Amar'e Stoudemire To Produce Hollywood Fright Flick

Amar'e Stoudemire must be counting on an NBA lockout next season.  It's not like the New York Knicks forward doesn't already have enough projects on his plate, but now you can add the title of film producer to his resume.  The Knicks star will be going Hollywood and producing "The Strangers 2," a sequel to the scary 2008 original "The Strangers."

No, the followup isn't about Isiah Thomas returning to the front office or the playoff sweep by the Boston Celtics--even thought both of those story-lines are pretty spooky to Knicks fans.

Stoudemire is in talks with Relativity Media honcho Ryan Kavanuagh to executive produce "The Strangers 2."  In other words, Stoudemire is putting money into the production and will get a director's chair with his name on it.



The original film was a $9 million production which grossed over $80 million worldwide.  It starred Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a young couple terrorized by three weirdos in masks.

The 6'10' Stoudemire talked about his new venture at a party in Manhattan.  "Ever see 'The Strangers?'  It's a scary movie...It's crazy," he said.  Cue the slasher music.

Relativity Media has also backed and distributed other films including "Bridemaids," "The Fighter" and "The Social Network."

Stoudemire hasn't been idle or laying low this off-season.  He is currently filming "Entourage" in Los Angeles and recently filmed a cameo in Garry Marshall's "New Year's Eve" in New York City.

Not only is the Knicks star giving James Franco a run as the busiest guy in Hollywood, he is launching a clothing line with Rachel Roy this fall.  Did I mention, he's a rapper too.  Who isn't these days.

If Stoudemire really wants to be Cecil B. DeMille and  produce a blockbuster, he should get Chris Paul to join Carmelo Anthony and himself on the New York Knicks.  Stoudemire could call it "Three Amigos 2."

That's something New Yorkers would kiss him "on the veranda" for.  Okay, the lips would be fine.

Shawn Marion Trying To Land A Reality TV Show

Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion is the latest athlete to try to get a reality tv show. According to a report from TMZ.com, Marion will be shooting a pilot for his show which will be called "The Ladies in My Life".

It will not be how Marion is a playa off the court. It'll be based on his mother, sisters and publicist. The most important women in his life.

I would like to say that Marion should concentrate on basketball, but with a possible lockout looming, he may want to expand his horizons as far as getting paid. Like trying to get after that tv money. 

Charlie Manuel Loves Him Some Bernard Hopkins

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel isn't one to watch boxing or talk about it. But if you ask him about Philadelphia boxing champion Bernard Hopkins, he may never stop talking about him.

He's crossed paths with Hopkins once before, but was so impressed by him that he would like him to make a stop by Citizens Bank Park and have a conversation with him.

"I absolutely love listening to him," Manuel said. "That's one tough guy who wants to be a champion. I know in baseball, that's what separates the average guy from the real good one."   

If you've ever listened to a Hopkins interview the guy can talk for days. He'll also let you know he has the same drive and determination he had when he got out of prison. That's what Manuel likes about him. It seems like an odd pairing, but Manuel likes hard nosed players.

"It's about being a champion," Manuel said.

And in my eyes Hopkins is what being a champion is all about.


 

Skylon: Konsep Pesawat Luar Angkasa Buatan Inggris

Para ahli di European Space Agency sudah menerima detil dari konsep pesawat luar angkasa ini dan tak menemukan adanya halangan.

Mereka ingin melanjutkan ke fase perkembangan selanjutnya untuk melakukan demonstrasi lapangan dari inovasi kuncinya, yaitu mesin yang digunakan pesawat itu, Sabre.

Sabre Engine

Space Agency (UKSA) Ingrris telah menugaskan Esa untuk mengevaluasi desain, dan staf organisasi Eropa melaporkan pada Selasa bahwa mereka tidak melihat adanya cacat yang jelas.

"Esa belum mengidentifikasi topik penting yang akan mencegah keberhasilan pengembangan mesinnya," tulis mereka dalam tinjauan mereka.

 

Skylon telah dikembangkan di Inggris dalam berbagai samaran selama hampir 30 tahun.

Ini merupakan evolusi dari ide yang pertama kali ingin dikejar oleh British Aerospace dan Rolls Royce pada 1980-an.

"Dari apa yang telah kita lihat sejauh ini, kita tidak bisa mengidentifikasi adanya penghalang," Dr Mark Ford, kepala insinyur propulsi Esa.

Kim Kardashian Accepts Kris Humphries Proposal Even Though He Is Still A Net

New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries is officially engaged to Kim Kardashian.  Humphries slipped a 20.5 carat diamond ring on the reality-show star's finger last week.  It's amazing the publicity-crazed family kept the engagement under wraps for so long.  Must have been planning a TV series or store opening.

E News confirmed that the 26 year-old Humphries popped the question to his 30 year-old bride-to-be on May 18 at Kardashian's Beverly Hills home.

When asked about custom-designed engagement ring, Humphries gushed, "I just wanted it to be big."

To put the token of love into perspective, Kate Middleton's rock is a paltry 18 carat piece of bling.

Kardashian's response to the big moment, after six months of courtship, was blogging "OMGGGGGG" to her legion of fans.

Those Kardashian girls seem to have caught NBA fever.  Kim's sister Khloe is married to Los Angeles Laker Lamar Odom--a relationship which was custom made for a cable television audience.  This relationship should be no different.

Expect another annoying reality show counting down the days to Humphries and Kardashian's big day.  Just what the world needs more shrieking woman and shameless self-promotion.  At least we get to see Bruce Jenner try to make his facial muscles work.

The good news for Humphries, he is still an NBA player.  The bad news, he's still a New Jersey Net.  Have fun in Newark Kim.

Semangka Meledak Di Cina

Petani-petani Cina terkenal suka menggunakan bahan-bahan kimia baik yang legal maupun ilegal. Pada tahun 2008 kita mendengar soal isu susu ber-melamin, pada 2010 3.5 ton kacang dihancurkan setelah pihak yang berwenang menemukan penggunakan pestisida yang terlarang. Tahun ini studi menerbitkan sebuah pernyataan bahwa setidaknya 10% beras Cina mengandung logam berat kadmium yang berbahaya.

Skandal terbaru, yang menjadi korban adalah para petani sendiri. Lebih dari 100 hektar lahan di kawasan Danyang mengalami yang disebut ledakan semangka. Buah itu meledak di depan mata para petani sendiri.

Hal ini diduga diakibatkan oleh penyalahgunaan kimia yang disebut forklorfenuron. Para buruh tani mendapatkan banyak uang dengan menyemprotkan perangsang pertumbuhan itu yang ternyata tidak disarankan untuk semangka.

Cui Jian, direktur penelitian di Akademi Sains Agrikultur menyatakan bahwa zat kimia itu tidak akan berpengaruh pada hormon tanaman buah itu dan mengubah bijinya menjadi putih. "Semangka sangat sensitif," ujarnya. Namun demikian zat kimia ini tidak berbahaya bagi kesehatan bila dikonsumsi.

Menanggapi isu ini, profesor dari Universitas Agrikulutur Cina, Feng Shuanging sekali lagi menekankan perlunya batasan standar penggunaan bahan kimia untuk pertanian untuk melindungi konsumen.

Sementara itu babi-bai dan ikan Cina menikmati buah-buahan segar yang melimpah ini. Daripada mubazir...

A-Rod's Speeding Ticket Yanked By NYPD

A serious claim, made by sources involved in the New York Police Department's ongoing ticket-fixing scandal, accuses officers of burying a speeding ticket New York Yankees shortstop Alex Rodriguez got in 2009.

According to the New York Daily News, former-Yankees team owner George Steinbrenner was also a beneficiary of  mishandled summonses.

The NYPD ticket-fixing probe has widened in the past few weeks.  Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has extended the probe after the initial drug investigation concentrated on only one precinct but has now mushroomed into a wide-spread scandal.  It now involves over 100 cops and their superiors in various station houses.

Two sources said A-Rod was pulled over for hot-rodding on the West Side Highway around 57th Street two years ago.  He was issued a speeding ticket by a highway cop, but an NYPD sergeant had it disappear.



According to the Daily News, three sources gave accounts of numerous politicians and celebrities having summonses squashed.

"It was very easy for a big name to walk away from a summons," one source said.  "[Celebrities] have contacts everywhere.  There's an eagerness to help because of who they are."

Steinbrenner, according to the source, used his influence to get rid of tickets for friends and family many times over the years.

The practice was so blatant, some celebrities were bold enough to have representatives call Police Headquarters, outright, and ask to get their clients tickets fixed.

The sources claim rapper Jay-Z's driver was also nabbed for speeding in almost the exact spot as A-Rod.  The paperwork was "lost" and the case never saw the day of light.  The cop must have been in an Empire State of Mind.

Even former-Knick and current-Denver Nugget Raymond Felton was called for a moving violation outside Madison Square Garden and it disappeared faster than the Knicks against the Celtics.

The long-standing practice of NYPD cops  fixing tickets was always considered a professional courtesy and not a crime.  Up to 40 cops are now facing departmental charges for fixing the tickets for cash or gifts.

Spokespersons for Rodriguez, the Yankees or the Knicks had no comment about the allegations or if they were part of the Bronx grand jury probe.

I'm just wondering if Mets owner Fred Wilpon would be able to talk his way out of a speeding ticket these days.  He has such a special way with words.