CULTURE

Models present creations by Japanese designer Junya Tashiro at a fashion show during Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo, October 19, 2009.

American diva Beyonce has postponed a concert in Malaysia after the country's opposition Islamist party raised protests against her performance, concert organizers said.

Balloon Boy's father Richard Heene had planned the flying saucer controversy since early this year for publicity of a reality show featuring him as a passionate scientist carrying out various shocking experiments, Robert Thomas, a researcher close to Heene said, according to a story obtained by Gawker.com

For the fourth time this year, the 3D animated feature Up claimed the No. 1 spot on the overseas circuit, bagging $27.9 million from 4,500 screens in 24 territories during the weekend.

Keep up the faith, Southland fans.

Bill Cosby doesn't rap or sing on his latest project, but he gathered together people who do. Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency is a socially conscious hip-hop CD that focuses on the critical issues affecting young people. The independent project will launch Monday (October 19) during a virtual town hall meeting in New York.

Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer sharply criticized the Frankfurt Book Fair for inviting China as its guest this year, arguing that the country should not be honored given its poor human rights track record.

Some 3,000 people lined the streets on Saturday for the funeral of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately, who died on the island of Majorca a week ago.

Where the Wild Things Are topped the North American box office, according to studio estimates on Sunday, a strong start for a film that, like its little boy hero, sailed into somewhat uncharted waters.

Best known for leading the alt-country rock bands Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt, Jay Farrar teamed with Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard for his latest project, an album with lyrics based on the prose from Jack Kerouac's 1962 novel Big Sur.

ARTIST: MICHAEL JACKSON SINGLE: THIS IS IT

Rod Stewart brings a splash of color to the staid surroundings of the Beverly Hills Hotel. He's wearing a blue striped shirt, a white business suit jacket with thick red trim and blue Converse slip-ons -- a look that combines nautical and vaudeville, which seems perfectly fitting for Stewart, the perpetual showman.

Los Amigos Invisibles, the Venezuelan funk band from Caracas that relocated to Brooklyn more than eight years ago, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2011. But the party has already started, with the group enjoying an ever-growing following throughout Mexico, South America and its adopted home country.

Most of the lyrics by the hard rock/glam metal band Steel Panther are too vulgar for radio. And Michael Starr, the parody act's frontman, says MTV handed Steel Panther the longest edit sheet in the network's history in response to the group's first attempt at a music video.

Film director Roman Polanski, arrested in Switzerland three weeks ago to face extradition in a U.S. sex case, has been moved from jail for medical treatment, his French lawyer said on Saturday.

Some 3,000 people lined the streets on Saturday for the funeral of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately, who died on the island of Majorca a week ago.

When we give a presentation to a future client not only do our appearance, visual aids, and body language relay a message, but the words we use create pictures in their minds.

In business situations, when you are trying to reach the person who has the authority to make decisions regarding your product you are very likely to have to go through one or more people before reaching that person.

Too many salespeople, when faced with clients who range from dissatisfied to down right angry, choose the loser's path by postponing handling the situation. This results in one of two things happening.

In the old traditional cold calling mindset, you expect a lot of rejection, and unfortunately you usually get it. You probably make hundreds of calls, and out of those you make a few sales. You've come to accept that rejection as a normal part of cold calling.

Before you make a cold call, do you gear up first? Do you get excited about your product or service, and try to anticipate making the sale?

Ari, whenever someone brings up an objection, I find myself moving into a sales pitch, even when I don't want to, Sherri told me during a recent phone call. I'm not even sure why I do it. I just want to explain how their objection doesn't really apply, but before I know it, I'm 'selling' again. I know this creates sales pressure, and I know it can push people away -- but I don't know how else t...

If you've been selling for a while, you've probably had at least one experience in which your prospect suddenly started giving you the silent treatment.

Lindsay Lohan will be allowed more time to complete required treatment programs linked to her arrest in 2007, but could go to jail if she fails to meet them, the New York Post reported Friday.

TLC network sued Jon Gosselin for violating his contract with them by appearing on celebrity news programs.

A judge on Friday extended Lindsay Lohan's probation on drunken driving and other criminal charges for one more year, telling the struggling actress to get serious about her alcohol education program.

When he's far away from the bright lights of Hollywood, actor Kevin Bacon spends much of his time in second-rate hotels and hauling his own bags while trudging through airports.

Twitter has been kind to a motley crew of actors, TV personalities and pop stars whose fame online outstrips that of the outside world. And it's all about getting personal.

Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie is working with Avon Products Inc to develop a perfume that will debut next year.