inde hoy: April 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Michael Jackson getting Vegas attraction

Michael Jackson is getting his own tribute attraction in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, which will include a recreation of his Neverland Ranch.

Cirque du Soleil are to recreate Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Las Vegas.

The Canadian entertainment company plan to turn the Mandalay Bay resort into a tribute attraction to the late 'King of Pop' which will include a lounge inspired by the singer, a museum of memorabilia and a theatre which will be a replicate of the pop legend's famous home.

In an announcement made at the hotel and casino on Wednesday (28.04.11) - which was attended by Michael's brother Jackie - Cirque du Soleil President Daniel Lamarre said: "This place, Mandalay Bay, is going to become the home of Michael Jackson in many, many ways."

John Branca, co-executor of the Jackson estate, has also revealed the attraction will contain items from the star's home.

He said: "Very few fans would ever get to visit Michael's Neverland Ranch because of its remote location. Now they can."

The Las Vegas tribute to the 'Billie Jean' hitmaker is set to open in 2013, and is the latest collaboration between the circus troupe and the Jackson estate.

Cirque du Soleil's new show, 'Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour' - which cost $57 million to create - is set to open in Montreal, Canada, in October and will then tour 30 cities across North America, including New York, Miami, Denver, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

When the show hits the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in December it will coincide with a fan convention which will launch the permanent tribute to Michael.

'Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour' contains many of Michael's greatest hits, clips of his iconic music videos and several as-yet-unreleased songs.

Consistently beautiful; 25-07-07

You must be getting bored of photos of this one. *laughs* I just wish you could see it in person. The photo barely does it justice, especially since you have to inhale the perfectly suitable fragrance that it possesses. (It smells purple!) Parentage: 'Midnight Blue' X 'Pinstripe'. Here is an older post about it.

This seedling is in line for commercial release in the next year or two, pending propagation of sufficient quantities.

Another busy morning; I need to get out and start potting up the hundreds of new seedlings into 3" pots. I am pleasantly surprised by the number of 'Belle Poitvine' hybrids I got from a cross with one of my old R. foliolosa hybrids. I need to use that thing more often, I think.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Marriage not important for Eva Mendes

Actress Eva Mendes thinks marriage is not as necessary what society makes it out to be, and has called the institution a "very old tradition".

Although the "Last Night" actress has been dating Peruvian filmmaker George Augusto for almost a decade, she has never felt the need to walk down the aisle, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"I just don't think marriage is necessary, as necessary as society makes it. And I don't have a negative point of view on it. I just think it's a very old tradition and if you look back to what marriage symbolises in the first place ... it has nothing to do with why we get married today," she said.

The 37-year-old beauty also revealed she feels no pressure to become a mother.

"I don't know if I want children, but the idea of marriage sounds very boring to me. I have to be honest," she said.

Dead bodies at LA morgue await Lindsay

Lindsay Lohan is set to have a tough time working with dead bodies at the L.A. County Department of Coroner’s facility.

The ‘Mean Girls’ actress, who has been sentenced for violation of her probation terms, will be picking up trash, emptying trash bins, mopping floors and cleaning windows and restrooms over there.

“She’ll be doing basic janitorial work,” the People Magazine quoted Coroner Assistant Chief, Ed Winter as saying. “She won’t be handling any dead bodies but she’ll certainly see them,” he added.

Lohan, 24, has been ordered to do 120 hours of community service at the morgue and 360 hours of service at the Downtown Women’s Center, a homeless shelter situated in L.A.’s Skid Row.

However, this grueling punishment is in addition to a four-month jail term, which the actress faces.

Lohan will have to enroll in the two community service programs within a week, with a year in hand to complete them.

Textures everywhere I look.

Busy morning, collecting pollen, cleaning up last year's selections, etc, etc., so I will be brief.

A great photo of Ralph Moore's experimental seedling "C-04", bred from 'Crested Jewel'. It was hoped to be a useful link to creating better crested Floribunda-style roses, but it was a flop as a breeder: the offspring were duds. But it remains in my collection of curious novelties where it is appreciated regularly for its unique parsley-like sepals.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Fergie 'i Won't Be Judging the X Factor'

Black Eyed Peas star Fergie has removed her name from the potential judges on Simon Cowell's new U.S. TV talent search the X Factor, insisting shewas never considering a permanent role on the show.

Recent reports have suggested Fergie, Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson were in the mix to join music mogul Antonio 'L.A.' Reid on The X Factor panel; Carey will be a part of the show and Simpson has confirmed she is interested, but Fergie insists she won't be a judge when it launches in America this autumn (Sep11).

She says, "I think that it's a very committed job that you have to put your time into and I don't think I'm gonna have that much time, but I love Simon and I would love to do something like that. "It's right down my alley, but I just don't think I have enough time to give and I would want to give everything to those contestants".

Helen Mirren to skip William-Kate’s wedding

Hollywood actress Dame Helen Mirren has planned to skip the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The wedding will be held at London's Westminster Abbey on Friday. The Queen actress has revealed that she has no interest in attending the highly-anticipated wedding ceremony. So she would prefer to fly off to some remote place on the day.

Talking to the Daily Mail, Helen Mirren has expressed her disinterest in the royal wedding. "I'll probably be in a little Italian bar somewhere and the football will be on. I'll ask, Can you switch it over to the Royal Wedding? and they will say, What wedding?" the Daily Mail quoted Mirren as telling.

Meanwhile, Mirren feels sorry for the young royal couple. "I know this sounds ridiculous, but I think people getting married should be a private thing. I hope they will also do an absolutely private wedding just for them," the Daily Express quoted her as telling Britain's Mail.

Monday, April 25, 2011

A Ralph Moore gem

It's the last week in April, and like clockwork, Ralph's old moss hybrid "Orange Moss" is in bloom once again. (Ralph often referred to it as simply "OM") It is one of the first roses to bloom in the stud house and it never fails to enthuse me when it opens that first half dozen intensely pigmented blooms. It seems so perfectly right to me that the richly fragrant blooms have a scent much like the "orange juice" fragrance of 'Soleil d'Or'. Undoubtedly this is not a coincidence, as the latter can be found in the pedigree of Orange Moss. Parentage is 'Mark Sullivan' X 'Golden Moss'. The moss pollen parent is a Pedro Dot hybrid. Dot, in many ways, shared a great deal with Moore, creatively, pursuing all manner of offbeat breeding lines, daring to invent what no-one else had imagined possible.

Although this is an awkward grower with wiry long canes that leap out ten feet in all the wrong directions, it is a noteworthy footnote in Moore's development of the yellow and orange toned mini-mosses that followed in the subsequent forty years.

When used in breeding, Orange Moss is a difficult plant at best; it won't set seed with foreign pollen, and the offspring are often uniformly dreadful. (Ralph insisted that he never got viable seed of any kind from it, although in 2010 I germinated three open pollinated seeds from it) Indeed, it must have been that one lucky seedling in 500 that showed any promise. It is a testament to Moore that he was able to coerce this unruly once-bloomer to sire anything of value at all.

By the way, pollen will be available upon request, for those brave enough to make use of it.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Shahid finds solace in Genelia after break up

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor seems to be feeling lonely like never before after the break up with Priyanka Chopra. It is said that he is trying to forget the bitter past and move on by hanging out with his close friend. And the friend happens to be Genelia D’Souza, who was linked to him in the past.

Yes, news is doing the rounds that Shahid has found solace in Genelia’s company after reportedly parting ways with Priyanka. It is said that he is spending a lot of time with her of late, trying to come to terms with the break up.

It may be recalled that Shahid was earlier linked to Genelia before getting close to Priyanka. However, they are just friends like they have always said. This time around, his good friend has come to his rescue.

Well, Shahid and Genelia are living the old adage ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’!

Lindsay Lohan sentenced to 120 days in jail

Troubled star Lindsay Lohan has reportedly been jailed for four-months in the 2,500 dollars necklace theft case.

The 'Mean Girls' star however scored a legal victory when her felony grand theft charge was reduced to a misdemeanour.

However in less than an hour after downgrading the offence, Judge Stephanie Sautner threw the book at the actress and sentenced her to a four-month jail term, reports the Daily Mail.

The decision came after the Judge had heard testimonies against her in the necklace theft case and declared that there was sufficient evidence that she had violated her probation, which stems from a 2007 DUI.

Lohan's lawyer filed an immediate appeal and Lohan's camp scrambled to post $75,000 bail and secure her release from custody pending an appeal hearing. The 24-year-old showed little reaction when she was handed down the ruling and was swiftly led away from court by bailiffs.

The judge also ordered Lohan to serve more than 480 hours of community service at a women's centre and the Los Angeles County Morgue.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Mislabeled seedling.

130-06-21

It happens: seedlings get mislabeled. This one was from a batch identified as 'Old Blush' x self, which it clearly is not. Sometimes a few seeds stray into the adjacent row of another cross during sowing, and sometimes a seedling drops onto the work bench during repotting and loses its identity that way. There are numerous ways for an individual to become misidentified. Myriad are the tribulations for the hybridizer attempting to document (accurately?) his work. Alas.

Since I did a lot of work with 'Midnight Blue' in 2006, I am assuming this is one of its progeny. What the other parent might have been is up for debate. Could have been 'Tradescant', 'Dragon's Blood', 'Arthur Bell', or 'Brown Velvet'; all four were used in 2006. I could guess, but that would be pointless, since I have seen similar seedlings result from a wide variety of crosses. Ah well, its a decent individual, and has earned a spot out in the final test garden. Its all fun and games, ain't it? *laughs*

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Jude Law, Uma Thurman on Cannes jury

Actors Jude Law and Uma Thurman have been included as jury members at the Cannes Film Festival.

Other members of the Robert De Niro's jury, announced on Tuesday, include Chinese filmmaker Nansun Shi, Argentine actress Martina Gusman and Norwegian author and journalist Linn Ullmann, reports the BBC.

The jury is completed by film directors Johnny To from Hong Kong, Chadian Mahamat Saleh Haroun and France's Olivier Assayas.

The festival runs from 11 to 22 May.

Lindsay Lohan signs to play John Gotti's wife

Actress Lindsay Lohan has officially signed to star in the movie Gotti: Three Generations, which has the script of Leo Ross. Earlier, it was reported that she was in talks to play John Gotti's daughter Victoria in the movie. But the producers have selected the Mean Girl star to reprise the role of John Gotti Jr.'s wife Kim.

Marc Fiore, the executive producer of Gotti: Three Generations, has confirmed her selection in a statement released to the US Weekly. He has also announced that Lindsay Lohan would be a part of the other production Mob Street, for which Chazz Palminteri is writing the screenplay.

"We're very pleased to have Lindsay on-board for both of these films. She has been very enthusiastic about the Gotti project, and after resuming discussions with her, we were impressed by her commitment to the film and felt she would be a perfect Kim Gotti," the US Weekly quotes Fiore's statement.

However, it was reported on 20th April that Lindsay Lohan was out of the project's negotiations. But the actress was out of the talks to play Victoria. "I'm really excited to be back on set and clear up all the misinterpretations about me and show this is what I love to do. I think it's such an iconic story. I'm honored to be working with John Travolta and Joe Pesci," The Associated Press reports Lohan telling.

Angelina Jolie - Brad Pitt nanny job is no easy task

Getting a nanny job for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's brood, for which the couple spend 1million dollars every year, is not an easy task.

According to gossip website Popeater, an applicant for the coveted childcare position should possess no less than a college degree in education or child development, the ability to speak at least two languages, (including the native language of the child) and a penchant for travelling, reports News.com.au.

Each Junior Jolie-Pitt has their own personal nanny, despite the fact that that they are rarely spotted with the children.

The nanny must also love airports and be willing to split their time between California, New Orleans, France and a number of movie sets dotted all over the world.

As all six kids are home-schooled ensuring the lucky applicant is prepared to put on their teacher's hat.

The position reportedly pays between $50,000 and $150,000 on a sliding scale dependant on length of employment.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Emails, texts, tweets drain your brain

A new study has shown emails, texts, tweets and status updates could be detrimental to our mental health.

It suggested that modern technology could be damaging our minds by bombarding us with too much information.

The development of smart phones means that we are becoming more adept at multi-tasking our way through life, as we switch between texts, emails and tweets.

But evidence suggests that the constant demand to deal with multiple sources of information is weakening our ability to screen out irrelevant data and prioritise what is important, reports the Daily Mail.

Researchers at Stanford University in California have already discovered that persistent multi-tasking can impede long-term memory.

Now a team from University of California (San Francisco) has concluded that multi-tasking can also hamper short-term memory performance, especially among older adults.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, scientists found that multi-taskers performed worse in tests where they had to jump from one task to another - suggesting that they were easily distracted by irrelevant information.

There are also concerns of possible technology addiction - with frequent users unable to stop checking their messages or sending out updates at every opportunity.

The newspaper quoted other research that shows we are spending more time connected to a keyboard.

Youngsters now spend an average of seven hours and 38 minutes on entertainment media per day, but because they are often using more than one medium at any one time, they actually absorb about 10 hours and 45 minutes of content in 24 hours.

The lethal combination has forced some scientists to call for a 'technology diet' in a bid to prevent information overload.

26-09-14, a few days later.

For a rose hybridizer, that sudden rush of seedlings flowering for the first time is a lot like Christmas: each one a gift that nobody has ever seen before, the product of much patience and tender cultivation. Such anticipation. Except its a kind if alternate reality Christmas where Tim Burton has made the rules: most of the presents are lumps of coal, with the occasional utilitarian pair of socks in grey or white. Nothing offensive, nothing exciting......and so many lumps of coal. We all aim, us hybridizers, to create diamonds. Lots of 'em. But the reality is that most of what we get is dull chunks of carbon by the bushel. So be it. The diamonds do appear, if only rarely.

A couple of days ago I posted a photo of a bud of a 'Hansa' hybrid I had been anticipating. This is what I got:

A throwback to its species origin. Ah well. Perhaps it has a trick or two up its sleeve yet. After all, genetically it has an infusion on both sides of its ancestry of non-Rugosa genes. It might look like an ordinary R. rugosa, but what about its genotype? Maybe it will breed something more interesting. Maybe its not a lump of coal at all, maybe it is a sock after all: a sock with a purpose.

0-47-19 poised to bloom

Remember this earlier photo?

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Cookies, delivered by a benevolent and droll universe

So, I'm getting ready to move. While packing today, I glanced out the window while carrying one particularly heavy object across the room and my eyes settled immediately on the one oddity in the environment: a youngster, about 12 years old, hunched over in my driveway, thumbs hooked in pants, slowly undressing. I leaned forward and put down the box: wha--? There is a complete stranger in the driveway, and omg, is he going to PEE on my car??

I ran outside. "Excuse me, can I help you?"

He whirled around and looked at me blankly while fussing with his pants.

I stopped beating around the bush. "Um, what are you doing?"

He blinked. "My jeans are ripped really bad and I can't wear them anymore. I'm part of the youth non-incarceration project and we are selling cookies to raise money to help kids stay off the streets." He showed me a probably-bogus flyer.

My first thought: not undressing in stranger's driveways is a good first step away from future incarcerations. Second thought: can they use this money to buy you some new pants?

I started to say these things but then I noticed he was selling CHOCOLATE CHIP cookies.

My brain went blank.

The transformation was instantaneous: my entire cerebrum shifted into one giant food-acquiring lobe. It only took one cocoa-seduced blink for me to turn completely into Homer Simpson.

Obviously, this shift has serious implications for the self-preservation instinct: the brain cannot calculate risk at the same time as entertaining the fantasy of chocolatey goodness gliding down the throat, and so I bought an unmarked bag of cookies.

For $10.

From a half-naked 12-year old undressing in my driveway.

(He WAS wearing shorts, or at least boxers that passed for shorts....)

The cookies could have been glazed with arsenic, dipped in iridium, baked with hepatitis-A contaminated water and lovingly swiped between the ass cracks of multiple 'tween thugs before being bagged and yet I didn't care. I needed cookies. And I needed them immediately.

And so I had them. I had been dreaming of something sweet all day (disappointed yet relieved that the kitchen's only contents consisted of a bag of brussels sprouts, an expired box of raisins, some balsamic vinegar, and calcium pills). It's like the universe heard my cry and delivered, but not without a hearty laugh.

Hopefully the rips were not iridium-induced.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Christina Aguilera legally divorced

Singer Christina Aguilera's marriage to music executive Jordan Bratman has legally ended.

The pop star got a divorce Friday after the required six-month waiting period from the date of filing divorce papers elapsed, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The former couple had finalised a settlement in February and agreed to share custody of their three-year-old son Max.

It is believed they divided their assets according to their prenuptial agreement.

Aguilera is now dating 25-year-old Matt Rutler, whom she met while working in her film "Burlesque".

"In light of the past year, there have been obvious setbacks. I've gone through a really hard divorce, and anyone who has gone through a divorce will speak about how hard the journey is from start to finish," she said.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Miley Cyrus & Joan Jett Duet on 'Oprah'

Miley Cyrus and Joan Jett take the stage and perform together on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Wednesday (April 13).

The 18-year-old teen queen did a medley of the rock legend’s biggest hits including: “Bad Reputation,” “Cherry Bomb,” and “I Hate Myself.”

The Oprah episode was dedicated to the Rock Goddesses of the ’70s and ’80s and featured appearances from Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Pat Benatar, and Avril Lavigne.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

It's Lord and lady Beckham

DAVID and Victoria Beckham are house-hunting for a mansion in her home county, say her pals.

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham is desperate to be close to her parents’ home in Hertfordshire when she and husband David Beckham move back to the UK later this year.

The pair are searching for a “substantial but secure” country pile after becoming convinced their current home, Beckingham Palace near Sawbridgeworth, isn’t private enough.

Posh, 36, who is expecting the couple’s fourth child, wants a grand mansion fit for her status as Queen of WAGS, and is keen to buy near her parents place in Goff’s Oak.

Friends of the couple claim they are looking for suitable properties around the Hatfield and Wheathampstead areas of the county – with money no object.

Estate agents in Herts are said to be desperately trying to come up with a Downton Abbey-style manor, pictured above, in and around the leafy commuter belt less than 30 miles from London.

One old friend said: “Basically they feel their current property just isn’t secure enough. Victoria wants to move closer to her parents and quite likes the area around Hatfield as it is close to some decent schools and is her old stomping ground.”

The couple, who will return to England when footballer David’s contract with LA Galaxy expires, spent the winter in Herts, enjoying family trips to the ice skating rink in Hatfield and Hemel Snow Centre. Victoria also enjoyed shopping in Hatfield’s Galleria centre.

“Victoria knows this area well and likes what it has to offer,” added the friend.

“She considers it home. This is even more important now she’s having another baby.”

Halle Berry named Hollywood's hottest mum

Actress Halle Berry has been voted the hottest mother in Hollywood in a new poll.

The Oscar winner, who has three-year-old daughter Nahla with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, topped the Hollywood's hottest mum poll with 24 percent votes, reports dailystar.co.uk.

The second place, with 20 percent votes, went to actress Angelina Jolie who raises six kids with partner Brad Pitt. She was followed by Britney Spears at the third spot with 15 percent votes.

Actress Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba wrapped up the top five.

The top 10 Hollywood hottest moms are:
1. Halle Berry
2. Angelina Jolie
3. Britney Spears
4. Salma Hayek
5. Jessica Alba
6. Jennifer Lopez
7. Kate Beckinsale
8. Christina Aguilera
9. Teri Hatcher
10. Monica Bellucci