Taylor Swift Vs. Justin Bieber - Is There an End in Sight for Their Ongoing Feud?

"Taylor Swift is no fan of Justin Bieber, or his off-again/on-again relationship with her pal, Selena Gomez. But is there an end in sight for Taylor's ongoing feud with the Biebs?

According to a Hollywood Life source, Swifty has decided not to bad-mouth Justin anymore.

"She's not saying anything to Selena at the moment about Justin. Taylor knows that Selena knows how she feels, so it's not worth wasting her breath. She still thinks he's not right for Selena, but it's not her place to alienate a friend."

More than anything, it sounds like they've agreed to disagree.

Not a Belieber

There is no love lost between Selena's BFF and her not quite ex-boyfriend.

Back in February, Taylor seemed quite vocal about wanting SelGo to move on. Sources reported that she was "encouraging her best friend to move on because she doesn't think the 18-year-old Canadian pop star is right for her," and suggesting that she needed to cut off all ties with him in order to facilitate the healing process.

Around that time, a particularly insidious rumor surfaced, suggesting that Taylor had tried to break up "Jelena" because she wanted him for herself.

"Taylor feels Justin is fair game now. She has had a crush on him for years...Taylor says that as a superstar himself, Justin is the one person who knows what her life is like. She says Justin just 'gets her,' and she finds that incredibly romantic. Taylor is the most fickle girl in the world."

There's no evidence that she was ever interested in him that way, and she just doesn't seem like someone who would betray a friend that way.

If anything, she has been nothing but supportive of the former Disney Channel star since the breakup. According to reports, Swifty "dropped everything" to be by her side, even calling her up to 10 times a day, and setting her up with other girlfriends while she was away on tour.

Still, Taylor has found other ways to express her disdain for the "Boyfriend" singer. Back in May, at the Billboard Music Awards, the "I Knew You Were Trouble" singer conspicuously avoided the question when a reporter asked her how she felt about him winning the fan-voted Milestone Award. "Can we have another question?"

Screen caps of Taylor grimacing when Selena and Justin kissed backstage also went viral.

Avoiding Potential Conflict

Although the country cutie seems to be keeping mum about Justin from now on, we're not expecting them to become BFFs anytime soon. Rumor has it that Taylor decided against attending Selena's 21st birthday party last month in order to avoid running into him.

"Taylor was talking about how she'll be on a super tight schedule on Saturday night because she has a show and she wants to get to Selena's birthday party. She was talking about flying out right after her show. She's not going to want to be there if Justin is there, it's so awkward between them now."

Taylor may be making a wise decision to keep her mouth shut from now on. She's already made her opinions quite clear, and it doesn't look like she'll be able to change her friend's mind.

The "22" singer is in an unenviable position of having to bite her tongue. I wouldn't blame her for wanting to avoid him, in order to prevent potential conflict with her pal.

Could Taylor and Justin ever learn to get along? Should Taylor stay out of Selena's relationship with Justin? Is she making a smart move to stop talking about him? Or is her beef with the Biebs justified?

More From This Contributor:

VMA Nominations 2013: Taylor Swift Subtly Disses Kanye West - Was It Necessary?

Is Taylor Swift Experiencing a Media Fallout? 4 Ways This Could Actually Benefit Her

Note:This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Join the Yahoo! Contributor Network here to start publishing your own articles. "

Lisa Kudrow to Join Scandal Cast as Politician in Recurring Role

"Looks like there's room for one more Friend in Washington D.C.! Lisa Kudrow is the latest familiar face to join the cast of Scandal in a recurring role as a politician on the smash ABC show, Deadline.com reports. Further details about her character are under wraps.

The 50-year-old actress has been keeping busy as a producer for Showtime comedy Web Therapy and TLC's Who Do You Think You Are? since the end of her 10-year run on Friends, and created and starred in short-lived HBO series The Comeback in 2005.

Last season's recurring cast member, Scott Foley, will be promoted to series regular for season three.

In July, Kudrow and fellow Friends alum Matthew Perry sat down together on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight and reflected on their time on the smash 90s sitcom, for which they were paid a staggering $1 million per episode by the series' final season in 2004.

"If it were up to us, like individually, oh, I would keep going," Kudrow said of wishing the show hadn't ended. "There would have come a time anyway when someone would have said, 'We've had enough.' But why not have fun until they do?"

And, Kudrow told Us during a TCA press day last month, she still finds herself cracking up at the characters' crazy antics whenever she catches the series airing on TV.

"First I get over the shock because I see the episodes and am so surprised that I don't remember it ever happening!" she said. "Then I relax and say, 'Oh, how funny is this? That David Schwimmer is so funny!'"

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Lisa Kudrow to Join Scandal Cast as Politician in Recurring Role"

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids Is Just for the Children

" Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 tablet might come in three models already but now the company is adding one more version for its youngest customers -- the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids.

"We saw an opportunity to create a device for kids that provides them with an intuitive, fun and kid-friendly user-experience," JK Shin, the CEO of Samsung Electronics, said in a statement. "Filled with rich, interactive and educational content that parents will love."

The Galaxy Tab 3 Kids looks like the baby of a Samsung phone and a Fisher Price toy. In addition to the primary color scheme that would be at home in an elementary school classroom, Samsung also made an easy-to-hold kids' case and stylus.

In terms of technical specs, the device has an 7-inch screen and will run Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean. The front and rear facing cameras are considerably lower in quality than its previous products, down to 3-megapixels and 1.3-megapixels respectively. Then again, kids probably don't feel the need to take selfies. At least not at that age.

Amazon Looks to Make Kindle Fire HD Top Kids' Tablet

While it's a tablet meant for kids, mom and dad still have the ultimate say. The tablet comes with parental control settings as well as a timer. When time runs out, parents can input a passcode that will extend their kids time with the tablet.

The Tab 3 Kids, of course, isn't the only children's tablet available. The $179 Nabi 2 Android tablet is aimed at kids and is sold at retailers including Target and Walmart. And Toys R Us has even released its own tablet for kids.

However, many parents have stuck with "adult" tablets, including the Kindle Fire HD, Nexus 7 and iPad for their kids. With the Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7, Amazon and Google, respectively, have added children-friendly features, including parental controls and different user accounts. During the holiday season, Nielsen reported that kids aged 6-12 were more interested in the iPad than any other consumer electronics and gaming device.

Samsung's device will join those others soon. It will debut in Korea in early September and eventually roll out to other countries, including the United States. Though no price was announced, Samsung's current Galaxy Tabs start at $199.99. "

What is 'Big Data,' anyway? Authors of a new book try to explain

""Big data" has become a really big buzz-phrase — tossed around in conversations about everything from business to surveillance; cited as a tool to improve driving, hiring, understanding dogs, and everything else; and, inevitably, dismissed as a bunch of hype.

But what exactly is big data, anyway? Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think by Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Kenneth Cukier, offers an answer. Their book is a wide-ranging assessment of "the ability of society to harness information in novel ways to produce useful insights or goods and services of significant value." And while they acknowledge that the term itself has become amorphous, they frame their subject pretty clearly: "Big data refers to things one can do at a large scale that cannot be done at a smaller one, to extract new insights or create new forms of value, in ways that change markets, organizations, the relationship between citizens and governments, and more."

That (not to mention the book's subtitle) might sound a little hype-y, but Big Data is fairly even-handed: Early chapters explore the hope and potential around the way massive information sets are being created and mined, but later ones are clear about risks, pitfalls, and dangers. Mayer-Schönberger is Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation at the Oxford Internet Institute / Oxford University; Cukier is "data editor" for The Economist. Their book raised a few questions for me — so I asked the authors. Here's what they said.

I'd like to start toward the end: One of your later chapters examines "the dark side of big data," and among other things you note concerns about privacy and the possibility of using "big-data predictions" to in effect penalize people for behavior they seem likely to engage in, but haven't. You even mention the NSA at one point. So I wonder what you've made of the debate about more recent surveillance revelations related to the agency: There's a lot of focus on the collection of the data, for instance, but should we be talking about how it's analyzed?

Kenneth Cukier: The question draws an excellent distinction — one that's sadly missing from the debate. The disclosures have been mostly about the collection and not the use of the data. And when intelligence agencies explain how they work with the data, the method seems oddly old-school: targeted surveillance, not too different from the days of alligator-clips atop copper wires. Of course we're probably not told the whole story and they're actually running massive statistical regressions across all the data to hunt for patterns that they didn't know to look for in advance. That's what Facebook and LinkedIn data-scientists would do with it. But we haven't yet seen evidence that this is what the NSA is doing.

That said, the collection alone is troubling because it is happening with insufficient oversight. And the goal of intelligence is to prevent bad things from happening — it's about prediction. As we lay out in the book, this may be troubling when people are penalized for what they only have propensity to do, not for what they've done. So we have to be very careful using this ability, as it improves to the degree that it becomes more established.

You make a compelling case about the limitations of sampling (as opposed to more comprehensive big data approaches) and how we've come to accept it perhaps more than we should. But among the examples you mention is voter intent. It's not like there's a comprehensive database of who everyone intends to vote for, is there? How does big data actually provide an alternative here? Isn't there a distinction between what we want to measure and what we can measure?

Cukier: Actually, there is a database of every voter and their intentions. Both major parties contract with different data providers that are loosely affiliated with the parties, to tap databases of all Americans. The first variable is if the person is registered to vote and if he or she actually cast a ballot in the most recent election. The Democrats in 2012 had an internal database of every voter in America and asked three questions of it: Do you support Obama; are you likely to vote; and if you are undecided, are you persuadable? By ranking people based on that last measure, the Dems could know where to best spend their advertising budget for maximum impact.

Big data was critical: sampling works well for basic questions like what candidate a person supports. But it's less useful when you want to drill down into the granular — like what candidate Asian-American women with college degrees support. To do that, you may need to give up your sample and go for it all.

Yet the broader point is correct: there is a difference between what we want to measure and what we can measure. And we need to be on guard that we don't confuse the two. For example, in the Vietnam War, the Pentagon used the metric of the body count as a way to measure progress, when that data wasn't really meaningful to what they wanted to depict. Sadly, I fret this fallibility is something that we'll just have to learn to live with, as we have in so many other domains.

Many of your examples involve scrutinizing data that already exists (including instances where it's mined for reasons that have nothing to do with why it was gathered), but I was very interested to learn about "datafication" that involves setting out to collect new information in new ways: For instance, UPS "datifying" its vehicle fleet by gathering mechanical information that predicts and minimizes breakdowns. This almost seem like a distinct category to me. Do you think of it as a fundamentally different form of big data?

Viktor Mayer-Schönberger: It is tempting to be dazzled by the many new types of data that are being collected — from engine sensors in UPS vehicles, to heart rates in

premature babies, to human posture. But that is how datafication works in practice: at first we think it is impossible to render something in data form, then somebody comes up with a nifty and cost-efficient idea to do so, and we are amazed by the applications that this will enable, and then we come to accept it as the new normal. A few years ago, this happened with geo-location data, and before it was with web browsing data (gleaned through cookies). It is a sign of the continuing progress of datafication.

You're right that dataficiation is fundamentally different than big data. For example, the 19th century American navigator Commodore Maury, who invented tidal maps, datafied the logbooks of past sea voyages by extracting information about the wind and waves at a given location. But we can get the most of big data today because so many new elements of our lives are being rendered into a data form, which was extremely hard to do in the past.

You emphasize that making the most of big data means we have to "shed some of [our] obsession for causality in exchange for simple correlations: not knowing why but only what." This means breaking from the tradition of coming up with a hypothesis and testing it: It doesn't matter whether we can explain a correlation that big data reveals, we should just act on it. That's a big shift! I'm curious if when you're out talking about the book whether you get a lot of resistance to that idea, because it seems crucial to what you call the "big data mindset."

Mayer-Schönberger: Yes, we do encounter resistance on this point, but intriguingly, it's rarely from the real experts in their field. They often know how tentative their causal conclusions are, or how much they are actually based on correlations rather than truly comprehending the exact causality of things. Also, we often get mischaracterized as either suggesting that theories don't matter or causality is not important. We don't argue either. In fact, theories will continue to matter very much, but the concrete hypothesis derived from a theory less so.

Take Google Flu Trends. The theory that what people search for could correlate with human health in a given location was crucial for Google Flu Trends to happen. But none of Google's engineers could ever have guessed the exact hypothesis to test — that is, the exact search terms that best predict the spread of the flu. After all, the company handles around 3 billion searches every day. So big data analysis did that for them.

Causal connections are really valuable where and if one can find them. But looking for them at great cost and coming up empty is less useful, we suggest, than looking for correlations — not least because such correlations can help identify what potential connections between two phenomena should be investigated for a possible causal link. In that very sense, big data analysis actually helps causal investigations as well.

Finally, I was struck by how many examples in the book involved businesses that have amassed incredible data sets and learned to use them to boost sales or improve marketing. You have the story of how Wal Mart mined its past data and figured out that people preparing for a hurricane by purchasing flashlights and the like also tended to buy Pop-Tarts — so it put Pop-Tarts at the front of the store during hurricane season, and sales increased. Is there any concern about how much big data is in effect owned by business, and deployed largely in the service of the profit motive? I think one thing that makes people nervous about the big data idea is that it's so often opaque. But do the benefits outweigh those concerns? Should we stop worrying and just be thankful for the conveniently placed Pop-Tarts?

Mayer-Schönberger: There is a value in having conveniently placed Pop-Tarts, and it isn't just that Wal Mart is making more money. It is also that shoppers find faster what they are likely looking for. Sometimes big data gets badly mischaracterized as just a tool to create more targeted advertising online. But UPS uses big data to save millions of gallons of fuel — and thus improve both its bottom line and the environment. Google aiding public health agencies in predicting the spread of the flu, or Decide.com helping consumers save a bundle has nothing to do with targeted advertising, and create positive effects beyond a single company's quarterly profit. We need to cast our gaze wider when we want to understand big data's upside (and incidentally, also its "dark sides").

My thanks to Mayer-Schönberger and Cukier for taking the time to answer these questions. Their book is: Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think. "

Demi Lovato to Play Naya Rivera's Lesbian Love Interest on Glee

"While Demi Lovato is getting closer with on-again, off-again boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama off screen, she's starting a new romance on screen. For her upcoming guest role on the fifth season of Glee, Lovato will playing the lesbian love interest to Naya Rivera's character Santana Lopez.

"She's playing my love interest, so I'm very, very excited about that," Rivera, 26, told MTV News on Sunday, Aug. 25 about the 21-year-old singer joining the Fox musical series. "We get to sing a song together. It's gonna be good. I'm excited to work with her. We're bringing her to the dark side. Well, she comes in in a Beatles episode, so [we're singing] a Beatles song. I'm excited." (Rivera's character has previously been in a romantic relationship with Heather Morris' Brittany Pierce on the show.)

Lovato also tweeted her excitement about joining Glee on Monday, Aug. 26, writing, "Wayyyyy too excited to be starting @GLEE this week!!!!!!! Asjfkdjshdk. I can't believe I'm going back to acting but the best part about it is that I get to act/sing with some of my really great friends . . ."

Getting back to work on a new season of Glee is bittersweet for Rivera. Costar Cory Monteith died from a heroin and alcohol overdose on July 13. While mourning his death, the cast has been working on filming a special tribute episode, airing October 10. At the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Rivera told Us Weekly the mood on set has been "terrible."

The actress also told MTV News, "It's horrible. So many, so many [memories]. He was an amazing guy and I definitely miss him."

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Demi Lovato to Play Naya Rivera's Lesbian Love Interest on Glee "

New Windows operating system sent to computer makers

"Microsoft on Tuesday began sending a revamped version of Windows to makers of computers, smartphones or tablets powered by the software.

"We've hit an important milestone for Microsoft," Windows team executive Antoine Leblond said in a blog post.

"In many ways, this marks a new day for Microsoft, reflecting a number of rapid-release firsts."

Developers of applications tailored to run on Windows devices were irked, however, to find out that they will not get their hands on the finished version of Windows 8.1 until it hits the market in October.

In the past, developers had early access to new versions of Windows to allow time to make sure their applications work with the software.

"Seriously, has Microsoft fallen off its rocker?" a developer asked rhetorically in a chat forum below Leblond's blog post.

"This decision is yet another that leaves me questioning the judgment of Microsoft's current management."

Microsoft in June provided developers with a preview version of the "re-blended" Windows 8 operating system released late last year.

Windows 8.1 incorporated feedback from users and developers, and came with the promise that the US software giant was speeding up its release cycle to adapt to the dizzying pace of innovation in consumer technology.

"Windows 8.1 is a significant update," Leblond said.

"As we consider the code we just handed off, and the new intuitive and fluid computing experience it provides -- anytime, anywhere, across all devices -- we're confident we made the right bet."

Windows 8.1 remains true to the vision of an operating system tuned for touch-screen controls and multi-gadget lifestyles increasingly revolving around tablets and smartphones, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft is under pressure to adapt to a huge shift in how people engage with computers.

Smartphones and tablets have vanquished the days when people devoted the bulk of computer time to Windows-powered desktop or laptop machines.

The overhauled Windows 8 operating system released in November was designed to power the array Internet-linked devices.

Better adapting to the shifting Internet landscape is believed to be among the reasons behind the unexpected announcement last week that Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer will retire within 12 months.

"There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time," Ballmer said Friday in a written release.

"My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company's transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction."

Ballmer took over as CEO in 2000 from co-founder Bill Gates, a classmate and friend from their days at Harvard University in the 1970s.

While its Windows software is used on the vast majority of personal computers, Microsoft has had little impact in the fast-growing segments of tablets and smartphones."

Exclusive…’Crazy, Absurd!’ Go Behind the Scenes of Avril Lavigne’s ‘Rock N Roll’ Video!

"If you haven't already seen Avril Lavigne's video for "Rock 'N' Roll," just be forewarned that the clip basically defies a cohesive description. Between the pop singer's warrior-military garb, the car driven by a dog, the famous guest stars (including a smooch with "Wonder Years" actress Danica McKellar!), the blade-adorned guitar...oh yeah, and the bearshark...this is one heck of a sensational visual journey.

In fact, as the director of the clip himself puts it, it's crazy, absurd, and badass, which is just the way rock 'n' roll should be, right? Yahoo! Music is excited to present this exclusive behind-the-scenes video detailing the making of this opus, with more director's commentary, as well as Lavigne herself weighing in on the action.

Meet the dog! See Sid from Slipknot chuck a baby doll! Get the inside scoop and a closeup on that kiss with "Winnie!" Watch the bearshark twerk! (Well, okay, maybe that's taking it a bit far, but he does do a little dance. ) It's all here."

iTunes Radio Prepares to 'Pounce' As Streaming 'Arms Race' Heats Up

"As Apple prepares iTunes Radio for a September launch, with top brands such as Pepsi, McDonald's and Nissan as advertisers, the long-suffering record industry is hoping for a new kind of boom. Competition for streaming-music customers is intensifying — Pandora announced last week it would no longer cap mobile listener hours as of September 1st, and Beats by Dre's Daisy service could arrive as soon as October. All of these developments are likely to hasten the industry's transformation from selling downloads to streaming songs.

Look Back at How Steve Jobs Turned the Music Biz Upside Down

"An arms race is afoot," says Tom Corson, president and chief operating officer of RCA Records, home of Justin Timberlake, Ke$ha and Pink, referring to the growth of music-streaming services from YouTube to Spotify. "Apple had a very nice business selling things, and it worked great for us, and it was growing and growing. [Apple] was waiting for a disruption to come into the market, and now they're prepared and ready to pounce."

Apple has, as usual, declined to release concrete details about iTunes Radio — the company announced in June it would be part of its fall iOS 7 software release, for iPhone, iPad and iTouch, and it would unite music and advertising. When Apple's top Internet executive, Eddy Cue, revealed iTunes Radio at the company's WWDC event, his description suggested it would be much like Pandora. One key difference: It will not just expose users to ads but steer them to iTunes "buy" buttons — which makes record executives happy.

"The 'Buy' button on Apple Radio is very prominent, so when you hear something and you like it, boom, you press the button," says Jim Urie, president of distribution for Universal Music, the world's biggest record label. "I think it's actually going to be a bright red button! Everybody agrees it's going to be good for the business."

Pandora executives have been careful since Apple's WWDC announcement not to seem overly cutthroat with regard to iTunes Radio, but its chief executive, Joe Kennedy, told AllThingsD, "We've now been around for eight years. We've seen competitors large and small enter the market and, in some cases, exit the market. I've never seen an analysis that identifies an effect from any competitor. . .we don't see the picture changing."

Still, Pandora's listener-hours have decreased in recent months — mostly due to the 40-hour cap, instituted earlier this year. Still, new services, from increasingly powerful music players such as Spotify to apps, have emerged as streaming rivals. "Competition's definitely increased for Pandora. There's more apps that don't have anything to do with music that are pulling people away from listening to music on their mobile devices," says Alex Luke, a former EMI digital executive who is working on a music startup. "As a consumer with an iPhone and an iPad and a laptop, I find more things tugging at me on all sides. The market's changed dramatically from even 12 or 18 months ago."

Many at record labels view streaming, if not as the future of the entire business, then an important revenue boost after a long period of slumping sales. Download sales have dropped in 2013 after years of growth — about 6 percent for albums and 3 percent for tracks, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Many experts say the proliferation of free streaming services allow consumers to spend money on music without buying it. But Pandora points to numbers from the NPD Group, which reported earlier this year that 41 percent of Pandora and other free-music-streaming consumers say owning music remains important to them.

"The move towards [free] access to music is so simple and ubiquitous that it's having a major impact on piracy," says Syd Schwartz, a former major-label digital-music executive who is now a consultant with Linchpin Digital. "But I don't know that I'd be whistling 'Happy Days Are Here Again' for the major [labels] anytime soon."

This article originally appeared on Rolling Stone: iTunes Radio Prepares to 'Pounce' As Streaming 'Arms Race' Heats Up"

Madonna Leads Forbes List of Highest-Paid Celebrities

"Madonna's MDNA disappointed on the charts last year, but the singer's impressive MDNA tour, merchandise sales and investments in companies landed her atop Forbes list of the highest earning celebrities. The 55-year-old raked in $125 million between June 2012 and June 2013, boosted heavily by her tour, which grossed $305 million.

How Madonna Became Madonna: An Oral History

Madonna's strong showing was enough to keep Steven Spielberg out of the top spot; the director earned $100 million, with his 2012 film Lincoln pulling in $275 million on a budget of $65 million. Much of Spielberg's money comes from his catalog, with films like Jurassic Park and E.T. often airing on television.

Simon Cowell, Howard Stern and 50 Shades of Grey author E.L. James tied for third on Forbes' list with $95 million each. Cowell's The X Factor and Got Talent air in dozens of different countries in different iterations, helping his earnings, while Stern enjoys a nice contract with Sirius/XM. The radio host also receives a sizable $15 million per year as a judge on Cowell's America's Got Talent. Meanwhile, James' 50 Shades of Grey trilogy has sold 70 million copies worldwide with a movie in development at Universal Studios.

Prolific author James Patterson of the Alex Cross series followed at the fourth spot with $91 million, and conservative political commentator Glenn Beck took the fifth spot with $90 million.

This article originally appeared on Rolling Stone: Madonna Leads Forbes List of Highest-Paid Celebrities"

Burning Question: Could Miley’s VMA Antics Really Have Bad Impact on Kids?

"Q: Did Miley Cyrus's performance at the MTV Music Video Awards go too far, considering that it was on basic cable and many kids were likely watching?

A: At first I wanted to wave this question away. After all, Cyrus is just the latest celebrity to try her hand at Madonna-style vamping, complete with on-stage pseudo-masturbation and borrowing a faux-taboo cultural phenomenon wholesale from a minority group. Sunday's VMAs performance was more desperation than daring; at times Cyrus seemed to have to remind herself to stick out her tongue as she clomped down a set of stairs.

But child-development experts see things very differently. They argue that Cyrus betrayed and possibly even damaged younger kids who saw the singer's medley.

After all, they point out, children of any age could access Cyrus's performance much more easily than a show by Madonna in her erotic heyday.

When Madge simulated masturbation as part of her landmark Blond Ambition tour, people had to pay for tickets to see that, or pay for tickets to see a documentary that showed that, or subscribe to HBO, a premium channel. Contrast that with MTV's VMAs; all a kid needed was basic cable and a less-than-vigilant parent to witness Cyrus rubbing her 20-year-old ass against Robin Thicke, a guy old enough to be her very affectionate uncle.

Then there was the content of Cyrus's performance itself: twerking, leering, grinding, and much pretend stroking of the genitalia through a nude bikini, the same look showcased on the SFW version of Robin Thicke's vaguely rapey "Blurred Lines" video.

"The message is, 'This is what you want to do if you want to be cute, if you want the boys to like you, if you want girls to think you're cool,'" child behavior and development specialist Betsy Brown Braun tells me. "It makes something that I believe is socially unacceptable, socially desirable."

MTV's telecast, seen by 10.1 million viewers, was rated TV-14, meaning the network deemed it acceptable for most adolescents.

That was something the conservative watchdog Parents Television Council pounced on this morning: "MTV continues to sexually exploit young women by promoting acts that incorporate 'twerking' in a nude-colored bikini. How is this image of former child star Miley Cyrus appropriate for 14-year-olds?," asks Dan Isett's, the PTC's director of public policy.

Neither MTV nor Team Miley immediately commented on the criticism.

Of course, no kid will suffer permanent PTSD because of a single Cyrus performance — at least, not because of her ham-handed attempts at grownup-ness. But child development specialists do count the medley among a barrage of videos, still images and performances that connect maturity and adulthood with overt sexuality.

"You get this repeated parade of performances," Dr. Robyn Silverman tells me. "Once it was Britney, then Christina, then Amanda Bynes, then Lindsay Lohan, and now it's Miley Cyrus — you start to get the feeling that this is the natural progression, that this is the way that teens should behave when they want to be seen as adults."

And Cyrus's current audience is way too young to even be thinking of such things, experts say.

"When girls were 10, they were watching Miley Cyrus, and she was a cool teenager," Brown Braun tells me. "Now they're 14, and the message is that this is an acceptable way to be for 14-year-olds. They have a relationship with Miley, so it's like, 'Oh, look what you're good friend is doing up there.'"

Got a Burning Question? Tweet it to us @YahooBurningQs"

What Turns Vin Diesel Into a Big Softy? Take a Look…

"Vin Diesel is known for playing hulking tough guys on the big screen, but he showed a softer side on Monday while receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

That's because the 46-year-old "Fast & Furious 6" action hero star, who can be seen next in "Riddick," was flanked by his rarely seen family, including his model girlfriend Paloma Jimenez and their two children, daughter Hania Riley, 5, and son Vincent, 3.

Diesel was a big mush as he proudly held Hania in his arms and they flashed a thumbs up to the crowd. Meanwhile, Vincent – who must make dad slightly envious with his great head of hair — flashed a megawatt grin to the crowd, which included Diesel's co-stars Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, and Katee Sackhoff.

It was an especially sweet moment considering how protective of his family Diesel is. The actor never even formally announced the birth of either child, reasoning to "Good Morning America," "I didn't want cameras around this event. I wanted this to be as natural as possible."

It seems the New York native is becoming a little more comfortable with showing off his beautiful family. During an appearance on "The Tonight Show" in May, he surprised the audience — and host Jay Leno — when he asked the crowd if they would like to meet his children, and brought out the two little cuties as well as Jimenez.

Hania seems to have grown a little more comfortable with the attention. During that appearance, she climbed on her father's lap and adorably covered her face with her hands.

While Diesel delights on the big screen being such a baddie, it sure is nice seeing this sweeter side of him.

More Celebrity Features on Yahoo!:

See Snooki's Son Take His First Steps

Taylor Swift and Harry Styles Hang Out at VMA Afterparty

Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse Just Can't Keep Their Hands Off Each Other
"

Chris Kirkpatrick: 'N Sync VMAs Reunion Reminded Me Why We Hate Each Other

"'N Sync fans will have to hold onto the memory of Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards reunion forever -- because the colossal boy band has absolutely no plans for a full-fledged reunion tour or comeback album. "No [tour]," band member Chris Kirkpatrick said Monday in a Florida radio interview with Johnny's House. "This was for Justin to get the Video Vanguard Award." Indeed, 'N Sync's brief medley of "Girlfriend," "Gone" and "Bye, Bye, Bye" was just one segment of Justin Timberlake's 15-minute set of mostly solo material.

Kirkpatrick good-naturedly joked that reuniting a decade after their last televised performance reopened old wounds. "It was funny because all of us getting back together, we remembered what we love about each other and what we hate about each other," the singer, 41, said. "It was just a bit of fun."

For Kirkpatrick, performing and dancing was definitely a physical challenge. "Honestly, when he talked to us I thought we were just coming out with mic stands and singing," he admitted. "When I came home from rehearsals my girl's like 'Why are you drenched?' . . .I'm too old for this! I was so worried about not messing up for him."

JC Chasez similarly told Ryan Seacrest Monday that a full-fledged reunion is not in the cards. "No . . . it was just about five guys who were great friends who spent 10 or 15 years together touring and we wanted to give that back to our fans, but we were there mainly to support Justin," Chasez, 37, said. "Literally, two minutes after seeing everybody you feel like no time has passed."

Speaking with the Associated Press, Lance Bass also gave 'N Sync fans the bad news. "It would be lovely to do [a reunion], but we've got nothing planned," Bass, 34, said, citing Timberlake's current world tour with Jay-Z. "Who knows what will happen when he's off tour. It's simply not part of the conversation right now. We just focused on that one performance .If we did anything like that, I think we would come up with something real special where we could actually call it 'The Reunion.'"

As Us Weekly revealed yesterday, earlier plans for the group's VMA performance included more stage time and 'N Sync hits for all five men (Joey Fatone rounds out the group). "The guys wished it could have been more songs," the source said. Regardless, "they loved being back together!"

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Chris Kirkpatrick: 'N Sync VMAs Reunion Reminded Me Why We Hate Each Other"

Miley Cyrus Posts Raunchy Photos of Butt, Brags More About VMAs

"No day-after regrets for Miley Cyrus. Nearly 24 hours after her headline-making, head-scratching performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn, NY, the 20-year-old singer-actress continued along the same raunchy, twerk-y lines via Twitter, sharing raunchy pictures of herself with her 13.3 million followers.

The theme of this impromptu shoot? Softcore-style locker room antics! Hanging out in what appears to be a supply closet filled with sports jerseys, the former Disney star, seen only from behind, wears a red sports bra, tight white biker shorts and a black thong, stepping onto a nearby shelf for support. "#23 #youcanthangwithus #boyslockerroom," reads the caption. In another backside image, Cyrus squats and appears to be wearing a short, platinum blond wig and a skimpy cheerleader outfit emblazoned with "Jordan" and the number 23.

The "We Can't Stop" singer also shrugged off the backlash against her tongue- and hip-thrusting routine alongside Robin Thicke (complete with a a foam finger used to lascivious effect). Quoting praise from Rolling Stone, Cyrus posted: "Miley was the one star in the room who truly understood what the MTV Video Music Awards are all about! Miley stole the night, which is why the nation is still in recovery today. Thanks, Miley..."

Behind the scenes, Cyrus' posse is "freaking out about that performance," one insider told Us Weekly. "They saw the rehearsals, but those were really played down compared to the live performance."

Countered a second source: "It's the VMAs, of course she's going to do a standout performance!"

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Miley Cyrus Posts Raunchy Photos of Butt, Brags More About VMAs"

Miley Cyrus 2013 VMAs Performance: Will Smith, Jaden and Willow React: Hilarious Picture

"A picture is worth a thousand words, ay? Miley Cyrus broke the raunchiness barrier during her 2013 Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on Sunday, Aug. 25 in Brooklyn, N.Y. and somehow managed to shock even the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Will Smith and his famous kids Jaden and Willow were caught by an audience cam giving quite the priceless reaction to the 20-year-old singer's performance of "We Can't Stop" and her duet of "Blurred Lines" with Robin Thicke. The 44-year-old father and Jaden, 15, cringed, as Willow, 12, confirmed just how jaw-dropping the set really was.

As Us Weekly exclusively reported in advance of the big show, Cyrus, 20, and the R&B singer took the stage together for an unexpected collaboration. The former Disney star wore a furry teddy bear leotard, gyrated, twerked, wagged her tongue and stripped down to a nude-colored two-piece for major shock value.

Cyrus was nominated for Best Song of the Summer, Best Female Video, Best Editing and Best Pop Video for her "We Can't Stop" single, but didn't end up taking home a Moonman. Indeed, the star left the proceedings before they were over. "Leaving the VMAs. No it's not over. I'm no psychic but congrats @onedirection #songofthesummer," she wrote via Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Miley Cyrus 2013 VMAs Performance: Will Smith, Jaden and Willow React: Hilarious Picture"

James Franco Reflects on Roast: I Knew Oscar and Gay Jokes Were Coming

"James Franco was the butt of many jokes during his Comedy Central Roast, which taped in Culver City, California, on Sunday, but none as plentiful as the zingers about his widely panned Oscar hosting gig and his sexuality.

Roastmaster Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Sarah Silverman, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Jeff Ross (dressed as Franco's Kevin Federline-inspired "Spring Breakers" character), Aziz Ansari, Natasha Leggero, and Nick Kroll, all gathered to pay tribute to their actor/director/scholar/artist/friend. And the evening was about as fun as you could imagine.

Chicken and waffles, edamame falafel, cheddar apple tart, and crab cakes were a few appetizers holding roasters over before the fun began. Wine was flowing and music was blaring as guests like Amy Poehler, Busy Philipps, Matthew Morrison, Ahna O'Reilly (yes, Franco's ex-girlfriend), and Franco's actor brother Dave took their seats.

"Why are we even doing this?" Seth laughed as he walked on stage to get the evening started. "How high was I when I said I would do this? Was this punishment for 'The Guilt Trip'?"

"Who is the real James Franco?" Rogen continued. "Is he an artist? Is he an actor? Is he a scholar? … He's tough to pin down, although I've heard many guys have been able to do it."

Yep — O'Reilly was cracking up as much as everyone else at the first of many gay jokes about the "This Is the End" star. Clearly Rogen, who was self-deprecating yet lovable, set the tone for the night. Not one roaster went on stage and didn't go there — we lost count at 22.

That was just a drop in the bucket of the jokes that came Franco's way, which you'll see when the Comedy Central special airs on September 2.

Still, omg! couldn't help but ask Franco if he texted his buddies and said that anything was off-limits — from those jokes to the Oscars digs — when he agreed to take place in his own roast.

"No, I mean if you're going to this kind of thing, I guess you should be ready for whatever," he laughed. "You know, it's not like I haven't heard criticism about my performance in the Oscars or jokes about my choice of gay roles. So it didn't hurt."

So all in all was he pleased with the night?

"I think it was great," he told omg! backstage. "Everyone was solid. You can't look at what everyone did and think, 'That person was kinda off' or 'That was the bad person.' Everyone was great and different.""

Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake own the MTV VMAS

"

NEW YORK (AP) — It may not be a good thing for her, but Miley Cyrus had the most memorable moment at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The provocative pop singer was the hot topic at Sunday night's show: Cyrus eclipsed Lady Gaga's opening performance of her new single, Katy Perry's closing rendition of her latest hit and Kanye West's artsy set. The 20-year-old even grabbed more attention than Justin Timberlake's performance with his 'N Sync band mates.

Cyrus twerked and gyrated, stripped and swayed. She sang, too.

She had a helper at the VMAS: Robin Thicke. After performing her edgy hit, "We Can't Stop," she sang the first verse of Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and then grinded on the R&B singer in a nude bikini. The wild child also slapped a girl's butt onstage.

Call it the "Blurred Lines" music video 2.0., which aired live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., for a first time.

"Amazing. I thought it was awesome," Selena Gomez said of Cyrus' performance backstage. "I love Robin Thicke, too, so I like that they collabo'd."

Artist to watch winner Austin Mahone also seemed to enjoy the performance: "I thought it was pretty creative. I thought it was pretty cool."

Twitter said early Monday that Cyrus was mentioned 4.5 million times on the social network site, ahead of Timberlake's 2.9 mentions. Cyrus and Thicke's performance led in tweets per minute peaks with 306,100.

Though they were attention grabbers and nominated for four moonmen each, Thicke and Cyrus walked away empty handed Sunday night.

Timberlake earned three awards, including video of the year and best male video for "Mirrors." Days ahead of the VMAs, his rumored reunion with 'N Sync dominated headlines, and he and his former band mates delivered at the awards show.

As Timberlake performed a medley of his solo hits, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick emerged from the bottom of the stage in suits to sing some lines from their hits "Girlfriend" and "Bye, Bye, Bye." Gomez, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and possibly the entire venue were giddy as the boy band danced like they did a decade ago. Even rappers Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J admitted on the red carpet they were excited to see 'N Sync hit the stage.

"Half of the moonmen I've ever won, I won with those four guys right there," Timberlake said of his band mates when he accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award. "So above all else, I'm going to share this — we can keep it my house — but I'm going to share this award with them."

Cyrus wasn't the only pop singer with edge at the VMAs: Swift also turned heads. The 23-year-old, who won best female video, appeared to utter an expletive to Gomez when Swift's rumored ex, One Direction member Harry Styles, was onstage. The boy band also earned boos when they won best song of the summer for "Best Song Ever," beating out Gomez, Thicke, Cyrus, Daft Punk and Calvin Harris.

Rapper A$AP Rocky also provided an awkward moment Sunday when standing next to NBA player Jason Collins, who were both announcing Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' performance. Collins, who recently said he was gay, spoke about coming out as A$AP Rocky looked uncomfortable and awkward.

"The next artist is a good friend of mine and he stands up for everything he believes in as far as everybody being equal, color, homosexuality," the rapper said as he pointed to Collins in another awkward moment.

But that was followed with touching performance of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' same-sex anthem "Same Love." It featured the song's original vocalist, Mary Lambert, as well as Jennifer Hudson. The video won best video with a social message, while their hit "Can't Hold Us" won best hip-hop video and best cinematography.

"I never dreamt I would be on a stage accepting an award, any of the awards, in particular for that song," Macklemore said of "Same Love" backstage. "It's much bigger than the music. It's equality, so that was the most special for me tonight, but all of them were incredible."

Bruno Mars, who best male video and choreography for "Treasure," twirled with his two moonmen backstage, while Gomez admitted she thought Thicke's "Blurred Lines" should have won best pop video instead of her seductive "Come & Get It."

Lady Gaga kicked off the awards show in a less dramatic fashion compared to her past performances. She did change her clothes — and hair — various times onstage while dancing and singing her new hit "Applause." She finished in a thong, revealing her toned body.

Katy Perry closed the VMAs under the Brooklyn bridge in a boxing ring, singing her smash hit "Roar."

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Online:

http://mtv.com

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Follow Mesfin Fekadu at http://twitter.com/MusicMesfin
"

MTV Video Music Awards 2013 Top Moments: Miley Cyrus Shocks, 'N Sync Reunites, Taylor Swift Disses Ex

"Memorable performances by some of today's biggest stars -- including Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Justin Timberlake -- gave way to one hell of a night at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Aug. 25. Check out the highlights from the show in the round-up below.

1. Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke Perform Raunchy Rendition of "We Can't Stop," "Blurred Lines" at MTV VMAs

So, that happened. The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards are just getting started, but the party at Brooklyn's Barclays Center is already well under way, thanks in part to Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke's insane, raunchy rendition of "We Can't Stop" and "Blurred Lines." Taking the stage amid a bunch of giant teddy bears -- an homage to the music video for "We Can't Stop," in which she dances suggestively with huge stuffed animals -- the 20-year-old singer began the performance in a skimpy leotard adorned with the face of a bear.

2. Lady Gaga Starts MTV VMAs With Bizarre Opera, Head in Box, Costume Changes

Lady Gaga opened up the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards -- her first live performance of new single "Applause" and her return to the stage since hip surgery earlier this year -- in bizarre, creepy fashion. Inside Brooklyn's Barclays Center, before launching into her comeback single, the pop provocateur, 27, began with an a cappella operatic performance with her famous face encased in a white cube.

3. Justin Timberlake 'N Sync Reunion: Timberlake's Epic MTV VAs Performance

Squeal! It was early 2000 again for a brief, shining moment onstage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Aug. 25 -- when, as expected, Justin Timberlake reunited with 'N Sync bandmates JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass for a spirited rendition of "Bye, Bye, Bye."

4. Taylor Swift Drops F-Bomb While Harry Styles Presents VMA Award

Taylor Swift is up to her old tricks again. The 23-year-old pop star -- known for writing those infamous breakup tunes -- dissed One Direction's Harry Styles, this time at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. When Styles and his One Direction bandmates presented an award onstage, Swift (sitting with BFF Selena Gomez) was filmed mouthing "shut the f--- up!" in the audience.

5. Video: Katy Perry Plays Boxer in Performance of "Roar" Under the Brooklyn Bridge at MTV VMAs

Katy Perry's first performance of "Roar" was a knockout! The 27-year-old pop superstar closed out the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City with a big, showstopping rendition of her hit single -- and the crowd, well, roared. With the city's iconic Brooklyn Bridge towering behind her, Perry took the stage -- made to look like a boxing ring -- in a tiger-print sports bra and silk boxing shorts. She then proceeded to sing "Roar," the debut single off her upcoming third album Prism, while dancing all over the set.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: MTV Video Music Awards 2013 Top Moments: Miley Cyrus Shocks, 'N Sync Reunites, Taylor Swift Disses Ex"

Lady Gaga kicks off MTV's VMAs in Brooklyn

"

NEW YORK (AP) — Lady Gaga kicked off the MTV Video Music Awards by being predictably unpredictable.

The pop star changed costumes four times Sunday night during her first return to the stage since hip surgery as she performed her new single "Applause."

Gaga appeared to pump in boos as she opened the song in a white nun's habit and square headdress. Black unitard-clad dancers helped her change into a blue miniskirt and jacket with oversized shoulder pads, a black unitard and eventually a thong bikini decorated in shells.

It was the first performance of a night full of stars as the VMAs aired from Brooklyn's Barclays Center for the first time. Justin Timberlake, fellow top nominees Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Katy Perry, Drake, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke are among those scheduled to perform.

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Follow AP Music Writer Chris Talbott: http://twitter.com/Chris_Talbott.
"

Eminem Attending MTV Video Music Awards 2013

"Guess who's back, back again? Eminem is set to attend the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Sunday, Aug. 25!

"Guess who's REALLY back? #VMAs," the 40-year-old rapper tweeted just hours before showtime. He also shared an Instagram photo of the award show logo.

Eminem is no stranger to the big show, winning three Moonmen since attending his first VMAs in 2002. The hip hop star took home an award for Best Video from a Film for "Lose Yourself" in 2003, and Best Hip-Hop Video for "Not Afraid" and Best Collaboration for "Love The Way You Lie" featuring Rihanna in 2011. The eight-time nominee also opened up the 2010 VMAs with his "Not Afraid" track, with Rihanna later joining him for a duet of their hit.

The Detroit, Michigan native is set to release his eighth album this fall. He announced the news -- with no exact date or title given -- at a Call of Duty press conference in mid-August. His latest single "Survival" is featured in the trailer for the new video game, Call of Duty: Ghosts. The new music will be his first full album since 2010's Recovery.

The MTV Video Music Awards air live on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 9 p.m. EST.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Eminem Attending MTV Video Music Awards 2013"

Miley Cyrus to Perform "Blurred Lines" With Robin Thicke for Raunchy 2013 VMAs Duet

"Hot duo alert! Miley Cyrus is set to collaborate with Robin Thicke to his smash hit "Blurred Lines" at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday, sources confirm exclusively to Us Weekly.

"They're friends and she loves the song," a source tells Us. A second insider adds, "It's amazing. She comes out of a giant bear wearing a very provocative outfit." The prop is perhaps paying tribute to her raunchy "We Can't Stop" music video in which she danced suggestively with massive stuffed bears.

"Today's already the f-cking best day ever! Just wait till VMAs tonight," the 20-year-old star wrote via Twitter hours before the big show. For his part, 36-year-old Thicke later tweeted, "Who's ready for my performance at the @MTV #VMA's tonight? #VoteThicke."

Cyrus is nominated for Best Female Video, Video of the Year and Best Editing for "We Can't Stop." Thicke's "Blurred Lines" featuring T.I. and Pharrell is in the running for Video of the Year, Best Male Video and Best Collaboration.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Miley Cyrus to Perform "Blurred Lines" With Robin Thicke for Raunchy 2013 VMAs Duet"

Jenny McCarthy, Donnie Wahlberg Make First Red Carpet Couple Appearance

"Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg have officially gone public! The New Kids on the Block singer stepped out to support new girlfriend McCarthy as she hosted a Dancing with the Stars Charity Event on Saturday, Aug. 24. Us Weekly reported back in July that the two had started dating.

Matching in black, the new couple kept close while walking the red carpet together at Hotel Baker in St. Charles, Illinois. Wahlberg, 44, wore a tux while the TV personality stunned in a revealing low-cut dress.

The entertainers frequently tweeted each other before taking it to the next step, with Wahlberg even appearing as a guest on McCarthy's previous talk show, The Jenny McCarthy Show.

"Yes, they recently started dating and are having a lot of fun," a source told Us at the time. "They had a blast 4th of July hanging out with a bunch of their friends."

With a new relationship to enjoy, both McCarthy and Wahlberg will also be keeping busy with their careers in the upcoming months. Wahlberg's TV series Blue Bloods was renewed for Season 4 and the comedienne will be joining The View as a permanent co-host. Season 17 of The View premieres on ABC on Sept. 9.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Jenny McCarthy, Donnie Wahlberg Make First Red Carpet Couple Appearance"

Katy Perry Performing Under the Brooklyn Bridge for MTV VMAs Finale

"Roaring under the bridge! For the closing number of the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday, Aug. 25, Katy Perry is going down . . by the river! While Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake (and 'N Sync!) Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and many, many others will be performing inside the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, the pop superstar, 27, will be crooning offsite but nearby: Underneath the iconic Brooklyn Bridge!

PHOTOS: Katy and John Mayer's enduring romance

A show insider tells Us Weekly exclusively that Perry will give the first live performance of her smash comeback single "Roar" (the debut single off her upcoming third pop album Prism) underneath the city landmark after slightly different plans didn't work out. "She was supposed to perform on top of the Brooklyn Bridge but the city wouldn't give her the permit."

PHOTOS: Katy's crazy nail art

Perry's "Roar" sold an impressive 557,000 digital downloads in its first week of release. The sixth-largest sales week ever for a digital single and the best of Perry's career, the triumphant track far outpaced "Applause" Lady Gaga's much-anticipated lead single from her new album, Artpop, which sold 218,000 downloads during the same week.

PHOTOS: Katy's many video looks

Tell Us: Whose performance are you most looking forward to at the VMAs?

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Katy Perry Performing Under the Brooklyn Bridge for MTV VMAs Finale"

Major arms shipment reaches Syrian rebels: opposition

"AMMAN (Reuters) - Four hundred tonnes of arms have been sent into Syria from Turkey to boost insurgent capabilities against Syrian government forces, opposition sources said, after a suspected chemical weapons strike on rebellious suburbs of Damascus.

The source said the Gulf-financed shipment, which crossed from the Turkish province of Hatay in the past 24 hours, was one of the single biggest to reach rebel brigades since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad turned violent two years ago.

"Twenty trailers crossed from Turkey and are being distributed to arms depots for several brigades across the north," Mohammad Salam, a rebel operative who witnessed the crossing from an undisclosed location in Hatay, told Reuters.

A senior officer in the Gulf and Western backed Supreme Military Council, an umbrella group for rebel units, confirmed the shipment, and said that weapons airlifts into Turkey have increased since rebel held Sunni Muslim neighborhood and suburbs of Damascus were gassed last week.

Syrian opposition accounts that between 500 and well over 1,000 civilians were killed this week by gas in munitions fired by pro-government forces, and video footage of victims' bodies, have increased calls abroad for military intervention after 2 1/2 years of international inaction on Syria's conflict.

Syrian authorities sought to avert blame on Saturday by saying its soldiers had found chemical weapons in suburban Damascus tunnels used by rebels. But Western powers have cited preliminary evidence indicating that Syrian government forces were behind the chemical attack, and the United States is repositioning naval forces in the Mediterranean to give President Barack Obama the option of a military strike.

Iran's foreign minister said the Syrian government had told Tehran it would allow U.N. inspectors to visit areas reportedly affected by chemical weapons, Iran's Press TV said on Sunday.

(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Amman newsroom; Editing by Mark Heinrich)"

Linda Ronstadt Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis

"Linda Ronstadt revealed on Friday that she is suffering from Parkinson's disease, which has left her unable to sing. In an interview with AARP Magazine, the 67-year-old folk-rock veteran said that she had been diagnosed with the disease eight months ago.

Ronstadt said that symptoms of Parkinson's, which affects the nervous system, began appearing eight years ago, though she initially attributed her ailments to a tick bite and side effects from shoulder surgery.

Breakthrough Moments for Women Who Rock: Linda Ronstadt's 'Heart Like a Wheel'

"I couldn't sing and I couldn't figure out why," she said. "I knew it was mechanical. I knew it had to do with the muscles, but I thought it might have also had something to do with the tick disease that I had. And it didn't occur to me to go to a neurologist. . . . Then I had a shoulder operation, so I thought that's why my hands were trembling."

"No one can sing with Parkinson's disease," she said. "No matter how hard you try." She now uses poles to help her walk on uneven ground and travels with a wheelchair.

Ronstadt's new memoir, Simple Dreams, is due out on September 17th. According to AARP, she does not discuss the Parkinson's diagnosis or the loss of her voice in the book."

Affleck as Batman? Fans outraged

"The casting of Hollywood A-lister Ben Affleck as the new Batman sparked fan outrage, with petitions calling for the coveted role to be recast and widespread howling on Twitter.

Warner Bros. announced Thursday that Affleck -- who earlier this year was the darling of Tinseltown when his "Argo" took home the Oscar for best picture -- would next don the Dark Knight's cape.

Affleck's debut as the savior of Gotham will come in a film slated for release in 2015, and also to feature Henry Cavill as Superman. Zack Snyder is to direct.

The Batman recast is not the first. Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney and, most recently, Christian Bale, have all played the role.

But fans cried foul, with more than 20,000 people signing a petition at change.org calling on Warner Bros. to ditch the 41-year-old star.

"His acting skill is not even close to being believable as Bruce Wayne and he won't do the role justice. He's not built, nor is he intimidating enough for the role of Batman," the petition says.

"His portrayal of Daredevil was atrocious and he's not remotely close to an action star. Please find someone else."

Another petition was posted on the White House website for several hours before being removed.

On Twitter, the hashtag #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck was trending. Many Internet users proposed other actors, from Josh Brolin to Affleck pal Matt Damon to -- bizarrely -- Meryl Streep.

Some defended the choice, including Travis Langley, a professor of psychology and author of "Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight."

"Just remember: 'Michael Keaton can't play Batman.' 'Heath Ledger can't play the Joker.' 'Anne Hathaway can't play Catwoman,'" he wrote on Twitter, referring to other casting moves in the Batman universe that were later praised.

In the industry daily Variety, film critic Justin Chang noted that while Affleck had successfully reinvented himself as a director with "The Town" and "Argo," his acting disasters such as "Daredevil" and "Gigli" remain fresh in the minds of many.

But he gave the actor the benefit of the doubt, writing: "Ben Affleck has impressed us most as an actor by projecting not gravity but vulnerability, and vulnerability is an essential, often-overlooked quality in any bigscreen superhero.""

India finance minister seeks relief for rupee

"India's finance minister P. Chidambaram met with top bankers Saturday to discuss ways to boost the weak rupee and bring in more foreign capital to bridge a trade gap that has put pressure on the currency.

Chidambaram was accompanied by top officials at the meeting in India's financial hub of Mumbai with representatives of leading private and public sector banks.

As the US economy picks up, the Federal Reserve is expected to start winding down its bond-buying stimulus scheme which has helped fuel an investment splurge in Asia's emerging markets.

"The meeting was mainly to seek ideas and suggestions on what can be done about capital inflows. It was a very good and positive meeting," ICICI Bank's chief executive Chanda Kochhar told reporters.

India's large current account deficit -- the broadest measure of trade -- must be funded with foreign capital, and the country is seen as one of the most vulnerable among emerging market nations whose currencies are under pressure globally.

India's rupee recovered from historic lows against the dollar Friday, marking its biggest single-day gain in nearly a year, but analysts warned the currency's overall trend was still bearish.

The rupee, one of Asia's worst performing currencies, bounced back 2.09 percent -- its biggest one-day gain since September 2012 -- to end trade at 63.20 Friday, up from its record closing low of 64.55 the previous day.

The Indian unit, which had hit a new lifetime intraday low of 65.56 Thursday, was boosted Friday by comments by Chidambaram and the Reserve Bank of India.

Chidambaram said the currency panic was "unwarranted" and the rupee had "overshot" its "appropriate level".

He added there was no plan to impose more capital controls on top of ones announced this month, and that reviving growth, which hit a decade low of five percent last year, would be the government's focus.

The central bank governor Duvvuri Subbarao, meanwhile, dismissed investor fears India is hurtling towards a balance of payments crisis similar to one in 1991.

Ten-year government bonds also posted their biggest weekly gain in four-and-a-half-years, of 62 paise ($0.01) to 8.26 percent, while shares rebounded by 1.13 percent to 18,519.44 points.

But analysts said the relief might be only temporary and the rupee could soften further, with Deutsche Bank suggesting it could fall to 70 to the dollar.

"There is a slight change in sentiment after the finance minister's statements but the overall trend is still bearish," said Param Sarma, chief executive at consultancy NSP Forex."

Toronto mayor defeats Hulk Hogan in arm-wrestling

"TORONTO (AP) — Toronto's larger-than-life mayor took down wrestling star Hulk Hogan in a friendly arm-wrestling match Friday to kick off an annual pop culture convention.

The 14-time world wrestling champion, in a T-shirt and his trademark bandanna, entered the room to applause and his old wrestling theme music, while Mayor Rob Ford strutted in to "Eye of the Tiger." Ford ripped off his jacket and tie, untucked his dress shirt and rolled up his sleeves.

"Big man, oh, that's all you got?" Hogan asked Ford, who weighs in at 307 pounds as the pair locked hands.

"Not only am I going to rip this arm off, I'm going to take your job while I'm at it, brother. Mayor Hogan," he added.

A sweating Ford seemed to struggle at first. But after 20 some seconds of trash talk and stalemate, he slammed Hogan's arm down.

"I own this town!" Ford said.

Hogan grimaced. "That was a setup," he said, without a hint of irony.

"The only reason he beat me is because he's younger," the 60-year-old Hogan said of the 44-year-old mayor, whom he nicknamed "Fantastic Ford."

"It was like wrestling a friggin' grizzly bear," Ford said of the 302-pound wrestler.

The event took place at Fan Expo Canada, a convention celebrating diverse pop culture genres.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was in Toronto for an "uncensored" question-and-answer session at the expo.

Ford most recently made world news over allegations that he appeared in a video smoking crack cocaine. The video has not been released publicly.

When asked if he thought the alleged video of the mayor was real, Hogan responded, "I'm hungry."

Ford said Hogan has been his hero since he was a "little guy." He tweeted after the match, "I own this town @HulkHogan! Thanks for being such a great sport."

The wrestler also took to Twitter: "Just arm wrestled Mayor Ford from Toronto, had a great time brother."
"

Elizabeth Olsen in Negotiations to Play Scarlet Witch in Marvel's 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'

"By Jeff Sneider

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - In the wake of "Martha Marcy May Marlene" and the recently-wrapped "Godzilla," Elizabeth Olsen is looking to continue her blockbuster-indie balancing act, as she's nearing a deal to join Joss Whedon's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron," an individual familiar with the Marvel sequel has told TheWrap.

If negotiations lead to a deal, Olsen would play the Scarlet Witch, one of two new characters being introduced in the sequel along with her brother Quicksilver, whom Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Kick-Ass") is in negotiations to play, as first reported by TheWrap.

Olsen's potential casting was first reported by Bleeding Cool, which noted that she was offered the role after Whedon's first choice, Saoirse Ronan, passed.

The Scarlet Witch is the daughter of "X-Men" villain Magneto, though that relationship will be tough to allude to in "Avengers," as 20th Century Fox owns the rights to the X-Men franchise. The character has several superpowers, including ability to reshape reality. She does wear a cape and cowl, though her red tights aren't expected to make it from the comicbook to the bigscreen. Olsen would also be expected to don an English accent, according to one insider.

This isn't the first time Olsen has been linked to a superhero movie, as she has also been rumored for the role of Sue Storm in Fox's "Fantastic Four." A deal for "Avengers" is expected to take her out of contention for the female lead in Josh Trank's upcoming reboot, which is still searching for its titular quartet.

Olsen next stars opposite Josh Brolin in Spike Lee's "Oldboy" remake, as well as the Sundance movie "Kill Your Darlings." In addition to Legendary's "Godzilla," which also stars Taylor-Johnson, she has "Very Good Girls" and "Therese" on the horizon.

Olsen is repped by the Gersh Agency, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and attorney David Weber. Her publicists did not respond to TheWrap's request for comment."

By the Numbers: Ben Affleck and the Batmen

"With the news that Ben Affleck is to join that Batranks, that makes six men in modern times who have donned the pointed hood to play Batman on the big screen. Big Ben joins Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale in the hallowed ranks.

Opinions vary on whether Affleck is a good choice for the role, but how do they stack up as a group? We ran the numbers to find out.

"

Richie Sambora Leaves Bon Jovi After 30 Years

"So much for being there forever and a day. After 30 years as lead guitarist for Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora has parted ways with the legendary rock band, a source confirms to Us Weekly. (RumorFix.com was first to report the split.)

"There were a lot of well-documented problems, so this was the best decision for now," the source tells Us. A rep for Bon Jovi had no comment.

Incidentally, Sambora, 54, has been absent from the group's ongoing Because We Can tour in recent months. "Due to personal issues, Richie Sambora will not be performing on this upcoming leg," a statement on the band's website read on April 3. "All shows will go on as scheduled."

The New Jersey native has been with Bon Jovi since the band's inception in 1983. In the 30 years since, the group has released 12 studio albums, three compilations, and two live albums. They've sold more than 130 million records worldwide and have performed in more than 50 countries all over the world. In 2009, Sambora and the band's namesake, Jon Bon Jovi, were inducted together into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

According to RumorFix, Sambora will still collect songwriting royalties and profits from merchandise.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Richie Sambora Leaves Bon Jovi After 30 Years"

It's a Girl for Alec and Hilaria Baldwin!

"Hollywood's baby boom continues!

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Thomas welcomed a baby girl Friday.

"We are overjoyed to announce the birth of our daughter Carmen Gabriela," Hilaria announced on Twitter. "She is absolutely perfect."

The couple — who wed in June 2012 — confirmed that she was pregnant in February.

"We're having a baby! It was a surprise, a wonderful surprise," Hilaria told "Extra" (she is a lifestyle correspondent for the show).

"There's a scream I heard, which is a scream normally reserved if there's a spider in the house, not exaggerating," the 55-year-old actor chimed in. "Normally, I will be reading a book. We're in the country, it's quiet, some time to really relax and unwind and sometimes, once a month, you hear, 'Ahhh, Alec, Alec!' I come upstairs, and there's a spider on the wall. So then I hear that scream again, but it was not a spider."

"It was followed by, 'I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant!'" continued the yoga instructor. "He runs up the stairs and I'm holding it [the test] and showing it to him."

"We can joke all about it, but it's honestly the most amazing moment," added Baldwin. "We are really sharing something special."

Alec is already a dad to daughter Ireland, 17, whom he had with ex-wife Kim Basinger.

The model is obviously excited about welcoming a sibling. Just after news of the baby broke, she posted a touching, sometimes funny letter to her baby sister offering advice for life, everything from choosing a boyfriend to how to conduct herself at parties.

"Hopefully by the time you read and understand this, we'll be best friends, sitting in some rad coffee shop in Brooklyn, talking about bands and how hot Channing Tatum used to be hot," the teen wrote.

Ireland also warned Carmen that life in the spotlight comes with challenges.

"You have parents who are in the public eye," she noted. A lot of people are going to want to be your friend because of it. Don't buy everyone dinner or tickets to the One Direction reunion concert because you feel obligated to do it."

She ended the post with a sweet message.

"I love you, Carmen," Ireland continued. "You have been born into one crazy family. You are both lucky and cursed at the same time. We are going to have so fun much fun together. I can't wait to meet you soon. I promise you I will always be there for you no matter what!""

It's a Girl for Alec and Hilaria Baldwin!

"Hollywood's baby boom continues!

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Thomas welcomed a baby girl Friday.

"We are overjoyed to announce the birth of our daughter Carmen Gabriela," Hilaria announced on Twitter. "She is absolutely perfect."

The couple — who wed in June 2012 — confirmed that she was pregnant in February.

"We're having a baby! It was a surprise, a wonderful surprise," Hilaria told "Extra" (she is a lifestyle correspondent for the show).

"There's a scream I heard, which is a scream normally reserved if there's a spider in the house, not exaggerating," the 55-year-old actor chimed in. "Normally, I will be reading a book. We're in the country, it's quiet, some time to really relax and unwind and sometimes, once a month, you hear, 'Ahhh, Alec, Alec!' I come upstairs, and there's a spider on the wall. So then I hear that scream again, but it was not a spider."

"It was followed by, 'I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant!'" continued the yoga instructor. "He runs up the stairs and I'm holding it [the test] and showing it to him."

"We can joke all about it, but it's honestly the most amazing moment," added Baldwin. "We are really sharing something special."

Alec is already a dad to daughter Ireland, 17, whom he had with ex-wife Kim Basinger.

The model is obviously excited about welcoming a sibling. Just after news of the baby broke, she posted a touching, sometimes funny letter to her baby sister offering advice for life, everything from choosing a boyfriend to how to conduct herself at parties.

"Hopefully by the time you read and understand this, we'll be best friends, sitting in some rad coffee shop in Brooklyn, talking about bands and how hot Channing Tatum used to be hot," the teen wrote.

Ireland also warned Carmen that life in the spotlight comes with challenges.

"You have parents who are in the public eye," she noted. A lot of people are going to want to be your friend because of it. Don't buy everyone dinner or tickets to the One Direction reunion concert because you feel obligated to do it."

She ended the post with a sweet message.

"I love you, Carmen," Ireland continued. "You have been born into one crazy family. You are both lucky and cursed at the same time. We are going to have so fun much fun together. I can't wait to meet you soon. I promise you I will always be there for you no matter what!""

Rumer Willis Takes the Stage As Demi Moore Looks On

"Apparently, Rumer Willis is a triple threat.

As her mom, Demi Moore, looked on, the 25-year-old actress sang, sashayed, and full-out danced in her debut turn as Juliet in "For The Record: Baz Luhrmann," a cabaret-style reimagining of four of the director's most famous works.

On Thursday night, the Rockwell Table and Stage show in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake, opened to a packed house, including the likes of Moore, former "The New Normal" stars Jayson Blair (also Willis's boyfriend) and Goldie Clemmons, and "Nashville" actor Jay Hernandez. And while Rumer, who starred alongside Jackie Seiden ("Jack and Jill"), Derek Ferguson ("Smash"), Ginifer King ("The Haunted Hathaways"), and Blood Sweat and Tears frontman Jason Paige seemed just a wee bit nervous, she eventually found her groove while belting soulful solos like "#1 Crush" and "Crazy In Love."

"This is a totally different experience than [performing on stage]," the famous progeny of Moore and Bruce Willis, who regularly sings at L.A.'s Sayers Club, told omg! of the interactive show. "This is singing, acting, dancing all at the same time. When you're on stage and people are watching, there's almost kind of a separation, but in this, you're dancing or singing right up next to crowd members or trying to walk in between the tables to try and get where you're going, so it's really cool. It's definitely a little bit nerve wracking, but I'm very excited."

One thing Willis said she wasn't too nervous about: her famous-faced fans in the crowd. "I think it's slightly nerve-wracking [to perform in front of people I know], but it's also really exciting to be able to share with people what you've been doing and working on. It's just such a different venture for me. I'm really excited to see what they think."

From the roaring applause and even standing ovation from her mother, it's safe to say the actress didn't disappoint.

"Being able to do something like this, where you get to do all at once is kind of the perfect world for me," she smiled.

This is new iteration of the "For the Record" Luhrmann show, which includes music from the director's most recent film, "The Great Gatsby," as well as a mix of classics "Romeo + Juliet," "Moulin Rouge," and "Strictly Ballroom," runs through October 19.

"When I was a kid and I saw 'Romeo & Juliet' for the first time, everyone was just madly in love with Leonardo DiCaprio, and the music is just so fantastic," Willis noted. "Baz really kind of creates these worlds that are so kind of understandable. But, I will say, after doing this show, I've watched 'Strictly Ballroom' like three times, and it might be my new favorite. It's just so funny and over-the-top and great.""

Celine Dion Puts Florida Digs on the Market for $72.5 Million

"Celine Dion's residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas just goes on and on …

The "My Heart Will Go On" singer, 45, has recently singed a deal to extend her contract through 2019, so, according to the Wall Street Journal, she's decided to sell her Juniper Island, Florida, compound for a huge sum: $72.5 million.

But at least the 5.7-acre property has some features to justify that sky-high price tag. The main, Bahamian-style house is nearly 10,000 square feet with five bedrooms and connected bathrooms, a formal living room with vaulted ceilings, a media room, a guest wing, and an elevator. In the master suite, the walk-in closet has an automated carousel for shoes and a rack for clothing. (Doesn't every diva have one?) There's also a wraparound terrace with a deck that has a hot tub, and a second one with a fireplace.

Outside, the place is even more impressive! First and foremost, there's a water park, complete with two connecting pools, water gun stations, a lazy river with a bridge, and two slides, out front. There's also a pool out back, and more than 400 feet of beach on the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, there are tennis courts, a pool house, a beach house with a massage room, a tennis house with a simulated golf range, and an eight-bedroom guest house. Not too shabby!

Dion isn't hurting for money, but she stands to make quite a lot of it if she gets her asking price on the house. She reportedly bought the land for the home for $12.5 million in 2005, and an additional $7 million worth of adjacent property in 2008. Dion and husband René Angélil tore down the previous house on the property and built another, finished in 2010, to complete their temporary piece of paradise."

Kendrick Lamar nominated for 14 BET Hip-Hop Awards

"ATLANTA (AP) — Kendrick Lamar made a splash with his major label debut. He recently called out some of rap's best by name, warning them about his aim for hip-hop's top spot on Big Sean's "Control."

Now, BET is taking notice.

In a statement to The Associated Press, the network said Thursday that Lamar received the most nominations with 14 for the eighth annual BET Hip-Hop Awards. It airs Oct. 15. He is the show's reigning Lyricist of the Year and his 2012 album, "good kid, m.A.A.d city" recently sold more than 1 million units.

For the first time, rap veteran Snoop Dogg will host the show, which will be taped Sept. 28 at the Boisfeuillet (BOH'-fihl-ay) Jones Atlanta Civic Center.

Rapper Drake scored 13 nominations and J. Cole earned 10 nods.
"

Rapper 2 Chainz arrested in Oklahoma City

"OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Rapper 2 Chainz was one of 11 people arrested after refusing to get off a tour bus for almost nine hours following a traffic stop in Oklahoma City early Thursday morning, police said.

2 Chainz, whose real name is Tauheed Epps, and the others were arrested on a charge of obstructing a police officer and booked into the Oklahoma County Jail on Thursday morning, Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said.

But by Thursday afternoon, all 11 had paid the $2,000 bail and were released from custody, Oklahoma County Sheriff's spokesman Mark Myers said.

The 35-year-old rapper performed with Lil Wayne and T.I. in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. Police stopped 2 Chainz's tour bus around midnight near Interstate 40 because of an illegal taillight and noticed drug use, though Wardlow wouldn't go into specifics.

The driver was arrested, "but as he got off the bus, the interior door shut and locked and obviously our officers could not get in there," she said.

The remaining people on the bus refused to leave the vehicle, so officers towed it to a nearby police training facility about four miles away, Wardlow said.

Investigators obtained a warrant and all 11 people came off the bus around 9 a.m., Wardlow said. They were then arrested on the charge and booked into jail.

Wardlow also said investigators found narcotics on the bus, but don't know to whom those belonged. She said more charges could be filed later.

The Atlanta-based rapper, initially known as Tity Boi, was a member of the rap duo Playaz Circle before going solo. His 2012 debut album, "Based on a T.R.U. Story," topped the Billboard charts. His new album, "B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time," is set to be released next month.

Earlier this year, 2 Chainz was acquitted of marijuana charges he faced after a traffic stop on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

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Follow Kristi Eaton on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kristieaton.
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