Okay … so remember that shoe throwing incident that happened to ex-president George W. Bush on a surprise visit to Iraq last month? Yeah, well, that incident has been immortalized with a giant monument of the shoe in honor of Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi — the man who chucked his shoes at GWB’s head during that infamous press conference. On display at an Iraqi orphanage, artist Laith al-Amari says he created this effigy not as a political statement but as a “source of pride for all Iraqis”. Here are a couple pictures of this shoe monument in Iraq:

A sculpture of an enormous bronze-coloured shoe has been erected in Iraq to honour the journalist who threw his shoes at ex-US President George W Bush. The sofa-sized artwork was formally unveiled in Tikrit, hometown of late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein. Artist Laith al-Amari insisted it was not a political work, but a “source of pride for all Iraqis”. Mr Bush managed to dodge the shoes but the man who threw them, Muntadar al-Zaidi, was arrested and awaits trial. As he pulled off his shoes, Mr Zaidi, now 30, shouted: “This is from the widows, the orphans, and those who were killed in Iraq.” He also told Mr Bush, who launched the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and was paying a final visit to Iraq last month: “This is a farewell kiss, you dog”. Mr Zaidi shot to fame as a result of his actions, which signalled extreme contempt in the Arab world, and inspired rallies across the Middle East and beyond. About 400 people gathered on Thursday to see the monument unveiled – a shoe on a white pedestal, about 3m (10ft) high, with a poem praising Mr Zaidi at its base, AFP said. There is also a bush sticking out of the shoe. The sculpture stands in the gardens of an Iraqi foundation that looks after children whose parents died in the violence following the US-led invasion. The foundation’s president, Shaha al-Juburi, said the sculpture was not backed by any political party or organisation. Since his arrest, Mr Zaidi, a TV journalist, has reportedly been beaten in custody, suffering a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding. He has been charged with aggression against a foreign head of state, and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted. His family denies he has done anything wrong.

HMMM. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this piece of art … but, I can imagine that people of a war-torn country might have lingering feelings of hatred for the head of state of an invading country and peaceably protesting or voicing that displeasure thru artwork seems like a rational option. After the jump, for those of you interested, watch video of the incident that sparked the inspiration for this new art installation …

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Yesterday we saw a few photos of the happily reunited lovebirds Miley Cyrus and Justin Gaston as they stepped out for a bite or frozen yogurt this week. I speculated that it may have been Miley to pay the bill … and that Justin may have to pay in other ways later on. Today, we get to see new pics of Jiley eating together (and more speculation on my part) and of Miley and her step-sister Brandi doing a bit of shopping together in Studio City, CA yesterday:

Oh man, when will Justin Gaston ever learn? Nothing comes free in this world … sooner or later, you have to pay up. Methinks that Jiley have an arrangement that works very well for the both of them. I’m pretty sure that each person is getting something from their relationship. Sure, there may be some “love” involved but I think it goes beyond that. It looks pretty win-win to me. Shoot, I’d leave my wallet at home, too ;)

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Earlier this week, Madonna.com was updated to confirm the rumors that Madonna is reviving her Sticky & Sweet World Tour this Summer (rumors that were sparked by the posting of tour dates on the Live Nation website) but no real information was given at that time. Today, Madonna fans (me included) received an email announcement that explains in full where the Sticky & Sweet World Tour will visit when it starts up again this July. Here is the full text of the just released press release:

MADONNA’S ‘STICKY & SWEET TOUR’ GOES BACK ON THE ROAD SUMMER 2009
Special Guest Paul Oakenfold To Open All Shows.

Madonna’s phenomenally successful ‘Sticky & Sweet Tour’, already the #1 Biggest Grossing Tour in history for a solo artist, will embark on another series of shows beginning July 4th in London. (Schedule follows this release). Stops will include appearances in never before played markets such as Werchter Belgium, Marseille France, Hamburg Germany, Oslo Norway, Helsinki Finland, Tallinn Estonia, Ljubljana Slovenia as well as stops in Romania, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria it was confirmed today by Live Nation. Additional appearances by Madonna will include return visits after more than 15 years to Madrid, Gothenburg and Munich. “This is a first for me. I’ve never extended a tour before. I’m excited to be going back on the road, visiting places I’ve never been and returning to places I love” commented Madonna about the new run of dates. Raves around the globe for the tour include the London Times which remarked, “In the premiere league of song-and-dance spectaculars, the queen of pop remains unrivaled and undefeated.” “The choreography, visuals and live talent were world class and mind-blowingly well executed, intelligent and witty,” glowed The Independent (UK). In 2008, the ‘Sticky & Sweet Tour’ was seen by 2,350,285 fans in 58 cities. With record breaking ticket sales everywhere, including 650,000 tickets sold in her series of South American dates, 72,000 tickets at Zurich’s Dübendorf Airfield – the largest audience ever assembled for a show in Switzerland, 75,000 tickets in London and four sell outs in New York’s Madison Square Garden (60,364 tickets). “This new run of dates will further solidify Madonna’s position as one of the top selling touring artists of all time,” said Arthur Fogel, Live Nation’s Chairman of Global Music and CEO of Global Touring/Artist Nation. Special Guest for Sticky & Sweet 2009, Paul Oakenfold has long been one of the most important–if not the most important–name in modern club culture. He has remixed The Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dog, Muse, New Order, The Cure, Massive Attack and even Elvis Presley, and produced The Happy Mondays. The two-time Grammy nominee is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the biggest DJ in the world. His new artist album, Pop Killer, is due out later this year. Madonna’s multi-Grammy-nominated CD, Hard Candy, debuted at Number One in over 37 countries.

And there you have it, those of you who have yet to see her Madgesty’s show or just want to see it again have another chance to do so. Earlier this week, I posted the tour dates that accidentally appeared on the Live Nation website — after the jump, check out the official list of tourdates released thus far along with the dates tickets for the shows will go on sale …

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In celebration of this year’s Australia Day down unda, the Australian Post has announced and unveiled a new set of special edition postage stamps that feature Australian legends Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett. How fabulous! Here is a photo of the Aussie legends as they’ll appear on the first batch of postage stamps and some information about this postal tribute:

Australians will get the chance to lick four of the nation’s most popular entertainers who have been selected to appear on a special series of postage stamps to mark Australia Day. Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe and Geoffrey Rush have been named Australia Post “Australian Legends” in the lead-up to January 26. “These four outstanding Australians have captured the imagination of millions of people in Australia and around the world with their award-winning performances,” Australia Post managing director Graeme John said in a statement. There are eight 55 cent stamps in the series, featuring photos of the stars in and out of character, including Kidman from Moulin Rouge, Blanchett from Elizabeth, Crowe from Gladiator and Rush from Shine. “I am utterly, deeply humbled and chuffed by the fact that I’m a stamp,” Blanchett said in a statement. “I’m going to be licked by millions of Australians and I can’t wait. It is also recognising the value of the arts in Australia. It brings it into general consumption and if I’m part of that, I feel intensely proud.” Kidman was similarly pleased with her selection. “I have a vested interest in Australia,” Kidman said. “I want my children to live here at certain times of their life and see how wonderful it is. It would be lovely for them to lick a stamp, put it on an envelope and say ‘that’s my mum’.” Each of the stars will be presented with 24-carat gold replicas of their stamps.

In the US, you have to be dead (like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, etc.) or not living (like Mickey Mouse, Superman, etc.) to have your likeness printed on postage stamps but I think it’s very cool that other countries choose to honor people while they are still alive … and can appreciate the tribute. As the article mentioned, there are 8 total stamps to honor these Australian legends — after the jump, check out the other 4 stamps that feature these actors in some of their most famous movie roles …

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Yesterday we saw a few photos of Jessica Simpson making her arrival in Charlottesville, VA ahead of a live performance (opening for Rascal Flatts) scheduled for last night at the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena. It was the first time Jess appeared in public since photos of her previous performance last weekend (showing her curvier new figure) sparked much conversation (some, not very nice) about her weight. Last night, Jess took to the performance stage again and sang her heart out (making the faces to prove it) and, at the close of her set, thanked her fans for their support:

In her first performance since the flap over her figure, Jessica Simpson strutted across a Virginia stage in skin-tight leather pants Thursday night and lamented the world’s “completely pointless” focus. “Thank you for your support,” she told the crowd in Charlottesville at the end of her set. “Stay positive, and pray out loud! I love you guys, good night.” Simpson, 28, never specifically mentioned the news of her new curves or the vocal support from her sister Ashlee and Kim Kardashian. But in her performance opening for Rascal Flatts at the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena, Simpson was no-nonsense and outspoken in her black pants, V-neck T-shirt and hip-length black jacket. “Please remember, no matter what you go through in life, somebody else might have it harder,” she told the crowd. “So just appreciate.” She added: “I feel like in our world today we focus on so many things that are completely pointless.” Fans overwhelmingly supported her. “She’s obviously comfortable with herself to wear those leather pants,” says UVA freshman Laura Tiezzi. “Good lord, give the woman a break, she looks great,” adds Debbie Stollings, a 43-year-old kindergarten teacher in Charlottesville. “It’s mean. She looks more curvy, more womanly. She looks healthy. If Tony Romo’s happy, everybody else need to be too.”

While I still contend that Jessica’s facial expressions on the concert stage are too ridiculous for words (an opinion I’ve held for quite some time), I think she looked great on that stage last night … freaky faces, notwithstanding. I imagine that it cannot be easy for her to hear some of the nasty things being said about her so I honestly believe she is genuinely thankful for the support she’s received from fans.

After her airport arrival yesterday but before her live performance last night, Jessica was spotted on the streets of Charlottesville yesterday afternoon … lookin’ about as fine as she ever has:

I blame that really fug outfit she wore last weekend on all this insane “controversy” about her weight. Again I say, she looks happy and healthy and that is all that matters. Keep doin’ your thang, Jessica. I may not be a fan of the music but I am a big fan of your resolve to not let the haters get you down.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Yesterday we saw a few photos of Academy Award and Grammy Award-winning actress/singer Jennifer Hudson on the set of her new music video If This Isn’t Love … her return to professional life after stepping away from her career to grieve the tragic loss of three members of her family. Last night, J. Hud arrived in Tampa, FL (with pooch in hand) ahead of her performance at the SuperBowl there on Sunday. Here are a couple pics of Jennifer and her little friend as they made their way thru the airport:

As you know, Jennifer Hudson has been asked to perform the National Anthem at the start of the game Sunday so I’m sure she wants to be in town to get some practice in. SuperBowls always come with hugh parties and lots of social events in the days leading up to the game … mebbe J. Hud is planning to let her hair down and party with some friends. I really hope she has an amazing weekend in Tampa, she really deserves it. I can’t wait to hear her belt out the Star Spangled Banner come Sunday.

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

After a few unconfirmed of rumored line-ups for this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival set to take place in Indio, CA this April (one alleged that Britney Spears, with Madonna as guest star, would headline), the official band line-up was released today. The biggest news, I suppose, is that former Beatle and current Sir Paul McCartney has signed on to be the festival’s major headliner. Along with McCartney, The Killers and The Cure are also headlining the festival on Day Two and Day Three of the fest respectively. Here is the official list of all the bands scheduled to perform at Coachella this Spring:

One of winter’s annual waiting games is finally over. After days of speculation, false deadlines, more speculation and a totally bogus leaked lineup posted by none other than Ryan Seacrest, the talent roster for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was announced early Friday morning (January 30), and it’s full of surprises. In keeping with a recent trend of major heritage artists headlining on one night (Prince, Roger Waters), former Beatle Paul McCartney will top the bill for the first night of the 10th annual three-day desert fest (April 17-19) at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It is McCartney’s first-ever U.S. festival appearance, in support of his recent release under the Fireman moniker, Electric Arguments. The Killers have the top-billing honors on the second night, along with a surprising second headliner, troubled British singer Amy Winehouse, who hasn’t played a show in the U.S. in more than a year due to her ongoing struggles with drugs and health issues. The final night is topped by goth rock legends the Cure and reunited shoegazer icons My Bloody Valentine. As always, the wildly eclectic festival will present a wide range of rock, noise, dance and indie acts, including Morrissey to Franz Ferdinand, iconic poet/crooner Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, mashup DJ Girl Talk, the Ting Tings, the Hold Steady, TV on the Radio, hush rockers Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes, pummeling metalists Mastodon, drum-and-DJ duo Travis Barker and DJ AM (a.k.a. TRAV$DJ-AM), buzzy Glaswegian rockers Glasvegas, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, possibly retiring rapper Lupe Fiasco, hip-hop legends Public Enemy and Swedish dance/trance queen Lykke Li.

Tickets for the show go on sale on Friday at 12 a.m. ET, with three-day passes going for $269 and single-day tickets for $99, plus applicable fees. And, for the first time at Coachella, in a nod to the financial struggles affecting many Americans, promoters are offering the option to buy three-day tickets and onsite camping on a payment plan (50 percent down) through February 28.

The line-up looks pretty sweet but, again, I think I may have to take a pass on this fest. While it sounds like a great way to see so many amazing bands all in one weekend, in practice, it is more of a logistic nightmare … and did I mention that Coachella is in the California desert? Honestly, I prefer seeing my fave bands one or two at a time in more intimate surroundings … but, truth be told, since moving to LA my concert-going practices have slowed down significantly. When I lived in Detroit I went to shows constantly … course, then I wasn’t involved in a cross-country relationship that had me flying back and forth all the time. Mebbe now that David and I are settling in one place, there’ll be more time to see shows … but I am WAY digressing. I know that many people are very excited for the Coachella Festival each Spring … so now those folks know who they’ll be seeing this year (click HERE for a comprehensive list of My Space profile pages for the bands appearing at Coachella this Spring). And now we know for sure that Amy Winehouse is going to have to leave St. Lucia at some point … she’ll be at Coachella this year (supposedly). Tickets for the festival go on sale in about an hour from right now — click HERE to order your tickets online at 12pm ET/9am PT.

[Source, Source]