MTV Networks Inc. said Tuesday it has partnered with Microsoft Corp. to develop an online music service to launch early next year.

The service, dubbed URGE, will be integrated into the next version of the software maker's Windows Media Player and offer more than 2 million tracks for sale individually or as part of a subscription package. The service will also offer music over online radio.

Microsoft will build the technology behind URGE, which Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks will own and operate. MTV Networks declined to give details on URGE's pricing, but users can expect to pay different tiers for a la carte downloads, subscriptions and for moving rented tracks to a portable music player, said Jason Hirschhorn, the company's chief digital officer.

Source: New York Daily News

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Even in a season of unusual fashion collaborations, a venture involving Levi's jeans and Andy Warhol stands out.

But on reflection, there's a certain logic to Warhol Factory X Levi's, a partnership between the venerable denim line and the late pop artist's foundation. "Andy only wore Levi's while he was working, and they were kind of the artist's jean of that time," brand rep Amy Gemellaro points out. "The line really represents the best of both of us."

The collection, which debuts early next year, features hand-painted jackets, cashmere tees, and, of course, jeans, all emblazoned with memorable Warhol images, including his famous Marilyn Monroe portrait.

They're an artful way to differentiate yourself in a sea of indistinguishable blue—and a fitting tribute to the man who once said, "Fashion wasn't what you wore someplace anymore, it was the whole reason for going."

Souce: Men.Style.com

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A museum chronicling the short life of "Rebel Without a Cause" star James Dean will close Dec. 31.

Owner David Loehr moved the James Dean Gallery to Gas City from Fairmount, where Dean attended high school, less than two years ago. Although attendance had increased, it wasn't enough to match the cost of maintaining the temperature-controlled building, Loehr said Monday.

"The operating expenses and upkeep and payments are just more than we can handle," he said. "I'm just getting further into debt and I just can't do it anymore."

Dean, who was born in Marion in 1931, was killed in a car crash in Cholame, Calif., in 1955 at age 24. His movies also included "East of Eden" and "Giant."

Source: New York Daily News

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The cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain" led Golden Globe contenders Tuesday with seven nominations, among them best dramatic picture and honors for actors Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams and director Ang Lee, positioning itself as a key Academy Awards competitor.

Other best drama picture contenders were the murder thriller "The Constant Gardener," the Edward R. Murrow tale "Good Night, and Good Luck," the mobster story "A History of Violence," and the infidelity drama "Match Point."

The Globes have a separate category for musical or comedy films. Nominated there were the theater tale "Mrs. Henderson Presents," the Jane Austen costume pageant "Pride & Prejudice," the Broadway musical "The Producers," the divorce story "The Squid and the Whale," and the Johnny Cash film biography "Walk the Line."

Along with Ledger, who plays a family man concealing a homosexual affair from his family, best dramatic actor nominees included three actors playing real-life figures: Russell Crowe as Depression-era boxer Jim Braddock in "Cinderella Man," Philip Seymour Hoffman as author Truman Capote in "Capote," and David Strathairn as newsman Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck." The fifth nominee was Terrence Howard as a small-time pimp-turned-rap singer in "Hustle & Flow."

"Good Night, and Good Luck" was tied for second-most film nominations with four, along with "Match Point" and "The Producers." The Murrow tale earned a best-director nomination for George Clooney, who also had a supporting actor movie nomination for the oil industry thriller "Syriana."

Felicity Huffman received two nominations, best dramatic actress in a film for her role as a man preparing for sex-change surgery in "Transamerica" and best actress in a TV musical or comedy for "Desperate Housewives." Her "Desperate Housewives" co-stars Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria also were nominated.

Other best dramatic film actress nominees were Maria Bello as a wife learning painful secrets about her husband in "A History of Violence," Gwyneth Paltrow as an unstable math genius' daughter in "Proof," Charlize Theron as a woman leading a sexual harassment lawsuit in "North Country" and Ziyi Zhang as a poor girl who becomes the belle of Japan's geisha houses in "Memoirs of a Geisha."

Based on a short story by Annie Proulx, "Brokeback Mountain" grabbed a supporting actress nomination for Williams as Ledger's wife, who chooses to ignore his affair with a man (Jake Gyllenhaal) to hold her family together. The movie also scored a directing nomination for Lee and received nominations for best screenplay, score and song.

For best actor in a movie, musical or comedy, Globe voters nominated Pierce Brosnan as a burned-out hit man in "The Matador," Jeff Daniels as a husband unglued by divorce in "The Squid and the Whale," Johnny Depp as candyman Willy Wonka in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," Nathan Lane as a Broadway con man in "The Producers," Cillian Murphy as a cross-dressing Irishman in "Breakfast on Pluto," and Joaquin Phoenix as country legend Cash in "Walk the Line."

Best musical or comedy film actress nominees were Judi Dench as a 1930s British dame who opens a nude theatrical review in "Mrs. Henderson Presents," Keira Knightley as the romantic heroine in "Pride & Prejudice," Laura Linney as a divorcing wife in "The Squid and the Whale," Sarah Jessica Parker as a woman hated by her fiancee's relations in "The Family Stone," and Reese Witherspoon as country singer June Carter in "Walk the Line."

Besides Lee and Clooney, the directing contenders were Woody Allen for "Match Point," Peter Jackson for "King Kong," Fernando Meirelles for "The Constant Gardener," and Steven Spielberg for "Munich."

In addition to Clooney, supporting movie actor nominees were "Matt Dillon for "Crash," Will Ferrell for "The Producers," Paul Giamatti for "Cinderella Man," and Bob Hoskins for "Mrs. Henderson Presents."

Supporting actress nominees were Scarlett Johansson for "Match Point," Shirley MacLaine for "In Her Shoes," Frances McDormand for "North Country," Rachel Weisz for "The Constant Gardener," and Williams for "Brokeback Mountain."

The Globes are handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a relatively small group of about 90 reporters for overseas news outlets. Yet with a nationally televised awards ceremony on NBC and a historically solid knack for picking eventual Academy Award winners, the Globes wield a fair amount of sway among the 5,800 Oscar voters.

Winners of the Golden Globes will be announced Jan. 16, five days before polls close for Oscar voters. Oscar nominations come out Jan. 31, and the awards will be presented March 5. Anthony Hopkins will receive the group's Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime

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Colin Farrell is being treated for exhaustion and dependency on prescription medication, his publicist said.

The medication was prescribed to the Irish actor after a back injury, publicist Danica Smith said in a written statement Monday. The statement said Farrell had checked himself into a treatment center, which wasn't identified.

"No other comments (are) to be made at this time," the statement said.

Source: Foxnews

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Dennis Rodman's lookin' fine these days:

Source: Dlisted

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Convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams, the Crips gang co-founder whose case stirred a national debate about capital punishment versus the possibility of redemption, was executed Tuesday morning.

Williams, 51, died at 12:35 a.m. Officials at San Quentin State Prison seemed to have trouble injecting the lethal mixture into his muscular arm.

The case became the state's highest-profile execution in decades. Hollywood stars and capital punishment foes argued that Williams' sentence should be commuted to life in prison because he had made amends by writing children's books about the dangers of gangs and violence.

In the days leading up to the execution, state and federal courts refused to reopen his case. Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger denied Williams' request for clemency, suggesting that his supposed change of heart was not genuine because he had not shown any real remorse for the killings committed by the Crips.

About 1,000 death penalty opponents and a few death penalty supporters gathered outside the prison to await the execution. Singer Joan Baez, M*A*S*H actor Mike Farrell and the Rev. Jesse Jackson were among the celebrities who protested the execution.

Source: Foxnews

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George Michael has said Princess Diana was "very attracted" to him and that they nearly got together.

"There were certain things that happened that made it clear she was very attracted to me," he claimed. "There was no question.” "We clicked in a way that was a little bit intangible," said the singer. "We nearly got together on that St. Tropez boat trip. I was supposed to go on the boat and I'm quite glad I didn't, because it would have been so fresh when she died."

Source: Digital Spy

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Hayden Christensen, currently shooting "Awake" with Jessica Alba, was leaving his trailer to do a scene inside Bellevue Hospital the other day when a fan approached.

But instead of asking Christensen for an autograph, the fan yelled, "You ruined the 'Star Wars' movies!" A set-side source says the annoyed Anakin Skywalker "chased the guy down the street and scared him away."

Source: New York Post

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Angelina Jolie's former lesbian lover Jenny Shimizu still has feelings for the Girl, Interrupted beauty even though Jolie is now dating Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt.

The model/actress first became close to Jolie when they co-starred in 1993 movie Foxfire - and she tells The Sun they developed a deep emotional and sexual relationship over the following decade.

Shimizu says, "There has never been an ending to her and I. I think there never will be. I think we will continue to have a deep relationship. It really does go beyond just the sex.

"She's always had lovers that she relies on. If she can ring you and you can meet up then she can take care of her sexual needs. Whenever she calls me up I go and visit her. "It's not always the case that we get together and have sex. Sometimes we go to her property in Cambodia and explore the jungle. It's definitely more of a deeper friendship. She's the person that I'll always care about and always help and always be there for."

Source: Handbag

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Brokeback Mountain, director Ang Lee's sweeping yet intimate romantic tale of two cowboys – played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal – continued its award-winning roll on Monday when the New York Film Critics Circle named it best picture of the year, Lee director of the year and Ledger best actor.

The New York Circle, generally considered the most prestigious of the nation's reviewing groups, also named Reese Witherspoon best actress for her role as June Carter Cash, the second wife of Johnny Cash (played by Joaquin Phoenix), in Walk the Line.

In awarding Brokeback Mountain its highest honor, the New York Circle echoed the weekend decisions by Los Angeles and Boston critics' groups in selecting the western as the year's finest. In addition, the Critics Choice Awards nominated the film in eight categories, including best film and best actor Ledger.

The National Board of Review on Monday, however, named George Clooney's documentary-like drama Good Night, and Good Luck, about CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow's bringing down Sen. Joseph McCarthy, its best picture.

The board, organized in 1909 and the oldest film organization in the business, also named Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote in Capote its best actor, and Felicity Huffman as a preoperative transsexual in Transamerica its best actress. Supporting acting awards went to Gong Li for Memoirs of a Geisha and to Gyllenhaal for Brokeback Mountain.

Source: People

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Prince has confirmed details of his next album release.

The star will release '3121' during 2006, though has yet to confirm a specific schedule. However, the first single from the record will be 'Te Amo Corazon', a video for which was filmed recently in Marrakech.

Directed by actress Salma Hayek, the clip will be available to download from the Npgmusicclub.com site on December 13, Billboard reports.

Source: NME.com

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The birth of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's daughter Violet on December 1st has delayed the couple's plans to buy a new house together.

The Daredevil co-stars, both 33, exchanged vows in June and had planned to buy a property where they would raise their new family, but with the arrival of their bundle of joy, they put it all on hold.

Affleck moved into Garner's Brentwood, California, home and struck a deal to sell his old five-bedroom home in the same area - which he'd purchased from Melissa Etheridge in January - for $5 million.

Source: Teen Hollywood

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Louis Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs says knockoffs are the highest form of flattery even though he doesn't approve of pirated luxury goods, a newspaper reported Saturday.

"Louis Vuitton as a company won't feel good about that (fake goods) ... but as a designer, I feel flattered," Jacobs was quoted as saying in Hong Kong in the South China Morning Post Saturday.

Source: New York Daily News

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Matthew McConaughey is said to have rescued a little girl from a coyote.

The actor is said to have spotted the animal circling the terrified child and her mom as he walked through a Los Angeles park. The star scared off the coyote by shouting and running at it, according to a report in Britain's News of the World newspaper.

Source: Monsters and Critics

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1 Okay, maybe I need to start reading your blog at the end of the day, because with this pic, you've just ruined any chance I have at concentrating on work.

Posted by: tortoiseshelly at December 13, 2005 10:52 AM (oTGrr)

2 I know...

Posted by: Lawren at December 13, 2005 11:03 AM (bJB+W)

3 om..... g

Posted by: Cynde at December 13, 2005 10:07 PM (QPih/)

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The Single Life?

Jessica Simpson is considering signing up for a reality show which would follow her life as a single woman.

The actress, who ended her three-year marriage to Nick Lachey last month, believes that the MTV program would help her to get through the split. A source told the Daily Star, "Her fans saw every moment of her marriage in Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, so it makes sense that they should see the aftermath."

Source: Digital Spy

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Patrick Swayze has confessed he would love to make a third instalment to 'Dirty Dancing'. The actor - who shot to fame in the dance movie - says he'd consider reprising his role if the right offer came along.

He revealed: "It's an interesting thought and definitely a possibility. I'm open to any kind of offer." He told Britain's Now magazine: "It did wonders for my career and still has a loyal following."

Source: FemaleFirst

--NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

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Demi Moore is turning into a jack of all trades.

The woman who once took up stripping for her role in "Striptease" is now taking up singing. Moore has been spending time in a Los Angeles studio recording "Louie Louie" for her role as Virginia Fallon in "Bobby" — the story of the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

"She is actually pretty good. Her voice is not bad," said a source. A rep for Moore confirmed "Louie Louie" is one of two songs she is recording.

Source: New York Post

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Australian country singer Keith Urban wishes he could turn back time because he regrets posing nude for Playgirl magazine.

The 38-year-old musician, who is currently romancing Australian actress Nicole Kidman, was able to maintain his modesty with the help of a guitar, but still looks back on the April 2001 photoshoot with disgust.

He says, "I look back on it and I go, 'That probably wasn't a great idea.' But I was sort of swayed by the record company that this would be a good thing.
"It's not the full monty and, hey, it could get a whole load of people going out and buying your record, they told me. "But I look back now and wish I hadn't done it. There are some things in your career you wish you hadn't done, so there it is."

Source: FemaleFirst. Pic source: Pink is the New Blog

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Shaquille O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve police officer last week, with the Miami Heat center choosing to skip a public event in favor of a quiet, no-frills ceremony.

"Officer O'Neal is very considerate toward the other officers, and he was afraid if he was there he would have taken away from that moment for other officers," department spokesman Robert Hernandez said. "This is a very special time for them and their families." The former Laker was a reserve officer in Los Angeles before moving to South Florida.

He spent the past year training as a Miami Beach police reserve officer and can now add the $1-a-year salary to his $100 million, 5-year contract with the Heat. The 7-foot-1 player will be able to carry a gun, wear a badge and make arrests, but with his celebrity status he most likely will not walk a beat or go undercover. He will work as time permits in the volunteer position.

Source: Concrete Loop

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