Big Brother Season 11 Crowned Winner

Big Brother 11 was the eleventh season of the American reality television series Big Brother which premiered July 9, 2009 with the season finale airing on September 15, 2009 on the CBS television network. The show airs three times a week: Sundays at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), and Thursdays at 8 p.m (live ET/delayed PT). The eleventh season lasted 73 days, an increase of two days over the previous season.[1][2] Julie Chen returned as host, and Allison Grodner, Rich Meehan and Scott Einziger are the executive producers. The show is produced by Endemol USA and Allison Grodner Productions.

LOS ANGELES — Jordan Lloyd was served the $500,000 grand prize on "Big Brother 11."
The goofy 22-year-old waitress from Matthews, N.C., bested Natalie Martinez, the scheming 24-year-old recent college graduate from Gilbert, Ariz., on the season finale of the voyeuristic CBS reality show.
Lloyd received the most votes from the show's seven-member jury, which included viewer votes as the possibly tie-breaking seventh pick for the first time.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Natalie Martinez may have told her last lie in the "Big Brother" house.
The only way the scheming 24-year-old from Gilbert, Ariz., will have a shot at the CBS reality show's $500,000 grand prize is if one of the remaining competitors chooses her to battle against for winning bids from the "Big Brother 11" jury, which will include viewer votes as a possible tiebreaker.
After besting Martinez in qualifying bouts last week, Jordan Lloyd, 22, from Matthews, N.C., and Kevin Campbell, 29, from Chula Vista, Calif., will tussle during Tuesday's finale in the last Head of Household competition. The winner will choose his or her opponent.
Martinez has primarily spent the season deceiving her opponents. Her biggest fib was fooling most of the contestants — or houseguests, as they're called on the show — into believing she was an 18-year-old recent high school graduate. But she fumbled last week in a poorly constructed lie about being awarded a visit from her boyfriend inside the house.
The two-hour finale will also feature the jury's interrogation of the final two and a reunion of the 13-member cast — except for Chima Simone, the 33-year-old freelance journalist who was expelled after tossing a microphone into a whirlpool spa. Because Simone won't be part of the jury, viewers have been asked to cast the possibly tie-breaking seventh jury vote.

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If you Want Peace, Prepare for War (Si vis pacem, para bellum)

Do we have to go in war just to learn peace in one country?

THE LATIN motto Si vis pacem, para bellum (if you want peace, prepare for war) was emblazoned on the Imperial Ministry of War in Vienna. It reflected a security approach now every bit as extinct as the Austro-Hungarian empire. We have happily, if somewhat accidentally, moved beyond inter-state wars. As with all changes, this good news is tinged with feelings of insecurity about the unknown

Divide a sheet of paper into two columns. List all those your country might attack in one column and all those likely to attack your country in the other. Both columns will come up blank for the overwhelming majority of people whether they live in Ballinasloe, Bangkok or Buenos Aires.

Dick Cheney, as US vice-president, clearly demonstrated his belief in military power as the primary tool of statecraft. He continues to argue for US military intervention in, for example, Iran – while claiming that the systematic use of torture is vital for the defence of the United States.

A similar, if inverse logic, appeared in Eoghan Shorthall’s letter to the editor of September 9th where he advances the hypothesis of EU battle groups being used under Article 28 of the Lisbon Treaty to combat terrorism in support of a future US invasion of Iran or Syria. Although terrorists of one hue or another, citing their deities or spurious mandates from long-defunct assemblies, remain as dangerous as they are ludicrous – as the 275kg Forkhill bomb reminds us – such a scenario flies in the face of experience, capacity and reality.

New realities oblige humanity to blend its two traditionally separate security paradigms – “security with” and “security from”.

“Security with” comes to us from our distant ancestors who felt secure in their small family groups and later in their clans. It is a feeling which has become instinctive, feeling safe with people you know, on your street, in your town or even in your country.

“Security from” is the flip side. Since you felt secure in your group, there was an argument for preparing to defend it from the actions of the cattle-raiding clan in the next valley. “Security from” reached its nadir during the Cold War confrontation that dominated global politics for much of the second half of the 20th century. Almost every conflict and many governments were analysed, tagged and treated in function of their degrees of support for, or inclinations towards, one camp or the other.

At its core lay a scenario where the armed forces of Nato and the Warsaw Pact would slug it out on the plains of Germany in a mobile battle involving tens of thousands of tanks and thousands of combat aircraft, with the genocidal shadow of global thermonuclear war ever-present in the background.

The various permutations all involved a race between Warsaw Pact forces reaching Europe’s Atlantic ports in time to prevent the arrival of massive US reinforcements. The security policies and arms procurements of those concerned reflected this through significant investments in ever more sophisticated tanks and aircraft.

In that context, neutrality was one plausible “security from” approach. Then, in 1991, the unpredicted, the almost unthinkable, happened – the Soviet Union collapsed, the Warsaw Pact dissolved, taking the menace of global war with it.

States found themselves with expensive armed forces configured and equipped to fight a war that was no longer possible. Significant, if often unannounced, reductions in defence expenditure became the norm. Military service was progressively abandoned, major equipment replacements shelved, inventories run down and training cut back.

The real political challenge of determining what security policy might mean in our new world was marginalised when it was not completely avoided. As we faced bitter conflicts of considerable barbarity, from Yugoslavia to Darfur, this absence of policy made itself painfully felt.

States, having failed to develop new security approaches and instruments, were obliged to fall back on their armed forces – forces which not only lack appropriate training and equipment, but also much of what they do have no longer works.

Internal German army documents about the Bundeswehr mission in Afghanistan bemoan the fact that over half its deployed armoured vehicles cannot be used because of “missing replacement parts and insufficient repair resources”.

Even when the vehicles do work, many drivers lack off-road training.

Melding the traditional external “security from” approach into the local “security with” one is a common global challenge. It involves dropping some traditional military approaches – the UK stopped tank production this year – with the creation of new structures and the elaboration of new policies.

Today’s security threats come in many guises, including financial meltdown, economic recession, social inequality, food insecurity, climate change, epidemics, migration, and terrorism. They require a much broader and more comprehensive response within which military action can only be one element, however vital.

A primarily academic contribution to this process comes from the UK’s Oxford Research Group and its 2006 Global Responses to Global Threats publication. This group has launched a new website (www.sustainablesecurity.org) dedicated to exploring these issues.

On the far side of the Atlantic in Rio de Janeiro, a more hands-on dialogue on very similar themes has begun. It involves humanitarian bodies, government officials, UN staff and Brazilian military commanders and is organised by Viva Rio, a non- governmental organisation that began life in 1993 in response to Brazilian street violence.

The dialogue seeks to build on the generally positive experiences of the Brazilian-led UN mission in Haiti, a dialogue in a country which itself suffered under military dictatorship 1964-1985. A problem for those locked in the past is that military neutrality is a completely obsolete concept when it comes to developing a planetary “security with” approach.


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America's Got Talent 10 Finalist 2009

from left to right

America's Got Talent is a British owned American reality television series on the NBC television network. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of US$1 million. The show debuted in June 2006 for the summer television season. Starting in the third season, the Talent top prize included US$1 million, payable in a financial annuity over forty years (or the present cash value of such annuity), and a show as the headliner on the Las Vegas Strip.

Recycled Percussion (Goffstown, New Hampshire): Ryan and Justin are not only cousins but also the drummers; James joins them on guitar and DJ Todd rounds out the group that is rightfully called Recycled Percussion. For the past 10 years they have been creating their unique style of music with just about anything they can get their hands on — everyday household objects like ladders, buckets, trashcans and even metal grinders! This high-energy group promises to bring every ounce of rock and roll to the “America’s Got Talent” stage and wants to prove to the world that it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s more important where you are going. Recycled Percussion is determined to inspire a drug-free youth to tune in and watch the amazing things you can do when you put your mind to it.


Lawrence Beamen (Walnut Creek, California): Lawrence is a native of the Deep South (Mississippi) and his quiet, humble upbringing is a complete contrast to his booming voice and intense passion for music. The remarkable gift grabbed him at the early age of six and it hasn’t let go. His gospel background was strengthened with classical training and his repertoire grew through discipline and commitment. Lawrence’s sound reflects the great voices that have influenced his musical style: the depth of Barry White, the soul of Mahalia Jackson, the honesty of Bill Withers. His talent as well as his humility have earned Lawrence a place on America’s Got Talent and he hopes he’ll continue to impress both the audience and the judges.


Hairo Torres (Grants Pass, Oregon): Hairo Torres is a 23-year-old breakdancer who was born in Southern California and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon. He began his dance journey at 13 and it has helped transform Hairo’s life for the better. Hairo currently works two jobs — as a clerk at a video store and at a distribution plant — but has dreamed of making a living using the love and passion he feels for his craft. Despite the skepticism he has faced from family and friends over the years, Hairo has continued to practice and to perfect his dance moves. Hairo is taking on the “America’s Got Talent” competition in hopes of capturing his dreams, making his family and friends proud, and inspiring anyone who has hopes and dreams of becoming someone special in this world.


Drew Stevyns (Sykesville, Maryland): At age two Drew learned to sing “Happy Birthday” for his dad’s birthday and, at age five, he asked his parents for a keyboard and piano lessons. When he and his family moved to England in 1989 Drew joined the Anglican choir, was a member of the Royal School of Church Music and was enrolled at the Cleeve Comprehensive School in Gloucestershire, where he performed competitively in the annual Cheltenham Arts Festival.

Returning to the U.S., Drew continued his musical development by taking piano lessons, singing in his high school chorus, and teaching himself to play guitar. After graduating high school Drew worked a variety of jobs: fast food, construction, and landscaping, so that he could continue to pursue his dream of music. While locally he has made a name for himself, he is ready to introduce himself to the rest of America. He feels that his time spent with “America’s Got Talent” is “one of the most interesting experiences of my life and winning the competition would be a dream come true!


Barbara Padilla (Houston, Texas): Barbara Padilla was born in Guadalajara, Mexico where she studied music, acting, and dance. While in college, Barbara was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. During this time, Barbara was told that she might never be able to sing again because the radiation could harm her vocal chords. But she would not give up her dream.

After traveling to Houston for a consultation with doctors, Barbara had the chance to audition for the Moore’s School of Music at the University of Houston. She was awarded a full scholarship where she completed the Master’s Degree program, all while battling cancer. She was in treatment for several years and was near death on more than one occasion. Her faith, family and friends helped her through those difficult times.

Barbara is now in remission, living in Texas with her husband and beautiful three-year-old daughter. She feels incredibly blessed to have survived cancer and is ecstatic to be a part of America’s Got Talent.


Texas Tenor (Houston, Texas): In April of 2009, best friends Marcus Collins, JC Fisher, and John Hagen learned that “America’s Got Talent” was coming to Texas for auditions. Though they had moved away from each other because of family obligations, they thought coming out to audition would be the opportunity of a lifetime. With various backgrounds in the performing arts, they decided to combine their individual talents and become The Texas Tenors. Mixing country and classical music with their own Texas Tenor flavor, they auditioned with aspirations of winning over the judges and sharing their fresh new act with all of America. JC, a family man with his Texan wife and two sons, currently lives in Kansas. Born and raised on a cattle ranch, he relies on his family’s strong foundation of hard work and faith to guide his everyday life. John, considered the rock of the group, brings a wealth of classical music training along with his baritone voice. He divides his time in Texas performing, spending time with family, and running a small art gallery in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Marcus adds a contemporary flair to the group with his unique pop voice and boyish charm. Marcus splits his time between Houston and Sun Valley, California, to be close to his mother and grandparents on the West Coast. As the name of the group suggests, performing together on America’s Got Talent affords them the chance to do what they love, and represent their deep-rooted love for the Lone Star State.


Grandma Lee (Jacksonville, Florida): Lee was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma back in 1934. After graduating from Otterbein College in Ohio, she a married a career Marine, Ben Strong, and spent the next 20-plus years raising their four children and traveling around the world. As her kids grew up, Lee worked a series of jobs, including newspaper reporting and as an operator for directory assistance. In May 1995, Lee lost her husband to cancer. To help her cope, Lee began attending a local comedy workshop. Since then she has been making people laugh all around the country. Her goal on “America’s Got Talent” is to help older people realize that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.


Kevin Skinner (Orlando, Florida): Kevin Skinner is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Kentucky, where country is a way of life. He picked up the guitar at 12 and has never put it down. Kevin quickly realized that conveying his feelings through his songs was a very special gift. Music is a powerful potion that Kevin loves to share. He said that winning “America’s Got Talent” would be a great gift, but just being a part of the show is something that he will never forget.


Voices of Glory (Highland, New York): The Voices of Glory are a group of siblings whose unique style of singing harmonies makes them stand out. Michael, Avery, and Nadia started singing together in 2007 after their mother, Felicia, was in a head-on car collision with a drunk driver. She was seriously injured and in a coma. They serenaded their mother for months and she eventually came out of the coma and started rehabilitation. This wasn’t the end of the kids’ singing, however. They started traveling to nursing homes and other hospitals in an effort to help other patients. Participating in “America’s Got Talent” is very important to this group because they want to show their family how much they inspire them.


Fab Five (Morgan, Utah): From a dairy farm in rural Utah where life consisted of raising wheat, cows, and family, came five fabulous sisters who could accomplish daily dairy chores in the morning and dance like wildfire at dusk. Nearly three decades of dancing has brought tours, trophies, husbands, and kids. Ultimately, the sisters’ lives have been filled with smiles and tears: their father lost his farm to economic hardships, a child with severe Cerebral Palsy and another with kidney disease, but through it all, family and dancing were there. A win on “America’s Got Talent” would give them the chance to give back to their father and provide significant help for their families. Win or lose, The Fab 5 are forever family strong.



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Apple TV gets a price drop

Comments? At what price would you consider getting an Apple TV unit? Is 160GB for $229 good enough?

We're not sure what it will take to for Apple TV to really take off, but a $100 price cut certainly can't hurt. On Sunday night, the company dropped the price of the 160GB Apple TV to $229 and killed the 40GB model, which had previously been priced at $229.

Considering Apple had already dropped prices for its Time Capsule wireless networked drives, an Apple TV price drop doesn't come as much of a surprise. On top of that, Microsoft is on the verge of updating the XBox 360 to stream "instant-on" 1080p movies using Zune video technology, so Apple needs to do something to invigorate its little white video box in the face of increasing competition from plenty of players, including Roku.

Of course, after recently hearing Apple executive Phil Schiller talk about how $199 is a "magic price point" for the iPod Touch, you have to wonder why Apple just didn't hit $199 with Apple TV (I routinely beg Apple reps to drop the price to $199 in meetings).

Alas, in due time. However, before we see that price point, we expect to see a higher capacity, more expensive model in the not so distant future.



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Asustek Eee Keyboard Coming in October

A unique product announced by Asustek Computer early this year, the Eee Keyboard, will hit markets in Europe and North America starting in October, a top executive at the company said Monday.

The Eee Keyboard is a standard-sized computer keyboard with a built-in computer and 5-inch touchscreen on the right-hand side of the board. The device is designed to connect via wires or wirelessly to any device with a display screen, such as monitor, an LCD TV or a digital projector.

Asustek is promoting the device for household use. "We want to make the product useful for many things in the house, the home PC and LCD TV, for example," said Jerry Shen, CEO of Asustek, at a news conference in Taipei.

The company envisions people carrying the Eee Keyboard around the house and using it to access the Internet or play games on their LCD TV or as a wireless keyboard at their computer desk. The Eee Keyboard carries a host of wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0 and Ultra Wideband HDMI (UWB high definition multimedia interface), in addition to ports for a number of connections, including USB 2.0, a VGA port, HDMI ports, and connections for headphones and microphones.

The device has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom microprocessor inside, 1GB of DDR2 (double data rate, second generation) DRAM and an onboard 16GB or 32GB SSD (solid state drive) to store data.

An Asustek representative said a final price has not yet been announced for the Eee Keyboard.

Asustek unveiled the Eee Keyboard at a news conference at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

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Asustek Shows off New Thin, Light UL Laptop Family

Asustek took the wraps off a new family of thin, light laptop PCs designed for long battery life on Monday, the UnLimited family, or UL notebook PCs.

The laptops update an earlier line of U-series devices designed around CULV (consumer ultra-low voltage) microprocessors from Intel. Both series were designed with Apple's MacBook Air in mind, thin and light for portability. Some laptops in the Asustek UL family have features the MacBook Air lacks, such as lower prices, larger screens and DVD drives, but the MacBook Air beats the entire UL series on processing power.

Every laptop in the new UL series from Asustek is less than 1 inch (25.4 millimeters) thick. They each have a brushed aluminum chassis and components designed to squeeze the maximum battery life out of the system.

"We hope to make this the new standard in notebook computers, thin and light with long battery life," said Jerry Shen, CEO of Asustek, at a news conference in Taipei.

Asustek also may have made some breakthroughs in battery performance. The company claims the laptops offer up to 12 hours of power, depending on the configuration and usage. Third party assessments of the devices were not immediately available. Some of the UL series laptops can hold 8-cell batteries, which will give far longer battery life, but also add considerable weight to a laptop.

All of Asus's UL series laptops come with the latest 1.3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processors and Intel GS45 chipsets inside as well as 0.3-megapixel Web cams and Microsoft Windows Vista Premium OSs. They are upgradeable to Windows 7, according to information from Asustek.

Of the devices shown on Monday, the UL50Vg laptop boasts the largest screen at 15.6 inches, and price, at NT$35,900 (US$1,105). The laptop also includes Nvidia GeForce G 210M graphics, a 500GB hard disk drive (HDD) and a DVD Super Multi drive, and can hold up to 4GB of 800MHz DDR2 (double data rate, second generation) DRAM. The price is a suggested retail price from Asustek and does not say how much DRAM is included in that price.

The suggested retail prices are for Taiwan. A company representative declined to name prices for other markets because tariffs and other factors mean prices vary.

The UL80VT with a 14-inch screen, Nvidia GeForce G 210M graphics, a 500GB hard disk drive, DVD Super Multi drive and up to 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 (double data rate, third generation) DRAM carries a suggested retail price of NT$34,900 (US$1,074). Again, the company did not say how much DRAM was included in that price.

The UL30A, with a 13.3-inch screen, a 500GB HDD and up to 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 was priced at NT$33,900 (US$1,043).

The only sub-US$1000 laptop in the series was the UL20A, which has a 12.1-inch screen, 320GB HDD, up to 4GB of 800MHz DDR2, and a suggested retail price of NT$31,900 (US$980).

The devices will be in stores starting Sep. 22.


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SanDisk Launches Speedy Extreme Pro CompactFlash Card

Not all flash memory cards are created alike. Nowhere is this more evident than with the new SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash Card. Available in 16GB to 64GB capacities, this card promises, and delivers, on extreme: Armed with SanDisk's rearchitected controller, this card can achieve up to 90 megabytes per second read/write performance in a digital SLR that supports UDMA (mode 6).

I took this card out for several shoots, and have to say I've been impressed with how it handles. I didn't gauge its "performance" with regard to its rated write speed as compared with other, more lowly and less pricey cards; rather, the proof of this card's worth lies in how the card handles in the field.

As a photographer, I never want to miss the shot. You know the one -- whether it's an athlete's elation at a successfully completed routine, a gymnast's gravity-defying midair flip, or a couple's first kiss at a wedding -- those are the shots that burst-modes were made for. Unfortunately, even with SLRs that boast fast frames-per-second, well, those superfast ratings have been for shooting JPEG, not RAW.

Personally, I vascillate on the JPEG vs. RAW subject, and I'd prefer to shoot RAW, simply because I know I'm sacrificing potential image quality by not allowing myself to capture the most possible information for a shot, which a camera's large, unprocessed RAW file provides. But I don't have the time to do the necessary post-processing for every image that shooting RAW requires; plus, whenever I've tried shooting RAW only, or RAW plus JPEG, I've found myself quickly disappointed by missing a key backflip or sudden moment I thought I could capture, but couldn't because my camera's buffer had filled and I had sacrificed shooting speed.

Between my trigger-happy shutter finger and my desire to capture "the moment," I can fill a camera's buffer in heartbeat using just JPEG (and even using CompactFlash cards rated at 300X, the previous top-tier card). (An aside: Some manufacturers list ratings in so-called x-ratings, much like DVD drives have "X" speed rating; other manufacturers, like SanDisk, use names instead to describe speed, although it does note the Extreme Pro as equivalent to a "600X" card.) The more sluggish write speeds for shooting the large RAW files was, for me, too much of a sacrifice.

Until now. With the SanDisk Extreme Pro card, I didn't feel constrained because I was shooting RAW. Nor did I feel constrained when I shot using the camera's RAW + JPEG Fine modes -- which captured both file types for me. (I consider that the holy grail of shooting -- this way, I have the high-quality JPEGs for quick sharing, and immediate use, and the high-quality RAW file for editing, cropping, and finessing image worthy of the extra effort.

Using an SLR rated at 7 frames-per-second for JPEGs (and 5 frames-per-second RAW), I shot a parade. I shot a wedding. I shot daily happenings, sights passing by out of a car window, and more -- and I captured every moment I intended to. I have yet to try and capture a multirelease sequence on men's high bar, but my early hands-on with the card leaves me hopeful that I'll be able to do so.

More importantly, this card makes it clear that there are real and tangible differences among flash memory cards. Just because a card is on sale with a deep rebate doesn't mean that card will take full advantage of your camera's capabilities. If you have a newer digital SLR that supports the fast UDMA (mode 6) interface -- cameras like the Nikon D3, Nikon D300 and D300S, Nikon D700, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 50D, and the forthcoming Canon EOS 7D -- a card like the SanDisk Extreme Pro can be well worth its high price of admission. Yes, $300 is costly for a 16GB card, but in the end it's a small price if it means capturing the moments you're missing in the best quality possible.



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MTV awards: West disrupts Swift's speech; tribute to MJ

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Even by the standards of the anything-goes MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West's hijacking of country-pop sweetheart Taylor Swift's speech at the Sunday night ceremony was particularly brutal.

The pre-show buzz had focused on the highly anticipated tribute to the late Michael Jackson, but West's disruption stole the spotlight.

A giddy Swift was in the midst of her acceptance speech for Best Female Video when the often-mercurial West rushed onstage, grabbed her microphone and let loose an outburst on behalf of singer Beyonce Knowles, who had lost out in that category.

But audiences who stayed tuned until the end of the broadcast were treated to a touching bookend: Knowles, the night's top winner, invited Swift onstage and gave the teen singer her moment in the spotlight. Watch Kanye interrupt Swift, Beyonce react »

"I remember being 17 years old, up for my first MTV award with Destiny's Child, and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life," Knowles said, referring to the girl group with which she had her start. "So I would like for Taylor to come out and have her moment."

Speaking to reporters later, Swift was understated about her take on the disruption.

"I was excited to be onstage because I just won the award. And then I was excited that Kanye West was onstage. Then, I wasn't excited anymore," she said. Watch Swift's reaction after disruption »

Award winners
Best Video of the Year: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," Beyonce

Best New Artist: Lady Gaga

Best Male Video: "Live Your Life," T.I. featuring Rihanna

Best Female Video: "You Belong With Me," Taylor Swift

Best Pop Video: "Womanizer," Britney Spears

Best Hip-Hop Video: "We Made You," Eminem

Best Rock Video: "21 Guns," Green Day

Best Video (That Should Have Won a Moonman): "Sabotage," Beastie Boys

Best Breakthrough Video: "Lessons Learned," Matt and Kim MTV told journalists the West-Swift incident was not planned -- a point it had to stress after a walkout by singer Eminem at last year's event turned out to be staged.

Hip-hop superstar West, who was pictured before the ceremony swigging a bottle of Cognac, was escorted from the building after the rant, the network said.

Soon after, an apology to Swift appeared on his blog:

"I'm sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom," the message said in all caps. "I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would've said. She is very talented! ... I'm in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!"

So went the 2009 edition of the awards, a show that is historically less remembered for its winners than for its antics.

And as usual, the Sunday night spectacle, hosted by a not-particularly funny Russell Brand, delivered:

• Pink dangled upside down from the rafters as she belted out "Sober" -- upping the ante from last year, when she shimmied down a bed sheet from a second-story fire escape.

• Lady Gaga, apparently pressing home her feelings about celebrity photographers, dabbed at fake blood that dripped from her ribcage and smeared it on her face as she sang "Paparazzi."

• And Swift took the subway, from the 42nd Street station to a stage outside the show venue Radio City Music Hall, all the while singing "You Belong With Me." See guests arrive to awards show »

The ceremony was as much an awards show as a reverential tribute to Michael Jackson, who died on June 25.

Madonna got the evening off to a bittersweet beginning as she recounted how she forged a friendship with the singer and how they gradually grew distant.

"When Michael Jackson was 6, he became a superstar and was perhaps the world's most beloved child. When I was 6, my mother died," she began. "I think he got the shorter end of the stick. I never had a mother, but he never had a childhood."

After Madonna's tribute, an army of dancers re-created dance moves from several of Jackson's music videos. Watch highlights from the show »

As his single "Scream" beamed from a large overhead screen, Jackson's sister Janet came out and sang along to the only duet the siblings recorded.

Don't Miss
Gallery: Top moments from previous shows in NYC
The show also gave fans their first look at "This Is It," a behind-the-scenes documentary of Jackson's final three months. The two-and-a-half-minute trailer made clear the elaborate comeback show the singer was planning before he died.

But the much-publicized sneak peek was overshadowed by Kanye West's tantrum.

"Taylor, I'm really happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time," he said, snatching the microphone from Swift after she had won her award.

Swift stood onstage, speechless, clutching her award. The cameras panned to a shocked Beyonce, while the audience booed and later chanted "Taylor."

Though Beyonce later afforded the teen singer another opportunity to finish her speech, the West backlash had begun.

"F--- u Kanye," said a tweet on Katy Perry's Twitter feed. "It's like you stepped on a kitten."

Pink's Twitter feed made several references to the incident. "Kanye west is the biggest piece of s--- on earth. Quote me," one tweet said.

Of course, West is no stranger to award show outbursts.

He made a similar uninvited appearance onstage at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards when he was snubbed for his single "Touch the Sky."

He leaped onstage, saying his video deserved to win because it "cost a million dollars and Pamela Anderson was in it."



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Kymera Magic Wand functions as universal remote

Universal remotes are a dime a dozen and usually are overpriced. They are also notorious for being excessively boring. That is except for the massive ones meant to be a joke about someone’s age or being blind. Instead of going with your usual gray remote control with too many buttons, you could go a slightly more magical route. Instead of pushing buttons you could wave around your magic wand to make the channels change.

The Kymera Magic Wand can be flicked up or down in order to change the channel. If you need the volume up or down you turn it in a clockwise motion. It has a total of 13 “magical functions” in order to perform actions on your TV. The wand is battery powered and they’re kind enough to actually include the batteries for once. As of now this isn’t out, but don’t worry, it is coming soon. You can currently pre-order this. In order to do that you’ll have to pay a deposit of £10 or about $17. All together the wand will cost you £49.95 or about $83.

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Brother has just rolled out a trio of new inkjet all-in-ones – the MFC-295CN, MFC-495CW, and MFC-795CW, where they will retail from $99 to $179 each. These were specially built for the office, where they offer professional quality printing while utilizing minimal office space courtesy of the Brother ink tube delivery system where ink cartridges are not placed the print head, resulting in a lower-profile end product. Most people would think that inkjets are a waste of money in the long run due to the ink cost, but these models do do their part in helping consumers save on their printing costs such as a four-cartridge ink system and N-in-1 printing. Apart from that, the MFC-495CW and MFC-795CW will come with an extra ink save mode that prints only image outlines.Features of these printers are available right after the jump

MFC-295CN

Built-in Ethernet Network Interface
Up to 33/27 ppm (black/color)
Media cards slots & Pictbridge/USB direct interface
Easy to change front-loading ink cartridges
14.4Kbps Fax Modem
Up to 100 sheet paper capacity
MFC-495CW key

All the features of the MFC-295CN
Flexible Wireless & Ethernet network interface
Widescreen 3.3″ Color LCD Display
Up to 20 sheet Photo Bypass Tray
Up to 35/28 ppm (black/color)
33.6 kbps Fax / Modem
Auto-crop mode
Ink Save Mode
Up to 100 sheet paper capacity
MFC-795CW

All the features of the MFC-495cw
5″ touchscreen color LCD display
Built-in answering machine

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