FameCrawler : ap

The First Family Becomes The First Family

HerBadMother — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:23:00 GMT

And in so doing, makes history.

(So awesome that his wife and daughters stood with him. SO AWESOME, all of it.)

(See the video of the oath-taking HERE.)

Obama's Inauguration Speech and Oath - Text and Video

Whit Honea — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:10:00 GMT

The United States has a new president today. President Barack Obama was sworn in just an hour ago. The following is video from the ceremony and the text from President Obama's speech.

"My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet. These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.

We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world…that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

Good luck, Mr. President. Now go get that puppy.

Jett Travolta - The Story of His Death

Whit Honea — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:09:00 GMT

Jett Travolta, the sixteen-year-old son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, passed away last week. It's tragic.

There have been numerous stories coming out about Jett's death. There have been accusations, investigations, rumors and second guesses by media outlets everywhere. It's overwhelming. We've covered them, as is our station, and we are providing this post as an easy way for you to access each story as you see fit. Maybe you want answers, maybe you have something you need to express. The stories are here, sad as they are, and we will update this list as they are published.

As always, our hearts go out to the Travolta family.

John Travolta's Son Dies

Update: John Travolta Son's Death Details & Statements

Funeral For Jett Travolta In Ocala

Jett Travolta's Death Investigated by Police

Video Statement: It's The Worst Day In The Life Of Mr & Mrs Travolta

New Details: Jett Travolta Died In His Father's Arms

Jett Travolta's Death: John & Kelly Break Their Silence

Travolta Tragedy- Now the Rumors Begin

Did Scientology Kill Jett Travolta?

Remembering Jett: Travolta Family Releases Private Photos

On Jett Travolta, Howard Stern Gets It Right

Jett Travolta's Family Speaks Out

Jett Travolta`s Autopsy

Travolta's Friends Show their Support

Travolta Tragedy - The Handling of Jett's Remains

Saying Goodbye: Jett Travolta's Funeral

Donald Trump's Billion Dollar Backhand

Whit Honea — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:02:00 GMT

As you can see by Donald's business casual suit, the Trump family enjoyed a recent day of leisure by attending the U.S. Open.

Apparently Barron was a bit loud for the subdued tennis crowd, so Melanie held him and The Donald smacked 'em!

This move is not endorsed by FameCrawler but does appear effective.

Photo: AP

Pictures of Knox and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt Faked?!

Whit Honea — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:04:00 GMT

The folks at NY Magazine are calling shenanigans on People. Actually, they're calling Photoshop. They are claiming that little Vivienne Marcheline is not yet able to smile (or Knox Leon for that matter) and that the grin we see is actually the result of some fancy tampering.

"In that cover photo, it looks like Vivienne Marcheline — clearly the Ashley half of this Olsen-like combo — is sporting a giant grin. She may even be laughing. Hold on. These babies are purported to be a mere 3 weeks old! Parenting magazine says that babies don't smile from exterior stimulation until two to four months — even if said exterior stimulation is the most beautiful pair of humans in the entire world."

StrollerDerby isn't sure that they agree and asks, "what to you think? Photoshopped? Or is Vivi working out a bit of flatulence? Come on, we parents know even newborns make all kinds of faces, even if Parenting magazine hasn't explicitly told us so."

Personally, I never would have thought such a thing, but it's not like Photoshopping magazine covers is unheard of. I do have trouble believing that Brad and Angelina would agree to the face of their new baby being altered- and it seems like they would have some say in the cover before it was released.

That's just a theory. They may have been busy changing diapers when it went to press.

In the meantime, these photos are clearly unaltered.

Twin Making: Brad and Angelina Got. It. On.

Knox & Vivienne Here!! Photo!!!

First Pictures of Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt Mean Goodbye Brangelina

Were the Twins (Yes, Those Twins) Photoshopped?

First Pictures of Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt Mean Goodbye Brangelina

sweatpantsmom — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:16:00 GMT

I'm sure you've heard the big news - the first photos of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's twins were released last night. But what you didn't hear about is what the publications had to agree to in order to secure the prized photos of little Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon.

In a joint deal, People and Hello! magazines reportedly paid $15 million for the coveted pics, with the condition that the victorious magazine would have to agree to no longer refer to Brad and Angelina as 'Brangelina.'

I'm thinking this is because Angelina's always been pissed that Brad's name comes first in that nickname - she probably would like for them to be referred to as 'Angelrad' from here on out.

Knox & Vivienne Here!! Photo!!!

Source

Angelina Jolie Twins Photos: SOLD!!!

sweatpantsmom — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:58:00 GMT

Mink diapers and diamond pacifiers, anyone? Brangelina twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline are barely three days old but are already worth a fortune. Nice Matin, the hometown newspaper that first broke the news of the births, reported on Sunday that Angelina and Brad have already sold the rights for the first photo of the twins to a U.S. publication and that the proceeds would go to charity. Nice Matin puts the photos' worth at more than $11 million. The name of the publication has not been revealed.

Darryn Lyons, owner of celebrity photo agency Big Pictures in London, thinks the snaps are worth more in the $15 - $20 million range. The only other photos that "would possibly come that close is Britney Spears giving birth to an alien," he said.

Then there's veteran London-based publicist Max Clifford, who sees something more divine in the escalating worth of the babies' photos and the paparazzi's desperation to get a piece of the action.

"In the celebrity world, it seems to be the double second coming."

Angelina and Brad's Baby Birth Certificate Photos

Angelina's Body After Baby

Brangelina Twins Photos

Source

Photos! Angelina Jolie Names Daughter After Mom Marcheline Bertrand

sweatpantsmom — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:47:00 GMT

The Brangelina twins have finally arrived. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt welcomed Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline on Saturday night. And Angelina lovingly pays tribute to her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, with the naming of her new daughter.

Actress Bertrand, who Angelina frequently praised as a good mom and friend, died in 2007 after a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. Marcheline raised Angelina and her brother, James Haven, on her own after her divorce from Angie's father Jon Voight in 1978.

Bertrand had small roles in movies such as Blake Edwards' 1983 comedy "The Man Who Loved Women." She grew up in Chicago, and according to daughter Angelina Jolie, Bertrand was often wrongly identified as a French actress: "My mom is as far from French Parisian as you can get. She grew up in a bowling alley that my grandparents owned."

Did Angelina Have Twin Baby Girls Or Not? Magazine Wars

The Truth About The Birth Of Angelina's Twins

Source

BREAKING NEWS: Doctor Confirms to AP That Angelina Jolie Twins Are Here

sweatpantsmom — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:22:00 GMT

Angelina Jolie's doctor confirmed to the Associated Press early Sunday that the actress had given birth to a boy and a girl. Dr. Michael Sussman confirmed rumors that have been running rampant all day; Jolie had given birth to a boy, Knox Leon, and a girl, Vivienne Marcheline, by cesarean section on Saturday night.

Sussman told the AP on Sunday morning that the boy weighed 5.03 pounds and the girl 5 pounds, and added that Jolie, the babies and Jolie's partner, Brad Pitt, "are doing marvelously well."

Congratulations to the entire Brangelina crew!

The Truth About The Birth Of Angelina's Twins

Angelina Gave Birth, True Or False

Source

Creepy Daddy Larry Birkhead Buys Up Anna Nicole's Playboy Lingerie FOR Dannielynn

Karen — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:30:00 GMT

I couldn't help getting completely skeeved out by Larry Birkhead's latest parenting decision: to purchase $3000 worth of Anna Nicole's lingerie from a Playboy shoot, and claming he was doing so to have these "heirlooms" put away for Dannielynn.

Say again?

He wants to make sure his young daughter has something to remember her mother by.

Yes, really.

"I have a lot of history I have to put together that she doesn't really know about," Birkhead told The Associated Press. "Playboy was such a big part of Anna's career."

Yes, yes it was. Sigh. That kid has no shot at a normal life, does she?

Yay! Barack Obama Clinches the Democratic Presidential Nomination

sweatpantsmom — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:10:00 GMT

The Associated Press is reporting that Sen. Barack Obama has clinched the Democratic presidential nomination. He becomes the first black candidate to lead a major party into a campaign for the White House.

“Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States,” Obama planned to say in a victory celebration speech. He'll make the speech in St. Paul, Minn., the site of the convention that will nominate his Republican opponent in the fall, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Throughout the day speculation increased that Hilary Clinton could possibly join Obama on the ticket as a running mate. In a call that took place Tuesday between Clinton and members of the New York congressional delegation, Clinton signaled an interest in that prospect, but stopped short of conceding to Obama or dropping out of the race. Clinton has said she would be "open to it" if it would help the party's prospects in November.

Congratulations to Barack Obama! His wife Michelle and his children must be excited and proud today.

Disclaimer: The opinions voiced here do not necessarily reflect those of Babble, the FameCrawler staff, their mothers or their podiatrists.

Source

Madonna's French Kiss: Madge Gone Wild

Whit Honea — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:06:00 GMT

Madonna kissed one of her female dancers during a recent show in Paris. Yes, it was a 'French kiss,' when in Rome and all that.

To be honest, I can't say that I give a crap, but the AP has decided to run with it so I'll play along.

Is this sending a mixed message to Madonna's children, her husband, or the adoption board(s)? Should she act her age and not her cup size?

By the way, this is the kind of stuff Madonna's family does while she dry humps the guitar player. Different worlds, Madge, different worlds.

Photo: AP Photo/Jacques Brinon

Source

FameCrawler : ap

The First Family Becomes The First Family

Obama's Inauguration Speech and Oath - Text and Video

Jett Travolta - The Story of His Death

Donald Trump's Billion Dollar Backhand

Pictures of Knox and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt Faked?!

Angelina and Brad's First Picture of the Twins! Meet Knox and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt!

Twin Making: Brad and Angelina Got. It. On.

Knox & Vivienne Here!! Photo!!!

First Pictures of Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt Mean Goodbye Brangelina

Were the Twins (Yes, Those Twins) Photoshopped?

First Pictures of Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt Mean Goodbye Brangelina

Angelina Jolie Twins Photos: SOLD!!!

Photos! Angelina Jolie Names Daughter After Mom Marcheline Bertrand

BREAKING NEWS: Doctor Confirms to AP That Angelina Jolie Twins Are Here

Creepy Daddy Larry Birkhead Buys Up Anna Nicole's Playboy Lingerie FOR Dannielynn

Yay! Barack Obama Clinches the Democratic Presidential Nomination

Madonna's French Kiss: Madge Gone Wild