Royal baby born - and it's a boy for Kate Middleton and Prince William

 Royal baby born - and it's a boy for Kate Middleton and Prince William, Kate is being tended by a top medical team led by the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children

Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Duke and Duchess's son, said the tot was "a wonderful baby, a beautiful baby".

9.24pm

The Duke of Cambridge looks likely to come out of the Lindo Wing holding his newborn son (4/7), or it's a 6/4 chance that Kate does.

The future King is favoured with the firm at 8/11 to ascend the throne before 2065, and it's also odds-on that the couple announce their son is expecting a brother or sister (8/11) before Prince Harry gets married (2/1).

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: "James is the red-hot favourite and the odds suggest we'll get the name on Tuesday. We're staring down the barrel of a gun if the baby's named Henry."

She added: "It's been odds-on all year long that Kate would give birth to a girl and punters who believed it would be a boy have now collected over £100,000 worth of winnings."

9.21pm

Now the little Prince is finally here, the odds are flooding in on what he will be called.

Kate and William are favoured to name their baby boy James, according to Ladbrokes.

The name, shared by Kate's younger brother, is the red-hot 2/1 favourite.

George is fancied as a 5/1 shot, and it's the same price for the name Henry, after an unprecedented amount of bets in the last 48 hours saw Henry's odds slashed from 50/1 to 5/1.

It's odds-on that the name is announced on Tuesday 23rd July, but for those who think we could be waiting a week like William's announcement can take odds of 3/1 on offer.

9.18pm

The statement, on Buckingham Palace headed paper, was brought out for public inspection on the easel by Badar Azim, a footman with the Royal Household, and Ailsa Anderson, the Queen's press secretary.

The easel, in the Rococo revival style, was previously used to announce the birth of Prince William in 1982.

It is a carved gilt wood easel with moulded uprights ending at scrolled cabriole legs and feet.

9.13pm

Earlier, the Prime Minister said the "whole country will celebrate" the birth of the royal baby as news of the child's arrival spread across the globe.

David Cameron offered his congratulations on Twitter where the worlds of showbiz, politics and sport appeared to share in the Duke and Duchess's delight.

He wrote: "I'm delighted for the Duke and Duchess now their son has been born.

"The whole country will celebrate. They'll make wonderful parents."

9.11pm

The Prince of Wales issued a brief statement: "Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy.

"Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone's life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future."

Moments before Charles's joyous words were released the Queen's press secretary Ailsa Anderson strode out onto Buckingham Palace's forecourt to place the official notice on its ornate stand.

The document had four signatures, first was that of Marcus Setchell, Surgeon Gynaecologist to Queen, who led the medical team that delivered Kate's baby.

Other members of his team included Guy Thorpe-Beeston, obstetrician and Dr Sunit Godambe, consultant neonatologist at St Mary's Hospital.

Kensington Palace said "The names of the baby will be announced in due course."

9.08pm

Prime Minister David Cameron has passed on his well wishes to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

He spoke of the "wonderful moment for a young couple and their baby boy".

Confirmation of the royal birth arrived by car in the form of an official statement, carried by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's press secretary Ed Perkins.

It was met by a footman before being taken inside the palace.

9.00pm

Another visitor to the Palace, 26-year-old German Veronika Schwarz, said she thought there was greater excitement outside of England.

"We don't have anything like the Royal Family in Germany, so we are all getting quite carried away with this."

A handful of royal fans have spent days camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital, eager to snatch a glimpse of the baby and future sovereign.

Glaswegian couple Douglas Johnstone and Victoria Wallace said they felt fortunate that their trip to London coincided with the royal birth.

Mr Johnstone said: "We are very lucky to have planned our trip at this time."

Police chatted with visitors, many pondering potential names for the newborn future monarch.

8.58pm

Matthew and Donna Harold, from Michigan in the United States, said they had been asked to stock up on commemorative souvenirs for friends back home during their holiday in London.

"The royal baby is front-page news every day back in the States at the moment, there is a lot of excitement," said Mrs Harold.

"Our holiday was booked months ago, so we did not expect to be over here while the baby was happening, so we have been told to bring back as many newspapers and souvenirs with the baby on as possible."

In Australia, a set of commemorative baby stamps has already been commissioned to mark the royal birth.

Lynette Traynor, a postal worker from Melbourne who is on holiday in London, said: "We love everything to do with the royals, so the news is full of it.

"We have a set of baby stamps ready to go, as soon as it has been confirmed. We can't get enough of it."

8.57pm

Well-wishers from around the globe screamed with excitement as news of the birth of the royal baby spread to Buckingham Palace.

One man shouted: "It's a boy," prompting crowds to erupt into spontaneous cheering, ahead of the easel being placed in the forecourt.

Three were three cheers of "hip hip hooray," as the crowd outside the palace gates swelled to more than 10 deep.

Many had been waiting patiently for confirmation of the birth ever since news of the Duchess going into labour this morning.

The months of speculation and anticipation - dubbed the Great Kate Wait - built to a climax this morning amid news that the Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour.

8.55pm

The Prince of Wales said that he was "enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time", adding that it was "an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine".

8.50pm

Kate has given birth to a baby boy - fulfilling her wish for a son.

When she was mid-way through her pregnancy, the Duchess told a soldier at a St Patrick's Day parade in Aldershot, Hampshire, that she did not know the sex of her baby, but that she would like a boy and Prince William a girl.

Guardsman Lee Wheeler, 29, said: "I was talking to her about the baby, of course. "I asked her 'Do you know if it's a girl or boy?', and she said 'Not yet'.

"She said 'I'd like to have a boy and William would like a girl'. That's always the way."

8.48pm

The new royal baby is the first Prince of Cambridge to be born for more than 190 years.

The last was Prince George of Cambridge, a grandson of George III and the only son of Prince Adolphus Frederick, the 1st Duke of Cambridge.

Prince George of Cambridge was born in 1819 and refused to have an arranged marriage. He wed a commoner for love after falling for the actress Sarah Louisa Fairbrother, who was said to be a classic beauty and a graceful dancer.

They married in 1847 when she was already the mother of two of his children and pregnant with his third.

But the Duke did not seek the sovereign's approval and the marriage was never recognised, hence his children were not eligible to inherit royal titles.

Miss Fairbrother was ostracised by the Royal Family and never given a title. Instead she became known by the nickname Mrs FitzGeorge and this surname was taken by George's offspring.

Despite his marriage, George had a wandering eye and soon after he wed he took up with mistress Louisa Beauclerk, who remained his lover for more than 30 years.

He went on to become the 2nd Duke of Cambridge after his father's death.

The Duke was in the Army and served in the Crimean War. He was promoted to Commander-in-Chief in 1887 and an equestrian statue of him stands in the middle of London's Whitehall.

He was said to have been a disciplinarian, who believed Army promotions should be based on social connections rather than ability. He died in 1904.

His father, the 1st Duke of Cambridge - who lived from 1774 to 1850 - was never a Prince of Cambridge, but was given the title the Duke of Cambridge by his father George III in 1801 when he was 27.

8.47pm

The notice has been placed on the easel outside Buckingham Palace giving formal notification of the royal baby's birth.

The message read: "Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm.

"HRH and her child are both doing well."

8.46pm

The Prince of Cambridge will be the Queen's third great-grandchild and is destined to be crowned monarch.

He will be the 43rd sovereign since William the Conqueror if, as expected, it follows reigns by the Prince of Wales then William.

8.45pm

It is understood that Prince William telephoned the Queen from the Lindo Wing to inform her of his son's birth.

He then spoke to Prince Charles and Prince Harry.

The Middletons were also informed before the information was released to the media.

8.43pm

Soon after the palace announcement was made, a notice giving details about the baby - the third-in-line to the throne - left St Mary's Hospital in London by car for Buckingham Palace.

It has been signed by the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who led the medical team that delivered Kate's baby.

The notice will be placed on an easel in the palace's forecourt just like the announcement of William's birth on June 21, 1982, a traditional element of theatre in marked contrast to the modern age of emails and Twitter.

8.42pm

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm. The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.

"The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight."

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are delighted at the news."

8:40 pm

The announcement of the birth has now been handed over into a car to be taken to Buckingham Palace.

It will be displayed on an easel shortly.

And the crowds are already shouting three cheers.

Bridge of sighs venice italy

Bridge of sighs venice italy

Bridge of sighs venice italy, The Bridge of Sighs, known as the Ponte dei Sospiri in Italian, is one of the most famous bridges in all of Venice. The bridge connects the Doge's Palace to the Prigioni, the prisons that were built across the canal in the late 16th century.

Antonio Contino designed and built the Bridge of Sighs in 1600. Though highly ornamental, built of fine, white limestone with lattice-like screens covering two small rectangular windows, the footbridge served a very practical purpose. It was used to lead prisoners from the examining rooms to their cells in the Prigioni.

Legend has it that the bridge earned its name from the fact that prisoners who crossed through it, on the way to their prison cells or the execution chamber, would sigh as they caught their last glimpses of Venice through the tiny windows. The bridge, and its unforgettable name, became particularly famous after the Romantic poet Lord Byron referenced the famous bridge in his 1812 book "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage":

"I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; a palace and a prison on each hand."

Access to the Bridge of Sighs is available only through booking the Itinerari Segreti, the Secret Itineraries tour. You may also get a closer look at its exterior by taking a gondola tour.

The honeymoon capital of the world

The honeymoon capital of the world, Quick now, what’s one of the first things can come in your mind when I mention Niagara Falls? If you said, “honeymoon”, you win the prize.

Honeymooners and second – honeymooners have been making their way to Niagara Falls on their “Honeylunacy” as it used to be called, for over 200 years. There’s a mystic here unequalled anywhere in the world and no other place is associated with honeymoons more than Niagara Falls. Here are a few reasons why.

First of all, we have a romantic waterfall that will mesmerize you. We’ve even named one of them, The Bridal Veil Falls” in honour of your visit.

Since 1949 we’ve handed out just under a million (and continue to do so) “Honeymoon Certificates” signed by the mayor that proves you spent your “official” honeymoon in Niagara Falls. It gives you bragging rights to take back home. Even better, the certificate gives you a free ticket to numerous Niagara attractions and discounts at falls restaurants. It’s almost like getting the key to the city.Several Niagara Falls Hotels have developed romantic getaway packages that guarantee you wonderful memories of your Niagara honeymoon.

During the summer months we even have our own Love Boat. The Maid of the Mist has been taking honeymooners and countless other visitors to the base of the falls since the mid 1800’s. Former U.S. president Jimmy Cater and his wife Rosalyn celebrated in 1996 their 50th wedding anniversary with a ride aboard the famous vessel. So why not consider what Polly and Ray Cutler did in the 1952 block buster movie, “Niagara” starring Marilyn Monroe and come to Niagara Falls on your honeymoon. They enjoyed themselves and so will you. I think Marilyn was a bit jealous!

Here’s a biggy. Why not take your in-laws with you on your honeymoon. Get off the floor, I was only kidding.

You’ve come to the right place. We specialize in creating honeymoon memories. To start off, take a walk up and downNiagara Falls Streetof Fun, Clifton Hill. There’s a multitude of attractions that are calling your names.

Check out the Niagara SkyWheel (its a massive Ferris wheel) that rotates 175 feet above the falls, walk amongst the stars insideHollywoodWax Museum. If you’re a fan of the bizarre and unbelievable you won’t want to miss Ripley’s Museum at the top of the hill. On the other side of the hill, walk to the nearby Upside Down House. Hey, you never know, you might get some decorating ideas for your new home. At the bottom of the hill, isGuinnessWorldRecordMuseum. On the outside at the entrance you can sit in a giant chair and have your photograph taken beside a statue of Robert Wadlow. He was the world’s tallest person who stood 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall.

At the top of Clifton Hill is the Niagara Fear Factory, located on the site of the former Cataract Coffin Factory. This attraction boasts that, “over 100,000 have chickened out! I was one of them. This place is really scary. Down the road, another attraction will make you scream, Screamers House of Terror.

Away from the falls you can take to the air and the water with rides on the world famous Maid of the Mist Boats, Niagara Helicopters and the Whirlpool Jet Boats.

The Maid of the Mist takes you to the base of the falls where you’ll experience the beauty and grace of majesticNiagara Falls.

Niagara Helicopters takes you above the falls for awe-inspiring spectacular view of the falls as the birds see them.

Be prepared to get soaked when you take a high speed jet boat ride into the lower Niagara River Gorge. Whirlpool Jet Boat Rides have been thrilling and exhilarating people for the past 20 years. That’s a lot of happy wet people!

Niagara falls new york

Niagara falls new york

Niagara falls new york, The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (28 Old Falls St., Niagara Falls, NY 14303) is a five-star experience in a state-of-the art facility. Part of Niagara County Community College, students and experienced faculty are dishing up unique meals in a beautiful environment. Enjoy fine dining in an open, yet intimate setting at Savor or grab a fresh sandwich at the Old Falls Street Deli.

Try something sweet at La Patisserie, which offers fresh baked goods and gourmet coffee. Before heading out of the door taste what the Niagara Wine Trail has to offer at The Wine Boutique, and be sure to stop by the only culinary-themed Barnes & Noble bookstore.

Walk or drive over to a Niagara Falls institution, just around the corner. For 45 years the Aquarium of Niagara (701 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls, NY 14301) has been welcoming schools of visitors to watch penguin feedings, be entertained by the sea lions, and feed the rescued harbor seals or sharks. The Aquarium also has a new outdoor deck (open year-round) where guests can enjoy a wonderful Niagara sunset.

woodcock-bro.jpgThe Niagara Wine Trail may have fast growing vines but this year the grapes made room for two new additions that have nothing to do with wine. Enjoy original craft beers at Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company (638 Lake St., Wilson, NY 14172) in its handsome restaurant with views of an open hearth oven and brand new brewing facilities on the lower level. Evidence of the building’s previous purpose, a cold storage facility for apples from nearby orchards, is apparent. Eating a brick oven pizza and a sampling a flight of beers – on the old freight elevator turned table – is the perfect way to lunch or spend an evening in the charming Lake Region.

Just next door to Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company is the new Lakefront Olive Orchard (638 Lake St., Wilson, NY 14172). Specializing in gourmet olive oils, vinegars, spices and more, visitors can sample various concoctions of oils and spices before purchasing.

black_bird.jpgAlso new to the wine trail is BlackBird Cider Works (8503 Lower Lake Rd., Barker, NY 14012) nestled in Donovan Orchards, on the shores of picturesque Lake Ontario. This cideria produces hard apple ciders made from apples grown in owner Scott Donovan’s orchard. BlackBird offers a range of styles including ciders from certified organic apples, classic wood aged,

Piccadilly circus london england

Piccadilly circus london england, Together with Big Ben and Trafalgar Sq, this is postcard London. And despite the stifling crowds and racing midday traffic, the flashing ads and buzzing liveliness of Piccadilly Circus always make it exciting to be in London. The circus looks its best at night, when the flashing advertisement panels really shine against the dark sky.>/p>

Designed by John Nash in the 1820s, the hub was named after the street Piccadilly, which earned its name in the 17th century from the stiff collars (picadils) that were the sartorial staple of the time (and were the making of a nearby tailor’s fortune).

At the centre of the circus is the famous lead statue, the Angel of Christian Charity, dedicated to the philanthropist and child-labour abolitionist Lord Shaftesbury, and derided when unveiled in 1893, sending the sculptor into early retirement. The sculpture was at first cast in gold, but it was later replaced by the present-day one. Down the years the angel has been mistaken for Eros, the God of Love, and the misnomer has stuck (you’ll even see signs for ‘Eros’ from the Underground). It’s a handy meeting place for tourists, though if you don’t like the crowds, meet at the charging Horses of Helios statue at the edge of Piccadilly and Haymarket – apparently a much cooler place to convene.

John Nash had originally designed Regent St and Piccadilly to be the two most elegant streets in town but, curbed by city planners, Nash couldn’t realise his dream to the full. In the many years since his noble plans, Piccadilly Circus has become swamped with tourists, with streets such as Coventry St flogging astronomically priced cheap tat to unsuspecting visitors.

Coventry St leads to Leicester Sq, while Shaftesbury Ave takes you to the heart of the West End’s theatreland. Piccadilly itself leads to the sanctuary of Green Park. On Haymarket, check out New Zealand House (built in 1959 on the site of the Carlton Hotel, which was bombed during the war), where the Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969) worked as a waiter in 1913. Have a look down Lower Regent St for a glimpse of glorious Westminster.

Just east of the circus is London Trocadero, a huge and soulless indoor amusement arcade that has six levels of hi-tech, high-cost fun for youngsters, along with cinemas, US-themed restaurants and bowling alleys.

Empire state building height

Empire state building height, Where is the Empire State Building located?
The Empire State Building is located at 350 Fifth Avenue (between 33rd and 34th Streets) in New York City.

How tall is it?

There are several numbers to describe the height of the Empire State Building. The total height of the building, including the lightning rod, is 1,454 feet. The height of the building from the ground to its tip is usually given as 1,250 feet. The measurement from the ground to the 102nd floor observatory is 1,224 feet and from the ground to the 86th floor observatory is 1,050 feet.

Who were the architects?

Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates

Who built the Empire State Building?

The builders Starrett Bros. & Eken were contracted to build it.

How long did it take to build?

The building was actually completed ahead of schedule, taking only one year and 45 days to build.

How much did the Empire State Building cost to build?

The building itself cost $24,718,000 to build (nearly half the expected cost because of the Great Depression). Including the property on which the building sits, the total cost for the Empire State Building was $40,948,900.

How many floors are in the Empire State Building?

There are 102 floors.

How many steps are there to the top of the Empire State Building?

There are 1,860 from street level to 102nd floor.

How many windows are in the building?

There are 6,500 windows. What a lot to clean!

How many man-hours did it take to construct?

It took 7,000,000 man-hours.

How many people worked on the building?

At peak times, there were as many as 3,400 workers at one time.

How much steel did it take to construct the frame?

It took 57,000 tons of steel to construct the steel skeleton.

How much telephone wire is in the Empire State Building?

There is approximately 17 million feet of telephone wire servicing the building.

How many people died while building the Empire State Building?

Though rumors of hundreds of people dying on the work site circulated during the time of its construction, official records state that only five workers were killed: one worker was struck by a truck; a second fell down an elevator shaft; a third was hit by a hoist; a fourth was in a blast area; and a fifth fell off a scaffold.

What's inside the Empire State Building?

The Empire State Building is mostly filled with rentable space for businesses. No one lives in the building (inadequate bathing facilities). The building is also used as a tourist attraction and offers views from the 86th and 102nd floors.

How do I buy tickets to visit the Empire State Building?

You can purchase tickets online or at the Empire State Building. I recommend you get there early because there is often a long wait for tickets and for the view. You can find out information about purchasing Empire State Building tickets.

Empire state building new york

Empire state building new york

Empire state building new york, Normal Entry Price: Adult $25.00 Normal Entry Price: Child $19.00
Short Empire State Building info
For the better part of a century, visitors to the New York have headed straight to the Empire State Building for the thrill of a lifetime: the journey aloft to its fabled Observatory nearly a quarter of a mile above Fifth Avenue. Here you are treated to breathtaking panoramas across the rooftops, avenues and byways of the New York Metropolitan areas, to as far away as four neighbouring states.

How to save the $25 on Empire State Building Tickets
New York Pass grants its holders free entry to the Empire State Building Observation Deck & to 80 other top Attractions in New York City.

How to save even more
When you are visiting Empire State Building with the New York Pass, you can also try the New York Skyride - an awesome aerial tour of New York City that sends you on a ride around, above and even below all the city has to offer… and it is also free for New York Pass holders.

Empire State Building Tickets & Skyride would cost you over $60 - but with the NY Pass you don't need to pay a cent, and there are still 80 more Attractions to visit.

Via dell amore cinque terre italy

Via dell amore cinque terre italy

Via dell amore cinque terre italy, The Cinque Terre towns were extremely isolated until the last century. Villagers rarely married anyone from outside their town. After the blasting of the second train line in the 1920s, a trail was made between the first two towns: Riomaggiore and Manarola. A gunpowder warehouse was built along the way, safely away from the townspeople. (That building is today’s Bar dell’Amore.)

Happy with the trail, the villagers asked that it be improved as a permanent connection between neighbors. But persistent landslides kept the trail closed more often than it was open. After World War II, the trail was reopened, and became established as a lovers’ meeting point for boys and girls from the two towns. (After one extended closure in 1949, the trail was reopened for a Christmas marriage.) A journalist, who noticed all the amorous graffiti along the path, coined the trail’s now-established name, Via dell’Amore: “Pathway of Love.”

This new lane changed the social dynamics between the two villages, and made life much more fun and interesting for courting couples. Today, many tourists are put off by the cluttered graffiti that lines the trail. But it’s all part of the history of the Cinque Terre’s little lovers’ lane.

You’ll see a cluster of padlocks under the tunnel, on the Manarola side. Closing a padlock with your lover onto a cable or railing at a lovey-dovey spot—often a bridge—is the current craze in Italy, having been re-popularized by a teen novel. In case you’re so inclined, the hardware store next to Bar Centrale in Riomaggiore sells these locks.

The big news a few years ago was the completion of major construction work—including the addition of tunnels—to make the trail safer and keep it open permanently. Notice how the brick-lined arcades match the train tunnel below. Rock climbers from the north (“Dolomite spiders”) were imported to help with the treacherous construction work. As you hike, look up and notice the massive steel netting bolted to the cliffside. Look down at the boulders that fell before the nets were added, and be thankful for those Dolomite spiders

Casa di giulietta rub statue bring good luck

Casa di giulietta rub statue bring good luck, “Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”

Who doesn’t know about the love story between Juliet and Romeo? Immortalised by Shakespeare in the first line of his play, Verona holds the claim to having the houses of perhaps the greatest lovers in history. Of course, there is much debate as to whether the lovers existed or not. That hasn’t stopped hundreds of thousands of tourists from wanting to see the Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet’s House.

The dell Capello family owned the house on Via Capello for a many years. In fact, it is the similarity of their name that spurned the popular belief that this was the house of the Capulets in Shakespeare’s play. The dell Capello’s coat-of-arms can still be seen on the keystone of the inner archway in the courtyard. The house itself was built in the 13th century. A massive restoration effort to add the windows, gothic doors and the balcony was carried out in the 1930s. The late addition of the balcony is a point of contention, though.

From the courtyard you can see Juliet’s Balcony. This is supposedly the very same balcony where the tragic heroine cried out to her Romeo. These days, do not be surprised to see many a young girl standing on the balcony, probably dreaming her own dreams.

Perhaps the highlight of the visit would be the 20th bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard. Though its origins cannot be determined, the most popular thing to do when visiting the statue is to rub its right breast, which will bring good luck. So don’t be surprised if the right side of the bronze Juliet seems to be shinier than the rest of her! Numerous graffiti and stick notes can also be found on the walls and doors in the courtyard. This is a pity as it somehow destroys the ambience.

Inside the house is a small museum. All the items on display are genuine antiques from the 16th and 17th century. The frescoes, paintings, and ceramics all relate to Shakespeare’s play, but again, it is not proven that they ever belonged to the Capulets.

If you want to escape the crowds, time your visit to Juliet’s House perfectly. Early in the morning or late in the afternoon would be best. There is no entrance fee for the courtyard but you have to pay to enter the house. They are open everyday until 7:30 pm. On Mondays, they open in the afternoon only.

Not far from the house you can visit La Tomba di Giulietta, or Juliet’s Tomb. The heroine’s final resting place can be found in the San Francesco al Corso cloister on Via del Pontiere. If you are a die-hard romantic, be sure to take the time to visit this place.

Purists scoff at the idea that this house on Via Capello has anything to do with the great love story at all. However, that hasn’t taken anything away from the enjoyment that countless people have had. So, whether or not it really was Juliet’s house — that is if Juliet ever existed at all — the courtyard and her tomb is still worth a visit.

Casa di giulietta

Casa di giulietta, Location of Shakespeare’s play Juliet’s house (Casa di Giulietta) is one of the main attractions of Verona with the most famous balcony in the world. Every day crowds of people make their way through the narrow archway into the courtyard to admire and photograph the famous balcony. Couples of all ages swear eternal fidelity here in memory of Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet”.

And all this even though the two main characters never really existed and William Shakespeare never went to Verona in his lifetime. However, Verona is inextricably linked with the fate of the two lovers. In recognition of this factor and in order to offer the countless couples who come to Verona every year a worthy location, the city of Verona bought today’s house of Juliet from the Dal Capello family in 1905. Due to the similarity of their names they declared the house to be the family residence of the Capuleti family – a new tourist sensation was created!

In the footsteps of Romeo and Juliet

Those who enter the courtyard of Juliet’s house for the first time will be struck by the thousands of small scraps of paper which cover the floor to the ceiling. All who write down their love vows to their partner and stick them on the wall will – according to the popular belief – stay together with their partner for the rest of their lives and will be very happy. Even touching the right breast of the bronze statue of Juliet in the small courtyard will bring luck to all who are trying to find their true love.

Apart from the famous love story, Juliet’s house has other interesting attractions to offer. The house delights with its beautiful Gothic style from the 14th century. In the individual rooms and halls you can find numerous exhibits from the time of Romeo and Juliet which give a good impression of life in ancient Verona.

Kissing bench legend graduate married

Kissing bench legend graduate married, With a new school year rolling in, students set sights for new adventure, new friendships and—for the lucky ones—new romances.

Within the realm of campus sits the famous FSU landmark known as the Kissing Bench. The granite slab seat is located near Landis Green, right across from the William Johnston Building. The spot is rumored to be where true love ties together two individuals that happen to share a kiss—or so the legend goes.

The story revolves around a man that was a Florida State University administrator, said to be one of the University’s early presidents.

“The legend says that the founder of it kissed a girl on the bench and they ended up getting married,” sophomore Elisabeth Longo said.

The Kissing Bench tale has a way of passing itself down by word of mouth through generations. The story escaped the alterations and exaggerations that come with time, and the legend acquired longevity with the same understanding just as originally presented.

“The bench and legend have been on Landis for a very long time,” sophomore Eric Morris said.

Students have been seen canoodling on the Kissing Bench for years. It is due to this seat’s smooching sessions that prompted the stone marking at the foot of the bench. The quote reads: “If this bench could talk/oh the stories it would tell/of kisses young and old/if you sit, beware the spell.”

Taking a stroll through Landis, freshman Rachel McCombs and University of Florida freshman Andrew Layton, who came to visit his fiancée, were spotted together on the Kissing Bench.

“We kissed right here on this bench,” Layton said.

Andrew added that he and Rachel are high school sweethearts.

“We’ve been together for three years,” Layton said.

Although their first kiss wasn’t on the bench, it’s almost as if the peck they did share on the legendary monument sealed the deal.

As years have passed, the legend only seems to grow stronger, and hold more truth with each romance igniting from a simple kiss.

New loungers might want to think twice about who they share a seat—and a kiss—with, in the case of the legendary Kissing Bench casting an uncontrollable spell on them. Any seat-sharing smoochers may very well stick together-whether they intend to, or not.

“Whatever you do, if you kiss anyone on that bench, make sure it’s with someone you’re happy with,” Morris said.

Casa di giulietta rub statue bring good luck

Casa di giulietta rub statue bring good luck, Dan Calwell of the class of ’01 is suing SU because of its false portrayal of the kissing bench.

For those who don’t know, the kissing bench, located near the quad, is rumored to lead to good fortune in relationships. Supposedly, if you kiss a significant other on said bench, you will have a happy relationship that will eventually lead to a successful marriage. Such was not the case for Dan Calwell.

“Susie [my wife] ended up being a huge bitch,” says Calwell. “We kissed on that damn bench, and then she divorced me. She took all my money, I have to pay her alimony every month, and she even took my dog! I loved that dog. Why should I have to pay that bitch for SU’s mistake?”

Calwell alleges that SU is liable for “prophesizing an absurd myth behind the kissing bench,” as well as, “accepting that vile woman to SU in the first place.” He contends that Syracuse University should be held accountable for paying his alimony each month, for providing him with reparations, and he demands that the kissing bench be removed from campus.

Susie Calwell, however, maintains that the kissing bench had “nothing to do with Dan’s inadequacies. He was a piece of shit frat guy when I met him and I shouldn’t have settled. I guess there’s a lesson to be learned: frat guys are pieces of shit at SU, and they’re pieces of shit after SU.”

For now, SU has refused to comment on what will be done with the kissing bench. The question remains, though: how many marriages will the kissing bench wreck before someone puts a stop to it?

Pont Des Arts' Love Padlocks: A Look At The Most Romantic Spot In Paris

Pont Des Arts' Love Padlocks: A Look At The Most Romantic Spot In Paris

Pont Des Arts' Love Padlocks: A Look At The Most Romantic Spot In Paris, Paris is widely known as the "City of Light," but it is also known as the city of love.

From the Luxembourg Gardens to the Île Saint Louis on the Seine, the French capital city is a haven for passionate affairs that would make Humphrey Bogart blush.

However, there is one spot that stands above the rest of the amorous Parisian locations: the Ponts des Arts. Built in 1804, the nine-arch metallic footbridge is a destination for couples wishing to memorialize their love. Sweethearts from near and far visit the bridge to attach padlocks emblazoned with initials and messages before throwing the locks' keys into the Seine below.

The bridge was conceived by Louis-Alexandre de Cessart and Jacques Dillon, who imagined the structure as a suspended garden, with trees, embankments of flowers, and benches. Over the years, the Ponts des Arts was featured in movies like "Boudu Sauvé Des Eaux" and "Amelie," eventually earning a reputation as the most romantic spot in Paris, despite the close call with a government official who referred to them as an "eyesore."

When Getty recently released the images below, we couldn't get enough of these lovable locks. Let us know your thoughts on the famous location in the comments section.

Lovers point pacific grove restaurants

Lovers point pacific grove restaurants

Lovers point pacific grove restaurants, This image was featured on the front page for the Lovers Point Inn.

Just down the street from nostalgic Cannery Row and the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is a small park on the Pacific Grove Coast called Lovers Point. It is one of the more romantic sections of California filled with bed and breakfast inns, restaurants, easy winding paths and often brilliant sunsets.

In the spring, the entire coastal side of the street blooms in vivid pink ice
plants and other assorted colors. Couples walk up and down the path and the occasional hard core jogger goes by with a dog panting to keep up.

I had been filming this area after a strong rain storm and had taken a break to grab some dinner before heading out to take shots of the impending sunset. We were dining across the street from Lovers Point Park at a quaint little restaurant called Latitudes.

They have this fantastic full window view of the Monterey Bay and a romantic quality to the service and seating. While waiting for our food I noticed that a deluge began outside the restaurant. I thought to myself how lucky we were to be inside dining by the fireplace. Just as our food arrived, hot and steaming from the kitchen the sun began to break through.

I looked at my wife and said you know there is going to be a rainbow out there! She said GO! and and with a few quick bites I was running for the car where I grabbed my camera, tripod and began running down the street away from Lovers Point Park pausing to takie shots as I went.

The rainbow lasted long enough for my food to get cold but it was well worth it. The food was quite good and we spent the last few minutes of daylight filming the sunset.

Lovers point pacific grove california

Lovers point pacific grove california

Lovers point pacific grove california, Discover the Monterey Peninsula’s hidden treasure, The Lovers Point Inn. Majestically overlooking the Monterey Bay and nestled on the coastline of Pacific Grove, CA, between Monterey, Carmel and Pebble Beach, our comfortable three story oceanfront hotel is ideally located adjacent to the Lovers Point Beach and Park and a short walk from the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and historic Cannery Row.

Come experience our exceptional customer service and enjoy a complementary continental breakfast. Watch the sun rise over the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary from our outdoor patio or from your ocean view room.

Lovers Point Inn is the perfect getaway to experience your dream vacation, romance with someone special or have fun with your family and friends. The Lovers Point Inn, tranquility for you in an intimate setting.

American Horror Story': Will it lose at the Emmys because of its genre?

American Horror Story': Will it lose at the Emmys because of its genre?

American Horror Story': Will it lose at the Emmys because of its genre?, Although "American Horror Story: Asylum" bested HBO's fantasy epic "Game of Thrones" in picking up the most Primetime Emmy nominations on Thursday, the fright-filled FX miniseries could face another tough year at the fickle Emmys.

"It's cursed by being in the horror genre," Hollywood awards show handicapper Tom O'Neil of Goldderby.com said. "Emmy voters, like Oscar voters, are horrified of the horror genre and tend to stay away."

The torture-filled miniseries set in a nun-run mental hospital picked up the same number of nominations as its predecessor, "American Horror Story: Murder House," did last year, and "Murder House" was only able to win two Emmys – best hairstyling and best supporting actress, both in a miniseries.

It was not the only show to flop at last year's Emmys, the top awards in U.S. television. Perennial favorite "Mad Men," the depiction of the 1960s Madison Avenue advertising world, set a record for losses, walking away empty-handed after 17 nominations.

The Emmys honor a broad swath of television production, from the pinnacle prize of best drama series to more obscure ones like best sound mixing for non-fiction programming. There are 537 separate nominations and HBO alone picked up 20 percent of those.

The Time Warner cable channel's "Game of Thrones" racked up 16 nods and should run away with victories in many categories, O'Neil said.

"'Game of Thrones' will sweep those tech categories," the analyst said of its nominations in best sound editing, visual effects and single-camera picture editing for a drama series, among others.

But the handicapper, who said it has also been difficult in the past for fantasy series to break through in top categories, believes "Game of Thrones" is poised to cash in for nods in best drama series and best writing in a drama series.

"Suddenly what was unthinkable last year is possible," O'Neil said. "It can win."

One element working in "Game of Thrones" favor is the broad range of nominees put forward by voters. The series goes up against the likes of British period drama "Downton Abbey" and anti-terror thriller "Homeland," last year's top drama.

"But whereas 'Downton' may not have matched the quality of its earlier seasons this year, 'Game of Thrones' had its best and most-watched season yet, and made demonstrable inroads with actors, too," wrote The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg.

Peter Dinklage, who won best supporting actor for "Game of Thrones" in 2011, picked up his third consecutive nomination in the category, and fellow cast member Emilia Clarke scored her first Emmy nod in the best supporting actress category.

Both O'Neil and Variety's Justin Kroll said that although Academy of Television Arts and Sciences voters are often slow in warming to fantasy series, a show's popularity may ultimately win out.

ABC's top-rated fantasy drama "Lost" is one recent example as it won best drama series in 2005. "Game of Thrones," to its credit, is HBO's second-most watched TV drama in its history, behind only "The Sopranos."

"For a show with a largely international cast that is shot far outside the confines of the U.S. (Ireland, Iceland, Bulgaria etc.), it took a little time for the creative community to wrap its arms around the epic fantasy," Kroll wrote.

Unemployment Benefits Applications Drop To 334k: Economy Improving?

Unemployment Benefits Applications Drop To 334k: Economy Improving?

Unemployment Benefits Applications Drop To 334k: Economy Improving?, With unemployment benefits applications dropping to 334,000, is the US economy’s unemployment rate and economy improving?

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, unemployment benefits were slashed in two states recently. The unemployment rate is largely being bolstered by temp work.

Any improvements to the US economy as measured by unemployment benefits applications are slow in coming. Last month, the number of unemployment benefits applications dropped to a relative low of 336,000. The recent four-week average as determined by the Labor Department has dropped to 351,000.

Unemployment benefits applications coincide with layoffs or firings of employees. So, for the number of unemployment benefits applications to drop by five percent since January is a good sign for the US economy. The Associated Press says US auto makers typically shut down their factories in July to prep for new models, but strong demand kept the factories running longer.

Unfortunately, the US unemployment rate is still stuck at 7.6 percent. But many of these jobs include those who are underemployed or part-time workers with low pay. US economic growth is dropping to one percent or less, which is not enough to keep up with the annual tide of high school students and college students who are graduating and looking for jobs.

Even if annual US GDP growth were to reach 3.5 percent, which is about the average from years prior to the Great Recession, employment would increase by one percent or 1.44 million people. But every year 2.2 million people become age 18, which means they’re part of the US labor force. Since 2007, the number of potentially employable people has grown by 12.4 million, but the number of jobs only increased by 1.9 million, which by itself largely explains the US unemployment rate.

Bruce Willis says wife doesn't mind him kissing women for work

Bruce Willis says wife doesn't mind him kissing women for work

Bruce Willis says wife doesn't mind him kissing women for work, Hollywood actor Bruce Willis says Emma Heming, his wife of four years, understands when he occasionally has to romance another woman on the big screen.

Willis, 58, talked about how he is constantly surrounded by women at a recent New York press conference for his new action comedy "RED 2," which co-stars Mary-Louise Parker, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Helen Mirren.

"I change diapers. That's very humbling, changing diapers. I'm happy to be doing it. It's just me. It's one guy and about 30 women in the house, so I don't win very many arguments and we don't really have any arguments and nobody gets mad if you have to kiss someone every once in a while. I say, 'Look, it's right in the script,'" quipped Willis, who has a 1-year-old daughter with Heming and three adult daughters with his ex-wife Demi Moore.

The star of the "Die Hard" film franchise, as well as "Pulp Fiction," "Armageddon," "Sin City," "Moonrise Kingdom" and "The Expendables 2," said he likes the variety of the roles he is offered and isn't pining for any particular project that seems out of his reach.

"I think I'm very fortunate and I get asked to do a lot of different kinds of things and some of them include weapons, some of them include jokes. Some of them include from time to time I get to make out with women that I'm not married to.

How often does that happen? I get to kiss two women in this film, which I seldom get to do in some of my other work, so I get to kiss girls," Willis said of "RED 2." "My character is so befuddled. I like to play befuddled characters that don't know what's going on and are a little behind the chain of information. I always have fun working and goofing around. That's what it feels like. I try not to take it too seriously."

Orange Is The New Black Reviews Cement Netflix’s Place Among TV Greats

Orange Is The New Black Reviews Cement Netflix’s Place Among TV Greats

Orange Is The New Black Reviews Cement Netflix’s Place Among TV Greats, Netflix stock just keeps going up, and reviews for Orange Is the New Black are more than just the icing on the cake of an impressive awards season for the streaming service: They cement Netflix’s place as a real player in the paid programming world.

Dylan Matthews of The Washington Post calls Orange Is the New Black “the best TV show about prison ever made,” and compares it to lauded dramas like Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Nora Grenfell of Mashable dubbed the show “the series Netflix was made for,” and cited it as proof of concept for Netflix.

She says it’s “a new kind of show that thrives under the streaming programming model rather than being compromised by it.”

Netflix started wading into the waters of original programming last year with its highly-publicized ad star-laden House of Cards, which managed to cinch pretty good reviews. They followed-up with the lackluster Hemlock Grove and a fourth season for Arrested Development, but it wasn’t until last week’s Emmy announcements that Netflix managed to elbow its way in among the greats at HBO, Showtime and AMC.

TV fanatic though I am and avowed believer in the Netflix model as the “future” of television, I haven’t gotten to Orange Is the New Black yet. It’s sitting in the instant queue alright, but after the high of House of Cards, the low of Hemlock Grove, and the happy in-between of Arrested Development Season 4, I just didn’t have the energy for a new Netflix show at the now.

But as we speak, I’m firing up the Playstation 3 and am about to press “play” on episode one of Orange Is the New Black just as soon as I hit “publish” here. Why? Because of Maureen Ryan.

“I don’t want to watch them,” The Huffington Post TV critic says of the last two episodes of Orange Is the New Black. “Actually, I do want to watch them, very much, but if I watch them, I’ll be done with the season. If I finish, there will be no more new episodes. I won’t get to spend any more time with the inmates of the Litchfield prison, and leaving that place has become a terrifying idea.”

That’s exactly how we all feel about that special show that changed your life, isn’t it? How many feel that way about Firefly, or how many fewer feel that way the obscure Bruce Campbell vehicle Brisco County Jr.?

In less than one year, Netflix managed to skate past awkward original content launch and into the big time with Kevin Spacey, a Vampire Diaries clone, a little help from the Bluths, and now a visit to the big house. The content will continue to be discussed, but perhaps not as much as Netflix itself, what it means for television and perhaps, in the near future, film.

‘Modern Family’ star Jesse Tyler Ferguson marries Justin Mikita

‘Modern Family’ star Jesse Tyler Ferguson marries Justin Mikita 

Modern Family’ star Jesse Tyler Ferguson marries Justin Mikita, The actor married his longtime boyfriend in a Manhattan ceremony officiated by playwright Tony Kushner, his rep said.

Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson married Justin Mikita on July 20 in New York City. "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson is a married man!

The actor said "I do" on Saturday to longtime love Justin Mikita in a Manhattan ceremony officiated by playwright Tony Kushner, the actor's rep confirmed to People magazine.

Ferguson, 37, and Mikita, 27, got engaged in September of last year, after dating for nearly two years.The ‘Modern Family’ star and his lawyer boyfriend dated for nearly two years before getting engaged in September. The couple founded Tietheknot.org, a charity supporting marriage equality.

The actor, who plays lawyer Mitchell Pritchett on the hit ABC show, said on "The View" in June that he already had plans to marry in New York because "that's where it's legal" — though California had just deemed Prop 8 unconstitutional.

"It wasn't legal in California up until yesterday," he said on June 27. "We wanted to give that money to a state that accepted us as an equal. We're too far down the planning path to change."

The activist couple invited their guests — which reportedly included Ferguson's "Modern Family" co-stars Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet — to donate to their charity, Tietheknot.org, an organization benefiting marriage equality, in lieu of bringing gifts.

"Never been happier," the Emmy-nominated actor tweeted on Saturday. "XO Goodnight!"

This is Neil Everett: from Oregon to ESPN

This is Neil Everett: from Oregon to ESPN, My favorite anchor on ESPN’s SportsCenter — maybe yours, too — will serve as host for the first time at the 61st annual Oregon Sports Awards Feb. 10 at the Tiger Woods Center on the Nike campus.

But guess what? The pleasure is all his.

“I’m ecstatic,” Neil Everett says. “I’m very excited to represent Oregon. While I’m a Duck, I have a great fondness for all things Oregon. I hope the folks in attendance and watching online will enjoy what comes out of the show.”

That’s right. Everett — UO class of 1984 — has roots in our state. Born in Portland (at age 3, his family moved to Spokane), he attended Willamette University for two years, then finished up college in Eugene, graduating with a degree in journalism.

In those days, he was known as Neil Morfitt. He changed the surname to Everett — his middle name — during his time working television in Hawaii in the late 1990s. A tribute, he says, to his mother.

“Whenever I was in trouble with my mom, she’d say, ‘Neil Everett, get your butt in here,’ ” says

Everett, 50. The name change “was my shout-out to her.”

The Oregon roots run much deeper. His grandfather, Neil Morfitt Sr., was a member of Oregon’s 1920 Rose Bowl team. “Lost to Harvard 7-6,” he says correctly.

Both sets of grandparents were from Astoria. His parents, Neil Jr. (Neil has a different middle name than his paternal grandpa and dad) and Jackie, met while students at Astoria High.

Neil’s father was nicknamed “Laddie,” after Laddie Gale, the late, great member of the 1939 “Tall Firs” UO basketball team that won the first NCAA championship.

“That’s how impressed my grandfather was with the University of Oregon,” Everett says.

While he didn’t play football for the Ducks, Everett brought some athletic talent to Eugene. He was an all-city nose guard and offensive guard at 5-10 and 150 pounds for Spokane’s Lewis & Clark High.

“I was full of piss and vinegar and very technically sound,” he says. “I was the king of the cut-block back in the day.”

During his second year at Oregon, Morfitt was in the stands at Autzen Stadium to watch the unforgettable 0-0 “Toilet Bowl” Civil War game in 1983.

“I was permanently scarred from that game,” Everett jokes. “That was spectacular.”

As a UO student, he took a football coaching class from Rich Brooks and kept statistics for radio play-by-play voice Hal Ramey.

“I was the stats guy when (Washington State’s) Rueben Mayes set an NCAA single-game rushing record against the Ducks,” he says.

Everett got a taste of the electronic media working the midnight-to-6 a.m. shift at KUGN radio.

“All I did was change Larry King tapes,” he says.

He lived at Beta Theta Pi fraternity, where his little brother was wrestler Jed Kesey, the youngest son of literary icon Ken Kesey. Jed Kesey died in an automobile accident at age 19.

“My time at Oregon was special,” Everett says. “The education I got, the friendships I made — and Eugene was a great town.”

Everett’s first job upon graduation was as news director of KGBU radio in Florence.

He then moved to Honolulu, spending 15 years in athletic administration at Hawaii Pacific.

During that time, he moonlighted at various TV stations there, eventually succeeding former Duck and NFL great Russ Francis as sports director at the CBS affiliate.

“Russ had been hired to work the X Games for ESPN,” Everett recalls. “He told the news director, ‘Neil’s going to do sports while I’m gone.’ The news director said, ‘Neil’s not even in the sports department,’ but Russ was a difficult man for anybody to say no to.”

Everett got the permanent job there and eventually landed an audition at ESPN headquarters at Bristol, Conn., “but I botched it horribly,” he says. “I returned to Hawaii with my tail between my legs. For two years, I could hardly watch ESPN. I felt like I had kicked my chance at playing at that level.”

A year later, he got a second audition.

“I was prepared that time and did a good job, but it was another year before they called and offered me a job,” he says.

That was 2000. He served as an anchor for ESPN News for three years, then moved into a spot as a SportsCenter anchor. Since 2009, he has been working the network’s late-night Los Angeles edition Monday through Friday.

During his SportsCenter spots, Everett slips in Duck references whenever he can. But when Oregon State does something noteworthy, he is quick to use his local knowledge to pay homage to the Beavers, too.

OSU’s Jay Locey “is my second cousin, and Mike Cavanaugh (Beaver assistant coach, a former Hawaii aide and a Connecticut native) is a dear friend of mine,” Everett says. “When I was at Bristol, I used to go to his parents’ house in Connecticut when he’d be home from break. I love Mike, (wife) Laurie and their two boys.”

During his time in Hawaii, Everett grew close with Hawaii football head coaches Fred von Appen (an ex-UO assistant who played at Linfield) and June Jones (the Portland native now head coach at Southern Methodist).

“I’m still in touch with June,” he says.

The move from Connecticut to Southern California has brought him back to following the Oregon program. That and girlfriend Stephanie Krohn, a Madison High and UO grad whom he met at — small world — the Tiger Woods Center five years ago.

“I was emcee of a fundraiser there, and she worked for (the benefitting) nonprofit,” he says. “My uncle, Bill Sporre, who had been a baseball star at Linfield, introduced us.”

Now Neil and Stephanie share a home in Marina del Rey.

“She drove the bus on, ‘Let’s make it a plan to start going to some Oregon games,’ “ he says.

Everett saw the Ducks play four times this season — against Arizona and Stanford in Eugene, against Southern Cal in L.A. and versus Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.

“It’s magnificent the way the program has turned around,” he says. “A lot of people expect them to be a top team every year. Rightfully so, but you need to understand the history to appreciate how far the Oregon program has come.”

(Everett, incidentally, also has an affinity for Gonzaga basketball, having grown up in Spokane. Two years ago, I spied him decked in Bulldog garb at a Gonzaga-Portland game in the Chiles Center.)

Everett brings irreverence and humor to his ESPN broadcasts, getting just the right dose without going overboard like some of his colleagues.

“Not to be cliche-ish, but I call it as I see it,” he says. “A lot of it is stream of consciousness. The highlight you’re watching, I’ve never seen it until you’ve seen it.

“You’re trying to tell the story of the game. You’re trying to entertain and inform. It’s finding a balance there and knowing what’s acceptable and what’s not. I’m just trying to have fun. If it’s a poignant story, I want the hair to stand up on the back of the neck of the people watching. If it’s funny, I want them to laugh. I want to say something memorable.

“It’s my own style. I really enjoy the writing part of the job. That’s my own voice. When I talk to young people who say this is what they want to do, the first thing I tell them is, ‘Develop your own voice.’ ”

Everett’s 13 years on the job at ESPN don’t have him looking for a change of scenery.

“I’ll stay as long as they’ll have me,” he says. “Like anything, there are better moments than others. But listen, it’s a hell of a job. It’s a great gig to have.

“I’ve lived upside down for so long in terms of the hours I work, I’ve never thought about, ‘Could I do a 9-to-5 job?’ I hope they’ll keep keep me around for a long time.”

Maybe it will work that way for his new gig with the Oregon Sports Awards, too.

Comic-Con stuntmen save woman from balcony fall

Comic-Con stuntmen save woman from balcony fall, Dramatic scenes at Comic-Con on Sunday saw a woman saved from the 14th floor of an apartment building by stuntmen in town to promote Kick-Ass 2.

According to ABC News, the suicidal woman was on the edge of a balcony and threatened to jump when the three men heard the commotion and rushed into the building to rescue her.

Amos Carver, Gregg Sergeant and Scot Schecter were on the other side of the road setting up for a Kick-Ass 2 private party in the San Diego district hosting Comic-Con. Sprinting across three lanes of traffic and scaling a fence, the men ran into the room before managing to pull her back over the balcony.

Carver told ABC: "We went through the apartment trying to be as quiet as possible. We didn't want to alert her that we were there."

They found the woman, who they believe to have been heavily intoxicated, hanging on with one hand, and with one foot off the ledge.

"She just kept saying 'I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry' over and over again. She was very distraught."

The suicide attempt was first mistaken for a promotional stunt by onlookers accustomed to movie studios going all out at the annual event.

The identity of the woman has yet to be released, but it is thought that she was upset over a breakup.

"We're trained to deal with these situations should they arise," said Carver, who compared the rescue with working on a film set. "But usually if we do, it's not an innocent civilian."

Bruce Willis Said No To Kiss With John Malkovich

Bruce Willis Said No To Kiss With John Malkovich

Bruce Willis Said No To Kiss With John Malkovich, Bruce Willis said he had a great time filming RED 2, just not enough to want to kiss co-star John Malkovich.

In the sequel to the 2010 action/comedy film, Willis reprises his role as black-ops agent Frank Moses alongside an all-star cast that includes Mary-Louise Parker and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The script called for Bruce Willis to have a few love scenes, which he carefully explained to his wife Emma Heming to ensure there was no jealousy.

“I will say, ‘Look honey, it’s right here in the script. It says, ‘Now Bruce kisses Mary-Louise Parker. Now Bruce kisses Catherine Zeta-Jones,’ ” he told the Chicago Sun-Times.

But even if Emma was fine with the love scenes in RED 2, there was one in the script that Bruce himself wasn’t too comfortable with.

“They were trying to get me to kiss John Malkovich in this film because he is in a dress, but I said no because I wasn’t feeling it.”

Regardless of the man-on-man kissing scene, Bruce said he was excited to get working on the sequel to the surprise hit.

“I was a little more confused filming the first RED because it felt like we were trying to do so many things at the same time,” Willis said. “There was comedy, action, and romance, but somehow it seemed to work out.”

Willis said he especially enjoyed working with Malkovich, even if they two didn’t get to kiss.

Y”ou never know what’s going to happen around Malkovich,” said Willis. “He made me laugh all the time, which is a very good thing on a movie like this.

“Sometimes, we would have to go again because we were breaking up so hard, but we all enjoyed ourselves. I would rush into work each day and never lolly gag because I wanted to be there.”

Though RED 2 is only being released now, the franchise already looks like it will continue on into the future. A third installment is in pre-production as Bruce Willis reportedly considers another stint as Frank Moses. There is no word yet on whether he’ll be kissing John Malkovich in RED 3, however.

Louisiana teen dies in 16-story fall at Alabama beach

Louisiana teen dies in 16-story fall at Alabama beach, Police say an 18-year-old Louisiana man has died after falling 16 stories from a condominium balcony in coastal Alabama.

Authorities say a security guard found 18-year-old Challenge Talbot in a swimming pool at Turquoise Place after he fell from a balcony Sunday morning.
Police say the teen was visiting with friends from south Louisiana and no one witnessed the fall.


Authorities are waiting for a toxicology test to determine whether alcohol factored into Talbot's death.

It is the second falling death of a Louisiana teen along the Alabama coast in recent days.

Jay Z, Beyonce Attend Trayvon Martin Rally in New York

Jay Z, Beyonce Attend Trayvon Martin Rally in New York

Jay Z, Beyonce Attend Trayvon Martin Rally in New York, A rally remembering Trayvon Martin was boosted by some star power Saturday (July 20).

Jay Z and Beyoncé quietly attended a New York City protest of Stand your Ground laws, with MSNBC's Al Sharpton telling the crowd "two of the baddest artists of all time" were in attendance, The Huffington Post reports.

The event, organized by Sharpton and other community leaders, was one of more than 100 similar protests held around the country.

"Jay Z and Beyoncé said they didn't want to speak and they didn't come for a photo op," Sharpton said. "Beyoncé put a beautiful message up on Instagram. Let me tell you that before a lot of you were down, Jay Z always supported us."

"Jay Z told me, 'I'm a father. Beyoncé is a mother.' We all feel the pain and apprehension -- the law must protect everybody, or it doesn't protect anybody," Sharpton said. "We do not come from hate, we come from love of children."

The series of protests comes one week after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of Martin, the unarmed teenager Zimmerman killed in Florida last year. Zimmerman claimed he acted in self-defense. The acquittal was largely met with disappointment from Hollywood, and a number of artists have publicly expressed their support of Martin and his family.

Justin Timberlake and Jay Z dedicated a song to Martin Wednesday as they kicked off their co-headlining tour in Toronto. Timberlake began singing Alphaville’s "Forever Young," and Jay Z came in with his version, "Young Forever." Timberlake told the crowd to "sing this for Trayvon."

On Sunday, Beyoncé honored Martin with a moment of silence during her concert in Nashville. Later in the week, Bruce Springsteen dedicated "American Skin (41 Shots)" to the slain teenager during a show in Limerick, Ireland.

Saturday's protests come one day after President Barack Obama made waves with comments about the controversial verdict. "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago," he said, adding the nation needs to do some "soul-searching" and examine whether state and federal laws encourage confrontations like the one in Florida.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has said the Justice Department has an open investigation into the case, looking into whether Zimmerman violated Martin's civil rights.

Hunger Games' cast debuts trailer at Comic-Con

Hunger Games' cast debuts trailer at Comic-Con

Hunger Games' cast debuts trailer at Comic-Con, The cast of "The Hunger Games" is making its Comic-Con debut, along with the trailer for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Lenny Kravitz were among the film's stars who watched the trailer for the first time Saturday with more than 6,000 dedicated fans.

Lawrence and Hutcherson also talked about their kissing scenes in the film. She said they involved "a lot of slobber."

Hutcherson said, "It will be really hot if you're into snot."

Lawrence also discussed training for the stunts she performs in the film but noted, "the hardest stunt is probably still just basic running."

She said she runs "weird" and added that she had a running coach for the film.

Lawrence, who won the best actress Oscar earlier this year for her role in "Silver Linings Playbook" and was previously nominated for "Winter's Bone," said that the Hunger Games Victory Tour is not unlike navigating Hollywood's awards season.

"The stakes weren't as high," she quipped. Contestants in "The Hunger Games" must kill their competitors.

The actress also made another Oscars-"Hunger Games" connection: Her favorite costume from the new film is a voluminous wedding dress with a skirt five feet in diameter.

"I'm not good at walking in giant dresses, as we know," she said, referring to the spill she took on her way to claim her Oscar in a full-skirted gown.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" opens in November.

Bruins rope off logo so Justin Bieber can't step on it

Bruins rope off logo so Justin Bieber can't step on it

Bruins rope off logo so Justin Bieber can't step on it, We were reminded a couple of weeks ago that it's simply not acceptable to step on a team's logo on the locker room floor, unless you want to be on the receiving end of relentless mocking.

It became a topic of discussion because Justin Bieber, the performer everyone over the age of 12 loves to hate, was photographed standing on top of the Chicago Blackhawks logo while admiring the Stanley Cup in their locker room.

It sounded the disrespect alarm throughout the NHL and sparked a day's worth of discussion on the subject of proper locker room etiquette.

The whole thing was completely absurd. With Bieber set to perform in Boston's TD Garden on Saturday, the Bruins decided to take the precaution of roping off the logo on their locker room floor so it couldn't be stepped on.

So that happened.

I had my own experience coming in contact with the Bruins logo during the Stanley Cup Final when I was lectured by somebody -- not sure who -- from the Bruins' organization for accidentally coming in contact with a corner of it following Boston's Game 3 win over the Blackhawks. Tyler Seguin even opened his post-game scrum by warning people to "watch out for the logo" before fielding any questions from the 50 people crammed around his locker.

I understand the tradition, and understand it's the player's room and if they want to put something on the floor that's their business, but when it's a limited space and there are 150 people crammed into it (like after a Stanley Cup Final game) it has to be expected that it just might get stepped on, even by accident. It is, after all, on the damn floor.

There has to be a player somewhere in the NHL who thinks this whole practice is dumb, and doesn't really care if that patch of carpet gets stepped on. I sometimes think they -- and the teams themselves -- enjoy telling people to not step on it simply because they can (call it a power trip, if you want), as opposed to it being some ageless hockey tradition.

No Foul Play Found in Six Flags Death

No Foul Play Found in Six Flags Death

No Foul Play Found in Six Flags Death, Police have found no evidence of foul play in the death of a woman who fell from a 14-story roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas, a spokesman for the local police department said Sunday. But how she got loose from the ride's restraints remains a mystery.

The woman died early Friday evening after falling from the Texas Giant, a wood-and-steel roller coaster at the Arlington, Texas, theme park. The ride had undergone a $10 million renovation two years ago.

Sgt. Christopher Cook said the Arlington police department is preparing a report about the death that likely would be released Monday. He declined to release the name of the victim, but the Dallas Morning News and other news organizations have identified her as Rosy Esparza of Dallas.

Sgt. Cook said that after the report is released, the police department doesn't plan to investigate further given that the death appears to be an accident.

The state Department of Insurance doesn't investigate accidents either, leaving Six Flags with the responsibility of figuring out what went wrong.

Six Flags said it would use every resource available to determine what happened and would share more information when it is available.

Kenneth Martin, an expert on roller-coaster safety, said it could take some time for details to emerge due to the high likelihood of a lawsuit and the fact that theme parks are exempt from federal oversight.

While the state Department of Insurance is in charge of making sure each ride has insurance coverage and receives an annual safety inspection, the department doesn't investigate accidents.

In addition to annual inspections, theme parks are supposed to check the safety of each ride daily and make that log available to law-enforcement officials on request, said Jerry Hagins, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Insurance.

The Texas Giant had a sticker authorizing its safe use until February 28, 2014. Mr. Hagins says the ride is now required to be closed until it is reinspected and approved.

When it was renovated, the Texas Giant required a new prototype car and unique lap-bar restraint to handle significant gravitational forces. The designers worked with Gerstlauer Amusement Rides of Germany to create a restraint that also secures legs and ankles tightly but was still comfortable.

Tobias Lindnar, project manager for Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, told the Dallas Morning News that the company has never had problems with the safety bars in its cars. Gerstlauer has built about 50 roller coasters world-wide and no one had been seriously hurt or killed on one of them before, Mr. Lindnar said.

According to the Amusement Safety Organization, which documents amusement-park accidents, riders of the Texas Giant suffered nearly a dozen neck-related injuries in 2012 and 2013. A spokeswoman for Six Flags didn't immediately return a request to confirm the figure.

The Texas Giant climbs 153 feet, then drops almost straight down, the steepest drop of any wood-and-steel roller coaster. It was named best new ride of 2011 by Amusement Today.

Four people a year die on average while riding amusement-park rides, according to a national 2005 report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Jay Z, Beyonce attend Trayvon Martin rally

Jay Z, Beyonce attend Trayvon Martin rally

Jay Z, Beyonce attend Trayvon Martin rally, Jay Z and Beyonce, America's preeminent musical power couple, went to a New York City rally honoring the life of Trayvon Martin on Saturday, following the controversial acquittal of his shooter, George Zimmerman, on July 13.

According to US Weekly, the pair "kept a low profile" at the rally, which was attended by more than 1,000 protesters.

They also stopped for a photo with Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton.

While speaking at the event, Sharpton said he had spoken Jay Z and Beyonce, parents to 18-month old Blue Ivy.
"Jay Z told me, 'I'm a father. Beyonce is a mother.' We all feel the pain and apprehension -- the laws must protect everybody, or it doesn't protect anybody," Sharpton said.

"No concerts in Florida!" rallygoers shouted that the 31-year-old singer, who shared an Instagram photo of her Trayvon Martin wristband.

The 43-year-old rapper also paid tribute to the late teen at his Yankee Stadium concert with Justin Timberlake on Friday, dedicating his song "Forever Young" to Martin.

"This is for Trayvon, so light up your cell phones New York!," Jay Z said.

"One more time for Trayvon New York!" Timberlake added.

Geraldo tweets half-nude 'selfie'; Internet fails to unsee

Geraldo tweets half-nude 'selfie'; Internet fails to unsee

Geraldo tweets half-nude 'selfie'; Internet fails to unsee, Geraldo Rivera turned 70 earlier this month, and the talk show host appears to have kept himself in good shape. Such good shape, in fact, that Rivera took to Twitter early Sunday to post a nearly nude photo he took of himself—wearing nothing but a towel, tinted glasses and his signature mustache—to show the world his toned torso.

"70 is the new 50," Rivera wrote in a tweet published at 2:02 a.m ET. "Erica and family are going to be so pissed...but at my age..."

The Brooklyn-born, Edgewater, N.J., resident is referring to 38-year-old Erica Levy, his fifth wife, who he married in 2003. The couple has a 7-year-old daughter, Solita, and Rivera has four other children from previous marriages. His birthday was July 4.

The gratuitous self-portrait—or "selfie" in Internet parlance—sparked an inevitable avalanche of comments, including some from his cable news colleagues.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Geraldo's towel," Fox News' Greg Gutfeld wrote on Twitter.

"Geraldo throws his hat into the New York mayoral race," celebrity chef and CNN host Anthony Bourdain tweeted.

By noon, Rivera's selfie had been retweeted more than 1,000 times.

"Wait, that Geraldo photo is still up?" Evan Ramirez, a.k.a ‏@iverdawg, wrote. "It wasn't posted by accident?"

Royal baby? This has been the mother of all media frenzies

Royal baby? This has been the mother of all media frenzies

Royal baby? This has been the mother of all media frenzies, The intense national squawking about the royal baby has turned us into a nation of flapping mother-in-laws. We seem to have forgotten that this little bundle of joy will make next to no difference to any of our day-to-day lives.

Five hundred years ago a royal baby was something to get excited about. Back then the existence, or otherwise, of a pinkle-punkle in the infant's middle regions was of such primary importance it decided the fate of nations. A male heir meant political stability for decades to come. Without one, everyone in the land faced the dangers of civil war. Until a monarch had a son, the entire nation was on tenterhooks.

Skip forward to 2013, and the nation is still on tenterhooks. But only because the 24-hour media has drummed up excitement to a level of obsessiveness which makes the coalition's determined bashing of benefit scroungers seem like a passing trend.

Forgive me for not falling off my chair with excitement at the possibility that a baby born today could become my head of state in 50 years' time. History is littered with heirs to the throne who didn't end up with a crown on their heads. Just ask the present Queen. Her father only became king because of the romantic misadventures of his brother. While this baby is technically in line to be the 43rd British monarch since William the Conqueror, I won't be holding my breath.

The last week or so has been not so much a perfect storm but a perfect calm of non-news: the absence of any substantial development combined with global interest in something which hasn't happened yet. The result? Hacks camped outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's hospital have been slowly losing their minds. It was the same in 2010, when political journalists camped out on the steps of the Cabinet Office while inside the coalition endured its own painful labour. Let's hope the end result is prettier this time around.

'Please do not feed the journalists', one sign states. The problem is most first-time mothers do not actually give birth until a week or so after their official due date. Kate is no exception in keeping everyone waiting - and prolonging the agony for those of us who aren't actually that bovvered.

It occurred to me that, even though I spend my days in the corridors of power, I will in all probability never meet this baby. In the modern world Britain's royal family are best classified in the celebrity category, and certainly not the political one.

They hold no influence. They are merely the servants of a system which requires that they live their lives in the public gaze. This child hasn't asked for it though. All the more reason not to add to the pressure by avidly following its appearance into a world of flashing camera-bulbs and lurid tabloid news stories.

Constitutionally, it's not a big deal whether this one's a girl or not, either. You might have heard about something called the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which ends royal boys' trump card over royal girls. That is a big change but doesn't affect this infant's place in the succession. Regardless, it will be next in line after its father Prince William. It's only if we do get a girl, and a subsequent son is born, that it really matters.