Patients Taking Cymbalta� Experienced Reduced Chronic Low Back Pain In New Study

�Data from a new study suggest that Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) 60-120 mg once everyday significantly decreased chronic low-pitched back pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) 24-hour ordinary pain score, compared with placebo.(1) Results from the double blind, 13-week, placebo-controlled study of 236 patients were presented today at the annual congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) in Madrid, Spain.


Duloxetine-treated patients reported significantly greater reduction in pain heaps than placebo-treated patients. Thirty-one percent of duloxetine-treated patients experienced a 50 percentage reduction in pain, compared with 19 percent of placebo-treated patients, as careful by an 11-point Likert pain scale. Physicians take a bother reduction of at least 30 percentage as clinically significant.(2)


Treatment with duloxetine too was associated with improved patient outcomes as calculated by the Patient Global Impressions of Improvement (PGI-I), and physical functioning as measured by the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ-24).


Significantly more patients in the duloxetine group discontinued because of contrary events. In this study, the most common adverse events (those occurring in more than 5 pct of patients in the duloxetine group) were nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, looseness of the bowels, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), giddiness and irregularity. Adverse events were similar to those seen in previous duloxetine studies in other disease states.


"Chronic low back pain can have got a important impact on a person's ability to do the things they enjoy," said Vladimir Skljarevski, lead study author and a brain doctor and medical fellow at Lilly Research Laboratories. "This research whitethorn offer hope to those dealing with this debilitating condition."

Additional Study Highlights


-- The recurrent measures analysis using the patient diary demonstrated a
significantly greater reduction in pain in the first gear week after
starting the 60 mg daily venereal infection, which continued throughout the 13 weeks
of the acute therapy phase.


-- Superiority to placebo in most secondary analyses including eight out
of the remaining 10 BPI items (e.g., weekly 24-hour average pain in the neck score,
weekly 24-hour worst pain and weekly 24-hour night pain in the ass) was discovered.


-- Superiority to placebo was non observed in two BPI items: bother
interference with general action and nuisance interference with sleep.
-- Statistically meaning differences in three single items in the


Short Form-36 of the Medical Outcomes Study (SF-36) - bodily annoyance,
general health and vitality - were observed.


-- Statistically significant differences were not observed in the
remaining items in the Short Form-36 of the Medical Outcomes Study,
including mental factor summary, physical component drumhead,
mental health, physical operation, role-emotion, role-physical and
societal functioning.


-- The duloxetine treatment grouping experienced a significantly greater
improvement on the work-activity impairment score compared with the
placebo treatment group as deliberate by the Work Productivity and
Impairment Scale (WPAI).

Study Methods


Adult patients given duloxetine (n=115) and those minded placebo (n=121) with a history of non-neuropathic chronic low back pain for more than six months with a weekly mean 24-hour mean pain grade greater than or equal to 4 at baseline (0-10 scale) and without major depressive disorder were initially treated with duloxetine 60 mg once everyday for the first seven-spot weeks in this randomised placebo-controlled trial. After seven weeks of duloxetine treatment, patients reporting less than 30 percentage pain reduction (non-responders) had their dose increased to 120 mg once daily. Responders continued on 60 mg once daily. The study's primary objective was the step-down of the BPI 24-hour average nuisance score. Secondary measures included RMDQ-24, PGI-I, BPI Severity portion (BPI-S) and BPI Interference lot (BPI-I), diary-based weekly hateful of the 24-hour modal pain sexual conquest, Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S), and reaction rates. Health outcomes, safety and tolerability also were assessed. Continuous efficacy variables were analyzed using aNOVA (ANOVA) with treatment and investigator in the model, or depth psychology of covariance, with baseline, treatment and investigator in the example, and the stratifying variable of NSAID use (Yes/No). Mixed-model recurrent measures (MMRM) analysis also was used to standard improvement at all clip points. Treatment groups were compared based on the difference between least-squares means using bilateral testing at the 0.05 import level. Safety analyses were conducted to compare discussion groups exploitation Fisher's exact test.


Duloxetine data also presented at 12th World Congress of Pain


Data from a separate duloxetine chronic low-toned back pain in the ass study were presented on Aug. 21 at the 12th World Congress of Pain in Glasgow, Scotland. At study endpoint, duloxetine did non significantly differ from placebo on the primary bill of weekly mean 24-hour average hurting score.(3) However, patients taking duloxetine 60 mg once day-after-day showed significant pain reductions compared with placebo from week three through hebdomad 11 of the 13-week trial.(3) This was the first study designed to assess the core of duloxetine on the reduction of chronic low back pain compared with placebo.


In the 13-week, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (n=404), patients taking duloxetine 60 mg once daily experient statistically significant improvements in several secondary outcome measures compared with placebo. Patients taking duloxetine 60 mg once day-to-day also experienced a statistically significant improvement in patient outcomes as measured by the PGI-I and physical functioning as measured by the RMDQ-24.(3) In this study, the most common adverse events (those occurring in more than 5 percent of patients in the duloxetine group) were nausea, insomnia, dry mouth, constipation, cephalalgia, diarrhea, giddiness, somnolence (drowsiness) and fatigue.


It is estimated that at least 15 million adults in the United States have chronic low back pain.(4) According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), bother is an unpleasant sensorial and emotional experience associated with actual or voltage tissue price, or described in damage of such damage.(5) Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists beyond acute pain or beyond the expected fourth dimension for an injury to heal.(6) Men and women are equally touched by continuing low back up pain, and it occurs most often between ages 30 and 50.(7)

About Cymbalta


Serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain and spinal cord are believed to both mediate magnetic core mood symptoms and help regulate the perception of pain. Based on presymptomatic studies, Cymbalta is a balanced and potent re-uptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine that is believed to potentiate the activity of these chemicals in the primal nervous system (brain and spinal cord). While the mechanism of action of Cymbalta is not amply known, scientists believe its effects on depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as its effect on pain perception, may be due to increasing the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine in the cardinal nervous system.


Cymbalta is sanctioned in the United States for the acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive upset, the sharp treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, and the direction of fibromyalgia and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain in adults old age 18 days and aged. Cymbalta is not sanctioned for function in pediatric patients.

Important Safety Information


Cymbalta is approved to treat major depressive upset and generalised anxiety disorder, and to manage diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. Antidepressants can increment suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and ung adults. Patients should call their doctor right away if they feel new or worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in behavior, or thoughts of suicide. Be especially observing within the first few months of treatment or after a change in dose. Cymbalta is sanctioned only for adults 18 and over.


Cymbalta is non for everyone. Patients should not take Cymbalta if they have recently taken a type of antidepressant drug called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), are pickings Mellaril� (thioridazine), or experience uncontrolled glaucoma. Patients should speak with their doctor about whatsoever medical conditions they may have including kidney problems, glaucoma, or diabetes. Patients should talk to their doctor if they have itching, correct upper belly pain, glowering urine, yellow skin or eyes, or unexplained flu-like symptoms, which may be signs of liver problems. Severe liver problems, sometimes fatal, have been reported. They should also talk to their doctor almost alcohol using up. Patients should tell their doctor around all their medicines, including those for migraine, to avoid a potentially severe condition. Taking Cymbalta with NSAID painfulness relievers, acetylsalicylic acid, or blood thinners may increase haemorrhage risk. Patients should confer with with their doctor earlier stopping Cymbalta or changing the dosage and if they ar pregnant or nursing.


Patients pickings Cymbalta crataegus laevigata experience dizziness or fainting upon standing. The nearly common side effects of Cymbalta include nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness, and stultification. This is not a complete heel of side effects.


For replete Patient Information, visit http://www.cymbalta.com.


For full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning and medication guide, visit http://www.cymbalta.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company


Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the in style research from its possess worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information nearly Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com.

P-LLY


This weight-lift release contains forward-looking statements about the potential of Cymbalta for chronic pain sensation including the management of chronic downcast back pain and reflects Lilly's stream beliefs. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, at that place are real risks and uncertainties in the action of development and commercialization. There is no undertake that the product will continue to be commercially successful. For further discussion of these and early risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.

References


(1) Skljarevski, V. et al. Efficacy of Duloxetine in Chronic Low Back Pain. Poster presented at the European Federation of Neurological Societies Annual Congress. 25 August 2008.


(2) Farrar JT, JP Young Jr., L LaMoreaux, JL Werth, RM Poole. Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain saturation measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating ordered series. 2001. Pain (94):149-158.


(3) Skljarevski, V. et al. Duloxetine versus Placebo in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain. Poster presented at the 12th World Congress of Pain. 21 August 2008.


(4) Praemer A, Furnes S, Rice DP. Musculoskeletal conditions in the United States. Rosemont: AAUS, 1992: 1-99.


(5) International Association for the Study of Pain. "IASP Pain Terminology"


(6) American Pain Society. "Pain Control in the Primary Care Setting." 2006:15.


(7) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. "Low Back Pain Fact Sheet." Available at: hypertext transfer protocol://www.ninds.nih.

Kill Bill - Carradine Finds Eternal Youth With Younger Women

KILL BILL star DAVID CARRADINE has found the secret to eternal spring chicken - younger women.

The 71-year-old movie lead insists he's in the shape of his life and it has everything to do with the fact his fifth wife is 24 years younger than him.

He explains, "Women are at the top of the list with what keeps me alive and

Late Of The Pier, Fantasy Black Channel

Fantasy Black Channel is the truly awaited debut album from the Nottinghamshire four-piece, Late Of The Pier. In time, it may be cited as a perfect early twenty-first Century good example of a band and producer running together in complete harmoniousness, as DJ Erol Alkan's contribution is central to its success.

The chemical group tick a great deal of boxes: they have got released the requisite amount of indie singles; live, they perform genre-bending shows, with a strong gumption of theatre; and they all have pseudonyms such as Francis Dudley Dance and Red Dog Consuela. So far, so sOD off Grandad. But then, you hear those musical references and you realize they are working with a broad palette beyond their age � Fantasy Black Channel frequently flips between prog, funk, Gary Numan, Todd Rundgren, Frank Zappa and, um, Nik Kershaw. All styles ar served here � it leaves few stones unturned and lede singer Samuel Eastgate has all the vocal mannerisms to carry it off.

Space And The Woods instrumentally sounds care a session leftover from Numan's The Pleasure Principle with emo-friendly lines such as, "Suicide is in my blood, it e'er was" and "put on my radiation suit and slip away." The Bears Are Coming is a great pop stomp with bluesy middle eight and a tea cup for percussion. The album builds to an impressive crescendo. The Enemy Are The Future, its choppiness flavoured with Eastgate's crooning, posits the confounding statements that life is both easy and unvoiced over six-spot frenetic proceedings. The ending Bathroom Gurgle, has been already likened to Sparks' entire life history in unitary song as it reaches its nu-raving d�nouement of, "Put your hands on your waist and move your body to the bassline."

Some of it is a bite too rich. The synth and double-tracked guitar of Random Firl sounds wish the demonstration button on a supermarket synthesiser; even when the melody kicks in, you hear quite a how skilled the unscathed operation is, and Alkan throughout is having a whale of a time � is that the opening tinkle of Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd in White Snake? Is that Yello in Bathroom Gurgle? With all its segues and depths, Fantasy Black Channel is completely unafraid of failure.

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Increased Risk For Eating Disorders Found In Adolescent Girls With ADHD

�Girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disarray stand a substantially greater risk of developing eating disorders in adolescence than girls without ADHD, a new study has found.





"Adolescent girls with ADHD frequently develop body-image dissatisfaction and may go through repetition cycles of binge feeding and purgation behaviors that are common in binge-eating syndrome nervosa," aforesaid University of Virginia psychologist Amori Yee Mikami, world Health Organization led the study.





The findings appear in the stream issue of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.





ADHD is a disorder that affects about 5 percent of school-age children, and three times more than boys than girls. Symptoms include a short attending span, short organization, excessive talking, turbulent and aggressive behavior, fidgetiness and excitability. Many children with ADHD suffer through a orbit of problems, from poor grades to poor dealings with parents and teachers, and more than than half have serious problems fashioning friends.





Because the disorder is far more common in boys, researchers are noneffervescent learning its long-term effects on girls.





"Our finding suggests that girls may develop a broader range of problems in adolescence than their male person counterparts," Mikami said. "They may be at risk for feeding problems, which are a female-relevant domain of impairment. We know that eating disorders occur 10 times more much in girls than boys."





Additionally, Mikami notable that because ADHD is more usual in boys, many girls with the disorder whitethorn go undiagnosed and untreated.





"Girls with ADHD may be more at risk of developing feeding problems as adolescents because they already have impulsive behaviors that can set them apart from their peers," Mikami said. "As they

KOMO-TV cancels Northwest Afternoon; show will leave the air in August

What do Madeleine Albright and Tonya Harding have in common? Seriously. Think hard now.

Answer: They've both been guests on KOMO-TV's "Northwest Afternoon," which the station announced will come to an end this summer after 24 years on the air.

The talk and variety show, which launched in 1984 and has been struggling of late against nationally syndicated shows hosted by Rachael Ray and Dr. Phil, will cease production on August 28. Originally hosted by Dick Foley and Dana Middleton, who left in the mid-1990s, its only original remaining personality is Cindi Rinehart, whose signature soap-opera roundup launches the show.

KOMO spokesman Jimm Brown says the station will absorb as many of the show's existing personalities as possible in other, existing programs. Along with Rineheart, the show now features KOMO personalities Natasha Curry, an anchor and reporter for the station's morning news, and Kent Phillips, who also co-hosts a radio show on KOMO sister station 101.5-FM.

Though Jim Clayton, KOMO's vice president and general manager, praised the show's staff for "a fantastic run," he pointed out that locally produced talk shows are running out of steam nationwide. "Northwest Afternoon," he said, was felled by new methods of measuring viewing audiences.

"It's a tough racket to be in the talk-show business these days," he said. "If there's ever any show that was killed by the Nielsen People Meter, this was the one."

A retrospective featuring some of the many guests who have appeared on the program — among them entertainers Dolly Parton and Robert Duvall, journalists Charles Gibson and the late Peter Jennings, and current presidential candidate Barack Obama — will air before the show signs off in late August.

"Northwest Afternoon" will be replaced in the fall by "The Doctors."

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Despite All Logic, TV Will Still Feature Paid Advertising

Embittered by crappy post-writers'-strike programming and the devastating cancellation of popular sitcom Cavemen, nearly all prized demographics have turned away from network television and into the welcoming arms of Grand Theft Auto IV and recreational narcotics. Even so, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and the CW (!) are reporting not-that-bad upfront sales, which are expected to be within a few hundred million of last year's $9 billion total. As recently as a month ago, everyone versed in any sort of logic had been forecasting a drop by as much as 14 percent. But even NBC, which is forgoing a traditional pilot season this year, has reportedly sold $1.9 billion worth of ads (not counting ones for the Super Bowl), a 5 percent increase. According to Nikki Finke, NBC CEO Jeff Zucker sees this as validation of the network's strategy to turn scripts and pitches into full-ordered TV series without wasting a bunch of money on go-nowhere pilots. And if the shows turn out to be terrible? Who cares! Besides, where else are corporations going to advertise — on the Internet?

Advertisers commit coin to TV [Variety]
Big Upfront Ad Sales Give NBC Excuse To Scrap Pilot Season Forever: Or Does It? [Deadline Hollywood Daily]

Johansson & Reynolds set to tie the knot

Actress Scarlett Johansson and actor Ryan Reynolds have announced their engagement after dating for a year.
According to People magazine, Johansson's representative Marcel Pariseau said: "They're both thrilled."
The report says that the 31-year-old actor proposed to Johansson recently but the couple's wedding date has not yet been announced.
'The Nanny Diaries' star Johansson, who is due to release her debut album later this month, was photographed wearing a diamond ring last night.

Alicia Keys Gears Up for North American Leg of As I Am Tour Presented By Lexus on April 19th

***SEVERAL NEW DATES ADDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND!!!***
KEYS KICKS OFF THE TODAY SHOW OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES APRIL 21st
ALL DAY PREMIERE OF 'TEENAGE LOVE AFFAIR' VIDEO ON BET AND KEYS TO HOST 106
& PARK ON APRIL 23rd

NEW YORK, April 16 -- After wowing fans during her
successful sold-out European tour, MBK/J Records' global superstar Alicia
Keys is just days away from bringing that same excitement on the North
American leg of her As I Am Tour presented by Lexus. Joined by American
Idol winner Jordin Sparks and Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo,
the As I Am Tour presented by Lexus, kicks off April 19th in Hampton, VA.
The tour continues on across the US and Canada, and will conclude on June
18th at Madison Square Garden in Alicia's hometown of New York City. Due to
popular demand, new dates have been added in Memphis, Anaheim and
Sacramento (updated tour dates listed below).

"I wanted to make this show unique and different from my standard style
show, so the approach of this tour is like a journey; from the beginning of
my life, leading up to where we are now," comments Keys. "I'm communicating
a lot to the audience through the music and by talking and sharing personal
stories," she adds. Throughout the duration of the tour, Keys will also
communicate with her fans that call her at 917-934.3319 and provide them
with tour updates and other exciting news.

Keys will give millions of morning TV viewers a mere sample of her
stage show when she kicks off NBC's popular "Toyota Concert Series on
Today" on April 21st. Keys is set to perform her hit single "No One," as
well as her new single "Teenage Love Affair" for the first time on national
television.

Keys' new single, the endearing "Teenage Love Affair," is set to impact
radio April 21st. The Chris Robinson directed video for the single pays
homage to the 20th anniversary of Spike Lee's classic film School Daze,
with cameos by the film's original cast member Giancarlo Esposito (Julian),
actors Derek Luke (Glory Road, Antwone Fisher), Tristan Wilds (The Wire),
and R&B singer Anthony Hamilton. On April 23rd, BET will conduct an all-day
premiere of the video and Keys will host the popular video countdown
program 106 & Park.

Ignited by her first two hit singles "No One" and "Like You'll Never
See Me Again," Keys' internationally-acclaimed third studio album As I Am
(MBK/J Records), has sold over 5 million copies worldwide since its
November 2007 release. The disc has claimed the #1 spot for several
non-consecutive weeks on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart and the single
"No One," earned Keys two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Female
R&B Vocal Performance. Additionally, Keys received four awards at the NAACP
Image Awards and was honored at the first annual BET Honors ceremony.

Not one to rest on her laurels and accolades, Alicia continues her
philanthropic outreach as the Co-Founder and Global Ambassador of Keep A
Child Alive (KCA) by offering a free download of her inspirational
documentary Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland. Directed by South
African filmmaker Earle Sebastian, the documentary follows Keys' month-long
trip to Africa to visit communities affected by HIV and AIDS pandemic in
South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. The documentary can be viewed in its
entirety at http://www.aliciainafrica.com or downloaded courtesy of the film's
exclusive web partner http://www.spiralfrog.com. Additionally, Keys will screen
the Alicia in Africa trailer before each concert on her North American
tour.

With an impressive combination of heartfelt, award-winning music, a
burgeoning acting career and noble humanitarian efforts, Keys continues to
demonstrate that she's one of the most influential persons of her
generation.


THE ALICIA KEYS AS I AM TOUR PRESENTED BY LEXUS

(Updated 4/7/08 ~ Dates are subject to change):

DATE CITY VENUE

Sat-Apr-19 Hampton, VA Hampton Coliseum

Mon-Apr-21 Philadelphia, PA Liacouras Center

Tue-Apr-22 Pittsburgh, PA Peterson Events Center

Thu-Apr-24 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center @ CSU

Sat-Apr-26 Columbus, OH Value City Arena @
Schottenstein Ctr

Sun-Apr-27 St Louis, MO Scottrade Center

Wed-Apr-30 Minneapolis, MN Target Center

Thu-May-01 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

Sun-May 04 Anaheim, CA Honda Center

Mon-May-05 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

Wed-May-07 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena

Fri-May-09 Las Vegas, NV MGM Garden Arena

Sat-May-10 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose

Sun-May-11 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena

Wed-May-14 Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre at Grand
Prairie

Thu-May-15 Memphis, TN Fed Ex Forum

Sun-May-18 Houston, TX Toyota Center

Thu-May-22 New Orleans New Orleans Arena

Sat-May-24 St. Petersburg, FL St. Pete Times Forum

Sun-May-25 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena

Wed-May-28 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena

Fri-May-30 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum

Sat-May-31 Atlantic City, NJ Mark Etess/Taj Arena

Tue-Jun-03 Montreal, QC Bell Centre

Thu-Jun-05 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

Fri-Jun-06 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena

Sat-Jun-07 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena

Wed-Jun-11 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden

Fri-Jun-13 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center

Sun-Jun-15 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena

Tue-Jun-17 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

Wed-Jun-18 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

For more information on Alicia Keys and complete tour and ticket
information, please log onto http://www.aliciakeys.net.

Woody Allen finds love is hard in "Vicky Cristina"

Woody Allen finds love is hard in "Vicky Cristina"

Cannes, France (Reuters) - His freshly moving picture "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" deals with women, manpower and multiple lovers, simply when it comes to real life romance language, director Woody Gracie Allen, 72, says more than a one sexual activity collaborator is far likewise many these days.


"It's hard enough to arrest ace person," he told reporters at a Sabbatum news league at the Cannes photographic film festival. "In trying to figure out solutions in life, iI tends to

'The Real World: Brooklyn'? My Dreams Are Finally Coming True, In Bigger Than The Sound

'The Real World: Brooklyn'? My Dreams Are Finally Coming True, In Bigger Than The Sound

Sweet, Sweet Validation, 'Real World'-Style

Greetings, hillbillies! I'm not sure how you're reading this week's edition of Bigger Than the Sound, given that most of you probably don't have, A) the Internet, or B) electricity in whatever soulless hamlet you're withering away in. But since you're here, let me ask you a question: How are you planning to spend your summer?

Wait, don't answer that. I'm sure that whatever you have on the horizon, it probably involves a factory or shooting at traffic signs or drinking by an inland body of water. Instead, let me go ahead and tell you how I'm gonna be spending my summer: chilling with the Rohypnol enthusiasts and aspiring models on "The Real World: Brooklyn."

That's right! In case you live in a cave (and who knows, maybe you do), news broke Tuesday that MTV is gonna set the 21st season (!) of the show in Brooklyn, the vibrant and diverse borough that I inhabit! Which means my neighborhood is officially the coolest place on the planet — a true destination! — and that I am completely validated. It's OK to be jealous. Really, it is!

Truth be told, MTV isn't divulging which section of Brooklyn it'll be stashing its seven strangers in, but I have a difficult time thinking it'll be anywhere but my current stomping grounds of Williamsburg, given that it's clearly the most vibrant and diverse 'hood of them all. (Of course, by "vibrant" I mean that most of the people who live there are unemployed and have facial hair, and by "diverse" I mean that we have several Thai-fusion restaurants.) Not to mention the fact that we have lots of glass-and-steel condominiums going up every day ... and that they start in the low $700s. Clearly, this is a place people want to be.

So again, it's OK to be jealous. The ever-accurate cultural barometer that is Bunim/Murray Productions has bestowed official "cool" status upon my neighborhood — joining the ranks of metropoli like Paris, London, Miami and, uh, Denver — and just because I live someplace cooler than you (and, by extension, am cooler than you) doesn't mean that you have to hate me. Though it'll probably make things easier.

And while my fellow Brooklynites have already begun the predictable whining that "The Real World" will somehow ruin the "character and charm" of the borough (something I find rather hilarious, considering that, uh, dudes, you sorta already did that by moving here from, like, Ohio), I, for one, can't wait for the nights when I'll be kept awake until 5 a.m. while two housemates (let's say the "muscly Aberzombie/ alcoholic sociopath" and the "underfed, oversensitive model with daddy issues") get into a heated shouting match beneath my bedroom window. Or, like, when the whole cast goes to check out a band (probably a really happening "local" act like MGMT) at whatever Northsix is called now, or eat dinner at Sweetwater Tavern, or buy groceries at Tops, or get brunch at Enid's, and they're accompanied by an army of Handycams and boom mics? Hey, I'm OK with that. After all, that's just the price I gotta pay for coolness.

To be honest, I haven't watched "The Real World" in more than five years, ever since the watershed "Las Vegas" season, when producers stopped trying to pretend the series had any social significance and just cast a bunch of horny, ready-to-party train wrecks (not surprisingly, this was the first season in which "the hot tub" became an important member of the cast). Nor do I have anything in common with anyone on the current cast — I actually think they're all pretty awful people, especially the unholy triumvirate of Kimberly, Sarah and Joey. But I've always envied any city that was lucky enough to play host to "The Real World," primarily because it was sort of like landing the Coolness Olympics or something.

I never could understand why residents of Chicago's Wicker Park tried to sabotage production of the show back in 2001, or why people in the Old City section of Philly blew a gasket when "The Real World" started filming there in 2004. To me, those people should've considered themselves honored that Bunim/Murray selected their city as an "RW" location. It meant that they lived in the most awesome place on Earth. I remember growing up in Orlando and hearing rumblings that my city might play host to a season of the show back in 1996. Needless to say, I somehow felt that my entire existence was somehow being validated, that I was living somewhere cool enough to be on MTV! (Dude, I was, like, 17 at the time — what do you want from me?)

So now, more than a decade later, I am finally getting my wish. "The Real World" is coming to my 'hood. And gentrification be damned, I can't wait. The show might not have the same cultural clout it did when I was growing up (if it has any), but on some level, I still feel validated that it's here. It's not as if Brooklyn is "the real world" anyway — though most who live here tend to think it is — and if the show's presence will help piss off the holier-than-thou kids who haunt Bedford Avenue, well, then I welcome the show even more. And plus, in 10 to 15 years, I'll be able to show my kids the episodes and be like, "You see how dumb things were where Mommy and Daddy lived?"

It'll be great.

So yay, "Real World" castmembers! Welcome to my humble 'hood. Please feel free to ruin my favorite record store or punch me in the face at a bar. Be sure to pop your collars proudly and pull your skirts up with aplomb! Brooklyn will probably never be the same, but hey, it hasn't been the same in, like, a decade, so who gives a sh--? And to all my friends living in different corners of the globe: I've finally made it! And no, you can't sleep on my couch this summer. You'll just have to wait until the producers of "The Real World" decide to come to your lousy, two-bit town. Psssh, like that would ever happen. Losers.

5ive Style

Slightly Less Than A Half-Dozen Of My Favorite Things On The Internet This Week, So Named For A Post-Rock Group That No One Probably Remembers.

1. The Constantines' "Hard Feelings" Video: The sound of sweat stains on blue collars, cigarette burns on carpets and empty Labatts on the floorboards, and that's just Bry Webb's growl. The Cons are getting too old for this sh--, only it's not clear whether they want to bemoan that fact or celebrate it. So on "Hard Feelings," they do both. The air-raid organ sounds like a factory whistle, and the pelvis-adjusting guitars recall a beery Saturday night. Or, as a MySpace commenter astutely puts it, "It's like a Godzilla movie, except instead of destroying the city, you just rock." Totally.

2. Heidi and Spencer's Mother's Day Bonanza: Is there a White Guy Hall of Fame yet? And if so, why isn't Spencer Pratt in it? If the "Heidi-and-Spencer's-Patriotic-Makeout" photos were his 500 home runs, consider this latest batch his 3,000th career hit. Kid's a mortal lock at this point.

3. Random Awesome-Yet-Inexplicable Photos That Pop Up When You Google "Mt. Lushmore": Perhaps more inexplicable than why you were Googling "Mt. Lushmore" in the first place.

4. Steve Novick for U.S. Senate: He is 4-foot-9. He has a commercial in which he opens a beer with his hook hand. He sells "Left Hook Lager" and "Hooked on Novick" T-shirts through his official site. He is endorsed by a who's who of indie rockers, including Chris Walla and Britt Daniel (oh, and Stone Gossard too). Oregonians, we trust we can rely on your vote.

5. The Best "Hills" Parody Ever: It really is. Make sure you stick around until the very end. Trust me.

Questions? Concerns? Jealous hillbilly e-mails? Send 'em to me at BTTS@MTVStaff.com.






See Also

• Scarlet Johansson’s On-screen Kiss With Penelope Cruz
• Hugh Hefner eyeing Miley Cyrus
• Kristin Chenoweth lured to “Temptation”

Sopranos duo on awards shortlist

Sopranos duo on awards shortlist

'The Sopranos' stars James II Gandolfini and Edie Genus Falco are among the nominees in the TV categories for the Screen door Actors Social club Awards in the US.
Gandolfini is nominated in the Best Worker in a Drama Series class along with Michael C Hall ('Dexter'), Jon Hamm ('Mad Men'), Hugh Laurie ('House') and Saint James the Apostle Spader ('Boston Legal').
Genus Falco is joined on the Charles Herbert Best Actress in a Drama Series short list by Glenn Close ('Damages'), Crack Subject ('Brothers & Sisters'), Charles Hardin Holley Orion ('Saving Grace') and Kyra Sedgwick ('The Closer').
The nominees for Topper Histrion in a Clowning Series are: Alec 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley ('30 Rock'), Steve Carell ('The Office'), Ricky Gervais ('Extras'), Jeremy Piven ('Entourage') and Tony Shalhoub ('Monk').
'Ugly Betty' stars USA Ferrera and Genus Vanessa William Carlos Williams ar both nominated for Best Actress in a Funniness Serial publication and are joined by Christina Applegate ('Samantha WHO?'), Tina Fey ('30 Rock') and Mary-Louise Dorothy Rothschild Parker ('Weeds').
The casts of 'Boston Legal', 'The Closer', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Mad Men' and 'The Sopranos' ar whole nominated in the Outstanding Performance by an Supporting players in a Drama Serial category.
The stars of '30 Rock', 'Desperate Housewives', 'Entourage', 'The Office' and 'Ugly Betty' are totally nominated in the Outstanding Performance by an Supporting players in a Funniness Series category.

Aggie is booted off Dancing on Ice

Aggie is booted off Dancing on Ice

'How Clean Is Your Family?' sponsor Aggie Mackenzie has been voted off the reality prove 'Dancing on Ice'.
The telecasting star topology was forced to vie in the skate-off against javelin champion Steve Backley when they were both placed in the merchant ship deuce as a termination of the public vote.
Wholly of the five judges chose to relieve Backley, sending home Sir Alexander Mackenzie.
Fellow member of the judgment panel Jason Samuel Rawson Gardiner said: "I wish we could catch rid of both of them."

Lifescapes and Jeff Victor

   
Artist: Lifescapes and Jeff Victor

   Genre(s): 
New Age
   

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Discography:


   
 Return To Scottish Moors

   Year: 2001   
Tracks: 11


   
 Summer Sojourn

   Year: 1996   
Tracks: 12

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Ben Sims Presents Emote

   
Artist: Ben Sims Presents Emote

   Genre(s): 
Techno
   

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Discography:


   
 Second Coming EP Vinyl

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 4

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