rogerparco113: April 2012

Monday, April 23, 2012

Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coup� Revealed: This is the ?Baby CLS?

It?s rare when a model shifts as radically from generation to generation as has the Mercedes-Benz A-class. In this case, though, such shifts shouldn?t come as much of a surprise: The A has always been a bit radical, ever since its introduction in 1997 as competition for the perennially popular VW Golf. The Merc?s seating [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/D1H2CU_qSQA/mercedes-benz-concept-style-coupe-news

Kasey Kenneth Kahne

Work starts on Kansas repave

Kansas Speedway officials have started work on the repave and reconfiguration of the track, following Sunday's Sprint Cup series race. Amid mixed views from drivers about the planned changes, the green flag waved for the project shortly after the track hosted round eight of the Cup season

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/nascar/work-starts-on-kansas-repave

Bruce Kessler Nicolas Kiesa Leo Kinnunen Danny Kladis

Next step in appeals could help Johnson crew chief

Five-time championship winning crew chief Chad Knaus has a decent shot of having his penalties reduced when he appears before NASCARs chief appellate officer.

Source: http://www.nascarracinglive.com/nascar/next-step-in-appeals-could-help-johnson-crew-chief.html

Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin

CWTS Pole Report: Tim George Jr. wins first career pole

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/04/cwts-pole-report-tim-george-jr-wins.html

Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy: Pop Stars Making Taylor Swift Faces!

MTV Buzzworthy: Pop Stars Making Taylor Swift Faces!

Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly

Britney Spears - Break the Ice

Break the Ice

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Robert Hales
Album: Before the Rain

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=215555

Cheryl Burke China Chow Chloë Sevigny Christina Aguilera

Is Britney Spears Getting Closer To 'X Factor' Gig?

'I'm fascinated by her,' Cowell says of singer, who's rumored to be contender to join show.
By Jocelyn Vena

There are several women's names currently being tossed around as potential judges for the upcoming season of "X Factor." Avril Lavigne, <a href="/news/articles/1679730/x-factor-new-judges-hosts.jhtml">Janet Jackson and Britney Spears</a> are the leading rumored contenders to replace <a href="/news/articles/1678191/paula-abdul-exits-x-factor.jhtml">Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul</a> for the show's completely revamped second season, which kicks off later this year. In a recent press call, Simon Cowell would not confirm who producers were talking to, but he did not deny that Jackson was on the table. "You can probably count on two girls," fellow judge L.A. Reid added. "That we can confirm." Cowell recently addressed the Britney buzz on Billy Bush's <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/billy-bush/simon-cowell-x-factor-would-be-a-walk-in-the-park-for-britney-spears_articletab_61327" target="_blank">radio show</a>, continuing to play coy about the chatter. "Well, I'm fascinated by her. The fact that she's still one of the most talked-about — not just pop stars, but people — in the world today means that you've got this star power. This girl's got resilience, and the fact that she's survived this and she's still hot, she's still having hit records and she's still controversial ... there's a reason for that. "I would think that if she's managed to sustain a family, a career, which is tough, this is a walk in the park," he added, noting that he believes she would be a good judge. While Cowell seems to be dancing around the issue, British "X Factor" judge Louis Walsh may have let the cat out of the bag in an <a href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/2012/02/uk-x-factor-judge-confirms-talks-with-britney/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed" target="_blank">interview</a> on U.K. talk show "Craig Doyle Live." He shared that Spears was indeed talking to producers about possibly joining the show. "I know he is talking to Britney. I know he's definitely talking to Britney to do the American show. Absolutely true and maybe Janet Jackson," he said. In the end, Cowell summed up the current spate of rumors on that conference call. "There's a load of speculation, some true, some not true. It's true to say that a lot more people have entered the frame this year. We were waiting to see who was going to contact us before we actually contacted people," he said last week. "We're in that place right now, which is a good place to be in. We will meet a number of people over the next few weeks, mainly to explain to them that this is a big commitment when you do a show like this because of the mentoring aspect."

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Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1680114/britney-spears-x-factor.jhtml

Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel

Dick Clark, Thank You For Introducing Madonna to The World

Pop star's appearance on 'American Bandstand' remains one of her most legendary.
By John Mitchell

Madonna
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

Twenty eight years later, it remains one of the most famous things she's ever said. Asked on "American Bandstand" by TV icon Dick Clark, who died on Wednesday at the age of 82, "What do you hope will happen, not only in 1984 but for the rest of your professional life? What are your dreams? What's left?" Madonna answered simply, famously and with characteristic directness.

"To rule the world," she said without hesitation. And that's what she went on to do ... well, the pop world anyway.

She was on "Bandstand," ostensibly, to perform "Holiday" and promote her self-titled debut, which was released a few months earlier in the summer of 1983, but in retrospect it feels like she was really there to prepare the world for what was coming. Like a Virgin dropped later that same year, and with its release Madonna went from being a well-liked and charismatic pop tart with a few radio hits to the most famous female singer on the planet.

The "Bandstand" crowd went wild for then-25-year-old Madonna's performance, and Clark had a hard time getting a word in. When everyone finally settled down, he asked Madonna about her burgeoning career, including her early years in New York and touring Paris with "Born to Be Alive" singer Patrick Hernandez. "He offered me a tour with him as a background singer and a dancer," Madonna told Clark. "So I jumped on that boat and got into the music industry that way and started writing songs, and here I am."

As news of Clark's passing began to surface, fans started posting the clip all over Twitter and soon enough, Madonna's herself chimed in, posting the video to her Facebook page with the message, "Even though I told him in 1984 that I wanted to rule the world, it's Dick Clark who has ruled the world."

While "Bandstand" wasn't her first TV appearance and Clark certainly didn't discover Madonna — she already had a top-five hit with "Lucky Star" by the time she appeared — her visit to the show feels like the first seminal event in what went on to be one of the most legendary careers in pop-culture history. It's where things really began, months before she took the stage in a wedding dress at the first-ever MTV Video Music Awards.

It's also a real showcase for the Madonna many fans love most. Playful, natural, beautiful and — most importantly — brimming with confidence, it's no surprise the emerging pop star on display on "Bandstand" that night went on to score 38 top tens, more than any performer in music history, 12 #1 singles and eight #1 albums, the latest of which, MDNA, debuted in the top spot 28 years, two months and 20 days after her visit to "American Bandstand."

Today, many will be looking back on Dick Clark's many achievements and dissecting the almost immeasurable impact he had on music and television, and we'll remember for how genuinely excited he seemed to be talking to a little-known disco singer on January 14, 1984. His decision to invite her on that night quite literally changed the face of pop music forever, and for that we will always be thankful.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1683483/dick-clark-madonna.jhtml

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Photos | 2009 American Music Award Nominees

2009 American Music Award Nominees

Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming Emma Stone

Nail It, Muneer, and Don?t Spare the Horses: The Impossible Weirdness of the Dubai Desert Dune Tour

Muneeri is wearing sunglasses. He wears them like a bad-ass, the rest of his face stone-solid, no smile. He looks like a contract killer, maybe a dude who ends people with a knife the size of your thigh. He is driving a 2010 Nissan Patrol. He likes jumping it. Keep Reading: Nail It, Muneer, and [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/O58llDEKwMk/the-impossible-weirdness-of-the-dubai-desert-dune-tour-feature

Zaxby s Chevrolet Brad Keselowski Ruby Tuesday Dodge

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Chinese GP in quotes

New for this year, AUTOSPORT's grand prix in quotes collects all the press release comments from the drivers and teams through the race weekend, so you now have a one-stop place to come and find out what all the players are saying, when they're saying it.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/chinese-gp-in-quotes

Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart Gene Hartley

Alonso convinced sixth was possible

Fernando Alonso is convinced he could have finished in sixth position in the Chinese Grand Prix at the very least, had it not been for the traffic.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/alonso-convinced-sixth-was-possible

Kyle Busch Toyota Kimmy Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman

Vettel satisfied with salvaging fifth

Sebastian Vettel said he had to be satisfied with salvaging fifth place from the Chinese Grand Prix after his poor qualifying result and even worse start - despite briefly looking set for a podium. The reigning world champion only managed 11th on the Shanghai grid on Saturday, then dropped to 15th with a slow start. A two-stop strategy finishing short first two stints saw him emerge in second going into the closing stages, but as his tyres faded, Vettel was passed by both McLarens and his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/vettel-satisfied-with-salvaging-fifth

Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson

Patent Troll Sues Transit Agencies For Releasing Real-Time Transit Info

Martin Kelly Jones sued the MBTA for providing Boston bus riders with real-time arrival information. Photo: MBTA
Lloyd Dobbler, John Cusack?s generation-defining character in Say Anything, notably said, ?I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career.?
Martin Kelly Jones lives by a similar creed. He doesn?t make or sell anything. Instead [...]

Source: http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/04/16/patent-troll-sues-transit-agencies-for-releasing-real-time-transit-info/

Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli

Force India encouraged by pace

Force India should be encouraged by its Chinese Grand Prix performance, despite failing to score a point at Shanghai, according to deputy team boss Robert Fernley.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/force-india-encouraged-by-pace

Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie

Raikkonen laments tyre strategy

Kimi Raikkonen was left lamenting his strategy in the Chinese Grand Prix after dropping down to 14th position in the end, having run as high as second place in the last third of the race. The Finn opted to stop just twice in the race, and the decision seemed to be working until his tyre performance dropped away completely in the final laps.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/raikkonen-laments-tyre-strategy

Heikki Kovalainen Kevin Harvick Armour Vienna Sausage Kroger Chevrolet Clint Bowyer

F1: Formula One Returns To Divided Bahrain

After months of speculation about whether the race would go on as planned, Formula One arrives in Bahrain...

Source: http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-formula-one-returns-to-divided-bahrain/

Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett

Gibbs Garage: Caddying and caring for kids on the way to Texas

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/04/gibbs-garage-caddying-and-caring-for.html

Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth

Rosberg takes commanding maiden win

Nico Rosberg finally claimed his maiden Formula 1 race victory, and a first win for the modern incarnation of the factory Mercedes team, with a commanding drive in a thrilling Chinese Grand Prix.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/rosberg-takes-commanding-maiden-win

Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin

Pirelli: Mercedes on top of tyre issues

Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery says Nico Rosberg's emphatic win in the Chinese Grand Prix is evidence that Mercedes is making progress in learning how to unlock the potential of the tyres with its W03 chassis.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/pirelli-mercedes-on-top-of-tyre-issues

Paul Hawkins Mike Hawthorn Boy Hayje Willi Heeks

Nissan Working on a Plug-In Hybrid, But Still Iffy on Diesel in U.S.

The CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, thinks he’s seen the future?and it’s filled with electric cars, some with range-extending gasoline engines. Before we arrive at Ghosn’s utopian era, Nissan will offer more transitional products: A new Altima hybrid is in the pipes, as is plug-in hybrid tech in general. “Plug-in hybrid technology is a promising [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/TC1r_RZUOWU/

Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González Oscar González Aldo Gordini

Menu takes pole in Marrakech

Swiss veteran Alain Menu claimed his first pole position of the season in an exceptionally closely contested World Touring Car Championship qualifying session in Marrakech. Fresh from a victory in the preceding round at Valencia, Menu denied his RML Chevrolet team-mate Rob Huff pole position by virtue of a last gasp effort, edging Huff from the top spot by just 0.028 seconds at the completion of his final lap.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/wtcc/menu-takes-pole-in-marrakech

David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Ke$ha - Take It Off

Take It Off

Artist: Ke$ha
Label: RCA
Director: Paul Hunter, Dori Oskowitz
Album: King of the Blues Guitar

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=549666

Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido

RAB RACING & MWR CREATE NATIONWIDE ALLIANCE FOR PASTRANA AND OTHERS

CORNELIUS, N.C. ? Michael Waltrip Racing and RAB Racing announced today they have formed an alliance to field entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2012. As part of the agreement, RAB Racing will acquire additional cars and receive technical and marketing support from MWR. Also, RAB Racing will change its current No. 09 number [...]

Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/04/17/rab-racing-mwr-create-nationwide-alliance-for-pastrana-and-others/

Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard Bobby Grim

Photos | Best Artists Of 2011

Best Artists Of 2011

Georgina Grenville Gina Carano Gina Gershon Gina Philips

Nissan?s Next Titan and Frontier Trucks Still Years Away

There will be replacements for the aged Titan and Frontier pickup trucks, but Nissan has confirmed to us that they’re still several years away. The company had hoped to have a new Titan on the market by now; the design and engineering work was completed on a Nissan-branded version of Chrysler’s Ram 1500. But with [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/wHLFax0rxl4/

Cecil Green Keith Greene Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith

Taylor Swift, Rihanna Dress To Impress At Billboard Awards

Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Selena Gomez also make fashion splash on red carpet, as showgirl style rules at the Las Vegas event on Sunday night.
By Jocelyn Vena

On Sunday night, some of the biggest names in the music industry hit up the <a href="/news/articles/1664375/billboard-music-awards-recap-justin-bieber-selena-gomez-kiss.jhtml">Billboard Music Awards</a> in Las Vegas and decided that sparkles and sequins make for the perfect additions to any red carpet get-up. Well, it is Sin City after all. <a href="/music/artist/swift__taylor/artist.jhtml">Taylor Swift</a> always seems to bring some of that Nashville sparkle to any red carpet. She arrived at the show in a pale-hued, sequined Elie Saab gown. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a> showed off her signature sense of style in her baby-blue, body-hugging spandex Mark Fast catsuit. <a href="/music/artist/gomez__selena/artist.jhtml">Selena Gomez</a> turned up the style dial in a sexy, cut-out black Dolce & Gabbana gown that she paired with red strappy sandals with sparkly bow detailing. Like Gomez, <a href="/music/artist/_kesha_/artist.jhtml">Ke$ha</a> opted for some cut-out detailing in her sparkly, slate-gray dress with tulle skirt. <a href="/music/artist/rihanna/artist.jhtml">Rihanna</a> looked white hot in her men's tailored Max Azria suit, which she kept sexy and feminine by not buttoning her shirt all the way. Fergie went S&M chic in her little black bandage-type dress by Hervé Léger. Nicole Kidman also wore black. She paired a casual braid hairstyle with a long black gown and Keith Urban. British pop cutie Kyle Minogue looked funky in her little black lacey dress. Inside the show, Britney Spears sat in the audience wearing a skimpy black dress of her own, her hair in loose curls, with little-to-no accessories. While some stars kept the color scheme low-key, Keri Hilson decided to stand out in her billowy little yellow dress paired with a turquoise-colored belt. Kelly Rowland showed off some of her best assets in a body-hugging, bright pink bandage dress. The fellas also looked tight on the carpet. Joe Jonas wore all black with white sneakers, Ne-Yo paired his periwinkle suit with a Yankees cap and Justin Bieber wore black tuxedo pants with a gold-lamé tuxedo jacket. Which stars' styles caught your eye at the Billboard Music Awards? Tell us in the comments.

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Catherine Bell Chandra West Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore

Vacca Calls for Thorough NYPD Inquiry Into Death of Cyclist David Oliveras

A young Bronx man was killed by the driver of a BMW SUV just after 7 p.m. last Wednesday evening. The driver was traveling northbound on Williamsbridge Road when he struck cyclist David Oliveras, who was pronounced dead at Jacobi Hospital.
Photo: NBC New York
Press accounts of the crash have been wildly inconsistent, and now City [...]

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/16/vacca-calls-for-thorough-nypd-inquiry-into-death-of-cyclist-david-oliveras/

Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings

The Beckhams Enjoy A Weekend Of LA Sports Family Fun

I’m not sure how you and your family spent the weekend but the Beckham bunch enjoyed a superfun, sports-filled extravaganza here in SoCal. Daddy David Beckham took his youngest son Cruz David to see the LA Lakers play at the Staples Center and, in the process, showered the little boy with mounds of affection. Then, [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/SEDCZMuTcTE/

Anna Friel Anna Kournikova Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord

Raikkonen laments tyre strategy

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/raikkonen-laments-tyre-strategy

Denny Hamlin Z Line Toyota Kyle Busch Toyota Kimmy

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: The Most WTF Photos From EMA 2011

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: The Most WTF Photos From EMA 2011

Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin Ashley Tisdale

CUP: Kahne?s Big Weekend

After excellent runs in Texas and North Carolina, Kasey Kahne targets Kansas?

Source: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-kasey-kahnes-big-nascar-texas-motor-speedway-rockingham-weekend/

Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine

Whitney Houston Remembered By Beyonce

'She was the ultimate legend. The ultimate woman,' Beyonce says in a statement to MTV News about Houston, who died Saturday in L.A.
By Jocelyn Vena

One day after pop music <a href="/news/articles/1679035/whitney-houston-dead-celebrity-reaction.jhtml">lost one of its icons</a> and greatest voices, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/houston_whitney/artist.jhtml">Whitney Houston</a>, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a> is opening up about the death of the pop superstar. She recalled meeting the singer for the first time 15 years ago, just as she was breaking into the industry herself. <div class="player-placeholder right" title="Whitney Houston: Life And Music Of An Icon" id="id:1679030" width="240" height="211"></div> "The loss of Whitney Houston is painful. I remember meeting Whitney for the first time when I was 15. She was the ultimate legend. The ultimate woman. Not only was she confident, poised, stunningly beautiful and intelligent, but she was sincere and kind," she said in a statement to MTV News. "She took the time to make everyone feel like they were very important to her." Beyoncé continued in the statement that Houston's killer vocal abilities helped make her the superstar she was. "I, like every singer, always wanted to be just like her. Her voice was perfect. Strong but soothing. Soulful and classic. Her vibrato, her cadence, her control. So many of my life's memories are attached to a Whitney Houston song," she said. "She is our queen and she opened doors and provided a blueprint for all of us. God bless her." Her statement comes on the same day that Houston will be remembered at the 2012 Grammy Awards. B's "Dreamgirls" co-star Jennifer Hudson will lead the <a href="/news/articles/1679040/whitney-houston-grammy-tribute.jhtml"> Grammy tribute to the late icon</a>, along with Houston's longtime friend and collaborator, Chaka Khan. She joins a long list of divas who have recalled Houston's undeniable influence on their own careers, including Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Christina Aguilera. "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston," Mariah Carey wrote about the <a href="/news/articles/1679049/whitney-houston-dies-details.jhtml">loss of Houston</a>, who was found dead in her Los Angeles hotel on Saturday."My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth." It's not only pop divas who are recounting her influence, but also <a href="/news/articles/1679063/whitney-houston-dead-grammys-2012.jhtml">producers from the world of EDM</a>. "She had the swagger and she had the voice," Diplo told MTV News during our pre-show live stream. "I was listening to a bunch of records last night, and I was amazed at how deeply I felt about her records as a child." MTV News' Sway and James Montgomery will be live from the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/">Grammys</a> red carpet all evening to get reactions from music's biggest stars on the death of Whitney Houston. Watch reactions and remembrances at MTV.com. Share your condolences with Whitney's family and friends on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mtvnews/posts/381732435187118&rdquo" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.

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Travis Pastrana announces giveaway and racing schedule

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/04/travis-pastrana-announces-giveaway-and.html

Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine

Beyoncé - Best Thing I Never Had

Best Thing I Never Had

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia
Director:

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=671258

Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff

Williams in no rush to replace Parr

Williams is in no rush to appoint a replacement for chairman Adam Parr, who left the Grove-based team earlier this month. Despite its solid start to the campaign erasing the memories of its troubled 2011 season, Parr resigned from the Williams in a decision that many suspect was related to discussions with Bernie Ecclestone about a new Concorde Agreement.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/williams-in-no-rush-to-replace-parr

François Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill

'The Hunger Games' Wins Box Office For Fourth Consecutive Week

'The Three Stooges' and 'The Cabin in the Woods' debuted in the top five at the weekend box office.
By Ryan J. Downey

Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: Lionsgate

"The Hunger Games" is the first movie since "Avatar" to top the box office for four weekends in a row.

The adaptation of the popular young adult novel fended off competition from the Farrelly brothers' "The Three Stooges," the positively reviewed "Cabin in the Woods" and sci-fi indie "Lockout" over the weekend, collecting another $21.5 million in North American theaters for an estimated domestic gross of $337.1 million.

"Games" is expected to take in at least $370 million domestically and has already earned more than $500 million worldwide, even as director Gary Ross announced he will not return for the follow-up, "Catching Fire," which is set to reunite Jennifer Lawrence and company next year.

The #2 and #3 spots on the box-office scorecard represented a stark contrast in critical opinion. At press time, "The Three Stooges" had a "rotten" 41 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, which aggregates reviews from film critics, while "The Cabin in the Woods" boasted a "fresh" 92 percent. With $17.1 million in receipts, "Stooges" was the biggest opening for any movie directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly in over 10 years, having lined up more with early successes like "There's Something About Mary." Following the departures of Jim Carrey and Sean Penn from the long-gestating project, "Stooges" ultimately cast lesser-known actors in the iconic "Stooges" roles.

Speaking of long-in-the-works movies, "Cabin in the Woods" was originally scheduled to be in theaters in 2009. The horror thriller fell victim to MGM's bankruptcy proceedings before eventually being rescued by Lionsgate, the studio behind "The Hunger Games." Co-written by "Avengers" filmmaker Joss Whedon and his "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" collaborator Drew Goddard (who directed), "Cabin" set social media accounts abuzz in film critic circles. It's the type of movie whose supporters have been careful not to spoil the plot. MTV News' own Josh Horowitz tweeted, "Awesome thing alert! 'The Cabin in the Woods' is out. It's real good. That is all."

The only other widely released new film brave enough to do battle with "The Hunger Games" was "Lockout," which floundered with an estimated $6.3 million debut. Produced by action maestro Luc Besson (who directed 1994's classic "Léon: The Professional"), the sci-fi flick's opening fared worse than recent Besson-associated projects including "Transporter 3" ($12.1 million) and "Colombiana" ($10.4 million). "Lockout" had a "rotten" 32 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes at press time. "Lockout" played in 2,308 theaters; by comparison, "Stooges" opened in 3,477 theaters and "Cabin," in 2,811. "The Hunger Games" played in 3,916 theaters.

In 2009, "Avatar" held on to the top spot for seven consecutive weekends, but "Titanic," also helmed by Jim Cameron, still has the top spot both in terms of all-time gross ($600.7 million in the U.S. alone) and consecutive weekends at #1 (15!). The "Titanic 3D" re-release overseen by conversion-convert Cameron was #4 over the weekend, taking in another $11.6 million for a 12-day total of $44.4 million (bringing the overall haul for "Titanic" to $645.2 million).

More than 1,500 people lost their lives when the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic 100 years ago this month — the wreckage wasn't found until 1985. Cameron's epic 1997 film blends facts with romantic fiction. "Titanic" added another record to its box-office scorecard over the weekend as the re-release enjoyed the highest opening ever in China, taking in $58 million.

"American Reunion" rounded out the top five with $10.7 million in its second weekend. The latest entry in the "American Pie" franchise has made $39.9 million to date. All three of the previous theatrically released entries passed the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, a feat that doesn't seem likely for "Reunion."

Zac Efron will be next up to bat against "The Hunger Games" when "The Lucky One" arrives in theaters this weekend, alongside comedian Steve Harvey's "Think Like a Man" and Disneynature's True Life Adventure "Chimpanzee." Joss Whedon will have another crack at the box-office crown with "Marvel's The Avengers" in May.

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games" and "The Cabin in the Woods." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Report: Trouble signs keep piling up for Suzuki

Filed under: Car Buying, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising, Suzuki, Earnings/Financials

So is it time to start the Suzuki dead pool? Automotive News seems to think so. While the newspaper doesn't go as far as suggesting that Suzuki is not long for the American market, it has compiled a depressingly long list of signs that the company is on its last legs here.

Among the many signs that Suzuki is hurting, the most damning might be what's happening with its dealer body. The report says the brand dropped 32 stores last year, roughly 12 percent, and that it is down to 246 total dealerships in the States. But of those, 150 sell five or fewer cars per month. That would explain why Suzuki only sold 26,618 cars last year, according to AN.

Other signs of distress include sluggish sales so far this year, not exhibiting at the most recent Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows, cutting off their deal for J.D. Power customer satisfaction data, and a lack of marketing leadership or initiative, according to the report.

While Suzuki's product lineup is among the smallest and oldest in the industry, that seems to be the least of the brand's troubles. Heck, even we kind of like the Kizashi.

Trouble signs keep piling up for Suzuki originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/trouble-signs-keep-piling-up-for-suzuki/

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Lana Del Rey 'Compelled' By Britney Spears

Label boss Jimmy Iovine calls criticism 'a drag.'
By Gil Kaufman

To look at her, you'd think <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/rey_lana_del/artist.jhtml"_blank">Lana Del Rey's</a> inspirations come mostly from 1940s detective movies and sepia-toned Hollywood pinups. But the "Video Games" singer told England's Magic 105.4 that one of her big fashion and music icons is Britney Spears. <div class="player-placeholder right" title="Lana Del Rey Says Her Lyrics 'Are Personal'" id="vid:724891.id:1677189" width="240" height="211"></div> "I'm not really interested in a ton of female musicians but there is something about Britney that compelled me — the way she sings and just the way she looks," Del Rey said. And even though she's just released her major-label debut under the Del Rey name, she added that she's already kind of over music-making. "The thing that makes me happy now isn't really singing," she said. "Music was once the be-all and end-all, but when you lose everything you have over and over again, it's not so important." It might be a bit early for her to bail on the whole music thing though, since her album, Born to Die, topped the iTunes album charts in 14 countries this week, including the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, Germany, Ireland and Mexico. The chart triumph — and a possible #2 debut next week on the Billboard albums tally — came despite a rash of negative or <a href="/news/articles/1678050/lana-del-rey-album-born-to-die-reviews.jhtml">middling reviews</a>  of the album as well as the continuing fallout from her shaky <a href="/news/articles/1677389/lana-del-rey-snl.jhtml">"Saturday Night Live"</a>  debut last month. The haterade has gotten her label boss, Interscope's Jimmy Iovine, to chime in on the flack his latest protégé has been taking. "It's a drag," Iovine told <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lana-del-rey-backlash-jimmy-iovine-286378" target="_blank">The Hollywood Reporter</a>. "Maybe this is a new sport. It's something we've never seen before. Or maybe it's [like] the Giants and the Jets." Del Rey herself told Rolling Stone that she thought she looked "beautiful" and sang "fine" on the show, saying that "that's just the way I perform, and my fans know that." Say what you want about Del Rey's looks, attitude and performance ability, but Iovine said there is one thing you can't mess with. Musically, he thinks Die is "really good. Great lyrics and great songs. I don't care what anybody says, 'Video Games' is a great song. When she sings that song, it moves me. It's how we signed her — she sang and it was beautiful. I think she's really talented. Period."

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March 2012 Sales: What the Headlines Don?t Tell You

A February and March packed with auto shows and new-car reveals kept us from our usual posting schedule. We?re back now, and have rolled February trends into the analysis below. The collective mainstream reporting on auto sales during the past eight weeks could have been written by the automakers themselves: All-time sales records have been [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/asJ9uON-VMs/

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrity Skrillex Makeovers!

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Hamilton: Penalty cost me win chance

Lewis Hamilton is certain he would have given Nico Rosberg a hard fight for Chinese Grand Prix victory had he been able to take up his front row starting position at Shanghai. The McLaren driver was second fastest in qualifying, but started seventh due to a 10-place grid penalty for a gearbox change

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/hamilton-penalty-cost-me-win-chance

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Photos | Love Is In The Air At The 2011 VMAs

Love Is In The Air At The 2011 VMAs

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Mercedes aware race will not be easy

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn said celebrations over the squad's front row sweep for the Chinese Grand Prix would be tempered by an awareness that it had to deliver better race form on Sunday. Although Mercedes has taken a big step forward in performance this year, with its innovative 'double DRS' system playing a role in its impressive qualifying race, it has fallen back in races after strong Saturday performances, and has only scored one point in 2012. At Shanghai on Saturday, Nico Rosberg took a dominant pole position with a half-second cushion over the field

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/mercedes-aware-race-will-not-be-easy

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Are Madonna And Britney Spears Collaborating On MDNA?

Amid rumors that Spears will appear on Madge's 'Girls Gone Wild,' MTV News looks back at their history together.
By Jocelyn Vena

Could it be that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/madonna/artist.jhtml">Madonna</a> has enlisted her pal <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> for <a href="/news/articles/1678197/madonna-mdna-album.jhtml">MDNA</a>? <div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Spears, Madonna Get In The Zone For 'Me Against The Music' Video" id="vid:623135.id:1657989" width="240" height="211"></div> Well, according to a leaked album jacket, it seems that Spears is making an appearance on the album's lead track, "Girls Gone Wild." This would mark the second collaboration on the album. Madonna nabbed Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for the album's first single, <a href="/news/articles/1678478/madonna-give-me-all-your-luvin-video.jhtml">"Give Me All Your Luvin'."</a> While the leaked jacket, which appeared on Britney fansite <a href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/2012/02/britney-on-new-madonna-album/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed" target="_blank">Breatheheavy.com</a>, can't be confirmed as authentic, a rep for Madge had no comment about the rumor, neither confirming nor denying it. Meanwhile, a rep for Spears never returned MTV News' request for comment. This is hardly the first time that the two ladies have worked together. In fact, they have quite a history with each other. The duo kicked off their nearly decade-long friendship at the 2003 VMAs when, in case you hadn't heard, they <a href="/news/articles/1669706/britney-spears-mtv-vma-history.jhtml">shared an onstage kiss</a> while performing together. It was the kiss seen and heard around the world, and nearly 10 years later it is still often talked about as one of the most memorable moments in the show's storied history. After they shared that smooch, Spears was inspired to get the Queen of Pop on her lead In the Zone single, <a href="/news/articles/1658075/britney-spears-me-against-the-music.jhtml">"Me Against the Music."</a> "I was in the middle of rehearsals for the VMAs and I played her the song, and she was like, 'That's your first single, right?' " Britney recalled in a vintage interview with MTV. "I was like, 'Yeah, hopefully.' She was like, 'I really like it.' I was like, 'Really?' I was like, 'Well, you wanna do it with me?' She said, 'Yeah.' " They later appeared together in the warehouse-set video with one another, playing a pop star cat-and-mouse game that featured a near kiss. Five years later, as Spears was prepping her return to the pop spotlight, she appeared <a href="/news/articles/1598804/britney-spears-justin-timberlake-appear-onstage-with-madonna.jhtml">onstage with Madonna</a> during a Sticky & Sweet Tour stop at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The singer hit the stage with the pop icon to perform "Human Nature" by her side. That same year, Madonna appeared in <a href="/news/articles/1600361/britney-spears-talks-breakups-breakdowns-in-for-the-record.jhtml">Spears' documentary, "For the Record,"</a> where she spoke about the younger singer. "I admire her as an artist," the Material Girl said, adding that she sees a lot of herself in Spears. In 2011, as Spears was prepping the release of her album Femme Fatale, in an <a href="/news/articles/1659522/britney-spears-plastic-surgery-out-magazine.jhtml">interview with Out magazine</a>, she noted that she truly admires her friend. "Madonna. No question. She is an amazing entertainer," she said when asked whose career she most would want to emulate. As Madonna preps the release of MDNA in March, Spears is also the topic of conversation in a recent interview with her. When asked by ABC News what it was like to smooch the pop princess, she commented, "Nice moment, good kisser. Cool," she said, clarifying that she wouldn't do it again. "No, I already did it. I don't like to repeat myself." Well, perhaps a kiss would be "reductive" (her word, not ours), but it seems given the love that Madge and Spears fans have for the two pop stars, they wouldn't mind them cooking up some musical magic. The track, "Girls Gone Wild," was teased in a megamix that dropped last week and it certainly feels like it would lend itself to both Madonna and Brit's musical sensibilities: It's fist-pumpingly dance-y, sexy and all about going out and having a good time, with Madge proclaiming, "Girls, they just want to have some fun/ Get fired up like a smoking gun/ On the floor till the daylight comes/ Girls, they just want to have some fun." <center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:728690/cp~id%3D1672718%26vid%3D728690%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A728690%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> What would you think of a new Britney Spears/ Madonna collabo? Leave your comment below!

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Gustavo Rivera, Bronx Straphangers Call for Much More Select Bus Service

Fordham Road Select Bus Service is so popular in the Bronx that residents are demanding both a second and third SBS line. Photo: NYC DOT
Fordham-area residents know Select Bus Service better than anyone. The city’s first rapid bus line opened along Fordham Road in 2008, and by all accounts it’s been a success. Bus speeds [...]

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/13/gustavo-rivera-bronx-straphangers-call-for-much-more-select-bus-service/

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Monday, April 16, 2012

Britney Spears Has 'Crazy' Cameo On will.i.am's Album?

Black Eyed Peas mastermind teases a collabo with the pop princess on #willpower, set for 2012 release.
By Jocelyn Vena

In a sea of A-list contributions for will.i.am's forthcoming solo album, the Black Eyed Peas mastermind recently dropped one name that will really get pop fans excited. Speaking with <a href="http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/william/news/britney-spears-alicia-keys-new-album/" target="_blank">Capital FM</a>, will teased that his Femme Fatale collaborator Britney Spears will make an appearance on the album, dubbed #willpower. <div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Hits The Studio With will.i.am" id="vid:638813" width="240" height="211"></div> "I have a song with Alicia Keys — me, Alicia and Swedish House Mafia. I have a song with the Beats, which is pretty grand. Me and Shakira have been trying to finish the stuff we started, and me and Britney is really crazy," he said. "So we got a song with me, LMFAO and Eva Simons, a song with me and Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz — I got a whole other bunch of collaborations." Spears and will.i.am last worked together on "Big Fat Bass," a spacey, grinding party tune complete with clapping noises and some rapping from will himself. Their recording session was featured on the MTV special <a href="/news/articles/1660830/britney-spears-femme-fatale-previews.jhtml">"I Am the Femme Fatale."</a> There's been no word yet from will's camp about the song and whether this is a new track or if he will be including "Big Fat Bass" on the album. The rapper/producer's love for Brit is hardly anything new: He <a href="/news/articles/1662289/britney-spears-will-i-am-big-fat-bass.jhtml">gushed to MTV News about the pop princess</a> months after they recorded together. "[I discovered] her love for music. I never seen anyone, like, come alive, full of excitement and giggling and laughing behind the mic," will recalled to MTV News. "She was like a little kid when she was recording the song, and it just brought the whole atmosphere, it changed the whole atmosphere when someone really loves music. So it was great working with her." His latest single, "T.H.E (The Hardest Ever)," featuring Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger, dropped late last year. #willpower, which also features "X Factor" judge Nicole Scherzinger, will be released later this year. What are you expecting from will and Brit's collabo? Let us know in the comments!

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The Weekly Carnage

The Weekly Carnage is a Friday round-up of motor vehicle violence across the five boroughs and beyond. For more on the origins and purpose of this column, please read About the Weekly Carnage.
Clara Almazo was killed saving her grandson from an oncoming motorist, who then drove away. He later turned himself in and was charged [...]

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/13/the-weekly-carnage-169/

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Michael Jackson - Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic
Director: Bill Dicicco

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208381

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Name That Shifter, No. 72

It’s Monday, and that means it’s time to present this week’s shifter. You’ll have until mid-day Wednesday to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence this shifter came. The first person to respond correctly in the Backfires section below will win a Save the Manuals button and sticker.* Good luck! (* Offer [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/g4k2pjrodIw/

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