International, Sports

SCOTLAND, FIJI, AMERICAN SAMOA SHUT OUT OF SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONIES

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imageSochi, Russia – When contingents from participating nations march in for the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics on February 7  in Sochi, Russia, spectators will not see the athletes  from Scotland, Fiji and American Samoa.

The reason? Vladimir Putin’s government has banned male athletes from wearing skirts in public. The ban is consistent with Russia’s controversial law prohibiting any public display of homosexuality. image

The Scottish olympians were supposed to wear kilts, traditional attire for men and boys in Scotland, while the Fijians and Samoans were to wear the traditional lava lava, a male version of the female sarong. Fiji and American Samoa are among the few tropical nations that send a delegation to the quadrennial winter competitions.

“These attires closely resemble women’s skirts, and for men to be wearing women’s clothing in public is inconsistent with Russian law,” Putin said in a press conference yesterday at The Kremlin.

Film and TV, Food, Politics, The Media

OPRAH WINFREY FORMS AMERICAN FILM ACADEMY

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imageChicago, Illinois – When Oprah cries, everybody cries; when Oprah gets pissed, you better watch out.

The most influential woman in the world – not to mention one of the richest – was perturbed at the fact that the film she starred in, Lee Daniels’ The Butler was snubbed by both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. When the film was released earlier this year, critics thought that Winfrey’s performance as the wife of the White House butler played by Forest Whitaker, was a shoo-in for a Best Actress nomination.

Ms. Winfrey not only has her own magazine but her own television network as well (Oprah Winfrey Network or OWN).

Today, she announced that she is forming her own American Film Academy which will function just like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which puts up the annual Oscar Awards.

The new academy’s awards will be called the Oprahs.

As of press time, it wasn’t known how many of the current Oscar voting members will defect to Oprah’s new academy.

For a list of  Oscar voters, visit NeverTooEarlyMoviePredictions by clicking HERE.

Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Music, The Media, Travel

WILL THE ‘UNDOCUMENTED’ ROSE FOSTANES PLEASE STEP FORWARD?

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imageTel Aviv, Israel – The  story of  a Filipina caregiver who captivated the world for winning the first-ever X Factor Israel this week is one of “rags to riches.” After winning the singing competition, 47-year old Rose Fostanes is on her way to recording contracts and professional gigs that would pay millions of dollars.

But, STOP THE PRESSES!

While Fostanes the caregiver is documented in Israel, Fostanes the singer is not. Like with most immigration laws anywhere in the world, foreign nationals are granted work permits to get paid for the specific jobs that they were recruited for. In Fostanes’ case, she can legally work in Israel only as a caregiver.

This means that Fostanes cannot get paid for recording contracts or professional concerts and appearances within Israel.  This has become a big dilemma for the producers of X Factor Israel.

But no worries. The producers have come up with a brilliant idea to skirt around the country’s immigration laws.

Beginning next week, Fostanes will go on a road tour throughout Israel, visiting hospitals and convalescent homes, singing for the sick and elderly. All her appearances will be televised and she will get paid for it.

“We will be paying her as a caregiver, not as a singer,” the producers said, “so we will not be violating any Israeli law or the conditions of her legal work permit.

All’s well that ends well.

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