Sunday, January 31, 2010

Miss Virginia wins 2010 Miss America crown.

"We need to get our kids back outside, playing with sticks inthe street like I did when I was little. Expand your mind, go outside and get to see what this world is like."

This answer quenches the soul of the judges as Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron 22-year-old confidently shared her thoughts on fighting child obesity which in fact, evidently garnered here Miss America 2010.

Caressa Cameron from Fredericksburg, Va. is a braodcast journalism student at Virginia Commonwealth University and wants to become an anchor. Her winning is a testament to her family's strength. "You can be and become anything that you want to be, even Miss America," Cameron says.

She won a $50,000 scholarship, outlasted her opponents in swinsuit, evening gown, talent and interview competitions.

The event was held Saturday night of January 30 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino which was hosted by actor and "extra" host Mario Lopes. The pageant was broadcast live on TLC. Moreover, Radio Talk Show host Rush Limbaugh, actress Vivica Fox, musician Dave Koz, Miss America 2002 KAtie Harman, gymnast Shawn Johnson and former "American Idol" finalist Brooke White were the judges of the 89-year-old pageant. Unfortunately, comedian Paul Rodriguez was to be a jusdge but organizers said he pulled out because of a family emergency.

Cameron was crowned by 2009 Miss America Katie Stam.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

All-star Haiti telethon

The tragedy of Haiti is indeed a very tragic one. Here is the latest news that I got from

Organizers for the all-star "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon say the event raised $57 million — and counting.

"The public has set a new standard of giving for a relief telethon with 'Hope for Haiti Now,' and the donations continue to come in," Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, said in a statement released Saturday. The group is helping to oversee the funds gathered from the event.

The two-hour telethon aired Friday night on the major networks and dozens of other channels, including MTV, Bravo, and PBS, and was also streamed live online. Stars like Brad Pitt, Beyonce, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and more used their presence to encourage donations for Haiti, following a Jan. 12 earthquake that killed an estimated 200,000 people.

The total released Saturday includes money raised by phone, text and the Web. It does not include donations by corporations or via iTunes, where people are able to buy performances of the event for 99 cents each, or the entire album for $7.99. Those funds also go to Haiti relief.

The "Hope for Haiti Now" CD is the biggest one-day pre-order in the site's history and the new song "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" by Jay-Z, Rihanna, Bono and the Edge, debuted during the telethon, is the No. 1 single on iTunes.

People can donate via text, phone or through the "Hope for Haiti" Web site for the next six months. Among the organizations who will receive funds from the telethon include Oxfam America, UNICEF, and the Clinton-Bush Haiti Foundation.