If you think this spaceship-style concept is jawdropping, take a look at these other island havens

By Bethany Lyttle, Forbes.com | Forbes – Wed, 25 Apr, 2012 4:17 PM EDT

Taking up residence in the middle of an ocean, lake or river isn’t for everybody. But for anyone who yearns for a property line that laps to shore, options abound. Architecturally expressive abodes for the aesthetically inclined, secluded dwellings for the nature-loving set, spacious compounds for the party minded, and unforgettable retreats for families are just the beginning.

Take the Utopia Project. It’s not just a home. It’s a man-made island. With glass canopy panels that cover its interior or open out to create decks, it’s suitable for any climate. And its spaceship-style design allow for observatories with 360-degree views.

Views of what, exactly? Well, that’s for the owner of this private island to decide. After all, the island home’s naval design, created by Yacht Island Designs in conjunction with BMT Nigel Gee, means it can be floated slowly to any desired location. Once there, the structure can withstand even the roughest seas thanks its four legged design. And for those who like the idea of a man-made island but prefer the look of a tropical paradise to that of a floating UFO, the firm offers just that—a 295-foot island complete with a waterfall and faux volcano.

Of course, most islands are not made out of steel. And certainly, the sky-reaching conifers, rocky points, rugged underbrush and verdant ferns are what would have attracted Frank Lloyd Wright to the tiny island in Lake Mahopac, New York, on which stands a summer house inspired by his drawings. Distinguished by its 28-foot cantilevered great room which juts into the lake, the modern masterpiece is visible from the mainland.

The house features an expansive deck that’s contiguous with the rocky ledges that define the perimeter of the island. And to enter the home, guests must pass through a surprisingly narrow passage, built to accommodate a huge boulder. Indigenous to the tiny island and named the Whale Rock, it makes a a dramatic statement in the entry hall, where it basks in natural sunlight thanks to an expansive skylight.

Of course, nothing says private island living like luxury. And Miami‘s La Gorge Estate is a pristine example. Originally built as a Mediterranean style for American entrepreneur Carl Graham Fisher, the villa, made up of three buildings, has since been remodeled to create a sleek and gracious contemporary modern home. Glass walls and large windows allow for unobstructed views of glittering Biscayne Bay from almost any room in the 16,000-square-foot main house.

Read on for more about these and other private island homes:

Architectural Island Gem
Location: Lake Mahopac, New York

The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home includes a giant boulder inside. Photo: David Allee

You don’t have to be a Frank Lloyd Wright fan to recognize his signature style in this private island home. Its 28-foot cantilever is nearly twice the length of the one at Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Celebrating the island’s natural surroundings, the home features an enormous boulder in its entry hall and rocky surfaces discovered along the shores.

Private-Island Resort Home
Location: Near Grand Cayman Island

Waterways connect the deck house to the rest of Dragon Bay. Photo: Dragon Bay

One of 19 deck houses at Dragon Bay, a resort community on a private island near Grand Cayman Island, this home is designed for outdoor living. Its floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide views of water on every side. The home has a wrap-around entertainment deck, private beach, infinity pool, and outdoor summer kitchen. A boat can be moored beneath the deck. Waterways and pathways provide easy access to the rest of Dragon Bay’s amenities.

Futuristic Island Home
Design concept

The floating island concept provides all sorts of luxury. Photo: Nigel Gee

Arriving by helicopter? This man-made island concept has four landing pads as well as a mooring system and wet dock for anyone arriving by sea. Designed by Nigel Gee as “a place to be,” the naval-inspired destination is 330 feet in diameter and has 11 decks. The island’s glass canopy allows sunlight to filter into the interior and can be opened, if desired, for fresh air. The top floor can also serve as an outdoor pool deck.

Island Villa
Location: Biscayne Bay, Florida

The modern estate was once a Mediterranean-style villa. Photo: Touzet Studio

What was once an elaborate Mediterranean-style retreat in the 20s has been re-conceived as a modern luxury estate by Touzet Studio. Three buildings, including a main house, guest house and staff quarters, are situated on the private island. The glass-sided main house is oriented to Biscayne Bay with views from all six of its bedrooms as well as from its heated lap pool and multiple decks and balconies.

Pine Cay Private Island Community
Location: Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands

This private island home covers 10,000 square feet. Photo: amanresorts.com

Situated on Pine Cay, an 800-acre private island, this 10,000-square-foot home is nestled in a lush landscape framed by an intimate pond. The villa-style residence is one of only a few exclusive residences on the tiny Caribbean island. Each of the home’s four bedrooms is housed in a separate pavilion. Located at Amanyara Villas, it has its own private black-volcanic-rock, infinity-edged pool.

Click here to see more photos of private island homes.

The L.A. Complex Review: California, Here They Come!

Previewing on April 24, 2012 on the CW

The L.A. Complex lured me in at first more by its title than its premise.

It’s true, I’m a sucker for puns and double entendres and I figured I had seen enough shows about beautiful people living a big city, dealing with the basic trappings of love triangles, pregnancy scares, psycho stalkers, sex tapes. Pretty much what Melrose Place specialized in a weekly basis.

But give series premiere credit: it reeled me in with a unique spin on that concept, never wavering from the premise that residents of The Luxe are all looking to make it big in Los Angeles.

The L.A. Complex has a hook and, as long as it centers all of its soap opera-esque storylines around that set up, I see definite promise in following the up and down lives of hopeful actors, dancers and comedians.

Of course, any series of this nature is dependent on its characters and how invested viewers get in them. So let’s rundown those dreaming of seeing their name in lights, shall we?

ABBY: A fun main character. She’s neurotic and talkative and, well, a pretty awful girlfriend. It’s safe to assume we’ll learn more about her relationship as the series goes on, but it didn’t seem to take a lot in order for her to cheat here. Yes, she was drunk and on E… but did she have any regrets the next day?

Or even any real hesitation is taking the morning-after pill? I get the impression it’s not the first time she’s been in that kind of situation. It was just the first time she had to sing an audition within an hour of casually taking the drug.

CONNOR: Seems too good to be true at the moment. And I’m not just saying that because of the accent. He’s nice, he’s handsome, he’s considerate of both his latest lover and his go-to-drunk-dialer. Also seems incredibly relaxed and natural when it came to unprotected sex with a stranger. Not really sure how to take that, but there has to be something sordid to this seemingly perfect male specimen.

NICK: My least favorite character. I understand it’s difficult to break into stand-up comedy, and not everyone will be Chris Rock the moment he takes the stage, but it’s asking a lot of the audience to believe this guy can even entertain the notion of such a career.

His jokes were just awful, his delivery a mess. There’s too overt of an attempt here to make Nick awkward and sympathetic, from the thick glasses to the bombing at open mic night to the losing of Abby to Connor.

TARIQ: His insertion of his own beats into that email was likely the most predictable development of the series, but curious to go inside the world of hip hop. Dropping names such as Drake and Usher, and including guest stars such as Mary Lynn Rajskub (as herself), add an element of reality to The L.A. Complex. Fun stuff.

ALICIA: Your basic sweet, hard-working, innocent… stripper. Again, not exactly a shocking way to conclude the premiere (I saw it coming as soon as she answered her phone and agreed to work that night), but that doesn’t mean there isn’t potential. And not just to see a great deal of actress Chelan Simmons partially clothed, although that will be a surefire way to draw in the male demographic.

How far will one go to achieve one’s dreams? How much can one justify one’s actions (hey, stripping is dancing, too!) as a professional building block? How much skin can The CW show? All questions that could be answered by Alicia’s storyline.

RAQUEL: My favorite character so far. I like the star (Jewel Staite) and I like the idea of seeing an actress from the opposite standpoint of Abby. Raquel has sort of made it, but not all the way, and is now stuck where I’d imagine many real-life actresses would be: far from over the hill, but considered too old for most major parts.

I also enjoyed her commentary on the industry, especially how she pointed out that networks/studios go too far out of their way to be politically correct. Seriously, would Di and Cher from Clueless really be best friends?

A quality start overall to The L.A. Complex, which doesn’t take itself too seriously (Remember, kids: when there’s vomit on the keys, the audition is over) and which does ground itself in a concept that makes it stand out from other, seemingly similar fare. There’s also a lot of pretty people having sex. That’s gotta be appealing to many viewers.

Source: TV Fanatic

By Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times Television Critic

April 23, 2012, 6:22 p.m.

Impressive Effects Do the Epic Story Justice…for the Most Part

Review in a Hurry: Near, far, wherever you are sitting in the theater, the newly revamped Titanic now has stuff coming out at you. It’s the same movie you probably love (or at least respect), with a little bit of datedness and a lot more vertigo. And mercifully, the 3-D is well done.

LIVESTREAM: We’re Livestreaming The Avengers Premiere on April 11! Only on E! Online

The Bigger Picture: As it’s one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, and you already know the ending (and we don’t just mean the fact that the boat sinks), there seems little need to recap the plot here. Let’s just cut right to the chase: it’s a good 3-D conversion. That might have once sounded like damning with faint praise—think “a not-terrible Kevin James movie”—but seriously, this one took time and money, and just like everything else about the original version that took time and money, it shows.

The best 3-D enhancements include any scenes where somebody looks over the deck—Rose’s suicide attempt, for example, or the now-infamous “King of the World” scene (does anyone else remember that, in fact, The Simpsons did that first in the 1990 episode “Bart the Daredevil”?). With the added depth, the true height of the boat adds to the thrill of it all, and during the last hour the immersion effect makes everything still feel ultra-tense despite your foreknowledge of every beat.

On the downside, but a minor one, 3-D makes some effect-weaknesses more prominent, like the digital humans walking stiffly around the deck in the aerial shots, or what appears to be Kate Winslet‘s face composited on a stuntwoman’s body during an action scene. These shouldn’t ruin the movie for anyone, but are noteworthy for being less than today’s state-of-the-art. Converted 3-D also inherently comes up short in scenes of large splashes or explosions that involve tiny particles—they’ll never pop like they do in filmed 3-D.

Source: E Online

CASSIE STEELE’S “SHIFTY” IS AVAILABLE ON ITUNES NOW

Preview “Shape Shifter” on You Tube:)

Or Fake video gone Right?

All the cars on this list have horsepowers over 300, and three cost less than $40,000.

Researchers at Edmunds.com have done the good work of determining the best ponies-to-dollars ratio on the road. These are the fastest cars under $50,000.

The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S can churn out nearly 400 horsepower, but it’ll set you back close to $100,000. Want to feel just as much power for half the money? Buy a Ford Shelby GT500.

Thanks to improved engine technologies that produce higher horsepower, and lighter materials that lower a car’s curb weight, the latest generation of relatively affordable, mass-market sports cars can go as fast if not faster than many of the fancier vehicles blazing down the highway, according to auto experts at Edmunds.com.

Quantifying speed can be tricky. Automakers have been steering clear of advertising a car’s top speed for legal reasons, explains Bruce Harrison, a research director at IHS Automotive.

 

     [More Y! Autos: Hot Photos of the 2013 SRT Viper]

 

So what about zero-to-60 times? That measures acceleration, and the significance of that number is waning, some experts say.

The numbers are getting so close and so good,” says Edmunds analyst Ivan Drury. “The fact that the Toyota Camry can go from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds is kind of mind-blowing compared to the muscle cars in the ’60s doing the same time,” he says.

So what’s the best way to determine a car’s speed? Horsepower and weight: the lower the ratio of power to curb weight, the faster the car, experts say.

Based on that metric, researchers at Edmunds.com helped us determine the fastest cars under $50,000.

 

 

 

#10 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Horsepower: 305
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 11.1
Price: $36,095

 

          [More Y! Autos: Subaru Named World's Best Automaker]

 

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#9 2012 Infiniti G Coupe
Horsepower: 330
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 11.0
Price: $37,800

 

      [More Y! Autos: The Ralph-Tommy Supercar Rivalry]

 

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#8 2012 Nissan NISMO 370Z
Horsepower: 350
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 9.5
Price: $41,290

 

      [More Y! Autos: Dumb Move Burns Japan Ferrari Driver]

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#7 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0L R-Spec
Horsepower: 429
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 9.4
Price: $46,500

 

           [More Y! Autos: Hyundai Wins 2012 Canadian CoY]

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#6 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
Horsepower: 470
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 9.3
Price: $47,470

 

      [More Y! Autos: Should You Video Your Bugatti Doing 300? ]

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#5 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS
Horsepower: 426
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 9.1
Price: $35,530

 

[More Y! Autos: 10 Most Popular Cars for Rich, Famous]

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#4 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8
Horsepower: 470
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 8.9
Price: $43,995

 

[More Y! Autos: Most Advanced Cars in 10 Decades]

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#3 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Superbee
Horsepower: 470
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 8.4
Price: $41,495

 

    [More Y! Autos: 10 Most Expensive Cars of 2012]  

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#2 2012 Ford Mustang Boss
Horsepower: 444
Power-Curb Weight Ratio: 8.2
Price: $41,105

 

 

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#1 2012 Ford Shelby GT500
Horsepower: 550 Power-Curb Weight
Ratio: 6.9
Price: $48,810

 

    [More Y! Autos: RIP to these 12 Cars in 2012] 

 

 

10 Unholy Gas Guzzlers	The Danger of Seat Warmers	Google’s Self Driving Car
China Shuts Out Foreign Makes	Back: World’s Smallest Car	Stalled: World’s Cheapest Car

 

 

Wrath of the Titans Official Trailer #1

At the time 21,664,311 views….now?

The Avengers (titled Avengers Assemble in the United Kingdom) is an upcoming American superhero film produced byMarvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures¹, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. It is the sixth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is written and directed by Joss Whedon and features anensemble cast, which includes Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, and Samuel L. Jackson. In The Avengers, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organizationS.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, and Captain America to save the world from destruction.

Development of The Avengers began when Marvel Studios received a grant from Merrill Lynch in April 2005. After the success of the film Iron Man in May 2008, Marvel announced that The Avengers would be released in July 2011. With the signing of Scarlett Johansson in March 2009, the film was pushed back for a 2012 release. Whedon was brought on board in April 2010 and rewrote the screenplay that was originally written by Zak Penn. Production began in April 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving to Cleveland, Ohio in August 2011 and New York City in September 2011. The film was converted to3D in post-production.

Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

 Cassie Steele

Source: Sean Kilpatrick, Canadian Press & Spinner