"If Charlie [Sheen] is to sort his life out," Piers Morgan asked Denise Richards. "Can you ever imagine a scenario where you might one day get back together?"
"I'm way too old for him now," joked Richards, who turned 40 this year. "I'm way past his age range."
The actress and mother of three is a guest on Thursday's "Piers Morgan Tonight." Richards is also a first-time author. Her new book, "The Real Girl Next Door," was released this week.
Richards told Morgan that she and Sheen have been split up for six years. The couple's divorce was finalized in 2006.
"When we fell in love," Richards said, "he had been sober for three years. He was getting his life back together. He had just gotten a job on 'Spin City.' And I really admired his strength and courage for overcoming addiction, and being so humble about it.
"And that's what attracted me to him. So the Charlie that some of you have seen over the last six months is not the person that I met and married."
Richards went on to say that Sheen was "amazing" when they first met. "He was so humbled and sweet, and charming and funny. And had such a great heart, and very honest. And we just had a very deep connection."
Morgan asked Richards about her take on "the recent circus of Charlie's life."
"From the beginning of it I was very worried," she said. "And it made me sad to see him that way. And so I was concerned. I was concerned for our children."
Richards said that, in dealing with Sheen, the couple's two daughters -- Sam, 7, and Lola, 6 -- remain her priority.
"We'll always have a bond with our daughters," she said. "And I wish nothing but the best for him."
When Morgan asked Richards what her wish for her ex-husband was, the actress said she wants him to be healthy and there for his kids and himself.
"He's a survivor," said Richards. "If anyone can pick themselves up, make a huge comeback, it's Charlie."
Morgan asked, what is the weirdest rumor she'd ever heard about herself?
"Well, this isn't that hurtful, but it's weird -- that I used to be a hooker. I used to be a Heidi Fleiss girl. I heard that rumor," Richards answered.
"If anyone would know, it would be Charlie," said Richards, referring to Sheen's well-documented testimony in Fleiss' 1995 trial that he had spent over $50,000 on 27 hookers.
Richards, who is single, said of dating: "The qualities that I look for now are different than prior to getting married and having kids.
"I find myself very attracted to men who have children. And I think one of the sexiest qualities in a man is seeing a man great with kids."
Richards called motherhood her greatest achievement. "I love being a mother more than anything. And I get so much fulfillment and joy with my children."
Richards opened up about her recent adoption of a baby girl, whom she named Eloise Joni Richards.
"She's amazing," Richards said. She told Morgan that Sam and Lola "are so in love with her. They are very protective of her."
As for whether she'll marry again, Richards said she intends to "be a good role model for my kids, and be a strong woman, even if it's on my own."
Richards said that she also plans to continue acting, and that her dream gig has always been "a role in a movie with Quentin Tarantino directing."
Comment: - think thath waht she says is really true because if he left his adiction once he could makke it again. Also I think that charlie sheen is a great actor because he acted very good in the series "teo and half men".
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Posted: July 28, 2011, 3:55 pm ET
Did you dig Rebecca Black’s new song ‘My Moment?’
If so, there’s more where that came from.
MTV reports that the teen who found fame with her YouTube hit “Friday” is set to drop her five song-EP next month and just wants fans to know she’s serious about her career.
“It’s crazy to think [about 'Friday'],” she told MTV. “I was really nervous about ‘My Moment’ coming out because I thought, ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to even beat ‘Friday’ myself.’ “
Black knows it won’t be easy, especially considering the very visceral reaction some had towards “Friday.” But she said she’s determined to make a go of it.
“Again, I wanted people to able to take me seriously because I felt like this would be the right thing to do,” she said. “I wanted to start building what could be a really great career, but this industry, it’s so unpredictable: You could be the big thing for a month or four months, and then kind of fall off the face of the planet.”
48 Comments
kenny
July 28th, 2011 4:19 pm ET
I’d rather run over 1,000 cats and listen to them than hear Rebecca Black sing anything else. Go back under your rock!
Boof
July 28th, 2011 4:22 pm ET
This thing called Rebecca Black just won’t go away. If you ever wondered what happened to the entertinment industry, look no further.
Frederico
July 28th, 2011 4:25 pm ET
I can’t wait till her albums released! These are going to be the coolest $15 frisbees ever!!
DM
July 28th, 2011 4:34 pm ET
if it means getting rid of the likes of Kesha and that Lady Gaga thing, I’m buying her disc. It may suck but i hope Friday is on there and she calls her album “It’s a Black thing”.
Cletus
July 28th, 2011 4:48 pm ET
She looks like Winnie Cooper with yellow teeth
portalpunk
July 28th, 2011 4:59 pm ET
Love the RBlack, she will rock and I’ll bet 100 bags of Fritos that she has a top 10 hit in the next 12 months.
Harry Richardson
July 28th, 2011 5:01 pm ET
Hey Mr. 1985 the term “album” is a symbolic one, unless you know how to play catch with a download
gwen
July 28th, 2011 5:17 pm ET
She really sounds full of herself in the interview. Wondering if she is great enough to even top herself. What a complete zero.
john
July 28th, 2011 5:25 pm ET
She needs to fall of the planet like she says. Cause she stinks at singing. I have heard better tunes coming out of my butt.
Tacy
July 28th, 2011 5:47 pm ET
Looking forward to the new album.. I love the song My Moment.I thought it very inspirational for young people to listen to.
And such a huge improvement,imo..
Best wishes from the US.
Snarky
July 28th, 2011 6:12 pm ET
Is it strange that I like her more than Gaga and think she has more talent? I don’t think so.
SUCK
July 28th, 2011 7:29 pm ET
suck your gut you look like an oompa loompa
Billy Bueno
July 28th, 2011 7:37 pm ET
Please someone stop the pain
With this crap…what has happened
To pop music? You tube can get u
Heard but it doesn’t mean you really
Have what it takes to make
It in the music world.
Fade(away) to Black!
kay
July 28th, 2011 7:50 pm ET
She is a once in a lifetime talent who will have a tremendous influence on music for generations. Do not underestimate this woman. She is the next ella fitzgerald.
Rick Lawson
July 28th, 2011 7:57 pm ET
You go Rebecca!! Keep working at your dreams…You CAN sing, You CAN dance and you’ll only get better…Don’t listen to the haters…listen to your heart! All the best!
Rick Lawson
July 28th, 2011 7:58 pm ET
This post ROCKED!! LOL LOL OMG ROFLMAO LOL
HAHA
July 28th, 2011 8:20 pm ET
SPOT ON! But I’d still buy 50 copies of Rebecca’s album before I’d buy 1 of Kesha’s!
Shepsta
July 28th, 2011 8:24 pm ET
Stop hating people,look at Bieber.
Mjh
July 28th, 2011 8:33 pm ET
Ella fitgerald is someone to be compared to what an ARTIST! SHES A LEGEND YOU GO REBBECA BLACK were waiting for that GOD GIVEN UNIQUE TALENT BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO ! Your fellow musicians and artist await!
Mjh
July 28th, 2011 8:35 pm ET
SING THAT AWSOME MUSIC ASTOUND YOUR AWAITED FANS
Mjh
July 28th, 2011 8:39 pm ET
THE WORLD HAS WAITED FOR YOUR UNIQUE STYLE LONG OVERDO YOUR A CLASS ACT
Who
July 28th, 2011 8:44 pm ET
I see an album by Rebecca Black, it sounded so bad I tried to get my money back. The store clerk was jerk, and return’s here just don’t work, so I barbecued it till it was charcoal black (spoof of the Rolling Stones hit song)
scottymo
July 28th, 2011 8:44 pm ET
Doesnt EP mean Extended Play? With 5 tracks-really?
Yeah.
July 28th, 2011 8:46 pm ET
LOL what an absurd comment. But really, her voice does suck.
Noise
July 28th, 2011 9:05 pm ET
It should be an LP, which stands for Lousy Performer.
Words
July 28th, 2011 9:10 pm ET
Can’t wait to hear that awesome girl Rock it out Gurl! Gives me hope in a world that is so ugly right now ! She is fun , pretty and is gunna take the world by storm ! Hearts Hugs and Hope . Just call me a Blackie ! Pick a seat girl right up to the front of the stage honey!
holymoly
July 28th, 2011 9:15 pm ET
O M G NOOOOO Just stab me in the ears with a sword NOW..
joanofarc
July 28th, 2011 9:17 pm ET
buhahahahahahahahahaha
luvsponge
July 28th, 2011 9:19 pm ET
I’d buy 50 copies of Kenny G’s greatest hits before I’d buy either one of their albums,,
PickaSeat
July 28th, 2011 9:19 pm ET
That last post says it all Go for the Gold RB ! Don’t let them stand in your way . Reach for the stars and make this world remeber who picked a seat! You did honey! Next spot is Number One again! Will YOU GO TO THE PROM WITH ME B?! Xoxo!
bubba
July 28th, 2011 9:21 pm ET
If you’re tone deaf and half retarded I’m afraid your comment doesn’t count..
RBlack
July 28th, 2011 9:23 pm ET
Awhhhhh! Thanks Guys! You are all so special to me .I hope you guys are ready for the best album coming soon! I put all my hard work into it and totally think of your warm wishes when I write my lyrics! Love and junk !  RB
spuds
July 28th, 2011 9:25 pm ET
Aww you must own the head we flush down the poop shoot between classes. Now pull ur pants up stop beating it to ur winnie cooper poster.
HandySmurf
July 28th, 2011 9:26 pm ET
Fun fun fun fun
joeblow
July 28th, 2011 9:27 pm ET
But will you get your weekend pass in time to see it? Go back to bangin ur sis and stfu
crapola
July 28th, 2011 9:32 pm ET
Looks like all you need is auto tune and yellow teeth to be the next big thing….
Really?!
July 28th, 2011 9:38 pm ET
Some of the comments are really stupid and mean . No wonder why the world is going to a bad place . Maybe if you guys had half full glasses you would see the world differently . Bit of advice stop creeping on a Rebecca Black acticle site if you didn’t want to hear good music . Go cleanse thyself in a bucket of wholesomeness! Get some class like Miss Black! BACK TO BLACK !
Funfunfun
July 28th, 2011 9:40 pm ET
Well put! I like your thinking !
Saturday
July 28th, 2011 9:47 pm ET
Saturday comes after Sunday and then Monday comes after that…. Best ringtone ever !
Knucklejuice
July 28th, 2011 9:56 pm ET
Oh my God! This is the cheesiest, most worthless crap I’ve ever heard in my life. Who wrote the lyrics? A 3 year old?
NameBob*
July 28th, 2011 10:35 pm ET
Deusche bag says what?
Tracy Arnold
July 28th, 2011 10:37 pm ET
All you people keep dogging this girl but you know the reason people dog people like her cuz apparently you wish you had the chance that she does hey if she makes it awesome if she dont then i am sure she will just try harder the next time..where you think all the rest started at the bottom..some there talent comes later in life some born wit it..YOU GO GIRL KEEP ON FIGHTING FOR YOUR DREAM DONT LET THESE HATERS BRING YOU DOWN = )
Bb
July 28th, 2011 10:42 pm ET
She ripped off a Beetles song. Like literally took a thesauras and used different synonyms. How the f*** are people getting away with this trash?
Bb
July 28th, 2011 10:43 pm ET
She ripped off a Beatles song. Like literally took a thesauras and used different synonyms. How the f*** are people getting away with this trash?
Reality
July 28th, 2011 10:51 pm ET
you haters r pathetic.. Not only is this young teenage girl making money by doing what shes doin’ but shes actually PURSUING her dream and doin something about it … R most of you doin the same?? My guess is probably not if ur reading news about someone u all dislike and wish hurtful things against… Find a life 1st before hating on others for living theirs..
rich
July 28th, 2011 10:59 pm ET
the ony way this album would fly off the shelves would be if there was an earthquake!
Tracy Arnold
July 28th, 2011 11:10 pm ET
I AGREE WIT YOU @REALITY THEY DONT HAVE ANYTHING SHE DOES OR ANY CHANCE SO THEY HATE ON OTHER PEOPLES DREAMS..THATS SICK…
no names, please
July 28th, 2011 11:16 pm ET
CD gonna drop? like manure from a horse’s a$$. The sad fact is anyone can make 1 hit song. it’s the follow-up that counts. Ms Black, you don’t have what it takes. Sorry
Comment.. I dont know this girl so i dont know how she reallu is, any document or reading wil become boring for me and ill like to cnn have better news but no,,,,,,,,,bla bla bla
Did you dig Rebecca Black’s new song ‘My Moment?’
If so, there’s more where that came from.
MTV reports that the teen who found fame with her YouTube hit “Friday” is set to drop her five song-EP next month and just wants fans to know she’s serious about her career.
“It’s crazy to think [about 'Friday'],” she told MTV. “I was really nervous about ‘My Moment’ coming out because I thought, ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to even beat ‘Friday’ myself.’ “
Black knows it won’t be easy, especially considering the very visceral reaction some had towards “Friday.” But she said she’s determined to make a go of it.
“Again, I wanted people to able to take me seriously because I felt like this would be the right thing to do,” she said. “I wanted to start building what could be a really great career, but this industry, it’s so unpredictable: You could be the big thing for a month or four months, and then kind of fall off the face of the planet.”
48 Comments
kenny
July 28th, 2011 4:19 pm ET
I’d rather run over 1,000 cats and listen to them than hear Rebecca Black sing anything else. Go back under your rock!
Boof
July 28th, 2011 4:22 pm ET
This thing called Rebecca Black just won’t go away. If you ever wondered what happened to the entertinment industry, look no further.
Frederico
July 28th, 2011 4:25 pm ET
I can’t wait till her albums released! These are going to be the coolest $15 frisbees ever!!
DM
July 28th, 2011 4:34 pm ET
if it means getting rid of the likes of Kesha and that Lady Gaga thing, I’m buying her disc. It may suck but i hope Friday is on there and she calls her album “It’s a Black thing”.
Cletus
July 28th, 2011 4:48 pm ET
She looks like Winnie Cooper with yellow teeth
portalpunk
July 28th, 2011 4:59 pm ET
Love the RBlack, she will rock and I’ll bet 100 bags of Fritos that she has a top 10 hit in the next 12 months.
Harry Richardson
July 28th, 2011 5:01 pm ET
Hey Mr. 1985 the term “album” is a symbolic one, unless you know how to play catch with a download
gwen
July 28th, 2011 5:17 pm ET
She really sounds full of herself in the interview. Wondering if she is great enough to even top herself. What a complete zero.
john
July 28th, 2011 5:25 pm ET
She needs to fall of the planet like she says. Cause she stinks at singing. I have heard better tunes coming out of my butt.
Tacy
July 28th, 2011 5:47 pm ET
Looking forward to the new album.. I love the song My Moment.I thought it very inspirational for young people to listen to.
And such a huge improvement,imo..
Best wishes from the US.
Snarky
July 28th, 2011 6:12 pm ET
Is it strange that I like her more than Gaga and think she has more talent? I don’t think so.
SUCK
July 28th, 2011 7:29 pm ET
suck your gut you look like an oompa loompa
Billy Bueno
July 28th, 2011 7:37 pm ET
Please someone stop the pain
With this crap…what has happened
To pop music? You tube can get u
Heard but it doesn’t mean you really
Have what it takes to make
It in the music world.
Fade(away) to Black!
kay
July 28th, 2011 7:50 pm ET
She is a once in a lifetime talent who will have a tremendous influence on music for generations. Do not underestimate this woman. She is the next ella fitzgerald.
Rick Lawson
July 28th, 2011 7:57 pm ET
You go Rebecca!! Keep working at your dreams…You CAN sing, You CAN dance and you’ll only get better…Don’t listen to the haters…listen to your heart! All the best!
Rick Lawson
July 28th, 2011 7:58 pm ET
This post ROCKED!! LOL LOL OMG ROFLMAO LOL
HAHA
July 28th, 2011 8:20 pm ET
SPOT ON! But I’d still buy 50 copies of Rebecca’s album before I’d buy 1 of Kesha’s!
Shepsta
July 28th, 2011 8:24 pm ET
Stop hating people,look at Bieber.
Mjh
July 28th, 2011 8:33 pm ET
Ella fitgerald is someone to be compared to what an ARTIST! SHES A LEGEND YOU GO REBBECA BLACK were waiting for that GOD GIVEN UNIQUE TALENT BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO ! Your fellow musicians and artist await!
Mjh
July 28th, 2011 8:35 pm ET
SING THAT AWSOME MUSIC ASTOUND YOUR AWAITED FANS
Mjh
July 28th, 2011 8:39 pm ET
THE WORLD HAS WAITED FOR YOUR UNIQUE STYLE LONG OVERDO YOUR A CLASS ACT
Who
July 28th, 2011 8:44 pm ET
I see an album by Rebecca Black, it sounded so bad I tried to get my money back. The store clerk was jerk, and return’s here just don’t work, so I barbecued it till it was charcoal black (spoof of the Rolling Stones hit song)
scottymo
July 28th, 2011 8:44 pm ET
Doesnt EP mean Extended Play? With 5 tracks-really?
Yeah.
July 28th, 2011 8:46 pm ET
LOL what an absurd comment. But really, her voice does suck.
Noise
July 28th, 2011 9:05 pm ET
It should be an LP, which stands for Lousy Performer.
Words
July 28th, 2011 9:10 pm ET
Can’t wait to hear that awesome girl Rock it out Gurl! Gives me hope in a world that is so ugly right now ! She is fun , pretty and is gunna take the world by storm ! Hearts Hugs and Hope . Just call me a Blackie ! Pick a seat girl right up to the front of the stage honey!
holymoly
July 28th, 2011 9:15 pm ET
O M G NOOOOO Just stab me in the ears with a sword NOW..
joanofarc
July 28th, 2011 9:17 pm ET
buhahahahahahahahahaha
luvsponge
July 28th, 2011 9:19 pm ET
I’d buy 50 copies of Kenny G’s greatest hits before I’d buy either one of their albums,,
PickaSeat
July 28th, 2011 9:19 pm ET
That last post says it all Go for the Gold RB ! Don’t let them stand in your way . Reach for the stars and make this world remeber who picked a seat! You did honey! Next spot is Number One again! Will YOU GO TO THE PROM WITH ME B?! Xoxo!
bubba
July 28th, 2011 9:21 pm ET
If you’re tone deaf and half retarded I’m afraid your comment doesn’t count..
RBlack
July 28th, 2011 9:23 pm ET
Awhhhhh! Thanks Guys! You are all so special to me .I hope you guys are ready for the best album coming soon! I put all my hard work into it and totally think of your warm wishes when I write my lyrics! Love and junk !  RB
spuds
July 28th, 2011 9:25 pm ET
Aww you must own the head we flush down the poop shoot between classes. Now pull ur pants up stop beating it to ur winnie cooper poster.
HandySmurf
July 28th, 2011 9:26 pm ET
Fun fun fun fun
joeblow
July 28th, 2011 9:27 pm ET
But will you get your weekend pass in time to see it? Go back to bangin ur sis and stfu
crapola
July 28th, 2011 9:32 pm ET
Looks like all you need is auto tune and yellow teeth to be the next big thing….
Really?!
July 28th, 2011 9:38 pm ET
Some of the comments are really stupid and mean . No wonder why the world is going to a bad place . Maybe if you guys had half full glasses you would see the world differently . Bit of advice stop creeping on a Rebecca Black acticle site if you didn’t want to hear good music . Go cleanse thyself in a bucket of wholesomeness! Get some class like Miss Black! BACK TO BLACK !
Funfunfun
July 28th, 2011 9:40 pm ET
Well put! I like your thinking !
Saturday
July 28th, 2011 9:47 pm ET
Saturday comes after Sunday and then Monday comes after that…. Best ringtone ever !
Knucklejuice
July 28th, 2011 9:56 pm ET
Oh my God! This is the cheesiest, most worthless crap I’ve ever heard in my life. Who wrote the lyrics? A 3 year old?
NameBob*
July 28th, 2011 10:35 pm ET
Deusche bag says what?
Tracy Arnold
July 28th, 2011 10:37 pm ET
All you people keep dogging this girl but you know the reason people dog people like her cuz apparently you wish you had the chance that she does hey if she makes it awesome if she dont then i am sure she will just try harder the next time..where you think all the rest started at the bottom..some there talent comes later in life some born wit it..YOU GO GIRL KEEP ON FIGHTING FOR YOUR DREAM DONT LET THESE HATERS BRING YOU DOWN = )
Bb
July 28th, 2011 10:42 pm ET
She ripped off a Beetles song. Like literally took a thesauras and used different synonyms. How the f*** are people getting away with this trash?
Bb
July 28th, 2011 10:43 pm ET
She ripped off a Beatles song. Like literally took a thesauras and used different synonyms. How the f*** are people getting away with this trash?
Reality
July 28th, 2011 10:51 pm ET
you haters r pathetic.. Not only is this young teenage girl making money by doing what shes doin’ but shes actually PURSUING her dream and doin something about it … R most of you doin the same?? My guess is probably not if ur reading news about someone u all dislike and wish hurtful things against… Find a life 1st before hating on others for living theirs..
rich
July 28th, 2011 10:59 pm ET
the ony way this album would fly off the shelves would be if there was an earthquake!
Tracy Arnold
July 28th, 2011 11:10 pm ET
I AGREE WIT YOU @REALITY THEY DONT HAVE ANYTHING SHE DOES OR ANY CHANCE SO THEY HATE ON OTHER PEOPLES DREAMS..THATS SICK…
no names, please
July 28th, 2011 11:16 pm ET
CD gonna drop? like manure from a horse’s a$$. The sad fact is anyone can make 1 hit song. it’s the follow-up that counts. Ms Black, you don’t have what it takes. Sorry
Comment.. I dont know this girl so i dont know how she reallu is, any document or reading wil become boring for me and ill like to cnn have better news but no,,,,,,,,,bla bla bla
New iPhone 5 rumors: Leaked case suggests 'radical' redesign
 |
Are these designs for cases to hold the next iPhone? A British tech blog says they appear to be.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- New iPhone 5 rumors focus on apparent cases for the device
- Blog says Chinese manufacturer shared a case that suggests bigger screen
- Popular blog MacRumors says they're not convinced the cases are real
RELATED TOPICS
(CNN) -- Another week, another round of iPhone 5 rumors. This time, it's an apparent case for the unreleased phone that has Apple fans buzzing.
Mobile Fun, a British mobile-phone blog, has posted images of what it says is the design for a next-generation iPhone case leaked "from a Chinese case manufacturer."
The case, and an image the blog says was later sent to them by another manufacturer, suggest what they call "massive changes" to the iPhone 5, or whatever it will be called.
Among them: what appears to be a larger, roughly 4-inch display screen, a curved rear panel more like earlier iPhones than the iPhone 4, and a hole on the back -- about where the Apple logo is on current phones. Some Apple observers speculate that hole indicates a possible new location for the device's antenna, replacing the iPhone 4's much maligned side antenna.
"If these images are authentic -- and we have every reason to believe that they are -- then the iPhone 5 is a radical evolution of the iPhone concept, and a bigger departure from the iPhone 4 than previous case images have shown," the blog post reads.
But MacRumors, a popular blog focused on, well, what its name says, isn't convinced.
"We suspect all of the images and information are coming from a common source, but we don't necessarily believe it to be true ...," wrote Arnold Kim of MacRumors. "[W]e received a reliable tip that this is not what the iPhone 5 will look like. As well, several other credible news outlets have said that the iPhone 5 will look largely similar to the current iPhone 4."
Based on multiple reports, all of them from unnamed sources due to Apple's loose-lips-sink-ships policy on details about upcoming products, the next version of the iPhone will be announced in September.
The China Times pinpoints the iPhone 5 release to the second week of September with an initial order of 4 million units, MacRumors said.
A better camera, a faster processor, a bigger screen -- all have been mentioned repeatedly in rumors that inevitably swirl every time a new Apple product is in the works.
And there's obviously an audience for every one of these speculative tidbits.
A recent survey of about 3,000 consumers showed that 35 percent of them plan to buy Apple's next phone when it hits the market -- despite not knowing anything about it yet.
coment: this is fantastic i like su much this and have a better camera a faster processo, a bigger screen all have been mentioned repeatedly in rumors that inevitably swirl every time a new apple product is in the works
Review: 'Cowboys and Aliens' is big-budget misfire
CNN) -- Ever since the trailer set preview audiences giggling last year, there has been speculation about whether this big-budget genre-bender could fly.
The only ones who weren't laughing were the filmmakers, because whatever else it may be, "Cowboys and Aliens" definitely isn't a comedy.
Which is a pity, because director Jon Favreau has shown a light touch in the "Iron Man" movies, "Elf" and "Zathura," and the notion of aliens invading Arizona has a certain ring to it.
But he evidently decided that the key to this weird hybrid sci-fi Western was to play it straight, for thrills, scares and suspense. A big mistake, because the script -- attributed to six writers and based on Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's comic book -- turns out to be a bad joke, this year's "Jonah Hex."
The early scenes at least promise mystery.
A character played by Daniel Craig comes to in the high desert, a wound in his chest and a strange metal bracelet clamped around his wrist. After a brief run-in with three would-be bounty hunters, it becomes obvious he can't remember anything except how to fight.
At the nearest town, Absolution, he's identified as the outlaw Jake Lonergan, but he's sprung from jail after the town is dive-bombed by a fleet of UFOs and the sheriff and sundry citizens are abducted. Jake's bracelet zaps one of the craft seemingly of its own accord, and Jake joins forces with local cattle rancher Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) to track the injured "demon."
It's soon obvious that Favreau's West will be nothing more than a compendium of clichés, from the saloon fiddler who stops playing as soon as trouble walks through the door to the loyal mutt who attaches itself to the taciturn hero.
In the past, moviemakers like Sergio Leone have transcribed these stock elements into a baroque style, but Favreau and director of photography Matthew Libatique shy away from anything too fancy -- or even interesting. They somehow contrive to make a riverboat marooned upside-down in the desert look forgettable.
Ford's role is transparently modeled on John Wayne, specifically his iconic roles as the stern cattle baron in "Red River" and the obsessed avenger in "The Searchers," but somewhere along the line, the character has been watered down to make him more palatable. He's nice to kids and even makes peace with his Native American son (Adam Beach).
Yet these blandishments only make the film itself more insulting and insidiously racist in its patronizing treatment of the Apache -- and that's before we get to the glaring displacement that's going on here in respect to the gold-digging aliens who plan to colonize the West.
In any case, Ford -- whose acting rarely stretches beyond a painful grimace these days -- is playing second or even third fiddle to Daniel Craig's gruff, sub-Eastwood Man with No Memory and to Olivia Wilde, very fetching and completely out of her element as gun-toting tootsie Ella Swenson, a character who starts off as simply incongruous and becomes only more so as the film goes on.
Boasting 16 producers (including Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard), "Cowboys & Aliens" is the worst kind of blockbuster and a terrible hash: turgid, incoherent, cynical or -- at best -- inane.
This is not the West as it was or might have been; it's not the mythic West valorized by Hollywood in the glory days or the troubled land of the revisionist Westerns of the '70s. It's a Virtual West where everyone is firing blanks, the dead don't die and everything resets to zero before our eyes.
comentary:i think that is going to be the worst movie of the 21 centuary is a bis trash of movies cowboys vs aliens uuuuuu big stuff no one carrs about this it very bad i really dondt like this
The only ones who weren't laughing were the filmmakers, because whatever else it may be, "Cowboys and Aliens" definitely isn't a comedy.
Which is a pity, because director Jon Favreau has shown a light touch in the "Iron Man" movies, "Elf" and "Zathura," and the notion of aliens invading Arizona has a certain ring to it.
But he evidently decided that the key to this weird hybrid sci-fi Western was to play it straight, for thrills, scares and suspense. A big mistake, because the script -- attributed to six writers and based on Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's comic book -- turns out to be a bad joke, this year's "Jonah Hex."
The early scenes at least promise mystery.
A character played by Daniel Craig comes to in the high desert, a wound in his chest and a strange metal bracelet clamped around his wrist. After a brief run-in with three would-be bounty hunters, it becomes obvious he can't remember anything except how to fight.
At the nearest town, Absolution, he's identified as the outlaw Jake Lonergan, but he's sprung from jail after the town is dive-bombed by a fleet of UFOs and the sheriff and sundry citizens are abducted. Jake's bracelet zaps one of the craft seemingly of its own accord, and Jake joins forces with local cattle rancher Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) to track the injured "demon."
It's soon obvious that Favreau's West will be nothing more than a compendium of clichés, from the saloon fiddler who stops playing as soon as trouble walks through the door to the loyal mutt who attaches itself to the taciturn hero.
In the past, moviemakers like Sergio Leone have transcribed these stock elements into a baroque style, but Favreau and director of photography Matthew Libatique shy away from anything too fancy -- or even interesting. They somehow contrive to make a riverboat marooned upside-down in the desert look forgettable.
Ford's role is transparently modeled on John Wayne, specifically his iconic roles as the stern cattle baron in "Red River" and the obsessed avenger in "The Searchers," but somewhere along the line, the character has been watered down to make him more palatable. He's nice to kids and even makes peace with his Native American son (Adam Beach).
Yet these blandishments only make the film itself more insulting and insidiously racist in its patronizing treatment of the Apache -- and that's before we get to the glaring displacement that's going on here in respect to the gold-digging aliens who plan to colonize the West.
In any case, Ford -- whose acting rarely stretches beyond a painful grimace these days -- is playing second or even third fiddle to Daniel Craig's gruff, sub-Eastwood Man with No Memory and to Olivia Wilde, very fetching and completely out of her element as gun-toting tootsie Ella Swenson, a character who starts off as simply incongruous and becomes only more so as the film goes on.
Boasting 16 producers (including Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard), "Cowboys & Aliens" is the worst kind of blockbuster and a terrible hash: turgid, incoherent, cynical or -- at best -- inane.
This is not the West as it was or might have been; it's not the mythic West valorized by Hollywood in the glory days or the troubled land of the revisionist Westerns of the '70s. It's a Virtual West where everyone is firing blanks, the dead don't die and everything resets to zero before our eyes.
comentary:i think that is going to be the worst movie of the 21 centuary is a bis trash of movies cowboys vs aliens uuuuuu big stuff no one carrs about this it very bad i really dondt like this
Lochte fires up Phelps with world title and record in Shanghai
July 28, 2011 -- Updated 1837 GMT (0237 HKT)
Ryan Lochte, left, celebrates his new world-record time while Michael Phelps watches in the pool in Shanghai.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Ryan Lochte beats Michael Phelps for second time at 2011 world swimming championships
- Lochte sets new world record in retaining men's 200-meter individual medley title
- U.S. also win gold in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay in Shanghai
- James Magnussen becomes first Australian to win men's 100m freestyle title
(CNN) -- Beaten again by a record-breaking effort from U.S. rival Ryan Lochte at the world swimming championships in China, Michael Phelps says he now has all the motivation he needs to bounce back at next year's London Olympics.
Defending champion Lochte claimed the men's 200-meter individual medley title on Thursday in one minute 54 seconds, breaking the record he set in Rome in 2009 -- when Phelps did not swim in the event.
He shaved a tenth of a second off that time to register the first long-course world record since the high-tech, polyurethane swimsuits were banned in 2010.
Lochte's lead over Phelps -- who came home in 1:54.16 -- was never more than the 29-hundredths of a second he held at the final turn, having moved to the front in the second backstroke leg.
That race is going to be a lot of motivation for the next year. There's a lot of frustration right now going through my head
--Michael Phelps
--Michael Phelps
"That's why we have records -- to get broken," Lochte told the U.S. Swimming website.
"I'm just happy that all that hard work I've done this year, and dedication is definitely paying off. Hopefully everyone now can start realizing, 'Hey, it's possible.' Hopefully a lot more records can fall."
Phelps, who has won a record 14 Olympic gold medals after bagging an unprecedented eight in Beijing 2008, was beaten by Lochte for the second time in Shanghai following his runner-up finish in the 200m freestyle on Wednesday.
"I think that race is going to be a lot of motivation for the next year," said Phelps, who won the 200m butterfly on Thursday. "There's a lot of frustration right now going through my head, and this is going to help me through the tough months of training for the next year.
"(Lochte) is super focused right now, and I think you can see that. He keeps putting the races together that are helping him win. To be honest, he's just more prepared. That's really what it comes down to. Races are always won by people who are most prepared."
At the last world championships in Italy, Phelps saw his previous dominance challenged by swimmers using the new-generation suits that were banned soon after.
On Thursday he predicted that more of the best times set before the ban will be falling in the near future.
"I sat there two nights ago at dinner, and I was talking to some of the coaches about it that this was going to be the first world record that was going to be broken," Phelps said.
"It says something that we're still able to do those times, and that it's not impossible for us to see world records right now. I think we're going to start seeing more, and hopefully they're more often."
The U.S. also won gold in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay, with Missy Franklin, Dagny Knutson, Katie Hoff and Allison Schmitt heading off Australia by half a second and defending champions China back in third.
Franklin also won bronze in the women's 50m backstroke, which was won by Russia's Anastasia Zuevea from Aya Terkawa of Japan.
China won gold and bronze in the women's 200m butterfly, as Jiao Liuyang finished 0.04 seconds ahead of Britain's Ellen Gandy and 0.45s in front of Liu Zige.
James Magnussen confirmed his undoubted promise as the 20-year-old became the first Australian to win the men's 100m freestyle title, heading home Canada's Brent Hayden and France's William Meynard.
Defending champion and world record-holder Cesar Cielo finished back in fourth place.
At the start of the championships, Magnussen helped Australia earn a surprise victory in the 4x100m relay, condemning Phelps' U.S. team to third place.
Leading off the team, he set the fastest 100m time by a swimmer not using a banned suit since Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband, the 2000 and 2004 Olympic champion.
Comment: That sucks i mean i am a huge PHELPS fan and i expected him to win the race like he won all the races in the past olympics. Well i hope he starts doing better.
news
House vote on GOP debt plan delayed
Washington (CNN) -- House Republicans called off a vote Thursday on Speaker John Boehner's plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling while enacting sweeping cuts in government spending, but the possibility remained that the measure could come up on Friday.
The delay in voting on the proposal revealed a deep rift within the GOP that could undermine the party's latest attempt to avoid an unprecedented national default and stave off potential economic catastrophe.
Boehner was unable to muster sufficient support from his own caucus to guarantee his proposal would pass in the face of expected unified Democratic opposition.
After more than four hours of delay, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-California, told reporters there would be no vote on Thursday night.
Dem, Republican spar over debt, taxes
Bank examiner: 'You're right to worry'
Will tea party back Boehner's debt bill?
Debt plans focus on cuts only RELATED TOPICS
National Debt
U.S. House of Representatives
John Boehner
Earlier, Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-New York, who supports the plan, told CNN that some members "have had a lot of deep thinking to do" about their votes, and said the delay might be to confirm "the last few" supporting votes.
After the announcement of the delay, conservative congressmen were seen entering and leaving Boehner's office as the speaker tried to generate the necessary support. A floor debate on the plan was cut short, and the House moved on to discuss the naming of a post office in Illinois.
Staff members were later seen carrying pizzas from a local restaurant into Boehner's office.
Defeat of the measure would be a major setback for Boehner, who assumed his post in January, and further muddy the already tense negotiations over a deficit reduction deal that would also increase the federal borrowing limit. In particular, it would show Boehner was unable to control the tea party conservatives elected last year in a Republican wave that delivered a GOP majority in the House and his ascension to speaker.
Earlier, Boehner declared to reporters that the measure would pass, but McCarthy only would say progress was being made in rounding up the votes.
Another speaker at the news conference, Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, let slip there's more work to be done, calling on House colleagues "who may not be there yet" but were "moving forward on those votes."
The vote in the House had been scheduled for roughly 6 p.m. ET. Few if any Democrats were expected to back the measure. Assuming House Democrats remain united against the bill, Boehner will need the support of at least 216 of the House's 240 Republicans.
Whether Boehner can push the measure through remains an open question. Tea party-backed conservatives staged a virtual revolt against the bill over the past two days, complaining that it doesn't do enough to shrink the size of government and stem the tide of Washington's red ink.
"We don't have the votes yet, (but) we're going to get it passed," Boehner declared Thursday morning to his caucus, according to one Republican source who spoke on condition of not being identified.
Some Republicans have said this will be their last, best proposal. Senate Democrats, however, have warned the plan is dead on arrival on their side of Capitol Hill even if it passes the House.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, declared that the Senate is prepared to immediately vote on -- and defeat -- the speaker's plan Thursday night, assuming the House approves it.
"There are things that either side cannot get," Reid said Thursday morning, adding that Republicans need to "accept that and move on." Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called Boehner's proposal "a futile gesture."
GOP leaders responded by accusing the Democrats of playing political games.
"When is somebody on the other side of the aisle going to say yes?" Boehner asked. "We have a reasonable, responsible (plan). Let's pass this bill and end this crisis."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, warned that "Democrats are playing with fire here."
"It's hard to conclude that they're doing it for any other reason than politics," he said.
Debt limit 'doozies'
'The kid from Ohio' takes on a president
WH briefing gets 'testy' over debt deal
Explain it to me: Debt ceiling White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley told CNN on Thursday that, presuming the Boehner plan wins House approval and gets blocked in the Senate, the next step is for everyone "to take a step back in the Congress and look at where is a point of compromise."
Daley said that similarities between the Boehner plan and a competing proposal offered by Reid "may be the grounds for a deal that, hopefully, both parties can pass."
Both the House and Senate planned to work through the weekend, and officials say ongoing behind-the-scene talks will continue.
As the political maneuvering continues, the clock continues to tick down. If Congress fails to raise the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2, Americans could face rising interest rates and a declining dollar, among other problems.
Some financial experts have warned of a downgrade of America's triple-A credit rating and a potential stock market plunge. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 200 points Wednesday, but opened positively Thursday on the basis of encouraging news from job and housing markets.
Without an increase in the debt limit, the federal government will not be able to pay all its bills next month. President Barack Obama recently indicated he can't guarantee Social Security checks will be mailed out on time.
Regardless, some conservatives insist they won't back the Boehner plan or anything short of deep spending cuts, caps on future spending and a balanced budget to the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Georgia, told CNN on Thursday morning that he's not on board.
"I love my speaker, (but) we just keep spending," Gingrey complained. A balanced budget amendment is "the only way we can constrain ourselves," he said.
However, one of the GOP's party elders, Arizona Sen. John McCain, argued Wednesday that it's "worse than foolish" to suggest the current Congress will pass such an amendment by August 2. It's "bizarro," McCain said.
Leaders of both parties now agree that any deal to raise the debt ceiling should include long-term spending reductions to help control spiraling deficits. But they differ sharply on both the nature and timetable of the cuts. Republicans are seeking another vote on the debt ceiling before the 2012 election; Democrats call the demand a political nonstarter and economically destabilizing.
The Boehner and Reid plans both suffered setbacks earlier this week when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released reports concluding that they fell short of their stated deficit reduction goals.
Specifically, the CBO concluded that Boehner's plan would cut spending by $850 billion rather than the $1.2 trillion proponents claimed it would save, which was below the $900 billion increase in the debt ceiling included in the measure.
Boehner has since revised his plan, and the CBO now estimates it would generate a total of $917 billion in savings over the next decade, an increase of about $65 billion over the initial version.
With the revisions, Boehner's proposal now meets his pledge to match any debt ceiling hike with dollar-for-dollar spending cuts.
Boehner's plan would require two separate votes by Congress, allowing for a combined debt ceiling increase of up to $2.5 trillion. In addition to imposing nearly $1 trillion in spending reductions, it would create a special congressional committee to recommend additional savings of $1.6 trillion or more.
Any failure on the part of Congress to enact mandated spending reductions or abide by new spending caps would trigger automatic across-the-board budget cuts.
The plan also calls for a congressional vote on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution by the end of the year.
Boehner has promised anxious conservatives votes on two versions of a balanced budget amendment on Friday, according to GOP leadership sources.
One version, if adopted by the states, would require Washington to maintain a balanced budget. The other version, one that conservatives have long been pushing, would also require a super-majority vote in both chambers to approve any tax increases.
As for Reid's plan, a CBO analysis released Wednesday concluded it would reduce deficits over the next decade by $2.2 trillion -- $500 billion short of promised savings of $2.7 trillion. Democrats had been claiming their plan would meet the GOP's demand that total savings should at least match any debt ceiling hike through 2012.
Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner, said Wednesday that the CBO analysis of Reid's proposal "shows the Senate plan for what it is: a grab-bag of gimmicks that gives the president a blank check."
Democrats responded by arguing that Reid's plan has more guaranteed savings than Boehner's. They also promised that the final version of Reid's bill will include more savings.
Reid's plan would cut spending by $1.8 trillion as part of the total $2.2 trillion in savings, according to the CBO. Roughly $1 trillion in the savings are based on the planned U.S. withdrawals from military engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Limiting future discretionary spending would save another $751 billion, and an estimated $375 billion would be saved in interest payments due to reduced borrowing because of the spending cuts.
Reid's plan also would establish a congressional committee made up of 12 House and Senate members to consider additional options for debt reduction. The committee's proposals would be guaranteed by a Senate vote with no amendments by the end of the year.
Among other things, Reid has stressed that his plan meets the key GOP demand for no additional taxes. Boehner, however, argued this week that Reid's plan fails to tackle popular entitlement programs such as Medicare, which are among the biggest drivers of the debt.
Beneath the harsh partisan rhetoric, there have been signs of a growing recognition of a need for further compromise. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, called Tuesday for renewed negotiations with Obama, and indicated that his party must be willing to move away from some of its demands.
Sources close to the negotiations have told CNN that Vice President Joe Biden is very much in the mix of the back-channel conversations that are occurring on a possible fallback position.
Obama made a nationally televised plea for compromise Monday night.
A CNN/ORC International Poll reveals a growing public exasperation and demand for compromise. Sixty-four percent of respondents to a July 18-20 survey preferred a deal with a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. Only 34% preferred a debt reduction plan based solely on spending reductions.
According to the poll, the public is sharply divided along partisan lines; Democrats and independents are open to a number of different approaches because they think a failure to raise the debt ceiling would cause a major crisis for the country. Republicans, however, draw the line at tax increases, and a narrow majority of them oppose raising the debt ceiling under any circumstances.
comment: i think The Boehner and Reid plans both suffered setbacks earlier this week when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released reports concluding that they fell short of their stated deficit reduction goals.
i think
Washington (CNN) -- House Republicans called off a vote Thursday on Speaker John Boehner's plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling while enacting sweeping cuts in government spending, but the possibility remained that the measure could come up on Friday.
The delay in voting on the proposal revealed a deep rift within the GOP that could undermine the party's latest attempt to avoid an unprecedented national default and stave off potential economic catastrophe.
Boehner was unable to muster sufficient support from his own caucus to guarantee his proposal would pass in the face of expected unified Democratic opposition.
After more than four hours of delay, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-California, told reporters there would be no vote on Thursday night.
Dem, Republican spar over debt, taxes
Bank examiner: 'You're right to worry'
Will tea party back Boehner's debt bill?
Debt plans focus on cuts only RELATED TOPICS
National Debt
U.S. House of Representatives
John Boehner
Earlier, Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-New York, who supports the plan, told CNN that some members "have had a lot of deep thinking to do" about their votes, and said the delay might be to confirm "the last few" supporting votes.
After the announcement of the delay, conservative congressmen were seen entering and leaving Boehner's office as the speaker tried to generate the necessary support. A floor debate on the plan was cut short, and the House moved on to discuss the naming of a post office in Illinois.
Staff members were later seen carrying pizzas from a local restaurant into Boehner's office.
Defeat of the measure would be a major setback for Boehner, who assumed his post in January, and further muddy the already tense negotiations over a deficit reduction deal that would also increase the federal borrowing limit. In particular, it would show Boehner was unable to control the tea party conservatives elected last year in a Republican wave that delivered a GOP majority in the House and his ascension to speaker.
Earlier, Boehner declared to reporters that the measure would pass, but McCarthy only would say progress was being made in rounding up the votes.
Another speaker at the news conference, Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, let slip there's more work to be done, calling on House colleagues "who may not be there yet" but were "moving forward on those votes."
The vote in the House had been scheduled for roughly 6 p.m. ET. Few if any Democrats were expected to back the measure. Assuming House Democrats remain united against the bill, Boehner will need the support of at least 216 of the House's 240 Republicans.
Whether Boehner can push the measure through remains an open question. Tea party-backed conservatives staged a virtual revolt against the bill over the past two days, complaining that it doesn't do enough to shrink the size of government and stem the tide of Washington's red ink.
"We don't have the votes yet, (but) we're going to get it passed," Boehner declared Thursday morning to his caucus, according to one Republican source who spoke on condition of not being identified.
Some Republicans have said this will be their last, best proposal. Senate Democrats, however, have warned the plan is dead on arrival on their side of Capitol Hill even if it passes the House.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, declared that the Senate is prepared to immediately vote on -- and defeat -- the speaker's plan Thursday night, assuming the House approves it.
"There are things that either side cannot get," Reid said Thursday morning, adding that Republicans need to "accept that and move on." Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called Boehner's proposal "a futile gesture."
GOP leaders responded by accusing the Democrats of playing political games.
"When is somebody on the other side of the aisle going to say yes?" Boehner asked. "We have a reasonable, responsible (plan). Let's pass this bill and end this crisis."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, warned that "Democrats are playing with fire here."
"It's hard to conclude that they're doing it for any other reason than politics," he said.
Debt limit 'doozies'
'The kid from Ohio' takes on a president
WH briefing gets 'testy' over debt deal
Explain it to me: Debt ceiling White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley told CNN on Thursday that, presuming the Boehner plan wins House approval and gets blocked in the Senate, the next step is for everyone "to take a step back in the Congress and look at where is a point of compromise."
Daley said that similarities between the Boehner plan and a competing proposal offered by Reid "may be the grounds for a deal that, hopefully, both parties can pass."
Both the House and Senate planned to work through the weekend, and officials say ongoing behind-the-scene talks will continue.
As the political maneuvering continues, the clock continues to tick down. If Congress fails to raise the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2, Americans could face rising interest rates and a declining dollar, among other problems.
Some financial experts have warned of a downgrade of America's triple-A credit rating and a potential stock market plunge. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 200 points Wednesday, but opened positively Thursday on the basis of encouraging news from job and housing markets.
Without an increase in the debt limit, the federal government will not be able to pay all its bills next month. President Barack Obama recently indicated he can't guarantee Social Security checks will be mailed out on time.
Regardless, some conservatives insist they won't back the Boehner plan or anything short of deep spending cuts, caps on future spending and a balanced budget to the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Georgia, told CNN on Thursday morning that he's not on board.
"I love my speaker, (but) we just keep spending," Gingrey complained. A balanced budget amendment is "the only way we can constrain ourselves," he said.
However, one of the GOP's party elders, Arizona Sen. John McCain, argued Wednesday that it's "worse than foolish" to suggest the current Congress will pass such an amendment by August 2. It's "bizarro," McCain said.
Leaders of both parties now agree that any deal to raise the debt ceiling should include long-term spending reductions to help control spiraling deficits. But they differ sharply on both the nature and timetable of the cuts. Republicans are seeking another vote on the debt ceiling before the 2012 election; Democrats call the demand a political nonstarter and economically destabilizing.
The Boehner and Reid plans both suffered setbacks earlier this week when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released reports concluding that they fell short of their stated deficit reduction goals.
Specifically, the CBO concluded that Boehner's plan would cut spending by $850 billion rather than the $1.2 trillion proponents claimed it would save, which was below the $900 billion increase in the debt ceiling included in the measure.
Boehner has since revised his plan, and the CBO now estimates it would generate a total of $917 billion in savings over the next decade, an increase of about $65 billion over the initial version.
With the revisions, Boehner's proposal now meets his pledge to match any debt ceiling hike with dollar-for-dollar spending cuts.
Boehner's plan would require two separate votes by Congress, allowing for a combined debt ceiling increase of up to $2.5 trillion. In addition to imposing nearly $1 trillion in spending reductions, it would create a special congressional committee to recommend additional savings of $1.6 trillion or more.
Any failure on the part of Congress to enact mandated spending reductions or abide by new spending caps would trigger automatic across-the-board budget cuts.
The plan also calls for a congressional vote on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution by the end of the year.
Boehner has promised anxious conservatives votes on two versions of a balanced budget amendment on Friday, according to GOP leadership sources.
One version, if adopted by the states, would require Washington to maintain a balanced budget. The other version, one that conservatives have long been pushing, would also require a super-majority vote in both chambers to approve any tax increases.
As for Reid's plan, a CBO analysis released Wednesday concluded it would reduce deficits over the next decade by $2.2 trillion -- $500 billion short of promised savings of $2.7 trillion. Democrats had been claiming their plan would meet the GOP's demand that total savings should at least match any debt ceiling hike through 2012.
Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner, said Wednesday that the CBO analysis of Reid's proposal "shows the Senate plan for what it is: a grab-bag of gimmicks that gives the president a blank check."
Democrats responded by arguing that Reid's plan has more guaranteed savings than Boehner's. They also promised that the final version of Reid's bill will include more savings.
Reid's plan would cut spending by $1.8 trillion as part of the total $2.2 trillion in savings, according to the CBO. Roughly $1 trillion in the savings are based on the planned U.S. withdrawals from military engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Limiting future discretionary spending would save another $751 billion, and an estimated $375 billion would be saved in interest payments due to reduced borrowing because of the spending cuts.
Reid's plan also would establish a congressional committee made up of 12 House and Senate members to consider additional options for debt reduction. The committee's proposals would be guaranteed by a Senate vote with no amendments by the end of the year.
Among other things, Reid has stressed that his plan meets the key GOP demand for no additional taxes. Boehner, however, argued this week that Reid's plan fails to tackle popular entitlement programs such as Medicare, which are among the biggest drivers of the debt.
Beneath the harsh partisan rhetoric, there have been signs of a growing recognition of a need for further compromise. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, called Tuesday for renewed negotiations with Obama, and indicated that his party must be willing to move away from some of its demands.
Sources close to the negotiations have told CNN that Vice President Joe Biden is very much in the mix of the back-channel conversations that are occurring on a possible fallback position.
Obama made a nationally televised plea for compromise Monday night.
A CNN/ORC International Poll reveals a growing public exasperation and demand for compromise. Sixty-four percent of respondents to a July 18-20 survey preferred a deal with a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. Only 34% preferred a debt reduction plan based solely on spending reductions.
According to the poll, the public is sharply divided along partisan lines; Democrats and independents are open to a number of different approaches because they think a failure to raise the debt ceiling would cause a major crisis for the country. Republicans, however, draw the line at tax increases, and a narrow majority of them oppose raising the debt ceiling under any circumstances.
comment: i think The Boehner and Reid plans both suffered setbacks earlier this week when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released reports concluding that they fell short of their stated deficit reduction goals.
i think
(CNN) -- Despite their pristine, sterile appearance, Apple stores are known for tolerating eccentricities.
Witness customers browsing inside the stores with their dogs, or the recent trend of people breaking into videotaped dances 
But did you know you can order (and eat) a pizza in an Apple store? Come dressed as Darth Vader and get someone to look at your broken iPhone? Or even visit a store with a live goat?
Apparently, you can. We know this now courtesy of comedian Mark Malkoff, who tried all these stunts and more in a video posted this week to MyDamnChannel, the Gothamist and other sites.
"My question: Is there a limit to what the Apple store will allow?" asks Malkoff in the clip, which has racked up more than 100,000 views.
Presumably yes -- although it's hard to tell from the video, in which Apple store employees tolerate and even seem amused by Malkoff's antics, which culminate in him leading a balky goat into a store on Broadway and 67th Street in Manhattan.
"I will not rest until every electronics store in America allows goats," said Malkoff on Twitter Tuesday.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
New iPhone 5 rumors: Leaked case suggests 'radical' redesign
(CNN) -- Another week, another round of iPhone 5 rumors. This time, it's an apparent case for the unreleased phone that has Apple fans buzzing.
Mobile Fun, a British mobile-phone blog, has posted images of what it says is the design for a next-generation iPhone case leaked "from a Chinese case manufacturer."
The case, and an image the blog says was later sent to them by another manufacturer, suggest what they call "massive changes" to the iPhone 5, or whatever it will be called.
Among them: what appears to be a larger, roughly 4-inch display screen, a curved rear panel more like earlier iPhones than the iPhone 4, and a hole on the back -- about where the Apple logo is on current phones. Some Apple observers speculate that hole indicates a possible new location for the device's antenna, replacing the iPhone 4's much maligned side antenna.
"If these images are authentic -- and we have every reason to believe that they are -- then the iPhone 5 is a radical evolution of the iPhone concept, and a bigger departure from the iPhone 4 than previous case images have shown," the blog post reads.
But MacRumors, a popular blog focused on, well, what its name says, isn't convinced.
"We suspect all of the images and information are coming from a common source, but we don't necessarily believe it to be true ...,"wrote Arnold Kim of MacRumors. "[W]e received a reliable tip that this is not what the iPhone 5 will look like. As well, several other credible news outlets have said that the iPhone 5 will look largely similar to the current iPhone 4."
Based on multiple reports, all of them from unnamed sources due to Apple's loose-lips-sink-ships policy on details about upcoming products, the next version of the iPhone will be announced in September.
The China Times pinpoints the iPhone 5 release to the second week of September with an initial order of 4 million units, MacRumors said.
A better camera, a faster processor, a bigger screen -- all have been mentioned repeatedly in rumors that inevitably swirl every time a new Apple product is in the works.
And there's obviously an audience for every one of these speculative tidbits.
A recent survey of about 3,000 consumers showed that 35 percent of them plan to buy Apple's next phone when it hits the market -- despite not knowing anything about it yet.
Opinion: There are rumors of the new Iphone 5, which I think they are true and that the very Apple Company is producing to indirectly promote their new device. I'm surprised by the quick versions that are being selling. When I was about to buy an Iphone i expect for the new version, the 3Gs so I wait for my birthday, but... then the new Iphone 4! And now rumors of a Iphone 5. Well, we have to wait for September, the month that Apple would launch sales for their new artifact.
news thursday
London 2012: A year to go and all is well?
By Gary Morley, CNN
July 27, 2011 -- Updated 1720 GMT (0120 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
London enters the final year of preparations before staging the 2012 Olympic Games
English capital will be the first city to host the sporting event three times in the modern era
It was awarded the Games in 2005 a day before terrorists attacked London
Most of the tickets have already sold out despite criticism of balloting system
London (CNN) -- July 27 marks the start of the final countdown for London's staging of the 2012 Olympic Games.
One year from now, 14,700 competitors from 205 nations across the globe will take part in the opening ceremony. An estimated one billion people tuned in to watch Beijing's glittering extravaganza in 2008, and this time the eyes of the world will be on the British capital.
Despite fears that the venues would not be ready on time, that the city's creaking infrastructure would not be capable of dealing with such an influx of visitors, it appears that London is on track to deliver.
The International Olympic Committee has already given an interim thumbs up, with most venues at an advanced stage of completion.
But it has been a bumpy path since 2005, when it became the first city to be awarded the world's biggest sporting extravaganza three times in the modern era, previously having the honor in 1908 and 1948.
Jacques Rogge backs Olympic legacy Olympic questions for Seb Coe Beckham 'London ready for 2012' London's Olympic history
Costs have rocketed, local councils cried foul when the marathon route was moved from their borders despite earlier promises, and the vagaries of the ticketing system have left many people upset that they will not be able to participate.
With that in mind, CNN takes a look at some of main issues surrounding London 2012.
FINANCES
The projected cost of the 2012 Olympics ballooned from the initial bid estimate of £4 billion ($6.5 billion) to £9.3 billion ($15.2 billion) in 2007.
The London Organizing Committee for both the Olympics and Paralympics has a budget of £2 billion, which it says will be mostly funded by the private sector.
However, the public sector will foot most of the overall bill -- though the budget was not protected from the wide-ranging spending cuts implemented by the coalition government since 2010, losing £27 million ($44 million) that year.
On the other hand, with many events already sold out, organizers are well on the way to achieving their target of £500 million ($820 million) revenue from ticket sales.
TICKETS
With more than 20 million applications for 6.6 million tickets available for 39 sporting disciplines in the UK allocation alone, it was no surprise that many people were left unhappy.
It turned out that more people missed out in the initial ballot than were successful, with most events -- especially glamour dates such as the men's 100-meters final and opening/closing ceremonies -- being massively oversubscribed.
The Guardian newspaper reported that only 30,000 of the 80,000 seats available for that 100m race were on offer to the British public anyway -- 1.3 million applied.
But one of the main criticisms was a system that meant money was taken out of your bank account before you knew what you had been allocated, the details of which which you found out up to a month later.
TRANSPORT
This was one of London's weakest areas, according to inspectors from the International Olympic Committee. With an underground train system in part dating back to the 1860s, most of the city's commuters would agree.
Gallery: London 2012: A year to go
Olympic-sized lessons Building an Olympic dream 'Pressure on home athletes'
RELATED TOPICS
Olympic Games
2012 Summer Olympics
International Olympic Committee
Sebastian Coe
London
The Jubilee line, one of the more recent additions on the network, has been upgraded to suit its role as the main tube route to Stratford. The Olympic Javelin service, a high-speed rail link from St. Pancras International in central London, is expected to take 25,000 passengers an hour to the Olympic Park.
However, critics fear that the volume of travelers will seize up London's overcrowded transport system, especially at rush hour. Businesses have already been warned to put in place contingency plans for getting employees to work.
For those hoping to drive to the Olympic Park, there are two park-and-ride sites outside London which will connect with the Javelin service. People willing to walk or cycle can navigate 75 kilometers of upgraded routes in the region.
SECURITY
The day after London was awarded the 2012 Olympics, the capital was rocked by bomb blasts which killed 52 train and bus commuters, injuring more than 700. While the so-called "7/7" attacks were not proved to be linked to the IOC's decision, it brought home how the city might be targeted during the Games.
Organizers have worked with the government, police and other essential support services to put in place measures to prevent any repeat of that dark day.
"We have a robust safety and security strategy," Home Secretary Theresa May said this month when announcing a set of exercises to simulate possible problem scenarios.
"The testing of our plans, structures and responses to ensure they can deal with any incident is vital. It is important we learn lessons ahead of the Games."
THE VENUES
London 2012 will be a mixture of old and new. A 2.5 square-kilometer area of industrial wasteland in the eastern borough of Stratford is being regenerated to form the new Olympic Park.
It houses the main Olympic Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies take place along with the track and field events. Also on the site are the aquatics center and arenas for basketball, hockey, cycling, water polo, handball, BMX and wheelchair tennis.
Visitors can experience iconic London landmarks, with several events starting and finishing at The Mall near Buckingham Palace, beach volleyball at Horse Guards' Parade near No. 10 Downing St, a cycling time-trial at Hampton Court Palace, triathlon in Hyde Park and equestrian events in historic Greenwich.
The new Wembley Stadium will host men's and women's football, Wimbledon will again welcome the world's top tennis players and Lord's -- the home of cricket -- stages archery.
Watersports such as sailing, rowing and canoeing will be held outside London, as will some football matches.
LEGACY
After the closing ceremony on August 12, organizers will begin the process of transforming the Olympic site into what they say will be one of the largest urban parks created in Europe for 150 years.
While that move has been welcomed by environmentalists, the decision over the future of the Olympic Stadium has been more controversial.
Football club West Ham United will move into the venue on the basis that it will still be used for athletics events, much to the anger of north London-based rivals Tottenham -- who had planned to use the site for a new purpose-built stadium.
Leyton Orient, the team actually located closest to the ground, sought to block West Ham's application on the grounds that it would destroy the third division club's fanbase.
Organizers have been proud to announce that one goal has already been achieved a year early, with the International Inspiration program reaching 12 million children in 17 countries worldwide.
In flood-prone Bangladesh, where thousands of children drown each year, it has helped teach 80,000 non-swimmers to survive. In Trinidad & Tobago, it is using sport to address the issue of violence, and in Zambia it is providing education about HIV and AIDS.
COMMENT: I think it doesn't make sense to start a countdown a year before, but still I think that this Olympics will be graet, I like to watch competitions in sports, especially the ones in snow
By Gary Morley, CNN
July 27, 2011 -- Updated 1720 GMT (0120 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
London enters the final year of preparations before staging the 2012 Olympic Games
English capital will be the first city to host the sporting event three times in the modern era
It was awarded the Games in 2005 a day before terrorists attacked London
Most of the tickets have already sold out despite criticism of balloting system
London (CNN) -- July 27 marks the start of the final countdown for London's staging of the 2012 Olympic Games.
One year from now, 14,700 competitors from 205 nations across the globe will take part in the opening ceremony. An estimated one billion people tuned in to watch Beijing's glittering extravaganza in 2008, and this time the eyes of the world will be on the British capital.
Despite fears that the venues would not be ready on time, that the city's creaking infrastructure would not be capable of dealing with such an influx of visitors, it appears that London is on track to deliver.
The International Olympic Committee has already given an interim thumbs up, with most venues at an advanced stage of completion.
But it has been a bumpy path since 2005, when it became the first city to be awarded the world's biggest sporting extravaganza three times in the modern era, previously having the honor in 1908 and 1948.
Jacques Rogge backs Olympic legacy Olympic questions for Seb Coe Beckham 'London ready for 2012' London's Olympic history
Costs have rocketed, local councils cried foul when the marathon route was moved from their borders despite earlier promises, and the vagaries of the ticketing system have left many people upset that they will not be able to participate.
With that in mind, CNN takes a look at some of main issues surrounding London 2012.
FINANCES
The projected cost of the 2012 Olympics ballooned from the initial bid estimate of £4 billion ($6.5 billion) to £9.3 billion ($15.2 billion) in 2007.
The London Organizing Committee for both the Olympics and Paralympics has a budget of £2 billion, which it says will be mostly funded by the private sector.
However, the public sector will foot most of the overall bill -- though the budget was not protected from the wide-ranging spending cuts implemented by the coalition government since 2010, losing £27 million ($44 million) that year.
On the other hand, with many events already sold out, organizers are well on the way to achieving their target of £500 million ($820 million) revenue from ticket sales.
TICKETS
With more than 20 million applications for 6.6 million tickets available for 39 sporting disciplines in the UK allocation alone, it was no surprise that many people were left unhappy.
It turned out that more people missed out in the initial ballot than were successful, with most events -- especially glamour dates such as the men's 100-meters final and opening/closing ceremonies -- being massively oversubscribed.
The Guardian newspaper reported that only 30,000 of the 80,000 seats available for that 100m race were on offer to the British public anyway -- 1.3 million applied.
But one of the main criticisms was a system that meant money was taken out of your bank account before you knew what you had been allocated, the details of which which you found out up to a month later.
TRANSPORT
This was one of London's weakest areas, according to inspectors from the International Olympic Committee. With an underground train system in part dating back to the 1860s, most of the city's commuters would agree.
Gallery: London 2012: A year to go
Olympic-sized lessons Building an Olympic dream 'Pressure on home athletes'
RELATED TOPICS
Olympic Games
2012 Summer Olympics
International Olympic Committee
Sebastian Coe
London
The Jubilee line, one of the more recent additions on the network, has been upgraded to suit its role as the main tube route to Stratford. The Olympic Javelin service, a high-speed rail link from St. Pancras International in central London, is expected to take 25,000 passengers an hour to the Olympic Park.
However, critics fear that the volume of travelers will seize up London's overcrowded transport system, especially at rush hour. Businesses have already been warned to put in place contingency plans for getting employees to work.
For those hoping to drive to the Olympic Park, there are two park-and-ride sites outside London which will connect with the Javelin service. People willing to walk or cycle can navigate 75 kilometers of upgraded routes in the region.
SECURITY
The day after London was awarded the 2012 Olympics, the capital was rocked by bomb blasts which killed 52 train and bus commuters, injuring more than 700. While the so-called "7/7" attacks were not proved to be linked to the IOC's decision, it brought home how the city might be targeted during the Games.
Organizers have worked with the government, police and other essential support services to put in place measures to prevent any repeat of that dark day.
"We have a robust safety and security strategy," Home Secretary Theresa May said this month when announcing a set of exercises to simulate possible problem scenarios.
"The testing of our plans, structures and responses to ensure they can deal with any incident is vital. It is important we learn lessons ahead of the Games."
THE VENUES
London 2012 will be a mixture of old and new. A 2.5 square-kilometer area of industrial wasteland in the eastern borough of Stratford is being regenerated to form the new Olympic Park.
It houses the main Olympic Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies take place along with the track and field events. Also on the site are the aquatics center and arenas for basketball, hockey, cycling, water polo, handball, BMX and wheelchair tennis.
Visitors can experience iconic London landmarks, with several events starting and finishing at The Mall near Buckingham Palace, beach volleyball at Horse Guards' Parade near No. 10 Downing St, a cycling time-trial at Hampton Court Palace, triathlon in Hyde Park and equestrian events in historic Greenwich.
The new Wembley Stadium will host men's and women's football, Wimbledon will again welcome the world's top tennis players and Lord's -- the home of cricket -- stages archery.
Watersports such as sailing, rowing and canoeing will be held outside London, as will some football matches.
LEGACY
After the closing ceremony on August 12, organizers will begin the process of transforming the Olympic site into what they say will be one of the largest urban parks created in Europe for 150 years.
While that move has been welcomed by environmentalists, the decision over the future of the Olympic Stadium has been more controversial.
Football club West Ham United will move into the venue on the basis that it will still be used for athletics events, much to the anger of north London-based rivals Tottenham -- who had planned to use the site for a new purpose-built stadium.
Leyton Orient, the team actually located closest to the ground, sought to block West Ham's application on the grounds that it would destroy the third division club's fanbase.
Organizers have been proud to announce that one goal has already been achieved a year early, with the International Inspiration program reaching 12 million children in 17 countries worldwide.
In flood-prone Bangladesh, where thousands of children drown each year, it has helped teach 80,000 non-swimmers to survive. In Trinidad & Tobago, it is using sport to address the issue of violence, and in Zambia it is providing education about HIV and AIDS.
COMMENT: I think it doesn't make sense to start a countdown a year before, but still I think that this Olympics will be graet, I like to watch competitions in sports, especially the ones in snow
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