26-year-old Texan crowned Miss USA

By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press Writer 9 minutes ago

A 26-year-old entrepreneur from Texas was named Miss USA on Friday, besting 50 other beauty queens for the coveted crown.

Crystle Stewart, of Missouri City, Texas, runs a party-planning and motivational speaking company, as well as modeling professionally. She says she wants to dedicate her life to international philanthropy.

She edged out first runner-up Leah Laviano of Mississippi and Tiffany Andrade of New Jersey.

Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith relinquished the crown — and the posh New York apartment that comes with it — in a show aired live by NBC with hosts Donny and Marie Osmond from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The network co-owns the parent Miss Universe Organization with Donald Trump.

Smith, a former Miss Tennessee USA, said she was headed to Hollywood.

Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia have been in Las Vegas for nearly three weeks, rehearsing and hyping the 57th annual pageant. After stints in Baltimore and Los Angeles, organizers billed the new venue as a city beloved by the event’s international audience.

The pageant tried to showed off its edge, featuring a grinding live rock performance by the band Finger Eleven, music from Rihanna, and contestants in barely there black bikinis and faux-fur coats.

Donny and Marie kept up a steady stream of sibling banter even while swiftly whittling the field.

Donny Osmond told the losers to “put on a poker face” as he sent them home.

“Or use Botox; then it won’t move,” Marie quipped.

Stewart will compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Vietnam in July. She also becomes a spokeswoman for breast and ovarian cancer awareness and other causes, while traveling to promote the organization.

Miss USA contestants are scored in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Miss Alaska USA, Courtney Erin Carroll, was chosen “Miss Photogenic USA” based on voting at the organization’s Web site. The other contestants named Miss Ohio USA, Monica Day, “Miss Congeniality.” Unlike the rival Miss America, Miss USA contestants are not asked to perform a talent.

Smith’s year on the throne has been marked by fewer racy headlines than her 2006 predecessor, Tara Conner. Conner’s underage drinking landed her in rehab and sparked a media circus documenting her fall from grace.

Smith’s low point was a fall onstage during the evening gown competition of the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City. She was booed by the crowd and Miss Japan won the title.

A bigger blunder this year belonged to Miss California USA organizers. The judges crowned the wrong queen in their November contest and reversed it days later, saying Raquel Beezley, of Barstow, was the victim of a vote tabulation error. Dethroned Miss Los Angeles, Christina Silva, a Hispanic woman, has filed a lawsuit alleging racial bias.

The panel of judges for Friday’s pageant included Heather Milles, model and former wife of Paul McCartney; comedian Rob Schneider; Olympic gold-medal swimmer Amanda Beard; and Christian Siriano, winner of Bravo’s fashion reality series, “Project Runway.”

Japan Sushi Reception 2008 in Davos (Jan 30 – Feb 7)

On Thursday, January 24, 2008 ago, On the occasion of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 held in Davos, Switzerland (23-27 January), the University of Tokyo, Keio University and two companies hosted the Japan Sushi Reception 2008 at the Central Sport- und Wellness Hotel on 24 January. During the opening ceremony, President Komiyama and Keio University President Anzai gave brief welcome speeches. After that the presidents of the two companies made short presentations on the common theme of “Japan as a Solution Leader for the Environment.” Approximately 270 people attended the ceremony, including government officials, presidents of companies and universities. (from The University of Tokyo)

 

Indian Classical Dance in Bali

A one-day workshop of indian dance is carried out in Denpasar with theme “Indian Classical Dance” (Bharatanatyam)
took place at the Natya Mandala Building, Indonesia Institute of Arts (ISI), Denpasar on Tuesday, February 29, 2008. ISI Denpasar is a college which give arts learning for student and only one in Bali. It was presented by five Indian Dancer under direction of Guru KJ Sarasa from Chennai, India. The clinking sound of bracelets, stamping of feet and limber movement of their dancing bodies, accompanied by the distinctive sound of drumbeats generated quite a different and exciting atmosphere in the building. Participants, all student of ISI Denpasar from the fourth semester were all excellent students. Other partcipants who were mostly professional Balinese dancers seriously followed the moves from the back row. On the following day, the company chaired by Sri Ganesan Staged the same dance.

golf in Bali

in Bali there are many the field for golf. The example in Tanah Lot,Tabanan. The place is very nice because there is the beach in the side it.And there is Tanah Lot temple also which is one of the great temple in Bali.