Charlie Sheen Talks to the "Today" Show

 

He’s been one of the hottest topics in the gossip realm as of late, and Charlie Sheen gave the “Today” show an interview to help clear things up.

The “Hot Shots” actor chatted with Jeff Rossen about his self-proclaimed self-healing from addiction to drugs and alcohol, as well as his war with CBS for canceling his show “Two and a Half Men.”

During his strange interview, Sheen also slammed Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs for being useless.

Claiming to be clean, Charlie called his own sanity into question by making assertions like claiming he has “tiger blood” and “Adonis DNA.”
Read More: Celebrity-gossip.net

Frank Buckles, Last World War I Doughboy, Is Dead at 110

Frank Buckles, Last World War I Doughboy, Is Dead at 110

Frank Buckles, who drove an Army ambulance in France in 1918 and came to symbolize a generation of embattled young Americans as the last of the World War I doughboys, died Sunday at his home in Charles Town, W. Va. He was 110.
His death was announced by a family spokesman, David DeJonge, The Associated Press said.
He was only a corporal and he never got closer than 30 or so miles from the Western Front trenches, but Mr. Buckles became something of a national treasure as the last living link to the two million men who served inthe American Expeditionary Forces in France in “the war to end all wars.”
Frail, stooped and hard of hearing, but sharp of mind, Mr. Buckles was named grand marshal of the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington in 2007. He was a guest at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day 2007 for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. He was honored by Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the Pentagon and met with President George W. Bush at the White House in March 2008.

United States Senators played host to him at the Capitol in June 2008 for the impending 90th anniversary of the World War I armistice. And he appeared before a Senate subcommittee in December 2009 to support legislation named in his honor to bestow federal status on a World War I memorial on the National Mall built in the 1930s.

Sought out for interviews in his final years, Mr. Buckles told of having witnessed a ceremony involving British veterans of the Crimean War, fought in the 1850s, when he was stationed in England before heading to France. He remembered chatting with General John J. Pershing, the commander of American troops in World War I, at an event in Oklahoma City soon after the war’s end.

And he proudly held a sepia-toned photograph of himself in his doughboy uniform when he was interviewed by USA Today in 2007. “I was a snappy soldier,” he said. “All gung-ho.”

Frank Woodruff Buckles was born Feb. 1, 1901, on a farm near Bethany, Mo. He was living in Oakwood, Okla., when America entered World War I and he tried to enlist in the Marine Corps at age 16, having been inspired by recruiting posters.

The Marines turned him down as underage and under the required weight. The Navy didn’t want him either, saying he had flat feet. But the Army took him in August 1917 when he lied about his age, and he volunteered to be an ambulance driver, hearing that was the quickest path to service in France.

He sailed for England in December 1917 on the Carpathia, the ship that helped save survivors of the Titanic’s sinking in 1912. He later served in various locations in France, including Bordeaux, and drove military autos and ambulances. He was touched by the war’s impact on the French people.

“The little French children were hungry,” Mr. Buckles recalled in a 2001 interview for the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress. “We’d feed the children. To me, that was a pretty sad sight.”

Mr. Buckles escorted German prisoners of war back to their homeland after the armistice, then returned to America and later worked in the Toronto office of the White Star shipping line.

He traveled widely over the years, working for steamship companies, and he was on business in Manila when the Japanese occupied it following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He was imprisoned by the Japanese, losing more than 50 pounds, before being liberated by an American airborne unit in February 1945.

After retiring from steamship work in the mid-1950s, Mr. Buckles ran a cattle farm in Charles Town, and he was still riding a tractor there at age 104.

In April 2007, Mr. Buckles was identified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as one of the four known survivors among the more than 4.7 million Americans who had served in the armed forces of the Allied nations between April 6, 1917, when the United States entered World War I, and the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918.

Two of the four — J. Russell Coffey and Harry Landis — had served stateside in the American Army. Mr. Coffey died in December 2007 at 109 and Mr. Landis died in February 2008 at 108. John Babcock, who was Canadian born, served in Canada’s army in Britain in World War I and held dual American and Canadian citizenship, died in Spokane, Wash., in February 2010 at 109.

The last known veterans of the French and German armies in World War I, Lazare Ponticelli and Erich Kästner, died a few months apart in 2008; Harry Patch, the last British soldier, died in 2009. A former nurse and a former sailor, both English, are thought to be the only two people still living who served in any capacity in the war.

Mr. Buckles is survived by his daughter, Susannah Flanagan. His wife, Audrey, died in 1999.

More than eight decades after World War I ended, Mr. Buckles retained images of his French comrades. And he thought back to the fate that awaited them.

“What I have a vivid memory of is the French soldiers — being in a small village and going in to a local wine shop in the evening,” he told a Library of Congress interviewer. “They had very, very little money. But they were having wine and singing the ‘Marseillaise’ with enthusiasm. And I inquired, ‘What is the occasion?’ They were going back to the front. Can you imagine that?”
Read More: Nytimes

Do SAT Scores Prove States Need It?

Does collective bargaining make for better or worse test scores?

With Republican-controlled legislatures and state houses from Wisconsin to Oklahoma attempting to strip state workers of collective bargaining rights, figures on the combined SAT and ACT college entrance test scores in states without them are proving fodder for the ongoing debate.

As republished in The Economist, a chart purporting to show that combined SAT and ACT scores in the five U.S. states without collective bargaining rights are among the worst in the country quickly became a viral hit on Twitter and Facebook. Indeed, this reporter first saw the information via Andrew Sullivan's blog, which linked to The Economist, a highly trusted source of information. The specific data showed the following combined SAT/ACT rankings for the states without collective bargaining rights for teachers:

* South Carolina -- 50th
* North Carolina -- 49th
* Georgia -- 48th
* Texas -- 47th
* Virginia -- 44th

Wisconsin ranked second, according to the source cited by the Economist.

Though the Economist did note that drawing the conclusion that students did better as a direct result of the inclusion of collective bargaining rights for their teachers was tenuous, it suggested that arguing that doing away with those rights would lift student performance was rather absurd.

"... this doesn't show that collective bargaining makes school systems better. But it makes it pretty hard to argue the converse," the Economist wrote.

The problem with the stats? As PolitiFact discovered, the data came from 1999, not 2010. Moreover, a variety of factors account for test score results.

While the most recent data on SAT/ACT scores shows outcomes not altogether out of line with the 1999 figures -- with South Carolina scoring 49th on the 2010 SAT and 46th on the 2009 ACT, while Wisconsin ranked third and 13th, respectively -- the point remains that judgment is better withheld on what the scores say in regard to collective bargaining. Here's how PolitiFact put it:

A review using current data finds that Wisconsin does perform better on test scores than the non-union states, but not as dramatically as suggested in the Facebook post. And there is at best limited evidence that unionization played a causal role in shaping differences in test scores.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, argues that allowing teachers unions to retain collective bargaining rights is too expensive a prospect in light of the state's budget shortfall.
Read More: Aolnews

Seussville Read-A-Thon set for weekend

To encourage reading and in celebration of 107 years of Dr. Seuss on his birthday Onslow County Partnership for Children and Sylvan Learning Center will host a free Seussville Read-A-Thon this weekend.

“This will be our first community-wide event,” said Lisa Davis, an early learning specialist at OCPC. “It is open to everyone not just those involved in our Raising A Reader program. We do want those involved in the program to know it does count as an event for those who choose to attend.”

Eight readers have been invited to read different Dr. Seuss books Saturday at Books-A-Million, located at 1250 Western Blvd., from 10 a.m. to noon.

Those books include “Green Eggs and Ham” and “The Cat in the Hat,” said Juliana Cahoon, the event organizer from Sylvan Learning Center.

“We organized the event with Onslow County Partnership for Children to increase literacy in the community and help families realize reading is fun,” she said.

She said she also hopes the community will recognize what great resources are available through both OCPC and Sylvan.

Every child who attends will receive a free children’s book, school supplies and a drink and snack, she said.

There will also be face painting with a “Cat in the Hat” theme.

“We want to reach out to a lot of families and make this a positive thing for our community,” she said. “And we hope it will be a great success.”
Read More: Jdnews

Sex and the City 2 stars named worst actresses at Razzie Awards

Sex and the City 2 stars named worst actresses at Razzie Awards

It is the one Hollywood awards ceremony where no celebrity wants to win.

But this year the cast of Sex and the City 2 were among those who were called out at the 31st Annual Golden Raspberry Awards at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in LA.
The satirical ceremony, traditionally held the night before the Academy Awards, honour the year’s worst films and actors.
Sex and the City 2 opened last year to lacklustre ticket sales and even worse reviews.
And all four of its stars – Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon – collectively took the worst actress category during the event.
The film, which saw the New York ladies head to Abu Dhabi for a girls’ holiday, was also named worst sequel and took out the worst screen ensemble gong.
‘It was released in the middle of a period of American history when everyone’s scrounging not to lose their homes,’ Razzies founder John Wilson said.
‘And these women are riding around in Rolls-Royces, buying expensive shoes and just throwing money around like they’re drunk.’
Parker said this month that she is open to the possibility of Sex and the City 3, telling the LA Times: ‘I would go back. I think there’s one more story to tell. I know there is.’
Read More: Celebritieszone

Oscars 2011: Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

Oscars 2011: Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

Oscar Winner Christian Bale Onstage and Backstage Notes

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 2/27/11 — Christian Bake takes the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in “The Fighter” Note his acceptance speech “Bloody hell what a whole room full of talented people. The incredible people: Jack, Mark, Vicky and Mickey. I can’t wait to see the Chapter of this.” Bale played Dicky Eklund, a former fighter now managing the career of his younger brother, Micky. This is the first Academy Award nomination for Christian Bale.

The 10th Anniversary issue of “Entertainment Weekly” crowned Christian Bale as one of the “Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures” of the past decade, citing his incredible and legendary cult status on the Internet. EW also calls Bale one of the “Most Creative People in Entertainment” after his brilliant turn as the psychopathic yuppie serial killer in American Psycho (2000). And “Premiere” lauded him as one of the “Hottest Leading Men Under 30″.

Backstage he said to the press: “I’ve got a question for you guys, actually. You know, you get up there and you’re giving your speech, and I hope to God that I said Mark and Melissa and Amy and Jack. Did I mention them? I did? Fantastic. All right. Huge relief.”

Q. Every intense part of the play and every intense experience you have teaches you something about yourself, this campaign or whatever you want to call it, up to the Oscars you’ve been maybe more personal than any of us have ever seen you before. What has this intense experience taught you about yourself?
A. It’s just a genuine thing, you know, I’m so flattered when anybody, any person, you know, any one person who walks up to me and says that they were really touched by a performance, I really adore that. I really love hearing that, you know. I mean, what we do becomes so much bigger than ourselves and I appreciate that so much. And I’ve been in China. I just got back the day before yesterday, I’ve not been a part of any of the campaign that’s been going on. And just to get back and then hear people tell me how much it means is just wonderful. That’s what you’re hoping for.

And the only thing, you know, I want to say is that obviously the nominees who were nominated for Best Supporting Actor are just phenomenal actors and incredible. But equally, there’s so many other actors out there who would deserve being up here as well, you know. They’re saying I love motorcycle racing, and I was watching something this morning, and it’s like, hey, that comes down to who’s first up to the line, who was the fastest. This has nothing to do with that. It’s not who’s on pole position, well, that guy decided to go backwards, that guy decided to go back in the stand and drink a Slurpee. That guy went forward. It’s all like, what do you think, you know. What I mean, it’s all just a matter of opinion and so abstract. This is a very bizarre thing. But at the same time, I just can’t help but be touched so dearly by it. You know, people, so many inspirational, talented people decided that I was worthy of this. I just treasure this.

Q. Hi. Congratulations.
A. What are these cards? These are people who are going to get questions?

Q. These are auction numbers.
A. You win something?

Q. A statue. So my question is, you have just won, arguably, the biggest award for this role. Is this your favorite role you’ve ever played as an actor? If not, what is?
A. You know, every single role we do is just sort of a cherished friend. There’s a point that I believe I made in the speech is, I was thanking David O. Russell for communicating our work in a way that it meant something to the audience, and that’s where you’re out of control because you can do something that really rips you apart on the set, but if the director and the editor don’t take it and make it mean something to the audience it ends up as nothing. And I was so fortunate that with David and with Pamela Martin, that they were able to take that and really make it mean something, you know. And so fortunate and it’s resulted in this.

Q. Now that you won the Oscar for this kind of movie, technically does that mean that no more Batman?
A. No. I mean, I’m in the middle of filming a movie in China right now. When I finish the movie in China it’s straight on to Batman. So absolutely, much more Batman.

Q. We all know how much you love acting but you hate dealing with the press. So what have you learned in these last couple months that you have to deal with more and more press leading up to this night?
A. Well, the beautiful thing about it is I’ve been in China for the last month. So I actually haven’t had to deal with any of it, you know, I’ve been out of it. I haven’t been campaigning. And I always felt like, you know, it really has to be the performance that stands by itself and should be merited upon that and if I would have lost, I would have still said the same. I wouldn’t have regretted anything. I would have just applauded whoever won and there’s so many wonderful performances out there.

Q. Reagan Alexander.
A. Love the hat. Been drinking?

Q. Yes.
A. I find myself likewise out in the bar with Dickie and my wife thinking that it was like the other awards where you just walk on in and go out and unfortunately missed Melissa’s acceptance speech because they wouldn’t let me in. I was literally banging on the door with Dickie going, let us in. And they wouldn’t let us in. That was my mistake. I’ll know better if I ever return to the Academy Awards.

Q. So you missed the F bomb?
A. I missed the F bomb. But, you know, I’ve laid down many of them myself before. So I think I know what it was all about.

Q. Do you have a specific spot that you’re going to put this award in your home?
A. I know I’ll get home and my daughter will say, thank you very much, and take that and stick it wherever she wants.

Q. Also, for those of us who fill out the beards, are you going to miss it when you finish filming the film in China?
A. It will actually be shaved off partway through.

Q. Congratulations. Well deserved.
A. Thank you.

Q. I don’t think anybody does a meltdown on film better than you do. And now that you’ve done one that’s chemically enhanced, I got to ask you, what do you think when you see a real life one like Charlie Sheen?
A. Like I said, I’ve been in China. Seriously, it’s been impossible. Just no idea.

Q. I was just wondering, this isn’t the first time that you’ve lost a lot of weight for a role. You did it for RESCUE DAWN. When you accepted to take this role, did you think twice about accepting it because of the physical sacrifice you had to do, and is there any sort of thing that you wouldn’t do to yourself physically at this point in your career?
A. I just like the character and it wasn’t till a little bit later I said, oh, he’s a welterweight, he’s a crack head. How many fat crack heads do you see? Then I realized, that’s what I have to do. So it came later just by that point, you know, like I always say, I saw something and this has always been I didn’t really ever take acting classes. I didn’t go to drama school or anything. I always feel like I’m having to make up for that while other people know where they’re going really and I’m just sort of winging it. I saw something one time, it was Jimi Hendrix, and I just adore the guy’s talent and just raw ability to just communicate through his guitar and I saw something about his fingers just bleeding, just blood dripping off of the strings and I always went, that’s it, that’s it. You know, that inspires me to no end.

So whatever it takes, I feel like I’ll do for a movie. But the thing is, a lot of people see it as a gimmick, and it’s not a gimmick. You know, they say, hey, give a quiet performance, and you can give a quiet performance and lose a lot of weight. Do you know how much it takes do that? So if it’s necessary, I’ll do it, you know. I’m getting a little bit older now. I’m starting to recognize if I do too much, there may be no coming back from it. I don’t have quite that same mentality which I did only a few years back, where I felt I was invincible and it didn’t matter what I did. I was coming through. You know, I have a child now. I just want to really be smart about any other body alterations that I make in the future. I know that too many of them just, you know, there’s only so much your body can take. I’m happy that I’ve done what I’ve done. Who knows. Maybe that will be the last of it. I’ve said that a few times before.

Q. Thank you so much. Congratulations.
A. Thank you so much.
Read More: Hollywoodtoday

The Evolution of Touchscreen Gaming

The Evolution of Touchscreen Gaming

The Evolution of Touchscreen Gaming

Touchscreen gaming has never been bigger. The next 12 months could quite possibly see an unprecedented trio of new touch-sensitive portables hitting stores: the Nintendo 3DS, the Sony NGP, and (fingers crossed) a new iPad will all be vying to get their hands on your gaming fingers in the months to come. But while most gamers’ first exposure to playing games with their fingertips is likely to have been around 2004 with the all-conquering Nintendo DS, it was by no means the first touchscreen-equipped gaming device to hit the market.

VECTREX

VECTREX -- The short-lived Vectrex home game console was a curious beast. Boasting vector-based graphics, a huge game library and several cool tech features -- including a light-pen peripheral that players could use to manipulate objects on screen in certain art and music games -- it was somewhat ahead of its time. Sadly, that time was just before the great video game crash of 1983, which made quick work of the quirky system.

APPLE NEWTON

APPLE NEWTON -- Before there was the iPad, there was the Newton. Long, long before. About 17 years, actually, which amounts to several lifetimes in the tech world. One of the first touchscreen-equipped portables to be capable of playing simple games, it wasn’t much of a commercial success, but still retains a tiny-yet-committed fanbase.

GAME.COM

GAME.COM -- Released in 1997, dedicated gaming portable Game.com had an impressive feature-set: a stylus, a touch-screen, twin cartridge slots, and an available modem that let it browse the web and send email. Less impressive was its twenty-strong catalog of games -- and less impressive still were its sales, thought to be under 300,000.

TAPWAVE ZODIAC

TAPWAVE ZODIAC -- Think 300,000 is paltry? The Zodiac did even worse. And in a lot of ways, it was a shame. Running the same operating system as Palm’s series of PDAs, the slick, curvy portable had ready access to a vast catalog of apps and games. Tech writers loved it, but nobody else did. After 18 months on the market, it was discontinued.

TABLET PC

TABLET PC -- Essentially just a regular laptop that swapped a keyboard for a stylus-based touchscreen, Microsoft sank vast sums of money into pushing the tablet PC in the early part of the last decade. Perfect for strategy games, board games, and casual hits like Diner Dash, they were nevertheless too expensive and business-focused for gamers to take them seriously.

NINTENDO DS

NINTENDO DS -- Although it was far from the first touchscreen gaming platform to hit stores, it was the DS that really caught the imagination of gamers and developers. Selling over 140 million units since its 2004 launch and still going strong, it’s second only to the Playstation 2 as the most successful game system of all time. A series of hardware refreshes have kept the platform current; the latest, due this March, will take the marque into the brave new world of stereoscopic 3D.

IPHONE

IPHONE -- Before the iPhone, gaming was an afterthought for many cellphone users. But once the App Store came along in 2008, throwing open the doors for small-time and big-league alike to make their fortunes selling 99-cent games to millions of eager consumers, the mobile gaming market exploded. Three years later, the iPhone is birthing its own mega-franchises: witness the cross-platform success of sales giant Angry Birds.

IPAD

IPAD -- After the disappointment of Newton, Apple could have been forgiven for swearing off the tablet forever. Fortunately for its legion of fans, the success of the iPhone apparently convinced them to take another crack at it. The result: 15 million iPads sold last year, with gaming as a major focus. And with rumors of an upcoming iPad 2 announcement reaching feverish heights, that impressive total could be just the start.

SONY NGP

SONY NGP -- Touchscreens on the front of your gaming portable? That’s so 1993. Sony’s next pocket-sized system, currently codenamed “Next Generation Portable” or NGP, puts a touch-sensitive pad on the machine’s reverse as well, and kits it out with just about every hot portable tech you can imagine. Latest word is to expect the machine in the U.S. this holiday season, priced around $300 depending on hardware options.

MICROSOFT SURFACE

MICROSOFT SURFACE -- Welcome to the future. Perhaps. Microsoft’s “Surface” technology promises table-sized touchscreens that can recognize objects placed on them, respond to gestures as well as simple taps, and can be used by multiple people simultaneously. In short, they’ll play one heck of a game -- in the event they ever get beyond the tech-demo stage. Outside a few custom corporate apps (and a starring role in MSNBC’s 2008 election coverage), they’re still a pipe-dream for home users.
Read More:Yahoo

Space shuttle seen from above Video

 Space shuttle seen from above Video

On Thursday, the space shuttle Discovery blasted into space for its final mission. People around the world watched the liftoff, but only a lucky few got to see the shuttle from the skies.

Passengers on a flight from Orlando, Florida to Richmond, Virginia were treated to an unexpected kind of entertainment when they saw the Shuttle off of the left side of the plane.

One quick-thinking man named Neil Monday captured the experience on his iPhone. After he uploaded the two-minute clip to the Web, searches shot into the stratosphere. The video has been featured by multiple blogs and news agencies, including MSNBC.


Monday almost never got the chance. The flight he was on was scheduled to leave two hours earlier, but a delay kept it grounded. It's probably the first time in history passengers were happy about being delayed.

The video, which you can watch below, is, of course, visually stunning, but it also contains a pretty good joke, if you listen hard enough. While Neil records the shuttle's launch, the captain can be heard over the loudspeaker saying, "Those on the right side can see the space shuttle. Those on the left side can probably see the people on the right side looking at the space shuttle."
You gotta love airplane humor.

Read More: Yahoo

Film Independent Spirit Awards 2011

Film Independent Spirit Awards 2011

Film Independent Spirit Awards 2011

  Many of this year's Oscar hopefuls were also nominated for Film Independent Spirit Awards, which were handed out on February 26. Click ahead to see which celebs attended the star-studded soiree in Santa Monica, California.

 A pregnant Natalie Portman -- who won Best Actress for her riveting role as Nina Sayers in "Black Swan" -- hit the arrivals line in a chic Givenchy dress, nude Stella McCartney pumps, and Cartier ring.

 Right behind Natalie was Best Actress nominee Nicole Kidman ("Rabbit Hole"), who showed off her fit frame in a figure-hugging lace frock, gold watch, and checkered heels.

 Following in Nicole's footsteps was Jennifer Lawrence. The breakout star of "Winter's Bone" delivered a smile while strutting her stuff in Dolce & Gabbana, Lorraine Schwartz bracelets, and strappy Christian Louboutin sandals.

Also spotted sporting a smile ... "The Kids Are All Right's" Annette Bening, whose suit resembled the one worn by her hubby Warren Beatty.

 Nominee Melissa Leo -- who's also up for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars -- donned a low-cut emerald green gown, which surprisingly revealed a bird tattoo on her chest.

 Presenter Rosario Dawson took a walk on the wild side in a leopard print Burberry dress and metallic Brian Atwood heels.

From the waist up, Taye Diggs looked like a million bucks. Unfortunately, his cuffed jeans and dirty shoes ruined what could have been an awesome ensemble.

The glamorous Eva Mendes popped a pose in fierce footwear and a multicolored chiffon dress from Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection.

  Liev Schreiber accompanied his Chanel-wearing wife, Naomi Watts, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the indie drama "Mother and Child."

  Michelle Trachtenberg attempted to stay warm by pairing black tights with her unfortunate-looking Pamella Roland coat dress and studded heels.

  "Avatar" star Zoe Saldana arrived at the 26th annual celebration in a disastrous Dolce & Gabbana dress, Brian Atwood pumps, and Piaget cocktail ring.

  Jon Hamm and his partner, actress Jennifer Westfeldt ("Kissing Jessica Stein"), were undoubtedly the cutest couple on the carpet.

  Amanda Peet -- whose performance in "Please Give" was one of the funniest of 2010 -- rocked a delicate white frock, black platform peep-toes, and a ponytail.

 "The Town's" Jeremy Renner looked sharp in his shades and sharkskin suit.

  Mia Wasikowska ("The Kids Are All Right") appeared a tad uncomfortable in her dowdy dress and clunky shoes.

  Ben Stiller -- whose leading role in "Greenberg" landed him a Best Actor nom -- waved at photographers as he shuffled into the soiree.

  Kerry Washington -- who starred alongside Naomi Watts and Annette Bening in "Mother and Child" -- impressed in a long-sleeved floral frock and matching pumps.

  Ewan McGregor kept things a little too casual in a basic blazer, jeans, and boots. Luckily, we were distracted by his piercing blue eyes and cute coif.

  Anne Heche -- who can currently be seen on the big screen in "Cedar Rapids" -- opted for the boho-chic look with a flowing dress and effortlessly tussled tresses.

  Samuel L. Jackson stood out (in a bad way!) thanks to his dizzying jacket and blinding sneakers.

 Sandra Oh's bracelet was stunning, but the rest of her outfit was far from fabulous.

  "Parenthood" star Erika Christensen braved the chilly weather in a beautiful belted mini and nude platform pumps.

  Amber Tamblyn -- who rarely wows on the red carpet -- arrived in blunt bangs, basic black heels, and a painfully dull dress.

  Paul Rudd decided to go sans tie, but he still looked great in his black suit, sunglasses, and smirk.

 "Greenberg's" Greta Gerwig made the mistake of donning a bow-adorned prom bomb.

  49-year-old Dale Dickey -- who won Best Supporting Actress for her work in "Winter's Bone" -- put women half her age to shame in a cute, age-appropriate dress and gold sandals.

  Someone call the fashion police! Best Actor nominee Aaron Eckhart ("Rabbit Hole") was spotted sporting a black belt and brown shoes.

  Aaron Eckhart wasn't the only star to deliver a fashion faux pas. Vera Farmiga (pictured with her husband, musician Renn Hawkey) also deserved to be locked up for her ridiculous look.

Indie movie queen Illeana Douglas put her best foot forward in an embellished dress, fishnets, and futuristic footwear.
Read More: Yahoo

Elizabeth Taylor Through the Years

Elizabeth Taylor Through the Years

Elizabeth Taylor Through the Years

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor has led a big life. "'The more the better' has always been my motto," she once said. Indeed with three Oscars, eight marriages, 12 best-selling fragrances, and countless carats of gemstones, she is a one-woman epic, dressed for the part with towering sculptures of ebony hair and artfully blended sweeps of jewel-toned shadow. Yet, despite her timeless beauty, juicy personal history, and legendary film performances, her most extraordinary role has been that of a tireless fundraiser for AIDS awareness. For Taylor, living large means giving big.

 1942: A 10-year-old Taylor lit up the screen in her first film, "There's One Born Every Minute."

 1944: Following the runaway success of "National Velvet," the ebony-haired 12-year-old filmed "Courage of Lassie."

 1949: The teenage "Little Women" star began to make her transition into adult roles with buoyant waves and a come-hither stare.

 1953: Taylor drew attention to her strong brows and famous violet eyes with a trendy pixie style in "The Girl Who Had Everything." Offscreen, she gave birth to Michael Howard Wilding, her son with second husband Michael Wilding.

 1954: The star of "Rhapsody" and "Elephant Walk" swept back her short locks with a sweet band of flowers.

 1954: Classic screen siren! Taylor wore her hair in a wavy pageboy the year she starred in "The Last Time I Saw Paris" and "Beau Brummell."

 1961: A well-coiffed Taylor won her first Oscar for her role in "Butterfield 8." Merely two weeks before the ceremony, the pneumonia-struck star called stylist Alexandre of Paris to her hospital bed to revive her spirits with one of his gravity-defying bouffants. "She was held up by three nurses while I created her famous artichoke cut," the hairdresser recalled.

 1963: Taylor starred alongside fiance Richard Burton in "The V.I.P.s." To play a wealthy socialite, she adorned her glossy bun with her own emeralds.

 1967: Assuming the role of a bored millionairess in "Boom!," she wore a fanciful floral headdress courtesy of Tiziani of Rome designer, Karl Lagerfeld. (Offscreen, she picked up her second Oscar from her role in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?")

 1969: The mother of four adopted a bohemian look that included a crown of braids coiled over loose locks.

 1974: Sporting her trademark voluminous curls and a deep tan, the star of "The Driver's Seat" presented at the Academy Awards.

 1985: With her salt-and-pepper pouf and well-defined brows, the 53-year-old took on the '80s looking better than ever.

 1986: Perhaps as a nod to her recent nuptials to seventh husband Larry Fortensky, Taylor added fresh flowers and trailing white ribbons to her short coif.

 1992: The breathtaking 60-year-old presented at the Academy Awards in fuchsia lipstick and lavender lined eyes.

 1993: She borrowed a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond daisy necklace in which to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars. After the evening, "Elizabeth Taylor decided it was her good-luck necklace and bought it," the jeweler's Muffie Potter once told InStyle.

 1998: Stylish even in strife, Taylor let her hair go strikingly silver following a surgery to remove a benign brain tumor. "True glamour comes from within," she said at an event thrown in her honor by the CFDA. "It radiates from the soul."

 2000: Taylor was named a Dame of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

 2007: She turned 75 as a cinema legend, the head of a billion dollar fragrance empire, and a tireless fundraiser for AIDS research. Naturally, she wore bombshell red lipstick to her birthday party.