The 84th Academy Red Carpet Has Begun

RED CARPET
Chris Rock says I am itchy.Natalie Portman: I was nervous when I was nominated. I am glad to present tonight. Much better. I can see whos wearing what and Billy Crystal crack jokes.

Two time Oscar winner Tom Hanks says no one remembers what happens when you win the Oscar. He shows the OSCAR media room and portraits of past winners.
Actress Milla Jovovich is in Elie Saab couture.

George Clooney arrived with girlfriend Stacy Keibler jokes he'd like to win the Best Song Oscar. "You get to dress up and sit with people you haven't for a long time. Its fun." Adds, "I pay fans" commenting on the screaming fans. Stacy in Marchesa gown.

Brad Pitt says its much easier for men on red carpet to get ready. George Clooney and I are competitive by nature, glad we both are nominated. Angelina Jolie looking stunning in black.

Sandra Bullock is wearing a Marchesa gown. Says was glad to work with Tom Hanks
Rooney Mara is wearing Givenchi.
Jason Segel says its my first time at the Oscars.
Bradley Cooper is the first time presenter at Oscars.
Gwyneth Paltrow in white Tom Ford says she would like to sit with good friend Cameron Diaz. Tina Fey in Carolina Herrera. I am thrilled to be wearing it. I feared pepelum but I love the shape. I am expecting Billy crystal to do some sing and dance, lavish opening.

Colin Firth: I am glad the pressure's not on me this year as I am presenting award tonight.

Jean Dujardin says I am not a star, I am human. Its more freedom for me. I am not the puppet, I am an artist. After the movie I shed off my moustache. I love shooting in LA, I love the energy.

Michelle Williams wearing Louis Vuitton coral dress. I've never presented an Oscar says zach galifianakis. This is my first.

Penelope Cruz is wearing Armani Prive. She says, "I don't analyze much on dressing. I know I like. I don't take time in dressing up. We actors are fortunate to be able to wear these stunning dresses."

Jennifer Lopez says Oscar is Hollywood's biggest night .
Cameron Diaz says picking up a gown for the Oscars is a process, I try to see what's out there gown wise. I am wearing Gucci, the trail's a bit heavy but it's beautifully designed.

84th Academy Red Carpet has begun.
Oscar pays tribute to the moms of the actors who have been nominated

OSCAR BUZZ
Anil Ambani and Tina Ambani will walk the red carpet along with Steven Spielberg at the 84th Oscar ceremony to be held on Monday morning. Reliance DreamWorks has garnered 11 Oscar nominations. The two films nominated in the best picture category are include Steven Spielberg directed War Horse and Tate Taylor's The Help.Spielberg film has been nominated for best Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Original Score (John Williams), Art Direction and Cinematography. The other two films are The Help nominated for The Best Picture, Best Actress (Viola Davis), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer). Hugh Jackman starrer sci- fi thriller Real Steel is nominated for Best achievement in Visual Effects.
Pakistani nominated for the Oscar
There may not be a single Indian creative person on the Oscar nomination list, but Pakistani journalist turned documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy has been nominated for Saving Face in short film category. Sharmeen is an Emmy award winner. Her film Pakistan's Taliban Generation, Lifting the Veil on the women in Afghanistan, Transgenders:Pakistan;s Open Secret, Women of The Holy Kingdom an investigative story on Women's rights in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan-Unveiled-her expose on women's lives in Afghanistan. Sharman has won several awards for her documentaries along with the best broadcast journalist award in the UK.

Beyonce In First Public Appearance After Postpartum

New mega-star mommy Beyonce has made her first public appearance since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter last month, and we’ve got to say — she’s looking great!

No one expects a new mom to be back to her usual self (emotionally or physically) just a month after baby’s arrival, but Beyonce looked svelte with her post-baby bump shape when she stepped out on Monday night to celebrate Jay-Z’s upcoming United Way benefit performances at Carnegie Hall.

Blue Ivy Carter's mama stepped out on the town twice this week to support hubby Jay-Z's back-to-back performances at Carnegie Hall and she looked stunning both times. Not just okay, not pretty good for someone who just had a baby -- she looked amazing.

The first night, Beyoncé rocked a figure-hugging Alice by Temperley red dress that showed off her newly plumped "girls" and the second time she donned a dark, sequined, figure-flattering creation from Monique Lhuillier.

Sure, Spanx likely helped make Beyoncé's first post-baby pics a smash, but that alone does not account for that hour-glass figure. The first question everyone asked was: "How did she lose the weight?" Baby Blue is only a month old, after all. Those who cling to ridiculous rumors will say Beyoncé just took out the "pillow." Those with sense may sincerely wonder how a woman could look so together so soon after giving birth. Is it even possible to change one's body that drastically in such a short amount of time in a healthy way? The honest answer to that is... it depends.

"A lot of postpartum weight loss has to do with genes or the individual woman. Some women will look like they were never pregnant shortly after delivery, while others will struggle with weight loss," said theGrio.com's health editor Dr. Tyeese Gaines. "A fair amount of women actually never lose all of the weight and they bring that weight into their next pregnancy, with more weight gain on top of it."

For those who have to put in a bit more work to shed the baby weight, there are restrictions, especially for women who have had c-sections. "A cesarean (or c-section) is a major abdominal surgery. The woman's muscles and uterus have stitches holding them closed where the baby came out. Until that fully heals, that new mom doesn't want to be lifting anything much heavier than the baby or pushing herself too hard," Dr. Ty explained.

So even if you have all the motivation in the world to get back to your pre-baby shape, you might have to wait several weeks or even longer until your obstetrician gives you the go ahead for exercise. That goes for new moms who have had vaginal births as well.

Trying to emulate someone else's weight loss can have dire consequences physically and psychologically. Engaging in vigorous exercise before those stretched abdominal muscles have properly healed can have painful consequences. Additionally, anticipating a dramatic weight loss will likely lead to disappointment.
"The biggest blow postpartum when it comes to weight tends to be body image. No new mom wants to be mistaken for pregnant weeks after having a baby," Dr. Ty said. "Adding extra pressure to get back to her pre-pregnancy body in say, eight weeks, is only a setup to disappoint someone who is already hormonal and prone to postpartum blues.

"That being said, watching television or celebrity icons meet those typically unattainable goals makes it even harder," noted Dr. Ty.

The bottom line is that it's not good to base your personal body image and expectations (especially during and after pregnancy) on another person, whether it's Beyoncé or the woman down the street. That is, however, easier said than done. No one is completely immune to societal pressures and cultural beauty standards. Black women in particular have never had an easy road when it comes to body image. When big lips, ample behinds and tanned skinned fall out of favor in the mainstream media (and they will), we black women will still have those features and will simply have to find a way to keep appreciating our beauty.
In the meantime, find ways to make your own life as healthy and joyful as possible. Happy, smart people don't have the time or interest in spreading insensitive rumors about celebrities.

Most women do not (and could not) have Beyoncé's pre-pregnancy body, so it's not a stretch to assume that her post-baby figure is equally unattainable to the masses. Beyoncé comes from a different gene pool and tax bracket than most of us anyway -- her resources are a tad different. Let's just accept that and move on.

Whitney Houston Funeral To Be Held At Childhood Church

Singer Whitney Houston will be laid to rest on 18 February in the New Jersey church where she sang as a child.

According to the owner of the Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, the funeral will be held at 12:00 EST (17:00 GMT) at the city's New Hope Baptist Church.

The 48-year-old was found underwater and unconscious on Saturday in a bath at a hotel in Beverly Hills.
Her body was flown to New Jersey's Teterboro airport on Monday and driven to the funeral home in a gold hearse.

The home's owner, Carolyn Whigham, said the funeral service would be by invitation only, adding it would be a "private time" for the Houston family.

"They have shared her for 30 some years with the city, with the state, with the world," she told reporters. "This is their time now for their farewell."

Toxicology tests are under way, following an autopsy on Sunday.The authorities say it may be up to eight weeks before they can confirm the cause of death.

No criminal probe is under way, police said, but the Los Angeles coroner said her room did contain some prescription drugs.

Prescription medicine

In a news conference on Monday, Beverly Hills police spokesman Lt Mark Rosen said fire department officials were told the singer was found unresponsive on Saturday morning.

"Ms Houston was pulled from the tub by members of her staff and hotel security was promptly notified," he said.

Tributes have been left outside Houston's childhood church in Newark "First aid and CPR measures were performed in an attempt to revive her," he said, adding that after unsuccessful attempts, Houston was pronounced dead at 15:55 local time (23:55 GMT).

The police spokesman played down reports that prescription drugs might have been involved in her death.
"Our intent at Beverly Hills Police Department is not to fuel the speculation or rumours that are circulating right now," Lt Rosen said. "We can't comment on where those rumours have come from."

However, the Los Angeles coroner's office then said there were bottles of prescription medicine in the room.
"There weren't a lot of prescription bottles," said Ed Winter, the coroner's assistant chief. "You probably have just as many prescription bottles in your medicine cabinet."

Houston's body arrived at Whigham Funeral Home in a gold hearse Born in Newark, Whitney Houston began her singing career as a child at the New Hope Baptist Church. Her cousin, singer Dionne Warwick, also sang in its choir.

On Monday, mourners left tributes, including flowers, balloons and candles, alongside the church's fence.
"She was an inspiration to everybody,'' said Gregory Hanks, a 26-year-old actor who grew up in the area.
The White House said President Barack Obama offered his condolences.

Press secretary Jay Carney said: "I know that his thoughts and prayers are with her family, especially her daughter.

"It's a tragedy to lose somebody so talented at such a young age."
Houston was one of the world's best-selling artists and sold 170 million records worldwide.
But her later career was overshadowed by drug use and a turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown.

Houston was found in her hotel room just hours before she was supposed to appear at a gala before the Grammy Awards.