I went to a high school with a very rigid dress code. While I abhorred it with a sense of allegiance to the student body, I never really struggled with abiding by it. I didn’t wear midriff-bearing tops or facial piercings or daisy dukes. I was a square and played by the rules. And as I look back on my high school experience now as an adult, I understand that dress codes are necessary to maintain a safe and somewhat sheltered environment for kids. Some rules, like the “no professional sports apparel” rule at my school, were set in place to avoid conflicts potentially related to gangs or rivalries. And, I think rules regarding decency are also necessary. Short skirts, low-cut tops and anything too revealing is not a form of self-expression so much as it is a cry for attention and an obvious distraction on high school campuses.

But, I think high school is a very different place today than it was when I was growing up. This is a world where a gay male student was crowned prom queen at a Los Angeles high school. Looking back, I can only recall one openly gay student at my high school and he certainly wasn’t popular, quite the opposite. What kind of environment is that? One in which the gay kid was singled-out for the way he dressed and his sexual orientation. Is that a safe environment? Part of me wants to defend strict dress codes for keeping high school a sheltered and academically-focused environment. But, what are school administrators sheltering these kids from other than themselves? Are strict dress codes only creating a more judgmental foundation that will lead to intolerance in the future?

On the flip side, could a more open dress code–one that embraces individuality–lead to a more open-minded population once the students enter the real world? Would it foster lasting acceptance and self-confidence in students? Who knows. But in the here and now, I can’t see any harm in allowing students the freedom to express themselves. Perhaps school administrators should sit with members of their school’s student body to discuss the issue. That might produce an amicable compromise while teaching kids how to reason and discuss problems instead of acting out irrationally. Maybe. They are, after all, teenagers.

Bottom line, I don’t think a girl’s senior photo should be banned from the yearbook because in it she wore a tuxedo. Furthermore, I don’t think male students wearing makeup should be off limits either. Likewise, I do think a girl should be allowed to attend the prom in a tux, and vice versa.

Throughout the episode, it really seemed like anyone could be the winner of the Marie Claire spread, Paris vacation and $100,000 to start their own line. The judges liked the cohesiveness of Irina’s look, which incorporated a lot of accessories, but Nina Garcia criticized her for using nearly all-black, a decision she had warned Irina against. “Black doesn’t get a lot of editorial,” she said. Nina did love Irina’s t-shirts, though. 

Althea was praised for her sportswear and knitwear, and for having a great sense of what’s going on “on the streets.” I’m not really sure where the judges get that from. I do like a lot Althea’s big sweaters, but I don’t feel like there’s anything really innovative about them.

Carol Hannah’s always been my favorite. She’s only 23, but her dresses are colorful, interesting, feminine and flattering. Judges did commend her for her playing with color the best of all three finalists, but were disappointed that her collection didn’t have a cohesive theme. I think they have a point too, but come on! Her pieces were by far the most attractive, and I bet women around the country would most want to wear those clothes.

So, you guessed it — Carol Hannah didn’t win. Irina is the winner of Project Runway Season 6!

Before you start crying over the loss of celebrity interviews, cool products and inspiring stories, though, remember that she’s starting up her own cable network, OWN, which will launch in 2011. She hasn’t announced if she’ll host a new talk show there, but she’s expected to have a major presence on the network. 

“We have the greatest respect for Oprah and wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors,” “Oprah” distributor CBS said in a statement. “We know that anything she turns her hand to will be a great success. We look forward to working with her for the next several years and hopefully afterwards as well.”

Insiders said new episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show won’t be moving to OWN, but Winfrey will have a daily presence on the channel via series and specials or promos. And OWN will have the rights to the entire 25-year Oprah Winfrey Show catalog beginning in September 2011, so they could rerun the episodes.

But will specials, promos and reruns be enough to whet our Oprah appetite? Personally, I’ve never really watched her show, so what do you guys think? Should Oprah continue hosting a talk show, or is the world sick of her?

Sure these things contain healthy ingredients, but the outstanding amount of unhealthy ingredients negate any benefits you would get from them.

Which brings me to this little nugget: scientists are now on a mission to create “healthy ice cream.” No, they aren’t making delicious and creamy, fat-free and sugar-free ice cream, rather researchers are going to simply add dietary fiber, antioxidants and probiotics (bacteria that aids in healthy digestion) to the already calorie and fat rich dessert. If successful, the healthy ice cream will be considered a “functional food,” one that contains ingredients proven to benefit health above and beyond normal nutrition.

We don’t need nutrients above and beyond normal nutrition, we need help with eating normal healthy nutrients, like vitamins and minerals and lean proteins and NON FAT dairy — not ice cream with a sprinkling of digestion helper.

I don’t need help with healthy digestion. My body digests just fine, because I eat a healthy diet including full yogurt complete with probiotics. Antioxidants are thought to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are linked to causing diseases, which is fine, but you know what really helps preventing disease? Not eating a diet high in saturated fat!

“The intent is that instead of feeling guilty because you are eating this ice cream, which has received a bad rap because it is so high-fat, to really say that ‘Yeah I treated myself to a full-fat ice cream, but I did contribute to my nutritional needs in regard to my gut health, my antioxidant needs and my dietary fiber,’” said ice cream researcher Ingolf Gruen, a professor of food chemistry at the University of Missouri-Columbia, as reported by MSNBC.com.

So basically, it’s a way to justify eating fattening ice cream. Great. That’s exactly what America needs. Really though, why do people talk about food guilt like it is a necessary evil? I’m not knocking ice cream. I love ice cream, the real stuff, and I love a good little bowl every now and again for a snack before bed — after having eaten a good, healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Because of that, I can have this nice indulgence, guilt-free, because I know I am doing what I need to do to take care of my body, not fooling myself into thinking it’s just okay to eat junk food because there is some fiber in it. Somewhere.

What we really need to work on is helping Americans develop a healthy relationship with food. Food is not something to be feared or to cause you guilt. Moreover, the last thing we need is to further confuse and delude people into buying an unhealthy product by shouting from the rooftops about its health benefits, and mumbling under our breaths the fact that it is still full of fat, sugar and calories, and will still cause you to gain weight if you eat too much of it.

If it tasted the same, and didn’t cost anymore money, I would buy this “healthy” ice cream, sure. Extra nutrients added to something I eat occasionally anyway is never a bad thing. It’s those people who can’t (or won’t) control how much ice cream they eat, and will now think that it’s okay — instead of trying to get a handle on it — that I’m worried about. Which, to be frank, is about 90% of my personal training clients. The product is supposed to be launched in the next two years, so I guess I have that much time to try to pound into their heads the importance of the quantity AND the quality of the food they eat.

Gap’s recent holiday ad series featuring a group of happy, bouncy, singing dancers spreading holiday cheer has inspired anything but cheer from the American Family Association. They’re all up in arms over the fact that Gap doesn’t use the word “Christmas” in its advertisements and have even gone so far as to ask everyone to ban shopping at Gap for the rest of the holiday season, claiming “they want all the commerce without the Christmas.”

Hmmm. Just two problems:

#1 Gap DOES use the word “Christmas,” quite prominently. In its spot, titled “Go Ho Ho,” (above) all the singers happily belt out the refrain, “Go Christmas, go Hanukkah, go Kwanzaa, go solstice. . . . Do whatever you wannukkah and to all a cheery night.”

and

#2 What the heck is your problem, American Family Assn? I believe in God and celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus, but I don’t need to have the word “Christmas” jammed and plastered into every holiday advertisement I see. Although I wish it weren’t the case, the truth is it’s been used by so many so often that the word “Christmas” has all but lost its religious meaning except on a personal or family level anyway. Why not complain instead when companies use it and abuse it strictly for the profit factor?

Anyway, enough energy has been wasted on this already. If you like Gap, shop there. If you don’t like Gap, don’t shop there. Problem solved.

Dun dun dun….Nicole Fox! According to E! Online, the pale redheaded 18-year-old from Colorado won the honor, which also includes a contract with Wilhelmina Models, a six-page Seventeen spread and cover, and a $100,000 deal with CoverGirl cosmetics. When she found out she had won, Nicole burst into tears. “I’m a dork and I’m America’s Next Top Model!” she exclaimed. Check out the video:

“This journey was incredibly hard,” Nicole said. “I had to learn to embarrass myself—and to speak, which was a struggle. Sometimes I didn’t think I was going to survive the journey. Like, I remember during casting week I went home and I cried because I was like, ‘What have I gotten myself into? I can’t deal with this.’ And I didn’t think it would be OK to be that dorky girl.” Hmm… maybe we have different definitions of dorky. Sure, she sometimes wears glasses — but come on, she’s stunning!

Disappointed runner-up Laura Kirkpatrick (whose Kentucky accent I will NOT miss) sobbed into Tyra’s arms. “You go out there, and continue to do that beautiful thing that Laura does,” Tyra said.

Officer Bruce Borihanh says she was booked at the Hollywood police station and was held for about five hours. She was released at about 5:30 a.m. after posting $5,000 bail.

Alexandra is the eldest daughter of the Massachusetts senator, the Democrats’ 2004 presidential nominee. She has produced documentaries and has had several small acting roles. She last co-produced the documentary Be Like Others, which was provocative look at a generation of young Iranian men choosing to undergo sex change surgery.

Alexandra has made headlines for being scandalous in the past; she wore a see-through dress at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, leaving very little of her chest to the imagination. She’s definitely one of the more interesting political kids. Although the Bush Twins have been involved in some of their own controversies, Jenna has certainly settled into a pretty squeaky clean life as a teacher and correspondent for The TODAY Show.

Alexandra is also an author; her 2008 book Notes From the Trail tells an unlikely account of an artist reporting the behind-the-scenes madness of her father’s presidential campaign.

It’s easy to assume that since Caster is keeping her medal, the results indicate that she’s female. But gender testing is a lot more complicated than that; Australian newspapers said in September that Caster has no ovaries, but rather has internal male testes, which are producing large amounts of testosterone. The IAAF has refused to confirm or deny those reports. Caster’s fans in South Africa were in an uproar that the IAAF had invaded her privacy to begin with – what do you guys think?

Caster was expected to keep her medal regardless of the gender test findings because she did not cheat; any advantage that she has is from the way her body has always been. I hope this matter can be put to rest and she can keep doing what she loves – running!

“I decided this year to take charge of my health, and get back on the ice after five years,” Scott told Fox New York. ”It’s taken 12 months to get to this point but I’m a work in progress. Onward and upward. If you don’t ask your body to do something, you’ll never get an answer.” Check out the entire interview:

Scott will skate alongside fellow cancer survivor Dorothy Hammill, as well as Kristi Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan. The special is intended to inspire viewers to triumph over illness. “It’s about using entertainment to get the word out about cancer and awareness,” Scott said. “This one is mostly about women’s cancers.”

Olivia Newton John will also perform. “The cast is incredible, the show is beautiful,” he said. “What a thrill to be back in front of an audience.” You go, Scott! Keep skating!

 ”I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen with it,” he said. Robert also insisted that despite his mega fame, he feels exactly the same as he always has. “I speak in an American accent when I’m talking to crowds, because it’s so separate to my actual life. I still feel like I’m kind of acting. I think that’s the way so I don’t go completely mad.” Shockingly, he said that he was going to quit acting the day before his Twilight audition because he never got any jobs!

Robert insists he doesn’t mind that he has less screen time in New Moon, which comes out tonight at midnight. “I always liked this book,” he said. “I always thought it was the most complex, especially for Edward’s character. The more in love with someone you fall, the more you lose control of the relationship and kind of attack and destroy it. I always thought that was interesting.”

As usual, he skirted the question about whether he’s dating Kristen Stewart. Let’s hope the fans don’t attack and destroy their beloved Robert.

“Going Rogue,” the new memoir by former Alaska governor and vice presidential hopeful, Sarah Palin, came out yesterday, and as a result she’s all over the news again today. She’s talking to Oprah and Barbara Walters, and news stations are rife with reports about the book and her future plans. And when I heard NPR reporters speculating as to whether she would run for president in 2012 this morning, I snapped.

What is it with the right glorifying these stupid and/or horrifyingly offensive women? Carrie Prejean? Sarah Palin? Anne Coulter? I just can’t take it.

I mean, sure, we know the right isn’t opposed to putting morons into positions of power–they got W into the presidency for eight years for gods sake, a proposition so terrifying I still shudder to think about it… Well, I guess Coulter isn’t an idiot, she’s just just insane and full of vitriol. But still.

I just don’t understand the party’s decision to prop up these mouthy idiots? Why do you think this is okay? More to the point, I guess, is why would you want to do this? Obviously I’m not a conservative, but why don’t you want to find a woman who is attractive AND smart AND conservative AND level-headed? Is it that she just doesn’t exist?

When I think of the Katie Couric/Sarah Palin interview from last year, the notion that this brainless woman could even be considered to be at the helm of our country actually scares the living crap out of me. But she’s got that mixture of outspoken, stalwart, stubborn hunger and self-righteousness that drips from Prejean and Coulter that, evidently, makes conservatives thrilled, and me cower in fear. Their utter conviction in their small-minded, oppressive agendas–be it gay bashing or just filling the airwaves with overtly malicious lies–is the stuff of my nightmares.

Obviously, the thing that is so simultaneously upsetting and drawing about these women is that they are, in fact, women. Pretty women. Somehow, one expects the fairer sex to be more balanced and compassionate than these power-hungry, climbing shrews.

So we watch, and give this legion of terrifying Tracy Flicks the power to infect. Because everything about them seems to fly in the face of feminism and the fight that our bra-burning forbears had to fight. But that’s the thing about feminism–it’s not about the right to go to work out of the home just like a man, it’s about the right to choose: to work OR be a stay at home mom (or both!), to vote OR not to vote, to use your voice to spread good or evil.

It just chaps my ass that we have so many role models for the latter.

50 Cent apparently spends $20,000 a week to secure his Connecticut mansion, which is just over $1 million a year. Why do I not think that’s all that much money? I guess I just expected a number closer to $5 million. But, I guess, no one is really going to mess with 50 Cent. He is, in part, his own security system. Perhaps helpless Hollywood party girls like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan should call him up and get some advice on how to prevent their homes from getting broken into, yet again.

Britney Spears, who is almost never photographed without two hulking bodyguards flanking her, only spends about $500,000 a year on security, at least that was the case in 2008, when she was still in mega meltdown mode. I thought her security costs would be sky-high. That said, I think financially-troubled stars like Britney could cutout a lot of their security costs by simply not chasing the flashbulbs of the paparazzi. If they would just stay home or keep a low profile, perhaps so many stars wouldn’t be facing money woes.

None of this really seems out of the ordinary though. These celebrities make millions of dollars, hand over fist. And they spend it in often ridiculous ways that are unfamiliar to normal people. So their huge security expenses just seem proportional to their earnings and celebrity status. It just seems normal for such high-profile people to be spending large amounts of money on security. Just another day in the life…

Our favorite scissor-handed swashbuckler was also awarded the honor back in 2003, making him one of only three heartthrobs to make the list twice (Brad Pitt and George Clooney are the others, which isn’t a huge shock).

But does Johnny still have it going on? He’s a 46-year-old father of two, and he’s starting to look a bit weathered. Is that what makes him hot? That his old boots marched through so many places, that his smoldering eyes have seen so many (surely dangerous) things? 

“Johnny Depp has magical powers. He’s unlike anyone else,” says actress Isla Fisher, who’s married to Sacha Baron Cohen. “He’s funny, generous and clever. It’s just a shame he’s so hard on the eyes.” Oh, Isla. How you live with Borat every day, I’ll never know.

I definitely understand why so many women go for the sexy mystery of Johnny Depp. But I may have to pick up the mag to see if my faves made it on the list of 109 other hotties, who include Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal and Bradley Cooper (yes, yes, & yes!), and obviously, New Moon star Robert Pattinson. All I have to say though is…Chace Crawford better be on that list!

“It’s about weight loss, it’s not about being The Biggest Loser for me. It’s about getting my life back.” That’s the thing about The Biggest Loser; as much the monetary prize is a significant motivator, all of the contestants who are able to lose weight and become healthier really do win. Personally, I think the show would be a lot more entertaining if they spent more time on challenges and exercise and nutrition and less time with all the crying about who gets voted off each week.

Although Rebecca was initially very upset about being voted off the show, she channeled her anger into a very successful home program. Rebecca went from 304 pounds to 157, and now she’s rocking a teeny waist and seriously defined legs and arms.

She said she has always struggled with her weight, even as a child. To all her tormentors in high school, she says: “What up now!”

You go, Rebecca! You’re my idol.

Random tidbit: I wish I had seen Steamboat Willie since I once appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and I had to use my “ask the audience lifeline” to find out about it! Fortunately, the audience was, apparently, filled with 1920s cartoon buffs. Check out the famous cartoon:

If you’re near San Francisco, you can celebrate with a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum. It includes galleries of the earliest known drawings of Mickey Mouse, vintage Mickey merchandise, an interactive station that demonstrates how sound is synchronized to animation, and much more. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Monday.

Wal Mart also has a huge array of Mickey Mouse items at Black Friday prices, from tricycles to DVDs to bedding. Toys R Us also has a nice selection of Mickey stuff. Finally, The Disney Store features Mickey items for both kids and adults, including collectible ornaments, figurines and art.

Celebrity status didn’t help Aaron Carter stay on

“Last night was pretty tough,” she told “Good Morning America” today. “I wasn’t too shocked to find out I was leaving. I was competing against huge names. … I was prepared for it, but I am bummed, I won’t lie. I tried my best.”

Joanna and professional dancing partner Derek Hough were some of the most consistent dancers on the show and earned 81 out of 90 points from judges for their Viennese waltz on Monday’s show. Judge Carrie Ann was so captivated that she told them, “you took my breath away.” But fan votes count too, and Kelly Osbourne is the clear fan favorite. “She came in raw with no experience. She deserves a chance to win the title,” Joanna said of the reality TV star. “She’s a doll face. I adore her.”

Now there are just three couples left: Kelly will be up against Donny Osmond and Mya for the finals on Monday. Who do you think is going to win? I definitely have a soft spot for Kelly, but Mya is a fabulous dancer too.

I’m calling Newsweek out. Not for being sexist, but for being pathetic and low. When the editors took this photo, which was originally shot for a spread in Runner’s World, and slapped it on the cover of their magazine, they reduced their image to that of a tabloid. Nothing more than trash, with absolutely no news value whatsoever. They used the picture not to make a statement, but to demean. This choice was nothing more than a very cheap trick. And, if sexism is defined as by the devaluation of a person based on his or her gender, than I’d say this is a prime example.

The cover makes a mockery, not of Palin, but of Newsweek itself. And only deepens the leftist criticism of the news media in general. Palin was part of the reason I voted for Obama and against McCain. And I’m a conservative, but I am in no way a Palin supporter. So if this cover was aimed at anyone, I was probably included in that group.

This photo had it’s place and it was in Runner’s World, alongside an article about Sarah Palin and running. How on earth does this photo end up next to the headline, “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sarah?” Unless the answer is, “by running,” there is no way in hell this picture should have ever been considered for the cover. What a sad day for legitimate journalism. Not even Runner’s World wants to be associated with this tasteless guffaw.

Paris Hilton is reportedly peeved that the uber-talented and completely relevant Kardashian sisters have eclipsed her own mind-numbing brand of undeserved annoying celebrity. Paris just woke up this morning to find out she does not have a fabulous rear end, a husband playing for the Lakers, or a dad as creepy looking as Bruce Jenner, and it makes her unhappy!

A probably-completely-legit inside source said: “[Paris] used to command $100,000 for club appearances, but now Kim is the hottest girl — and they aren’t friends anymore.”

Wait, make sure you’ve swallowed that sip of coffee or bite of danish, here comes the doozy:

“Paris has realized that standing for excess in a recession doesn’t appeal,” our insider continued. “The Kardashian girls seem more real, and girls identify with them more. She’s got to ditch the pink Bentley and concentrate on developing herself.”

What the HELL. Paris has been huffing her own perfume again, she thinks the K sisters are succeeding because of how “relate-able” they are?  Maybe it’s just me and my sad little life, but I haven’t fallen in love with Lamar Odom thereby securing excellent Lakers tickets for life (or for the duration of the marriage). I also didn’t have a famous sex tape in circulation, netting me $5 million dollars in a suit against Vivid Entertainment. I’d make a bitchy comment about the third sister, but I think I’ve made my point already. Paris, the Kardashians aren’t famous because we’re relating to their lifestyles in this economic downturn! They’re famous because people got simply sick of, well, you!

Alright, you Twirlites out there, sound off. Who bugs you the most? You still think Paris is just “acting stupid”? Do you love the Kardashians? If so, what are you smoking, and can I have some?

According to The Los Angeles Times, Gossip Girl is known for its interesting musical selections. Lily’s and Rufus’ wedding included a performance from Sonic Youth, season one’s Cotillion episode featured The Pierces’ “Secret,” and another recent ep featured a kickass cover of T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” by Anya Marina. Lady Gaga added her song “Bad Romance” into the mix last night, as part of Blair’s plot to get the artsy Tisch students to like her by bringing a pop star to NYU to perform.

Gaga rocked her usual voluminous platinum ‘do and a giant red gown that dancers held out around her like a sea of blood (or something).  Check out the video:

What do you guys think? If you’re already a Gaga fan, you know that her wacky outfit and performance were pretty standard. I did like that the song’s lyric “I want your love” fit in thematically with the Dan-Olivia-Vanessa love triangle. (FYI, Olivia pretty much dumped Dan for kissing Vanessa like he never kissed her during their threesome.) Silly Dan. You know you’ve let things go too far when Lady Gaga is the soundtrack to your love life.

In an interview to promote their new book, “How to be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture,” the couple said they’re shopping the idea around to various networks. I am praying that nobody’s interested.

As much as the title of that book makes me want to puke, I have to admit that Heidi and Spencer do seem to know what they’re talking about when it comes to being famous for no reason. But we have to make the madness end and not keep fueling their ridiculous “careers.”

Heidi and Spencer claim that The Hills is limiting because it doesn’t really focus on their characters’ fame. ”You don’t get to see our everyday lives and what we do,” Heidi said. Their proposed new show would be more inclusive and even feature live segments. But even if they do get their proposed show, they would still plan to stay on The Hills and balance both shows.

Hollywood, please hear my plea. One Heidi & Spencer show is enough! In fact, more than enough.

Last Thursday, LiLo attended the launch of Jermaine Dupri’s new watch line “NuPop” in collaboration with famed jewelry designer Pascal Mouawad at Kitson, but wanted more than just a nice watch as a souvenir. Although she was apparently already being paid to show up, sources say Mouawad offered the actress $500 to spend at Kitson, which she successfully bargained up to $1000.

Then the sad tale continued as she went crazy in the store, pulling out drawers and demanding various items, eventually racking up a $15,000 bill. When she was told she had exceeded her limit, Lindsay said that “Pascal would take care of it because I’m the only celebrity here.”

“Pascal said no, so she went and started talking smack about him to Jermaine Dupri who doesn’t even know her,” said an insider. “He was totally bewildered and couldn’t believe it. Eventually Pascal said she could have $2000 to spend but that was the absolutely limit.” Whoa, whoa. Why did she get her way? Why is it that the more rich and famous you are, the more free stuff you expect?

I would imagine that Westwood is still recovering from its recent vampire infestation; New Moonpremiered last night, surrounded by a frenzy of glammed-up celebs, dizzying flashbulbs and screaming fans.

The often strangely dressed Kristen Stewart looked stunning in a silvery Oscar de la Renta gown, while Robert Pattinson rocked a trim Gucci suit. The LA Times has some great photos, and here’s E Online’s gallery, which includes some juicy interviews that will air tonight at 7:30 pm as part of their Live From the Red Carpet: New Moon special. When asked if he has some sort of plan to relax after all the pandemonium, Robert said, “I don’t really have one. Just not waking up early in the morning. I am so not a morning person. I don’t handle it well at all.” I guess that whole can’t-be-out-in-sunlight thing isn’t such a problem for him.

Kristen said that the hysteria wasn’t actually as bad as she imagined. “I was actually able to get really excited because I was prepped for how crazy it was gonna be, and it’s not as crazy as everybody said it was gonna be. As an actor, you don’t get the opportunity to share what you love with so many people. This will never happen to me again.”

Hmm – the movie studio and millions of adoring fans may have something to say about that!

And check out U-Stream’s Interview with Robert Pattinson at last night’s premiere

And check out the an Interview with Taylor Lautner at last night’s premiere

While the meteor shower is predicted to last from November 13 to 20, the pros say the peak of the spectacle (and it is a spectacle!) is tonight, and the best time to see the Leonid meteor shower in full effect is between 1:30am and sunrise.

Named the Leonid shower because the most meteors appear to come from the constellation Leo, it’s the best show in the sky after the Perseids meteor shower that takes place in late August every year.

Scientists say this year’s Leonid shower should yield, at its peak, 20-30 meteors per hour as the comet makes its annual trip around the sun. If you’re not already a savvy skywatcher, here are a few tips for optimal meteor shower viewing:

1. Find a place with as little light pollution as possible – in urban areas, find the middle of a big park or get to the roof of a tall building. Better yet, get out of the city if you can.

5. Bring a date. Oh, how romantic!

So if the smells are not a ‘natural’ byproduct of the store itself, what is the cause? Apparently, at least in some cases, it’s a case of subliminal messaging. Department stores are pumping fragrance into the air on purpose, in hopes that you’ll end up buying it. And you know what? It works.

Statistics show that when scents are misted into the air around their displays more people will buy, apparently because people end up smelling and liking it without even really realizing. Little hidden devices, some in the form of 5 inch cubes, are placed strategically around the store to entice you into shopping more than you might have otherwise.

So what do you think of “ambient scenting?” Is it an underhanded subliminal approach to selling, or simply smart marketing? Stores and restaurants have been using ambient music for years to help set moods, how is this any different?

(Photo courtesy of loleia on stock.xchng)