Why go for one-night stand?

What is the purpose of the one-night stand? Does it accomplish anything? I don't condone one-night stands; for me they've led to awkwardness, and self-loathing (of course I'm filled with self loathing without sex in my life, so what's the difference?).
I'm reluctant to accept "I was drunk" as the sole reason for a one night stand. Alcohol contributes to risky behavior or clouds judgment. As a depressant, it also enhances negative emotions. In light of this, there are temporary mindsets we should not mix with alcohol--mindsets that make us more vulnerable and prone to a one night stand.
Here they are:
Lonely Mentality
Sex can seem like a quick fix for loneliness. It's not that we feel validated when we have sex, but it is nice to know that we are attractive. That physical and mental intimacy, while fleeting, is nice in the moment. Unfortunately, though, when that person leaves your life, your loneliness intensifies.
Vengeful Mentality
It's pretty twisted, but sex can be used for revenge. Sleeping with that jerky ex's best friend, or some other "strategic" person to hurt someone else is the M.O. However, using people to hurt other people will only lead to a bad outcome.
Risk-taking Mentality
You know those periods in your life you're more inclined to take risks? Sex is sometimes risky behavior, along with drugs, alcohol, etc. It's unhealthy to take risks that impact the body and mind, but it's also thrilling.
Desiring Mentality
It's not always mental. Sometimes you just want to get laid. Unfortunately, for me, when I want to get laid, I don't. When I don't feel like getting laid, suddenly opportunities abound.
Liberated Mentality
You think you're over your ex, so you run out and exercise your rights to freedom. But if you're going to an extreme, such as having a one night stand, to prove you're over someone, then you are probably not really over them.
Closing the Loop Mentality
There are some people in your life with sexual tension. Things should have happened, but circumstances didn't permit at the time. All of a sudden, you've got an opportunity and you both know you have to do it. It's all about getting it out of your system.
I've had three one night stands in my life. They can all be traced back to a mentality above:
College - Freedom Mentality/Revenge Mentality - I had just broken up with my first serious girlfriend and I met a random girl at a party and slept with her, partially because I was free to do so, and partially because I wanted to (pun intended) stick it to my ex.
Italy - Risk-taking Mentality - Living abroad in Italy for two months, "what happened in Italy stayed in Italy". This was the most random encounter I ever had with a girl from Xavier University. That's the only thing I knew about her, that she attended Xavier.
High School Friend - Closing the Loop - I ended up having a one night stand with a girl I had dated in high school years later. We flirted for years and finally got the whole thing out of our systems.
The mindsets outlined above are about vulnerability. When we go away from home, feeling lonely, or just got dumped, the vulnerability feeds the one-night stand mentalities. The alarming thing is that there are guys out there who know how to sense this mindset in a woman. They intentionally look for vulnerable women with sex in mind, but no intention of dating or communicating afterward.
The other ingredient, of course, is animal attraction. But this attraction lives in us every day. We only act upon it when our mentality dictates it. So, I contend that a one night stand is 90% mental, even though it's a physical act.
I have outgrown one night stands. Sex without connection, laughter, love, compatibility, and mutual experience is empty. This explains why it's awkward the next day when everyone comes back down to earth.
Do you agree that one night stands are mostly mental? What mentalities would you add to the list, and what kinds of experiences have you or your friends had with one night stands? Did you ever have any that turned out well, or didn't lead to negative self-perception?

10 Simple Things Women Want In A Relationship

Besides the meaning of life and the ingredients of hot dogs, many a man has questioned "what exactly do women want?" We're not playing coy here, we know we're complex creatures. And, true, we operate on a different wavelength than men. The best example of our gender difference comes from an article we read last year about why men cheat. The most compelling testimony was from a transgender man who'd undergone hormone therapy during his transition. Thanks to testosterone, the man noticed less of an emotional attachment to sex and more of a physical urge to engage, regardless of consequences. Fascinating.
So, we're different. But, women aren't exactly the great mystery that men often make us out to be. The proof? We polled the YourTango staff and compiled a list of 10 simple things women want. Note: you won't find diamond rings or other fancy things anywhere on this list. While many women really do want luxury goods from men, when you break it down they are just physical representations of some of the points on this list. We promise.
Respect. Show us through your actions that you respect our opinions, careers, interests, friends, bodies and minds. You don't have to agree with all that we say or do, but try to honor our opinions as valuable contributions. Follow the golden rule and treat us as you would like to be treated: Be honest, fair, kind, and considerate.
Sex. Yes, we love sex. But, remember that there are four bases to cover in the bedroom, not just one. Try stopping at each base instead of being so focused on the home run—believe us, we'll thank you for it! Likewise, remember small physical touches like massages. One can never, ever, have too many shoulder rubs. And scratching our heads is pretty great, too.Romance. It's another night on the couch with take-out and TiVo? Just because we're staying in doesn't mean the evening can't be romantic. Light a few candles and see where the night leads. Treat us like your girlfriend, even after we become your wife. Date nights, making out in the car, kissing like when we first started dating—all of the things that made us fall in love with you don't have to stop just because now there are bills to pay, a house to be cleaned, and kids that need to get bathed. Bring home flowers for no reason. We're not talking $100 bouquets of roses here. Even the $10 bouquets from the supermarket are enough to make us smile.
Time. We understand relationships can't be all wine and roses; simply making the time to be with us and treating us like your top priority says "love" more than all the fancy gifts and lovely letters ever could. This includes helping around the house. The realities of a 21st-century relationship are that both partners probably work. If you happen to get home before we do, why not take vacuum the living room or throw in a load of laundry? If you take the garbage out without being asked, chances are you'll be getting a big ole smooch when you come back. Read: 5 "Man Chores" That Will Get Him To Do Housework
Dinner. Of the homemade variety. You may not be good at cooking and you may not know how to boil water. But greeting us at the door after a long day with fish sticks (or whatever you can wrastle up) makes us swoon, because it shows that you've been thinking about us and our hectic day. Read: Cooking For TwoCommunication. Women are vocal creatures. We know you love us, but it's nice to hear you say it, too. We can also be insecure. We wish we weren't, but the reality is that we often notice our wobbly thighs and forget about our gorgeous eyes. So let us know when you think we're hot. Tell us we're beautiful. It helps us feel good. Plus, when we feel sexy we're more likely to act sexy. Words of appreciation aren't half-bad either. Tell us you love the lasagna we made. Thank us for driving the kids to school. Notice that we cleaned the bathtub. It doesn't have to be over the top, just let us know that you see the effort we put in, and you're grateful. Read: Which Love Language Do You Speak?
Consistency. This doesn't mean be boring and predictable. It means that we know you will (usually, no one is perfect!) give us the love and support we need. Knowing that you're coming at this with the same desires and energy as we are goes a long way to making us feel secure.
Engagement. Of the mental kind, not the "I'm getting married in the morning" kind. You don't have to like everything we like (we might be a little concerned if you do), but showing interest in our passions, be it career-related, a sport or a hobby, goes a long way. Listen when we talk to you. We're not speaking just so we can hear our own voice; we want to connect with you and this is one valuable way we do this. This also means paying attention to the little things. Whether it's the name of your best friend's husband or the fact that you hate Nicolas Cage movies, it's the little things you remember about us that's so endearing.Humor and Humility. These two tend to go hand in hand. This doesn't mean that you have to crack jokes or entertain us, but just being able to laugh at yourself is enough. Guys who take themselves too seriously bring everyone down. Read: Self-Deprecating Humor WorksChallenge. Not the kind that makes a relationship constant work, but the good kind that surprises and motivates us to do, be or achieve what we desire. Studies show that partners who prod each other to meet goals—in other words, don't support lazy or bad habits—are ultimately happier than those who don't hold each other accountable.
What have we left off the list? Let us know in the comments below.
More From YourTango:
15 Relationship Mistakes We Wish We'd Stop Making
The Etiquette of Oral Sex
13 Relationships Men Should Stop Making
Anal Sex For Beginners
14 Relationship Mistakes Men Wish We'd Stop Making
Orgasm For An Hour (Yes, We're Serious)
10 Basic Rules For A New Relationship
12 Relationship Red Flags
10 Surprising Orgasm Facts

Andy Roddick vs Roger Federer - Wimbledon 2009

Federer holds an 18-2 career advantage over Roddick and comfortably beat the 26-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska in the 2004 and 2005 finals, with Swiss artistry generally trumping American grit each time they have met.
The 2009 edition of Roddick, though, is no longer a big-serving, one-trick pony.

A year ago, the affable American was stuck in an airport lounge and caught on television the scintillating denouement of the final between Federer and Rafael Nadal. That demoralising sight and a soul-searching conversation with wife Brooklyn Decker convinced him things had to change.
Frustrated at the sight of Federer and Nadal hogging the majors, Roddick set to work on his fitness and linked up with new coach Larry Stefanki. That and the weight of years of experience have brought him a new, formidable armoury.
He brutally stifled the menace of Andy Murray in the semi-final, using his massive serve, punching accuracy with his groundstrokes and shrewd advances to the net to dismantle the Scot's game before a devastated nation.
"Brook and I had a lot of talks on if I still thought I could play and at least be towards the top of the game. I definitely openly questioned it at that point," Roddick said. "So this off season, we said, you know what, if you're not gonna be up there, let's at least not wonder. Let's prepare yourself and give yourself every opportunity.
"I did work real hard and was committed, and have been committed from everything to diet to sleep to everything. So I certainly gave myself every opportunity to succeed."
Unfortunately for Roddick, success is second nature to Federer.
These days he claims more records with each passing match, and stands on the cusp of arguably his finest achievement.
Victory on Sunday will see him rewrite the history books by taking his15th grand slam title - passing Pete Sampras on 14 - to provide the most significant piece of evidence yet in the perennial debate about the game's greatest player.
Advocates of Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Sampras will have little answer once that particular statistic can be waved in their face.
Federer, 27, has enormous respect for his opponent and a review of the Murray semi-final will show him that getting the mighty Roddick serve back is no longer the only concern.
"I've played him 20 times, so I've had plenty of time to study his game, to understand his game," the Swiss said. "He's always played me also quite differently every single time I've played him. I've had many different looks against Roddick.
"I enjoy how he leaves everything out on the court. I can only marvel at how incredible his serve is. I like playing against him, not only just because of the record."

Women are flocking to the labor force in record numbers. Nearly 60% sought or occupied employment in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available, representing 46.5% of the total U.S. labor force. More than one-third of these women worked in management, professional and related occupations, accounting for 51% of all workers in this top-paying sector.
Though a pay gap persists -- women's earnings remain stalled at around 80% of men's -- women are finding the jobs that pay them the most, and some may surprise you. Based on a U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau 2008 analysis, we ranked women's median weekly earnings as full-time wage and salary workers to uncover the highest-paying jobs for women.

An unlikely No. 1 emerged. Much to our surprise, pharmacy topped the list, where women pharmacists earn a median wage of $1,647 per week or about $86,000 a year. Women currently account for slightly less than half of all pharmacists in the U.S. and earn about 85% as much as their male colleagues. It's a much smaller pay gap than that of medical doctors, however, where women make 59% as much as men. And pharmacy requires less education.
Women physicians and surgeons came in far behind pharmacists at No. 6 on the list, earning a median of $1,230 per week. Dr. Drucilla Barker, economist and director of women's and gender studies at the University of South Carolina, explains this by the wide distribution of salaries in the medical profession. Women often go into family practice or other lower-paying specialties, she says, rather than work the 80-hour-plus weeks of surgeons. In jobs like pharmacy and speech pathology there is a clear and narrow salary range, and women are more likely to have manageable schedules, Barker says.
Women computer scientists and systems analysts came in at No. 10, earning a median wage of $1,082 per week or about $56,000 a year. In recent years, telecommuting has become increasingly common in the industry, making computer science even more appealing to women seeking high-paying work and flexibility.

And just above, at No. 9, were speech-language pathologists, the only occupation on our list in which women earn exactly equal to men and represent 50% of the field's total workers.
While women are inching higher and higher in status positions and earnings -- the pay gap has narrowed by 10 percentage points since 1990 -- there remains a large divide. About 3.5 million women earn within the highest pay bracket, making a minimum of $1,500 per week, compared with almost 10 million men. This may be explained by the most common female-held positions: administrative assistants, nurses and grade school teachers. (As a comparison, there are 36 times as many women administrative assistants as there are women pharmacists.)
Yet women outnumber men in some unexpected high-earning jobs like financial managers, accountants and auditors, and budget analysts. Women human resource managers, the No. 8 position on our list with a median of $1,137 per week, outnumber men in the field 2 to 1.
Top-Paying Jobs for Women
Though a pay gap persists--women's earnings remain stalled at around 80% of men's--women are finding the jobs that pay them the most, and some may surprise you. Based on a U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau 2008 analysis, we ranked women's median weekly earnings as full-time wage and salary workers to uncover the highest paying jobs for women.
No. 1: Pharmacists
Women's median weekly earnings: $1,647 Women's median yearly earnings: $85,644 Percentage of men's earnings: 84.9% Education required: PCAT; Pharm.D. degree; six to seven years of collegiate study What they do: Distribute pharmaceutical drugs
No. 2: Chief Executives Women's median weekly earnings: $1,603 Women's median yearly earnings: $83,356 Percentage of men's earnings: 80.1% Education required: Varies; many hold a bachelor's or graduate degree in business administration or more specialized discipline What they do: Hold overall responsibility for the operation of an organization, including corporate and small businesses
No. 3: Lawyers Women's median weekly earnings: $1,509 Women's median yearly earnings: $78,468 Percentage of men's earnings: 77.5% Education required: LSAT; J.D. degree; about seven years of collegiate study What they do: Advocate in criminal and civil courts and provide legal counsel to clients on business and personal matters
No. 4: Computer Software Engineers Women's median weekly earnings: $1,351 Women's median yearly earnings: $70,252 Percentage of men's earnings: 87.3% Education required: Bachelor of computer science or software engineering What they do: Design, develop, test and evaluate computer systems and software
No. 5: Computer and Information Systems Managers Women's median weekly earnings: $1,260 Women's median yearly earnings: $65,520 Percentage of men's earnings: 85.4% Education required: Bachelor's degree; often a technology-specific MBA What they do: Implement technology into an organization, often overseeing network security and IT operations

Would you play LEGO Star Wars with Megan Fox? Her "Transformers" co-star Shia LaBeouf apparently won't -- at least, not on the Nintendo Wii. Even though the pair have been romantically linked in recent press reports, LaBeouf told gaming blog Big Download in an interview that he'd rather "eat glass" than play the Wii version of this two-player blockbuster.

That's not all Shia had to say: although he's keen to talk up Activision's game based on "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", he saves his praise for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. Asked about the Wii version, he sidesteps: "I haven't been able to play the Wii game because my hand is broken...I would imagine that the Wii experience will be like...I don't mess with the Wii, to be honest with you. It's kind of an amateur console. I'm not into the Wii thing."
So how about the LEGO Indiana Jones game? (Shia fans will note, of course, that LeBeouf played Indy's son in the most recent Indy movie.) "The LEGO Indiana Jones I'm not going to speak on, but my feelings aren't very different."
Wonder if Activision has picked a spokesperson for the next Transformers game? If not, we'd suggest someone who's a little less likely to slam your own products in public.

'Transformers' does $200.1M in 5 days

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" finished its first weekend with a whopping $108 million domestic haul and did $200.1 million for its first five days.
Final numbers Monday were down slightly from estimates reported a day earlier by distributor Paramount. But the sequel remained the second-best five-day gross ever, coming in $3.7 million behind the total for "The Dark Knight" last summer.
The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com:
1. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," Paramount, $108,966,307, 4,234 locations, $25,736 average, $200,077,255, one week.
2. "The Proposal," Disney, $18,578,541, 3,058 locations, $6,075 average, $69,162,471, two weeks.
3. "The Hangover," Warner Bros., $17,022,166, 3,525 locations, $4,829 average, $183,054,267, four weeks.
4. "Up," Disney, $13,061,737, 3,487 locations, $3,746 average, $250,234,554, five weeks.
5. "My Sister's Keeper," Warner Bros., $12,442,212, 2,606 locations, $4,774 average, $12,442,212, one week.
6. "Year One," Sony, $6,022,444, 3,024 locations, $1,992 average, $32,529,560, two weeks.
7. "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3," Sony, $5,451,107, 2,995 locations, $1,820 average, $53,456,827, three weeks.
8. "Star Trek," Paramount, $3,711,968, 1,823 locations, $2,036 average, $246,331,182, eight weeks.
9. "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," Fox, $3,643,522, 2,250 locations, $1,619 average, $163,391,192, six weeks.
10. "Away We Go," Focus, $1,709,313, 495 locations, $3,453 average, $4,088,390, four weeks.
11. "Land of the Lost," Universal, $1,143,040, 1,504 locations, $760 average, $46,763,020, four weeks.
12. "Angels & Demons," Sony, $1,091,953, 906 locations, $1,205 average, $130,277,166, seven weeks.
13. "Terminator Salvation," Warner Bros., $1,088,392, 1,102 locations, $988 average, $121,925,747, six weeks.
14. "Imagine That," Paramount, $942,273, 1,135 locations, $830 average, $14,067,015, three weeks.
15. "New York," Yash Raj Films, $467,693, 60 locations, $7,795 average, $467,693, one week.
16. "Cheri," Miramax, $405,701, 76 locations, $5,338 average, $405,701, one week.
17. "Monsters vs. Aliens," Paramount, $365,080, 311 locations, $1,174 average, $195,984,055, 14 weeks.
18. "Whatever Works," Sony Pictures Classics, $359,805, 35 locations, $10,280 average, $738,969, two weeks.
19. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Fox, $310,167, 360 locations, $862 average, $177,836,819, nine weeks.
20. "Food, Inc.," Magnolia, $291,444, 75 locations, $3,886 average, $834,848, three weeks.

America's Most Endangered Malls

Birmingham's Century Plaza mall was a consumer mecca when it opened in 1971, drawing shoppers from outlying suburbs and even from other states. Over the years, however, people moved outward from central Birmingham, and new shopping centers sprouted around them. Sales at Century Plaza declined. Three of the mall's four big "anchor" tenants eventually left, and smaller retailers followed. By 2008, Century Plaza was a shadowy hulk with more shuttered stores than open ones. Then the last anchor tenant, Sears, announced it was leaving. The mall finally closed for good in early June.
Malls have a natural lifespan, as population centers shift, architecture evolves, and shopping habits change. But a sharp recession is clearly accelerating the demise of vulnerable retailers--and some of the shopping centers they inhabit. Plunging sales are one obvious reason. Many retailers are also saddled with heavy debt taken on in recent years to fund aggressive growth. And the credit crunch has made cash scarce for firms that need it most.
Those tough conditions have already driven retailers like Circuit City, Linens 'N Things, and Steve & Barry's out of business. Other chains are closing stores and slashing costs as they fight to survive. General Growth Properties, a Chicago firm that operates more than 200 malls--and owns the remnants of Century Plaza--declared bankruptcy in April and is working on a restructuring plan.
[See America's most profitable malls.]
The churn is transforming America's retail landscape. "During times like this, good malls tend to get better and bad malls tend to get worse," says Steve Sterrett, chief financial officer of Simon Property Group, the nation's largest mall operator. The first sign of trouble is often the departure of department stores and other anchor tenants, especially if those spaces stay vacant. High-quality, name-brand merchants often follow, with discounters--or nobody--replacing them. Shoppers sense the ennui, and gravitate toward malls that feel more vibrant, which only deepens the distress at troubled properties. By some estimates, about 10 percent of the America's malls could close within the next few years.
To gauge which malls are in trouble, U.S. News analyzed data from Green Street Advisors, an investment research firm in Newport Beach, Calif., that specializes in publicly owned real estate companies. Their data includes occupancy rates, sales per square foot, and quality grades for about 650 of America's biggest shopping centers. The average property in the data set has sales of about $420 per square foot and an occupancy rate of 92 percent, good for an A- grade.
[See how to tell if a mall is in trouble.]
The malls at the bottom of the list earn grades of C- or D, with falling sales at many stores and a high proportion of discount retailers that tend to draw the least lucrative consumers. As a rule of thumb, malls with sales of $250 per square foot or lower are struggling. "It's hard for many retailers to be profitable at $250," says Jim Sullivan of Green Street. And nine out of 10 malls at the bottom of Green Street's list have sales at or below that threshold.
The data we used doesn't cover strip malls and other shopping centers owned by private firms, which tend to be smaller, less profitable, and more vulnerable to a bad economy than regional malls. But the following 10 malls still represent bleak snapshots of some of the weakest spots in the nation's retail economy.
Century III Mall, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Occupancy rate: 70 percent; sales per square foot: $200*). About 30 of the 120 stores at this suburban Pittsburgh mall have closed recently, including anchor tenant Steve & Barry's and KB Toys (both of which have declared bankruptcy), Old Navy, Ruby Tuesday's, and Macy's Furniture Outlet. The 30-year-old complex targets value shoppers but competes with nearby discounters like Wal-Mart and Kohl's. Other area malls with more upscale stores are doing better. Century's owner, Simon Property Group, may be looking to sell Century III.
Chambersburg Mall, Chambersburg, Pa. (62 percent; $234). Sales have held steady over the past year, but a bucolic location 60 miles southwest of Harrisburg makes this sleepy mall a perennial underperformer. K.B. Toys, Value City, and B. Moss closed their stores after declaring bankruptcy. Newcomers include discounters like Bolton's and Burlington Coat Factory, which are likely to generate little excitement.
Crossroads Mall, Omaha, Neb. (68 percent; $200*). Shoppers are fleeing this 50-year-old mall in central Omaha for suburban shopping centers that feel safer and more vibrant. The departure of Dillard's in 2008 left one of three anchor slots vacant. The Zales and Gordon's jewelry chains are also gone, along with Gap and most of the mall's food-court restaurants. According to press reports, owner Simon Property Group recently put the property up for sale. A buyer could try to resuscitate the mall or convert it to a different kind of retail or commercial complex.
Hickory Hollow Mall, Nashville, Tenn. (82 percent; $187). Dillard's has left, and other departed tenants include Linens 'N Things and Steve & Barry's, two of the biggest casualties of the recession. Two of four anchor slots are vacant, and the theater recently switched from first-run movies to late-run discount flicks. With a lack of retailers, the mall may convert some of its space to office use. One new tenant: the local police, who recently opened a recruiting station at the mall.
Highland Mall, Austin, Tex. (61 percent; $150*). While gleaming new stores have been springing up in some parts of Austin, this 38-year-old mall along I-35 has struggled to keep stores open--and avoid embarrassing controversies. Anchor JCPenney left in 2006, and this year Dillard's sued the mall's owners, claiming they let the mall become a "ghost town." The owners countersued, claiming that the suit is part of a scheme to help Dillard's get out of its lease early.
Palm Beach Mall, West Palm Beach, Fla. (82 percent; $250*). A year ago, the plan was to renovate this fading 42-year-old property. But that changed with the recession. Anchor tenants Dillard's and Macy's bolted within the last year, and in April, the mall's owners defaulted on a big bank payment, triggering a foreclosure lawsuit that could force the sale of the property. The power company even threatened to shut off the mall's electricity, but the bill was paid at the last minute. While remaining tenants like Sears and JC Penney await the outcome of litigation, other nearby malls are adding space and gaining customers.
[See why more companies are likely to fail this year.]
SouthPark Mall, Moline, Ill. (84 percent; $225). The owners spent a couple of years trying to sell this Quad Cities landmark, built in 1974, but they finally gave up late last year. Local officials would like to see the aging property converted to a more modern "lifestyle mall" with boutiques, lounging areas, and an upscale ambience. But modest local incomes probably can't support the major investment that would require. For now, the only upgrades at SouthPark are the construction of a few strip centers on "outlots" surrounding the mall, to be occupied by cheap restaurants and local service businesses.
Southridge Mall, Des Moines, Iowa. (84 percent; $168). The 2007 arrival of Steve & Barry's was supposed to mark a revival for this 34-year-old complex on Des Moines's South Side, which has been losing shoppers to more gentrified suburban malls. Then the discounter went bankrupt and closed its stores. The mall's owners have been trying to sell the property, and city officials have been working on ways to revitalize the entire area. They better hurry: At $168 per square foot, Southridge's sales are among the lowest for big malls.
Towne Mall, Franklin, Ohio. (49 percent; $207). This aging structure between Cincinnati and Dayton has been troubled for years, as the owner, CBL & Associates, and local officials have deliberated over whether to tear it down and build something more modern. Towne Mall has one of the highest vacancy rates of any operating mall, with more closed stores than open ones. A decision on the mall's fate is supposed to come soon.
Washington Crown Center, Washington, Pa. (70 percent; $265). Three of its biggest retailers--Macy's, Bon-Ton, and Gander Mountain--have suffered deep losses as consumers have cut spending. The mall's owner, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, is revamping some of its properties--but not Washington Crown Centre, one of the weakest malls in its portfolio. PREIT could end up selling some of its subpar properties, which leaves this mall vulnerable.

Who gets Michael Jackson's riches?

His mother took the first step Monday when she petitioned the Superior Court of California to be named the administrator of the late singer's estate. Katherine Jackson said in the filing she was acting to ensure Michael Jackson's three children are the beneficiaries.

It's the opening salvo in a complicated battle for a fortune that includes a lucrative music catalog of the King of Pop's own hits, the rights to songs by the Beatles, and the Neverland ranch that could one day be a tourist attraction.

There's even an elaborate video production, dubbed the "Dome Project," that was overseen by Jackson and finished two weeks before he died.

The high stakes and array of people involved will likely make the fight far more convoluted than recent high-profile squabbles over the estates of singer James Brown and ex-Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith.

"There's no doubt that there's going to be a big battle," said Alexis Martin Neely, a Los Angeles-based estate attorney. "It's going to be very messy and I don't see anything comparing to this."
Complicating matters is that few, if any, people know all the details of the reclusive entertainer's financial affairs.

His mother's filing, for example, declares that Jackson died "intestate," or without a will. But that is in dispute.

Another person with knowledge of Jackson's business matters told The Associated Press last Friday that there is a will, which would take precedent in court. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the material.

Becoming an estate administrator "puts a vast amount of power in one person's hands," said Roy Kozupsky, a lawyer with Smith, Gambrell & Russell. The person would have the power to sell assets, make deals and determine how to pay off creditors, he said.

At stake is Jackson's 50 percent ownership in Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a company itself estimated to be worth $2 billion; Jackson's own recordings and songwriting rights, which could be worth more than $150 million; and his joint ownership of the Neverland ranch.
Katherine Jackson said in her filing she intends to use the estate's assets for "the exclusive use of the decedent's (Jackson's) three children." But the filing could also be the first move in contesting the validity of a will, if there is one, Kozupsky said.

Jackson, who died Thursday at age 50, left behind three children: son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and son Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest was born to a surrogate mother, while the first two were born to ex-wife Deborah Rowe.

The list of potential parties seeking a piece of Jackson's estate is long, ranging from financial firms to the companies involved in his planned comeback. Among them is AEG Live, the concert promoter that booked Jackson for 50 sold-out performances at London's O2 arena starting next month.

AEG Live reportedly gave Jackson a $20 million advance, which it may seek to recover from the estate. AEG Live declined to comment.

How much AEG can recover will likely depend on the wording of insurance policies it took out and whether they included protection against "medical conditions or another event," said Mary Craig Calkins, a partner at Howrey LLP who handles insurance recovery cases for TV and film productions.

The promoter took out about $18 million in insurance through Lloyd's of London, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment.

A big part of determining what the estate is worth - and how much it owes in taxes - will depend on how much Jackson owed to creditors. Estimates put the tally around $400 million.
The federal government will be able to collect around 45 percent in tax on the value of the estate's assets, minus its debts and administration costs including attorney fees.

It appears that the most valuable assets will likely remain in the estate's control.
The Sony/ATV stake and 100 percent of Mijac, the company that controls Michael Jackson's own music, were held in a trust whose beneficiaries are Jackson's children.

That trust is safe from creditors, said Al Malnik, its former trustee and Jackson's business adviser from 2002 to 2005.

"The assets were protected through the trust against creditors," Malnik said Monday.

Jackson used those assets as collateral to secure $200 million in loans from Bank of America in 2001. He then refinanced several times. Malnik said the loan total reached $275 million by the time he quit as trustee in 2005. Fortress Investment Group LLC, which took control in 2005, sold the loans off entirely "over a year ago," said company spokeswoman Lilly Donohue.

It is unclear who holds the loans now, but one candidate is Colony Capital LLC, a Los Angeles real estate firm owned by billionaire Thomas Barrack, which also set up a joint venture with Jackson to own Neverland, the 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) property in Santa Barbara County that once included amusement park rides and zoo animals.

Barrack had lunch with Jackson brothers Jackie, Jermaine and Tito on Saturday at Neverland.
Jackson's estate is still growing through record sales and songwriting rights.

So far this year, some 297,000 of his albums have sold in the U.S., and that's not including last week, when sales spiked in the wake of the singer's death.

Jackson's existing works will continue to sell well, said Keith Caulfield, senior charts manager for Billboard magazine.

"He's good for at least a half a million albums a year," Caulfield said.

Songwriting rights also keep earning revenue. Jackson wrote many of the songs he recorded including "Beat It," "Bad," and "Black or White."

For the past three years, Jackson has ranked among the top-earning 100 U.S. songwriters for royalty payments collected by Broadcast Music Inc.

"Michael Jackson is the number one international songwriter in the world for BMI. He is it," BMI chief executive Del Bryant said, adding that use of the singer's songs outside of the U.S. earn more than $1 million dollars annually just for Jackson's share of the royalties.

Warner-Chappell Music, a division of Warner Music Group Corp., is Jackson's music publisher, meaning it promotes use of his songs and lyrics in commercials and TV shows. Jackson's own works, plus scores of song rights he purchased, gross several million dollars per year.

Jackson also owns the master recordings of his own albums such as "Thriller" and "Bad" and had a distribution deal with Sony, according to a person familiar with his finances, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the material.

The surge in interest in his music could inflate the value of assets held by his estate, and the tax bill owed to the U.S. government.

"Unfortunately due to his demise, the value of these entities has increased substantially," Malnik said.

Oil spikes above US$70 for first time this year

Oil prices broke through the $70 per-barrel barrier Friday and more forecasters are broadening expectations for an upward swing in crude.
Benchmark crude for July delivery lost 37 cents to settle at $68.44 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, finishing the week with a gain of nearly $2 a barrel.
Earlier in the day oil jumped as high as $70.32 per barrel, the highest since October.
Oil prices have been soaring for months despite a massive surplus of petroleum and natural gas. A large amount of speculative money has flowed into the markets, according to government reports, potentially taking advantage of a weak U.S. currency.
Surging energy prices appear to be outpacing an economic recovery for now, and there are concerns that consumers may pull back spending further, especially with retail gasoline nearing the $3 mark.
"That everyday, in-your-face experience of seeing higher gas prices at the pump; that has quite an impact on people's psyche," said Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service.
"There's this feeling of 'here we go again' with what happened last year," Kloza said.
"It hurts discretional spending.
"It leaves people to think about not taking those summer vacations."
This week, Goldman Sachs revised its forecast and predicted that oil would rally to $85 a barrel by the end of the year as the economy stabilizes and OPEC production cuts take hold.
The forecast assumes, however, that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will stick to its cuts - and that has never been a sure bet.
Yet even news that could be perceived as negative on the surface has brought more money into oil markets.
The Labor Department said Friday that employers cut 345,000 jobs in May, the fewest since September.
On Thursday, it said the nation's unemployment rolls fell for the first time in 20 weeks.
Still, the unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in May, the highest level in more than 25 years.
One of the reasons that gasoline costs nearly $1.40 per gallon less than last year are the massive layoffs the have millions fewer people commuting to work.
Signs that major employers such as manufacturers, and consumers are suffering badly continues to arrive in government energy reports.
Industrial and residential natural gas consumption plunged in March, according to an Energy Department report this week.
Storage facilities continue to swell with huge stocks of unused crude and natural gas. Analyst Stephen Schork noted that 14 GM factories will be idled because of the automaker's bankruptcy.
"That is another 450 football fields worth of power and Btu demand that is about to go missing from the market," he said.
In other Nymex trading, gasoline for July delivery fell less than a penny to settle at $1.9546 and heating oil dropped 1.39 cents to settle at $1.7701 a gallon.
Natural gas for July delivery rose 5.8 cents to settle at $3.868 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Rihanna's naked photo scandal costs her Vogue covershoot

Naked photo scandal involving Rihanna has cost her a covershoot with Vogue magazine, it has emerged. According to reports, the R&B star was being lined up for the prestigious photoshoot, however, editor Anna Wintour changed her plans after shots of the singer posing naked leaked online, reports The Daily Express. A source tells Star magazine, "Anna told her Vogue absolutely loves her and really Wanted to work with her. “Rihanna was ecstatic. (But) Anna hasn't returned any of her calls. Rihanna's so upset... “She hopes the people at Vogue change their minds." The news comes the same day further shots of Rihanna and ex-boyfriend Chris Brown appeared on the net, which show the former couple kissing in bed.

Russia says economic crisis is past peak, but not yet over

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that the world has escaped the worst of the global economic crisis but warned that Russia could face a second crisis if it fails to break free of its dependence on oil exports.
Speaking at a packed investment forum in St. Petersburg, Medvedev sought to reassure investors worried about the country's sharp slide into recession.
He said it was too early "to crack open the champagne" but that "nonetheless, I believe we have avoided the worst-case scenario." Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin gave a bleaker assessment, warning of further deterioration in the economic situation.
He said the rising number of unpaid loans would trigger a second wave of the crisis in Russia.
But he shrugged off more systemic problems, saying the crisis would be contained through further recapitalization of banks.
Meanwhile, Medvedev said there would be an inevitable increase in state involvement in some sectors of the economy that have been particularly hurt by the global economy, but promised it would be short-lived.
In recent years, the Russian government has moved to reassert control over areas of the economy deemed most strategic, most notably the energy sector.
Since the crisis began last year, however, the government has bailed out some major conglomerates that were highly leveraged, accepting shares as collateral in exchange for loans. Several mid-sized banks were also rescued by the government last year.
Those moves have worried investors who fear the government ownership will lead to inefficiency and corruption.
"State ownership in most of the sectors of the economy should be viewed as an inevitable but a short-term solution," Medvedev said.
Russia's worst economic downturn in a decade has been driven by tumbling oil prices, a weakening ruble and a flight of capital to safer havens.
Gross domestic product contracted by 9.5 percent in the first quarter after nearly a decade of robust economic growth.
Medvedev conceded the government failed to do enough to diversify the economy away from oil when times were good, and said it was necessary to ramp up efforts to reduce Russia's reliance on energy exports if it is to avoid a more serious crisis in the future.
But investors warned that Russia will find that harder to do when crude prices remain high.
"The more we will suffer from low oil and gas prices, the better we will move toward diversification of the economy," said Andrei Sharonov, managing director of Troika Dialog investment bank.
This "pain" is vital if Russia is "to switch to another kind of wealth," he said.
Oil executives said Friday that if there is not an increase in investment in the oil sector, prices could soar again.
Igor Sechin, Russian deputy prime minister, said oil prices could rise to $150 a barrel within two years in the absence of significant investment in the energy sector.
Nearly 30 percent of the audience polled at the forum said a fair price for oil was between $70 and $80 a barrel.
Medvedev's comments were a departure from previous government statements that the United States, where the sub-prime mortgage collapse sent shock waves through the global financial sector, is primarily at fault for bringing the Russian economy to its knees.
The tone appeared softer toward Washington than at the same forum last year, when Russia still appeared relatively untouched by the global crisis.
The president reiterated Russia's interest in seeing the ruble emerge as a reserve currency regionally and the emergence of Moscow as an international financial center - topics on which the president has touched repeatedly.
Chris Gibson-Smith, chairman of the London Stock Exchange, said Medvedev's speech demonstrated "a gentle assertion of Russia's potentially new position in the new world order."
But those ambitions seemed less attainable after a gradual but deep devaluation of the ruble early this year - the currency is strongly linked to oil prices - and the collapse of Russia's financial markets last autumn.
Ahead of the speech, analysts said they were looking for more concrete commitments by the government to wide-ranging reform even as a rising oil price gives the Kremlin a bit of breathing space.
Russia's stock markets experienced an impressive recovery this year after slumping by some 70 percent in 2008.
But volumes still remain thin compared to last year. The ruble has also recovered much of its losses, prompting some analysts to suggest that the currency is becoming too strong at a time the economy is still under considerable pressure.
"In Russia, we can see tremendous progress ... but that's just half of the truth," said Troika's Sharonov.

Kelantan - Place in Malaysia You Shouldn't Miss

If you are looking for local gastronomical delights with a difference, then Kelantan is the place that you should head to.

Located in the east coast, Kelantan boasts for a cultural potpourri when comes to food. The combination of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai influence has given rise to unique Malaysian cuisine.
Malaysians will recall the tempting Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Berlauk, Nasi Tumpang, Laksam or Solok Lada that is synonymous with Kelantan and can satisfy even the most difficult to please palate.
Then there are the Malay cakes and sweetmeats, some with unsavoury or strange names like the Tahi Itik, Kuih Kartun, Badak Berendam, Abang Balik Gelisah, Che Abang Guling, Lompat Tikam, Lidah Buaya and many more. Despite their unappetizing names, they taste great.
RICH IN TRADITIONAL FARE
According to the Kelantan State Tourism Director Muhammad Zaki Talib, Kelantan is rich in cuisines that cannot be found elsewhere.
The traditional Kelantan fare serves as a major crowd puller to Kelantan, especially the tourists.
Added with a rich cultural heritage and unparalleled hospitality of the locals, Kelantan is ever ready to receive visitors from within and outside the country, he said.
To showcase Kelantan's culinary offerings the 2009 Kelantan Food Fair, a four day event that began on March 12, was held.
The event organised by the Kelantan State Tourism Action Council was held at the grounds of the Sultan Muhammed IV Stadium and saw the participation of 24 agencies and culinary masters from Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak and Thailand.
UNENDING MENU
The food festival served as an important avenue to highlight Kelantan's unique gastronomy with more than 200 type of food to be sampled by visitors. Among others are the Kelantan traditional cakes and sweetmeats, Sarawak layered cake, rendang tok, lemang periuk kera, ayam percik, lauk-pauk and numerous types of rice dishes and pengat.
One of the specialties dished out at the event is the nasi uduk ayam solor, a typical Kelantanese delight with the chicken grilled with sugar cane and this makes the chicken to taste sweet. Initially ducks were used, but later changed to chicken which is much preferred by the locals.
The list seems to be never ending added with appetizers like cek mek molek, jala mas, akok, puteri mandi, pulut bakar, buah tanjung and ketupat sotong.
Not only the visitors were awed by the vast spread but also the colour, shapes and their alluring presentation that are bound to make anyone drool.
One thing for sure, the food fest was well received by visitors who were all too eager to witness and savour Kelantan's fare.
GREAT TASTE TO SAVOUR
The tourism authority in Kelantan also took the opportunity to invite members of the media to join the fest.
The media members were taken for a three day visit to Kelantan and given the opportunity to savour numerous delights like kerabu jantung pisang, sambal pauh, serunding, kelapa jeli and all the appetizers.
In Kota Baharu alone, there are many locations where one can enjoy the local delights at cheap prices.
Head to the Buluh Kubu food court here and the old market of Majlis Perbandaran Kota Baharu (MPKB) to sample some of the best offerings.
Visitors can also try 'the special steamboat' at Food Village, that provides a different gastronomy experience as they not only get to dip the seafood and tofu in the boiling sup but also grille the meat.
A PLACE TO SHOP
A visit to Kelantan is incomplete without a stopover at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, a famous shopping area in Kelantan. For those who love to bargain, it is the place that you should not miss.
The three-storey complex is the clear testament of Kelantan women's dominance in entrepreneurship and here visitors can find a myriad of keropok (fish crackers), handicraft and batik, cloth and clothing, and key chains apart from the traditional delicacies.
This market operates daily from 6am to 7 pm and all business activities will cease for 15 minutes during prayer times.
Another place of interest in Kota Baharu is Wakaf Che Yeh. This market is open after Maghrib and offers merchandise, food, clothing and others at cheap prices.
In a nutshell, Kelantan is a well recognised gastronomical destination that offers its own unique spread and is a value for money shopping destination.

Big Blue Whale is Coming to Town

THE blue whale may be the largest animal on our planet, but it enjoys feasting on one of the smallest animals – shrimp-like crustaceans called krill.
However, it needs about 3,500kg of krill a day, which is equivalent to 64,000 hamburgers.
This interesting fact was disclosed at the Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition at Mid Valley Megamall, which runs until April 13.
A life-size sculpture of a two-month-old, 9m-long, female blue whale calf graces the East Atrium, while a low-frequency sound reverberates in the background.
“It’s to give you a feel of the sound made by a whale, but in reality, the frequency is so low that we can’t hear it,” whale expert and Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute director Dr Bruce Mate said.

The exhibition is presented by the National Geographic Channel and supported by Astro and Mid Valley Megamall to encourage Malaysians to care for this beautiful creature and to raise awareness of marine conservation in Malaysia.
Aside from the accurate replica of the calf crafted by a team of model makers in Australia, the exhibition also features expert sharing session, conservation and education activities and multimedia exhibits on Samsung LCD TV sets.
It also features footage from National Geographic’s documentary Big Blue, which will be aired on the National Geographic Channel 553 on Astro at 8pm on April 12.
From the footage, one will learn many fascinating facts about the blue whale, such as it having no teeth and being able to travel 160km in one day.
Mate, who has been conducting marine life research since 1973, is keen on up-close encounters with the marine mammal because it is mysterious.
“It spends 95% of its life in the sea and surfaces only to take a breath.
“The mystery makes a great detective story. I always say that if children love detective story, they will love science, too. It’s like trying to find out what’s real and getting closer to the truth,” the 63-year-old said.
His most amazing encounter with the blue whale happened in 2001, near San Miguel Island in Santa Barbara County in California.
“It was after a big storm and the waves were about 6m tall. A blue whale was going with the waves, body surfing.
“I sensed that this animal was doing that for fun. Maybe the blue whales have a sense of humour, too,” Mate said cheekily.
Mate pointed out that the blue whale was an endangered species, no thanks to whaling, global warming and ship strike.
“The depletion of the blue whales is because of us. The blue whale needs our help and so we need to find out more about its mysteries.
“We can’t change them, but we can change ourselves,” he said.
Conserving energy and reducing the use of plastic bags and fossil fuel are some of the small steps every one should take.

Beware! Oil Price is Rising Sharply

Oil prices rose sharply Thursday despite more hints that energy use is way down, with traders focusing instead on a rising stock market and surprising news from retailers that suggests Americans are spending money.
If registers at the mall are ringing, that likely means people are driving.
Benchmark crude for May delivery rose nearly 6 percent, or $2.86 to settle at $52.24 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Trading was very light on a shortened trading week.
Nymex is closed for Good Friday.
In London, Brent prices jumped $2.47 to settle at $54.06 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
"A lot of little things are giving investors hope that maybe the economy has seen the worst," said Andrew Lebow, senior vice president and broker at MF Global.
So far this week, home decor chain Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and restaurant Ruby Tuesday Inc. have reported better-than-expected first quarter results.
Teen retailer Hot Topic Inc. said sales at stores open at least a year rose more than analysts' forecasts.
On Thursday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said sales at stores open at least a year, excluding fuel, rose 1.4 percent, short of the 3.2 percent rise analysts were predicting.
However, the world's largest retailer said a later Easter was to blame and that April sales are likely to be boosted by the holiday.
The government on Thursday said new jobless claims fell more than expected.
The Labor Department's tally of initial jobless claims fell to a seasonally adjusted 654,000, down from a revised 674,000 the previous week.
Analysts expected claims to drop only to 660,000.
"People are buying oil when they see signs of economic hope," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Alaron Trading Corp.
Flynn said he'll know that global demand has returned - and higher crude prices justified - when he sees both a significant drop in petroleum supplies and a decision by refineries to crank up their operations.
"Right now, we're not seeing that," Flynn said.
The government reported Thursday that natural gas storage levels in the U.S. rose more than expected last week.
Natural gas is a key energy source for many power plants and factories.
Rising storage levels suggest that people are using less energy, and companies are making fewer products.
Workers in energy intense industries like metals or manufacturing have been hit especially hard in recent rounds of job cuts.
That is reflected in the growing stocks of oil and natural gas in U.S. storage facilities.
It is potential energy that is not being used, one side effect of a very bad recession.
The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report that natural gas inventories held in underground storage in the lower 48 states rose by 20 billion cubic feet to about 1.67 trillion cubic feet for the week ended April 3.
Analysts had expected a boost of between 11 billion to 16 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.
On Wednesday, the government reported crude supplies increased by 1.7 million barrels and gasoline inventories rose by 600,000 barrels,
OPEC countries continue to trim crude production in hopes of siphoning off a global surplus.
Tanker tracker Oil Movements reported Thursday that shipments from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries are expected to drop another 280,000 barrels for the four-week period to April 25.
Meanwhile, with U.S. gas supplies well above average for this time of year, refiners have cut back on gasoline production, which has in turn helped boost prices.
The Energy Information Administration said 767,400 barrels of refining capacity will be offline this month, up 14.5 percent from the historical average of 670,000 barrels of offline capacity.
That could mean tighter supply and higher prices in some regions, particularly on the East Coast in the next couple of weeks.
This is the season when refineries shut down for repairs and switch over to summer blends.
That, along with more people hitting the road, usually means higher gasoline prices.
In other Nymex trading, gasoline for May delivery rose 4.14 cents to settle at $1.4810 a gallon and heating oil gained just over 3 cents to settle at $1.4288 a gallon.

Lee Young-ae giving serious thoughts about "Dae Jang Geum 2"

Second series of popular Korean TV drama "Dae Jang Geum" may indeed be coming true. Recently, manager of Lee Young-ae, female lead of the drama, was involved in a case of swindle which cheated production companies of 200million Korean won (about S$220,000) in the name of "Dae Jang Geum 2". The manager subsequently showed up and denied his involvement; instead he claimed to be victim of the scam too. It was said then that there were plans for a sequel to drama. However, according to latest Korea reports, the production team is indeed discussing a sequel to "Dae Jang Geum".

According to Korea's Money Today Star news, Lee who has not acted for some time is seriously considering her return to the screen via the drama "Dae Jang Geum 2". Production company A TOP Media said they are currently in discussion with Lee to decide if they should do part two of the successful drama, or start on something fresh. Lee's manager also admitted to be currently discussing this production and a decision will be made soon.
The success of "Dae Jang Geum" six years ago brought special attention to its sequel, causing rumors to sprout and even bringing about the scam. Should Lee return to the screen with "Dae Jang Geum 2", it will definitely become the hottest topic in town again.

Rihanna delays Malaysia show after alleged attack

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Pop superstar Rihanna has postponed a concert in Malaysia this week, organizers said Tuesday, following reports that she accused her longtime boyfriend Chris Brown of assault.

Rihanna's Los Angeles-based representatives informed Malaysia's Pineapple Concerts that the Feb. 13 show would have to be rescheduled to an unspecified date "in light of recent events involving Rihanna," Pineapple Concerts said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Rihanna had been slated to visit Indonesia and Malaysia on her "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour.
Her planned stop in Kuala Lumpur drew publicity after organizers said she would shun skimpy outfits to conform with Muslim-majority Malaysia's strict rules on performers' dress.
The Los Angeles Times, citing law enforcement officials familiar with the case and other sources it did not name, reported that Rihanna told police that Brown had hurt her the night before the Grammy Awards.
A police statement released Sunday said Brown and an unidentified woman began arguing while riding in a car following a pre-Grammy party where they were spotted together Saturday night. The fight escalated when they got out of the car, the report said.
The report indicated the woman was injured, but Brown was booked only on suspicion of making a criminal threat after walking into a police station Sunday night. Authorities said the district attorney could choose to expand the charges.

Sandra Bullock InStyle

For the down-to-earth actress with friend-you'd-love-to-have appeal, honesty is the only policy. Bullock eagerly answered questions from InStyle readers about family, career, style, and what's next. [ Check Out Pics From Sandra's InStyle Photo Shoot ]

Which role did you really want and not get?

Mary M., Brooklyn

"There haven't been any roles that I wanted that I didn't get, but there was a movie I wish I had done: 'The Matrix.' At the time [I was approached about it], it wasn't cast with Keanu [Reeves], and I didn't see myself with the person they wanted [in it]. Later I saw the movie and loved it. It was sexy and great because of Carrie-Anne [Moss] and Keanu."

What made you want to do your new movie "All About Steve"?

Annisa J., Chula Vista, CA

"I read the script and laughed so much. It encapsulated everything that has gone awry in our society for girls and women, who are pushed to be homogenized. What happened to all the Carol Burnetts in the world? All these great women were allowed to be this unique blend of things. I'm not the blond bombshell; I'll never be that. There's a piece of Mary in everybody -- to be accepted for who you are and not have to change to be seen as normal. To be true to yourself is something I admire. I wish I was like that all the time." [ See Sandra's Look Change Over The Years ]

What do you tell a girl who feels ugly because she's not blond or doesn't have a thin nose?

Elizabeth D., N.Y.C.

"Welcome to my broken nose! [Her sister accidentally broke it while lifting a garage door when they were younger.] ...I was rejected in school because I didn't look like the big-breasted, beautiful girls. I was awkward and sad. My mother always said, 'Be original!' but I didn't understand until I changed to be like everyone else. Once I fit in, I was like, 'What have I done?' I realized that my friends before were much cooler, with a great sense of humor and a way of looking at the world that was more fun. But if I hadn't gone through that, I wouldn't have been driven to make my oddities cool. It's what made me have a sense of humor and thick skin. It's like in 'All About Steve' -- I'm making fun of everything people have judged me for and put it into one character."

Which actresses do you admire most?

John S., Greenburgh, NY

"There are amazing women in our business, and they continue to break ground. I make a joke about Meryl Streep: They just need to give her her own category at the Academy Awards, and when she makes a film that year, give her a statue. I just saw Penelope Cruz in 'Elegy.' No one who looks like that should also be an extraordinary actress. I was so blown away by her in that film, I wanted to write a note to applaud her. We have to support each other. I admire actresses who are good to women. I don't like the ones who just don't like women. You can feel it, and I'm like, 'You're degrading yourself.'"

How do you stay in shape?

Aus J., Brooklyn

"People ask, 'How do actresses do it?' Um, they pay us to do this in order to look good on film. I do Pilates, kickboxing, weight training. When I'm in Austin, I run or ride a bike. If I can work out every day, I will. But there are times when I won't do anything for two weeks, and I'm like, 'You know what? I talk enough to burn calories.'" [ Find Out How To Get Sandra's Flawless Skin ]

What's your most memorable fashion moment?

David M., Los Angeles

"My wedding dress. It was beautifully handcrafted, with elegant French lace. Angel Sanchez designed it, and every time I'd try it on, he'd say, 'Sandra, please [lose] five pounds!' I apologize, Angel. I didn't give him those five pounds, but guess what? That round, shiny, happy person was me."

What is your shopping indulgence?

Christina S., Hicksville, NY

"At the end of every film I buy myself something. I'm frugal and I have to have saved for it. I once bought a big orange Hermes bag, but the guilt that followed from buying it lasted a year. I used it in another movie I just shot, 'The Proposal,' so I feel better about it."

Is there a child in your future?

Megeen C., South Orange, NJ

"I have family in spades. I walk into our house, and it is chaos. Everything we do is about the kids. I haven't had children biologically. I had shut that off; then I met Jesse, and it turned on again. I was like, 'Oh, that's that feeling.' But we realized we had to take care of some other things on this planet first. I hope to God when we get to a place where all is safe, calm, happy and healthy, it's not too late. Not until recently was it that time to say OK. It's now OK. If I waited too long, it's because we were supposed to do other things. If it is just too late? There are millions of children on this planet that I would be honored to call my own."

Meet Bar Refaeli

Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue recently hit newsstands and this year's cover model, Bar Refaeli, is lighting up the Buzz. The drop-dead stunner is absolutely huge in Search. Ready or not, Refaeli-mania is upon us. Here's a primer on what you need to know...

Is she single?

Doubtlessly, this will be the first question asked by males, aged 13 to 99. Alas, Ms. Refaeli is off the market, and frankly, you have no shot. She's currently dating Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio. Interestingly, rumor has it that the Titanic star campaigned to get his special lady on the cover. The men of the world thank you for your dedication, Mr. DiCaprio.

Where is she from?

Is she an alien from the planet Ogle? Was she genetically created by an elite crew of Maxim scientists? Neither, actually. Ms. Refaeli is the first Israeli model to grace SI's cover. In an interview with Time magazine, the model revealed that while she can't participate in the upcoming Israeli elections, she'd probably vote for Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

How long has she been a model?

Proud of yourself because you were bagging groceries at 15? Big whoop. Ms. Refaeli had her first modeling gig when she was 8 months old. The ad was for a baby bib, and in the Time interview, Ms. Refaeli says that it still airs on TV in her native land.

Does she "act"?

It seems like a near certainty: Pose on Sports Illustrated's cover in a bikini (or less) and you're guaranteed an acting career. Kathy Ireland, Elle Macpherson, Paulina Porizkova, Gisele Bündchen, Tyra Banks... The list goes on, but is Bar going to be on it? Yep. According to IMDb, she's set to star in a "psychological suspense drama-thriller" in which a doctor becomes obsessed with a beautiful patient. You'll never guess who Bar plays.

Public Bank to cut BLR by 55 basis pts

KUALA LUMPUR: Public Bank Bhd and Public Islamic Bank Bhd will reduce their Base Lending Rate (BLR) and Base Financing Rate (BFR) by 55 basis points from 6.5% to 5.95% with effect from Feb 3.
Public Bank group chairman Tan Sri Dr Teh Hong Piow said on Thursday the reduction of BLR/BFR was part of the banking group’s on-going commitment towards the creation of a more supportive monetary environment to sustain the country’s economic growth.
“Customers will enjoy immediate benefits as the interest/financing rates of all their loans and financing pegged to BLR/BFR will be reduced by 0.55%,” he said.
Teh said Public Bank Group would assist customers manage their financial obligations by providing them with the flexibility to reduce their monthly loan instalments.

Oscar voters

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP): The ballots are in the mail for the 5,810 members of Hollywood's elite who get to vote on the Academy Awards.
Wednesday's final ballots include nominees in 19 categories, among them best picture, director and the four acting prizes.
Ballots in five other categories - feature-length and short documentaries, foreign-language film, animated shorts and live-action shorts - are available only after academy members verify that they attended screenings of the nominees.
The deadline is Feb. 17 for Oscar voters to return ballots to the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The big show itself comes five days later.

Dengue The Threatened

Damansara Heights is a dream residential area with fairytale mansions, custom-designed bungalows and luxury cars, with a community of the rich and powerful.
The serene neighbourhood is cool and pleasant, being surrounded by lush foliage. Everything looks picturesque and it seems to be the ideal place to live in style and in comfort.
But, if you take a closer look at the drains in the area, most of them are clogged, and the stagnant water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Some drains are lined with grass and ferns.
Unhealthy: The drain clogged with mud in one of the houses under renovation
Dr Steven Chow, who is the president of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Association of Malaysia, took StarMetro for a walk at Damansara Heights recently to highlight the plight of the residents.
Dr Chow said the drains were unkempt and not maintained throughout the years.
“We have heard of many dengue cases here and the drains are the main cause of the problem,” he said.
Chow said the developments taking place at the area made the situation much worse.
Mud clogged the drain outside a house, which was under renovation at the moment.
“The drain outside a development site was also clogged with debris.
“This shouldn’t be the case. The waste from the development should not clog the drains,” Chow said.
Dengue danger: The larvae can be seen in the stagnant water.
Another worrying site is in the heart of the neighbourhood, with countless mosquito larvae seen floating on the stagnant water.
“Nobody wants to take responsibility for the problem. The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) refers the complaint to the Health Ministry, which then passes it back to the DBKL,” Chow said.
“Nothing is done in the end. We have never seen the DBKL fogging the area,” he said.
A drain in the neighbourhood is not linked to any proper outlet, just ending abruptly with the water flowing into an undeveloped green area. It was also clogged with dry leaves.
“The DBKL blames the people for clogging up the drain. But the local authority is not doing its job in maintaining the drainage system,” he said.
Chow urged the local authorities to buck up in their efforts in curbing the dengue problem.
“A concerted exercise should be launched to clean up the drains,” he said.
Chow pointed out that the problem is not limited to Damansara Heights only, but also other parts of Kuala Lumpur.
When contacted, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he was aware of the problem and had lodged complaints with the DBKL.
“In its reply, the DBKL said it is going to clean up the drains in Segambut from February to June,” he said.
According to Lim, the clogged drains also contributed to flash floods.
The dengue outbreak made headlines lately with Selangor leading the dengue chart in the country, with 1,717 cases and four deaths in the first two weeks of this year.
In Kuala Lumpur, the Setapak area has the most number of dengue cases so far this year and last year. Seventy-eight cases were reported this month.
The number of cases in other areas are 60 in the city centre, 49 in Kepong, 45 in Old Klang Road, 42 in Cheras and 12 in Damansara.

Water With Healing Power

ALTHOUGH there is no scientific evidence that water from a hill in Jalan Baru Selayang-Ulu Yam, about 10km from the Batu Dam in Selangor, contains minerals and has curative properties, people are making a beeline to the place with bottles and plastic containers to collect the so-called healing water.
Many people are seen almost daily squatting or sitting next to six PVC pipes on the side of the road, causing a traffic jam, especially on weekends.
Some come with bottles, plastic containers and mineral water bottles to collect what many swear is miracle water, which can cure sickness and restore health.
Fresh from the hill: Kuaishah washing fouryear- old daughter Najwa Yusseri’s face with the water while Nabila Yusseri looks on.
Regulars visitors to this natural spring claim that the water that trickles from the pipe has got more health giving nutrients and minerals and tastes better than the usual pipe water that has chlorine.
Stories of many sick people restored to health by drinking the water has spread by word of mouth.
Those who drink the water have claimed that it feels much more fresh, without the chlorine taste of the pipe water.
Some people also mentioned that many with diabetes, backaches, gout and other chronic diseases have been healed.
Housewife Nor Mazila Uzain, 32, who lives in Batang Kali, said she also collected the water after learning about the miracle liquid.
“Almost everyone I had talked to here said that this water has healing power and I want to experience it for myself. That’s why I collected all the empty mineral water bottles and containers in my house and brought it here to fill it up and will try it,’’ Mazila said.
Contractor Chai Nyuk Choo, 59, said he had been visiting the site for the last four years and stopped by to fill his water containers about three to four times a week on his way home from work.
Waiting patiently: Nor Mazila collecting the water in containers.
“I stay in Ulu Yam and have to pass this place every day. After I drank this water without boiling it, my backache is lessened. I also feel much fresher compared with four years ago.
“I think it is the nutrients and minerals in the water and it is god’s gift to the people,’’ he said.
Housewife Suhana Shariff, 33, has been taking this water for her husband for the past one year and has heard many stories of people having lesser pain and being cured after drinking the water.
“Many of us squat and sit while queuing up to collect the water. Those who are here told me of people with high blood pressure, gout and diabetes being cured.
“It seems that many people believe this is miracle water. The water is cold and fresh as well as even more clear that tap water,’’ she said.
Kuaishah Ku Aziz, 40, has been collecting the water for six years for her 60-year-old mother Mah Yahaya, who is suffering from joint pains.
“After my mother drank the water, her joints pains were gone. The water is clean, fresh and tastes better than mineral water,” she said.
“Now, my whole family cannot drink tap water and come here about twice a week to collect the water.
“I also use this water for drinking and cooking. When I drink, it goes down smoothly in the throat and there is no contamination from this water,” Kuaishah said.
“A person from a laboratory tested the water and told me that it contains a lot of minerals,’’ said Kuaishah, who stays in Bukit Beruntung.

Win a trip to Singapore

The Singapore Government has organised an online contest in which you stand to win a five day/four night trip to the Lion City.
To enter the Your Singapore Experience contest, participants must log on to www.your-singapore-experience.sg and take a virtual tour of the island nation and answer eight interactive multiple choice questions.
The virtual tour will include stops at local food centres and the downtown area where hidden clues can be found.
After that, contestants will be required to write about why they would like to visit Singapore in 100 words or less.
On top of a four-star hotel stay for two, daily breakfast and airport transfer, the winner (along with his/her partner) will be entitled to select the places to visit and meet two prominent Singaporean personalities.
The contest runs until April 5, 2009 and the winner must complete the travel between June 1 and July 15, 2009.

Calling all photographers

Show off your photography skills by participating in the KL Photoawards 2009 for contemporary portraiture.
The contest, organised by Time Out KL and its partners, is open to all photographers — professional and non-professional. Participants are invited to submit up to six images.
The main prize for the professional category is US$3,000 (RM10,500) and a trophy while for the non-professional category, the main prize is US$1,500 (RM5,250) and a trophy.
There are two runner-up prizes in each category.
Portraits submitted by the top 40 finalists will be displayed in a public exhibition at the Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur in May.
The deadline for the contest is on Mar 1, 2009.
For more information, visit www.klphotoawards.com or e-mail Steven Lee at info@klphotoawards.com.

Microsoft strikes back softly

Microsoft Corp is ramping up its antipiracy campaign but this time it is taking a slightly different approach — it wants to be gentle.
The software giant calls its new non-intrusive approach Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) and claims that it’s mainly intended to protect users from becoming victims of pirated software.
“We want to help users who have inadvertently installed an illegitimate copy of Microsoft Office,” said Annabelle Co, Microsoft Malaysia senior product marketing manager.
Microsoft expects to go live with OGA on Jan 27 in 27 countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Spain.
Its previous Windows Genuine Advantage antipiracy initiative caused users’ desktop to turn black if they were using pirated copies of Windows XP.
The OGA notification, on the other hand, will display a dialogue box prompting the user to buy a genuine copy of Office.
Microsoft said users have unknowingly purchased pirated copies of Microsoft Office because they have been fooled by the packaging and price which is similar to the original.
OGA will be rolled out through Window’s automatic update service and users will be given the option to not install it. It will verify the authenticity of Office 2003, 2007 and XP.
However, OGA will not stop the user from continuing to use Office.
“The dialogue box will pop up twice a day for a period of 30 days if the user chooses to ignore it,” Co said.
After the 30-day period is up, there will be a permanent star icon on the toolbar to remind the user that it is an illegitimate copy of Microsoft Office.
Because it doesn’t interfere with the functions of Office, some users will continue to ignore it, Co said.
“Some may even think it’s cool to have a star on their toolbar but I believe they would be embarrassed if they were to do a presentation and the audience spotted it,” Co said.
Microsoft even claims that if a customer had paid a large sum of money for a pirated copy of Office, it will replace it with a complimentary copy of Office Professional regardless of the edition of the illegitimate copy.
Users will have to fill up a form online, which they have to print and mail with the fake CD and receipt to Microsoft’s headquarters in the United States.
Also, the CD must bear the Microsoft hologram. “If you send a CD-R with the words Microsoft Office on it, you won’t qualify for the complimentary copy,” she quipped.