Shape Ups Skechers: Shape Up While You Walk

This revolutionary shoes is shaping up America just by walking. Shape Ups by Skechers was designed to get people fit while walking, shopping or doing anything anywhere.

It's a fashionable fitness shoes that's suppose to tone muscles, reduces stress on knees and joints, improves back posture, reduce cellulite, tone thighs, firm buttocks and calf and reduce weight.

The science behind this stylish shoes is based on the premise that we typically walk on hard surfaces.   This gives stress to our feet, knees and especially our lower back.  Skechers created the Shape Ups technology to turn walking into a hard surface feels like walking into a soft and comfortable ground.  It's like walking in the sand or in a luxurious carpet.  The dynamic rolling bottom, the soft foam and the dual density kinetic wedge midsole makes it happen.  It strengthens muscles and increases the blood flow in your feet.

Shape Ups are worn by celebrities who attended the Sundance Film Festival 2010. 

Lady Gaga Has the Most Famous Facebook Profile

The American musician Lady Gaga is the first living person to have the most fans in the social network, Facebook. As of to date, she has 11,383,104 million fans. Her profile is more famous than President Obama. Michael Jackson has 14 million fans on Facebook.

Lady Gaga is 22 years old. She came from a good Italian family in New York City. She learned to play piano by ear at 4. She loves pop, rock and theater. She's an artist, song-writer, exhibitionist who has a flair for theatrics. Her goal is to funnel pop record to the world in an interesting way. She looks at artists as an icon of art. And that's how she looks today. She believes it's not just about the music but also the performance, the attitude and the looks.

Watch out for her performance live on Today Show's Summer Concert Series, this Friday, July 9 at Rockefeller Center from 7am ET/PT.

You can download her famous songs:
The Fame Monster (Deluxe)
Alejandro
Poker Face

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees' Book "Coming Back Stronger"

This is what Americans are made of when it comes to overcoming adversities.   

This is a story of a man that brought hope and victory not only for himself but also for his team, the Saints and his devastated community, New Orleans.

Drew Brees is an American professional football player.  He  proved that a person can overcome any obstacles that life throws in his way if he has faith, determination and heart.

Brees is the Super Bowl XLIV Most Valuable Player.  Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the premier association of professional American Football.  In the last game of 2005 season playing against Denver Broncos, Brees injured his shoulder that nearly ended his career. Also in 2005, the deadly Hurricane Katrina left 85% of New Orleans underwater.  Brees, the team and the whole community were in despair.  It will take strong character and a miracle to bring back an injured player to play again professionally and bring hope and glory to the community.  In February 10, 2007, Brees' recent victory did just that.  He threw 288 yards and 2 touchdowns.  It was the first league championship of Saints.  The whole community supported the team and Brees with the team made the community proud and victorious.  They all came back stronger.

He wrote an inspiring story about this comeback.  The book is called Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity

Here's a video of that emotional and victorious moment with Drew Brees holding his son, Baylen.



Brees generously shared part of his winnings to charities in New Orleans.

The Star Spangled Banner

Six years and a naturalized citizen later, I still haven't really memorized the USA national anthem. I got a book mark from the library with the lyrics. I look at it everytime I read a book.

When I learned about the story of the song, it became more meaningful to me. The song was written by Francis Scott Key after a critical battle in Baltimore, Maryland. Key was a lawyer and an amateur poet. He was sent to Baltimore to secure the release of Dr. Beanes, an American prisoner of the British.

The mission was completed on a British ship. But the British was about to attack Fort McHenry, the American fort guarding Baltimore. After twenty-five hours of battle, the Americans withstood the attack. It was morning of September 14, 1814. Francis Scott Key peered through the clearing smoke. He saw the American flag waving proudly in Fort McHenry. He was so inspired by the sight that he wrote a poem to commemorate the occasion. The poem was sung to the tune of a popular British song, "To Anacreon in Heaven."

The Star-Spangled Banner was so popular and it became the official anthem of the United States of America.

Star-Spangled Banner

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light?
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight;
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the nighth that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Rainy 4th of July

It's post "4th of July." We had rain in the midwest yesterday so most of the fireworks display were postponed for next week. For me, fireworks display in the small town of Humboldt is the culminating of our celebration. Fireworks in synch with music works everytime.

Anyway, we spent most of our day in a friends house. I didn't really feel any partiotic ambiance in the air aside from my friend wearing a patriotic shirt and me wearing a shirt with a print of 1 million dollars.

We're supposed to go to a lake and have picnic. We had picnic food ready. We had barbeque baby back ribs, steamed rice, hotdogs wrapped in bacon, brownies, soda in can, fresh fruits, etc. But it rained, so we just stayed inside the house. We ate, chat and watched chick flick. It wasn't boring at all. We had fun. The kids were running around the house and going back and forth in different bedrooms. Ha, clutter! My friend from New York called from my cell phone. She said it was hot and steamy there.
Oh well...

We got home all stuffed up. I turned the tv on and looked for some Independence Day Celebration program. I didn't find any but a short clip at the "Weather Channel" showing the Washington DC celebration and someone singing the end part of Star Spangled Banner. So I guess, that's a little better to end our 4th of July.

Emmy Nominations

The Emmy Nominations was announced this morning.

For drama series, AMC's Mad Men, Fox's House, ABC's Boston Legal, FX's Damages, and ABC's Lost received nominations.

CBS' Two and Half Men, NBC's The Office and 30 Rock, HBO's Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm are nominated for comedy.

Here's the quick list of Emmy nominees:

Nominees for Actor Drama Series are:
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House"
James Spader, "Boston Legal"

Nominees for Actress, Drama Series are:
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit"
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

Nominees for Actress Comedy Series are:
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "New Adventures of Old Christine"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"

Nominees for Actor Comedy Series are:
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies"
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men"

Nominees for Supporting Actor, Comedy Series are:
Jason Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Kevin Dillon, "Entourage"
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Rainn Wilson, "The Office"

Nominees for Supporting Actor, Drama Series are:
Ted Danson, "Damages"
Michael Emerson, "Lost"
Zeljko Ivanek, "Damages"
William Shatner, "Boston Legal"
John Slattery, "Mad Men"

Nominees for Supporting Actress, Drama Series are:
Candice Bergen, "Boston Legal"
Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers and Sisters"
Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy"
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment"
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy"

Nominees for Supporting Actress, Comedy Series are:
Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies"
Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live"
Jean Smart, "Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, "Two and a Half Men"
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty"

Nominees for Reality Host are:
Tom Bergeron, 'Dancing With The Stars'
Heidi Klum, 'Project Runway'
Howie Mandel, 'Deal Or No Deal'
Jeff Probst, 'Survivor'
Ryan Seacrest, 'American Idol'

Reality-Competition Program:
"The Amazing Race," CBS
"American Idol," FOX
"Dancing With The Stars," ABC
"Project Runway," Bravo
"Top Chef," Bravo

Reality Program:
"Antiques Roadshow," PBS
"Dirty Jobs," Discovery Channel
"Extreme Makeover Home Edition," ABC
"Intervention," A&E
"Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List," Bravo

Miniseries:
"The Andromeda Strain," A&E
"Cranford," (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS
"John Adams," HBO
"Tin Man," Sci Fi Channel

Actor, Miniseries or a Movie:
Ralph Fiennes, "Bernard And Doris"
Ricky Gervais, "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale"
Paul Giamatti, "John Adams"
Kevin Spacey, "Recount"
Tom Wilkinson, "Recount"

Actress, Miniseries or a Movie:
Catherine Keener, "An American Crime"
Susan Sarandon, "Bernard And Doris"
Dame Judi Dench, "Cranford"
Laura Linney, "John Adams"
Phylicia Rashad, "A Raisin in the Sun"

Supporting Actress, Miniseries or a Movie:
Eileen Atkins, "Cranford"
Ashley Jensen, "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale"
Alfre Woodard, "Pictures Of Hollis Woods"
Audra McDonald, "A Raisin In The Sun"
Laura Dern, "Recount"

Supporting Actor, Miniseries or a Movie:
David Morse, "John Adams"
Stephen Dillane, "John Adams"
Tom Wilkinson, "John Adams"
Denis Leary, "Recount"
Bob Balaban, "Recount"

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series:
Shelley Berman, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Rip Torn, "30 Rock"
Will Arnett, "30 Rock"
Steve Buscemi, "30 Rock"
Tim Conway, "30 Rock"

Guest Actor in a Drama Series:
Charles Durning, "Rescue Me"
Robert Morse, "Mad Men"
Oliver Platt, "Nip-Tuck"
Stanley Tucci, "E.R."
Glynn Turman, "In Treatment"
Robin Williams, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Guest Actress in Comedy Series:
Polly Bergen, "Desperate Housewives"
Edie Falco, "30 Rock"
Kathryn Joosten, "Desperate Housewives"
Carrie Fisher, "30 Rock"
Sarah Silverman, "Monk"
Elaine Stritch, "30 Rock"

Guest Actress in Drama Series:
Ellen Burstyn, "Big Love"
Diahann Carroll, "Grey's Anatomy"
Cynthia Nixon, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
Anjelica Huston, "Medium"
Sharon Gless, "Nip/Tuck"

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special:
Hugh Costello, "Bernard And Doris"
Heidi Thomas, "Cranford"
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale"
Kirk Ellis, "John Adams"
Danny Strong, "Recount"

Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special:
Bob Balaban, "Bernard And Doris"
Mikael Salomon, "The Company"
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale"
Tom Hooper, "John Adams"
Jay Roach, "Recount"

Made-for-TV- Movie:
"Bernard And Doris," HBO
"Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale," HBO
"The Memory Keeper's Daughter," Lifetime
"A Raisin In The Sun," ABC
"Recount," HBO

Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:
"The Colbert Report"
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"
"Late Night With Conan O'Brien"
"Late Show With David Letterman"
"Saturday Night Live"

Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:
Louis J. Horvitz, "80th Annual Academy Awards"
Jim Hoskinson, "The Colbert Report"
Lonny Price, "Company (Great Performances)"
Chuck O'Neil, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"
Don Roy King, "Saturday Night Live"

Writing for a Drama Series:
Michael Angeli, "Battlestar Galactica"
Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman, "Damages"
Matthew Weiner, "Mad Men"
Matthew Weiner, Robin Veith, "Mad Men"
David Simon, Ed Burns, "The Wire"

Directing for a Darama Series:
Arlene Sanford, "Boston Legal"
Vince Gilligan, "Breaking Bad"
Allen Coulter, "Damages"
Greg Yaitanes, "House"
Alan Taylor, "Mad Men"

Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program:
Jon Stewart, Host, "80th Annual Academy Awards"
Stephen Colbert, Host, "The Colbert Report"
David Letterman, Host, "Late Show With David Letterman"
Don Rickles, Performer, "Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project"
Tina Fey, Host/Performer, "Saturday Night Live"

Writing fo a Comedy Series:
James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, "Flight of the Conchords"
Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, "The Office"
Bryan Fuller, "Pushing Daisies"
Jack Burditt, "30 Rock"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Directing for a Comedy Series:
Dan Attias, "Entourage"
James Bobin, "Flight of the Conchords"
Paul Lieberstein, "The Office"
Paul Feig, "The Office"
Barry Sonnenfeld, "Pushing Daisies"
Michael Engler, "30 Rock"

Variety, Music or Comedy Series:
"The Colbert Report," Comedy Central
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, " Comedy Central
"Late Show With David Letterman," CBS
"Real Time With Bill Maher," HBO
"Saturday Night Live," NBC

Variety, Music or Comedy Special:
"Bill Maher: The Decider," HBO
"George Carlin: It's Bad For Ya!," HBO
"James Taylor: One Man Band (Great Performances),
" PBS"Kathy Griffin: Straight To Hell," Bravo
The Kennedy Center Honors," CBS
"Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project," HBO

Animated Program (for programming less than one hour):
"Creature Comforts America," CBS
"King Of The Hill," FOX
"Robot Chicken," Cartoon Network
"The Simpsons," FOX
"SpongeBob SquarePants," Nickelodeon

Animated Program (for programming one hour or more):
"Family Guy," FOX
"South Park," Comedy Central
"Justice League: The New Frontier," Warner Bros

Obama and McCain Horserace

US Presidential candidates are pushing up with their fundraising.

Democrat Barack Obama raised $52 million this June. Republican John McCain raised $62.3 million for the second quarter of 2008.

Wow! That's a lot of money to spend just for their campaign.

Half a billion dollars can go along way to feed the hungry kids in Africa. It can eradicate the short supply of rice in Asia too.