The most beautiful legs in the world ..........Hollywood insured Dietrich’s legs for $1,000.000.

Besides being the world’s first greatest cabaret super vedette, Mistinguett according to the French had the most beautiful legs in the world. Even, when she died in 1956 at the age of 73, French people were telling each other : « Lorsqu'elle mourut en 1956, à 73 ans, elle fit la une de la plupart des journaux de Paris. - On chuchotait encore qu'elle avait les plus belles jambes du monde. », meaning : even at 73, people were whispering that Mistinguett had the most beautiful legs in the world.” IT WAS SAID THAT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF LEGS BELONG TO MISTINGUET, DEBBIE DECOUDEAUX, BETTY GRABLE, CLAIRE LUCE AND MARLENE DIETRICH.

The same was said about Marlene Dietrich. True, for Hollywood insured Dietrich’s legs for $1,000.000. Another Diva received the same treatment “Betty Grable” also referred to as America’s sweetheart with the most beautiful pair of legs and derriere in the world. Long time before Dietrich and Grable, an American burlesque queen and cabaret star by the name of “Claire Luce” was known as the “ lady with the golden legs”. But Mistinguett was a different specie! She created and started the very first format and prototype of cabaret entertainment in the world.

Photo: Mistinguett at “Le Casino de Paris”, Paris, France

Mistinguett Wardrobe : Price tag of each of Mistinguett’s cabaret show outfit: $35,000 (in today’s money). And she changed outfits, 5 times per show, every single night! Including hats, jewelry, feathers, beads and apparels, a full regalia Mistinguett’s performance dress weighted almost 20 pounds!

Maurice Chevalier once said about Mistinguett: “She had a magical way of moving and looking at you which was the pinnacle of style, grace and feminine beauty. Mistinguett was Paris, she symbolized the joy, the gaiety, the good humor, the exemplary determination, the good heart and tenacity. There have been greater performers, cabaret comediennes, singers and music hall dancers in her times and earlier, but all combined in a single package, there has been only one Mistinguett. The entire shows were built and choreographed around her. She was the whole show by herself.” Jean Gabin was the first actor and showbiz giant to use the word “divine” to describe a female star. And when he invented that word, he bestowed it upon Minstinguett.

Rodin said “She has the most beautiful pair of legs in the world.” Tino Rossi said among many other things: “She is the greatest cabaret artist of all time.” Years before Barbra Streisand, Cher, Liza Minelli, Madonna, Ute Lemper, Edith Piaf, Catherine Sauvage, Barbara Cook, Ella Fitzgerald, Bette Midler, there was the first and truly incomparable queen of cabaret, music-halls and shows and her name was Mistinguett, called by the French the "Queen of the Paris Music Hall." Tino Rossi called her “La Reine du Spectacle” meaning the queen of the show or music hall. Mistinguett reigned over the cabaret kingdom as the first, the authentic, the original and the world’s highest paid diva, entertainer, dancer, singer and queen of showmanship. In the 1920s and 1930s, Mistinguett earned as much as Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Cher earn today combined!

Photo: Mistinguett in 1925.

Mistinguett was born as Jeanne Bourgeois in the district of Enghien-les-Bains, in France, on April 3, 1875. Many cabaret historians believe that she was born on December 17, 1872 or 1873. Since childhood, Mistinguett was fascinated by the extravagant life of the rich class, the glitzy streets and buildings of Paris, the fame of the Parisian stars, lights and action of Casino de Paris and other fancy Parisian cabarets and boites de nuits. She was dreaming of becoming a star. At 12, he got her first job as flowers basket vendor at the entrance of Casino de Paris. This was the beginning for the little Jeanne Bourgeois. The beginning of getting as close as possible to a cabaret. It was her first step toward her future grand entrance and smashing appearance on the stage of the Parisian casino. Mistinguett, once told a confident: “Every time I sold one red rose, I felt one more light spot focusing on me on the stage of the casino. I had to do something to get in. Anything. Absolutely anything. Showbiz became my life. Well, I can use my legs and savoir-faire…and nobody is going to stop me…” Mistinguett said this at 16! But legs were not enough for Mistinguett. She had to show talent. Perrsistent and almost possessed by the idea of becoming an artist, she convinced her parents to pay for her music lessons, violin private tutoring and dancing lessons as well. Mistinguett excelled in dancing and showmanship training. Her voice was not so great but, her charisma and strong personality were noticed by her teachers who encouraged her to hang around artists, people of the media and other cabaret artists in Paris. And she did! She used to take the train every day from her home in the suburb to Paris to meet with the characters of the night, some writers and troubadours self proclaimed philosopher. Each time she took the train from her parents home in the suburb to Paris, Mistinguett would spend 3 agonizing hours each way. During one her trips to Paris, she met an obscure writer who gave the 16 year old girl, her future stage name “Mistinguette”. Later on, she will drop out the “e’ from her name to become “Mistinguett”. In 1893, she began to perform in small and obscure Parisian cabaret concerts, cafes and boites de nuits. She lacked good voice, dancing talent and stage theatrical talents but, she could move gracefully, tease the audience and act as a frivolous and daring comedienne. So, she started as a “B” comedienne in “B” places. But, she was on her way to stardom, to fame and power!

all about Brooke Burke

Name: Brooke Burke. Nationality: American. Birth Date: September 8, 1971. Birth Place: Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Occupation: Actress, model. Education: UCLA (majored in Journalism). Relationship: Garth Fisher (plastic surgeon; engaged in 2001). Daughter: Neriah (born in March 2000) Facts: She has guided tours from the Australian outback to the Mayan Riviera, and from the endangered Bamboo forests of Bali to the hyperthyroid nightlife of the world's most exotic party capitals. Quotes: - Wild On is the stuff of fantasy, and it's allowed me a list full of 'once in a lifetimes'. - I've have the greatest job on earth.- I never intended to make the cross-over from modeling to hosting, let alone into acting or writing, but when an incredible opportunity comes along, I'm all for it.

Biography Synopsis: The beautiful and sensuous Brooke Burke is recognized worldwide as the hottest tour guide and adrenaline junkie on E!'s popular travel series, "Wild On," seen in 120 countries and in more than 400 million homes. Having now completed her "Wild On" assignment, Brooke has segued to hosting E!'s popular new pop culture countdown series, "Rank." The show rates everything in entertainment, from Hollywood's sexiest stars to the best date movies and continues to expose Brooke to an adoring audience! During her three-year stint as host of "Wild On," Brooke redefined the term exotic location. She has guided tours from the Australian outback to the Mayan Riviera, and from the endangered Bamboo forests of Bali to the hyperthyroid nightlife of the world's most exotic party capitals. From grasping the fin of a wild shark in Belize to flying a Russian MIG 17 at negative g's, this is the wild child who has done it all. Born with a thirst to explore, Brooke experiences each country as a culture, not as a tourist. She's taken by the people and the environment and absorbs it all. During her extensive travels and ten years of swimwear advertising experience, Brooke has spanned the globe in search of hot, hip, sexy styles for swimwear. Now, her travels have inspired a collection of internationally flavored beachwear called "Barely Brooke," manufactured in Italy. Studio Italia designer Christina Andrade Brenner and Brooke have imaged and developed a look for their collection to mirror the essence and sensuality of Brooke's travels, through Italian quality, image, prestige and sex appeal. Barely Brooke is a mix of hot, simple, earthy looks, combined with island-inspired fabrics to create the best imagery of style from around the world.

all about Alyssa Jayne Milano

Birth Name: Alyssa Jayne Milano. Birthdate: December 19, 1972. Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY. Occupations: Actor, Musician. Claim to Fame: Rambunctious daughter Samantha Micelli on TV's Who's the Boss? Significant Other (s): Brian Krause, actor; started dating 2001; work on Charmed together. Husband: Cinjun Tate (aka Cinjun Augustus Tate), musician, lead singer of rock band Remy Zero; together since 1998; married New Year's Day 1999; divorced November 1999. Fiancé: Scott Wolf, actor; met June 1992; engaged October 24, 1993; broke up in 1994. Father: Thomas M. Milano, music editor; born in 1947; married Milano's mother in 1968. Mother: Lin Milano, fashion designer, personal manager; born in 1948. Brother: Cory Milano; born in 1982. Education: Bel Air Preparatory School, Los Angeles, California. Factoids: Her first role: Annie on Broadway, She has five tattoos: a fairy on her hip; rosary beads on her back, a sacred heart on her behind, an angel on one ankle and a garland on the other, Has recorded five albums in Japan. Quote: "We're on a much different place than when I was on television. People on series are now given a lot more opportunities, sometimes more than film actors." --Daily News, October 19, 1995. Agent:

Alyssa Milano P.O. Box 3684, Hollywood CA 90078

Biography Synopsis: At home on stage, big and (especially) small screen, Alyssa Milano grew up in the public eye, but when it got just a little too public, she stopped pornographers in their tracks. Milano’s professional acting debut came at the age of eight, when she spent a year on tour with the Broadway hit, Annie (1980). She moved to roles in off-Broadway productions of Jane Eyre, Tender Offer, All Night Long and Warning Signals. It was in 1984 that she made her movie debut, in Old Enough, and her breakthrough television debut, playing Samantha in Who’s The Boss? for an eight-year run. During those years she was cast in the movies Commando (1995), The Canterville Ghost (TV - 1986), Driving School (TV - 1988), Dance ‘Til Dawn (TV - 1988), Speed Zone! (1989), Where The Day Takes You (1992), and Little Sister (1992). During ‘88 and ‘89 she tried her hand at self-titled music and self improvement videos for her teen peers with Alyssa Milano’s Teen Steam and Alyssa Milano: Look In My Heart. The now-veteran actor moved on to steady movie work with 1993's The Webbers, Double Dragon, Conflict of Interest, Confessions of a Sorority Girl (TV), Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story (TV), Candles In The Dark (TV), and 1994's spooky Embrace Of The Vampire. In 1995 she took on roles in The Surrogate (TV), Poison Ivy II: Lily, and Deadly Sins; and, in 1996, Public Enemies, Jimmy Zip, Fear, Glory Daze, and To Brave Alaska. In 1997, Milano was cast in another career-boosting TV series role as a way cool, sexy trouble-maker in Melrose Place, and continued her film career with Body Count and Hugo Pool. In 1998, it was back to Alaska with the TV drama Goldrush: A Real Life Alaskan Adventure, and then on to the dizzying success of the TV series, Charmed. That program, which follows the adventures of a trio of crime-fighting witch sisters, has the distinction (despite critics decrying “bad dialogue and laughable special effects”) of being the “most-watched Warner Bros. premiere ever.” Meanwhile, off camera, that year Milano successfully sued several Webmasters who had been posting her nude image illegally, and she used the proceeds to launch her own porn-free Internet enterprise. In 1999, Milano married, then divorced (11 months later), singer Cinjin August Tate. On camera, she was cast in Blink -182: The Urethra Chronicles and was, as well, the “star” of several provocative Candie’s fragrance ads, while becoming even more popular as the “wackiest wiccan” on Charmed. Upcoming for the actor in 2000 is the moo-vie, Buying The Cow and at least another season of Charmed. With her stunning beauty and admirable ambition, Milano is sure to enjoy a “charmed” future.

all about ANNA KOURNIKOVA

Name: Anna Kournikova. Height: 5'.8''. Nationality: Russian. Birth Date: June 7, 1981. Birth Place: Moscow, Russia Occupation: Tennis player. Education: Russian high school (graduated in 1997), Physical Culture Russian University (started in September 1997). Relationship: Pavel Bure. Father: Sergei Kournikov. Mother: Alla Kournikova. Claim to fame: IMG Agents found she was playing in the Kremlin Cup in Moscow at age of 9. Awards: In the Australian Open in 1999 she won her first Grand Slam Title for doubles with her friend Martina Hingis. Agent: Anna Kournikova C/O International Management Group, One Erieview Plaza, Suit 1300, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, USA.

BIOGRAPHY SYNOPSIS: Anna Kournikova was born June 7th 1981 in Moscow. Her parents names are Allah and Sergei. She received her first tennis racquet at 5 years old when her parents sold their tv to buy her for Christmas. She played in a club near her place until age 11. After, she moved to Bradenton, Florida (USA) to train with Nick Bollitierri. At 14, she represented Russia in a Fed cup match and became the youngest player ever to win a fed cup match. She won her first professional title in 1999 at Midland, Michigan, an ITF tournament. She was 5th in Illinois the same year and won her 2nd career ITF tournament. Kournikova made her WTA debut at 15 years old at the US Open where she finally lost against #1 player Steffi Graf. She also made it to the double quarter finals that same tournament. More recently, she won the rookie of the year award in 1996. In 1997, she improved very much to even make it to the semis in Wimbledon. She lost to world number one Martina Hingis at the French Open and at Wimbledon. This year, she made her first career WTA final in Key Biscane against Venus Williams in a tough 3 set match. She also won her first doubles title with Monica Seles in Tokyo. Kournikova is still very young and she seems to have a great future ahead. Her best WTA ranking is 10th reached a few months ago... Kournikova won her first grand slam title this year (1999) with Martina Hingis in doubles at the Australian Open. Since then, they have played regularly together and have rapidly became one of the best pairs actually...Anna finished #1 in doubles for the 1999 season, quite a good performance considering she didn't compete in Wimbledon or in the US Open...Anna now resides in Miami with her mom and is ready to give all she has to enter the top 5. As I am speaking, Anna no longer has a coach and is trained by her mom. Also, in 1999, she made an important move going from IMG to Octogon for her agency. Some speculate that she might had been jealous of all the sponsorship deals Martina Hingis was getting from IMG and she wasn't getting. At Octogon, she is very well treated and her agent there is no one else than the big boss, Phil de Picciotto.

all about ANGELINA JOLIE

Name: Angelina Jolie. Birth Name: Angelina Jolie Voight. Height: 5.'7". Nationality: American. Birth Date: June 4, 1975. Birth Place: Los Angeles, California, USA. Occupation: Actress, model. Education: Lee Strasberg Theater Institute (enrolled at age 11), New York University (majored in Film; attended night classes, 1997). Husband/Wife: Billy Bob Thornton (actor, director; played together in Pushing Tin; married in Las Vegas on May 5, 2000), Jonny Lee Miller (actor; played together in Hackers; married on March 28, 1996; separated on October 1, 1997; filed for divorce on February 3, 1999). Relationship: Timothy Hutton (actor; dated 1998-1999). Father: John Voight (actor; married on December 12, 1971; separated in 1976; divorced in 1978). Mother: Marcheline Bertrand (former actress; born in 1950). Brother: James Haven Voight (director; born on May 11, 1973). Uncle: Chip Taylor (a.k.a. James Wesley Voight; musician). Son: Maddox (adopted). Agent: C/O William Morris Agency, 151 El Camino Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA .

BIOGRAPHY SYNOPSIS: Angelina Jolie was born to actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand (the couple divorced shortly thereafter) and began her own acting career at age 5 alongside her Oscar-winning father in Lookin’ to Get Out (1980). The talented youngster enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute at age 11, and continued her career into her teens with professional modeling and music video shoots. Already well-trained for the stage and screen, she followed up the Strasberg education with film studies at New York University and the Met Theatre Group in Los Angeles. She debuted on stage in Room Service during that time, and was directed by her brother, James Haven, in five student movies. The still teenaged Jolie spent the next few years getting good reviews in good films of various quality. She shone in Cyborg II: Glass Shadows (1993), Hackers (1995), Foxfire (1996), Love Is All There Is (1996), Without Evidence (1995), Mojave Moon (1996), Playing God (1997), George Wallace (TV - 1997 - for a Golden Globe win and an Emmy nomination), True Women (TV - 1997), Playing by Heart (1998 - for a National Board of Review Breakthrough Performance award), and Gia (TV - 1998 - for another Golden Globe, a Golden Satellite, a Screen Actors Guild award, and a second Emmy nomination). That year she married fellow actor, Jonny Lee Miller, and added unpredictability to her growing fame with her reported wedding outfit -- black rubber pants and Miller’s name in blood on the co-ordinating white shirt. The couple divorced a year later. Jolie just recently married Billy Bob Thornton and sports his name on her person in tattoo ink. 1999 brought Pushing Tin (1999), Hell’s Kitchen (1999), The Bone Collector (1999) and the much lauded Girl, Interrupted (1999 - for a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors’ Guild award, a ShoWest award, and the big one: an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress). The Oscar ceremony brought further notoriety to Jolie. Critics sneered at her gothic get-up and her gushing adoration for Haven -- when folks can’t fault your performances, they’ll get you for brotherly love. Upcoming for the actor are the films Dancing In The Dark, Gone In 60 Seconds, Tomb Raider and Along Came A Spider. She will assuredly be busy for quite some time. At age 24, with the entertainment industry’s top awards on her mantel and stellar talent to spare, Jolie is a Hollywood legend in the making.

Major corruption scandal in Turkey

Turkish police have scrambled to defend its anti-corruption efforts as a court formally charged and jailed 19 police officers for taking bribes at a border crossing. It a scandal that is likely to increase pressure on * Photo: The famous Turkish Bath house - P.R.Naag* Turkey to reduce rampant corruption as a condition for acceptance into the European Union. Corruption has long been woven into Turkish life. But this week's scandal highlighted a deep-rooted problem in the political and economic system in Turkey, which recently opened membership talks in the EU. The scandal, documented by cameras hidden inside heaters at the Kapikule Customs Gate on the Bulgarian border, is an embarrassment to the three-year-old government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has sworn to wage a war on corruption. In an effort to distance itself from the suspects, Turkey's police made a vigorous anti-corruption statement on Friday. "We don't look at the job titles of the people committing crimes," police spokesman Ismail Caliskan told reporters in Ankara. Late on Friday, a court in Edirne, the closest city to Kapikule in Thrace, charged and jailed 19 officers for "forming an organised crime ring and taking bribes". Earlier, prosecutors released nine other policemen, implicated in the scandal, pending trial. No trial date was set. The arrests follow those of 44 customs officers on Thursday at the same Kapikule Customs Gate on the border between Turkey and Bulgaria. Truckers trying to cross the border were commonly forced to pay 10 euros to passport control, 10 euros to an inspector, another 10 euros to the stamping agent, and 2.5 euros for a bag from duty free, CNN-Turk private television said, quoting one truck driver who said: "Bribery is the law here."

COULD RESEARCHERS ACCIDENTALLY CREATE A VIRUS THAT WIPES OUT ALL HUMANS?

The answer to this has to be yes. It sounds rather like the scenario of a B-grade science fiction movie, but researchers around the world for many years have been creating one deadly virus after another in the laboratory. In January, 2001, Australian researchers experimented with viruses in an attempt to develop a way of controlling mice that plague Australian agriculture. They created a genetically modified (GM) mouse-pox virus. However, this "supervirus" was far more powerful and effective than anyone had predicted. The virus killed off 100% of those mice exposed to it that were not immunized against it. It also killed off half of the mice that had been immunized against it. Mice are genetically rather similar to humans. Isn't that a reassuring thought? The researchers reported their results in The Journal of Virology. In 2000, Japanese researchers, while experimenting with the virus that causes AIDS stumbled onto a way to make HIV grow much faster. Making HIV grow faster is not exactly what we want, but we now know how to do it. They reported their results in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.-By Steven Juan.

CONSIDERING PLASTIC SURGERY?

It is not widely known, but plastic surgery seldom, if ever, uses any plastic. In fact, the name actually has no connection at all with synthetic polymers (i.e., plastics). In this sense, "plastic" derives from the Greek word plastikos meaning "to build up or take form." Plastic surgery deals with the appearance, form and surgical reconstruction of body tissues -- not the use of plastic substances to do so. Plastic surgery is also much older than most people think. The ancient Egyptians, the early Greeks, the Hindus of India and physicians for hundreds of years have attempted to change facial characteristics through surgery of various sorts. However, modern techniques did not develop until after the First World War by surgeons attempting to repair the disfigurement of combat. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons was formed in 1931. This marks the beginning of the true profession of plastic surgery. Breakthroughs in plastic surgery have occurred in the past 20 years. It is popularly believed any surgeon can become a plastic surgeon. This is not true. Plastic surgeons require as much or more postgraduate training than does any other surgical specialty. It is also popularly believed that plastic surgery is a frivolous specialty, concerned only with cosmetic facelifts, breast enlargements, tummy tucks and such. This is also not true. More than 60% of all plastic surgery deals with reconstruction to repair serious damage from burns, injuries or congenital abnormalities.

Less than 40% involves cosmetic surgery for reasons of vanity only. Of these, in one year alone (2002) in just the United States, 6.6 million people had cosmetic plastic surgery of one kind or another. Eighty-five per cent of these were women. The top five "cosmetic surgical procedures" for women were: (1) breast augmentation; (2) liposuction; (3) nose reshaping; (4) eyelid surgery; and (5) facelift. The top five "cosmetic surgical procedures" for men were: (1) nose reshaping; (2) liposuction; (3) eyelid surgery; (4) hair transplantation; and (5) ear surgery. Forty-five per cent of those having cosmetic plastic surgery were aged 35 to 50. Twenty-four per cent were aged 19 to 34. Twenty-two per cent were aged 51 to 64. Six per cent were aged 65 and over. Three per cent were aged 18 and younger.

Chocolate may cut heart disease

Researchers have produced more evidence that dark chocolate may help to reduce the risk of serious heart disease. They found eating a few squares a day may stave off artery narrowing and hardening in smokers by countering the disruption caused by their habit. Smoking compromises the activity of both endothelial cells, which line the artery walls, and platelets, which are involved in blood clot formation. The research, by University Hospital, Zurich, is published in Heart. The researchers compared the effects of dark (74% cocoa solids) and white chocolate on the smoothness of blood flow in the arteries of 20 male smokers. Before eating 40g of chocolate, smokers were asked to abstain from other foods rich in beneficial antioxidants, such as onions, apples, cabbage, and cocoa products for 24 hours. After two hours, ultrasound scans revealed that dark chocolate significantly improved the smoothness of arterial flow - an effect which lasted for eight hours. Blood sample analysis also showed that dark chocolate almost halved platelet activity. Antioxidant levels rose sharply after two hours. White chocolate had no effect on endothelial cells, platelets, or antioxidant levels. The researchers are convinced that the key is the high antioxidant content of dark chocolate, which contains more per gram than other food and drink laden with the substances, such red wine, green tea, and berry fruits. Research published last year by the University of California found antioxidant-rich flavonoids in chocolate helped the blood vessels expand.
Photo: The health claims of chocolate are not accepted by all.

Warning: Dr Charmaine Griffiths, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "There is some evidence that when eaten in small quantities, dark chocolate might have some beneficial effects on blood vessels, but as yet no study has investigated the long-terms clinical effects - and this new, small study from Switzerland, does not change that. "The key thing to remember about such studies is that chocolate is a bigger part of the problem than the solution. "Whilst dark chocolate is higher in anti-oxidants, all forms of chocolate are very high in calories (typically about 500 calories per 100g) and contain an average 30% total fat. "We are certainly not suggesting people never eat chocolate - everyone can enjoy a treat from time to time. "But there are much better ways of improving your heart health, such as eating a varied diet, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. "And whatever they eat, the biggest step the smokers in this study could make to reduce their risk of heart disease would be to give up."

Emma Lazarus, a nineteenth century American poet

Emma Lazarus, a nineteenth century American poet, world famous for her sonnet, "The New Colossus," whose words, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." which are inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.