Eva Mendes

Biography
Eva Mendes was born March 5, 1974, in Miami, Florida. A particularly observant Catholic, Eva grew up with dreams of becoming a nun before she was bitten by the acting bug while attending California State University Northridge. “Acting fell into my lap when a neighbor took pictures of me and showed them to an agent,” she recalls. “Then I found an acting coach and worked my butt off.”

eva mendes debuts in a night at the roxbury
Eva Mendes’ first foray into showbiz came as a featured performer in music videos before she made her big-screen debut in 1998 in the schlocky horror film Children of the Corn V. “I was awful in Children,” she admits. “It was my first movie, and I hadn’t acted since being the fairy godmother in fourth grade. C5, as I call it, was a disaster.” Luckily, Eva Mendes learned from the experience, and she bounced back later that year with a memorable role in A Night at the Roxbury starring opposite Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan. “It was only my second job in the business,” she says, “and seeing them work and have fun made me decide that I could do it too.”

eva mendes stars in training day
Eva Mendes proved just that in 2001 when she was cast alongside Denzel Washington in the gritty thriller Training Day. The critically acclaimed film became a box-office smash, and Eva cashed in on the added attention with roles in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Stuck on You, and Hitch, for which she received an ALMA Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. Eva Mendes also broadened her footprint in the industry by joining fellow beauties Jessica Alba and Halle Berry as a spokesmodel for Revlon.

Why Is She Famous?
By the start of the new millennium, Mendes appeared in several action-packed and fun films worthy of half-price night at the movies. These include A Night at the Roxbury, Exit Wounds and All About the Benjamins. Of late, her resume has become quite impressive, with a steamy performance as Denzel Washington's woman in Training Day and a turn as Paul Walker's love interest in 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Etiquette Of A Gentleman

By Michael Bucci

Always be polite
Even if you don't like someone, there is no need to lower yourself to their level. Be polite and courteous; show that you're the better man.

Do not curse
Swearing is a big no-no. It shows that you don't have the vocabulary to express your thoughts appropriately. Furthermore, it is always very crude and impolite to be vulgar.s
Do not speak loudly
When you speak loudly, it raises the stress level among company. It always implies that you can't reason with people and rely on "brute force" to get your point across. It also draws attention -- negative attention.

Do not lose your temper
When you lose your temper, you are showing everyone that you can't control your emotions. If you can't even control yourself, then how can you possibly control anything else? Keep your cool at all times (it won't be easy but it is worth the effort) and people will take positive note of your levelheadedness.

Do not stare
Ogling someone is the equivalent of psychological aggression. You don't want to intimidate people for no reason.

Do not interrupt
Let people finish what they are saying before adding your comments. Interrupting others is a sign of poor etiquette and a lack of social skills. If you want to come across as egotistical, you can do so by constantly interrupting.

Do not spit
A lot of men do this almost subconsciously. Spitting is very crude and not too pretty to look at. Do not spit in public unless you want to look like you were raised in a sewer.

Respect your elders
In fact, you should respect others as you would like them to respect you. I am specifying elders because it seems that today, young men think they know it all. Well, they don't. Just think of yourself five years ago... you're much smarter and experienced today, aren't you? Of course, yet you thought you knew it all five years ago.

Now on to how to be a smooth gentleman with the ladies

Do not laugh at others' mistakes
This is perhaps one of the cruelest things one can do. When you mess up, the last thing you want is for someone not only to bring it to your attention, but to ridicule you on top of that.

Remove your hat indoors
This rule seems to have gone out the window these days. You should remove your headwear upon entering a building. Furthermore, never keep your hat on while at the dinner table. It reflects very poor etiquette.

Wait for seating before eating
When sitting down for a meal, you should wait until all the guests are properly seated and ready to commence the meal before eating. Everyone should start dining at the same time; this is a subtle but very important rule.
the basics of chivalry
In addition to the aforementioned rules, gentlemen (in training) should follow these additional rules when in the presence of a lady. Chivalry may be on life support, but it is not dead yet. Be one of the few to keep this flame burning for many years to come.

Always open doors
This is perhaps the most basic rule of male etiquette out there. It is also one of the easiest to follow so you have no reason to forget it. Whether she is about to enter your car, restaurant, club, or anyplace with a door, you should always hold it open. If there are many doors, then hold them open one after the other.

Put on her coat
Always help a lady put on her coat or overgarment. This is a simple but powerful action.

Help with her seat
If an unaccompanied lady is sitting next to you, it is important that you help her be seated by pulling her chair out for her and gently pushing it back into place, with the lady seated of course.

Give up your seat
If a lady arrives at the table and there are no available seats, you should stand up and offer yours to her.

Stand at attention
Always stand when a lady enters or exits the room. This rule has been somewhat relaxed, so you can stand upon entrance but remain seated upon exit. Nonetheless, if you can do both, you should.

Give her your arm
When escorting a lady (that you know) to and from social events, you should offer her your arm. This is a little more intimate, but serves well when walking on uneven ground -- especially if she's wearing high heels.

Ask if she needs anything
This is one that most guys already do, but helps complete the gentleman in all of us nevertheless. When at social events, make sure to ask the lady if you can get her something to drink (or eat, depending on the event). Show her that you care about her comfort and needs.

Gentlemen, if I may call you that, these are the rules of etiquette you should observe in everyday life. Elevate yourself above the rabble and display the mannerisms of a true gentleman. The world will appreciate such a rarity and your career will most definitely benefit from your good manners and savoir-faire .

AMERICAN GANGSTER

Movie Highlights
Release Date: Nov 02, 2007
Rated R
Nobody used to notice Frank Lucas, the quiet driver to one of the inner city's leading black crime bosses. But when his boss suddenly dies, Frank exploits the opening in the power structure to build his own empire and create his own version of the American Dream. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, he comes to rule the inner-city drug trade, flooding the streets with a purer product at a better price. Lucas outplays all of the leading crime syndicates and becomes not only one of the city's mainline corrupters, but part of its circle of legit civic superstars. Richie Roberts is an outcast cop close enough to the streets to feel a shift of control in the drug underworld. Roberts believes someone is climbing the rungs above the known Mafia families and starts to suspect that a black power player has come from nowhere to dominate the scene. Both Lucas and Roberts share a rigorous ethical code that sets them apart from their own colleagues, making them lone figures on opposite sides of the law. The destinies of these two men will become intertwined as they approach a confrontation where only one of them can come out on top.

Director Ridley Scott

Cast Russell Crowe
Denzel Washington
Josh Brolin
Common
Robert 'The Rza' Diggs
Ted Levine
John Ortiz
Yul Vazquez
J Kyle Manzay
Roger Guenveur Smith
Robert Funaro
Jason Furlani
Malcolm Goodwin

Release Date November 02, 2007
Studio Universal Pictures Distribution

SHUT UP AND SING

Release Date: Oct 27, 2006
Rated R
On stage at a 2003 London concert, Natalie Maines, lead singer of Texan trio the Dixie Chicks, spoke these 15 words to a small audience at the start of their sold-out international tour: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." The comment was delivered on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq, and drew cheers from the decidedly anti-war and anti-Bush British crowd. It was an off-the-cuff remark typical of the lead singer's temperament. Natalie, and fellow Dixie Chicks Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, thought little of it. But history and this film demonstrate that at this heightened moment of political polarization in the United States, many people did care, and empowered this simple, yet loaded remark to carry serious and longstanding ramifications. The documentary shows the band from their peak of popularity as the national-anthem-singing darlings of country music and top-selling female recording artists of all time, through the now infamous anti-Bush comment, and on through the days, months and years of mayhem. The film also follows the lives and careers of the musicians through the writing and recording of their first album since "the incident"--and three years of political attack, making music, birthing babies, bonding, death threats, and laughter.

Director Barbara Kopple
Cecilia Peck

Cast Natalie Maines
Martie Maguire
Emily Robison
Simon Renshaw

Release Date October 27, 2006
Studio The Weinstein Company

TATOOS

Many stars, such as Angelina Jolie, are covered in tattoos. How do they deal with these for films? Are they covered with makeup, or are they removed digitally afterward? If the latter, that sounds like a lot of expensive extra work.

JANET JACKSON: RELOADED!

Things have been rough for Janet since Justin Timberlake helped her flash Super Bowl...

Unfortunately for Janet, the wardrobe malfunction happened at the wrong time. Tabloid media, internet gossip and E! True Hollywood Stories had already desensitized the public to ridiculous celebrity woes.

It's kind of hard to feel sorry for someone who was born into one of entertainment's most noted families, yet managed to expose one of her nipples during the halftime performance of one of the country's biggest annual family events.

The incident and the FCC backlash put the pressure on Janet's Damita Jo album. But Damita Jo couldn't handle it. And neither could 2006's 20 Y.O. While I personally liked both albums, neither delivered the impact necessary to shut down the haters.

When R. Kelly's sex abuse scandal hit, his infectious "Step In The Name Of Love" refocused the fans on his music. Mariah Carey recovered from her public mental meltdown and Glitter flop in 2005 with "We Belong Together" which set a record as the most played song in radio history.

Janet's forthcoming Discipline album needs to deliver her the same type of career blessing.

DENZEL WASHINGTON

Though he has been keeping a low profile for much of 2007, Denzel Washington has found himself on the receiving end of some serious Oscar buzz, both as a performer and as a filmmaker -- stemming from his upcoming films American Gangster and The Great Debaters. The former casts the actor as a vicious drug kingpin named Frank Lucas, while the latter tells the true story of a circa-1930s debate team (the movie also marks Washington’s first effort behind the camera since 2002’s Antwone Fisher).

2007 Resume
Nominated for Favorite Male Movie Star at the People’s Choice Awards.
Named “the guy women want to tuck them in at night” by Lifetime Television.
Starred in Deja Vu, which grossed over $40 million on home video.
Awarded the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Received honorary doctorate of humanities degree from Atlanta’s Morehouse College.
Named one of the Top 10 Most Powerful Blacks in Hollywood in Black Enterprise Magazine, alongside Eddie Murphy and Will Smith.
Paid $20 million for his role in American Gangster.
Agreed to reteam with Man on Fire director Tony Scott for a remake of 1974’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Named America’s Favorite Movie Star by a nationwide Harris Poll, beating out Harrison Ford and Johnny Depp

Behind the Scenes
Denzel Washington’s efforts to secure racial equality for his fellow actors and fellow human beings have earned him the respect of critics and audiences alike, and the actor has consistently gone out of his way to assist a number of relevant causes and organizations. Denzel has also been a prominent fixture in advertising campaigns for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, having popped up in a number of TV, radio and print public service announcements. Denzel's compassion was evident in a recent visit to the Brooke Army Medical Center, where he spent time with wounded soldiers and even donated money to an organization that secures housing for the families of hospitalized soldiers.
2007 Manly Moment
In a 2007 book by Allison Samuels entitled Off the Record, Denzel revealed that he turned down a role opposite Michelle Pfeiffer (in 1992’s Love Field) due to the script’s overuse of the “N” word.

TIMBALAND

Timbaland is both prolific and influential and, this year, it has been virtually impossible to escape music he has had a hand in making. 2007 was Timbaland’s year for reaping benefits from monumentally successful projects, like his work with Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Elton John, and Missy Elliott on Timbaland Presents Shock Value. He has also made a variety of appearances in support of the album and started working on a boatload of new projects, like a new album with Madonna.

2007 Resume
Released Timbaland Presents Shock Value -- a collaboration album featuring Dr. Dre, Elton John, Fall Out Boy, Nelly Furtado, and Missy Elliott.

Nominated for two Grammys: Album of the Year for Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous.”

Received a Grammy for Best Dance Recording for Justin Timberlake’s “Sexyback.”
Nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards: Most Earth Shattering Collaboration for “Sexyback,” Monster Single of the Year for “The Way I Are,” and Best Pop Video and Best Dance Video for “Promiscuous.”

Nominated for a 2007 Vibe Music Award for Best Producer.

Nominated for three 2007 Teen Choice Awards; took one home for Choice Rap Artist.
Received Producer of the Year Award at BET's Hip Hop Awards 2007.

Worked on tracks for various artists like Björk, Duran Duran, Bone Thugs, 50 Cent,
Madonna, Ashlee Simpson, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Jennifer Hudson, and for a PlayStation Portable video game called Beaterator.
Signed on to produce most of Beyoncé's next album, and also plans to work with Usher and Stevie Wonder.

Made guest appearances at the O2 concert with Justin Timberlake and at Live Earth.
Nominated for a MTV EMA Award.

Behind the Scenes
Known for his discipline in and out of the studio, Timbaland is an avid bodybuilder who has committed himself to a strict training schedule and diet to stay healthy and in shape. Discipline is key to Timbaland, which is probably a good thing considering the controversy surrounding the sampling of “Acidjazzed Evening” for Furtado’s single “Do It” and Scott Storch's accusations that Timbaland doesn’t give his production partners the credit they’re due. Given his much publicized loyalty and longtime working relationships with artists like Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake and others, the allegations have to sting.

2007 Manly Moment
Timbaland’s not exactly the sort to back down from a fight, or a slight. Storch and Timbaland have been indulging in a lyrical slugfest since their feud started. Timbaland is alleged to have fired the first shots on the song “Give It To Me,” calling Storch down and rhyming: "I'm a real producer and you just the piano man" and "I get a half a mill fo' my beats, you get a couple grand." Storch responded with “Built Like That,” and Timbaland fired back with the song “Piano Man” by

2008 CADILAC ESCALADE

"In 1928, Cadillac became the first automaker to incorporate safety glass in all windows. Proud to carry on that legacy, Cadillac still keeps safety a primary concern. So when we had the chance to have the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration run the 2008 Escalade through an optional safety test, we gladly stepped up to the challenge.

As it turns out, when it comes to full size SUVs we were the only ones to go that extra mile.

The results? A five star frontal and side impact rating for the 2008 Escalade, including our EXT and ESV models. We received the highest score possible. But even more valuable to us is the peace of mind that comes with knowing Cadillac’s legacy for safety lives on.

‡ Five-star rating is for the driver and front passenger seating positions in the frontal crash test and for the front and rear seating positions in the side-impact crash test. Side-impact crash test rating is for a model tested with standard Head Curtain side-impact air bags (SABs). Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov).

2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

The luxury ride
For as long as we can remember, the Automobili Lamborghini corporation, nestled in the northern Italian countryside of Bologna, has always represented the highest echelon of hyper cars, breeding track-worthy performance vehicles with outrageously appealing aesthetic design. Substantiated by last year’s sales figures and another annual sales record, there has been a growth of 30.4% in cars manufactured and a 37% increase in units moved in North America, led by the critically acclaimed, entry-level Gallardo. Making its market debut in 2003, the Gallardo, which derives its name from a pedigree of prize fighting bulls, has seen variants in the Spyder, SE and Nera. But Lambo hopes to have its most prominent success of the bunch with the '08 Superleggera. With the quickest acceleration time in its class, trouncing native competitor Ferrari’s Scuderia in its sights, Lamborghini has indeed done their homework.

The engineers at Lamborghini know that weight is the sworn rival of speed and shaved as many pounds off as possible when compared to the standard Gallardo coupe -- after all it is the Superleggera, which was first used on the 350GT and loosely translates to “super light” in Italian. It utilizes the same aluminum space frame construction, except several body panels, the front hood, rear engine cover, side skirts, rear air diffuser housed below the twin exhaust outlets, underbody tray, and even the door-mirror housing were substituted for carbon-fiber clones. All of this effort manifests itself in a hair under the 3,000-pound curb weight, a 150-pound slimming from the base model. The rear wing can be repositioned and is subtly reshaped as the engine cover boasts a fresh plastic porthole.

And while these numbers may seem impressive to you, if you actually calculate the difference between a standard Gallardo and the Superleggera, there is a 0.02 power-to-weight ratio difference between the two, in favor of the lighter model. So, can you really justify spending over $100,000 more for a car with very few differences to its predecessor? If you can, you'll want to keep reading to find out the minute differences between this Superleggera model and the standard Gallardo.

Currently governed by the chiefs at Audi and praised for earlier triumphs in the famed Murcielago, Diablo and base-trim Gallardo, Lambo’s engineers understand the validation of a supercar through speed better than anyone. The Superleggera is motioned by an all-aluminum, naturally aspirated, 5.0-liter, 40-valve (four valves per cylinder), DOHC, mid-longitudinal, V10 propeller. The mill is the most updated version of the reworked 10-cylinder block, and now achieves a maximum 530 horsepower @ 8,000 rpm and 391 lb-ft of torque. This power is made possible through improved volumetric efficiency, reduced intake load losses, exhaust back pressures, and a well-configured electronic control. The standard six-speed stick or robotized “e-gear” sequential transmission (offered at no additional cost) do the cog swapping as the Superleggera races from 0-60 in a minimal 3.8 ticks, with a top speed of 196 mph.

Above cruising speeds, this AWD cannonball still maintains its Velcro-like grip on the blacktop. Venture beyond 6,200 rpm and the car seems to catch its second wind as the pilot reaches the redline shortly thereafter. Two light taps of the left paddle shifter and you’ll be returned to optimum motoring speed with an extended pull in fourth gear. The handling seems to have a noticeable drag when the car is lulled in neutral and lower revs, and the Lambo gradually loses its rigidity considerably when the speedometer reads triple digits, but steering remains responsive to input without becoming jittery. The multi-spoke, Scorpius forged alloy wheels, draped in 19-inch Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires, give the reduced bounce suspension an assist as do the ventilated, Brembo disc brakes, when you finally meet a red light.

The newest Gallardo model is relatively all business, as it has been depleted of any storage compartments and the audio system is now optional. The sport-fitted cockpit cradles the operator in fixed, one piece, bolstered, carbon-fiber sport seats that exhibit prodigious lateral firmness in deep-pocket cornering. Carbon fiber blankets the center tunnel and door panels and all that was formerly cowhide has been converted to Alcantra. Matching color stitching was incorporated to give a uniformed effect, just as the seats, dashboard and the airy headlining over each occupants brow flows with the color and design of the vehicle. The HUD wields a novel set of gauges, and the only drawback is the at-times small, illegible, balloon-letter like text.

With so many reasons to purchase your very own Gallardo Superleggera, the selling point on which to place an asterisk next to may very well be the vainest of them all: the crowd reaction -- as extras and major differences from the Gallardo are slim to none. It’s no secret that just the mention of the Lamborghini namesake comes complete with an excitement all its own, and piloting this Italian muscle car, even at crawling speeds, is an adventure.

The verdict
The Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera focuses on making advancements on an already superb machine and while the result really puts the clamp on Ferrari, we also can't quite grasp how Lambo can justify hiking the price on the Superleggera when there's actually less on and in the car than previous Gallardo editions. This is not a car built for luxury or long cruises. And while it is an absolute pleasure to drive, the 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera falls a bit short.

Is there room for a Black President?

Ever since Barack Obama announced his intention to run for president, national and international media have obsessed over whether or not America would be willing to elect a black commander-in-chief. But with Obama now in a neck-and-neck race with Hillary Clinton to gain the Democratic nomination, many across the country have declared the candidate’s popularity as concrete proof that America’s racial divide has healed.

But when taking a closer look at opinion polls, it turns out that in many places, white Americans believe the country is more likely to elect a non-white president than black Americans do. For example, in a recent survey conducted by CBS, 40% of black residents in South Carolina felt that America wasn’t ready “to elect a black president,” while only 34% of white residents felt the same way.

Join the debate
Is Barack Obama’s early success proof that America no longer harbors the racist factions it once did? Is race still an important factor in politics?

DAKORE EGBUSON

Welcome to the world of Dakore Egbuson, Nollywood Actor.

NEW JAMES BOND GIRL

The title of Bond girl is a coveted role for Hollywood's finest and sexiest women. To be named Bond's No. 1 lady is akin to having your name forever engraved on the Hollywood walk of fame; Bond girls are seldom forgotten. But will the new Bond girl live up the massive namesake?

In the last few months, rumors circulated that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen would become Bond twin girls, and even Shilpa Shetty shone in the Bond spotlight for a little while.

Alongside Ukranian model Olga Kurylenko, Gemma Arterton will star opposite Daniel Craig in the upcoming Bond film, but does she have what it takes to enter the ranks of likes of Halle Berry, Eva Green and Famke Janssen?

SEX SCANDAL

Vanessa Hudgens says she's recovering from her scandal of late summer, when risqué private photos of her surfaced on the Internet.

"I'm much better now," the High School Musical star, 18, tells Seventeen magazine for its February issue. "But truthfully I don't like talking about it."

On Sept. 7, after the nude pictures made the rounds, Hudgens released a formal statement through her rep, saying, in part, "I want to apologize to my fans, whose support and trust means the world to me. I am embarrassed over this situation and regret having ever taken these photos."

She now says of the intimate posing session, "It was something that was meant to be private, and even though it isn't anymore, I'd still like to keep it as private as I can."

HILARY DUFF

Hilary Duff ( Hilary Ann Duff ) was born on September 28, 1987 at Houston, Texas, USA. She is both an actress and a musician by profession. This 5'4" girl is popularly known as the Lizzie McGuire girl after the Disney Channel's Kids show "Lizzie McGuire". Her career started with her appearance in women's Western True Women in 1997, and in "Casper"in 1998. She played her best part in 1999's "The Soul Collector". As for her music career, it started with her debut album "Santa Claus Lane" which also became a soundtrack for the movie "The Santa Clause II", and ultimately for her Lizzie McGuire Movie too.

HALLE BERRY

Halle Berry, born August 14, 1968 in Cleveland, Ohio is a model turned actress. Her father was an African-American man while her mother was Caucasian. At the young age of four, her abusive father left her and the family. The family was then moved to an inner-city suburb where Halle would stand out from the rest because of her skin color. However, that did not stop her much in highschool. Halle was on the cheerleading squad, an honors student, the editor of the school newspaper, class president, and prom queen. Her place in the spotlight began when pursuing a modeling career. Halle has since won many beauty contests and pageants. Halle has had some small roles in television shows but her big debut was in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. At the peak of her career, Halle has starred as the Bond Girl in Die Another Day, Storm in the X-Men movies, and as Catwoman.

JENIFER LOPEZ