2.3	- 1.6	- 0.4

As you can see from the table, even a LeBron James who didn't seem interested or engaged, who many have accused of not trying, and who didn't attack nearly as much as he should have, didn't struggle nearly as much against the Celtics this year as he did in 2008 — and in fact, he was much better on the boards. Now look at Kobe: His dropoff versus the Celtics in 2008 was noticeable, but nowhere near as extreme as LeBron's. My conclusion? He may not continue to shoot over .500 from the field, but don't expect him to play poorly.
The second question is, should we expect Kobe's teammates to struggle as much as they did two years ago? Again, I doubt it, and by now you know by heart all the reasons why (Artest + Bynum > Radmanovic + Walton + Vujacic, Pau Gasol isn't a new arrival, championship experience, etc.).
Paul Pierce vs. Ron Artest
In 2008, Pierce killed the Lakers. However, the Lakers were essentially without Trevor Ariza, and Vlad Radmanovic and Luke Walton split most of the small forward minutes. This year, Ron Artest will be defending Pierce, and the difference should be night and day. Some have pointed to the fact that Pierce has played well against Artest in the past, but that's not the point here. The point is that even if Artest doesn't lock Pierce down the way he can other players, he will still be an indescribable upgrade over Radmanovic and Walton. Also, note that there is one key aspect of the Artest/Pierce matchup that is markedly different than years past: In past years, he was a #1 player and a scorer who also defended well; this year, defense is really his only job. The rest is gravy. The difference might be akin to Kobe in the playoffs (good defender) versus Kobe in the Olympics (mind-blowing defender).
Rondo vs. Kobe
I recently checked out the SI.com predictions, and they're all expecting Rondo to torch Fisher. Of course, for that to happen Fisher would have to defend Rondo, which I think is unlikely. We'll probably see Kobe on Rondo most of the time - not only because he'll probably be better at defending him, but also because making him chase Ray Allen around screens doesn't really save him any energy (and Fish is better at that). What will we get from Kobe on Rondo? Not really sure. I could see Kobe going Team USA on Rondo, but the question is whether he'd be willing to expend the energy and risk struggling on offense because of it. Personally, I think it'd be worth it - he'd get massive recognition for shutting down Rondo, and it would be the key to the series. Even if his scoring dropped, I still think he'd get his series MVP. So I'm hoping Kobe goes Olympic on Rondo's ass; still, even if he doesn't go that hard, I still think Kobe's skills, along with Phil Jackson's game plan, will be enough to contain Rondo.
Home Court Advantage
It's extremely important that the Lakers take the first two games. If they do, I'll almost guarantee victory. That said, even if they split the first two games, they'll take one of the three straight games played in Boston, because it's nearly impossible to win three straight in the Finals, and this year won't be an exception. That means the Celtics need to take two games in Los Angeles to win this series. It's not impossible - but do you see it happening?
The Bottom Line
I'm not buying that the Celtics are better this year than they were in 2008. I think Rondo is much better, and in every other way possible they're worse. Contain Rondo and the Celtics will struggle. Phil Jackson has a proven history of being able to solve the problems that other teams never find a solution to, and I fully expect him to find a solution to Rondo. Pau Gasol isn't a new arrival, we're not starting Radmanovic, and Paul Pierce won't dominate us like he did last time. I expect one fairly easy win in each direction and four tough, close games, with the Lakers winning in 6.

Dexter Fishmore

Lakers in 6
For weeks now, a purple wave has been growing in size and gathering speed, and it's now about to crest and crash onto the city of Boston. All the necessary jet streams and tidal forces are coming together. The rejuvenation of Kobe Bryant, the grit and intimidation supplied by Ron Artest, the length and skilled play of the Laker frontline, the clutch outside shooting from the supporting cast, the home-court advantage... this Laker team is ready to don the mantle of back-to-back NBA champions. As great as the Boston Celtics have played in the postseason, they don't have enough scoring punch to keep up with the Laker attack, which will find its shots and take care of the ball far better than did either the Cavs or Magic. A perfect 8-0 at Staples Center in the playoffs so far, the Lakers will finish the postseason unblemished at home, taking Games One, Two and Six. In the Boston sandwich games, they'll drop Game Three (as they're wont to do) but find a way to steal either Game Four or Five behind a ferocious defensive effort and a classic Kobe gamewinner, thus setting up the clincher back in LA. Watching the Lakers win a title by beating the Celtics with Bill Simmons in the stands with be an orgasm of schadenfreude.

Gil Meriken

Lakers in 4
Let me take a moment here to remind everyone here that I have picked the correct winner of the Lakers playoff series 100% of the time starting from round one of last season's playoffs.
I actually have no idea what's going to happen, but I have a hunch that one of these teams already has the other one figured out. I just don't know which one it is. Since I'm a Lakers fan, I'll go with the Lakers. It could just as easily be Boston in 4 or 5. In fact, I think the media hype is setting this up to be one hell of a letdown for non-Boston and non-L.A. fans expecting a competitive series. It reminds me of the build-up to the 2000-01 Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Spurs, which was expected by all to be a battle, but ended in a sweep.
You just can't ignore the regular season, and if I don't ignore those 82 games that means the Celtics' time should be up soon, and they should revert back to their regular season ways. I just hope it happens in the next two weeks. The Lakers' regular season was not great, but nothing compared to the lows of the Celtics'.
I respect the Celtics. I respect the Celtics. I respect the Celtics.
Laugh and ridicule me all you want, someone's gotta take the contrarian/homer route, throw caution to the wind, and risk it all. As always, I have a 12.5% confidence in my pick.

Saurav Das

Lakers in 7
Well, here we are, once again. For the third time in three years, and 31st time in Franchise history, the Lakers are playing for rings in the NBA Finals. But this time, it's more. It's the team's chance for revenge, Pau's chance for redemption, Kobe's chance to cement his legacy, Bynum's chance to participate in something he missed last time, Sasha's chance to get his mojo back. These NBA Finals are a plethora of things. The Lakers have plenty of motivation, asides from championships, to win this series. The Celtics, on the other hand, are all collectively obsessed with winning. They want to win this more than anything in the world.
If you solely look at the paper teams, it seems the Lakers have a clear advantage over the Lakers, but we all know that the paper matchups don't tell even half the story (otherwise we'd be seeing a Utah-Cleveland final). The intangibles in this series will determine the victor. Determination, grit, clutch, execution, intensity, and of course toughness. Those are what will determine this series, not the raw talent or numbers. In 08, moreso than any other defining factor, the Celtics wanted it more. And, I think, in terms of simply a championship, the Celtics collectively as a team still want a championship more than the Lakers. Their minds are there, even if their bodies may not be. The Lakers, however, have many other motivators to win. Primarily, they have the animalistic, primal instinct or revenge. The Celtics didn't just beat them in '08, they humiliated, embarrassed and emasculated them. They threw legacies into question, attached bad reputations to Lakers players, even essentially rendered a player worthless for the better part of two years. The Lakers remember this. They want to return the favour.
This series will be determined by who wants it more. Not matchups, not talent, not stats. This will be a blood-on-the-floor grudge match, and the team left standing will be the team most determined to win, positively because they hate the other team more than the other team hates them. Because of the aspect of hate, I think the Lakers take it. The Celtics hate the Lakers as an organisation, but no-one on this specific Celtics team has had the Lakers take anything significant from them, whilst every single Celtic rotation player asides from Nate Robinson has participated in destroying the Lakers when they were on the cusp of a championship, and the sweet vindication that comes with it.
I think the Lakers take it in 7, winning Game One in a menacing fashion before dropping Games Two and Three to an angered Boston squad. Going down in the series will cause many to panic, but the Lakers will come back and blow the Celtics out in Game Four on their home court, in which Perkins finally picks up his seventh technical, rendering him suspended for Game Five and allowing the Lakers to win in overtime due to a strong performance from the Los Angeles bigs and then a splendid clutch shoot-out between Kobe and Paul Pierce. I think the Celtics then take Game Six in LA after trailing by double digits in the fourth, winning on a Ray Allen dagger. Game Seven will be a pure slug-fest, I can see players being injured, players being ejected. Nerves will be on edge, and elbows will be flying. The game will be ugly and disjointed due to the refs trying to maintain control with tight whistles, but will still be addictive as hell. No team will lead by more than 3, until Kobe makes several successive impossible shots to pull a win out for the Lakers, 87-80. Adam Morrison will lose his virginity to a girl he meets at the Championship Parade.

Wondahbap

Lakers in 6
Two years ago the Lakers were sent home licking their wounds watching the Celtics pop champagne bottle at their expense. That year's Celtics team was better, did everything better, and had homecourt and favorable calls to boot. Boston exploited their advantages and won the Title. Unlike 2008, the Lakers have the match-up advantage this time around. This will not be the same series. The biggest difference is Ron Artest. Paul Pierce won a Finals MVP with the majority of "defense" coming form Vlad " Space Cadet" Radmanovic, Luke Walton, or Trevor Ariza, who had just missed months of playing time with a foot injury. Ron Ron's D >>>>>>>>>> Lakers' 3 Headed SF Monster in 2008.
Of course the second most important match-ups will reside in the post. KG vs. Pau, and Bynum vs. Kendrick Perkins. Although Pau's toughness was questioned in that Boston series, his problems were with Perk. He can score on KG. Now that Bynum is here this time around, the match-ups favor the Lakers. No more Perk on Pau, nor KG on Lamar. Pau will have an easier time with KG, who isn't as good as he was 2 years ago. Bynum's size and strength should neutralize Perkins effectiveness. We saw the difference he made in the regular season vs. the Celtics. But Bynum has to stay out of foul trouble, and keep Perkins in foul trouble. When Perkins was suspended a game in 2008, the Lakers went to town on KG. So keeping Perkins on Bynum is vital. The other major factor in the post is expectations. This year, the Lakers aren't going to let Boston push them around. This us the team that exposed them and the one team that the Lakers know what to expect. Not only that, I expect LA to push first this time.
Of course we're going to hear about Rondo's emergence, and rightfully so, but I'm not so sure his improvement is enough to make up for edge the Celtics have lost on the Lakers. He's pretty much just much better at the same things he did well in 2008. He still can't shoot. Still can't hit free-throws. If the Lakers stay at home, stick to their man, and play the great defense we saw these Playoffs (minus the Suns), I think Rondo's effectiveness can be limited. If the Lakers can limit open guys, it will limit Rondo finding them. Especially if the Lakers can stop Boston's transition, where Rondo is most deadly. He's should be guarded by Kobe again, and right now, Kobe will die on the court going for #5. As Josh Tucker mentioned, I would like to see Kobe go "Olympic on his ass."
Speaking of Kobe, who just might be playing his finest basketball ever (that's saying a lot), this series should be easier for him than 2008. It's sayong a lot about this series that the best basketball player on the planet doesn't get mentioned until the 4th paragraph. Not only is he playing ultra efficiently,attacking the basket and making shots, but if the front court steps up how I think they will, Boston can't afford to focus on overloading on Kobe. Also, if Kobe continues his stellar play in this Finals, he will ease up the pressure for the front court. Once Boston's strategy softens up, expect Kobe to pick Boston apart.
On to the Celtics bench. Boston no longer has Eddie House to stretch the floor. No James Posey to come in a play great defense. No PJ Brown for veteran savvy and timely shots. Now? They have jump shooting Rasheed. Big Baby, whom will have a problem with Lakers' length. Same thing for Shelden Williams. Marquis Daniels (who might not play due to a concussion) who is a complete non factor, and Tony Allen. Allen could help Boston, but he can also hurt them. Nate Robinson is typically a Lakers killer, but who know how much PT Doc Rivers will give him. Michael Finely is 95 years old. I expect Lamar to have a great series. Especially matched against Rasheed, or if he drives against KG. I also feel Farmar should be able to play well offensively against the Celtic bench. Shannon Brown and Sasha Vujacic can be X-factors if they can play well. I just can't see Boston's bench hurting us.
So, Lakers in 6. There's just too much to prove for Pau, Lamar, Ron, Bynum, and Kobe. They wanted this. They need it. Their guts will show bright as their talent this time around. They are ready. Plus, the Lakers just don't lose much at home, and they have homecourt this year. They'll win Games 1 and 2, lose 3 and 4, win 5 and 6. You know, these Lakers' favorite way to win a series. Hopefully, I'll see you at the parade, and if you make your way out to Boston, hit me up.

C. A. Clark

Lakers in 6

Early in the season, we thought these were the two best teams in the league, and we were right.  Both teams spent a majority of the regular season making us question that belief.  Suddenly, all those ideas of Boston - L.A part two were weighed down with ifs.  IF the Celtics can stay healthy.  IF Kobe Bryant doesn't fall apart.  IF Kevin Garnett can return to form.  IF the Lakers can make any outside shots.  IF IF IF IF IF.  Well, all the ifs pretty much came true.  The struggles of the regular season are over, for both of these teams, and we're left with exactly what we saw in October.  The two past champions going at it over 7 games.
As I've already pointed out, this series is more exciting than most, because there is history, but no precedent.  Rivlaries are formed when teams battle each other repeatedly, in the playoffs, with close contests and mixed results.  But rivlaries are also usually combined with an established precedent.  You might not know who will when the rivals face off, but you generally know how the team that does win is going to accomplish it.
This matchup?  I have no idea.  The Lakers spent most of the year with no offense, now they are firing on all cylinders.  The Celtics took most of the season displaying no effort, now they work harder than anybody else.  The Lakers have shown tremendous defense, and none at all, all in these playoffs.  Same goes for the Celtics offense.  Combine all these unknowns with two teams that look to be perfectly matched to stop the other, and you've got a great series on your hands.
The Lakers begin with Kobe, and Boston knows all about stopping a superstar.  The Celtics begin with Rondo, and Kobe's defensive capability and preferences are perfectly suited towards stopping him.  The Lakers usually dominate with tons of size, but the Celtics are one of the few teams that can match it.  The Celtics get most of their scoring from the wings, but the Lakers have the best perimeter defense in the NBA.  I could go on and on, but you get the picture.  If you were to design a team with the sole purpose of defeating the Celtics, they'd probably look a lot like the Lakers do.  If you were to contrive a group of guys with the best chances of slowing down the Lakers, the Celtics wouldn't be far from your perfect combination.  These two teams were, almost literally, made for each other.
Because both teams seem capable of solving the litany of match-up problems the other team is used to enjoying, I have a feeling that we're in for a defensive slugfest.  The Lakers D hasn't been spectacular in the playoffs, but we know it's there, and against a Celtics offense that isn't very strong, I expect it to return full force.  Meanwhile, the days of 1.2 points per possession are long gone for the Lakers.
Lakers in 6 might seem like too kind to the home team, considering I just spent so many words telling you to expect anything and everything should be close.  My prediction is based on two factors:  Home court advantage (and the specific advantage of the 2-3-2 format which has already been discussed), and the fact that, down the stretch, the Celtics have shown, both in the regular season and the playoffs, to struggle to score, mainly because Rondo gets passive on account of not wanting to be fouled.  On the other side, Kobe Bryant has spent the entire year refusing to be denied in crunch time.  So, while most the games will be close, I suspect the Lakers will win most of the close games.

So there you have it, the Lakers will win the NBA championship for a 2nd straight year, based upon the unanimous predictions of the SS&R staff.  Then again, all of Celtics Blog predicted Celtics victories, so take everything with a grain of salt.  I'm a little disappointed that no author from either fanbase had the stones to pick against the home team, but I guess we all genuninely believe in our teams chances 100%.  One group will be proven horribly wrong at days end.  Here's hoping its them.

john wooden

Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden at age 99 is reportedly in grave condition at a hospital on the school's campus. In what might end up being one of his final sit-down interviews, Wooden, at the December 2009 Wooden Classic, answered Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers when asked how he has managed to live such a long life:

But how does one live so long, he's asked, and he points to the whiskey Winston Churchill drank, the cigars George Burns had, and says, "How long did they live?

"There's no answer," he says, "but if I had to give one, I'd say life needs balance. And love."

As if on cue, it's his turn to feel the love in the arena. They show him on the overhead scoreboard in the Honda Center, and the crowd rises to its feet and just stays there.

 Love, Wooden told Rick Reilly in November, is the "most important word in our language." Asked how to make love last, that's what wooden thinks about life

don denkinger

Great day isn’t it?. It’s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of don denkinger. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.
Don Denkinger: Donald Anton Denkinger (pronounced /Ë?dÉ?Å?kɨndÊ?É?r/, born August 28, 1936 in Cedar Falls, Iowa) is a former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from …
Don Denkinger – Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: First base umpire Don Denkinger called Orta safe, but television replays later showed that … Denkinger stated that he still believed he had made the right call until he later met …
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ken griffey jr retires

SEATTLE — In his prime, Ken Griffey Jr. was considered the best player in baseball, on pace to rewrite the record books.
Injuries derailed his chance to become the home run king. His spot as one of the game's all-time greats is without question.
Now relegated to part-time duty and with little pop left in that perfect swing, Griffey unexpectedly decided Wednesday night to retire after 22 mostly brilliant seasons.
The Kid that once saved baseball in the Pacific Northwest with his backward hat, giddy teenage smile and unrivaled talent, had become a shell of the player who dominated the 1990s.
The 40-year-old Griffey wasn't at Safeco Field on Wednesday. He simply released a statement through the Seattle Mariners – the franchise he helped saved in the 1990s and returned to for the conclusion of his career – that he was done playing.
Griffey said goodbye before Seattle played the Minnesota Twins after 13 All-Star appearances, 630 homers – fifth on the career list – and 1,836 RBIs. He's an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.
I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be," he said. There will be no farewell tour, just as Griffey wanted. He called Mariners' team president Chuck Armstrong and said he was done playing. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu called his players together before the start of batting practice to inform them of Griffey's decision.

daniel tosh tour

The Clown Prince of the Internet - Q&A With Comedian Daniel Tosh of "Tosh.0"

The world of the internet - with all of its Tweeting, poking, blogging and YouTube videos starring dancing cats and lip-synching teens - seems more ridiculous than it already is on comedian Daniel Tosh's "Tosh.0" on Comedy Central.

 Tosh.0, which will air new episodes starting tonight at 9:30 CST, features a segment called Web Redemption, where he tracks down "celebrities" of the web - like the Nintendo 64 Kid or the trampled cheerleader and gives them a chance to try again or fail once more. Using the archaic object called the telephone, Tosh spoke to me about the show and why he prefers the Cubs over the Sox.
 See, you're from Chicago so you're naturally a racist. No, there's nowhere in Chicago I avoid, I've been to Chicago a bunch, it's a good comedy town. I don't know the town that well. I stay downtown, I take walks, I try to get by the water if possible. There's only three weeks a year it's nice there anyway.

I did actually just watch a video on the internet of a fight in the stands of a White Sox game and it was crazy - dude just gives this guy a haymaker and knocks him cold. I guess that's why I prefer the Cubs, because they're a bunch of sissies.

Is the Internet really stupid, or does it just seem that way on your show?

I would assume it just seems that way on our show, we filter all the brilliant stuff out and we focus on the borderline retarded.
What's the internet better for, funny viral videos or porn?

Porn. There's no debating that. Basically the reason the internet exists is because of porn.

Who would be a great candidate for a Web Redemption you haven't gotten on the show yet?

There's still tons of people - The Star Wars kid, the Grape Stomp lady, you know I'd still love to get Michael Richards to do a set at a black comedy club but I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon. I'd also love to get the guy whose gun went off at a gun safety course because I just can imagine the things we could do with him in front of children that probably shouldn't be done.

You never know what you're going to get when you contact some of these people, they don't have publicists, getting a hold of them is a nightmare. And then when you do, a lot of these people are insane! The Average Homeboy, that guy, we interviewed him but I think he had like three prepared lines and I don't think he muttered a single word outside of those prepared lines. I sort of felt like I was looking into the eyes of a literal psychopath. There is that reality of, you have no idea who is showing up. I would think we should maybe start doing background checks.

Maybe background checks aren't part of Comedy Central's budget.

It really must come down to that. Because it really comes down to the fact that sometimes I'm like 'Ok, I think we're in the presence of a murderer.' But oh well, we'll keep doing it.

Do you have a favorite viral video?

No, not really, though there are definitely videos that I like. I'm actually dying to know if this video we're using this week, if they actually let us use it on the air. It's where a kid in the Middle East at a wedding shoots his father in the chest. It's like a two years old too, and if I can tell you, it's like the funniest thing I've ever seen.

I guess there's no web redemption for that video?

Yeah, I think both parties have to be alive for that to really pan out properly.

Have you ever gotten actually hurt doing anything for the show? I'm thinking in particular of the surprise trust falls.

Those surprise trust falls, that was an awful idea. I didn't forsee that people would actually be doing that to me on the street in public. So now when I'm out, people think it's hysterical to trust fall into me. So that has backfired nicely.

You seem to end up in some pretty ridiculous costumes. What might be
in store for us for the new episodes?

Just try to get me to keep my clothes on. Impossible. The only way I'll ever stop doing those awful things is if for one second someone thinks: 'I bet that guy thinks his body looks good.' If there's anyone that thinks I'm not just mocking myself, and how horrible I look, that would get me to stop. Like I ever actually started saying 'Hey, I'm in show business now, I should probably start working out and get a better body' - then I would kill all the ridiculous outfits and nudity scenes immediately.

One thing is certain, I won't be wearing the fruit costumes that people on the website recommended.

Describe your body.

I'm the most out of shape, skinny person in the world. There's no strength, I'm just blessed with a high metabolism. I haven't done anything to gain any muscle mass in my entire life.

That's too bad, because I'm actually doing this interview for Men's Health.

Sure, just photoshop me like you do everyone else.

Tosh in The Love Guru

For those who haven't seen the movie "The Love Guru," - describe your role as "Cowboy Hat."

Let me tell you something, I think I was underused.

A real good friend of mine had a friend who wrote the movie, and he said, 'Hey we have a part for that movie, do you want it?' I said sure, I read the script and it sounded awful. I had no idea that it'd be an all-time classic bad movie, but yeah it was retarded, I don't really audition for anything so if someone offers me something, I'll usually say yes. And I'm not saying this to sound cool or anything but I've never actually seen the movie. I watched the trailer, because I was in it, but I felt like that was pretty much enough to fulfill my obligation.

I didn't do my homework because I haven't seen it either.
Time to queue it up. I think Netflix has one copy.

What else are you doing besides Tosh.0 these days?

I'm taping a one hour special. It'll be my third special called Happy Thoughts and I'm taping that in San Francisco, airing when season 2 ends in October. Then I'll be going on a world tour that only focuses on the United States - 60 cities, starting at the end of September,  coming to Chicago on November 12 at the Chicago Theater.

Random question. Today I came out of GameStop and a guy that just got out of jail forced me to buy his used Xbox games because GameStop wouldn't take them. What would you have done in that situation?

I have no idea what I'd do, my natural instincts are literally to turn into a woman and run. That just sounds awful. I wouldn't have touched anything, I would assume you're contaminated, I would assume you're going to go to prison too for what's on there.

Maybe he'll show up on your show at some point!