Shakira is Rocking Hot!!

Singer Shakira performs on stage during the 'Z100 Jingle Ball 2005' at Madison Square Garden, Friday, Dec. 16, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)








Columbian-born singer Shakira smiles as she appears on 'MuchMoreMusic Live' in Toronto December 13, 2005. Shakira is promoting her latest release 'Oral Fixation Vol. 2', the English language follow-up to her smash hit album,

Strike A Pose...

A model displays a creation of Golden Point fashion house during the opening evening of Skopje Fashion Week November 29, 2005. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

105 -- Gisele Bundchen walks the runway at the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005. (Fashion Wire Daily/Grant Lamos IV)

A model displays a creation of Golden Point fashion house during the opening evening of Skopje Fashion Week, Macedonia, late Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)





A model displays a creation of Extyn fashion house during the opening evening of Skopje Fashion Week November 29, 2005. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

A model displays a creation of Golden Point fashion house during the opening evening of Skopje Fashion Week November 29, 2005. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

104 -- Heidi Klum walks the runway at the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005. (Fashion Wire Daily/Grant Lamos IV)

SWEET!!

SHE IS STILL HOT!!
Jenny McCarthy arrives for the 33rd annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Not a huge fan, but c'mon, she is smokin' hot!

Singer Mariah Carey performs 'Don't Forget About Us' at the 2005 American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, November 22, 2005. Carey went on to win the American Music Award for favorite female Soul/R and B artist at the awards show. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

This bike is awesome...Why the model is wearing so many clothes is beyond me.

A model poses with a Robotica chopper, worth US$200,000 and made by the U.S. company 'Ghostrider' from Duneaville, AL, during a press presentation prior to the Essen Motor Show in Essen, Germany, Monday, Nov. 21, 2005. About 570 exhibitors from 21 countries will present their latest developments at the Essen trade fair from Nov. 25 until Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Nice thighs!

Mariah Carey sings during the halftime show at the Detroit Lions-Atlanta Falcons game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Girls Girls Girls

Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen models for the 2006 Pirelli calendar in Cap d'Antibes in France in this undated handout image released by Pirelli November 17, 2005. The 2006 calendar from the Italian tyre firm Pirelli is due to be launched in Paris on Friday. EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO ARCHIVE, NO SALES REUTERS/Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott/Copyright 2006 Pirelli Calendar/Handout



Actress Jessica Alba arrives for the first anniversary celebration of Voto Latino, organized to encourage young Latinos to participate in the democratic process, Tuesday, Nov.15, 2005, in New York. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)


Supermodel Gisele Bundchen poses on the runway during the Victoria's Secret Fashion show in New York November 9, 2005. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)


Miss Paraguay Dallys Ferreyra performs during the 2005 Miss Playboy TV Latin America and Iberia contest in Mexico City November 3, 2005. Picture taken on November 3, 2005. REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar

Feels Like Halloween!

Otis, a bulldog, runs through the pumpkin patch at Muzzi's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in San Gregorio, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005. Otis ws visiting the pumpkin patch with his owner Christopher Burke of San Francisco. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan)

This image captured by NASA's Earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope shows Mars when it was approximately 43 million miles (68 million km) from Earth. On Sunday, October 30, the Red Planet will be 69.4 million kilometers (43.1 million miles) from Earth -- a distance that in galactic terms is less than wafer-thin and will not be equalled until 2018.(AFP/NASA/File)

This photo provided by Six Flags Marine World shows Fedor, a 14-month-old Siberian tiger, as he holds onto a pumpkin after romping around in a pumpkin batch at Six Flags Marine World's Tiger Island exhibit on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005, in Vallejo, Calif. (AP Photo/Six Flags Marine World, D. Arnold)

Book Details Artist's Civil War Interviews

By NAHAL TOOSI, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Late in his life, artist James Edward Kelly tried to publish his memoirs, a book that would have featured his colorful interviews with the many Civil War figures who posed for him. But by then, the Great Depression had set in and publishers told him no one was interested in a war long past.

Seven decades after his death, Kelly's dream is being fulfilled. Civil War historian William B. Styple has written a book that chronicles Kelly's life and includes the artist's interviews with key 19th century figures.

The book, "Generals in Bronze," comes out Nov. 1, and is already generating tremendous buzz in the world of Civil War buffs.

"I was absolutely fascinated by it because it gives such a feeling of intimacy," said Richard Snow, editor of American Heritage magazine. "It may not add anything momentous to the historical record, but it gives you the pleasure of gossip."

"Generals in Bronze" provides valuable insight into the personalities of the era, thanks in large part to Kelly's meticulous notes. His interviews covered a range of subjects, from Gen. George A. Custer's "boyish chuckle" and his canteen of iced tea to whether Gen. George G. Meade wished to retreat from the Battle of Gettysburg (apparently so).

One general told Kelly how Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's drinking had led him to resign as a captain in 1854. The account claims that Grant remarked: "I'll make my mark yet. I don't propose to remain in the gutter."

"These are things they wouldn't write in their memoirs," Styple, 45, said of the people interviewed. "In those days, they didn't write tell-all books."

Styple, who has been fascinated by the Civil War since childhood, embarked on the project two years ago after finding a large batch of Kelly's interview notes at the New-York Historical Society.

Kelly, born in New York in 1855, had demonstrated an aptitude for art early in life. His work appeared in publications including Scribner's and Harper's. Five of his bronze reliefs adorn the Monmouth Battle Monument in Freehold, N.J.

When Kelly died, he left much of his artwork and notes to his physician, George Ryder. Over the years, Ryder and his descendants gave many of the items to institutions. Styple found 27 boxes of papers at the New-York Historical Society alone.

One Civil War debate that Styple's book might help settle is whether Meade wanted to withdraw from Gettysburg.

According to Kelly's interview with Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, Meade considered leaving but his men did not want to.

Hancock said the Union general remarked: "As you wish gentlemen; but Gettysburg is no place to fight a battle in."

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A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq

An Iraqi girl tugs at the hand of a US soldier from Alpha Company, TF 4-64, 3rd Infantry Division during a patrol of rural areas surrounding central Baghdad. Iraqi election officials combed through ballots from the constitutional referendum, but a senior official said the discovery of 'anomalies' in the vote should not affect the final outcome.(AFP/David Furst)

By The Associated Press

As of Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2005, at least 1,980 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,533 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers. The figures include five military civilians.

The British military has reported 96 deaths; Italy, 26; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 17; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Slovakia, three; Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Thailand and the Netherlands, two each; and Hungary, Kazakhstan and Latvia one death each.

Since May 1, 2003, when President Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended, 1,841 U.S. military members have died, according to AP's count. That includes at least 1,431 deaths resulting from hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

___

The latest deaths reported by the military:

• A U.S. soldier was shot and killed early Tuesday in Mosul, Iraq.

• Two Marines were killed Monday near the town of Rutba, Iraq.

___

The latest identifications reported by the military:

• Marine Lance Cpl. Chad R. Hildebrandt, 22, Springer, N.M.; killed Monday in Rutba, Iraq; assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher M. Poston, 20, Glendale, Ariz.; died Monday in a vehicle accident in Hit, Iraq; assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Link To Article

On the Net:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/

A US marine from the 6th Civil Affairs Group (CAG) with the 6th Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) is seen through the bulletproof window of a Humvee as he checks an alley for a possible Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during a sandstorm in the city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Iraq was forced to delay the announcement of results from the referendum on the country's new constitution after the body supervising the vote said it was rechecking ballots.(AFP/Patrick Baz)

Low Rise Jeans: If You Don't Like It, Don't Wear Them...

Girls and Women, if you don't want Boys and Men staring directly at your butt cracks and admiring your thong underwear then do us all a favor and DON'T WEAR LOW RISE JEANS!

For the purpose of this discussion I consider "girls" to be between the ages of 18-28 and women to be between the ages of 29-68.

All too often I am seeing girls and women walking around in low rise jeans showing off their plumber's crack. Now I am not complaining; I for one enjoy seeing a little butt crack on my way to work or while shopping at the grocery store.

What bothers me is when I walk by a girl or woman whose a*s is clearly hanging out and then she turns and proceeds to attempt to pull up her pants. Though the attempts are usually in vain due to the construction of the low rise jeans; for the average girl or woman, low rise jeans will only NOT display butt crack while standing erect. All other activities such as sitting, bending over, walking up stairs, or crouching will display butt crack.

I can't help but laugh when I walk behind a girl or woman walking up stairs who is struggling to hold up her low rise jeans with her index finger through the middle belt loop on her back side.

It is even more funny to me when their a*ses are hanging out like ripe fruit UNTIL they see me looking at it and then they proceed to *try* to pull up their pants to cover their crack up.

All I'm saying is if you don't want boys and men checking our your a*s then please don't wear low rise jeans with your thong sticking out.

If you want us to check you out then by all means keep dressing the way you do. But show some common courtesy and stop trying to pull up your pants while you are sitting down or walking up stairs.

For the Record I have noticed that WOMEN who wear low rise jeans not only do not care if their a*s crack is hanging out but they want you to look at it. Perhaps it is a maturity thing...

Tortoises, Florida, and Bush

A woman holds a baby tortoise with two heads in Havana September 27, 2005. The tortoise was found some days ago on a river bank at the city forest. According to scientists of the local aquarium who inspected the animal, it seems to be perfectly healthy. REUTERS/Claudia Daut




A woman holds a baby tortoise with two heads in Havana September 27, 2005. The tortoise was found some days ago on a river bank at the city forest. According to scientists of the local aquarium who inspected the animal, it seems to be perfectly healthy. REUTERS/Claudia Daut Email Photo Print Photo




This image obtained from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence shows a poster which the Washington-based gun control group says it will use to 'educate' Florida tourists and potential Florida tourists that effective 01 October 2005 they will face a greater risk of bodily harm within the state of Florida, the date that the state's new 'Shoot First' law also known as the 'Stand Your Ground' law, goes into effect.(AFP/HO)



US President George W. Bush delivers remarks on the anniversary of the 'No Child Left Behind Act' to teachers, parents, and students 05 January 2004. Bush's administration broke the law as it resorted to illegal 'covert propaganda' in trying to sell its key education initiative to the public, US congressional investigators have found.(AFP/File/Paul Richards)

Panda Bears

National Zoo in Washington, Monday, Sept. 19, 2005 where he received his sixth health exam. The cub, born on July 9, now weighs 9.57 pounds and is 22.51 inches long. (AP Photo/Jessie Cohen, National Zoo)



Dr. Carlos Sanchez (L), a veterinarian at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, checks the paws of the zoo's giant panda cub while Lisa Stevens, assistant curator, holds the cub during a health exam at the Washington Zoo September 19, 2005. The cub, born on July 9, now weighs 9.57 pounds (4.3 kg) and is 22.51 inches long. The cub and his parents live at the zoo's Giant Panda Habitat. EDITORIAL USE ONLY REUTERS/Jessie Cohen/Smithsonian's National Zoo/Handout



The San Diego Zoo's seven-week-old giant panda cub gets her first peek at her keepers and veterinarians in San Diego September 21, 2005. The female cub's left eye is almost completely open, while her right eye slit is just beginning to enlarge. Veterinarians say the cub's vision is not acute yet but will continue to improve daily. The cub weighed 5.4 pounds, a gain of one pound since last week's exam, and measured 1.5 feet from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY REUTERS/Ken Bohn/The San Diego Zoo/Handout



The San Diego Zoo's five-week-old panda cub is measured for length and weight by Geoff Pye, a senior veterinarian, September 7, 2005. Pye said the cub is gaining the round belly of a giant panda and that the cub increased her weight by more than one pound (0.4kg) in one week. The female cub weighs 3.29 pounds (1.5kg) and measures 1.3 feet (0.4 metres) from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. EDITORIAL USE ONLY REUTERS/Handout




Chuang Chuang, a giant panda on loan to Thailand from China, sticks out its tongue at the Chiang Mai Zoo in Chiang Mai province, north of Bangkok September 3, 2005. A Northern Lanna-style wedding ceremony will be held in November for Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui, the giant pandas on loan from China. Photo taken on September 3, 2005. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom



Chuang Chuang (L) and Lin Hui, giant pandas on loan to Thailand from China, play with each other at the Chiang Mai Zoo in Chiang Mai province, north of Bangkok, Thailand September 3, 2005. A Northern Lanna-style wedding ceremony will be held in November for the two pandas. Picture taken September 3, 2005. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom Email Photo Print Photo



Four giant pandas drink water at a pool at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan province, August 26, 2005. Taiwan experts will arrive in Wolong Friday night to take part in the selection of two giant pandas as gifts of the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, local media reported. CHINA OUT REUTERS/China Newsphoto

The Emmys

AP - Sun Sep 18, 6:30 PM ET Actress Tess Smith arrives for the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, Sept. 18, 2005, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Actress Halle Berry, nominated as outstanding actress in a miniseries or movie for her role in 'Their Eyes Were Watching God,' poses as she arrives at the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles September 18, 2005. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

Paula Abdul attends the 57th annual Prime Time Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California September 18, 2005. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Donald Trump (L) and Megan Mullally perform at the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles September 18, 2005. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)

Jon Stewart holds his Emmys for outstanding variety, music or comedy series and for outstanding writing in a variety, music or comedy program for 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' at the 57th annual Prime Time Emmy Awards in Los Angeles September 18, 2005. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

Totally Sweet! Wish I Was There!

Girls in traditional Bavarian clothes toast with one-litre beer mugs during the opening day of the Oktoberfest in Munich September 17, 2005. Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will come to the Bavarian capital Munich for the world's biggest and most famous beer festival, the Oktoberfest. The 172st Oktoberfest lasts from September 17 until October 3. Some six million people are expected to visit 14 enormous tents, each capable of holding up to 10,000 people at a time, drinking some 5.5 million litres (1.453 million U.S. gallons) of beer in the process. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

Visitors wave their beer glasses in Munich, southern Germany, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005 at the opening of the world renown Oktoberfest beer festival. Millions of visitors from all over the world are expected at the festival, that lasts until Oct. 3, 2005. (AP Photo/Diether Endlicher)

An unidentified woman shouts out as she drinks beer during the opening day of Munich's famous Oktoberfest, September 17, 2005. Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will come to the Bavarian capital Munich for the world's biggest and most famous beer festival, the Oktoberfest. The 172nd Oktoberfest lasts from September 17 until October 3. Some six million people are expected to visit 14 enormous tents, each capable of holding up to 10,000 people at a time, drinking some 5.5 million litres (1.453 million U.S. gallons) of beer in the process. REUTERS/Alexandra Winkler

A woman wearing a traditional Bavarian Dirndl drinks a one-litre mug of beer during the opening day of the Oktoberfest in Munich September 17, 2005. Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will come to the Bavarian capital Munich for the world's biggest and most famous beer festival, the Oktoberfest. The 172st Oktoberfest lasts from September 17 until October 3. Some six million people are expected to visit 14 enormous tents, each capable of holding up to 10,000 people at a time, drinking some 5.5 million litres (1.453 million U.S. gallons) of beer in the process. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

Mallika Sherawat

Actor Mallika Sherawat arrives at the gala premiere for the movie The Myth during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Thursday Sept. 15, 2005.(AP Photo/Aaron Harris, CP)



Indian actress Mallika Sherawat arrives for 'The Myth' World Premiere gala at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival September 15, 2005. REUTERS/Mike Cassese




Indian actress Mallika Sherawat arrives for 'The Myth' World Premiere gala at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto September 15, 2005. REUTERS/Mike Cassese

Director Stanley Tong, left to right, Mallika Sherawat, Jackie Chan, and Kim Hee-Seon arrives at the gala premiere for the movie The Myth during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Thursday Sept. 15, 2005.(AP Photo/Aaron Harris, CP)