Country singer and actress Reba McIntire is excited about the release of her first studio album in six years. Her acting career has kept her busy, but she says she's focusing on music more now. The new album, Keep on Loving You, is in stores now and available at Amazon.com. Here's Reba talking about the album:
Guy Trebay of The New York Times certainly knows how to spot a breaking new trend. And this time he's spotted a shocking one: the pot belly. Guy calls it "the Ralph Kramden." (For those of you who are under 30 or who've never caught an episode of The Honeymooners when it ran on Nick at Nite, Ralph Kramden was Jackie Gleason's character in the classic sitcom. Come to think of it, Ed Norton was also rocking the pot belly on that show).
But back to the end of six pack abs. So how did we get to this sad state of affairs? Perhaps it all started with Kevin Federline. He married Britney Spears and then he started gaining weight. In fact, he's still gaining weight, seemingly oblivious to the hordes of paparazzi who photograph him in his natural element: clubs in Vegas, the golf course and the odd bowling alley.
But how could this really have anything to do with K-Fed? He's not hip. In fact, his penchant for head to toe Ed Hardy ensembles was mercilessly mocked in 17 Again. Hipsters do not follow K-Fed. They go counter to the prevailing fashion style. Then, the light dawns. It's all President Obama's fault.
Hipsters, by nature contrarian, according to Dan Peres, the editor of Details, may be reacting in opposition to a president who is not only, as the press relentlessly reminds us, So Darn Smart, but also hits the gym every morning, has a conspicuously flat belly and, when not rescuing the economy or sparring with Kim Jong-il, shoots hoops.
"If we had a slob in the White House, all the hipsters would turn into some walking Chippendales calendar," Mr. Peres said. Instead, the streets of Williamsburg are crowded with men who are, as he noted, "proudly rocking a gut." Mr. Peres's magazine has a term for these people: the new "poor-geoisie." But the people lining up for $13 lobster rolls at the Brooklyn Flea last weekend hardly looked as if they were worried about making the rent.
"I sort of think the six-pack abs obsession got so prissy it stopped being masculine," is how Aaron Hicklin, the editor of Out, explains the emergence of the Ralph Kramden. What once seemed young and hot, for gay and straight men alike, now seems passe. Like manscaping, spray-on tans and other metrosexual affectations, having a belly one can bounce quarters off suggests that you may have too much time on your hands.
Remember the video of former Vice presidential candidate and philanderer extraordinaire John Edwards in which he endlessly fusses with his hair in a mirror, oblivious that he was being filmed live before a tv appearance? Well, it's kind of like that. The endless preening became obnoxious, a turn off.
Of course, there's another, more mundane explanation. It's a recession. No one can afford to eat salmon and blueberries every morning, washed down with Acai berry juice. Instead, the guys are heading to McDonald's for a couple of sausage egg biscuits. Hence, the emergence of the pot belly.
Country music star Reba McEntire will make her QVC music debut on Friday, July 31 at 7 PM (ET). She will preview music from her first, new solo album in six years, Keep On Loving You.
During the QVC Presents Q Sessions Live Featuring Reba McEntire broadcast, McEntire will give viewers a sneak peek of her much-anticipated release with a special live performance that will include her new Top 10 single “Strange,” the album’s next single “Consider Me Gone” and the current dance club hit “I Want A Cowboy.”
Shoppers will also have the opportunity to pre-order Keep On Loving You, which has been specially packaged for QVC with a bonus hard-back copy of her best-selling autobiography Reba: My Story, more than two weeks before street date.
“Music lovers of all ages are in for a real treat with this exciting debut,” said Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC. “We are thrilled to not only launch Reba’s newest album but to have her perform live for our viewers. This will certainly be a memorable show that fans won’t want to miss.”
Reba McEntire's album, Keep On Loving You, hits store on August 18, 2009.
Kelley Blue Book Launches Cash for Clunkers Calculator
Kelley Blue Book has launched a Cash for Clunkers Calculator on its website. The calculator helps consumers determine if their current vehicle might be eligible for up to $4,500 toward the purchase of a more fuel-efficient new car.
Kbb.com provides a simple, interactive Cash for Clunkers Calculator to help consumers determine whether they may be eligible for a credit under the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), the official government name of the Cash for Clunkers program. The calculator helps consumers evaluate vehicles with model years between 1989 and 2009 based on make, model, condition, and mileage. The age of the vehicle, its fuel economy and the fuel efficiency rating of the new car are key factors to determine whether the vehicle qualifies for a 'Cash for Clunkers' credit toward the purchase of a new vehicle.
There has been some criticism of the program because it only runs through November 1. The CARS program will also end if it runs out of money before November 1st. $1 billion has been allocated for the program, which is enough for 250,000 consumers to use.
A post on the official Palm blog says that Sprint will offer the Palm Pre on June 6th for $199.99 with a $100 rebate and a 2-year service contract.
Sprint has announced today that the Palm Pre will be available on June 6. Sprint announced that it will be available nationwide in Sprint stores, as well as at Best Buy, Radio Shack, and select Wal-Mart stores. The webOS-based phone will retail for $199.99 (after rebate and service agreement).
The Palm Pre will provide access to all of the exclusive content on the Sprint Now Network, including Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile Live. More details about Sprint's service plans and retail channels can be found on the company's website.
Details about Sprint's Palm Pre service plan can be found here. The Palm Pre - which debuted at CES in January to rave reviews - will provide a fresh challenge to the iPhone and the BlackBerry Curve. The BlackBerry Curve outsold the iPhone in the first quarter of 2009 so it will interesting to see which of the three smartphones winds up on top in Q3.
Good news for Botox lovers: Allergan will be offering its first ever consumer rebates on the wrinkle-fighting drug. The move comes after Allergan saw a 6.1% drop in fourth-quarter profit. The company is getting ready to lay off 5% of its workforce.
Allergan said it decided to offer a $50 consumer rebate off Botox Cosmetic treatments, which usually cost several hundred dollars. It is also the first year since Botox Cosmetic was approved in 2002 that the company hasn't raised the price to physicians. A similar program will be offered to encourage sales of the company's dermal filler, called Juvederm.
Mr. Pyott said the programs are designed to promote cross-selling opportunities in physicians' offices as Allergan begins rolling out Latisse, a new product that promotes eyelash growth.
Latisse is going to be very popular, especially when the economy turns around and consumers have more money to spend.
Guy Trebay of The New York Times certainly knows how to spot a breaking new trend. And this time he's 
Country music star Reba McEntire 
Kelley Blue Book has launched a 
Good news for Botox lovers: Allergan will be offering its first ever consumer 
