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AWARDCHESS Sep 4, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as-ciX3zsBU Tell me your opinion...I am confused !!
Honey.1 view all announcements Welcome into my Chess.com Groups Posted by AWARDCHESS on Tuesday, Jul 13 at 10:06pm archive | delete Welcome into my Chess.com Groups Sort by: « Previous | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | Next » CHRISTIAN CHESS WORLD From atheism to religion just one own step up! FREE CHESS LESSONS! Find your religious Answers! Free you Soul! For all True believers of the God's Power! Plenty of fun Articles! Highland Free- Mind Disputes! Ton of Team and Vote Matches!... Read more » International Members: 592 Formed: Jan 2009 WORLD CHESS GROUP Join us! We got a greatest Team! We are really among a Leaders of www.chess.com! We play a lot of Vote Chess Matches and Team Matches! Play and joy with us! Be ready to upload your over stressed mind, as we did at our blogs and forums, where ... Read more » International Members: 301 Formed: Jun 2008 HOT CHESS HEARTS Pretty Lady Love Chess! As well as a men.. Chess Lovely Family! Fighting for Love! Join us! Joy and share Best Blogs! Join our strong Chess Group! You can find a fun News of the Hollywood, Media, Sport, free Chess Lessons for improvements! P... Read more » International Members: 138 Formed: Feb 2009 TIGRAN PETROSIAN CHESS GROUP For All Global TIGRAN PETROSIAN Chess Admirers! Read more » International Members: 71 Formed: Feb 2009 CHESS KINGDOM Team Live and Play Your Game! Read more » International Members: 54 Formed: Nov 2008 CALIFORNIA AND LOS ANGELES CHESS GROUP For players of great California and huge Los Angeles! And for their global family and friends! Read more » International Members: 50 Formed: Feb 2009 KARPOV CHESS GROUP For All Global Anatoly Karpov Chess Admirers! Read more » International Members: 45 Formed: Feb 2009 WOMAN CHESS PARADISE Group Woman and Chess! Paradise! Read more » International Members: 32 Formed: Feb 2009 TD: AWARDCHESS Starts ASAP Registered: 5 of 100 Time Control: 1 day/move Max Group Size: 10 Rating Range: 1201-1750 # Advance: 3 Tie Breaks: No Points Available: 878 Games Rated: Yes This is a "No Vacation" tournament! You will play ~18 simultaneous games(both games per opponent start immediately) YOU ARE REGISTERED FOR THIS TOURNAMENT! When the tournament starts your games will AUTOMATICALLY begin. Recent Registrants view all 5 registrants davidsenjaya123 (1492) shatrangawy (1443) tridaddy (1631) ging (1489) AWARDCHESS (1745) Welcome! Comments: Edit | Delete by AWARDCHESS - 11 hours ago Los Angeles United States Member Since: May 2008Member Points: 28779 CHRISTIAN CHESS WORLD From atheism to religion just one own step up! FREE CHESS LESSONS! Find your religious Answers! Free you Soul! For all True believers of the God's Power! Plenty of fun Articles! Highland Free- Mind Disputes! Ton of Team and Vote Matches!... Read more » International Members: 592 Formed: Jan 2009 WORLD CHESS GROUP Join us! We got a greatest Team! We are really among a Leaders of www.chess.com! We play a lot of Vote Chess Matches and Team Matches! Play and joy with us! Be ready to upload your over stressed mind, as we did at our blogs and forums, where ... Read more » International Members: 301 Formed: Jun 2008
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AWARDCHESS Jul 21, 2010
Mel Gibson counters Oksana Grigorieva with extortion claim By Herald Wire Services Saturday, July 10, 2010 - Added 13h ago Attorneys for Mel Gibson met with the L.A. Sherriff’s Department yesterday to accuse his Russian baby mama, Oksana Grigorieva, of attempted extortion, one day after authorities confirmed they had opened a domestic violence investigation involving the “Edge of Darkness” star. TMZ.com reported that Gibson’s lawyers were to make “a presentation” of evidence to the Sheriff’s Department that is currently investigating Gibson for domestic violence, child endangerment and assault with a deadly weapon. The Web site reported that Gibson’s attorneys will provide evidence that Grigorieva allegedly tried to extort money from Gibson in return for tapes she secretly recorded during their “nuclear arguments.” Gibson’s lawyers reportedly were set to ask the Sheriff’s Department to open a criminal investigation against Grigorieva, the mother of Gibson’s 8-month-old daughter. Gibson was condemned by the NAACP last week after reports emerged that Grigorieva had taped a 30-minute rant by the actor in which he hurled racist and sexist epithets against her in a fit of rage. But the actor’s lawyer said Grigorieva invented the claims that Gibson punched her in the face twice in January, knocking out her teeth and giving her a concussion, because she was having second thoughts about the confidential custody agreement the couple had signed. (10) Comments | Post / Read Comments
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AWARDCHESS Jul 17, 2010
Elin Nordegren Gets $750M, Custody of Kids in Exchange for Silence in Tiger Woods Divorce Published June 30, 2010 | NewsCore Print Email Share Comments (314) Text Size (AP) Tiger Woods is banned from letting girlfriends near his kids in a divorce deal netting his ex a record $750 million settlement, The Sun reported Wednesday. The golfer agreed to keep single women away from daughter Sam, three, and son Charlie, one. He can bring a new flame into their lives only if he marries her. In return, former wife Elin Nordegren ,30, gets the biggest payout ever seen in a celebrity divorce. But she can never publicly speak out over his alleged flings with socialite Rachel Uchitel, reality star Jaimee Grubbs, porn queen Joslyn James and up to 17 others. A pal said: "Elin is desperate to protect the children from the womanizing side of their father. Tiger's alleged mistresses include porn stars, pancake waitresses, bikini models and nightclub hostesses. And they're still coming! Porn star Devon James is the latest to admit to a Tiger tryst. If Tiger's PGA competitors want to unnerve him on the golf course, these balls might do just the trick. SLIDESHOW: The Women Linked to Tiger Woods "Tiger's main fear is her telling her story after he's rebuilt his reputation, sending him back to the gutter." Swedish ex model Nordegren ended up with double the sum she originally sought, after her lawyers proved Woods, 34, was worth much more than the $1billion she thought. Her friend explained: "Elin's legal team have done a great job digging up all sorts of assets. "The price of the huge sum is her silence: no interviews, tell-all books, or TV appearances about this for the rest of her life -- even if Tiger dies first -- or she'll lose the lot." SLIDESHOW: Tiger's Once Picture Perfect Life With Elin The friend said: "Everything's signed. Elin is ready to file for divorce at Orlando County Court. She expects to in the next seven days." Nordegren gets sole physical custody of their kids but they will split legal custody. That means Woods will share decisions about their future -- so Nordegren will not be able to permanently relocate them to her native Sweden. Woods -- believed to be building a golf resort in Dubai and investing in the Bahamas -- will be able to see the kids for up to half of each week. He can renegotiate the custody agreement in five years. SLIDESHOW: Scenes From Tiger's Public Apology The pal said: "Elin admits that despite everything, Tiger loves his kids and has been a decent dad. "She is confident he will not pursue seeing the children that much, due to his work and lifestyle." Under the no-girlfriends deal, only married women not romantically linked to Woods will be allowed around the children -- plus female members of staff known to Nordegren. SLIDESHOW: Woods' Alleged Mistresses' Life Looks Like a Party
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AWARDCHESS Jul 3, 2010
News 19/03/2010 | Dog adopts newborn lion cub as her own > print version Alyona Topolyanskaya Orphaned big cat saved by a hound in Krasnoyarsk. A big-hearted dog, and her human owners, have adopted an unlikely new puppy from Krasnoyarsk Zoo - after keepers appealed for a home for an orphaned lion cub. The baby big cat's mother, named Chudo (Wonder), died while giving birth to four cubs, only one of which survived. In desperate bid to save the little lion, zoo keepers quickly spread the word that they were looking for a big, sweet tempered dog that recently had puppies. "When we heard about this," dog owner, Petr Ryzhakov told RIA Novosti, "we knew right away that our Zhulya was the perfect candidate." Margarita Shushakova, head of the zoo's mammals department, admitted that losing the mother and three cubs was a big loss - but hopes to save the last lion. "We didn't believe that we could save the remaining cub," Shushakova said. As for the surrogate mum, like most dogs she was more concerned about the smell of her new child. "We wrapped Chudo up in the cloth belong to the potential mother dog, so that the scents are similar," said the zoo keepers. Now, the little cub has two little canine brothers, and there is plenty of milk for everyone. However, once Chudo gets her baby teeth, she will be put on a diet of minced meat and goat milk. Zoo keepers say that animals that have been nursed and raised by dogs are friendlier, and are less afraid of people. When they get older, they are more likely to be taken in by zoos and circuses, as they are easier to train. Dogs have very strong maternal instincts so it's becoming more and more common to use them as surrogate mums. Last year, at the Taiyuan Zoo in China, a dog was brought in to help nurse newborn Red Panda cups, whose mother abandoned them shortly after their birth. And in 2008, a golden retriever became a surrogate mother to three newborn tiger cubs, at the Kansas Safari Zoological Park in the United States, after the tigress proved to be "too sassy to be the maternal type" said the zoo keepers.
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AWARDCHESS Apr 14, 2010
CHESS TOP RACE.6 9 1 day 12(2)->3+ 1300-1800 Registration CHESS TOP RACE.7 2 1 day 12(2)->3+ 1300-1800 Registration
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AWARDCHESS Apr 7, 2010
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt split rumors not true: sources tell mag BY RICH SHAPIRO AND KATE NELSON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Originally Published:Sunday, January 24th 2010, 1:47 PMUpdated: Sunday, January 24th 2010, 3:24 PM Poujoulat/Getty Despite rumors of a split, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have remained mum on the state of their relationship. A report that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are splitting is "totally false" several sources are saying, but Hollywood's glam power couple remained mum Sunday. "Everything is fine," one source told People.com. London's News of the World and other sources say otherwise. The pair reportedly met with California divorce lawyers - even though they're not married - to hash out an amicable division of their vast fortune and custody of their six kids. "The paperwork is already organized for a breakup - and for it to be as unmessy for them as possible," the London paper reported Sunday. Canadian journalist Ian Halperin reported Sunday that a close friend of Pitt's says the hunky actor has been preparing to bail from his five-year relationship with the pillow-lipped Jolie for at least six months. "Brad is miserable and wants a new start," said the friend, a Hollywood industry veteran. "He's looked miserable and exhausted the past couple of years because he can't handle Angie's explosive personality and self destructive ways. "I love Brad and am in his corner all the way. I feel so bad for him because Angie put him through the ringer. I can confirm that his relationship with Angie is over," the pal told Halperin, author of the book, "Brangelina: The Untold Story of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie," in which he predicted the bustup. The children will reportedly live full-time with Jolie, the News of the World report said. "The contract was like a tailor-made version of a prenuptial agreement," a source told the tab. "It seemed clear they want the world to know they'll both play a part in the upbringing of the children." Buzz about a Brangelina breakup has been circulating for months. Us Weekly reported Friday that Jolie despises New Orleans and calls the home she and Pitt bought there in 2007 "his house." Jolie instead prefers Chateau Miraval, their 1,000-acre, $70 million estate in Provence, France, the magazine said. "Brad loves spending time in New Orleans, but Angie doesn't," the source dished. "They fight because of it... She keeps yelling at him that she hates New Orleans and never wants to go back." The National Enquirer reported that Pitt and Jolie had a heated argument Jan. 6 inside the Alto restaurant in midtown Manhattan. But just three days earlier, a source also told the Daily News, the duo shared a "pleasant" meal of foie gras, cold salad and roasted chicken at Le Perigord on 52nd St. "They looked happy - very, very happy. I don't think they have a problem together," Pierre, a server manager said. Either way, the Jolie-Pitts haven't been seen in public together much as of late. They skipped the Golden Globes last week and the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday night, where there was an awkward silence among Pitt's "Inglourious Basterds" co-stars when asked about his absence by Foxnews.com. "You've got Jacky Ido (a fellow cast member) all the way from France," actor Eli Roth mumbled to Fox's Pop Tarts entertainment column. The scraggly-bearded Pitt also made a solo appearance Friday night in Los Angeles at George Clooney's "Hope for Haiti" telethon, while Jolie is said to be in the Big Apple this week for a Vanity Fair magazine shoot. Reps for Pitt and Jolie did not returned calls for comment Sunday.
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AWARDCHESS Apr 4, 2010
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/a-request-for-helping-to-stop-that http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/this-is-really-not-fair4 http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/above-the-law http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/what-a-mate http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/-brand-new-chess-competetions http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/below-the-law http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/gentleman-chess
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mhdl3RAv6w
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AWARDCHESS Mar 13, 2010
SPORT FANS CHESS Team Tiger Woods Hurt « News home Submitted by AWARDCHESS on Sun, 11/29/2009 at 2:16pm. Tiger Woods Hurt in Car Crash PGA Star Released from Hospital in Good Condition after Hitting a Tree Near His Fla. Mansion Tiger Woods was injured early Friday when he lost control of his SUV outside his Florida mansion, and a local police chief said Woods' wife used a golf club to smash out the back window to help get him out. The world's No. 1 golfer was treated and released from a hospital in good condition, his spokesman said. The Florida Highway Patrol said Woods' vehicle hit a fire hydrant and a tree in his neighbor's yard after he pulled out of his driveway at 2:25 a.m. Windermere police chief Daniel Saylor told The Associated Press that officers found the 33-year-old PGA star lying in the street with his wife, Elin, hovering over him. "She was frantic, upset," Saylor said in a briefing Friday night. "It was her husband laying on the ground." She told officers she was in the house when she heard the accident and "came out and broke the back window with a golf club," he said, adding that the front-door windows were not broken and that "the door was probably locked." "She supposedly got him out and laid him on the ground," he said. "He was in and out of consciousness when my guys got there." Saylor said Woods had lacerations to his upper and lower lips, and blood in his mouth; officers treated Woods for about 10 minutes until an ambulance arrived. Woods was conscious enough to speak, he said. "He was mumbling, but didn't say anything coherent," Saylor said. The Florida Highway Patrol said alcohol was not involved, although the accident remains under investigation and charges could be filed. Woods was alone in his 2009 Cadillac when he pulled out of his driveway from his mansion at Isleworth, a gated waterfront community just outside Orlando, the patrol said. Woods' injuries were described as serious in the patrol's report, though his spokesman, Glenn Greenspan, issued a statement that Woods was treated and released. Left unanswered was where Woods was going at that hour. Greenspan and agent Mark Steinberg said there would be no comment beyond the short statement of the accident posted on Woods' Web site. Saylor said his responding officers did not hear anything about an alleged argument between Woods and his wife. "Right now we believe this is a traffic crash. We don't believe it is domestic issue," patrol spokesman Sgt. Kim Montes said. Woods, coming off a two-week trip to China and Australia earlier this month, is host of the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., which starts Thursday. He is scheduled to have his press conference Tuesday afternoon at Sherwood Country Club. Steinberg said he did not know if Woods planned to play next week. The Florida Highway Patrol said tapes of the 911 call won't be released until they can be reviewed, probably Monday at the earliest. The accident report was not released until nearly 12 hours after Woods was injured. Montes said the accident did not meet the criteria of a serious crash, and the FHP only put out a press release because of inquiries from local media. Montes said the patrol reports injuries as serious if they require more than minor medical attention. Air bags in the SUV did not deploy. Two troopers tried to talk to Woods on Friday evening, but his wife said he was sleeping and they agreed to come back Saturday, Montes said. She said charges could be filed if there was a clear traffic violation, although troopers still do not know what caused Woods' SUV to hit the hydrant and the tree. Damage to the front of Woods' SUV was described as "medium" by Saylor. "Not real extensive, but not real light," he said. Woods rarely faces such private scrutiny, even as perhaps the most famous active athlete in the world. He usually makes news only because of what he can do with a golf club. Few other athletes have managed to keep their private lives so guarded, or have a circle of friends so airtight when it comes to life off the course. His wife was awarded a $183,250 settlement and an apology from an Irish magazine that published a fake nude photo of her, and Woods received a $1.6 million settlement in a lawsuit against the builder of his yacht — named Privacy — for using his name and photos of the boat as promotional material. Woods is approaching $100 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour, and Forbes magazine reported that combined with endorsements, appearance fees and golf course design, he has become the first athlete to top $1 billion. Woods' $2.4 million home is part of an exclusive subdivision near Orlando, a community set on an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course and a chain of small lakes. The neighborhood, which is fortified with high brick walls and has its own security force, is home to CEOs and other sports stars such as the NBA's Shaquille O'Neal. Woods, who has won 82 times around the world and 14 majors, attended the Stanford-Cal football game last Saturday, where he tossed the coin at the start of the game and was inducted into Stanford's sports Hall of Fame at halftime. He won six times this year after missing eight months recovering from reconstructive surgery on his left knee. Even though he failed to win a major, Woods said he considered this a successful year because he did not know how his knee would respond. » more SPORT FANS CHESS Team News | 90 reads | 27 comments | 0 votes: « Previous | 1 2 | Next » Comments: Edit | Delete by AWARDCHESSLos Angeles United States Member Since: May 2008Member Points: 21851 Who is a Tiger Wood?- -The man who ran out of own House and drove off from his wife so fast, that the fire hydrant, a tree and a golfer were injured. Edit | Delete by AWARDCHESSLos Angeles United States Member Since: May 2008Member Points: 21851 Some aren’t surprised by Tiger Woods mess Quinn Rooney / Getty Images file Multiple sources who have known Tiger Woods in either a personal or professional capacity have now come forward saying that news of trouble at home comes as no surprise.
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AWARDCHESS Mar 12, 2010
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AWARDCHESS Mar 9, 2010
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/special-warm-greetings http://www.chess.com/tournaments/leaderboard.html http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/what-a-mate http://blog.chess.com/AWARDCHESS/chess-top-race2010 http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/tournament-points-leaderboard
Tom Cruise set for fourth 'Mission' Reteaming with Paramount, director J.J. Abrams By Jay A. Fernandez Feb 9, 2010, 07:03 PM ET Tom Cruise (Getty) Apparently, nothing's impossible.Tom Cruise has committed to reprise his role as Ethan Hunt in the next installment of the "Mission: Impossible" seriesat Paramount. The action tentpole, which is being co-financed by David Ellison's Skydance Prods., is now slotted for release on Memorial Day weekend 2011.The reunion between Cruise and the studio once looked unlikely after Cruise's production deal there was cut loose in 2006, the year "Mission: Impossible III" was released. But both parties have recognized the promise in continuing a franchise that has grossed $1.4 billion worldwide.Cruise has been on board to produce the fourquel with "M:I3" director J.J. Abrams since June. They have handed off an original idea to screenwriters Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec, who wrote for Abrams' spy series "Alias."The studio and producers are now out to directors, as Abrams has not signed on to helm the followup.With the "Mission" greenlight, Paramount has re-upped another franchise to join forthcoming sequels to 2009 hits "G.I. Joe," "Transformers" (July 2011) and "Star Trek" (June 2012), plus new franchise "The Adventures of Tintin" (Christmas 2011).Paramount has released Cruise vehicles "Top Gun," "Days of Thunder," "The Firm," "War of the Worlds," "Vanilla Sky" and "Tropic Thunder," which featured the star in a rare secondary comedic role.Since toplining "Valkyrie" two years ago, the CAA-repped Cruise next stars in the Fox action-comedy "Knight and Day," hitting theaters Fourth of July weekend.
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AWARDCHESS Feb 10, 2010
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AWARDCHESS Feb 5, 2010
The boy who paints like an old master His pictures cost upwards of £900, there are 680 people on a waiting list to buy them, and his second exhibition sold out in 14 minutes. Patrick Barkham meets the gifted artist Kieron Williamson, aged sevenIn pictures: Kieron Williamson's best work Patrick Barkham The Guardian, Tuesday 29 December 2009 Article history After Gliman by Kieron Williamson. Click on the magnifying glass for a larger version Kieron Williamson kneels on the wooden bench in his small kitchen, takes a pastel from the box by his side and rubs it on to a piece of paper. "Have you got a picture in your head of what you're going to do?" asks his mother, Michelle. "Yep," Kieron nods. "A snow scene." Because it is winter at the moment, I ask. "Yep." Do you know how you want it to come out? "Yep." And does it come out how you want it to? "Sometimes it does." Like many great artists, small boys are not often renowned for their loquaciousness. While Kieron Williamson is a very normal seven-year-old who uses his words sparingly, what slowly emerges on the small rectangle of paper in his kitchen is extraordinarily eloquent. This month, Kieron's second exhibition in a gallery in his home town of Holt, Norfolk, sold out in 14 minutes. The sale of 16 new paintings swelled his bank account by £18,200. There are now 680 people on a waiting list for a Kieron original. Art lovers have driven from London to buy his work. Agents buzz around the town. People offer to buy his schoolbooks. The starting price for a simple pastel picture like the one Kieron is sketching? £900. Kieron lives with his dad Keith, a former electrician, his mum, who is training to be a nutritionist, and Billie-Jo, his little sister, in a small flat overlooking a petrol station. When I arrive on a Saturday afternoon, Kieron and Keith are out. When Kieron returns in football socks and shorts, I assume he has been playing football. But no, he has been replenishing his stock of pastels in Holt, a chichi little place where even the chip shop has grainy portraits for sale on its walls. Artist Kieron Williamson, age seven, painting at home in Holt, Norfolk. Photograph: Graham Turner From Jan Lievens to Millais, there have been plenty of precocious geniuses in the art world. Excitable press coverage has compared Kieron to Picasso, who painted his first canvas, The Picador, aged eight. "We don't know who Picasso is really," says Keith. "I know who Picasso is," interrupts Kieron. "I don't want to become Picasso." Who would he like to become? "Monet or Edward Seago," he says. These days, however, we are often suspicious of child prodigies. We wonder if it is all their own work, or whether their pushy parents have hot-housed them. People who don't know the Williamsons might think Kieron is being cleverly marketed, particularly when they hear that Keith is now an art dealer. The truth is far more innocent. Two years ago, a serious accident had forced Keith to stop work and turn his hobby – collecting art – into an occupation. The accident also stopped Keith racing around outside with his son. Confined to a flat with no garden, surrounded by paintings and, like any small boy, probably influenced by his dad, Kieron decided to take up drawing. Now, father and son are learning about art together. Kieron is rubbing yellows and greys together for his sky. "There's some trees going straight across and then there's a lake through the centre," he explains. Is this picture something you have seen or is it in your imagination? "I saw it on the computer and every time I do the picture it changes." he says, handling his pastels expertly. Keith ducks into the kitchen and explains that Kieron finds pictures he likes on the internet. Rather than an exact copy, however, he creates his own version. This winter scene is imagined from an image of the Norfolk Broads in summer. Figures at Holkham by Kieron Williamson At first, Kieron's art was pretty much like any other five-year-old's. But he quickly progressed and was soon asking questions that his parents couldn't answer. "Kieron wanted to know the technicalities of art and how to put a guardian.co.uk on Painting" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/painting">painting together," says Michelle. Hearing of Kieron's promise, one local artist, Carol Ann Pennington, offered him some tips. Since then, he has had lessons with other Norfolk-based painters, including Brian Ryder and his favourite, Tony Garner. Garner, a professional artist, has taught more than 1,000 adults over the last few decades and Kieron, he says, is head and shoulders above everyone. "He doesn't say very much, he doesn't ask very much, he just looks. He's a very visual learner. If I did a picture with most students, they will copy it but Kieron is different. He will copy it and then he will Kieronise it," he says. "It might be a bit naive at the moment but there's a lovely freshness about what he does. The confidence that this little chap has got – he just doesn't see any danger." Garner says his parents have been brilliant at shielding Kieron from the business side and the pressure this invariably brings. Keith and Michelle are extremely proud, and protective, and perhaps slightly in awe of their son. They insist that Kieron only paints when he wants to. "We judge ourselves every day, wondering whether we are making the right choices," says Michelle. "Kieron is such a strong character you wouldn't get him to do anything he didn't want to do anyway. It's a hobby. Some could argue he's got such a talent, why aren't we doing more for him in terms of touring galleries every weekend. We are a guardian.co.uk on Family" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/family">family and we've got Billie-Jo to consider; you've got to strike a balance." Boat at half way house by Kieron Williamson With all the people wanting paintings, I ask Kieron if he feels he has to do them. He says no. So you only paint when you want to? "Yep." Do you have days when you feel you don't want to paint? "Yep." So you only do it when you're in the mood? "Yep." How many paintings or drawings do you do each week? One or two? "About six." Is he a perfectionist? "You've got a bit of an artist's temperament, haven't you?" says Michelle, softly, as Kieron continues wielding his pastels. "You get really frustrated if it doesn't work out. You punched a hole in the canvas once, didn't you?" That was rare. Sometimes, however, Kieron will produce "what we classify as a bag of trosh," says Michelle. "He's just got to go through the motions. It's almost as if it's a release. It's difficult to explain – it's the process that he enjoys, because there are days when he is not really focused on his work but he just enjoys doing it." Sometimes, when they have taken Kieron out on painting trips in the countryside, the little boy has had other ideas: he has gone off and played in the mud or a stream. He is still allowed to be seven years old. What do his school friends think? Are they impressed? "Yep." A few moments later, Kieron pauses. "I am also top of the class in maths, English, geography and science," he says carefully, rubbing the sky in his picture. Kieron explains he is sticking to landscapes for now but plans to paint a portrait of his 98-year-old nan when she turns 100. What does he think about people spending so much money on his paintings? "Really good." Would he like to be a professional painter? "Yep." So he doesn't want to be a footballer when he is older? "I want to be a footballer and a painter." Kieron enjoys playing football and, like his dad, supports Leeds United ("I haven't ever pushed him into it," says Keith quickly). What other things does Kieron like doing? "You played on the Xbox but then you got bored of it didn't you?" says Keith. "You said I could have it out when Christmas comes," says Kieron. "You can have it out in the holidays," promises Michelle. "He's a bit all-or-nothing with whatever he does, like the artwork. You have to pull the reins in a bit because otherwise he'd be up all night." What would his parents say if Kieron turned around and told them he was not going to paint any more? "Leave him to it. As long as he's happy. At the end of the day, he's at his happiest painting," says Keith. "It's entirely his choice," says Michelle. "We don't know what's around the corner. Kieron might decide to put his boxes away and football might take over and that would be entirely his choice. We're feeling slightly under pressure at the moment because there is such a waiting list of people wanting Kieron's work, but I'm inclined to tell them to wait, really." I doubt many artists could paint or draw while answering questions and being photographed but Kieron carries on. When he finishes, we lean over to look. "Not bad. That's nice," says Keith, who can't watch Kieron at work; I wonder if it is because he is worried about his son making a mistake but Keith says he just prefers to see the finished article. "Is it as good as the one I did this morning or better?" asks Kieron. "What do you think?" replies Keith. "It's got a nice glow on it, hasn't it?" Kieron nods. I would love one of his pictures but, I tell Kieron, he is already too expensive for me. "I can price one down for you," he says, as quick as a flash. No, no, I couldn't, I say, worried I would be exploiting a little boy who is eager to please. I thank him for his time and hand him my business card. And Kieron trots into his bedroom, comes out with his business card and says thank you back. Kieron's tips for landscape painting 1 "Go on holiday to where you really want to go, and be inspired." 2 "Start with acrylics, then watercolours, then pastels and then oils" 3 When you set out to do a landscape, "start with the sky first, top to bottom." 4 "When you do distance, it's lighter, and when you do foreground it comes darker." 5 "If you're doing a figure in the winter, do a brown head, leave a small gap, do a blue jacket and brown legs. Then with the gap get a red pastel and do a flick of red so it looks like a scarf." 6 "Keep on painting."
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AWARDCHESS Feb 1, 2010
Why Jay Leno and David Letterman Hate Each Other More David Letterman looked like "either Dinty Moore or Paul Bunyan's son." Or so recalls Jay Leno from his 1996 book on his first meeting with Letterman in 1975. It was a fateful encounter that formed an initial partnership and friendship. But now, in retrospect, it's a tragic relationship in which the repercussions from the fallout between the two are still being felt 35 years later, changing late night television forever. And, unknowingly, altering the fate of a then-12 year-old boy living in Brookline, Massachusetts -- Conan O'Brien. Letterman, on a January 19 episode of Late Show, referred to Jay Leno in a discussion about the current late night television battle as "vintage Jay." What does "vintage Jay" mean, and why does Letterman feel this way? Allow us to break down exactly why Jay and Dave have come to despise one another, both in real life and for our television enjoyment. Letterman, not surprisingly, was never completely comfortable as a stand-up comic. His initial dream was never to host 'The Tonight Show.' What he wanted was to write for 'The Tonight Show' and his idol, Johnny Carson. In William Knoedelseder's fantastic account of the 1970's stand-up comedy scene, 'I'm Dying Up Here,' he recounts those initial early days of Leno and Letterman's friendship. Letterman was impressed with how comfortable Leno controlled the stage; in turn, Leno thought Letterman possessed the most original material on the comedy scene. The two were soon hired as a team by future husband and wife Jerry Kushnick and Helen Gorman (hold this thought) to write current 'Good Times' star Jimmie Walker 15 jokes a week.On April 9, 1979, Letterman guest-hosted 'The Tonight Show' for his first time (Carson was hosting the Academy Awards that evening). This was 12 years before Carson would announce his retirement but, in Carson's mind, he had just appointed the next host of 'The Tonight Show.' Letterman would guest host the show 50 more times.Letterman and Leno would remain friendly over the next few years. Leno would often be booked as a guest on 'Late Night with David Letterman' but, as far as anyone seemed to know, that was the extent of their friendship through the 1980s. In 1987, after Carson had a falling out with then-permanent guest host Joan Rivers, Leno was picked to replace her. This move never wavered Carson's feelings on Letterman's eventual role as the host.As documented in Bill Carter's book, 'The Late Shift,' Leno's manager, Helen Kushnick (née Gorman; Letterman's former boss), made a power play for 'The Tonight Show' once Carson announced his retirement. An extremely loyal Letterman desperately wanted the show, but would never go behind his friend Leno's back. Leno had no problem making secret deals and, influenced by Kushnick (who was so unpopular, Leno soon had to fire her), proceeded. NBC had their reservations about the lanky, off-beat, quirky comedian hosting his show in New York (sound familiar?) and eventually decided Leno would make the extra effort to make the affiliates happy -- something Letterman had really no interest in doing -- and Leno positioned himself with the network brass as the heir apparent. So, in 1992, with no mention of Carson on his first show, Leno became the host of 'The Tonight Show.' Letterman and Leno would never speak again. Carson became a deeply private person, granting only two interviews between leaving 'The Tonight Show' and his death in 2004. It's telling Carson never appeared on Leno's show, but his last television appearance was a walk-on appearance on Letterman's competing CBS show, 'Late Show with David Letterman.'If there's any wonder why, in 2010, it appeared that so many in the industry sided with Conan in this latest late night mess: It's true Leno made his corporate bosses happy -- ratings were sky high -- but this wasn't the case with his fellow comics. Again, as Knoedelseder accounts, Carson was famous for using his 'Tonight Show' platform to launch the career of young comics; Letterman continued this tradition, and Leno did not -- stating the network "didn't think they drew numbers." This didn't endear Leno to the fellow comics he rose through the ranks with, as well as new comics that never had a chance of being on this new incarnation of 'The Tonight Show.' Leno had a history as the guy that conceded to make everyone happy as far back as the late 1970s comics' strike versus The Comedy Store (the basis of Knoedelseder's book). Leno, who was the first comic to voice his displeasure with the lack of pay, was known as sympathetic to owner Mitzi Shore (Yes, Pauly's mother); he was the "let's just make her happy," voice of the group. This was a strike Letterman gave his full support to, even picketing outside The Comedy Store the very same night after he hosted The Tonight Show' for the first time.It's not surprising that Letterman can see "vintage Jay" repeating and it's even less surprising he would jump to the defense of O'Brien. It should be noted that when the story of Letterman's workplace infidelity broke, Conan refrained from making any jokes about the incident while Leno had a field day. Letterman's full quote during a taping of 'The Late Show' on Jan 19 is telling, "I've known Jay Leno for, what? Thirty Five Years? A long, long time. We used to buddy around in the old days and what we're seeing now is vintage Jay. And it's enjoyable for me to see this. It's like, 'hey, there he is; there's the guy I know.'" Considering Leno returns head-to-head versus Letterman in March, this fight is nowhere near over -- only Letterman's no longer pulling his punches... vintage Jay or not.Filed under: Celebrity Fights - TV News
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AWARDCHESS Jan 27, 2010
Before They Were Stars 6 celebrities and their first jobs By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer You might not believe me if you read gossip blogs and magazines, but most celebrities were once regular people. (In fact, many still are.) Although we might think our favorite superstars were born as teeny, tiny stars with sunglasses, designer diapers and one name, they weren't. Before they became tabloid fodder, they were our friends and neighbors just trying to earn a little cash. We've put together a list of famous names who had humble beginnings that weren't that different from most of ours. They might be worth millions or billions now, but not too long ago they might've been the cashier at your grocery store. Here is what six celebrities did before they were famous: Evangeline Lilly -- "Lost" is nothing if not a good excuse to be afraid of flying. The entire show is based on a single event: People get on a plane, experience a little turbulence, the plane crashes on an island and they're stranded with a smoke monster. Luckily for Lily, who plays Kate on the show, she got the acting gig after her stint as a flight attendant. The Canadian actress wanted to travel the world, so she became a flight attendant, which she ended up hating and left after a month. Kathy Griffin -- The idea of Kathy Griffin holding down a job might seem strange, seeing as she makes a living off of riffing on celebrities she encounters. However, her acerbic wit didn't pay the bills early on, so before Griffin became the stand-up star she is today, she worked as a temp to pay the bills. Oprah Winfrey -- Before she was the megawatt personality who can go by just one name, Winfrey was a quiet grocery store worker. As a teenager, she landed her first job at a local market and she was forbidden from chatting with customers, a cruel restriction for a woman who eventually became a media icon by hosting a talk show. Sofia Vergara -- In TV land, the fall of 2009 will be remembered as the season when sitcoms made a comeback, and one of the biggest hits was "Modern Family." Although Colombian actress Vergara had done some Hollywood work prior to the show, her portrayal of Gloria Delgado-Pritchett has made her a household name. If she hadn't gone into the industry, she probably would've become a dentist. Before she began modeling, Vergara was nearly finished with dental school and was on the path to a life of dental care. Whoopi Goldberg -- She's won an Oscar, a Tony and a slew of other awards, and now you're most likely to see her discussing political topics of the day on "The View." Before she goes on national TV five days a week, she probably has a makeup artist to make her features pop on camera. Back in the day, however, Goldberg was a makeup artist -- for deceased people. She was a mortuary beautician who applied makeup to people before their funerals. Zachary Levi -- Now he's the heartthrob on the comedy series "Chuck," but he wasn't always in front of the camera. In fact, before he landed acting gigs, he worked at a car wash. He soaped up the cars and dried them off -- and he fully admits he couldn't resist singing the 1976 hit song "Car Wash" on the job sometimes. Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama. Video: Celebrity Worst Jobs
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AWARDCHESS Jan 27, 2010