The Romance Reader

6 escapes for romance in the Florida sun

2007-02-08T02:40:00.000-08:00

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Here, just in time for Valentine's Day, are a half-dozen suggestions to kindle romance in the Sunshine State: 1. Share a sunset sail or morning snorkel trip in the Keys. You can arrange for both at Tarpon Flats Inn & Marina in Key Largo (www.tarponflats.com). The three-story lemon-yellow B&B is framed by coconut palm trees and overlooks the marina and Largo Sound. A fishing camp in the 1960s and '70s, the resort has its own pretty beach, complete with hammock shaded by a whispering pine tree. A sweetheart deal offers guests two nights' accommodations, a bottle of wine with fruit and cheese in their rooms, breakfast delivered to their door and a choice of a sunset cruise or morning snorkel for $389 plus tax. 2. Indulge your love of art with a trip to a fine arts museum.

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Red carpet romance

2007-02-06T02:37:00.000-08:00

AS cricketing royalty walked the red carpet, all eyes were on the sport's newest glamour couple, Michael Clarke and model Lara Bingle. Clarke and Bingle, 19, set tongues wagging as they made their public debut at the Allan Border Medal awards last night. Bingle was more covered up than most, in a blue Lisa Ho one-shouldered Grecian sheath that billowed as she strode the red carpet. The modest frock was an unusual choice for the glamour girl, who made her name wearing only a bikini in the "Where the Bloody Hell Are You?" tourism ads. "It's fresh and new, and I think it's great," she said of her dress. Picture gallery: Allan Border medal red carpet Video: Allan Border Medal red carpet (high) | (low) Weblog: Feast of fashion Weblog: Is Punter the best of all time? Other wives and girlfriends were more provocative in backless gowns, sultry satin and plenty of Hollywood tape.

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Pure Romance specializes in selling products to enhance ...

2007-02-02T02:36:00.000-08:00

They do this through in-home parties that are run by women consultants, which provide a more comfortable setting for women to buy a whole variety of products such as bedroom accessories, books and games. More importantly, Pure Romance with the assistance of gynecologists, sex therapists and sex educators, has developed Sensuality, Sexuality, Survival, or SSS, which is a program that assists women with breast cancer. Women with breast cancer can suffer a variety of side effects to treatment, including vaginal irritation, and painful intercourse as well as emotional side effects, including negative body image and embarrassment. The SSS Program provides safe products to use, as well as support through literature and networking. I bet you want some specifics on products.

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Recipe for romance: Cooking schools, supermarkets cater to singles

2007-01-31T02:41:00.000-08:00

Maybe you're searching for Mr. or Ms. Right, and the club scene isn't your thing. Maybe you're newly divorced and would prefer to find that special someone without blind dates, hiking trips with strangers or church mixers. Maybe you just like to cook — but think it's more fun with company. Whatever the reason, cooking schools and supermarkets around the region are adding classes and events crafted with singles in mind, hoping to appeal to a demographic on a perpetual quest for new places to meet people. Seattle's Blue Ribbon Cooking & Culinary Center held its first singles cooking class earlier this month and has added more after drawing a crowd. Whole Foods Market in the city's Roosevelt neighborhood is holding its second singles night and wine-tasting party Friday evening, with a cooking class geared toward singles the night before.

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Kylie’s romance ‘in peril’

2007-01-29T02:38:00.000-08:00

Kylie Minogue's fouryear romance with movie star Olivier Martinez looks on the brink of collapse after he was reportedly caught in secret trysts with two women in Hollywood. Friends say Minogue, who last week completed her Homecoming world tour in Manchester, is frustrated by Olivier's arrogance and the couple have bitter rows over their relationship. “Olivier wants Kylie to take more time off and be with him, she wants him to be more supportive of her work," they said. .

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1/3 Carat Diamond Stud Earrings in 14K Yellow Gold

2007-01-23T03:08:00.000-08:00

These genuine 1/3 Carat Diamond Stud Earrings in 14K Yellow Gold radiate with timeless beauty and are a meaningful gift for any occasion. The gemstones of .33 total carat weight and I-J color and I2 to I3 clarity sparkle in a classic 14K yellow gold tiffany setting. Push-on, screw-off posts and clutches keep these sophisticated studs securely fastened. Available on Target.com; not available in stores. Made in USA.

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Celebrate the month of Romance with festivities at Lake View Café ...

2007-01-23T02:49:00.000-08:00

If Valentines Day is the day to express your feelings and celebrate the spirit of love, then head to Renaissance Mumbai Hotel and Convention Centre and sweep your valentine off her feet with surprises galore. Playing cupid this month, Renaissance Mumbai Hotel offers host of activities to spread romance in the air. From candle light dinners and romantic numbers to cozy surroundings and sinfully rich deserts, couples have it all at the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel. What better way to celebrate with your beloved than to relax under the starlit sky by the poolside and pamper your love with some exotic cuisine complimented with a glass of wine. Step into Lake View Caf and lose yourself in the land of love as the live bands belt out the eternal love ballads from 7pm onwards. This experience is priced at Rs.

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Sweep Her Off Her Feet Cool Guys Guide To Romance Posted By ...

2007-01-21T02:42:00.000-08:00

As much as you probably hate to hear it, guys, if you want to sweep her off her feet, the best cool guys guide to romance is found in a chick flick. You may cringe when we say that, and you may hate the idea of hearts and flowers, but if you want to really sweep her off her feet, these are the best guides to romance for cool guys. Women want to feel special. They want to feel singled out, and they must know that you think of them as your one and only. If youre think. .

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Giovanni's romance lasts the meal

2007-01-19T02:48:00.000-08:00

When Giovanni Pizza Bistro opened in December on Baseline Road at Mill Avenue, I had low expectations of yet another greasy takeout joint with a few molded plastic booths and fluorescent lights. Walking in, I couldn't believe what the new owners have done: stone accents on the wall, tastefully upholstered booths in a subdued blue and brown, gorgeous 18-inch floor tiles and fresh roses on every white-linen table. Suddenly my hopes soared. And Giovanni's romance lasted throughout the meal. The Giovanni Sicilian Panini ($8.50) was incredible. Thin-sliced smoky ham, spicy capicola, Genoa salami and melted Provolone on one of the softest rolls ever had me nearly on top of the table yelling, "Mama mia!" The "green" salad on the side was a full-fledged dinner salad.

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This February, Feel the Love With 'Romance Month' Packages at ...

2007-01-17T02:52:00.000-08:00

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Rose petal baths, carriage rides, and chocolate-covered strawberries are among the amorous indulgences awaiting couples on a Valentine's getaway at several of Broughton Hospitality Group's (BHG) premier boutique hotel properties. Noting that one weekend in February is not enough to celebrate the person you love, BHG is hailing February as "Romance Month." Whether you're looking for a getaway in Northern California's wine country or looking to relax by the beach in Southern California, BHG has a package to suit everyone in February. NoCal packages: -- "February Getaway Package," The Tallman Hotel, Lake County, CA (http://www.tallmanhotel.com/) * a 1-night stay in one of the Tallman's uniquely designed rooms * two glasses of bubbly champagne * in-room sixty-minute couples massage * a candle-lit bath in a luxurious Japanese Ofuro soaking tub Package Price: Sunday-Thursday, $288 1-night, $397 2-night Friday/Saturday, $299 1-night, $397 2-night -- High Roller of Romance Package, The Tallman Hotel, Lake County, CA: (http://www.tallmanhotel.com/) * a 1- or 2-night stay in a suite * a split of chilled Veuve Clicquot * a dozen long-stemmed red roses * chocolate-covered strawberries * a private horse-drawn carriage ride Package Price: Sunday-Thursday, $430 1-night, $539 2-night Friday/Saturday, $440 1-night, $560 2-night SoCal packages: -- "Romance Package," Inn of the Spanish Garden, Santa Barbara, CA (http://www.spanishgardeninn.com/) * a 2-night stay in an Executive King room * a bottle of wine * rose-scented candle * chocolate truffles * two in-room massages * breakfast in bed Package Price: Sunday-Thursday, $675 2-night Friday/Saturday, $845 2-night -- "Girl's Getaway Package," The Georgian Hotel, Santa Monica, CA (http://www.georgianhotel.com/) * a 1-night stay in one of the Georgian's newly-updated suites * mimosas and manicures at Exhale salon * a box of chocolate truffles Package Price: $300+$30(manicure/gratuity) for Standard Suite $400+$30(manicure/gratuity) for Ocean View Suite -- "High Roller of Romance Package," Wine Valley Inn, Solvang, CA (http://www.winevalleyinn.com/) * a 1 or 2-night stay in a Junior Suite or Cottage * a basket full of romantic goodies * a dozen long-stemmed red roses * a private luxury town car to take you on a tour of local wineries Package Price: Sunday-Thursday, $470 1-night, $560 2-night Friday/Saturday, $560, 1-night, $740 2-night Images of properties available at http://www.broughtonhospitality.com/press.html.

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Intertwined paths join in romance

2007-01-15T02:52:00.000-08:00

Hershberger knew Olry's sister many years ago. And they lived within blocks of each other in Fort Wayne for 30 years. And apparently two of their kids went to the same high school at the same time. But they never ran into each other. That is, until last April, when they met at Regency Place of Fort Wayne, a rehabilitation center and nursing home where they both live. "They've been smitten on each other ever since," says Olry's oldest daughter, Anne Sherbondy. So smitten that the couple are getting married Saturday – just to make it official, as Olry says. Hershberger, 81, and Olry, 89, met in a Regency hallway when she overheard him being introduced to someone else. "Olry? Are you any relation to Bernadette Olry?" she asked, wondering about the woman she knew in the 1940s but had lost track of in the years since.

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Spice up a lagging romance, Aries

2007-01-13T02:39:00.000-08:00

Aries (March 21-April 19): The best moments of love are unplanned. Still, with a little effort you can spice up a lagging romance. And you can be very creative when you're really "into" someone. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Make big plans, long-term and multimillion-dollar plans. The omens suggest this is no day for small plans to pan out. For instance, tonight features the kind of dinner that tastes better before you make it. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Your mind needs some extra help in getting going. Confused emotions could be putting a damper on your synapses. Deep breathing helps. Also, the more your read, the better you think. Cancer (June 22-July 22): Take turns being the audience and the entertainer. If you feel like you're perpetually in the audience, vary your routine and creativity returns.

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Bollywood seeks 2007 success in romance, comedy

2007-01-11T02:41:00.000-08:00

FROM the love affair of a 16th century Mughal emperor to the flashy passions of disco-hopping modern couples, romance is the flavour of the year for Bollywood. The industry the biggest in the world in terms of ticket sales and volumes hopes a string of romantic and comic films, as well as some action drama, will yield another year of bumper of box office hits after last year's success. But since 2006 generated such a windfall for Bollywood, which operates on low margins, filmmakers and trade analysts are guarded about the possibility of an encore. "It will be very difficult to match last year's success," says Komal Nahta, editor of Bollywood trade magazine Film Information. Even the director of last year's biggest hit is sceptical. "What Bollywood saw in 2006 is something that happens once in 15 years," says Sanjay Gadhvi, director of Dhoom-2, a cat-and-mouse game of a thief and a diligent cop.

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Bollywood looks for 2007 success in romance, comedy

2007-01-09T03:05:00.000-08:00

MUMBAI (Reuters) - From the love affair of a 16th century Mughal emperor to the flashy passions of disco-hopping modern couples, romance is the flavour of the year for Bollywood. The industry -- the biggest in the world in terms of ticket sales and volumes -- hopes a string of romantic and comic films, as well as some action drama, will yield another year of bumper of box office hits after last year's success. But since 2006 generated such a windfall for Bollywood, which operates on low margins, filmmakers and trade analysts are guarded about the possibility of an encore. "It will be very difficult to match last year's success," said Komal Nahta, editor of Bollywood trade magazine "Film Information". Even the director of last year's biggest hit is sceptical.

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Chinese teenager hangs himself after suffering heartbreak from ...

2007-01-07T02:47:00.000-08:00

BEIJING: A 17-year-old Chinese boy hanged himself after a catastrophic meeting with his online sweetheart, Xinhua news agency said yesterday. The teenager became addicted to QQ, the most popular online chatroom in China, and stayed in the Internet cafe for days on end, the agency said, quoting the boy's father. He fell for a girl called Qunjiaofeiyang (Flying Skirt) on the net, who described herself as a beautiful 19-year-old.After weeks spent chatting with her online, he arranged a date on December 26 in Mudanjiang, 73 miles away from his home town. "To his intense disappointment, his dream girl turned out to be a plain lady who was more than 10 years older than him," Xinhua said. "His parents tried to comfort and console him but, his hopes crushed, he went out to a nearby hill and hanged himself on December 30." Police had excluded the possibility of homicide, Xinhua said.

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TV Junkie: "Dirt" Premieres on FX; My Chemical Romance on Jimmy ...

2007-01-03T02:54:00.000-08:00

"Dirt" premieres on FX tonight. They've been pushing this series for months now, effectively ruining my viewing of "Nip/Tuck" with their incessant Peter Gabriel-soundtracked promos. I wasn't a fan of Peter Gabriel in the first place so that didn't help. Since FX hasn't thought it fit to send me a preview of upcoming episodes I'll have to get creative here. Courteney Cox looks hot and powerful and cold too - however, I have been enticed to watch since I hear that she will masturbate in one of the first three episodes and since I've never seen anything like that before I must take notes for future reference. For additional FX shock factor there will be a prostitute with a strap-on taking care of her male client. This is a series about fame and Hollywood and the tabloidism that has replaced good taste and culture in the United States and since y'all live in LA you'll have to watch at least one episode.

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Hicks, Romance have area dates

2006-12-30T02:48:00.000-08:00

Two notable concert tours are heading to the area soon. Taylor Hicks will conclude the first leg of his solo tour on April 27 at the Ameristar. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 8. And My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade" tour is squeezing the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka into its schedule. The show is March 2; tickets go on sale Jan. 6. On sale today: -Bizarre of D12, 8 p.m., Jan. 19 at the Granada. $10 -"Buddy's Birthday Bash," March 14 at the Uptown. (With 4 Fried Chickens & a Coke, Brody Buster, Brody Buster Band, KC All-Stand Band and DJs.) $5. -Glenn Kotche (drummer from Wilco), March 5 at the RecordBar. $10 -The Ying Yang Twinz, Feb. 2 at the Granada. $25 -Breaking Benjamin with Dropping Daylight and the Burden Brothers, Feb.

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Peter Chan steps away from romance

2006-12-26T02:49:00.000-08:00

Famed director of romances, Peter Chan, now ventures into the Kung Fu arena in his film "The Blood Brothers". Top actors and a 30 million US dollar budget have caught the media's eye. Yet they doubt he can make much of an impression in such unfamiliar territory. "The Blood Brothers" is based on a famous criminal case in The Qing dynasty. A man kills a long-time friend to claim his wife. Then the victim's brother seeks vengeance, murdering the murderer and delivering himself to the police. A Hong Kong director brought it to the screen 30 years ago. But the new rendition puts more attention on the three men's relationships. When Peter Chan was asked why he changed to a martial arts format, he said "The Blood Brothers", though not a Kung fu flick at its heart, has some elements containing the martial arts.

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Falcon Beck finds storybook romance

2006-12-17T02:48:00.000-08:00

By MICHELLE HISKEYThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 12/17/06 Jordan Beck's dream wife would have a face he'd want to see every morning. She'd have the voice he'd want to hear every night. His career — playing linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons — wasn't going to play a role in finding her. .

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Other man's overture puts couple's romance in doubt

2006-12-15T02:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Abby: I am a 35-year-old man, deeply and madly in love with a 36-year-old woman who has two kids. I'll call her Whitney. We would both like our relationship to lead to marriage and more kids, but something - or rather someone - has put a damper on things. Whitney has been talking to this other man (who she thinks is gay) for quite some time. A few weeks ago, he finally asked her out. She declined, but did not tell him she's involved with anyone else. When we discussed it, and when I told Whitney he has crossed the line by asking her out, she argued that she is not attracted to him and he's gay, and then she accused me of not trusting her. I am not a controlling person. I never minded her talking to him before he asked her out. But the fact that he did, and they talk to each other daily and she does nothing to avoid talking to him, makes me uncomfortable.

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Romance over for goal-shy Romario

2006-12-13T02:52:00.000-08:00

IT COULD be a case of third time unlucky for the world's greatest goalscorer, Romario, who may end his guest stint in the A-League one game early after again failing to score last weekend. The 40-year-old former World Cup winner has agreed to a four-game spell with Adelaide United, but after struggling to make an impact against bottom side New Zealand Knights on Sunday, was replaced in the 63rd minute by coach John Kosmina - a move which sparked a late Reds revival. After sitting on the bench for a few minutes, Romario then disappeared down the tunnel and left the stadium, alongside two security guards, five minutes before the final whistle. Romario subsequently failed to front for a recovery session at Henley Beach yesterday morning, telling an intermediary that he was unhappy with his treatment.

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Creativity takes a 'Holiday' in house-swap romance

2006-12-09T02:50:00.000-08:00

The Holiday: Romantic comedy. Starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black and Eli Wallach. Directed by Nancy Meyers. (PG-13. 136 minutes. At Bay Area theaters.) Cameron Diaz stars in "The Holiday" as a lovelorn Southern Californian who impulsively swaps houses in the hope that Christmas in Surrey might shoo away her man troubles. After flying halfway around the world, she schleps her luggage along an extended snowy path in 3-inch heels, stuffs her considerable wardrobe into the crevices of a quintessentially quaint English cottage, drives on the left side of the road for the first time into town, shops for gourmet goodies while guzzling wine out of a bottle and makes madly passionate love to a stranger who appears at her doorstep -- all without the slightest suggestion of jet lag.

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Aniston-Vaughn romance is history

2006-12-07T02:54:00.000-08:00

Representatives for Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn have confirmed that the Hollywood couple have called it quits, People magazine reported on its website. Aniston, 37, and Vaughn, 36, spent much of the past year and a half battling rumors about their relationship — first that it was starting, then that it was headed toward marriage, and most recently that it was sputtering. The actors met while filming "The Break-Up" in 2005. .

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Korean movie director makes glorious return with romance comedy

2006-12-03T02:45:00.000-08:00

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- When director Park Chan-wook, who has earned critical fame for his prize-winning revenge films, said a year ago that his next film will be a romance comedy, many fans and critics wondered whether his new attempt would make the grade. They were still in doubt and some even suspected he was trying to use star power to push his film when he cast singer Rain, who has become a pop icon and a heartthrob among Asian women, as hero of the film in January. Shrugging off their suspicions, however, the flick, "I'm a Cyborg But That's Okay," shows his captivating charm with experimental storytelling and stylish shooting that come with bright humor and a message about life. The romantic comedy marks a glorious return for the director, who won the Grand Prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival with "Old Boy" and the New Trend best film award in Venice last year with "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance." After a media preview on Friday, the 44-year-old South Korean director said he is satisfied with his latest work.

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Romance throws curveball

2006-11-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

We've all heard baseball used as a metaphor for life so many times that the next person who tries it probably deserves a bat upside the head. But we'll grant temporary dispensation to TBS' new sitcom, My Boys, which employs it only as a metaphor for dating. My Boys, premiering Tuesday, is a much milder Sex and the City hoping to lure more male viewers. Jordana Spiro brings a freshly scrubbed appeal to P.J. Franklin, a Chicago Cubs beat writer who's one of the guys in the press box and is desperately searching for a guy outside it. She yearns for a relationship with the firm ground rules of baseball. In Sex/City-style voiceover narration, she muses, "Can you imagine what it would be like if the foul lines were always moving or if sometimes it was two strikes and you're out? If you've ever tried to date someone, you probably can." You'd think she wouldn't have that much trouble, given that most of her closest friends are guys, albeit dysfunctional ones in the tried-and- true way of sitcoms: Brendan (Reid Scott), who can't extricate himself from a bad relationship; her brother Andy (Jim Gaffigan), stuck in a henpecked marriage; loser Kenny (Michael Bunin); commitment-phobic ladies man Mike (Jamie Kaler); and Bobby (Kyle Howard), a new sportswriter to whom she's attracted, but they can't seem to get on the same page romantically.

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Jude Law Talks About Three-Year Romance With Sienna

2006-11-25T02:52:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles, CA (BANG) - In case you didn't know, Jude Law is ready to move on with his life and start anew without Sienna - and we're sure the blonde actress will do much better without him. Jude recently opened up about his doomed relationship with Sienna and says the pair just weren't devoting enough time to each other. The cheating actor - who was dating the "Casanova" star on and off for three years - is ready to forget the failed romance and get on with his life. He told Hello magazine, "We all mess up from time to time and we have to allow each other that. Perhaps the best we can expect is for people to admit their mistakes, learn from them and move on." The 33-year-old heartthrob - who last year admitted to cheating on Sienna with his children's nanny Daisy Wright - insists the relationship was destined to fail because of his and Sienna's busy work schedules and hectic social lives.

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Love Hurts, tells Salman Khan

2006-11-23T02:40:00.000-08:00

Salman has been quite famous in past for sowing his wild oats but poor guy has been fairly unsuccessful in love as well. He has been linked with everyone from Sangeeta Bijlani to Somy Ali and Aishwarya Rai but luck eluded him every time. Salman's high profile relationship and subsequent breakup with Bollywood leading lady Aishwarya Rai particularly appears to have left scars. Rai, when probed on the subject recently by TV host Simi Garewal, raised all her defences, as she has often done in the past, and refused to delve into the subject. Khan on the other hand does occasionally speak about that relationship but only in innuendos suggesting that he was not just hurt by the break up but felt cheated by it. If tabloid reports are to be believed difference have recently surfaced in Khan's relationship with current squeeze Katrina Kaif.

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'Mile high' venture takes romance to next level

2006-11-21T02:43:00.000-08:00

With the real estate market down, a Valley mortgage broker has decided to look the other direction for a new business venture - about a mile up. Jeff Riedel has started a Chandler company to help couples satisfy romantic fantasies in the modified cabin of a twin-engine Cessna 320. Riedel hasn't quit his day job, but his new venture, Mile High AZ, is "a heck of a lot more fun to talk about than being a Realtor and mortgage broker," he said. .

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The romance of Kambli

2006-11-19T02:39:00.000-08:00

Nine comebacks are not what come to mind when one thinks of Vinod Ganpat Kambli. But it's true. He's entered and exited through the revolving door called Indian cricket that many times. What however comes to mind when you reminisce about the southpaw's short-but-colourful cricketing career is his back-lift — almost Lara-esque. What comes to mind is his willow turning in his stance, his gum chewing; his obsession for grips on his bat handle (he had nine); his love for gold chains and ear studs and his fascination for women, cars and the silver screen; his glorious footwork against spinners; his vulnerability to emotions (remember that face-in-the-hands picture after India lost to Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup semifinal), injuries and the short-pitched delivery.

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My Chemical Romance

2006-11-17T02:46:00.000-08:00

Forget everything you think you know about whatever genre it is in which My Chemical Romance ply their trade: this is an album so grand in scope, there's barely room for it in the atmosphere, let alone a music scene. Vaudeville, pile-driving riffs, solos the size of which haven't been heard since Queen, shocking twists, military drums, layers upon layers . . . if you're not expecting it, it's probably here. My Chemical Romance even slay a chiming, soulful ballad, I Don't Love You, which takes them places most fans wouldn't have imagined. Standing tall in the middle of this maelstrom is Gerard Way. As if it wasn't already clear, he's an incredible presence, a man who takes a song lyric and turns it into an Oscar-worthy performance. His phrasing and inflection, whether imparting utter despair or a devilish gleam in the eye, is pure dramatic inspiration.

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Laguna Beach actors thrive on romance

2006-11-15T02:46:00.000-08:00

We need a translator and an abacus to keep up with love lives of the Laguna Beach alums. Kristin Cavallari's ex, Brody Jenner, who also used to date Nicole Richie, is no longer seeing Lauren "L.C." Conrad, who was Cavallari's nemesis on the MTV reality show. (Got all that?) Less than a month ago, Jenner revealed he and Conrad were dating, but now he's saying they have broken up. And his mom, Linda Thompson, confirms it. "I think Brody's pretty single right now," Thompson told People. He's on his way to Miami. Bikinis, thongs. I think he'd better be single right now." .

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`Black Parade' a calculated risk

2006-11-05T02:36:00.000-08:00

On its previous two albums, My Chemical Romance's ambitions have outstripped their execution -- a good band striving for greatness by walking the line between bombast and grandeur. That doesn't really change on The Black Parade (Warner Bros.), since My Chem's reach expands exponentially the more proficient its grasp gets. But, man, have they gotten better at taking risks. The leadoff single, Welcome to the Black Parade, promises the world in just over five minutes -- a call-to-arms to become ``the savior of the broken, the beaten and the damned,'' a demonstration of how punk-pop can be an effective venue for ideas beyond broken hearts, and the centerpiece of a concept album about death and dying. And, despite the odds, it delivers on every point. What makes The Black Parade such a thrill is that it swings for the fences like that on every track.

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Miriam Gallagher, The New Romance (short story)

2006-10-30T02:58:00.000-08:00

Have one, dear,' urged Sybil. 'They're from the garden.' I hesitated. The small green pears, nestling in the basket, looked so perfect. However, she would be offended if I refused. Using my fruit knife with its mother of pearl handle I cut one lengthways - a neat, almost surgical incision through the centre - and inspected the pale flesh, rimmed with light green, in the centre of each half a pinkish tinge, very faint. The fruit looked so flawless it seemed a shame to eat it. I said so. 'Oh nonsense!' Sybil laughed her tinkly laugh, and waved away my scruples with a jingle of bracelets. 'If you leave them untouched for too long they go off.' Like us? I wondered, picturing the pair of us decaying from neglect. 'That's the pear tree.' Sybil pointed a manicured finger towards the garden. 'I've had such fun, dear, learning all the names.

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My Chemical Romance Still at Top

2006-10-25T01:54:00.000-07:00

It's just one step further on the path to world domination for the band. This week sees the release of their "rock-opera" third album, 'The Black Parade', so next we could see 'em holding the forte in both the singles and albums chart. Back in the singles top 40 Razorlight hold on to spot 2 with 'America' while Girls Aloud get a new entry at 5 on dowload sales only (are you watching All Saints?) with 'Something Kinda Oooh'. Other high new entries on the singles chart: the walrus of rock, Meatloaf lands at 6 with 'It's All Coming Back To Me' and Jamie T hits 13 with 'If You've Got The Money'. The Killers are still going strong in the album charts and hold on to the top spot for a third week, while Scissor Sisters and Razorlight hold down spots 2 and 3.

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Story Claims My Chemical Romance Makes Emo Kids Mutilate ...

2006-10-25T01:53:00.000-07:00

Does hearing My Chemical Romance make you want to hurt yourself? If it does, don't tell singer Gerard Way. The emo posterboy is fuming over a story published by the U.K.'s Daily Mail, in which the writer accused the band of encouraging teenagers to mutilate and harm themselves. “In the U.K., there's a conservative newspaper and they refer to us basically as a death cult that encourage kids to self-harm [themselves]," Way blasted. "It was the most ignorant, ridiculous thing we've ever read." Recently, the Daily Mail published a story entitled “Emo Cult Warning for Parents," in which the reporter warned that emo is a “dangerous teenage cult" and that emo kids “exchange competitive messages on their teenage websites about the scars on their wrists and how best to display them." (As a side note, everyone should go read this story as it's the most hilarious piece of fiction ever written and must have been put together by what we assume to be a completely out-of-touch soccer mom who wears jeans with front-butt.) One of the evil emo bands they called out was My Chemical Romance.

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Nigeria: League - Globacom Fights NFL Over New Romance

2006-10-25T01:52:00.000-07:00

THE Nigerian Professional Soccer League may be played in the Law Courts if claims by two rival Communication giants are anything to go by. NFL Chairman, Chief Oyuiki Obaseki announced at the weekend the coming of MTN as title sponsors of the League after they agreed to pay a whopping N6.6 billion for the next four years. According to the new deal, MTN would pay NFL about N550 million every season for the next four years starting with the new season which kickstarts November 25. According to a highly elated Obaseki, the offer from MTN was the biggest on the African continent and even bigger than what MTN pays to CAF for the Champions League. .

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THE GAME ENDED MYA ROMANCE OVER CELEBRITY ISSUES

2006-10-25T01:51:00.000-07:00

Rapper THE GAME has confirmed his romance with sultry singer/actress MYA is over - but the odd couple are determined to stay friends. The pair became close when Mya played the rap star's lover in his DREAMS video last year (05) and they briefly dated. The romance has since ended, amid false claims from The Game's rap rival 50 CENT that he bedded Mya. But the Los Angeles rap star insists he'll always be fond of his ex and claims the romance was doomed because both he and Mya are celebrities. The Game tells urban magazine Complex, "That s**t (dating a celebrity) has got its ups and downs. The up is you kinda feel hot, the JAY-Z and BEYONCE thing. The downside is that you don't get to spend as much time with double celebrity s**t. "Then there's the thing that be switching up - you take my girlfriend now, I'll take your boyfriend...

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My Chemical Romance Upset About False Image

2006-10-25T01:50:00.000-07:00

Rockers My Chemical Romance have blasted British tabloid the Daily Mail for accusing them of encouraging teenage fans to mutilate and harm themselves. The group, who currently top the UK singles chart with "Welcome To The Black Parade," were horrified by a recent article that took their goth image and dark anthems a little too seriously. Frontman Gerard Way fumes, "In the UK there's a conservative newspaper and they refer to us basically as a death cult that encourage kids to self-harm (themselves). It was the most ignorant, ridiculous thing we've ever read." Way insists the newspaper has got him and his bandmates all wrong and they're glad they don't have to face the same negative press in their native America. He adds, "We're intelligent and we have something to say.

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89X holiday concert will be headlined by My Chemical Romance

2006-10-25T01:49:00.000-07:00

My Chemical Romance, the New Jersey quintet that has climbed to the upper reaches of the modern rock hierarchy, will play Cobo Arena on Dec. 14, promoters announced Tuesday. The band, expected to top album charts next week with its new The Black Parade, will headline a holiday package show featuring fellow rockers Taking Back Sunday, Angels and Airwaves and OK Go. Its the ninth year for The Night 89X Stole Christmas, a promotional concert staged by Windsor station CIMX-FM (88.7). Tickets are $29.89 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through Ticketmaster. Limited seats are available via a CIMX presale; details at www.89xradio.com . .

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My Chemical Romance Album Undermined by Depression

2006-10-25T01:48:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, CA Tuesday Oct.24.2006 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- My Chemical Romance's new album, "Welcome To The Black Parade" almost never came to be.It has been revealed that depression was to blame for the near-scrapping of the release, especially that of singer Gerard way.The frontman said, "I went through a crisis. I was examining every awful thing about myself. I was cutting myself open and taking all the parts out and examining them. I found out that I was a coward. I became very susceptible to depression.""It wasn't the happiest time of our lives. I was very edgy, almost like I wasn't really alive. I was living inside the record. It was a dark time." More on My Chemical Romance Copyright ©2006, Net Music Countdown ®. All Rights Reserved. print it eMail it .

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A 'Parade' of genres from Chemical Romance

2006-10-25T01:47:00.000-07:00

While pundits are often laying out the black crepe for rock 'n' roll, there's still life in the old girl. North Jersey boys My Chemical Romance prove the point with "The Black Parade" (Warner Brothers, A-), a dynamic tour-de-force where goth, punk rock and '70s glam rock merge into something old yet new, borrowed and blue. Ironically, the album is fixated on psychotic life and death struggles, though sometimes (as on the title track) the tongue is planted firmly in cheek, or other places. If you loved the wall-of-sound symph-pop of ELO, you're gonna go ga-ga for L.E.O. on "Alpacas Orgling" (Cheap Lullaby, B+). The grand, stomping "Don't Let It Go" and "Ya Had Me Goin'" are the crowning achievements, though I also relished the pizzicato string punctuation of "Make Me" and the Beatles-referencing "Nothing Will Ever Change." Behind the project are former members of Jelly Fish and the Candy Butchers, pop auteur Bleu, Chicago's Jason Scheff and even the Hanson Brothers.

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MADONNA PUBLICIST HELPED MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE LAND MINNELLI

2006-10-25T01:46:00.001-07:00

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE have MADONNA's longtime publicist LIZ ROSENBERG to thank for helping them persuade LIZA MINNELLI to join them in the studio. The group felt one new tune on the album, THE BLACK PARADE, needed a woman's voice and they told producer ROB CAVALLO that Minnelli was at the top of their wish list. Frontman GERARD WAY recalls, "We had discussed a woman forever but then eventually I just did the woman's voice. I was like, 'It just seems like such a cop-out.' "He (Cavallo) said, 'Well, who do you want to get?' and I was like, 'We should get Liza Minnelli... Why not?' "Rob called Liz Rosenberg, who is her publicist, and got her to do it." Bandmate RAY TORO adds, "What was great about working with Rob is like anything that we wanted for this record he made happen." .

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Haunted House more for romance

2006-10-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

"It's the sort of thing that winds up as a legend," said the 1964 headline in The Oklahoman after the third death in less than a year occurred at the Carriker estate. On June 1, 1963, Martin Carriker, 74, was shot in the head with a .22-caliber rifle. At the time, he was a rent-paying tenant living with Clara Carriker, his ex-wife of seven years, and his step daughter, Margaret Pearson, 54. Two months later, Clara Carriker, 70, died of natural causes before her daughter and hired hand Henry McCoy, 18, went on trial for murder. Former employee Alexander Peoples, 55, was charged as an accomplice to the murder. A jury found Pearson not guilty. Two months later she was found dead in the house only weeks before the property was scheduled for sheriff's auction. A picture of the Carrikers now hangs in the restaurant's foyer.

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College students manage on-campus romance

2006-10-25T01:45:00.000-07:00

Beijing, Oct 25 (Xinhua) Four college students in China have raised eyebrows by setting up a matchmaking agency to help their peers find true love.The agency, opened by Xu Jiaojiao and three other third-year students from Nanjing Agricultural University in east China, aims to help college students "meet, get to know each other and fall in love", and also help them express their feelings and break up in a peaceful way.Xu Jiaojiao said they provide the matchmaking service free."We want to learn and develop by organising activities and also create more opportunities for college students to get to know each other," Xu said.Sun Xiaolei, a mechanical and electrical engineering major at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, said the agency benefits college students, especially engineering majors like him whose class has few girls.Jin Taijun, dean of the School of Public Administration at Nanjing University of Technology, said there was nothing abnormal about college students running a matchmaking organisation.

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