Pictures Portal: September 2011

Dumpling Eating Contest

by Pictures Portal | Monday, September 26, 2011 in Dumpling Eating Contest |

KIEV (Reuters) - A 77-year-old Ukrainian man won a jar full of sour cream for coming first in a dumpling eating contest and then promptly died, local media reported on Wednesday.
Ivan Mendel ate 10 dumplings in half a minute to win first place and a one-liter jar of sour cream in the contest held in the town of Tokmak in the southeastern Zaporizhya region on September 18, Fakty I Kommentarii

Asthma inhaler ban

by Pictures Portal | Saturday, September 24, 2011 in Asthma inhaler ban |

The US Food and Drug Administration confirmed that it is going ahead with the ban on asthma inhalers that use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) since it harms the environment.
The health agency had agreed to phase out such inhalers back in 2008 and has now revealed that the ban will

Orlando Brown Missing Found

by Pictures Portal | Saturday, September 24, 2011 in Orlando Brown Missing Found |

Orlando Brown has been found. According to local news in Los Angeles, Brown has called into a local radio station and is said to be fine.

Orlando Brown of TV's That's So Raven, who worried friends and family after he disappeared Tuesday morning, has turned up, saying he simply "needed to be alone."

In a statement, Brown, thanked fans for their support

Orlando Brown Missing

by Pictures Portal | Saturday, September 24, 2011 in Orlando Brown Missing |

Actor Orlando Brown, of Disney's series That's So Raven, has reportedly been missing since early Tuesday morning.

According to an article on People.com, the 20-year-old actor left his manager's house around 10:20 a.m. to stop at a 7-Eleven, and has not been seen since. The store was only a short walk from his manager's house in Studio City, Calif.

Brown's publicist, Elayne Rivers, told People that Brown had a busy schedule Tuesday, and was preparing for a photo shoot today. Rivers also said the actor's friends and family are very

Morgan Freeman tea party

by Pictures Portal | Saturday, September 24, 2011 in Morgan Freeman tea party |

By Tim Kenneally

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Don't look for Morgan Freeman at any Tea Party events anytime soon. Unless he's there to protest them.
The "Invictus" star condemns the Tea Party political movement as "a racist thing" for trying to oust Pres. Barack Obama from office on Friday's edition of "Piers Morgan Tonight."
"Their stated policy, publicly stated, is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term," Freeman noted.
"What underlines that? 'Screw the country. We're going to whatever we can to get this black man outta here.'"

All my children ends

by Pictures Portal | Saturday, September 24, 2011 in All my children ends |

NEW YORK (AP) — Tissues were on hand but there were few tears among two dozen soap opera fans gathered to watch "All My Children" sign off from the ABC television network on Friday after more than 40 years.

That's because the screen faded to black with a gunshot and a cliffhanger — an indication that the

Nasas dead satellite

by Pictures Portal | Saturday, September 24, 2011 in Nasas dead satellite |

Dead satellite crash date revised

A defunct satellite poised to fall back to Earth will make its death plunge during the last week of September, NASA officials now say.

The spacecraft, an old NASA climate probe called the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), was decommissioned in 2005 and has been slowly losing altitude since. Soon, the 6 1/2-ton satellite will make a final uncontrolled plunge through Earth's atmosphere.

A NASA update stated that the satellite is now

Reese Witherspoon black eye

by Pictures Portal | Wednesday, September 14, 2011 in Reese Witherspoon black eye |

Reese Witherspoon re-emerged for a pal's party in Los Angeles on Monday -- and sported a black eye and a bandaged forehead, which she sustained after getting hit by a car last Wednesday. Despite the injuries, Witherspoon cheerfuly unloaded gifts from the trunk of her car.
It's the first time the Oscar-winning actress, 36, has been photographed since the scary accident in Santa Monica. The avid runner was jogging when an 84-year-old female driver struck her;

Nathan Eccleston 9/11

by Pictures Portal | Wednesday, September 14, 2011 in Nathan Eccleston 9/11 |

Liverpool reserve team striker Nathan Eccleston is under investigation

Liverpool reserve team striker Nathan Eccleston is under investigation by the club for a controversial tweet about the 9/11 attacks.

The 20-year-old wrote on Twitter: "I ain't going to say attack don't let the media make u believe that was terrorist that did it," before

Daylight Savings Time 2011

by Pictures Portal | Tuesday, September 06, 2011 in Daylight Savings Time 2011 |

Brian Handwerk

for National Geographic News

With daylight saving time (also called daylight savings) about to begin again, clock confusion is once again ticking away: When exactly does daylight saving time end? Why do we spring forward? Does it really save energy? Is it bad for your health? Get expert answers below.

When Does Daylight Savings Begin in 2011?

For most Americans, daylight saving time 2011 starts at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, when most states spring forward an hour. Time will fall back to standard time again on Sunday, November 6, 2011, when daylight saving time ends.

The federal government doesn't require U.S. states or territories to observe daylight saving time, which is why residents of Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Marianas Islands won't need to change their clocks this weekend.

Rafael Nadal collapse

by Pictures Portal | Tuesday, September 06, 2011 in Rafael Nadal collapse |

Rafa Nadal had everybody worried at the U.S. Open when he collapsed during a post-match press conference. The Spaniard was fine and blamed it on cramp in his leg.
The world number two was speaking to Spanish media as he slumped from his chair in obvious agony and slid down, disappearing from view, onto the floor.
Moments afterwards the lights were turned off in the press conference and he was treated swiftly.
Around 10 minutes later Nadal re-appeared visibly better and stated that severe cramp in his lower leg was the reason behind the incident.
Earlier in the day Nadal had beaten Argentina's David Nalbandian 7-6 6-1 7-5 on a very warm day at Flushing Meadows.
Speaking about the collapse, Nadal said: "I just have cramping in my leg, in front, in back. It was so painful, that's all."
"I will train normally on Monday. It was just a normal cramp that could have happened anywhere, but it happened in the press room. Anywhere else, nobody would have noticed."
Nadal will play Luxembourg's Gilles Muller next.

Georgia Uniforms

by Pictures Portal | Tuesday, September 06, 2011 in Georgia Uniforms |

New uniforms against Boise State

Georgia fans, like all college football fans, value tradition above almost anything else. So I'm guessing there were a few deep breaths and some quiet gnashing of teeth and maybe even a garment or two rended this morning when they woke up to this: Courtesy of the Almighty Swoosh, the Bulldogs are inverting their traditional red helmets and silver britches for the Sept. 3 opener against Boise State in favor of an all-red motif accented by a silver lid. On the bright side, at least the jerseys aren't black.

Chaz Bono weight loss

by Pictures Portal | Tuesday, September 06, 2011 in Chaz Bono weight loss |

Chaz Bono has said that the considerable backlash against him joining Dancing With the Stars this season only motivates him to work harder.
Apparently so. He’s lost five pounds just six days of rehearsals.
People reports that Bono is being whipped into shape by his partner, 23-year-old former So You Think You Can Dance finalist Lacey Schwimmer.
Bono’s weight loss is a result of adding dancing

Scarlett Johansson song

by Pictures Portal | Tuesday, September 06, 2011 in Scarlett Johansson song |

Actress Scarlett Johansson proved to us previously that she can kind of sing. But she also proved to us, with mixed reviews for her 2008 debut album 'Anywhere I Lay My Head,' that she should probably stick to her day job.
Now Ms. Johansson has decided to do it again. Appearing sporadically on duets and other collaborations since 2008, the latest one to hit our radar is a duet cover with Lucien 'Lulu' Gainsbourg.
Scar-Jo has tackled the cover of "Bonnie and Clyde" in tribute to Lulu's father, Serge Gainsbourg, who passed away in 1991. Serge famously sang

Dog suckles piglets

by Pictures Portal | Tuesday, September 06, 2011 in Dog suckles piglets |

Yeti the dog already had a litter of pups to care for when the piglets adopted her as a second mom.

Ever since then, the Cuban farm dog has been pulling double-duty, nursing not just her own young but also the 14 swine.

Farmer Mannorkys Santamaria said the piglets also take milk from their mothers, but when they see Yeti, they run to her for a meal. On a recent day the young porkers followed her around the farm as if she were their real mother.

“No one imposed this on the dog,” Santamaria said. “The piglets discovered this on their own and began nursing with her when they turned 15 days old.”

Black widow chicken wings

by Pictures Portal | Tuesday, September 06, 2011 in Black widow chicken wings |

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Black Widow of eating contests has scarfed down 183 chicken wings in 12 minutes to break her own world record set last year in Buffalo, New York.
Sonya Thomas took home first place Sunday at the 10th annual National Buffalo Wings Festival. She beat eating marvel Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, who came in second with 174 wings.

Nenshi Calgary pride

by Pictures Portal | Tuesday, September 06, 2011 in Nenshi Calgary pride |

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi will be the grand marshal in this year's gay pride parade, he confirmed on Monday.
"Yeah, you know, I marched in it last year because I really believe as mayor you're mayor of all Calgarians," he said. "And, you know, I'm happy to go to all kinds of cultural festivals and other things for different groups."
The parade starts at 12:00 p.m. on Sept. 4 at Olympic Plaza. The procession will travel west along Eighth Avenue, winding up at Shaw Millennium Park for a street festival.
Pride week runs from Sept. 1 to 11.

Randy Houser and fiance

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Randy Houser and fiance |

Something to sing about!

Country music singer Randy Houser and his singer-songwriter love, Jessa Lee Yantz, are engaged! A source confirms to Us Weekly that Houser, 34, popped the question to Yantz, and the two are hoping to marry in the fall.

On Thursday, the "Anything Goes" singer's fiance tweeted about her successful search for the right dress:

Cyndi Lauper homeless shelter

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Cyndi Lauper homeless shelter |

Activist Cyndi Lauper is set to open a safe haven in New York for gay teenagers suffering tough times.

The singer is preparing to launch the True Colors Residence in Manhattan on September 1st for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youngsters who have found themselves homeless. Lauper promises the residents will be offered affordable rent options and given career guidance.

She says, "In New York City, a very disproportionate number (up to 40 per cent) of homeless youth identify as LGBT. Even more disturbing are reports that these young people often face discrimination and at times physical assault in some of the very places they have for help. This is shocking and inexcusable!

Sarah Palin presidential fire

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Sarah Palin presidential fire |

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Sarah Palin soon will end the will-she-or-won't-she presidential speculation that has trailed her for two years — and that she has fueled with abandon, perhaps to the detriment of her potential candidacy.

"America is waiting for the president to make good on this promise," the former Alaska governor recently posted on Twitter, linking to a video of President Barack Obama pledging to run a transparent government. She set up Saturday's scheduled visit to Iowa with, "I'll be talking about this and more."

It was the "and more" part that got many supporters all atwitter. And it's what prompted another round of buzz over whether the GOP's 2008 vice presidential nominee will

Rihanna lawsuit

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Rihanna lawsuit |

Rihanna has filed a lawsuit over the purchase of her $6.9 million Beverly Hills home.

The 23-year-old Barbadian singer is claiming that the two-story home she bought in 2009 had multiple defects that the seller did not make her aware of at the time of purchase.

TMZ are reporting that when Rihanna paid millions of dollars for the home she believed she was buying a property in good condition.

Apple prototype lost

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Apple prototype lost |

Looks Like Apple Lost Another Prototype iPhone in a Bar

Uh oh, looks like Apple might have another iPhone leak on its hands. CNET is reporting that an Apple employee may have lost a prototype iPhone 5 at a bar. "The errant iPhone, which went missing in San Francisco's Mission district in late July, sparked a scramble by Apple security to recover the device over the next few days, according to a source familiar with the investigation." A source apparently told CNET that the phone sold for $200 on Craigslist.

Alyssa Milano gives birth

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Alyssa Milano gives birth |

The 38-year-old actress and her husband, Hollywood agent David Bugliari, welcomed their first child into the world this morning (31.08.11).
The tot weighed 7lb and the overjoyed couple have named their new arrival Milo Thomas Bugliari.
The 'Charmed' star's representative said: "Alyssa and her husband David proudly announce the birth of their son, Milo Thomas Bugliari. Milo Thomas was born on August 31 at 9.27am weighing 7 pounds and was 19 inches long."
Alyssa, 38, took to her twitter account to share her joyous news and also thanked her followers for their congratulatory messages.

Krispy kreme new coffee offerings

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Krispy kreme new coffee offerings |

Krispy Kreme to launch three new coffee bars

Krispy Kreme UK, the premium doughnut retailer, is to launch three new coffee bars in the next few months as part of its UK growth strategy.

The first coffee bar will open at Westfield Stratford City on 13 September, with the second launching in Bath later that month, followed by Meadowhall, Sheffield in October. The three openings follow Krispy Kreme’s June announcement that it aims to double its UK stores by 2016.
Krispy Kreme currently operates 43 stores in the UK, and earlier this year launched coffee bars in Liverpool and Cardiff and a Hotlight store –producing and delivering fresh doughnuts to outlets across the region – in Leeds.

Teens young men sugary drinks

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Teens young men sugary drinks |

Teens, young men way over limit on sugary drinks

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About half of the population drinks a sugar-sweetened beverage on any given day, with teens and young men consuming way more than recommended limits for staying healthy, according to new government data.

The survey results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show how far consumer habits must change to help fight the nation's obesity epidemic, with nearly two-thirds of Americans either overweight or obese.

Coinciding with the data, city health departments from Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, San Antonio and Seattle announced plans for a new campaign to encourage cutting down on sugary beverage consumption.

Gene "overdose" skinny

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Gene "overdose" skinny |

Study finds gene "overdose" link to being skinny

LONDON (Reuters) - People with extra copies of certain genes are much more likely to be very skinny, scientists said Wednesday in the first finding of a genetic cause for extreme thinness.

In a study in the journal Nature, researchers from Britain's Imperial College London and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland found that a duplication of a part of chromosome 16 is associated with being underweight.

Venus Williams autoimmune disease

by Pictures Portal | Thursday, September 01, 2011 in Venus Williams autoimmune disease |

New York: Former U.S. Open champion Venus Williams withdrew from the last grand slam of the year on Wednesday after revealing she is suffering from an autoimmune disease.

The former world number one quit the tournament before her second round match against Germany's Sabine Lisicki and then released a statement explaining her health problems.

"I'm really disappointed to have to withdraw from this year's U.S. Open," she said in the statement. "I have recently been diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain."