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Music mogul DALLAS AUSTIN is set to fulfil a lifelong dream of space travel after booking a seat on one of RICHARD BRANSON’s shuttle missions.
The record producer, who has worked with Michael Jackson, Madonna and TLC, has signed up to take a flight on Virgin Galactic, Branson’s space tourism business - and he can’t wait for lift-off.
In a post on his Twitter.com page, Austin writes, "Yes!! Just got my confirmation to travel to space in 2013 thanx (sic) to Richard Branson !! I’m gonna see Earth!!"

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LADY GAGA has been honoured for her work to promote gay rights in the U.S. military with a special award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Monday night (21Mar11).
The Poker Face hitmaker is a vocal supporter of the campaign against the controversial ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, which bans homosexual U.S. service personnel from revealing their sexuality.
She was rewarded for her efforts at the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s 2011 dinner in Washington, D.C. on Monday when she was presented with the Randy Shilts Visibility Award, which honours those who work to promote the SLDN’s campaign.
Gaga could not attend in person to collect the prize as she is on tour, but she sent a video message which was recorded during a flight on a private jet.
She told the ceremony, "I am honoured to accept this award from this organisation that has been dedicated to the servicemembers for the last 17 years, and I recognise that this fight doesn’t end here. We still have so much more to do." And in a post on her Twitter.com blog, she adds: "I wish I’d been there in person to show my respect to SLDN, I’m honoured to be awarded by my brave friends."

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Pop legend CYNDI LAUPER refused to leave Japan when the earthquake and tsunami struck and she’s kept her promise to continue her tour of the country.
The singer was in Japan when the devastating 9.0-magnitude tremor struck on 11 March (11) and sent a massive tidal wave inland, leaving an estimated 18,000 people dead.
She took to her Twitter.com page in the aftermath of the disaster to let fans know she was safe, and she has continued updating and posting pictures as she experienced travel chaos and terrifying aftershocks.
Lauper admits she refused to leave even under the threat of a nuclear disaster as plants around the east coast began experiencing problems, and she is grateful to her crew for standing by her.
She writes, "I would like to… acknowledge the professional and inspiring behaviour in which my crew, my band and the Kyoto promotion staff have… conducted themselves in this time of crisis. Although we are, what I think, is not in harms way (sic). Winds continue to blow east. My band has never played better. And so I am lucky to have such extraordinary peeps (people) around me…" She adds, "Instead of constantly promoting fear I thought I’d show how things are continuing here. Of course we are worried about the nuclear situation, but promoting fear will not help." Lauper’s last gig in the country takes places in Osaka on Tuesday night (22Mar11).

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Security guards were called to the set of GOOD MORNING AMERICA on Tuesday (22Mar11) after CHRIS BROWN allegedly suffered a meltdown and smashed a window in a furious rage.
The pop star made an appearance on the TV show to promote his new music, and after performing he was interviewed by host Robin Roberts in New York’s Times Square.
The Kiss Kiss hitmaker became increasingly annoyed by questions about his past legal troubles, including his 2009 assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna.
He told Roberts, "I’m just focused on this album. This album is what I want people to hear and to get into and definitely this album is what I want them to talk about, not what happened two years ago." After the interview, Brown is said to have stormed back to his dressing room in a rage, screaming and shouting at the top of his voice, according to TMZ.com.
The website reports Brown ripped his t-shirt off and allegedly slammed a chair into a window, breaking the glass with shards falling onto the street below.
Hair and make-up artists are said to have become alarmed and called security, but Brown had already left the building by the time they arrived.
The singer updated his Twitter.com page after the alleged incident and made a scathing reference to Charlie Sheen, whose bizarre antics have hit headlines across the world over the last few months.
Brown writes, "I’m so over people bringing this past s**t up!!! Yet we praise Charlie sheen and other celebs for there (sic) bulls**t." The message was subsequently deleted and replaced with a note which reads, "All my fans!!! This album is for you and only you!!! I’m so tired of everyone else!! Honestly!!" Brown was convicted of assaulting Rihanna and remains on probation after serving a community service sentence and attending anger management classes.

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JAMES FRANCO has hit back at BRUCE VILANCH after the long-time Oscars writer criticised his Academy Awards hosting turn last month (Feb11).
The Spider-Man actor teamed up with Anne Hathaway to present the Hollywood ceremony, but the young stars’ gig was poorly received by critics and audiences alike.
Vilanch recently suggested that Franco’s busy schedule kept him from performing well, telling NY Magazine’s Vulture Blog, "He has so many balls in the air, he didn’t get to town till Thursday before the show on Sunday. And so we emailed a lot… But he didn’t get there." Now Franco has hit back at Vilanch by taking to his Twitter.com page and writing, "Bruce he let me down".
He also posted a photograph of himself and Vilanch upon which he wrote in pink graffiti: "James f**ked up the Oscars. Trust me, I know comedy. I mean, come on, I write for Bette Midler!" Franco later removed the posts.

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Retired golfer ANNIKA SORENSTAM has become a mother again after giving birth to a baby boy on Monday (21Mar11).
The Swedish champion went into labour early and welcomed William Nicholas McGee, her second child with her husband, Mike McGee.
She announced the news in a post on her Twitter.com page just an hour after the baby was born, writing, "Surprise! I went into labour today & William Nicholas McGee was born at 6:33 PM. I’m well. Will is hanging in there fine for being 27 weeks." Sorenstam and McGee are already parents to daughter Ava.

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GOSFORD PARK writer JULIAN FELLOWES is creating a TV show about the Titanic to mark the centenary anniversary of the ship’s demise.
The Oscar winner’s six-part period drama, due to begin filming in Hungary this spring (11), will follow both fictional and historical characters onboard the doomed liner, which builders boasted was unsinkable.
Bosses behind the show insist viewers will be taken on "a heart-wrenching journey through Titanic’s last hours".
The show will air in the U.K., U.S. and Australia.
James Cameron scored 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, for his 1997 epic film Titanic, which told the story of the luxury liner that sank after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 1912.

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Veteran Bollywood star ROBERT ‘BOB’ CHRISTO has died after suffering a heart attack. He was 72 years old.
The Indian actor, who had Australian heritage, passed away on 20 March (11) in Bangalore, India.
Christo, who shortened his name to just Bob at the height of his Bollywood stardom, began his career as a qualified civil engineer before turning to modelling and acting. His big break came when he was hired to star as a villain in 1980 Hindi movie Abdullah.
He went on to make his name as a Bollywood bad guy, starring in more than 200 films including Kaalia, Disco Dancer and Mr. India, and often playing villainous roles.
Christo auditioned for a role in classic war movie Apocalypse Now, but lost out to Harrison Ford and instead used his civil engineering background to help build the film’s sets, according to Variety.com.
He is survived by his wife, Nargis, and five children.

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GOSSIP GIRL star KELLY RUTHERFORD is in no rush to walk down the aisle again after her messy divorce from DANIEL GIERSCH, declaring: "I don’t care about marriage".
The actress endured a nightmare court battle after she and the German businessman split in 2008 - the couple became embroiled in a custody fight while Rutherford was pregnant with their second child.
It took months before the divorce battle was settled - and now Rutherford is finally single, she plans to stay that way.
She tells OKMagazine.com, "I don’t care about marriage anymore. I have my kids. I was boy-crazy before I had my kids, but now I’m like, ‘OK, I love men, I’d love to meet someone great and have a great relationship.’ But it’s not a priority.
"I think it’s a priority in a way when you have children because you want to have that. The kids have their father, and they love their father, and they have their mom. I don’t know. I’m not opposed to it, but I don’t need it to be fulfilled. If it happens, it happens." And the 42 year old doubts she’ll settle down in the near future - because she has no time to date.
Rutherford adds, "It’s hard to date when you have kids because I don’t have the energy… Whether I want to or not, I’m like, ‘No, I really don’t feel like going out now. I may have two days ago, but now I’m just tired.’ "I’m open to it, but it’s about having the time to do it and actually having the time to give to someone. My life is very full, and to have another person to give to right now… it has to be a pretty amazing person."

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Oscar-winning moviemaker MICHAEL MOORE has taken aim at U.S. leader BARACK OBAMA for his planned allied attack on Libya.
The Bowling for Columbine director was critical of President George Bush and the U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now he has turned his attention to President Obama’s international affairs following his "There will be no mercy" speech on Sunday (20Mar11).
Taking to his Twitter.com blog, Moore rages, "We have neither the troops, stomach, or $$ (dollars) to fight a ground war for months/years to defeat (Muammar Gaddafi)… May I suggest a 50-mile evacuation zone around Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize?"

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Embattled TV star CHARLIE SHEEN is planning to take his one-man comedy show to Haiti and donate all proceeds to charity.
The actor has been selling out venues across the U.S. with his Charlie Sheen Live: My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option tour and now he’s in negotiations to take the show to the earthquake-ravaged country.
According to TMZ.com, Sheen has been working closely with Sean Penn to set up the benefit event after recently agreeing to jet to the Caribbean nation on a humanitarian mission.
Earlier this month (Mar11), Penn confirmed the unemployed actor was lending his help to the JP Haitian Relief Organization, the charity the Milk star set up in the aftermath of last year’s (10) devastating earthquake.
Sheen has been out of work since TV producers fired him from his long-running hit sitcom, Two and a Half Men.

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TOM ARNOLD and ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER are in negotiations for a TRUE LIES sequel.
The former California Governor recently confirmed he’s considering a number of sequels to his film classics and now funnyman Arnold has revealed True Lies is among them.
He tells MovieWeb.com, "I have read a great True Lies 2 script, and I hope we are able to do it. Knock on wood. Arnold Schwarzenegger is excited. I am excited."

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Singer SELENA GOMEZ is planning a nightly tribute to BRITNEY SPEARS on her upcoming tour.
The Disney star admits she’s nervous about paying homage to her heroine, but thinks more young stars should acknowledge Spears.
She tells MTV News, "We are working on a Britney tribute, which I’m so stoked about, ’cause I love Britney. I was like, ‘I have to do it.’ I wanna do a mash-up of all her songs and just go for it.
"We’re gonna do her hits - Baby One More Time, and then I think we’re going to try to incorporate Toxic and that phase. And then we might do some of her recent, new stuff." And although Gomez is excited about covering the the pop star’s songs, she won’t be trying to imitate any of her famous dance moves.
She continues, "I’m not going to even touch Britney! She’s so good. I wouldn’t want to butcher it. I’m just going to pay tribute to her! I’m gonna say she’s awesome." Gomez recently revealed that Spears was the first act she saw perform live - and that concert inspired her to work on her own pop career: "We were in the nosebleeds (budget seats high above the stage) with my cousin. I got the T-shirt and glow stick. and I just remember it being the highlight of my life! I felt like I was on cloud nine."

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Punk icon DEBBIE HARRY has shelved plans to pen her autobiography because she’s struggling to piece together her memories.
The Blondie frontwoman has been working on her memoirs for years but is finding it impossible to recall details of the band’s heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
So she has now decided to put the book on hold, and regrets not keeping diaries or journals to jog her memory and help her recount her life story.
The Heart of Glass hitmaker tells The Sunday Times Magazine, "I started, you know, but I never kept diaries so I’d sit there and go, ‘Well what really happened?’. What it basically comes down to is that so much happened, how could anyone actually remember everything?… I don’t think I was even particularly interested in remembering everything."

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Singer SOLANGE KNOWLES wants to give fellow Texan BUN B a birthday to remember by DJ-ing at a party in his honour with their mutual pal ERYKAH BADU.
The UGK rapper turned 38 on Saturday (19Mar11) and celebrated his big day by performing with Badu at an event during the South By Southwest festival in Austin.
But he’s set to celebrate his birthday with a more private affair with his friends and family in the upcoming weeks - and he recently reached out to Knowles via Twitter.com to ask her to man the turntables.
He tweeted, "I want either @fatbellybella (Badu) or @solangeknowles to DJ my birthday party..or both!" And Beyonce’s younger sister admits she’s trying to work out the details with the rapper and Badu so she can help turn his birthday wish into reality.
She tells WENN, "I’m a huge Bun B and UGK fan. I’m from Houston, so that would absolutely be awesome and especially to do it with Erykah Badu, that would be a pretty interesting night of music." Badu is also known for her DJ skills and performs under the name DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown.

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Celebrity pianist ROGER WILLIAMS has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
The Born Free star, 86, began chemotherapy treatment last week (ends18Mar11) and surgeons hope to remove the tumour once it shrinks down to an operable size.
But the musician is refusing to let the disease interfere with his tour plans and pressed ahead with a performance in Palm Desert, California on Sunday (20Mar11).

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The estranged daughter of late British jazz pianist SIR GEORGE SHEARING is planning to fight for a piece of her father’s estate after she was left out of his will.
The blind musician passed away on 14 February (11) at the age of 91, after suffering from congestive heart failure.
A memorial service is set to be held at St. Thomas Church in New York on Wednesday (23Mar11), but his daughter Wendy Peterson will not be among the mourners.
Peterson, the pianist’s daughter from his first marriage, was estranged from her dad for over a decade - and she blames his second wife, Ellie, for driving a wedge between her father and his family.
She tells the New York Post’s Page Six column, "My dad and I have always had a great relationship. When he and my mum divorced (in the early 1970s), and then he met Ellie, she alienated him from me, my kids, all of his friends that he had when he and mum were together. I haven’t spoken to him in 12 years." Peterson, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, claims her decision not to attend Wednesday’s ceremony is partly due to the strained relationship with her stepmother - but it’s also because she can’t afford the trip to the Big Apple.
But she’s hoping her financial situation will change once she challenges her dad’s will, in which he declared she will receive "nothing for reasons not stated but (which) she knows of".

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THE STROKES frontman JULIAN CASABLANCAS delivered all of his vocals for the group’s new album via email - because the outspoken singer wanted to give his bandmates complete creative freedom.
The star wrote every song on the band’s previous releases and was heavily involved in the musical arrangement of the tracks, so he decided to stay away when his pals holed themselves up on guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr.’s New York farm to begin work on their first album in five years.
And Hammond, Jr. insists Casablancas’ impersonal approach to recording worked wonders for group morale as every member was given a chance to express themselves on their comeback disc, Angles.
He tells the New York Post, "Julian didn’t want to stifle the rest of us with his opinions - it was his way of making us stronger as a band.
"We’re a very organic band and we still feel love, but like in anything, there are times we all need time to be alone. That doesn’t mean we don’t respect and love.
"It’s an easy thing to say we’re all going to accept everyone’s ideas, sift through them and do what’s best for The Strokes. It’s harder to actually do it. It’s hard on your ego to have your songs torn apart by friends, but it does make the songs better and lets the band evolve. We just have to trust each other."

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