Harry Potter Stamps Met With Criticisms

The USPS is slammed for putting J.K. Rowling's characters on postage stamps because they are not part of American history.

United States Postal Service has released a series of Harry Potter-themed stamps, collaborating with Warner Bros. who owns the film rights to J.K. Rowling's famous story. Unfortunately, it was met with criticisms including from some members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee.

For 56 years, the group has done researches to give USPS recommendation on the subjects for new stamps. And now, according to the Washington Post, people in the panel are unhappy after the Postal Service didn't consult the committee in its decision to run the Potter stamps.

"Harry Potter is not American. It's foreign, and it's so blatantly commercial it's off the charts," says John Hotchner, a former president of the American Philatelic Society. "The Postal Service knows what will sell, but that's not what stamps ought to be about. Things that don't sell so well are part of the American story."

Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe, meanwhile, insists the USPS "needs to change its focus toward stamps that are more commercial," after stamp sales continue to drop as Americans switch to the Internet.

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) as well as other heroes, villains and memorable creatures from Rowling's wizarding world are immortalized on "forever" postage stamps.

"From improbable heroes and magical creatures to schoolroom antics and daring battles, the majestic Harry Potter stamps will inspire fans of all ages," said USPS chairman Mickey Barnett in a statement.

A 20-stamp souvenir booklet featuring stills from the award-winning Warner Bros. movies are also issued. The folded booklet has five pages. The front cover features an image of Harry playing Quidditch, and the back cover has a picture of a young Harry in class, taking notes with his quill.

Kelly Clarkson is pregnant with her first child

Kelly Clarkson has announced that she is expecting her first child with new husband Brandon Blackstock.
The singer tweeted, “I'm pregnant!!! Brandon and I are so excited! Best early Christmas present ever :)”

Kel and Bran tied the knot in October, and Kelly made no secret of the fact that she wanted to start a family with her new husband right away.

Earlier this month Kelly sparked speculation that she might be in the family way when she coyly answered Jay Leno’s question about being pregnant, "We are not announcing anything right now. We're not, no,” she replied.

Which is just a polite way of saying it's too early to make an announcement.
Kelly is step-mum to Brandon’s two children from a previous relationship, and she spoke recently about her desire to have a large family.

“I never wanted kids before, but now I want, like, five,” she admitted.

A big congratulations to Kelly and Brandon.

Katy Perry - Unconditionally [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

The Aya Tanimura-directed music video is filled with beautiful yet sometime bizarre and tragic scenes to represent the unconditional love the 'Roar' hitmaker is singing about.

Katy Perry has premiered a music video in support of her latest single "Unconditionally". The West Coast pop star sings her heart out in various dreamy settings such as a wintery land under the snow fall and a fancy ballroom in the middle of finely-dressed dancers.

Directed by Aya Tanimura, the video was partly inspired by 1988's film "Dangerous Liaisons". At one point, Perry is hit by a car only for the vehicle to get shattered when it touches her body. She is on fire in another scene, and has an owl perched on her hand in the other.

The song is featured in Perry's fourth studio album "Prism". The chart-topping singer/songwriter tweeted on the day the video arrived, "Yes, unconditional love sometimes feels like being hit by a car... Or being on fire... How does it feel to you?"

She previously said to Entertainment Weekly of inspiration behind the song, "I went to Madagascar and did a UNICEF trip that changed my life and gave me this song. It's just a simple message about loving someone and accepting them and kind of driving at you don't have to be so self-conscious, you don't have to fear, because essentially, everybody has their stuff. Nobody comes stuff-free."

Jessie J Premieres 'Thunder' Music Video

The new clip sees the former 'The Voice UK' judge wearing a lacy leotard and a black cape while dancing under the thunderous sky.

Jessie J has dropped the music video for her single called "Thunder". Arriving on Tuesday, November 19, the new clip's concept is pretty simple. It features the British singer wearing a lacy leotard and a black cape while dancing in the desert under the lightning-filled sky.

Jessie shows off her high-pitch falsetto over a steady dance tempo. "You make my hands shake/ I watch the glass break/ Around my guarded heart tonight/ This ain't no mistake, you make my earth quake/ You feel like thunder in the sky," she sings the chorus.

Written by Claude Kely, "Thunder" is included in Jessie's latest album "Alive". The second studio effort by the former judge of "The Voice UK" peaked at No. 3 on Billboard 200 after being released in early October.

Jessie is currently gearing up to embark on a tour with Robin Thicke. Last September, the "Price Tag" hitmaker excitedly announced that she would join Thicke on his "Blurred Lines" tour that kicks off on February 21, 2014 in Atlanta.

Fergie and Josh Duhamel Sing 'Home-Written Songs' for Baby Axl

Fergie says in a new interview that she and her husband 'have own little home-written songs' for their son 3-month-old son Axl and they sang the corny songs for him.

Fergie a.k.a. Stacy Ferguson has teamed up with her husband Josh Duhamel to create songs for their son, Axl Jack. The Black Eyed Peas member said in a new interview that she and her husband apparently got hot reaction from their baby with the songs. "We have own little home-written songs," she said on Monday, November 18, as quoted by Associated Press.

"We harmonize and we sing together," Fergie continued. A part of the tune goes, "Baby you're my baby." According to Fergie, the "Safe Haven" actor is quite talented in singing. "Josh has a good voice! He has his rock voice and he has character voices, because he does a lot of voiceovers. And, so do I, so we're just really confusing our son!" Fergie said, as quoted by USA Today.

"We sing (songs) and we put them on video. We're like that couple in Best in Show that sings about their dog. The cornier the better. We love it and we think our son loves it," the "Big Girls Don't Cry" songstress explained.

Love for her child apparently makes Fergie feel that she needs to contribute to creating better future for other children in the world. She recently joined Unilever's Project Sunlight initiative which provides clean drinking water, school meals and hygiene education for 2 million kids. "It's about the children, this is about protecting the planet for our children, and our children's children. It spoke to me and it was the right time. When I look into my child's eyes, I want to help children everywhere. Any mom can relate and understand it," the singer said of the partnership.

In addition, Fergie wanted to encourage people to protect the planet and she already started it with her family. "Any child [is] dependent on their parents, [but] they're also dependent on the planet. ... It's up to us to know better ... and it's about little choices. We reuse. We recycle. I drive a hybrid. We get organic produce. We're planting a garden in our house that we're renovating right now. We're really excited about that. Little Axl is going to be a part of that. ... I'll be teaching him sustainability. We're going to be going out and planting seeds in our garden," she revealed.

Tom Cruise Courting Jack Nicholson to Star in 'El Presidente'

Cruise will play a Secret Service agent and his 'A Few Good Men' co-star is offered to portray a sleazy, alcoholic former president.

Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson could reunite on the big screen for the first time since their 1992 movie "A Few Good Men". According to The Hollywood Reporter, the "Oblivion" actor is wooing his former co-star to take on one of the key roles in Warner Bros.' comedy "El Presidente".

The film will follow a Secret Service agent assigned to protect America's worst former president, an alcoholic and womanizing sleazebag who was promoted from VP when the president died. Cruise is expected to play the agent and Nicholson is wanted as the former commander-in-chief.

The film will be directed by Doug Liman who directed Cruise in sci-fi "Edge of Tomorrow" due next summer. The director and the actor allegedly came to visit Nicholson in his Hollywood Hills house and managed to convince the semi-retired star to read the script first before making a decision.

Nicholson, 76, was last seen in a movie three years ago. He starred opposite Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson in 2012's romcom "How Do You Know". He turned down an offer to star in Robert Downey Jr.-starring upcoming dramedy "The Judge". The role eventually went to Robert Duvall.

Adam Levine Named Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine

The Maroon 5 frontman comments on the title, 'I was just amazed and stunned and it almost seemed like they were kidding.'

Adam Levine has been officially named Sexiest Man Alive by PEOPLE. The Maroon 5 member graces the cover of the magazine, which is due out on Friday, November 22, wearing a simple white t-shirt. He joins the ranks of Channing Tatum, Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds and Johnny Depp who previously received the title.

In an interview for the spread, Levine opens up about his reaction after receiving the title. "As a musician, you have fantasies that you want to win Grammys, but I didn't really think that this was on the table. I was just amazed and stunned and it almost seemed like they were kidding, but they weren't, so that's cool," he tells the magazine.

The coach on "The Voice" also reveals that he likes getting naked and mentions that he is looking forward to settling down with his fiancee Behati Prinsloo. "I didn't think marriage was for me for a long time. I was ready when I was ready. That's about as simple as it could possibly be," says the 34-year-old singer, who admits that he cries watching "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial".

"This is just a really interesting time where everything seems to be heading in a certain direction. And I'm not taking any of it for granted," Levine says of his successful career, adding that he stays fit thanks to yoga and spinning.