This information was released in a press conference held at the arena in downtown Los Angeles early Friday morning.

Fans who are interested in attending the event need to register at the Staples Center Web site here: http://www.staplescenter.com/memorial.php. 17,500 total tickets will be released to the fans. 11,000 are in the Staples Center itself and 6,500 will be in the Nokia Theater across the street, which will simulcast the event.

Fans go to the Web site, register, and then 8,750 names will be selected for two tickets each. Those notifications will come on Sunday. People who get that email will get instructions on how to obtain their tickets and wristbands, which will hopefully cut down on piracy and scalping as both will be needed.

The Los Angeles Police Department will not allow human traffic around the area without a ticket and strongly encouraged anyone who doesn’t have one to watch the event on television, which will be broadcast live.

The event will also be simulcast for free on all major television networks and this is the preferred way to watch the event.

OMG! What’s all the gossip about? Anna Sui’s new Gossip Girl-inspired collection for Target, naturally!

Honestly, I could care less about the whole Gossip Girl angle. Yes, I’ve seen the show, but I’m not dying to emulate a fictional stuck-up teenager. So, when I go to Target to flip threw the clothes, I will overlook Anna Sui’s inspiration for the line and pretend I’m not the only shopper over 25 scrambling to get my hands on one of these new looks.

But, for arguments sake, if I had to pick one of the four girls (Blair, Vanessa, Jenny, and Serena) whose style I most identify with, it would have to be Blair, the uber-snob from the Upper East Side. Ann Sui’s “Blair” looks for the new collection are mostly prim and proper dresses with a slight vintage edge. Plus, a couple of them have bows. I’m a sucker for bows.

No doubt, with the popularity of the show and all, the shelves will be empty about 2 hours after the clothes hit Target stores on September 13. And that’s playing it safe. I just don’t know if I’m cut out to compete with all the wanna-be gossip girls who will be pushing and scratching to get their hands on exactly what they want. But, I will make an attempt, in the name of Anna Sui.

Maybe Target will aim a little higher for the next TV-inspired line. Perhaps a Sex and the City line designed by Pat Field. I’m just saying. But, for now, Gossip Girl will have to do.

XOXO.

MTV Movies Blog revealed the news, as well as a photo, of Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers along side Adam Sandler in the upcoming comedy from writer and director Judd Apatow.

Scheduled for release on July 31, the film is about a popular comedian (Sandler) who finds out he is going to die but is then cured. He consiquently struggles with how to deal with a second shot a life. It also stars Seth Rogen, Eric Bana, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman among others.

No word on what specifically Eminem will be doing in the film but he will be playing himself. Apatow also had this to say about directing him, “I was scared to pitch jokes to him then I realized his songs are as nasty as anything that has ever been spoken. There is no way to offend him.”

The Detroit rapper is currently still promoting his album “Relapse,” which debuted at number one on the U.S. album charts this past May.

Phoenix Mercury shooting guard Diana Taurasi was cited for drunk driving early Thursday morning hours after her team beat the Seattle Storm 93-81, according to the Associated Press.

For those who don’t know Taurasi, she was a stand out player at the University of Connecticut earlier this decade where she won multiple player of the year awards and lead her team to three straight NCAA Championships. She was then selected first overall in the WNBA Draft in 2004. She won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award and in 2007 lead the Mercury to the WNBA championship. Currently, she’s the leading vote getting for the upcoming WNBA All Star Game.

Basically this is like if Lebron James got a DWI. Just on the WNBA side.

After scoring 22 points and blocking four shots in the win, a Phoenix police officer stopped Taurasi around 2:30 a.m. for speeding. The officer smelled alcohol, performed sobriety tests and drover Taurasi to a mobile DUI van. There some blood samples were taken and she was cited before being released.

No word on any fallout from the event yet as it’s still only hours old. One can almost bet Taurasi will have to pay for her actions, though. She’s a role model to girls of all ages.

Holmes won’t only be appearing, though, she’ll actually be dancing. Reports say that she has been rehearsing for a while with daughter Suri and Tom cheering her on.

The July 23 episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” is the show’s 100th and it’s also a tribute to the late, great Judy Garland, best known as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.” To pay homage on the dance show, Holmes will be moving along to the song “Get Happy,” which Garland sang in the film “Summer Stock.”

Besides being a fan of the actress, Holmes’ appearance is meant to promote a new organization she’s co-created called Dizzy Feet. It “aims to support dance education and programs, and talented dancers who can’t afford training” according to the Associated Press.

“I like to sing and dance, so this has been really fun,” Holmes told MTV. “I think it’s important to let kids experience music and dancing and singing and the arts and also sports. This is the next generation, and I think it’s important to give them every opportunity to grow and discover what it is that they like.”

Holmes’ last film was “Mad Money” which co-starred Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah. She also appeared on Broadway late late year in the Arthur Miller play “All My Sons.”

Well that actually happened. Unfortunately, it’s highly illegal and now the singer is in a wee bit of trouble.

According to E! Online and TMZ, Rihanna walked into the Manhattan tattoo parlor East Side Ink to hang out with her regular tattoo artist named “Bang Bang.” “Bang Bang” decided he wanted to get a tattoo from Rihanna for a change so she made a little umbrella with an “R” under it. Two of the other tattoo artists then decided they wanted one of these tattoos, too, and the singer was more than happy to oblige. The second and third tattoos had the numbers 2 and 3 under them, adding to the highly limited and original nature of the tattoos.

What the singer, and apparently the tattoo parlor employees, didn’t know was “Only licensed tattoo artists can administer tattoos in the city according to the City’s Health Code.” This according to Erin Brady, a spokesperson for the NYC Health Department.

Rihanna could be charged with three misdemeanors for the tattoos, which would carry increasing values of $300. $500 and $1000. Chances are that won’t happen, though.. Someone would have to complain and these employees probably won’t.

It’s summer time, and you know what that means - most major TV series have the season off, so you can finally play some much needed tube catch up (What-you thought I was going to suggest you spend your evenings outside enjoying the good weather? As if.)

There are simply only so many hours in the day, and only so many of those hours that one can devote to viewing pursuits. But you know all those shows everyone yaps about that you haven’t gotten a chance to check out? In the summer when the network series are on vacation, it’s your perfect chance. Just order them up on Netflix or Hulu or alien space beam or whatever it is the kids are watching stuff on these days and give it a shot. It should be a well-received break from the hours of mindless reality TV, and you’ll have more than enough time to watch your way through all the old episodes before the new ones start up again in the fall - presuming you like them, that is. But I like them, so obviously they are magnificent.

5. Lost

.

What? You’ve heard of this one? You heard it jumped the shark? And the writers are crazy? I don’t care. I have liked Lost from the get go. Yes, I will admit, there are times when it waxes a touch melodramatic. There are times when the sets look like they are made out of papier-mache (Oh, Ben, are those frozen rocks you are moving the island with? Or giant hunks of spray panted styrofoam?). And sometimes, okay often, I think this show might just be an exercise in the writers trying to see just how long they will keep people watching without ever giving them real answers. But it doesn’t matter. They have absolutely mastered tension and the cliffhanger ending. Every single stinking episode - without fail - when the big LOST booms up at the end, I lose my mind, shake my fist like an angry old man and yell ‘Gah!’ at the television because I don’t want to wait one more minute to find out what is going to happen next.

4. House.

A friend of mine worked on the Norwegian Cruise Lines, and this was the series they ran over and over on the crew television channel, so they were all obsessed with it, which is pretty funny.  You’d think House wouldn’t be so interesting when every episode is essentially the same formula - someone comes down with a mysterious illness, brilliant, codger-like Dr. Gregory House doesn’t think the case is interesting enough but is persuaded to take it, he and his team spend about 40 minutes dicking around trying to get the diagnosis and screwing up, then he figures it out. Insert a healthy dose of interpersonal drama mostly revolving around House being a major ass and/or his Vicodin addiction and you have every episode of the show ever. And yet, it is always pretty damn gripping, and you don’t have to be a total hypochondriac to think so. It’s good enough for the Norwegians, so it should be good enough for you.

3. 30 Rock

Yes, I know you know everyone loves it. There is a reason. More often than not the writing on this show is simply brilliant. Alec Baldwin has completely resurrected himself, transitioning from hot leading man roles of the past to deadpan buttoned up comic ones of the present with aplomb. Tracy Morgan is hysterical - often more so when you watch his bits the second time. And the recent comparisons to The Muppet Show make it even the more amusing. Just do yourself a favor and partake.

2. Entourage

Some yokels I used to know accused this show of being too insider, and that only Hollywood-ites could identify. I heartily disagree. I might live in LA, but the agent/actor side of the industry is one with which I have strikingly little familiarity. In fact, the only local kicks I get off this show is when it’s shot somewhere I recognize, but that is an experience all Los Angelenos have with virtually anything shot in LA. So, why is it so great? Just typical HBO production - great writing, great characters, great acting, lots of heart. And whoever picks the music for this show - you are a genius. Note: Entourage is back in July, so this one you’d best get on ASAP.

1. Readers’ Choice

Okay, I’m punting. I could have said Weeds, which is terrific, or The Tudors, which is distinctly less terrific, but somehow has my attention despite how furious it makes me. But mostly there are several series I’m contemplating firing up for the first time this summer, and I could use some advice. Right now I think it’s a tie between Mad Men and Dexter, but I’m open to suggestions. Are either of those as marvelous as people say? Is there something else amaaaazing that I’m missing? Enquiring minds need some help.

Over 1,500 people came to take over Times Square in NYC for a giant Bubble Battle flash mob style! Millions of bubbles were floating through the air creating a magical scene. The idea was loosely based on the Dr. Seuss Classic,The Butter Battle Book. People brought bubble toys, bubble generators, bubble solution, and their imaginations.

Don’t worry if you missed out it’s an annual event…. so get your wands ready for next year!

CNN just released footage of Michael Jackson’s last rehearsal, two days before the “King of Pop” died. After watching the video, it looked as though Michael was in great shape and nowhere near at risk for a heart attack. This last tour in Europe was supposed to be Jackson’s last great triumph, but sadly that won’t be the case.

In the video, Jackson is rehearsing at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles singing “They Don’t Care About Us” from his 90’s compilation album “History.” Although a public viewing of his body will no longer happen at his Neverland Ranch, rumors are swirling about a possible memorial at the Staples Center.

Forget about the fireworks and American flags. For moviegoers over the last decade, July 4th has meant one thing: Will Smith.

This phenomenon started in 1996 with the kind of terrible, but way more awesome alien invasion flick “Independence Day.” The following year, Smith starred in another alien film, this time the sci-fi comedy “Men in Black.” A year after that, in 1999, Will rode again in “Wild Wild West.”

So for three years in a row, Smith starred in a film that was released on the July 4th weekend. After the crapfest that was “Wild Wild West” though, Smith took a break from Summer blockbusters and got himself an Oscar nomination for “Ali.”

In 2002, Will was back with “Men in Black II” over the July 4th weekend. And you know that he probably suggested director Michael Bay put out “Bad Boys II” two weeks before its July 18, 2003 release. (Ditto “I, Robot” in 2004, which was released in mid-July).

Last year, the King of the 4th was back with “Hancock,” a fantastic idea for a film that wasn’t executed very well about a down on his luck superhero. Still, it had impressive action and Smith being his lovable, July 4th self.

This Independence Day, there’s no Will to be had. There’s Optimus Prime, there’s Johnny Depp and some crazy critters but no Mr. Smith. Where is he at?

Last year Smith released “Seven Pounds,” which was one of the most polarizing and awkward films in recent memory. Since then, the King of the 4th has been off the radar. According to the IMDB, he’s not scheduled to star in anything for at least another year or so. In fact, he’s just concentrating on helping his son, Jaden, launch the reboot of “The Karate Kid.”

Either way, it’s impossible to celebrate Independence Day without thinking about “Independence Day” and its star Will Smith. Come back to the 4th, Will, we miss you.

(Photo By: Tais Melilo)

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

It’s the third story from our precious prehistoric pals, and promises to be a fun adventure with or without the 3-D glasses. When Sid steals a few dinosaur eggs, he ends up in an underground world and must call on his pals to rescue him from the dinos and their weaselly hunter, Buck. Featuring the vocal talents of Queen Latifah, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary, Ice Age 3 is bound to please the kiddos. But their parents? Now that we’ve already seen two installments, the tale might feel…old.

Public Enemies

Johnny Depp stars as John Dillinger, the audacious real-life thief who broke out of numerous jails and outsmarted police and the FBI in 1930s Chicago. Flanked by girlfriend Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard) and cronies Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi), Dillinger became America’s first Public Enemy Number One, and the personal enemy of J Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) and Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale). Directed by Michael Mann (Miami Vice, Collateral), Public Enemies is filled with history, mystery and action.

Being an assistant often involves jumping into the job before you really know what you’re doing and figuring things out the hard way. I’ve been there - so let me share with you some basic tips for surviving  (and maybe even thriving!) on your desk.

1. DO ask questions

Never assume or guess anything - it will always come back to bite you in the ass.

2. DO try to be resourceful and figure things out on your own

Most bosses would rather you consult with them before taking action - but sometimes they won’t be accessible, and you’ll have to prioritize what questions you ask. So, use every resource you have. Ask other assistants in your department about things like internal procedure. And similarly, don’t bother other assistants for answers to questions that are easily Google-able. People will be more willing to help you if they feel like you’ve exhausted your options and aren’t asking them to do your work for you.

3. DO take initiative and get the most out of your job

If you’re lucky you may find a mentor or someone to guide your career, but you have to be your own biggest advocate, and you have to be the one to take action to make sure you’re doing everything you can. Read scripts, and give your opinion when it’s appropriate. Find new projects or clients. Be knowledgeable. Show off what you know and how passionate you are.

4. DON’T forget that, after all, you’re just an assistant

Doing non-assistanty things like finding new projects will impress people and fulfill you, but you can only focus on those kinds of things after the basic administrative duties are taken care of.

5. DON’T gossip to all your friends about what you’ve heard on the phone or read in an agenda

Treat all information as 100% confidential until you get a sense of what is and is not okay to talk about. There is a lot of competition in Hollywood, and keeping information private is often a big part of execs’ strategy.

6. DO network as much as you can

Ask other assistants to drinks or coffee. With each person you connect with, you’re expanding your network to include all of their connections as well. These people are going to come in handy when you need information, or a script, or a favor, or a job. Plus they’re probably cool people you’ll have a lot of in common with.

7. DO read as much as you can

- the trades, scripts, books, articles, etc. Soaking up information is part of your job.

8. DO write everything down and keep track of everything you do in whatever systems work for you

There are going to be so many things going across your desk, even the best of memories won’t be able to handle it.

9. DON’T get caught up in assistant minutia.

A lot of people fall victim to this, but I think it can be really damaging for your sanity. Try to remember the bigger picture. Don’t beat yourself up when you make mistakes, and don’t let the menial tasks take on more meaning than they should. Remember that this is just something you’re doing to get somewhere else.

And finally -

10. DON’T let being an assistant become your whole life

Make a point to have some non-Hollywood friends and non-Hollywood hobbies. No matter how passionate you are about the industry, it should never become your whole life.

Whether you think he’s a genius or a fraud or somewhere in between, there’s no denying the popularity and public curiosity that surrounds psychic medium John Edward. (Not John Edwards the Democratic Presidential candidate, though he surely inspires much of the same sentiment in people).

You know this John Edward. He’s the one who asks audience members questions about their long lost relatives and slowly begins to make sometimes surprising connections between the two as if he is communicating with the dead.

Now, for anyone who is not able to go to one of Edward’s taping, he’s launched a new Web site called Infinite Quest.

On the site, Edward has recruited astrologists, numerologists, physics and more to give Internet users as close an experience to his live show as possible.

There are also sections explaining and offering interactive experiences on the afterlife, energy, tarot cards, health and reincarnation. It offers both a free and pay membership to surf.

Recently on Fox News’s “Hannity” show, Edward talked about why this new site is so important to him.

“ I’ve been doing this work for 25 years. And I’ve been involved with astrology, numerology, you know, energy, alternative belief philosophy, reincarnation. And I want to give people the opportunity to say maybe,” he said.

Are you afraid of heights? Then you might want to avoid Chicago. The wind, combined with the tallest building in the country already seems like hell for anyone who suffers from acrophobia. Well that building, the Sears Tower, has taken it a bit further.

They’ve just opened “The Ledge,” glass floor balconies located on the building’s 103rd floor. They are 1,353 feet in the air and stick out four feet from the building. It’s like that scene in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” but to the extreme.

Walking on “The Ledge” reportedly gives the visitor a sense of floating over Chicago. Plus it’s a great way to see the entire city, which is split down the middle by the Chicago River.

“The Sears Tower has always been about superlatives — tallest, largest, most iconic,” John Huston, one of the property owners of the Sears Tower, told the Associated Press. “Today is also about superlatives. Today, we present you with ‘the Ledge,’ the world’s most awesome view, the world’s most precipitous view, the view with the most wow in the world.”

More facts about the latest tourist attraction include that it can hold five tons and the glass is an inch-and-a-half thick.

Later this summer, the Sears Tower will change its name to the Willis Tower so, if you are heading to Chicago to check out the ledge, be careful with that Google search.

Celebrity magazines are known to fight and pay big bucks for exclusive photos. This week, OK! Magazine reportedly paid $500,000 for what they are calling “the last” photo of Michael Jackson, according to MSNBC.

The photo is stirring all sorts of controversy. It shows Jackson unconscious with a neck brace on a stretcher. He could even possibly be dead.

Besides the obvious morbid nature of the photo, the real reason this is becoming a big deal is because OK! seemed to be the only magazine to go this route. Take a swing by the newsstand and you’re bound to see a slew of respectful photography on the covers of everything from Time, to Newsweek to Entertainment Weekly, which is releasing four commemorative covers.

A spokesman for OK! Magazine explained the magazine’s decision to MSNBC: “The cover represents an event in the history of an extremely entertaining and controversial figure and is sure to provoke some emotion and questions from readers and fans about the circumstances. The news often does.”

Is the photo distasteful? Yes. Gruesome? Yes. But should people be outraged? Probably not. The simple fact that we are writing about it and discussing it proves that paying the money and running the photo is justified. Journalism, however we look at it, is a business and OK! made a wise - even if it’s slightly wrong - business decision.

Early Wednesday morning, teen heart-throb Kevin Jonas proposed to his longtime girlfriend Danielle Deleasa, according to People Magazine. The proposal, which took place on the doorstep of Deleasa’s New Jersey home, was short and simple as Kevin knelt on one knee, asked the big question and presented her with a large cushion-cut diamond ring. Deleasa then replied - after a brief moment of speechlessness - “Yes, yes, yes like 500 times super fast in a row.”

Jonas, age 21, and Deleasa, age 22, first met while on separate family vacations in the Bahamas in May, 2007. At the time Deleasa didn’t know who the Jonas Brothers even were, but that didn’t matter to Kevin who first spotted the beautiful Deleasa - then a hair dresser - with a flower in her hair walking along the beach. Fast-forward two years later and the happy couple are now engaged. Deleasa told People Magazine, “It feels like a dream.”

Kevin had flown into New Jersey over night after a show in Toronto in order to surprise Deleasa. “It was tough performing last night, knowing that I was going to ask the biggest question in my life to the most amazing girl in the world,” he said.

Also happy are Kevin’s parents Denise and Kevin Sr., who recently remarked, “Our hearts are filled with joy today and we are happy to share with you that our son Kevin has asked Danielle for her hand in marriage,” further saying, “Her answer was yes, and it is such a blessing that she will be joining our family. Kevin and Danielle have not yet set a date. Family is very dear to us, and we hope we have raised Kevin to be a wonderful man and husband. Please join us in our family’s celebration and in congratulating Kevin and Danielle. Thank you for all of your support.”

Oh and girls, there’s still two left. So no reason to freak out. Yet.

From the beginning, Michael Jackson danced to the beat of his own drum. He was no different when it came to his fashion. Here’s a look back at the late King of Pop’s most memorable outfits throughout his reign atop the music world.

If anything, the man loved his accessories. And they certainly helped define his changing images over the years. From the socks and loafers of the “Billie Jean” days, to the singular glove and later the surgical masks, Jackson was never without an accessory to polish off his outfit.

Then there were the jackets. And, these were no ordinary jackets. No, sir. Jackson’s red leather jacket in the “Thriller” video created a frenzy among fans. And who could for get the bedazzled blazers that would follow?

To me, Jackson’s impact on the fashion world (if not the world in general) can be summed up with this one photo. Seeing Jackson (in a trademark razzle-dazzle military getup) flanked by Ronald and Nancy Reagan leaves me speechless. It’s such an utter juxtaposition of conservative politics and conservative apparel with pop-culture extravagance and all that goes along with it.

Whatever look you remember Jackson for, there’s no doubt that his over-the-top fashion choices have made an impression on us all. Of course there was the music, and later his tabloid fame, but Jackson will always be remembered as one of the world’s greatest fashion icons.

Several years ago, when my husband and I were first dating, he and his roommates at the time were very into watching this British comedian on the Internet. His name was Sacha Baron Cohen, and while I hadn’t heard of him or seen him on TV, he was all the rage with the MIT urban planners in Porter Square.

Fast forward a few years and it seems there is virtually no one who hasn’t heard of Mr. Baron Cohen and his impressive antics–and with good reason. To date, Borat has made over $261.5 million worldwide, and his new movie, Bruno, is poised to stage a repeat performance.

As Borat, Baron Cohen was a hairy, hapless ‘Kazakhstani’ who played on our cultural prejudices about Middle Easterners and rural rubery. Now, as Bruno, he embodies a fatuous, flamboyant gay Austrian. These characters are, to be sure, caricatures. But you only have to see his now blonde- topped, otherwise completely waxed nude form splashed across one magazine cover once to be reminded of Baron Cohen’s stunningly balls-out commitment to his art.

What is it about Baron Cohen that people love so much? I have a few theories. His characters present the unique combination of the blue, gross-out humor of a fat man dangling his balls in someone’s face with a fairly intellectual level of social commentary brought out by his target’s reactions. As a result, Baron Cohen can appeal to multiple audiences for very different reasons all at the same time.

For me, it is always hard watching people get embarrassed by someone else on camera; it makes me squirm and change the channel. But with Baron Cohen, more often than not his characters don’t just take advantage of unsuspecting subjects - they expose these people for their real, and ugly prejudices, which makes me feel like they deserve what they get. With the Bruno character in particular, Baron Cohen puts himself at risk - playing on the gay stereotypes that so often have been known to be greeted with physical violence from homophobes. Which makes me admire–and root for–him all the more.

But what’s most amazing at this point is that he can find any subjects at all. Not only would you imagine people would be more on guard after the success of Borat, but more importantly the Bruno character (as well as Borat and the moronic rapper, Ali G) were part of his original Da Ali G Show. In short, these characters are and have been around, visible, and drawing a sizeable following for years. How he finds enough people unaware enough to react as they do never ceases to amaze me. But he does, and Ich liebe it.

Over the weekend former Playboy playmate and The Girls Next Door star Kendra Wilkinson married football player Hank Baskett. The happy couple were married on Saturday at the Playboy mansion and US Weekly came away with the exclusive pictures. In them Kendra is featured wearing a gorgeous $20 thousand dress and over $100 thousand worth of jewelry. She is quoted as saying, “Everything looked so beautiful around me — it was surreal.” Basket agreed, remarking, “She looks so beautiful, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.”

Not one to miss the show - as it was at his home - Hugh Hefner was there as well, making time for a dance with the bride and, according to show co-star Bridget Marquardt, some tears too.

“If was a spectacular day, filled with emotion … Her first dance was with the groom; the second, with me.”

The married couple are now off too a secluded beach in St. Lucia. And after that? A baby, as Kendra is currently three-months pregnant with the couple’s first child. And get this, the baby is due on December 25th. A Christmas baby!

Also, Kendra is planning to take Hanks’ last name. So she will now be known as Kendra Haskett. Has a nice ring to it.

Check out more photos from Kendra’s wedding!

photos courtesy of US Weekly

One of my favorite things to do in life  is to interview people. Interesting people.  People who inspire, motivate, create drama for some sort of reason, or just people who make you step back and go…”Okay, I had no idea that you had that particular point of view.”

So, when our fabulous Visual Content Editor, Aysha, let me know about the boxer Sid El Harrak, we needed to get him on Twirlit. ASAP.

So we want to know more about you. Who are you and what do you do?

My name is  Sid El Harrak, I’m 26 yrs old, I was born in London, England, but of Moroccan decent! I moved to California in 1996! I didn’t know I was moving here, my mother told me we were coming on vacation. When we got here, her and my step dad sat me down, and told me I would be living here from now on……. She always wanted the best for me as a child, and moving to America was the right move for us. I started boxing when I was 14yrs old, but at that age, their were so many distractions, seeing as I was in high school… So I stopped boxing and didn’t return to the gym till the age of 17… I had 60 amateur fights I was 52-8, and now an undefeated pro (5-0-2k.o).

Did you think that you’d be doing this as a career or did it sort of…just happen?

First time I walked in the gym, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I was blessed to find something I love at such a young age. Boxing saved my life.

Favorite country visited? Or if you haven’t traveled much, where would you like to go?

I had a great time in Spain. Beautiful weather, good food, the people are friendly…. Its always a pleasure to go back to England and see my family. Only problem with London is, its so expensive!

What gets you up in the morning?

The people that don’t wanna see me make it! They fuel my fire, everyone that said I can’t, or I wont be able to… My mother told me one day, that when I was a kid, people said I was gonna be a failure when I was older. That’s all that runs through my mind before I leave the locker room. “they said you were gonna be a failure…Sid, they said you were gonna be a failure”.  Sometimes I’ll be at home and my eyes will start tearing up, cause I want this so bad.  I wanna be a champion, I’ve worked long and hard for it, and one day, God willing I’ll get it.

(Click images to enlarge)

Favorite youtube video?

I watch old English comedy shows on youtube, such as, Faulty Towers, Only Fools and Horse’s, and bottom..

Favorite cocktail?

I only drink a few times a year. When I do drink, I try and get straight to the point, Long island ice tea. One or two of those, and I’ll be good.

Your last meal on earth would be..

That’s easy, Dim Sum, can eat that all day, every day…

What website can you NOT live without?

Facebook, Myspace, Boxrec, Fightnews,and boxingtalk…. I go on all 5 at least once a day!

Do you Twitter?

Don’t have a twitter account. Got facebook and myspace, that’s enough for me.

What’s your MO in life? Life mantras?

To live my life with no regrets. Whatever I do, do it to the best of my ability…

Work before Love or Love before work?

When it comes to this sport, love has to wait on the side!  Every time I step in the ring, my life is at danger.  I have a motto that I live by: Work hard now- party later, or I could party now, work hard later, but I choose the first one. Also, I’m willing to lose my life in the ring, because the ring is my life, I’d be lost without it.

Determination. I like it.  So,what advice would you give to anyone who wants to follow your path in life?

First, don’t follow any man’s path, make your own! In this world, you gotta be a leader, not a follower! Anyone that’s getting into boxing, don’t do this, unless you  love it. know its a long hard road, when nothing really certain in the future! If you go to college and get straight A’s, you know once you graduate, their will be a good job waiting for you! Well I go to school, its called the school of hard knocks, and I get straight A’s, you can ask my coach Eddie Mustafa Muhammed, but if I lose focus for a minute, my dream could be gone just like that…….

Anything you want to plug?

I’m fighting in 2 weeks, July 3rd at the plaza in downtown Las Vegas! Also july 31st at the Pechanga resort and casino in Temcula, California!

Thank you for your time Sid!  If any of you reading this are going to be in Vegas during this weekend, check out Sid’s boxing skills!

In our latest Twirlit Product Giveaway, we featured the new products from Pantene Pro-V’s Nature Fusion Line which contains the strength-building Cassia Complex. This includes the following…

1) Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Shampoo
-contains Proprietary Cassia complex, Calendula, Ginger, and Aloe vera
- contains the Cassia polymer from the Cassia complex, leaving hair protected against damage and naturally radiant
2) Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Conditioner
- Unique formula with Cassia complex, Calendula, Ginger, and Aloe vera seals moisture and helps protect against future damage
3) Pantene Pro-V Smooth Vitality Shampoo
-contains Cassia complex, Avocado, Bamboo, and Grapeseed extracts to transform hair from frizzy to silky smooth
4) Pantene Pro-V Smooth Vitality Conditioner
-contains Cassia complex, Avocado, Bamboo, and Grapeseed extracts to transform hair from frizzy to silky smooth as it seals in moisture
5) Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smoothing Creme
-Primes hair for styling by strengthening against damage

We asked..”What are your favorite hair care products that you can only buy at supermarkets/drugstores?

Well, we’ve randomly picked the winner for this giveaway….who is MONIQUE M who answered..

“Garnier fructis is my favorite hands down and there always holding a sale for there products and i also love Pantene prov detangling mist to its cheap there also.”
We’ll be in touch to send you your prize!  And for the rest of you, keep a look out for our next giveaway!

Sincerely,

The Twirlit Crew

According to one-time Edwards campaign aide Andrew Young, former Presidential Candidate John Edwards and campaign videographer Rielle Hunter not only had an affair - previously confirmed - but they videotaped it as well. Which, is not only stupid, but super gross as well. I mean, just what were they thinking? Is America really ready for their Presidents to have sex tapes? Really?

And yet, somehow, the story only gets worse.

In a new tell-all book titled, “Impossible to Put Down”, Young not only gets us into the greasy details of the campaign, but of the sordid affair as well. He also drops a little bomb as to who the father of Hunter’s child really is. (For those not tracking this story, Young had previously claimed the child as his). The secret father? Why, John Edwards of course!

Apparently Young was so loyal to the cause that he not only kept Edwards secret, but he claimed the child as his own - and he has a family! - and even had Hunter move in with him. I mean, this is some real twisted Soap Opera shit here. Anyway, I guess that loyalty’s now gone, as Young is holding nothing back. And according to the book, that includes a sex tape Young found of Edwards and Hunter (apparently she filmed everything). As the story goes, while Hunter was staying with Young, he came across a box of videos. One of those videos? SEX TAPE.

Oh, and Young also claims that Edwards was planning to marry Hunter as soon as his cancer-stricken wife, Elizabeth Edwards, died. Real nice, dude. And to top it off, they had even planned wedding songs too. (”Secret Lover”, perhaps?).

You think Sanford’s political career is over? Not nearly as over as Edwards’ is about to be.

His will is out, the public viewing is being planned and album sales are through the roof. No matter where you turn, Michael Jackson’s legacy is everywhere.

Wednesday morning, Jackson’s 7-year-old will was filed in a Los Angeles court, according to the Associated Press. The biggest news was Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of Jackson’s kids (though Jackson wasn’t the biological father) was completely cut out.  At the time, Michael estimated his worth to be around $500 million and all of that is to be left to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. His mother, Katherine Jackson, is named as the beneficiary and chosen guardian for the children, with singer Diana Ross as the back up.

In other news Neverland Ranch, Michael’s mythic home in Santa Barbara County, is the topic of discussion as it’s the rumored site of a public viewing and memorial that’s tentatively scheduled for Friday.

However, as of Wednesday morning, no final plans were set. Photos of the Ranch, seen at places like MTV News and TMZ, show that preparations are underway for some kind of event. Rumors are swirling of Jackson being ushered in in a white carriage, a possible procession 125 miles north from the Staples Center in Los Angeles and much more.

And finally, Jackson will have the top three spots on the best selling album chart this week with “Number Ones,” “Essential Michael Jackson,” and “Thriller,” according to the AP.

This madness is far from over.

A nice cup of coffee in the morning is one of the greatest things in the world. The aroma. The caffeine. The potential for deadly disease?

The Associated Press is reporting that Dunkin’ Donuts, which has 6,400 locations across the United States and serves upwards of 3 million people per day, has temporarily stopped serving their hot chocolate and Dunkaccino beverages because of a possible salmonella contamination at one of their supplier’s facilities.

The company, based in Canton, Massachusetts, was quick to say that none of its products were actually contaminated and the withdrawal of the beverages was just a precaution. Still, as people arrive at work and drink their coffee, it’s a scary thing to think about.

Plainview Milk Products Cooperative, the tainted supplier in question, voluntarily recalled its instant nonfat dried milk and whey protein when they learned of the possible contamination but, much like Dunkin’ Donuts, they too were quick to report no one has been adversely affected.

So basically, this is a non-story. However, it is good to know that - when faced with something as potentially frightening as a salmonella scare - these big companies are quick to act and have their customers in mind.

Dunkin’ Donuts will resume selling these delicious beverages very soon.

(Photo by PSD and The Consumerist on Flickr)

Over the course of a season on “American Idol,” evil British judge Simon Cowell must make several thousand dismissive quips to the contestants. Let’s face it, that’s why a majority of people watch the show.

But are each of those jokes really worth five figures each?

The Guardian in the United Kingdom, as well as the New York Post and New York Daily News are all reporting that Cowell may command a whopping $144 million to come back for “American Idol” season nine.

Let’s say that again, and look at it all written out. “American Idol” + Simon Cowell = $144,000,000.

Last year, Cowell made $36 million for the show and that in itself seems excessive. Michael Jordan at his peak made about $25 million a year. Alex Rodriguez, the highest payed baseball player, makes roughly $28 million a year. Even the biggest movie stars - guys like Will Smith, Jim Carrey and Tom Cruise - don’t command those kind of numbers. Somehow, somewhere, someone thinks Simon Cowell is worth the salaries of all of those guys, COMBINED!

And while all of that sounds completely insane, the numbers might justify it. A extremely successful sports franchise, such as the New York Yankees, might pull in $1 billion annually. The top grossing movies of all time, “Titanic” and “The Dark Knight,” each hover around that number as well. Then there’s “American Idol” which, even though its rating slipped last year, pulled in about $900 million, according to the NY Post.

So maybe Cowell deserves that kind of money. I’m just glad I’m not the one signing the checks. Or one of the potentially jealous fellow judges sitting next to him.