mad-onna's angular look worries some...
Is Madonna 'Too Thin'? 24/01/2006 8:06:34 PM
Has Madonna gone from being able to bench press Nicole Richie to emulating her? The New York Daily News says the purple-sporting pop icon's inner circle is fretting over how frail her famously powerful frame has become.
"She looks way too thin," a mole tells the paper. "It's scary. Everyone around her is buzzing that she's working herself right into exhaustion."
Madonna's angular look was on display during a recent night out at Nobu in London, with the Daily Mail reporting she seemed "pale and almost gaunt." "She looked almost like she was sucking her cheeks in," a spywitness tells the paper. "She definitely did not look as healthy as she normally does."
The ultra-disciplined Big M, 47, has apparently been working extra hard lately to whip herself into tip-top shape to shoot the video for "Sorry," the latest single off her best-selling "Confessions of a Dance Floor."
A typical day of toning for Madonna is said to include three hours a day (a day!) of Ashtanga yoga and Pilates, followed by swimming, weight training or cycling.
Geez, we're tuckered out just typing that.
But don't send off that care package of Ho-Hos and Twinkies just yet. The erstwhile Esther's rep, who is with her in London for the video shoot, denies she's joined the emaciated lollipop brigade, telling the Daily News, "I'm about 40 feet away from her and she looks pretty hot to me."
And what of those paparazzi photos highlighting her hollowed-out cheekbones?
"How would you look with 10-hour dance rehearsals?" pooh-poohs the flack. "Maybe she's working harder than usual, but that's what you have to do before a video." Or perhaps she's just making sure she maintains the type of hard-bodied look preferred by hubby Guy Ritchie.
"I wish I were comfortable enough to look zaftig," Madonna recently revealed to Elle. "But I choose men who like carved-out women, the can-you-run-for-the-bus kind of guy." As funny as that cartoon is, the tentatus should not be juxtaposed with "madonna"... Maybe Esther (after all, as the article points out, she is the "erstwhile esther"...) maybe also with her real name, Ciccone (is it?!?)
Or, if all else fails, with her one-time chosen monicker of "veronica electronica"... Hmm... veronica electronica tentatus... "v.e.t."
Hmm... maybe not... that would incense PETA, IFAW and the one true WWF too! *LOL* But I digress...
Recently, at the European Music Awards gala held at Lisbon (Lisboa really), Mad Veronica Electronica Onna here was the opening act of the soirée, with her mega-hit "Hung Up". One has to admit she is astonishing - she hasn't missed a beat. She dances, sings (although a tad out of breath there) and performs like none other can. She remains the best and is a stunning woman too.
If only she was a little more virtuous... Her standing by her man (demanding man too, by the looks of it) is a step in the right direction... although her real husband would be... Sean Penn still?
That is... in the spiritual sense, of course. The divorce was finalized a long time ago... but the erstwhile Esther here is so spiritual herself (she is the erstwhile material girl too you know), she would be the first one to admit that earthly documents matter not and the bonds of a sacred union are forever in the astral realm... well, I think she would anyway!
I have no idea what her lumping up of various philosophies and doctrines (kabbalah, ashtanga yoga (achtung? ack-thong?!?) and whatever else she has dabbled into) have morphed into inside of her pretty, even if sucked-in a bit, little head...
posted by Luminous (\ô/) Luciano™ @ 4:05 PM
7 Comments:
More on Mad-Onna...
her man, Guy...
and a few other couples...
Sounds like the intermingling dalliances of that Julia Roberts/Jude Law film... what was it called again... well, you've seen one Law film, you've seen them all, you know...
What a coincidence - Law is a part of this Hollywood recap too!
Read on...
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Romance Report: Madonna and Guy, Justin and Cameron and More ...
15/02/2006 1:06:38 PM
Is Madonna eager to quell rumblings of trouble in her marriage to Guy Ritchie by making a very public show of togetherness? The London Mirror says the leotard-addicted pop icon, 47, is "demanding" that her low-profile hubby, 37, who was a no-show at the Grammys, accompany her to the Brit Awards on Wednesday to put persistent rift reports to rest.Ritchie, however, is said to be "fed-up [with] being bossed around" by the Big M and hasn't agreed to serve as her arm candy for the event."There is a real power struggle going on with Madonna and Guy," a source claims to the paper.
Kat Giantis
"She wants the whole world to see they are together.But Guy clearly has other ideas.Like all relationships, theirs is going through a bit of a bad patch but he doesn't see why he's to pretend everything is OK just to keep her happy.He wants them to deal with their problems in private and not put on an act for the cameras.It's a game he's just not willing to play." Adds another mole, "If Guy does turn up at the Brits it will be under duress." Ritchie, however, didn't seem to be under any duress on Monday, when he made the ultimate romantic gesture by picking his wife up from the airport.
Speaking of romantic gestures, Tori Spelling's fiancé is showing off an incredibly optimistic one that we're absolutely, positively sure he won't regret down the road. Dean McDermott inked "Truly Madly Deeply Tori" in big, bold letters on his wrist in honor of his love-of-less-than-six-months, reports People. "It hurt," he tells the magazine. "But it's worth it." McDermott adds that he plans to tattoo Tori's famous mug across his triceps, although before he goes under the needle he might want to consult with Tom Arnold, who was left with a grapefruit-sized portrait of Roseanne on his chest after their relationship went belly up (many painful sessions of laser surgery erased the etching). Spelling, by the by, reveals she's set to permanently mark McDermott's name on the small of her back.
Sheryl Crow isn't shying away from talking about her bust-up with fiancé Lance Armstrong, who, according to most reports, was the one who pulled the plug on their two-year romance. "You know how it is," the sylphlike singer told Ellen DeGeneres on Monday. "Your life is in the public eye. But I'll tell you, what's been really cool is that people have been spectacularly kind. Life's so full that you just take it one day at a time." Sheryl even managed to poke fun at her split from the seven-time Tour de France champ, quipping, "I'm telling you, all my friends say I have to get right back on the bike -- and I keep saying, maybe not a bike.
Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake, who are either "ready to marry" (per In Touch) or having problems (according to Life & Style, which claims tensions are rising because of JT's supposed friendship with Christina Ricci), apparently aren't going to let a few thousand miles stop them from snuggling up on Valentine's Day. The London Sun says the former boy-bander-turned-aspiring actor plans to jet to England to see his longtime love, who is there filming the romantic comedy "The Holiday.
Is Nicky Hilton on the outs with boyfriend Kevin Connolly? The New York Daily News says Paris' fame-deficient sister has been "looking cozier and cozier" with oily oil scion Brandon Davis, best known as the guy who dated Mischa Barton before she hooked up with hirsute rocker Cisco Adler.
It appears there's no reconciliation on the immediate horizon for baggage-laden exes Jude Law and Sienna Miller (let's all breathe that huge sigh of relief together, shall we?). Last week, the starlet had movers cart away her remaining possessions from the actor's London home, reports the London Mirror. "She begged Jude to give it one last try, but he has moved on and he thinks it's time that she does, too," a Sienna snitch tells the paper. "She eventually got the message and packed up all her stuff." As for Miller's purported romance with her "Factory Girl" costar Hayden Christensen, the denials continue, with the latest coming courtesy of Star. "Hayden is just friends with Sienna," a source tells the tab. "At this point, it's completely platonic.
Mena Suvari's thing for older guys is apparently over. People reports the "American Beauty" starlet, 27, who filed for divorce from cinematographer Robert Brinkmann, 44, last May, has been dating a 23-year-old "professional breakdancer" named Mike 'Murda' Carrasco for six months.
Personally, though, I am pulling for the erstwhile Esther and her Guy Ritchie...
There's something about the 47-37 combination...
I might play those numbers at the lottery next!
Now - for all of two nano-seconds the following rumors caused my world to stop making sense!
Thankfully, the subsequent denial and fine P.R. spin job have salvaged both the situation... as my opportunity to be whimsical about it! ;)
Read on... again!
================
Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes deny split: report
Updated Wed. Feb. 15 2006 11:18 AM ET
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Not true. That was Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' response Tuesday to a Valentine's Day report by Life & Style magazine claiming that the Hollywood superstar and his pregnant paramour have split up.
"It should be known that the story is 100 per cent false," Arnold Robinson, a publicist for the couple, said in a statement. "Mr. Cruise and Ms. Holmes are still engaged and are moving forward with their wedding plans, as well as planning for the arrival of their child."
The Feb. 27 issue of the magazine, which will be on news stands Friday, says in a cover story that the public pair "plan to keep up the charade of their romance until after their baby's birth this spring."
Holmes, 27, and Cruise, 43, have been engaged since June. They announced her pregnancy in October.
"Despite the malicious fallacies put forth by Life & Style magazine, the couple is looking forward to a long and happy life together as a family," Robinson said.
A representative for the magazine said, "We stand 100 percent behind our story."
The story says its information comes from two unnamed friends of Cruise.
In somewhat-related news...
Finding love online 'not that easy' says expert
Updated Mon. Feb. 13 2006 11:17 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Online dating has created new opportunities to meet that special someone and with Valentine's Day approaching experts have some essential tips to increase your chances of finding love in cyber space.
Lori Miller, a dating expert with online dating service Lavalife, told CTV's Canada AM that finding love takes more than just filling in a few forms and putting in a happy face or two.
"It isn't that easy," Miller said. "Online dating is convenient, it's gone completely mainstream, but your profile is literally competing with thousands of others for attention."
Opening line
One of the most important steps is making sure your profile stands out from the countless others, Miller said.
There are a number of ways this can be accomplished, but a good place to start is at the beginning. As in real life, first impressions can make or break your chances of getting a date online, Miller said.
"You have the chance to put an opening line, and that really is the opportunity to get people's attention so they actually read the rest of your profile."
'Hi,' for example, is an opening line that probably won't entice potential suitors to read your profile. Instead, Miller recommends using the opening line to reveal something interesting about your personality.
A line from a favourite film, a favourite saying that has special meaning to you, or humour are all effective ways of enticing someone to look your way, Miller said.
Photographs
Photographs are also essential to your hopes of connecting with someone.
Miller said Lavalife statistics show that profiles that include photos receive eight to 10 times more responses than those that don't, so it's important not to be shy.
When selecting the photo to attach to your profile, Miller advises choosing a picture that is clear, in focus and recent.
"Avoid the photos that are blurry, a little out of focus, or ones clearly outdated from five or 10 years ago."
Although it is tempting to use older photos that capture a younger version of you, Miller said it's important to be honest and choose pictures that show the real you.
"And avoid the one where you're drinking with your buddies," Miller said. "You want to have one that's a clear head and shoulders shot, one that is recent."
Writing your profile
There is also an art to the process of completing an online dating profile, Miller said. To begin with, it's important to complete the entire questionnaire, including the written essay questions.
"You know, it gives you a really good idea as to their interests, what they're into, what their background is," Miller said.
"You want to put information in there so people have something to ask you about when they contact you."
As an example of a successful profile, Miller pointed to one that included three or four short paragraphs describing the person's work, what they are interested in, the kind of music they like and the activities they do in their spare time.
"That gives someone a real quick snapshot of who he is," Miller said, adding that it is also important to keep your profile up to date.
But it's also important not to reveal all your cards too quickly, Miller said. Personal information should be kept personal, especially information that might give away your identity.
"That's a definite no-no," Miller said, adding: "You also don't want to write a novel either."
Signing up and posting a profile on Lavalife is free, however participants must purchase credits to respond to those who write to them.
The Toronto-based company has close to seven million members, of whom about 700,000 are active customers, in Canada, Australia and the U.S.
If online love is so difficult, thankfully good old-fashioned pen pals stuff can blossom into passion too...!
Pen-pals-turned-lovers publish letters in book
Updated Tue. Feb. 14 2006 11:52 AM ET
Associated Press
AKRON, Ohio — They have weathered nearly six decades of love, which blossomed with an ocean separating them - she was a teen from England, he from the United States.
Married for more than half a century, Paul and Stephanie Duke are sharing their real-life romance in a new book, which contains samples of the hundreds of letters they shared as teenage pen pals and later, cross-continent lovers. Dear Stephanie, Dear Paul, contains the correspondence from 1948 and 1949, when the boy from Akron, Ohio and the girl from London first met thanks to an article about the American midwest in the London Daily Mail.
"We don't really anticipate making a profit on it or selling many copies," Stephanie Duke said. "I'll probably donate a few to the libraries around."
"We just wanted to sort of get it out there," her husband said of the love story.
It began in March 1948 when Stephanie Grant, then 16, answered a call from the newspaper to submit her name for a pen pal list that solicited responses from the United States. A continent away, 18-year-old Paul, a fan of British radio broadcasts, thumbed through the newspaper a month later and picked Stephanie's listing from more than 100.
"Greetings at least from a red-blooded American youth of the midwest. My name is Paul, and my age is 18. First of all, I must say that I hope you get a favourable impression of me from this letter, as I would like very much to have you as a regular correspondent," he typed in his first letter.
The young construction worker recommended U.S. author Thomas Wolfe, praised British radio and dreamed of seeing England.
"It seems incredible to me that he went down this list, and read each description and said, 'I'll write to her,"' said Stephanie, 74. "It changed my life. And his, too."
Paul, now 76, said "it was just one of those miracles of fate that I happened to pick it."
Stephanie replied three weeks later: "Britain returns greetings to America, at least I do, and it amounts to much the same thing. Your letter interested me very much and I do hope you will keep your promise to pour out thousands of words into letters."
Over the next month, the pair wrote several times, describing their lives to each other: Paul's three older brothers fought in the Second World War and returned home safely. Stephanie's father died in an accident during the war.
They often discussed literature, theatre and music. Paul wrote about seeing foreign films and taking a photo of U.S. President Harry Truman at a 1948 campaign stop.
There were also questions about their cultural differences, including Paul once asking about Stephanie's accent and her inquiring about fast food.
"I have heard a lot about American hamburgers, but I don't know exactly what they are like. Are they a roll with ham in the middle?" she asked.
The letters came three times a week and Paul began saving money for a trip to London, which he took March 31, 1949.
The teens spent three weeks together, and their relationship blossomed.
"Dear Stephanie, I hardly know where to begin," Paul wrote in a letter he penned on the flight back to Akron. "I am on a monstrous machine that is taking me thousands of miles away from you. ... Parting may be 'sweet sorrow,' but I don't mean to be parted from you again. The next time I hold you in my arms you won't get away - ever!"
Stephanie expressed similar feelings.
"I wonder where you are now," she wrote. "I suppose still travelling farther away from me."
Paul flew back to London in November 1949. He and Stephanie were married there two months later before moving to Akron.
"Coming from Britain to America was like stepping out of a black-white movie into Technicolor," Stephanie said.
Married for 56 years, the couple has three children, two granddaughters and one great-grandson.
Paul is a writer, editor and former book dealer. Stephanie is a former educator.
Back to "erstwhile esther" news now...
Madonna went from the Grammys to the hospital
16/02/2006 12:00:00 AM
LOS ANGELES (KP International) Madonna may have put a little too much oomph into her performance at the Grammys last week (February 8), landing herself in the hospital.
Apparently the pop icon was transported from LA's Staples Center to Cedars Sinai hospital after the show, where she underwent surgery for hernia.
Madge reportedly still wasn't feeling her usual immaculate self when she attended LA's Kabbalah Centre the following Friday (February 10) and was said to be "unusually quiet.
A source said the 47-year-old "didn't eat anything...and did not lead the prayer after dinner, as she usually does when she comes.
Seems like her entourage's worries -about her health and all- were justified...
She will get top healthcare services though, I am sure of it.
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