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Madonna 'files papers for adoption'

New addition ... Madonna holds David Banda in her arms in April, 2007 / AP

MADONNA has reportedly filed papers in an attempt to adopt another child from the African country of Malawi. Officials from Malawi and the US confirmed the pop singer wanted to adopt a child, The Associated Press reports. Officials said Madonna would bring her Malawian son David, whose adoption in 2006 was controversial, and that an adoption hearing could take place as early as Monday.

Madonna’s spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg would not comment, AP reported Critics accused the Government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, which has been badly hit by an AIDS epidemic. The local Nation newspaper this month quoted Madonna as saying that Malawian friends had told her David needed a brother or sister and that she would consider adopting another child, but only with the support of the Malawian people. David is growing up in the high-flying life of a global popstar, worlds away from his village of Lipunga, where his relatives eat staple food like maize meal from simple bowls and meals are cooked on open fires.

Madonna is expected to visit a site where her charity, Raising Malawi, will start building a multi-million dollar school for girls, the officials said. David’s father, Yohane Banda, said that he may see his son next week. “Someone from Raising Malawi visited me last week and told me that my son may be visiting me sometime next week. I am delighted, I want to see my son,” he said. Madonna, who began adoption proceedings in 2006, took David when he was 13-months-old after his father had placed him in an orphanage following the death of his wife.

She has said he was happy to be involved in a case that might pave the way for more adoptions in Malawi. An estimated one million children in the country have been orphaned by AIDS. Rights groups tried to block David’s adoption, saying it would be illegal.Child rights activist John Soo Phiri said Madonna may find it more difficult to adopt another child as a single parent after her divorce from film director Guy Ritchie.

“She will have to prove that as a single parent she still has the abilities to raise another child alone,” he said.

- with Reuters

Tags: adoption, entertainment, madonna

The Basic Guide To Choosing Golf Clubs

Choosing a decent set of golf clubs is a very important part of maturing in the game. Therefore you should consider many different things when buying the clubs. If you have no previous experience with the selection and purchase of golf clubs, you should be glad that you have stumbled across this article. You will find out some of the most helpful advice when buying clubs, as well as general helpful information that any golfer should know. If you are very thorough in your search for the right golf clubs, you will be glad that you took the extra time and research to find out the information needed to make that choice.

Firstly you should familiarize yourself with the types of golf clubs that you need. There are 14 clubs total for each set, but they can all be categorized in the following: irons, woods, and putters. Irons are the ones that are used for very distance specific golfing work, and the distance is determined by the size and weight of the head. You are provably most familiar with these from using them on the golf course. Woods are used to achieve very large distances with a slightly lower accuracy level than irons. You will have to hit a ball a few times with a wood to get an idea of how far it will go with your stroke. Putters are used for shorter strokes, and strokes that require a higher level of accuracy than the other clubs can provide. In order for your golf club collection to be complete (or even functional within the golf game), you will need to have at least one of each of these.

If you are just getting started with golfing, then you probably won’t want to buy a full golf set. It is a better idea to buy adjustable clubs that can change into different types. You may be able to change the 14 clubs into just 5 or 6. This not only means less to carry, but also that you will be able to tweak your clubs to perfection after you purchase them. This is the best way to get a feel for your needs when it comes to the specific statistics of the club. Once you have pretty much decided on certain settings, you may decide to buy golf clubs that are permanently set like that. Until then, you should be perfectly fine with adjustable clubs, especially since you are a beginner.

Graphite is something that many golfers are split on. The advocates of graphite say that it is lighter, easier to swing, and allow for more powerful strokes because of this. However, there are many who disagree with graphite and will remain steel golfers for life. They maintain that graphite clubs are unnecessarily expensive, without giving noticeable benefits. Some prefer the stiffness of steel over the comparatively flexible graphite clubs. If you have a fast stroke or you prefer to have some weight in your club, you will be fine sticking with steel clubs. After all, there’s nothing better than really having a heavy club that you can feel the momentum in when you swing.

Until you are an advanced golfer, you won’t have to worry about things like spin and head weight. The best thing you can do as a beginner is to familiarize yourself with all aspects of the game, and become very skilled with the equipment that you already have. Doing this will allow you to make smart choices for the future, and therefore constantly improve your golf game. Until then, just stick with what you have and master it. You will be glad in the future when you have not wasted huge amounts of money on equipment that is far more fancy and technical than you could possibly need. This is something that many golfers regret, and something that you can avoid.

Tags: Golf Clubs, Guide

Danny Gokey comes out strong on Idol

The “American Idol” judges shocked everyone a week ago by adding an extra finalist to the mix, and apparently, the show isn’t finished with the surprises.

The beginning of the March 10 Michael Jackson-themed show brought the news that two singers would be sent home on Wednesday, while the ending promised a rule change that would involve the judges, be revealed tomorrow, and might not be approved of by some viewers.

Hopefully that rule change won’t involve more commentary from Paula Abdul, because she was in rare form on Tuesday. Anyone who doesn’t like spoilers had to be disturbed when she announced that both Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert are both bound for the May finale. With 10 weeks to go, Abdul has everyone else singing for third place.

It’s a little too early to make that call, but after a night where everyone had to pick from the Michael Jackson songbook there were a few performers that drew special attention.

The show-stoppers
Simon Cowell said that Gokey reminded him of “Michael McDonald — you’re a white man with soul.” That came after he remade the beginning of “PYT” into a slow and boring ballad. Just as the show execs were having nightmares about one of their most marketable contestants bowing out early, he broke into rocker mode and rescued the song. “Take it all in … take it all in,” Paula gushed afterwards as the crowd applauded, adding “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re on your way to the finals.”

If Paula’s right, Adam Lambert will be Gokey’s opponent, as she said “I believe in all my heart we’ll see you running all the way to the end to the finals.” Lambert was awfully over-the-top with “Black or White,”  but the judges ate it up. Simon actually credited Lambert’s theater experience as a positive, which is a first for the British judge.

l Rounds will not be one of the singers going home either, and not just because she reminded everyone beforehand that she’s a single mother of three who survived a tornado. The most controversial part of her performance of “The Way You Make Me Feel” was her outfit, which looked like white pants and the top half of a pink prom dress. The judges had mixed opinions on that, but not on her singing. “I hope we get to hear you on the radio,” Kara DioGuardi gushed. “You are great.”

Safe for another week
Allison Iraheta talked about singing in supermarkets, and her video showed her performing in a store before what looked like a good two dozen people. That wouldn’t seem like it was great preparation for the “Idol” stage, but Iraheta once again showed no fear and plenty of attitude with “Give In To Me.” Simon actually told her she might want to lighten up, to which the 16-year-old responded “I’m not dark — I’m not, like, cutting myself or anything.”

Did anyone not know that Michael Sarver worked on an oil rig? If they didn’t, they found out in Sarver’s pre-performance video, when he went back in his fancy new clothes to greet his old co-workers. He picked “You Are Not Alone,” which is not exactly an oil rig roughneck kind of song, but sang it well enough to win the kudos of all four judges, although Simon did snark “I just wish we knew what you did for a living.”

The judges have talked often about how they’d like to see Scott MacIntyre accompanying himself on the piano, and they got their wish when he played “Keep The Faith,” off the “Dangerous” soundtrack. Selecting a lesser-known song was a risk, but the choice of an inspirational tune by the first blind singer in the show’s history made it safe — too safe for some. “It’s fine being artistic, but not on this show,” Simon said.

Kris Allen went onstage with his guitar to sing “Remember the Time,” which looked either “clumsy” (to Simon) or “adorable sexy” (to Paula), or “Jason Mraz-y” (to Randy Jackson). Nobody knew quite what to make of it, but nobody hated it, and he also earned props from Kara for helping everyone out by accompanying them on the guitar during rehearsals.

Alexis Grace probably isn’t in any danger, but it was a strange night for the singer who closed the show. In the past, she’s been praised for her singing, but was asked to show more personality. This week, the judges loved her moxie on “Dirty Diana,” with Kara summing it up by saying “You’re a naughty girl, and I liked it.” But Paula and Simon both thought the vocals were over-the-top, and it might not help that viewers had to dial “IDOLS-36” to vote for her instead of a number that actually made sense.

m s n . c o m

Tags: American Idol, entertainment

What Is Modern Dance?

Born in the early 20th century, modern dance is a dance style that centers on a dancer’s own interpretations instead structured steps, as in traditional ballet dancing. During the 1900′s, European dancers began rebelling against the rigid rules of classical ballet. Turning against the structured techniques, costumes and shoes of ballet, these dancers favored a more relaxed, free style of dancing. Modern dance pioneers often danced in bare feet and revealing costumes. In the United States, several dance pioneers paved the way for American modern dance, including the legendary Martha Graham.

Characteristics of Modern Dance:

Modern dance encourages dancers to use their emotions and moods to design their own steps and routines. It is not unusual for modern dancers to invent new steps for their routines, instead of following a structured code of technique, as in ballet.

Another characteristic of modern dance in opposition to ballet is the deliberate use of gravity. Whereas classical ballet dancers strive to be light and airy on their feet, modern dancers often use their body weight to enhance movement. A modern dancer rejects the classical ballet stance of an upright, erect body, often opting instead for deliberate falls to the floor.

Modern Dancers Today:

Modern dancers use dancing to express their innermost emotions, often to get closer to their inner-selves. Before attempting to choreograph a routine, the modern dancer decides which emotions to try to convey to the audience. Many modern dancers choose a subject near and dear to their hearts, such as a lost love or a personal failure. The dancer will choose music that relates to the story they wish to tell, or choose to use no music at all, and then choose a costume to reflect their chosen emotions.

Tags: dance, dancer

Aspen Nightlife Club Chelsea

The Club Chelsea is a fashionable club that is a traditional part of the Aspen nightlife social scene. Featuring a piano bar, a dining area, a dance floor, and a private smoking room, this is high-toned entertainment at its very best.

The Club Chelsea bar offers single malts,cognacs, martinis, and ports, and in the smoking room, you will find Havana and A. Fuente cigars. The club is open from 8pm to 2am daily, and is located on East Hyman Avenue. A light menu is offered, featuring gourmet dishes such as pastas, tenderloins, and tamales. Everything about Club Chelsea screams elegance.

The chances are good that you will not run into the college crowd here. The majority of the patrons seem to be older – starting with the 30 and 40 year old crowds, with some seniors thrown in for good measure. This is elegant ‘grown up’ entertainment, where you won’t find a lot of noise or people who have had too much to drink.

So, if you are past the college drinking contests and wet T-shirt competition age, you will find Club Chelsea a delightful and elegant place where you can while away the evening with great food, fabulous drinks, wonderful piano music, and outstanding cigars.

Tags: Club Chelsea, entertaiment, Nightlife