World Cup 2010: Paul the psychic octopus is biggest English success

Fans are now placing money on the mystic mollusc himself, rather than the outcome of the big game, while senior politicians have expressed concern about threats to his safety made by supporters of losing teams.

Paul has also become a sensation on the internet, becoming one of the most talked-about topics on Twitter and Facebook while doctored images have been created of him appearing to decide the victor of forthcoming elections around the world.

Bastian Schepers, operations manager at Sea Life Oberhausen, the aquarium in western Germany where Paul now lives, said: “It’s good for us that he’s right, but we hoped he would choose Germany. We hope it’s not only luck.”

Matthew Fuller, senior aquarist at the Sea Life centre in Weymouth where the soothsaying sea creature was born two and a half years ago, said: “I’m quite amazed at what he’s done. We’re just sorry that he left us.”

The common octopus was transferred to Germany when young, where his keepers devised a dinnertime game in which he was offered the choice of two glass boxes containing a mussel.

During the Euro 2008 football championships, flags of the competing sides were placed on the containers and it was noted that on almost every occasion, the team that Paul’s tentacle touched first went on to win their match.

The trick was repeated at the start of South Africa’s World Cup for Germany’s games, and as the tournament progressed his uncannily accurate predictions were followed ever more closely.

Paul guessed the outcome of all Germany’s group games, including their shock loss to lowly Serbia, as well as their defeat of England and Argentina in subsequent rounds.

There was national anguish after he picked the container bearing the Spanish flag ahead of Wednesday night’s semi-final, with angry fans calling for him to be “thrown into the shark tank”.

When Spain duly beat Germany, preserving his 100 per cent record, “anti-octopus” songs were aired in Berlin while Spanish fans chanted his name at the stadium in Durban.

It prompted Spain’s Prime Minister, Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero, to joke on a radio show: “I am concerned for the octopus ... I am thinking of sending him a protective team.”

Although Paul had a 50 per cent chance of getting the correct result in each game, the chances of him getting all six right in a row were 1 in 64.

William Hill has now taken so many bets that Paul will correctly tip the winner of the final between Spain and the Netherlands that they have cut the odds from evens to 10-11.

Anyone who backed each of his predictions with a £10 flutter so far would be £84 up, but if they had rolled the bets into an accumulator would have won £1,426.

Graham Sharpe, a spokesman for the bookmakers, said: “Punters are superstitious creatures at the best of times - and many have favourite tipsters they like to follow, but they tend to be human, so this is the first time we've genuinely had punters coming into betting shops and asking staff about the predictions made by an octopus.”

On Friday morning, aquarium handlers will ask Paul to decide on the winner of the third-place playoff between Germany and Uruguay by extending one of his eight suckered arms towards one of two boxes bearing their flags.

He will then be asked to decide which team will lift the trophy on Sunday. But having already eaten Paul may decline to make another prediction, plunging the worlds of sport and gambling into turmoil.

M.O.G - Wedding Day

NAIROBI - Gospel group M.O.G (Men of God) has dropped their 4th video titled Wedding Day off their debut album Someday. Check it out and tell us what you think.

Portugal-Brazil Preview .

Since 4 December 2009, when the Final Draw dictated the groups here at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, Portugal versus Brazil in Group G has been among the most eagerly anticipated games of all 48 first-phase encounters. With two rounds of matches already played, that feeling remains firmly intact, with the Portuguese still yet to seal qualification and top spot at stake for both sides.

And though 25 June’s game in Durban is only the pair’s second meeting at the finals of the global game’s biggest showpiece, the two nations’ shared history makes it very much a match between familiar foes.

The match
Portugal-Brazil, Group G, Durban – Friday, 25 June, 17.00 (Kenyan time)

Not only are Brazil and Portugal the first- and third-placed sides in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the teams both go into this heavyweight duel on the back of two of the best performances so far at South Africa 2010. A Verde e Amarelo put in a clinical display when sinking Côte d’Ivoire 3-1, while Carlos Queiroz’s charges cut loose to record a 7-0 victory over Korea DPR.

A Seleção’s 100 per cent start has already guaranteed them a Round of 16 berth and Dunga’s men need just a draw to secure top spot. For Portugal, whose goal difference is nine goals better than the Ivorians, the only way they can exit the competition is via defeat against Brazil and enough goals from Didier Drogba and Co against Korea DPR to make up the shortfall.

Missing from the big occasion will be Kaka, suspended after receiving a red card against the Elephants – this after a fine performance which featured two assists. Fellow attacking midfielder Elano, scorer of two goals so far, is an injury doubt as is Portugal’s Brazil-born schemer Deco.

Players to watch
Fabio Coentrao v Maicon

Given the attacking bent of Brazilian right-back Maicon and Portugal’s left-back Fabio Coentrao, a high-octane contest of skill and lung power is sure to ensue on Friday. Indeed, the Inter Milan defender has already got off the mark at the finals with a stunning strike against Korea DPR, while the Benfica flyer was an integral part of Portugal’s demolition of the same opponents.

The stat
0 — Neither Brazil nor Portugal have tasted defeat in the year 2010: Dunga’s team have won five of five games, while the Lusitanians have won four and drawn two of their six encounters. In addition, A Seleção are enjoying a run of eight consecutive wins while their upcoming opponents are unbeaten in 18. Perhaps tellingly, Portugal’s last reverse was a 6-2 humbling by Brazil on 19 November 2008.

What they said
“Our team’s reputation will also be on the line. Our final group position is at stake, but more importantly we first have to seal our place in the next round. For that reason it’s vital that we’re totally focused and totally determined. That’s because everything we did right against the North Koreans – the goals we scored and the hard work we put in – doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll now beat Brazil,” Carlos Queiroz, Portugal coach.

“It’s another tough match, like every World Cup game. Our plan is to keep getting stronger with each game, like we did in 2002 (in Korea/Japan). In terms of technical ability, Portugal are on a par with Brazil. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, but we don’t intend to man-mark him. We’ll have to keep an eye on all their players,” Lucio, Brazil captain and centre-back.

Voice of the fans
“Portugal have somehow managed to defy the statistics over the last few games. When we think we’ll win, we draw! And when we think about drawing we normally win, though we normally don’t think we’re going to lose. I honestly don’t know what might happen. We may not have the best attack in the world but I do think we’ve got the best defence. And if, as the saying goes, the best form of attack is a good defence, then I predict a win for Portugal over Brazil,” dnasaldanha, FIFA.com user.

The question
With Brazil be able to click without Kaka? Or will Cristiano Ronaldo and Co dominate proceedings in Durban?

One year after Michael Jackson’s death, the family is moving ahead.

FANATICAL Michael Jackson's fans everywhere are preparing to mark the one-year anniversary of his death from a drug overdose.

Jackson, 50, was found dead in his rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death which triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius.

On Friday, Jackson fans are expected to pay their respects to their idol at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the suburb of Glendale, a star-studded cemetery where the singer's golden casket was entombed last September.

Jackson's final resting place is an elaborate neo-classical mausoleum which already houses Hollywood legends including Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.

In Japan, 50 hard-core fans plan to hold a slumber party on Friday, curling up in sleeping bags in an exhibition space that displays Jackson's crystal-studded gloves, concert costumes, awards and some 300 other possessions.

The 50 admirers - one for each year of Jackson's life - were chosen from some 10,000 applicants who wanted to spend the night in the Neverland Collection at Tokyo Tower, said exhibit producer Matt Taylor.

The proceeds of 100,000 yen ($A1,263) each for the 10.30 pm to 8am sleepover will go to Jackson's family estate and his children, he said.

"It's going to be a wonderful night for the 50 people who get to stay with Michael's most cherished possessions, the things that were closest to him,'' Taylor said, adding that several non-Japanese are among the chosen ones.

More than half a million visitors have filed through the exhibit since it opened on May 1, and Jackson look-a-likes and Moonwalk-dancers have turned up at what has turned into a pilgrimage spot for diehard fans.

Back in LA, fans of Jackson will be barred from entering the mausoleum but will be allowed to walk past the building to lay flowers or wreaths, Glendale Police Sergeant Tom Lorenz said.

"A person will be able to go up and walk by the mausoleum," Lorenz said. "But they cannot enter the mausoleum. That is not going to happen."

Authorities are also discouraging fans from flocking to the cemetery en masse, hoping to avoid large crowds, Lorenz added.

"You're not going to be able to camp out over night. You're not going to be the first one in line with a chair parked on the sidewalk," he said.

Friday's anniversary will see a Jackson tribute event - Forever Michael - at a Beverly Hills hotel, with tickets priced at between $US150 ($A172.30) and $US500 ($A574.30). Members of Jackson's family are expected to attend the event.

"The vision is to bring together Michael Jackson family members, celebrities, fans, supporters and the community to celebrate and honour his legacy," a statement from the organisers said.

Jackson's death sent shockwaves rippling around the world last year, while family and fans were outraged after it emerged he had been given a cocktail of powerful prescription drugs including the anaesthetic, Propofol.

Propofol is used to induce unconsciousness in patients undergoing major surgery in hospital. Medical professionals say it should never be used by private individuals at home.

Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray, the last person to see the singer alive, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the case and is expected to stand trial next year. Murray denies the charges.

While the immediate aftermath of Jackson's death saw intense speculation about court-room wrangling for control of the singer's affairs, expected legal battles over his children and vast musical empire failed to materialise.

Jackson's mother, Katherine, was granted custody of the children Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and Blanket, 8, who are slowly adjusting to life without their father.

Katherine Jackson revealed on Sunday the children, who previously were home-schooled, will enrol in a school for the first time later this year.

"They don't have any friends," Jackson told Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper. "They don't go to school; they have private lessons at home, but that will change in September when they are due to enrol at private college."

Meanwhile, Billboard magazine reported Jackson estate has generated more than $US1 billion ($A1.2 billion) dollars in revenues since the singer's death, through the re-issue of his music, films and other commercial spin-offs.

John McClain and John Branca, the veteran entertainment industry executives placed in charge of Jackson's estate, have compared the commercial bonanza to the industry built around Elvis Presley.

"To this day there's interest in Elvis. And I think there will be enduring interest in Michael," Branca said earlier this year after signing a deal with Sony worth an estimated $US250 million ($A287.2 million) over seven years.

"It's our job to continue to expose Michael to new generations."
They are show business royalty, heirs of the King of Pop. Someday, they will be very rich.

But a year after the death of their father, Michael Jackson, Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson are normal kids full of fun and pranks, devoted to one another and to their grandmother, who is their guardian, according to a lawyer who sees them frequently.

They talk about their father, and his presence is everywhere in their ranch-style house in the San Fernando Valley. Pictures and memorabilia adorn the walls. The gated compound has additional residences where other members of the family have lived over the years.

“The children are seemingly as normal as normal can be under pretty extraordinary circumstances,” says Adam Streisand, the lawyer who represents Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, and a frequent visitor to the compound where she lives with the children.

On the anniversary of Michael’s death, sibling Jackie Jackson said, the family will gather for a quiet, private memorial.

As for Katherine Jackson, who recently turned 80, life has become a whirlwind. She is busy overseeing the children’s activities but is also involved in the administration of Michael’s estate. She is also putting out a book, “Never Can Say Goodbye: The Katherine Jackson Archives,” filled with photos of her son.

Streisand says Katherine Jackson has made it clear that she does not want Neverland to be sold, but the 3,000-acre spread costs millions to maintain, and a decision to sell could be reconsidered.

Katherine’s husband, Joe, lives in Las Vegas but stays at the family home when he is in California.

Here’s a rundown on the family’s activities since Michael’s death on June 25, 2009:

•Joe Jackson: He has criticized prosecutors for not filing stronger charges against Conrad Murray, facing manslaughter charges over improperly administering a mixture of sedatives, including the anesthetic propofol, in an attempt to get the chronic insomniac to sleep. He is battling Michael’s estate, seeking more than $15,000 a month, even though Michael Jackson omitted his father from his will and trust.

Michael’s brothers and sisters also were omitted from his will.

•Janet Jackson: The highest-profile living member of the Jacksons continued to balance acting and singing over the past year. She put out a greatest hits album with a couple of new tracks to lackluster sales but had success with her starring role in the movie “Why Did I Get Married Too?”

•Tito Jackson: Tito participated in the short-lived reality show “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty.” He has been touring with a blues band — he plays guitar — with planned stops in Japan, China and New York.

•Jermaine Jackson: Jermaine spent the first few months after his brother’s death trying to plan an all-star tribute. One was to be held in Vienna, but was later canceled. He appeared on the Jackson’s reality show and accepted awards for Michael at the American Music Awards.

•Randy Jackson: Randy was the only brother who declined to be on the Jackson reality series; he said on Twitter that he was a private person. But the youngest Jackson brother, who was recently hospitalized for chest pains, has been vocal on Twitter about various matters, ranging from Murray’s prosecution to unauthorized tributes to his brother.

•Marlon and Jackie Jackson: Along with Tito and Jermaine, Marlon and Jackie participated in the Jackson brothers reality show and were executive producers. Jackie said the show continues to play in Europe, but there are no plans for a second season. He and Marlon have been in a recording studio with estate executor John McClain preparing Michael’s unreleased music for a new album. Jackie is also a producer of the planned Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show.

•Rebbie Jackson: The oldest Jackson sibling has stayed out of the spotlight but started performing again this year, a comeback she had planned last year but halted when her brother died.

•LaToya Jackson: LaToya was among the most vocal family members after her brother died. With Jermaine and Joe, she said she believed Michael was “murdered.” She also put out a song, “Home,” in tribute to Michael; the song had previously been released before his death.

“Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much.”Eleven-year-old Paris Jackson, at her father’s memorial service last July in Los Angeles. She got a hug from her aunt Janet Jackson, while Blanket Jackson and LaToya Jackson stood close by.

Portugal notch magnificent seven

Portugal turned on the style to thrash Korea DPR 7-0 at the Green Point Stadium and take a huge step towards a place in the Round of 16.

Only a Raul Meireles goal divided the teams after a closely contested first half but it was a different story after the restart when Portugal devastated the North Korean defence with three goals inside eight minutes before the hour from Simao, Hugo Almeida and Tiago. With the clock ticking down, Liedson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiago again compounded their opponents' woes to produce Portugal's biggest FIFA World Cup™ victory and the widest winning margin so far in South Africa.

There were few parallels to draw with the teams' previous meeting on the world stage, their 1966 quarter-final in England when Eusebio – watching from the stands in Cape Town – so famously struck four goals as Portugal retrieved a three-goal deficit. There will be no repeat run from the North Koreans this time, their second defeat in Group G confirming their elimination. Portugal, by contrast, sit second in the section, with a three-point advantage over Côte d’Ivoire – and overwhelming gulf in goal difference – ahead of their final game against Brazil.

Carlos Queiroz's men made a positive start with defender Ricardo Carvalho nodding Simao's corner against the far post after seven minutes. As against Brazil in their opening 2-1 defeat, Korea DPR looked in no way overawed, however. With the rain teeming down, the Koreans pieced together a slick move on the fast surface that almost let in Jong Tae-Se only for the No9 to fail to control the through-ball. Otherwise, when they had the chance to shoot, they took it. Cha Jong-Hyok speared an effort just wide from distance, then Hong Yong-Jo arrowed in a shot from the right that Eduardo parried, Pak Nam-Chol failing to keep his header down on the follow-up.

Indeed Portugal coach Queiroz might have been forgiven a short sigh of relief when midfielder Meireles gave his side the lead in the 29th minute, timing his run into the North Korean box perfectly to meet Tiago's pass and drive the ball low past Ri Myong-Guk. A goal to the good, Portugal ended the half on top. Meireles sliced a shot wide before Fabio Coentrao teed up Hugo Almeida with a low centre but the big striker's attempted flick failed to come off.

Portugal did not have to wait long to double their advantage after the restart. Korea DPR custodian Ri Myong-Guk had already tipped over Tiago’s shot when Simao made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute. There was some impressive build-up play as Almeida backheeled to Meireles who played in Simao to slide the ball past Ri Myong-Guk. Within three minutes it was 3-0, Tiago sending Coentrao down the left and the full-back crossing for Almeida to nod past the goalkeeper. Portugal were now tearing them apart and by the hour they had their fourth goal, Tiago finding the net from Ronaldo's lay-off.

Meireles and Coentrao missed chances to underline their dominance, before Ronaldo rattled the crossbar with a spectacular strike. Yet in a late flurry, Portugal forced open the floodgates once more. Ri Kwang-Chon's mistake let in substitute Liedson to smash a shot high into the net. Ronaldo then opened his account after Liedson took advantage of some sloppy play in the Korean defence to play in the Real Madrid star – trying to pass the goalkeeper on the edge of the box, the ball bounced up off Ri Myong-Guk and on to Ronaldo's back before dropping from his head to his foot for an easy finish. Tiago's header one minute from time completed a magnificent seven.

Little-known pancake batfish could be one of oil spill's early victims

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has already claimed many victims -- from pelicans to oyster beds and precious marshland. But there may be one more: a species only just recently discovered.

Scientifically known as halieutichthys aculeatus, it is not a thing of beauty. But it lives an anonymous sort of existence on the seabed of the Gulf, some 1,500 feet below the waves and -- like all marine life in the gulf -- plays its role in the food chain.

Its more digestible name is the Louisiana pancake batfish. And if oil stays deep under water, the gulf could lose it before it's even officially recognized as a species.

While scientists are uncertain what the long-range effects of the massive spill will be on the gulf's delicate balance of life and death and its complex food chain, the little-known Louisiana pancake batfish is a case in point of one species whose very existence is in that balance.

Dr. Prosanta Chakrabarty, an ichthyologist -- otherwise known as a fish biologist -- and assistant professor at Louisiana State University, found himself face-to-face with the little fish during a deep-sea trawl in the gulf with the university last fall.

"We were lucky to get four or five specimen," Chakrabarty said. "The variation we found was enough for me to be convinced that there was something new."

With a flat, round body resembling a pancake, as its name suggests, this species of batfish doesn't really look like a fish.

"If you make an oval between your thumb and forefinger, they're about that big. Their mouths and bulbous eyes are right in the front of their heads. You can't even see their faces if you look from above," Chakrabarty said.

Not only does it look odd; it also moves in mysterious ways. The Louisiana pancake batfish uses its foot-like fins, complete with an elbow, to push off the sea floor. Flapping its tail, it swiftly hops across the sand.

"They're not like a flounder; they are much more mobile, more like a pancake with feet. They're bizarre for what they look like and how they behave," Chakrabarty said.

Pancake batfish spend most of their days resting on the sandy bottom of the gulf. Chakrabarty says it's impossible to tell how many of them are in existence.

"During my trawl with LSU, we caught probably 100,000 fish and three of them were pancake batfish. It's a hard thing to guess from that what their population is, but since they're rare in museums, they're probably rare in the wild," Chakrabarty said.

And although it's not known exactly where they link into the food chain, he said tuna and marlin from the gulf have been found with Louisiana pancake batfish in their stomachs.

Even a possibility that one small species could disappear because of waters fouled by oil has scientists pondering what such an event would mean long-term for the gulf, and even beyond the gulf's waters.

"All of life on earth is a big book. All the extinct things are pages that are torn out of that book that muddle our history," Chakrabarty said.

He said what is most upsetting to him is that after 200 years of scientific study in the gulf, he estimates 98 percent of its marine life remains unknown. And with the United States' worst-ever environmental disaster still ongoing, could become unknown forever.

"We know about commercial fish and shrimp. But there are 1,500 meters of question mark between the well head and the surface about the animal life and we really know very, very little.

"We're making a trade-off between two habitats and putting the more fragile one at risk. If we lose the [pancake batfish], we're losing a big part of evolutionary history," Chakrabarty said.

Because it lives in the deep, the pancake batfish is not threatened by tar balls or the surface sheen of oil -- but by undersea oil plumes identified by researchers from the University of South Florida.

On June 8, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that tests done by the University's researchers proved the existence of subsurface oil clusters. BP continues to dispute the extent of the plumes.

But Chakrabarty says this subspecies of batfish could be wiped out even if it doesn't directly encounter oil. It lives on small invertebrates that are the foundation for the entire marine food chain in the gulf. And now it may be at risk of either losing its only source of food or ingesting an oil-coated dinner.

Chakrabarty says that one ray of hope for the newly discovered species are the oil-consuming bacteria that thrive on crude oil. They use enzymes to metabolize the oil into two products; new microorganisms and carbon dioxide. Essentially, it is as if they are sucking the oil out of the water.

Dr. Samantha Joye, a professor at the University of Georgia, recently returned from an expedition in the gulf to research the undersea plumes. While she acknowledged that the bacteria are certainly a good option for extracting oil from the water, she said they might not get the chance to do so.

"At present, oxygen concentrations exceed 2 mg/L (two milligrams per liter) but if concentrations drop below that, it would spell problems for any oxygen-requiring organisms," Joye wrote in a blog. And the oil-munching bacteria require oxygen to metabolize the oil.

The bacteria also exist in much higher quantities at the surface of the gulf where there is sunlight and warmth. Where this pancake batfish lives, at the very bottom, there are neither.

"Less than one percent of the microbial community in the gulf lives in the deep sea," Chakrabarty says. "It is so cold down there, one to two degrees Celsius, that they will move much more slowly to break down those micro-droplets of oil."

He is currently working on the original description of the Louisiana pancake batfish for the Journal of Fish Biology and says it should be published by August. By the time it reaches an audience, though, the entry may not describe a species that is, but a species that was.

All Whites snatch last-gasp point

A last-gasp Winston Reid header snatched New Zealand an improbable draw against a dominant Slovakia side in their Group F opener in Rustenburg. Robert Vittek had put the Europeans in front, also with his head, in the 50th minute but the All Whites hit back for a result that leaves the section's four sides level on one point – and goal difference – after Italy and Paraguay also drew 1-1 yesterday.

New Zealand defied their underdogs' status in the opening five minutes. First Chris Killen broke free from his marker just inside the Slovakia half, charged forward and unleashed a shot that flew over. Then the same player headed wide from an inviting Leo Bertos cross. That seemed to awaken the Europeans. Vladimir Weiss, son of the Slovakia coach, darted down the right flank before producing a low cross that Mark Paston did well to hold, before Robert Vittek cut inside before blazing a shot high and wide.
The flair of Weiss was thrilling the crowd and on 22 minutes, the Slovakia No7 found space down the left and threaded the ball through to Marek Hamsik, who curled it wide from inside the area. Weiss then craftily laid on a chance for Stanislav Sestak, who fired into the side-netting. Minutes later the No9 missed another chance, this time from a close-range header following a corner. With ten minutes of the half remaining, Vittek cut inside from the right and fired a fierce 20-yard shot wide.

New Zealand, who had been spectators for a period, then went close. Following a neat passing move, Smeltz played a give-and-go with Rory Fallon before shooting into the side-netting from a difficult angle. It proved a brief respite, as the Slovaks dominated possession for the remainder of the half, albeit without creating any meaningful opportunities. They did just that five minutes after the restart, though, and this time they took full advantage. Sestak crossed from the right, and Vittek powered his header into the bottom corner. It was just reward for Slovakia's relentless assault on the Kiwis' goal.

Rather than sit back, the team in blue went in search of a second goal. After 58 minutes Sestak held the ball up well and touched it into the path of Hamsik, who failed to keep his shot down from the edge of the area. Slovakia almost doubled their lead soon after. Zdenko Strba and Sestak exchanged passes, before the latter set up Vittek. However, Paston rushed from his line to make a smart block from the 28-year-old forward.

It took an alert Tony Lochhead to deny Vittek a clear sight on goal with 15 minutes remaining, before Smeltz headed wide from a rare New Zealand attack with just minutes remaining. It appeared then that their last chance had gone, but deep into injury time Smeltz crossed for Reid to steal in and nod home a dramatic equaliser.

Brazil-Korea DPR preview

It is hard to contemplate Today's Group G match-up between Brazil and Korea DPR at Ellis Park without entering into the realms of cliché – tournament favourites against complete outsiders, David meets Goliath. Yet the first ever meeting of this hugely contrasting pair, the five-time world champions and the lowest-ranked of the 32 qualifiers – the North Koreans are 85th in the world – holds plenty of intrigue.

The match
Brazil-Korea DPR, Group G, Johannesburg, Today, 21.30 (Kenyan time)

On paper there should be only one outcome, with evidence of the disparity in pedigree everywhere. Brazil, the only country to have taken part in every edition of the global showpiece, are entering their 19th FIFA World Cup; Korea DPR are returning to the world stage for the first time since their debut appearance in 1966. Under Dunga, the South Americans booked their place in South Africa with three games to spare while coach Kim Jong-Hun's side left it until the closing match to seal qualification with a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia.

Brazil's build-up has featured five straight friendly wins – indeed since their successful defence of last year’s FIFA Confederation World Cup here in South Africa, they have recorded eight wins in ten matches played. Korea DPR, by contrast, were often found wanting in their eleven warm-up matches which yielded just two victories. Brazil's attacking quality – their lineup features such talents as Kaka and Luis Fabiano – needs little introduction and should ensure some baptism of fire for the East Asian team, who are expected to stick with the defensive 5-4-1 formation they employed to hold off the likes of Iran and Saudi Arabia en route to qualification. Still, those with longer memories would not risk writing off the North Koreans, who stunned Italy to reach the last eight on their finals debut in England 44 years ago.

Players to watch
Luis Fabiano v Ri Jun-Il

Luis Fabiano will be eager to maintain the form that brought him nine goals in eleven qualifying games – as well as 15 in 23 Liga outings for Sevilla in 2009/10. Trying to contain the free-scoring No9 represents the toughest task yet for the cool-headed Ri Jun-Il, the 22-year-old who will continue his sweeper role in front of goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk.

The stat
29 – Dunga's experienced squad is the oldest in the FIFA World Cup, averaging 29 years and 60 days, while Kim's men are the third youngest (25 years and 140 days).

What they say
"The responsibility is always bigger for Brazil so we will face a lot of difficulties in our first game. There's an anxiety to record our first win but the most important thing is how the team should perform on the pitch to avoid any upset," Gilberto Silva, Brazil midfielder.

"You can't say we have big chances just as you can't say we have no chance. It will not be easy to compete against players like Kaka, but this is also a dream," An Yong-Hak, Korea DPR midfielder.

Voice of the fans
"North Korea will definitely show no less than full determination. However, experience is what they lack and Brazil is very familiar with the World Cup. But still, a game is not won on paper, any team can win on any given day at any place," FIFA.com user Attacker17.

The question
Brazil have lost merely two of their previous 18 opening games at FIFA World Cups – back in 1930 and 1934. Can their little-known opponents really stun the planet by making it three?

Côte d’Ivoire-Portugal preview

Today at 5:00pm Kenyan Time sees the first meeting between Côte d’Ivoire and Portugal in the history of the FIFA World Cup, in a Group G encounter that promises both plenty of excitement and goalmouth action. In their second consecutive appearance at the global showpiece, the west Africans will be out to prove that their growing continental reputation is wholly merited. “For this generation of players not to win anything would be a shame,” says Ivorian midfielder, Romaric. Winning a match, their group or even the whole tournament will depend on the answer to two crucial questions: Will Didier Drogba play? And what kind of boost will the arrival of new coach Sven-Goran Eriksson provide?

Standing between Côte d’Ivoire and an opening victory in the competition is a Portuguese side dogged by inconsistency. The 2006 semi-finalists were forced to qualify via a play-off, but will hope to replicate the good form they showed in their pre-event friendly matches. The Iberian team will rely on talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, unplayable on his day, to get them off to the best possible start in what many regard as the toughest group of all.

The match
Côte d’Ivoire-Portugal, Group G, Port Elizabeth, Wednesday 15 June, 17.00 (Kenyan time)

Appointed in March of this year, Eriksson will take charge of the Elephants in a competitive match for the first time against Portugal. It was the former England coach’s previous experience in the FIFA World Cup – reaching the quarter-finals in both 2002 and 2006 – that won him the job, and if the reaction of his players is anything to go by, he has already made a considerable impact. What effect the uncertainty regarding Drogba’s potential participation will have is not yet clear, however.

Facing Eriksson’s men is a Lusitanian side that made surprisingly heavy work of qualifying for the tournament, picking up just one win from the first five matches of their campaign. A timely return to form brought A Selecção das Quinas firmly back into contention, with eight unanswered goals in four games sending them through to an ultimately successful play-off tie against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Deprived of the injured Nani, Carlos Queiroz’s men will need to rediscover that form if they have serious pretensions of emulating here in South Africa their achievements of four years ago in Germany.

Players to watch
Kolo Toure v Cristiano Ronaldo

Promoted to the role of captain in the absence of Didier Drogba for Côte d’Ivoire’s final warm-up matches, the Manchester City centre-back Kolo Toure is set to come up against a familiar old foe in Port Elizabeth. Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Old Trafford favourite, enjoyed some epic battles with the Ivorian during his time in the English Premier League. The in-form Real Madrid maestro, upon whose shoulders rest the hopes of an entire nation, will doubtless look to use those past experiences to gain an edge over the ex-Arsenal defender early on in the game.

The stat
74 - The number of days Sven-Goran Eriksson had at his disposal to prepare his Côte d’Ivoire team for the FIFA World Cup. The Swede took the reins of the Ivorian national side on 28 March 2010.

What they said
“Eriksson has put an added emphasis on playing as a team and not just as a collection of individuals. He has managed to change the mindset of the squad and of each player. We’ve always had good players, but have never been able to properly work together as an effective unit, defending and attacking as one,” Kolo Toure, Côte d’Ivoire defender

“Winning this game would make things much easier for us in terms of progressing in the competition. I want to be on top form so as to be recognised as the tournament’s best player, and to help the team to move forward,” Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese forward

Voice of the fans
“Many people underestimate Portugal, but I have a lot of confidence in our team. We haven’t really shown what we can do yet – the players know that their desire and team ethic can take them far. This team has the support of an entire people behind it. We’re one big family, and we stick together,” FIFA.com user Soniih’a.

The question
Can Côte d’Ivoire go the farthest of all the African teams involved in the competition, even without Didier Drogba? Will Cristiano Ronaldo be among the top performers at South Africa 2010?

Caroline Mutoko on Marriage and children

I want to be a great mother. I want to bring up an amazing person. For me it’s not a need to procreate because as a woman I can. I just want to do it well. I’m ready for the next season of my life.

I always dreamt of having six children when I was younger, but now with all the realities, I’m thinking one or two. I’m a huge believer in marriage.

However, I don’t believe in getting married because "it’s the done thing".

Marriage and children are great but they are not for everybody. Just because one woman wants it doesn’t mean every woman must.

The last one-and-a-half years have been shocking. I have realised women are crazy and men don’t know how crazy we are. They think they know but I also realised that when your girlfriend goes through something, you go through it with her.

I’ve realised marriage is not a career and, sadly, nobody told us that in our 20s when we were drawing up big pictures. Some of my best friends are women in their 40s who say; "I hope you are planning your life. I hope when you have children you will have the number you can raise, not the number he wants". That is worth thinking about.

With my job, I have to find a balance in my work and life. I want to be challenged in areas where I am capable. My horror is that it took me a long time to realise the platform I sit on.

Iniesta making steady progress

Midfield star Andres Iniesta is making a steady recovery as he seeks to return from a leg injury in time to star for European champions Spain in Durban on Wednesday.

The Barcelona star suffered the injury in his country's final warm-up match, a 6-0 rout of Poland, on Tuesday, making him a serious doubt for the Group H opener against Switzerland.

"He is coming along well," Spanish Football Federation sources said, following a scan on the injury, while the player himself was optimistic.
If I feel good then why not play? I am feeling in good shape.
Andres Iniesta, Spain midfielder

"The coach and I have been speaking on a daily basis on how things are going and the level of discomfort and things are getting better and better," said Iniesta. "If I feel good then why not play? I am feeling in good shape."

If Iniesta does not make it from the start then Spain have a ready-made replacement in the shape of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas.

Iniesta sat things out at training on Saturday while Xabi Alonso, who has a slight leg muscle tear, withdrew some 15 minutes before the end of the session as a precaution and then restricted himself to jogging at the Spanish training camp at the University of Potchefstroom.

On Sunday, he joined training with the rest of the squad but retired half an hour before the end of the session.

PAIN

It hurts so bad holding back tears
Its said to be unhealthy
But after all the agonizing years
Its become a part of me
My emotions don’t even show anymore
Its almost like I’m immune

But my heart is tore,
The rate of it is completely off tune
Though no one notices
And I’m guessing that’s good
I don’t want anyone to know this
Although maybe they should

Maybe I must tell of my pain
They might be able to help
But they wont understand my brain
Since they’ve never dealt
Yes it burns, yes it tears
This tiny blood filled organ, that until now,
I never even knew it COULD HAPPEN AGAIN!!!

Soccer City welcomes the world home.

As South Africa’s flagship Soccer City stadium seethed in a mass of yellow and brightly coloured flags, the hum of tens of thousands of vuvuzelas was suddenly overcome as Gripen Fighter jets burst overhead.

As the smoke cleared, five silver falcons, their tails emblazed with the South African flag, sent the crowd’s excitement levels sky rocketing. The moment a nation has been counting down towards for more than six years had arrived.

“Fellow Africans, today we rewrite history. Because we have brought the World Cup to our soil,” cried out Zolani Mkhiva, the ‘Poet of Africa’. Mkhiva is the youngest practitioner of one of the oldest oral traditions in Africa, ‘kubonga’ (praise singing).

Nine drummers from nine different directions converged in a ring around the praise singer. The pitch became awash with colour as 270 women in brightly coloured blankets formed lines behind the drummers. The lines pointed in the direction of the nine other stadiums in nine host cities where the story of the 2010 FIFA World Cup will emerge over the coming month.

In total more than 1500 South African artists, dancers, musicians and performers between the ages of six and sixty welcomed the World to Africa – the Africa of hope, colour, energy and boundless potential. They sang and danced to songs ranging from uQongothwane, made famous by the late Miriam Makeba, to Didi sang by North Africa’s Khaled whose song paid tribute to all six African teams, the most ever to be represented at a FIFA World Cup.

Johannesburg awoke to a grey and cold day, but as a massive patchwork quilt of the African continent was revealed to the world, there was no longer a cloud in the sky. The African sun poured into the ‘calabash’ warmly welcoming a watching world back to the cradle of civilisation.

Multiple Grammy Award winner, R Kelly and the Soweto Spiritual Singers left the audience elated in the ceremony’s moving showpiece song ‘Sign of Victory’ which recognised all 208 original member associations that competed for a place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 32 nations that were ultimately successful.

The ceremony ended, the protective sheet was removed, and the sounds of the vuvuzela rose again as South Africa rejoiced. With the lines of the pitch revealed – all set for the opening clash between Mexico and South Africa – South Africans and hundreds of millions of viewers in 215 countries were left ready to experience the football, what everyone has been waiting for.

Mandela relative killed after World Cup concert.

Nelson Mandela canceled plans to attend the opening game of the 2010 World Cup Friday after his 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Zenani Mandela, who became a teenager a few days ago, died in a one-car accident after attending Thursday evening’s World Cup kickoff concert at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, near Johannesburg.

The foundation later confirmed Mandela would not attend the World Cup opening ceremony and first game in Johannesburg, dashing hopes the frail 91-year-old former president would make a rare appearance. Mandela and his family were “torn up” by the accident, the foundation said at its Johannesburg office.

“Mr. Nelson Mandela this morning learnt of the tragic death in an accident of his great granddaughter Zenani Mandela,” foundation spokesman Sello Hatang said, reading from a prepared statement. “It would therefore be inappropriate for him to personally attend the FIFA World Cup opening celebrations.”

“We are sure that South Africans and people all over the world will stand in solidarity with Mr. Mandela and his family in the aftermath of this tragedy.”

Johannesburg Metro police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane said the driver of the car, a man, had been arrested and charged with drink-driving. Mamonyane said the driver, who police would not name, could also face culpable homicide charges.

“The Metro police found that he was drunk,” Mamonyane said. “He lost control of the vehicle and it collided with a barricade.”

Police spokesman Govindsamy Mariemuthoo, who earlier said the driver would appear in court for a preliminary hearing Friday, said that had been postponed for more investigations, and that the driver was not being held. Mariemuthoo said that was not unusual.

“It’s a decision of the prosecutor,” he said.

The Mandela foundation denied reports that the former president’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was in the car, but said she was treated in hospital for shock after being told of the fatal accident, and she was discharged after a few hours.

She later attended the opening ceremony, with her two daughters.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter wrote to Mandela to “convey the condolences of the entire football family.”

President Jacob Zuma, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who was in South Africa to lead his country’s delegation to the opening ceremony, and South Africa’s governing African National Congress party also offered condolences.

Zenani, who celebrated her 13th birthday Wednesday, was one of the anti-apartheid icon’s nine great-grandchildren.

Mandela, who turns 92 on July 18, has largely retired from public life although it had been anticipated he would make a brief appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony Friday, depending on his health and the weather.

In a statement Thursday, the Foundation said it had been “inundated with requests for meetings, and it will be impossible for Mr. Mandela to accede to even a small fraction of these.” But Mandela met this week with members of the Black Eyed Peas, one of the main acts at Thursday’s concert, and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Carlos Queiroz—the latter a former coach of South Africa.

AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

Uruguay-France Preview.

The second match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa pits together two former world champions: Uruguay, the winners in 1930 and 1950; and France, who triumphed 1998. With hosts South Africa and Mexico making up what promises to be a tight Group A, the three points up for grabs in Cape Town on Friday could prove crucial. The last meeting between the two was a 0-0 draw in the group phase at Korea/Japan 2002, a result that contributed to the early elimination of both sides.

The match
Uruguay-France, Group A, Cape Town (Green Point Stadium), Today, 21:00 (Kenyan time)

Despite their rich footballing traditions, both teams struggled en route to the world finals, only clinching their places in the play-offs. While La Celeste were squeezing past Costa Rica, Les Blues were being pushed all the way by Republic of Ireland, a nerve-racking end to a campaign that raised doubts about their ability to contest for honours at South Africa 2010.

The Uruguayans have looked the more convincing of the two in the build-up to the finals, beating Switzerland and Israel as part of their preparations. France, meanwhile, were brushed aside by Spain in March and lost 1-0 to China only last week.

In a bid to turn his side’s worrying form around, coach Raymond Domenech has introduced a new 4-3-3 formation, with Jeremy Toulalan operating in a lone holding role and Florent Malouda and Yoann Gourcuff supplying the bullets for the front men. Charrúa boss Oscar Tabarez will be sticking to his tried-and-trusted 3-5-2 line-up, with the midfield tandem of Ignacio Gonzalez and Alvaro Pereira supporting the fearsome strike partnership of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez.

Players to watch
Diego Forlan vs William Gallas

Never lacking in grit and determination, Uruguay have plenty of attacking firepower to call on in South Africa. As usual, Forlan will be the spearhead. Having enjoyed a productive end to the league season with Atletico Madrid, he should not be lacking in confidence. His duel with Gallas will go some way to deciding the outcome of the match, although the Arsenal central defender has plenty of questions to answer after a frustrating injury-affected season. A solid performance against the ever-dangerous Forlan should help restore his confidence.

The stat
16 - Uruguay have won just one of their last 16 matches at the FIFA World Cup finals, a 1-0 defeat of Korea Republic at Italy 1990. Their last victory prior to that came 20 years earlier at Mexico 1970, when they won twice on the way to finishing fourth.

What they said
“Against Uruguay we’ll see whether we’re solid or not. Anything could happen to be honest. Uruguay do a lot of pressing when they’re not in possession, but if we can find a way round that by passing the ball then I’m sure we’ll see an improvement on our performances in the warm-up games,” Jeremy Toulalan, France midfielder.

“I’ve more or less decided on the formation we’ll be using. The tactics will depend on how the game unfolds because the only thing we’ll know for sure before the game is France’s line-up. But no matter how they play, the players we put out there will be able to adapt,” Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay coach.

Voice of the fans
“4-3-3 is a sound tactic when you have experienced players but it can be a bit of a risk if the coach has only just started to use it. The players will have to work really hard because there won’t be any space in the midfield. At the same time, to create chances you have to attack down the wings. France have been playing 4-5-1 for years and they’ll have to prove that they know how to use this system,” FIFA.com user PlayaDeNoche.

The question
France failed to score in their opening games at Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006. Will they find the back of the net on Friday?

South Africa-Mexico preview

The waiting is almost over. The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa begins in less than 30 min when the tournament hosts take on Group A rivals Mexico in the magnificent surroundings of Soccer City in Johannesburg, the first match to be staged at this impressive arena.

No host nation has ever lost their opening game in the world finals. Though this is new territory for the South Africans, the Mexicans have had the honour of opening up the competition on four previous occasions (1930, 1950, 1958 and 1970), although they failed to win any of those games.

The match
South Africa-Mexico, Group A, Johannesburg, Friday 11 June, 17:00 (Kenyan time time)

The Bafana Bafana have never won a FIFA World Cup finals match and go into the game with the weight of a nation’s expectations on their shoulders. Hopes have been buoyed by an unbeaten run of 13 games under Carlos Parreira, including notable wins over Colombia and Denmark. Led by the in-form duo of Steven Pienaar and Katlego Mphela, the hosts have not looked stronger in recent years.

If their impressive 2-1 warm-up defeat of world champions Italy is anything to go by, the dynamic Mexicans are sure to provide the home favourites with a stern test. El Tricolor offer up a compelling blend of youth and experience, with the likes of Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Vela dovetailing to perfection with old hands such as Gerardo Torrado, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Rafael Marquez. On this form, they might just break their Opening Match hoodoo.

Key duel
Steven Pienaar vs Rafael Marquez

Much of the Bafana Bafana’s creativity originates from the classy Everton midfielder. His confidence high after an exceptional season in the English Premier League, Pienaar can be expected to shine in front of his home fans.

One of the men out to stop him will be Mexico skipper Marquez, who has been employed in a holding midfield role by coach Javier Aguirre. Should the Barcelona stopper fulfil his mission of snuffing out the threat posed by Pienaar, he will have gone a long way to helping his side prevail in this opening skirmish.

The stat
3 - The number of times these two teams have met, all of them on neutral territory. Los Aztecas hold sway with two wins to South Africa’s one, although the Bafana Bafana did win the most recent meeting, at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, in which both sides fielded experimental line-ups.

What they say
“People always say the local team invariably does well but I can tell you we’re focusing only on the game against Mexico. If we can get a good result we can set the tournament alight. We need to show as much mental strength as we can. That’s the key to us having a good run,” Steven Pienaar, South Africa midfielder.

“It’s a great opportunity but at the same time facing the hosts is a tough challenge. The whole world is looking forward to this game and that’s something we’re very aware of. I think the most important thing for us is to not let nerves and pressure get the better of us. That way we can perform to the best of our ability,” Carlos Vela, Mexico forward.

Voice of the fans
"South Africa might not win the first game but they will show why no host nation has failed to advance from first round in the WC. Some Mexican fans on FIFA.com say they will have an easy win, I say beware of the power of the vuvuzela," FIFA.com user litowadowice.

The question
Will the South Africans get off to a winning start?

World Cup Concert: Shakira, Black Eyed Peas, and More

The South Africa 2010 party got under way in style last night with a joyous, colourful and truly African FIFA World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Held in the football heartland that is Orlando Stadium, home of iconic club side Orlando Pirates, the concert featured a host of stars including Shakira, Alicia Keys, K'Naan and the Black Eyed Peas. A wide variety of acts took to the stage but the abiding theme was one of celebration for the African continent with the event broadcast across the world.

The countdown clock introducing the three-hour extravaganza finally hit zero and with it came a cacophonous roar as seemingly thousands of South Africa flags were lifted aloft creating an ocean of colour among the estimated 30,000 in attendance. Joining the countless Rainbow Nation colours were a broad cross-section of national flags representing every corner of the globe, as the many visitors in attendance took the opportunity to enjoy Africa’s impressive ability to turn on a party.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and South African President Jacob Zuma jointly opened the concert after the early acts. As the evening progressed a cavalcade of football stars took to the stage between performances including former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe, Christian Karembeu, Quinton Fortune, Socrates and Jay Jay Okacha. Another joyous presenter was Archbishop Desmond Tutu decked out in Bafana Bafana supporter gear and who introduced a video presentation on Nelson Mandela with trademark enthusiasm.

The large crowd rarely dropped their energy levels and their infectious enthusiasm was palpable. "I have been to a lot of concerts but I have never been to a concert like this," said ebullient Johannesburg resident Khensami Majola, just as K'Naan took to the stage to perform his poignant song 'Wavin Flag'. "It is amazing fun, we are having a huge jam. It is a perfect presentation of Africa – north, south, east and west." The concert drew to a spectacular conclusion with Colombian pop princess Shakira in impressive form. She was joined on stage by Freshlyground for a rendition of 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)', the Official FIFA World Cup theme.

Another proud concert-goer was Soweto local William Oosthuizen who spoke with pride as he took a rare break from dancing. "I am very proud and I am enjoying this immensely,” he said. “Beauty in the heart of Soweto. This is what Africa is all about. Sport has a unifying factor and it’s all about people enjoying themselves."

The highly anticipated World Cup Concert featuring superstars Alicia Keys, Shakira (performing Waka Waka), Black Eyed Peas, and many more internationally known artists kicked off this afternoon! The event is took place at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, but that doesn't mean you can't get in on the action ..follow this link to watch the three-hour event exclusively!!!www.worldcup.vevo.com

Other stars who performed include: Angelique Kidjo, Amadou & Mariam, Blk Jks, Freshlyground, Hugh Masekela, John Legend, Juanes, K'Naan, Mzansi Youth Choir, Soweto Gospel Choir, The Parlotones, Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Toure, and Vusi Mahlasela.

All net proceeds from the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert will be donated to “20 Centres for 2010,” which aims to build 20 centres across Africa offering education and healthcare services as well as football training to disadvantaged communities.

The 2010 MTV Movie Awards winners

June 8, 2010 - Hollywood mega-mogul and Movie Awards producer Les Grossman (a.k.a Tom Cruise) commandeered the “2010 MTV Movie Awards” stage in an explosive, surprise dance number with a bedazzled Jennifer Lopez, as well as with recurring rants at a long list of Hollywood stars in his line of fire, including Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Will and Jaden Smith and Michael Cera.

Screened live on MTV (DStv Channel 321), “MTV Movie Awards” was filled with laugh-out-loud film parodies as host Aziz Ansari inserted himself into scenes from “The Blind Side” and “Precious,” before being introduced by heartthrob Justin Bieber. Aziz also brought down the house when he channeled R. Kelly, performing a hilarious new “Avatar”-themed song in which he slammed British Petroleum, marking the latest installment of his ongoing parodies of the R&B star.

Led by die-hard “Twilight” fans, viewers this year banded together to vote for their favourite films across 12 categories. “Twilight” dominated the ceremony, taking home five golden popcorn statues, including top honours for “Best Movie,” presented by Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Robert Pattinson won two statues for “Best Male Performance” and MTV’s newest category “Global Superstar,” in recognition of his universal appeal. Kristen Stewart took the top spot for the second year in a row for “Best Female Performance.”

In the highly-anticipated moment of the night, Academy Award®-winning actress Sandra Bullock was presented with the esteemed “MTV Generation Award” for her dynamic career and for entertaining generations of MTV viewers. Betty White and Bradley Cooper presented, along with Scarlett Johansson, whose real-life husband Ryan Reynolds was nominated in the “Best Kiss” category with Bullock for “The Proposal.” In a reference to her steamy on-screen collision with Ryan, Sandra locked lips with Scarlett to make sure she didn’t feel left out.

Prompting yet another Les Grossman outburst, “The Hangover’s” Ed Helms, dressed as a cloud, sang his famous “Stu’s Song” while a tiger-leotard-clad Ken Jeong performed a hilarious ballet solo. Grossman spoiled the recital by booting both of them off the stage.

The night also featured high-voltage musical performances from two of today’s biggest superstar artists. In a picture postcard brought to life, Katy Perry surfed onto the Movie Awards stage to perform her latest single, “California Gurls,” joined by Snoop Dogg, who rolled out on his own personal oasis amidst a puff of smoke.

Christina Aguilera wowed fans with a futuristic, multi-media extravaganza while performing a medley of “Bionic,” “Not Myself Tonight” and “Woohoo” from her upcoming album.

The MTV audience was also treated to exclusive first looks at two highly-anticipated movie releases of 2010, including “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.”

The “2010 MTV Movie Awards” welcomed the top names in Hollywood, music and TV throughout the night with a glittering lineup of presenters that included Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, the cast of the upcoming film “Grown Ups” (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider), Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Aubrey Plaza, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Zac Efron, Jonah Hill, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove, Shaun White, Vanessa Hudgens, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Russell Brand, Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Scarlett Johansson, Betty White, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, T.I., Jessica Alba, Michael Cera, Eva Mendes, Ed Helms and Kieran Culkin.

Winners of the “2010 MTV Movie Awards” are:

Best Movie - “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” -- Chris Weitz, Director; Wyck Godfrey and Karen Rosenfelt, Producers (Summit Entertainment)

Best male performance - Robert Pattinson – “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” (Summit Entertainment)

Best female performance - Kristen Stewart – “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” (Summit Entertainment)

Breakout star - Anna Kendrick – “Up In The Air” (Paramount Pictures)

Best comedic performance - Zach Galifianakis – “The Hangover” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best villain - Tom Felton – “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best fight - Beyoncé vs. Ali Larter – “Obsessed” (Screen Gems/Sony Pictures)

Best kiss - Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson – “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” (Summit Entertainment)

Best WTF moment - Ken Jeong – “The Hangover” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best sacred as s**t performance - Amanda Seyfried – “Jennifer’s Body” (Twentieth Century Fox)

Best badass - Rain – “Ninja Assassin” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Global superstar - Robert Pattinson – “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” (Summit Entertainment)

In case you missed the show you can catch it again on Wed at 18.00 CAT and Friday at 16.00 CAT on MTV Base and Friday at 14.00 CAT, Saturday at 12.00 CAT and Sunday at 14.00 CAT on MTV

Musical double feature for World Cup opener.

June 7, 2010 - The World Cup's opening celebrations roll over two days this week, in a musical double feature that boasts top stars like Shakira on Thursday, with a still-secret performance ahead of the match Friday.
Tens of millions of people are expected to watch the concert, broadcast live from 1800 GMT Thursday from Orlando Stadium, a 40,000-seater in the heart of Johannesburg's Soweto township.
Tickets have long since sold out, with prices up to 1,400 Rand (200 dollars, 140 euros), to watch Shakira perform the tournament's official song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" with South African pop group Freshlyground.

They will share the stage with American performers such as Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and John Legend, as well as Colombian heart-throb rocker Juanes.

Top African musicians will also grab the spotlight, including Angelique Kidjo from Benin, The Parlotones from South Africa and Amadou and Mariam, the blind musical duo from Mali.

For the actual opening ceremony on Friday, ahead of the match between the hosts and Mexico, FIFA is tight-lipped about what to expect at one of the world's most-watched events.

The 25 minute performance at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium is produced by Lebo M, the Soweto-born musician behind Broadway's "The Lion King".

South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela has picked a British tune to play at the opening, a song called "Hope" by rocker Russ Ballard and solo artist Chris Winter.

But the young black South African opera tenor tapped by Mandela to sing the number, 34-year-old Siphiwo Ntshebe, died suddenly last month of meningitis.

Lebo M has yet to say how or if he will replace Ntshebe, who was set to sing among 2,000 performers on the field before nearly 95,000 fans.

The concert on Thursday in Soweto has also drawn controversy from a local artists' union, who have called for a boycott to demand more South African acts in the line-up.

"This is not an African event, we are telling the masses to stay away from this event," said Oupa Lebogo, general secretary of the Creative Workers of South Africa.

Government has urged people to ignore the boycott call for the show, which will benefit a FIFA charity that uses football to promote public health and education in poor communities across Africa.

Janice Dickinson

Janice Dickinson born in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Ray Dickinson of Belorussian descent and Jennie Pietrzykoski, who is of Polish, Irish and Japanese ancestry ,she mentions her Japanese ancestry in her book No Lifeguard On Duty. She moved with her parents to Hollywood, Florida in 1957.

When Janice met with a modeling agent named Jacques Silverstein, her portfolio consisted of four very bad photographs. Expecting yet another rejection, it was only when Silverstein's pretty teenage girlfriend expressed an interest did he change his mind. The young girlfriend's name? Future Oscar nominee and 'Soprano' star Lorraine Bracco. Janice had finally found someone who believed in her.

Now it was off to Paris for Janice and what a wirl wind!! Little did she know she would become famous. She immediately met Peter Knapp, the art director for French Vogue who loved her look. Within four months she was on the covers of five European magazines. A year of nonstop work followed. Covers, runway shows and more covers. Work was her new drug and it too was meeting her at the airport. She did gigs in China, Thailand and Japan.

In 1978, Dickinson returned to New York with a portfolio as thick as a phonebook and everyone around town asking who the stunning new "import" was. The people who slammed doors in her face were now the same ones flooding with calls for meetings. Many had no recollection of any previous encounter. True revenge is sweet success!! She made a point of taking meetings with the people who were the meanest to her. Having the position of power was new for her. The meanest of all the photographers in her New York days was a man named Michael Reinhardt. Janice, with her distorted view of men as it was, began to see Reinhardt romantically and the two remained an item for two years. Reinhardt's influence as a photographer catapulted Janice's career to a new level. Janice Dickinson was now a household name.

Being a leggy young supermodel in the late seventies demands a social life that compliments the job. Janice became a fixture at Studio 54 along with Andy Warhol and Truman Capote. Janice's new best friend became a young model on the rise named Gia Carangi and the two were inseparable. An A-list of the biggest stars would summon over waiters asking who the tall girl with the bee-stung lips was. The stories at Studio 54 ran rampant.

If the road to excess leads to the palace of wisdom, then Janice was on her way to becoming very wise. All the biggest designers clawed to get her in their runway shows. But unlike the old days, the world was starting to come to Janice as well. To the young Florida girl, the attention of handsome, older movie stars who were often symbols of an escape from her abusive father, fed into her deepest needs for acceptance. An affair with Warren Beatty took place while he was editing 'Reds'. Jack Nicholson came calling (Janice claimed) and later Mick Jagger. Dickinson toured with the Rolling Stones, and became fast friends with Patti Hansen and husband Keith Richards. Life experiences were building up faster than her Paris portfolio.

1983 was a big year for Dickinson. The high point of her career. The ethnic look was not as taboo as it once was and Janice took advantage of the new open mindedness. She and Gia Caragi traveled the world, both as models and friends, and then her world was again shaken by Gia's death which was a drug overdose in 1984.

The fashion business was getting bigger than ever and an agent named John Casablanca wanted to start his own agency. He officially started The "Model Wars"...Janice, who was only one of the bigger name models not bound by a written contract, was one of Casablanca's first recruits. Janice started Elite Models with Stephanie Seymour, Iman and Andie MacDowell and the agency is to this day, The one every young model dreams of being part of. Elite also transformed the industry with it's ability to get work for all types of girls. The "ethnic look" was now in, and it wouldn't be long before girls with unconventional good looks like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss would not just succeed, but thrive. And for the notorious playboy Casablanca, being the head of a hot modeling agency had its benefits. Elite became its very own soap opera.

The life of a young supermodel is exciting and fast. But hopping nightclubs and fashion runways does not always permit a girl to better herself. Feeling uncultured and an emptiness that could Not be filled with money, drugs, alcohol or sex, Dickinson picked up and moved to Italy. There, her celebrity as a model got her into "the party" with the likes of Princes and Contessas. Everywhere she looked was an eyeful of culture and she soon developed an interest in photography to record all the wonders around her. She began a two year long affair with a dashing man named Francesco. While working throughout Europe and enjoying all Italy had to offer, Janice came to the realization that all successful young people must come to. How do I balance career and still achieve something more? For Janice, this posed even more of a problem, with all of her partying, travelling and success, she was still missing a spiritual side to her life that she desperately needed. She wanted the nurturing family life she had only seen on television and in movies. One that was denied to her in her own childhood. All the spiritual growth she was seeking would have to be put on hold. She said goodbye to Francesco and left for Hollywood, Califorinia.

By the late 1980's the word "Supermodel" was now clearly cemented in the popular culture and Elite was practically a household word. While Janice was put out in Los Angeles, trying to start an acting career- going to auditions and acting classes like so many others, the supermodel culture was moving to another level. Women of all types of ethnicities were making astronomical sums of money. Models like Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington were making tens of millions of dollars per year. "Bee stung lips" were coveted by women around the world. Collagen injections were right up there with breast implants and liposuction as the most popular plastic surgery procedures.

While in LA, Dickinson married a young producer named Simon Fields, who would have success with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. Together, they produced Dickinson's first child, Nathan. She was finally beginning to find the happy medium between work and family. Fields' success would allow Dickinson some breathing room to pursue acting and raise Nathan.

Janice kept her ties to friends in the modeling world. Every so often, a modeling job would come her way. But the catty world of modeling was getting younger and younger and models like Dickinson were getting passed over. The younger models were getting lucrative contracts unlike anything the older women had ever seen. Janice understood that in the modeling world, aging is a sin.

Dickinson's marriage to Fields ended in 1993 and the rejection was becoming as harsh as it was in the 70's. The acting career had not taken off and the options for a model in her thirties were slim. Daughter Savannah was born in 1993.

The arrival of Savannah had given Dickinson a new outlook on life. She sobered up and married Albert Gerston. She was ready to straighten up her life and raise Savannah. But Gerston had brought some of his own problems into the marriage, including drugs. One night, while vacationing in St. Bart's, a very high Gerston driving with Janice, drove his car off a cliff. Dickinson spent four months in bed recovering from the accident, and to help ease her pain, she turned back to alcohol. She divorced Gerston and took baby Savannah back to Los Angeles.

What happens to a model who becomes less and less useful to a youth obsessed culture? The girls dominating the magazine covers today were not even born when Studio 54 was it. For Janice, her interest in photography, along with all her experience and continued ties to the business led to a natural progression to go behind the camera. She soon became adept at finding the best in aspiring young models and started her own business as a photographer. The irony was not lost on her. Would any of these young girls be prepared for the kind of life that lay ahead? Would they be able to handle it? Would they end up like her good friend Gia Carangi, or survive like her with a million stories to tell?

After years and years of rollercoasters of every type, Dickinson was no longer living a life for herself. She now had Nathan and Savannah to live for. Nathan's father, Simon Fields, would produce several more movies. His most recent production, Town and Country, ironically enough stars Warren Beatty. But what about Savannah, who was turning into a beautiful young girl herself and asking about her own father? Moments like these make a person look inward. They force one to take stock. Dickinson seemed to have more stock than five people combined. She had lived and continues to live a life full of lessons, some learned and some ignored. It's a continuing struggle, but one with plenty of perspective.

She has been divorced three times. Her former husbands are Ron Levy, Alan B. Gersten, and Simon Fields, by whom she has a son, Nathan Fields. She has a daughter, Savannah Dickinson, by former boyfriend producer Michael Birnbaum. A paternity test proved that the father was not Sylvester Stallone, as she had thought. In her books and in interviews, she has also discussed her numerous sexual relationships with male and female celebrities[3]. She has most recently been romantically linked with Jon Lovitz, but has asked Simon Cowell to dump his girlfriend, Terri Seymour, for her.

Her past lovers include Warren Beatty, Sir Mick Jagger, Jack Nicholson and Liam Neeson Janis Dickenson yanis, yanise, janise, janes, janese, dickenson, dickson, dickingson, kickenson.

Hate or Love her She is Successful,she is Hot,and she doesnt care what the world says about her but she will tell you like it is, she'd rather be an honest bitch with you than some a*s-kissing, sugar-coating,namby-pamby, wiping-a*s motherf***er and that's why I LOVE JANICE DICKINSON!!!!

Roger Federer

Roger Federer is a Swiss tennis player whose amazing achievements helped rank him along the best tennis professionals of all time. As of January 2007, Roger Federer is the world’s number 1 tennis player. Many tennis observers, including even many of his peers, believe that Federer can be the greatest tennis player ever.

Federer became the first player in 2002 since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three out of four Grand Slam singles tournaments. Federer was able to repeat this achievement in 2006 and became the first tennis players in the open era to become winners in at least ten singles championships for three consecutive years. Federer has also won 9 titles in Grand Slam men’s singles in 30 appearances, triple Tennis Masters Cup, and 12 ATP Masters singles titles. Federer is the only tennis player to win both the U.S. and the Wimbledon singles titles in three consecutive years, from 2004 to 2006.

Roger Federer was born on August 8, 1981, in Binningen near Basel, Switzerland. His parents are Robert Federer, a Swiss-German and Lynette Federer, of South African nationality. Federer considers German as his main language German, but he is also fluent in the French and English languages. Federer always conducts his press conferences in all these three language. Currently he resides in Oberwil, Switzerland and is seeing former WTA player Miroslava Vavrine, also a Swiss, who retired from tennis upon injuring her foot in 2002. Federer and Vavrine met during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

On December 2003, he established the Roger Federer Foundation, the goals of which include funding projects that would benefit disadvantaged children in South Africa. In January 2005, he spearheaded charity projects for the people who were affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. Federer played as many games as possible in tournaments organized for fund-raisings with the tsunami victims as beneficiaries. He also auctioned off some of his autographed rackets to raise funds for the relief operations of UNICEF.

On April of 2006, Roger Federer was appointed an Ambassador of Goodwill to UNICEF, a world organization which assists on the needs of poor children from all parts of the world. His first official trip as a UNICEF Ambassador of Goodwill was on December of 2006, when he visited the children in the Tamil Nadu, a region in India devastated by the December 2004 tsunami.

Roger Federer’s Tennis Career

Roger Federer started playing the sport of tennis when he was six years old. Apart from tennis, he also played football until he finally decided to focus on tennis at the age of 12. When he was 14, Federer became the Swiss champion for all age groups and was selected to train at Ecublens’ Swiss National Tennis Center. In July 1996, he played at the ITF junior tennis circuit.

In 1998, Federer took both the Wimbledon juniors title and Orange Bowl. He was likewise recognized as the ITF World Junior Tennis champion for the same year. This is also the year when he joined the ATP tour. In 1999, Federer played for the first time for the Swiss Davis Cup group. He also became the youngest tennis player to belong to the top 100 ranked tennis players at ATP.

Federer’s first ATP victory happened in Milan on February 2001. During the same month, he won three matches for his country in a 3-2 Davis Cup victory over the United States.

In 2002 and 2003, Roger Federer made significant achievements at the Davis Cup and the Houston tournament respectively. In the Davis Cup, he won both singles matches against Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, former top Russian players. At the 2003 Houston tournament, he won the Tennis Masters Cup.

The year 2004 was Roger Federer’s one of the most successful years in the sport of men’s tennis. He was able to win three of the four of the Grand Slam singles tournament. He also won his first Australian Open title when he defeated Marat Safin. Federer was also the ITF Tennis World Champion and adjudged in 2005 as the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

In January 2006, Roger Federer won the Australian Open when he defeated Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus. This win marked his third Grand Slam Championship. In 2006 French Open, Federer tried to pursue the only Grand Slam tournament he has yet to win. He entered the tournament as the top seed but lost the final match to Rafael Nadal, the French Open Defending Champion four sets. Although the French Open title eluded him, he became one of only two tennis players who reached the finals of all Grand Slam singles tournaments, the other one being Andre Agassi.

Proclaimed the greatest player of all time by TENNIS magazine on its September 2009 cover, Federer claimed the all-time record for Grand Slam singles titles by winning Wimbledon, his 15th major victory, in 2009. Federer won Wimbledon five consecutive times from 2003 to 2007 and lost in the 2008 final to rival Rafael Nadal in what is considered by many to be the best match ever played. The lost was Federer’s first on grass since 2002 and ended a record 65-match winning streak on that surface. He won his sixth Wimbledon title in 2009 by outdueling Andy Roddick, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 in the final. Federer has also won the U.S. Open five times and the Australian Open three times. He completed the career Grand Slam by winning the French Open in 2009 after having lost to Nadal in the final each of the previous three years. In 2006, Federer became the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to make all four Grand Slam finals in a calendar year, winning three of them; he repeated that feat in 2007. He also made all four finals in 2009, winning two. Federer has reached at least the semifinals of the past 22 Grand Slam events, a record. Federer held the world No. 1 ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks from Feb. 2, 2004 until Aug. 18, 2008. He regained the No. 1 ranking on July 6, 2009. Federer is the son of a South African mother and a Swiss father. He married former pro player Mirka Vavrinec in April 2009. Mirka gave birth to identical twin girls, Myla and Charlene, in July 2009. (as of October 15, 2009).

Nicki Minaj

Onika Maraj (Born December 8, 1984) known as Nicki Minaj is a female rapper from Southside Jamaica, Queens, NewYork. She grew up in a troubled home, with a father on drugs and a struggling single mother. Despite her hectic environment, Minaj went on to graduate from LaGuardia High School in Manhattan where she studied singing and acting.

Working as an administrative assistant, she dedicated all of her free time to pursuing a potential music career. Nicki Minaj started off singing, from background vocals, to hooks for local rappers. Minaj wanted to “stand out” more, from the average dime-a-dozen young aspiring singer and began writing raps. Starting out as the lone female in a group, (which she left in 2006)

Nicki soon branched out and was noticed on Myspace by Dirty Money CEO Fendi. Who signed her and put her on the front of his Dirty Money Label, and his The Come Up DVD.

Appearing on The Carter Edition of the DVD series, Minaj was noticed by rapper Lil’ Wayne who immediately called Fendi to negotiate meeting Nicki. He was convinced by not only her different style of rapping, but her ability to full on write her own material that she was perfect to be the face of his Young Money label. The two collaborated on mixtape styled remakes of tracks such as “Sunshine”, “Big Spender” and more recently a song entitled “Higher than a Kite” which uses T.I.’s “My Swag” beat. In April of 2007, she released her first mixtape entitled Playtime is Over. Where she posed as a Barbie doll on the cover. Lil’ Wayne appeared on the track “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”.

Nearly a year later, Minaj released her second mixed cd titled Sucka Free. Controversy surrounded this as Nicki paid tribute to rapper Lil’ Kim by posing with her legs spread for promotional posters. She describes it as something to “pull people in”, so that they would listen to what she had to say. Nicki Minaj graced the pages of the July issue of the XXL magazine giving a brief overview of her life up to that point in time.

Originally using her real last name Maraj, Nicki boasts she started calling herself Minaj because she started “eating chicks”, with her vicious rap skills. Its pronounced as Menage, only spelled to compliment her real last name with a J instead of the traditional spelling.

Aside from her original moniker, Minaj also uses an array of Aka aliases to describe herself, such as; “Nicki Lewenski”, and “AKA Sit on your favorite rapper’s face”



Nicki Minaj feat Sean Garret - Massive Attack Lyrics

It’s Barbie Bitches..

[Sean Garrett]

We got Tom tom’s over here bigger than a monster
Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla

We got Tom tom’s over here bigger than a monster
Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla

[Nicki Minaj]

Tom tom like in Lebanon
Hotter than in Pakistan
Click click click Young nick, the atomic bomb
yeah, see ya then you lick ya tongue, bet that
It tastes good getcha some
Wicked, got ten bad bitches
We sh sh shut it down
Now the club got glitches, dig it?
and while you do that GT’s pullin up
yeah, spaceship E.T’s in the cut, yeah
Pop a bottle just to get my head right
Tell a doctor go and get my meds right
Monster, you know it wouldn’t be proper
If we didn’t return with a big rocket launcher

[Chorus / Sean Garrett]

Massive attack, mm Massive attack
Got the bomb bombs make the whole club go back, eh
Bend the knees, jig em bring this one back back, eh
like a swagger mom, bring on this track, eh
Massive attack, mm Massive attack
Whats the numba mean, no more say that’s that eh
Never find me in the club laid back
I wanna jump to this jam all night until we see the sun

[Nicki Minaj]

So, so hot in here it feels like a jungle (yeah)
Me no don’t boys that done been jumble (yeah)
One time bust a shot for my champion
girls, tell em guys super size me a combo
Kn-kn-know I got the ammo, that’s why I bulletproofed the lambo
In the middle east on a Camel
Running through the jungle – Rambo
Liberache’s hand go
Swinging on a vine, mango (mango?)
So call me civil little mama
Cause mufasa couldn’t stop a bitch
I, flyin on that choppa just to buy Balenciaga
It’s just me Mr. Miagi and the phantom of the opera
Goin blocka mothafucka
Got that big rocketlauncher

[Chorus / Sean Garrett]

Massive attack, mm Massive attack
Got the bomb bombs make the whole club go back, eh
Bend the knees, jig em bring this one back back, eh
like a swagger mom, bring on this track, eh
Massive attack, mm Massive attack
Whats the numba mean, no more say that’s that eh
Never find me in the club laid back
I wanna jump to this jam all night until we see the sun
Detonate in the palms, detonate in the fire
Rose by the bucket
Money make an attire
Detonatin my bomb, detonatin them hits
Gonna buy out the bar
Oh my bitches is rich
Ya better duck when it comes
better duck cause it’s comin
Best believe when you ru-ru-ru-runnin
Now tell them rat bitches that Nicki said this
We got Tom Tom’s over here bigger than a monster!

[Sean Garrett]

We got Tom tom’s over here bigger than a monster
Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla
We got Tom tom’s over here bigger than a monster
Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla


Massive attack, mm Massive attack
Got the bomb bombs make the whole club go back, eh
Bend the knees, jig em bring this one back back, eh
like a swagger mom, bring on this track, eh
Massive attack, mm Massive attack
Whats the numba mean, no more say that’s that eh
Never find me in the club laid back
I wanna jump to this jam all night until we see the sun