Lady Gaga Reveals Upcoming Vogue Cover, Talks Childhood Taunts: 'They Used To Call Me Rabbit Teeth'

 Lady Gaga is savoring the sweet taste of success!

The fashion-forward pop princess will grace the coveted cover of Vogue magazine in March - which is especially gratifying since she says she used to be taunted for her looks.

They used to call me rabbit teeth in school," Lady Gaga Tweeted on Saturday, along with a picture of her upcoming Vogue cover. "And now I'm a real live VOGUE BEAUTY QUEEN!"

The mag's pastel-themed cover shot shows the "Poker Face" singer looking lean, draped with neutral fabrics, while rocking a pink bob, bleached eyebrows and deep purple lipstick.

*You go girl! Show them all you got it and then some. Do your thing!*

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SARAH *SOCIETAL GOLD DIGGER AND SOCIAL TERRORIST* PALIN!

Take a good look America: Sarah "societal gold DiggER and social TerroriST" Palin is a HOT MESS!

Palin’s PAC is facing scrutiny for her "Take Back the 20" campaign. The campaign, which has since been removed from Facebook, featured a map with a gun’s cross-hairs over 20 congressional districts controlled by Democrats. Rep. Gifford’s district was among the 20.

DON'T VOTE PALIN! Look at what she stands for! See for yourself!

AN ALASKA HOT MESS! *A Pure Nut Case*














A SOCIAL TERRORIST HOT MESS! *Palin Loves Guns at The Expense of Others*
Get this tshirt@ www.cafepress.com/DivasHouse



















A LITERARY HOT MESS! *No Values*




















*Sarah Palin is not President Material*

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Study: Students need more paths to career success!

The current U.S. education system is failing to prepare millions of young adults for successful careers by providing a one-size-fits-all approach, and it should take a cue from its European counterparts by offering greater emphasis on occupational instruction, a Harvard University study published Wednesday concludes.

The two-year study by the Pathways to Prosperity Project at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education notes that while much emphasis is placed in high school on going on to a four-year college, only 30 percent of young adults in the United States successfully complete a bachelor's degree.

While the number of jobs that require no post-secondary education have declined, the researchers note that only one-third of the jobs created in the coming years are expected to need a bachelor's degree or higher. Roughly the same amount will need just an associate's degree or an occupational credential.

"What I fear is the continuing problem of too many kids dropping by the wayside and the other problem of kids going into debt, and going into college but not completing with a degree or certificate," said Robert Schwartz, who heads the project and is academic dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "Almost everybody can cite some kid who marched off to college because it was the only socially legitimate thing to do but had no real interest."

The report highlights an issue that has been percolating among education circles: That school reform should include more emphasis on career-driven alternatives to a four-year education.

The study recommends a "comprehensive pathways network" that would include three elements: embracing multiple approaches to help youth make the transition to adulthood, involving the nation's employers in things like work-based learning, and creating a new social compact with young people.

Many of the ideas aren't new, and leaders, including President Barack Obama, have advocated for an increased role for community colleges so the country can once again lead the world in the proportion of college graduates.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan delivered opening remarks at the report's release in Washington on Wednesday, saying career and technical education has been "the neglected stepchild of education reform."

"That neglect has to stop," Duncan said.

But the idea of providing more alternatives, rather than emphasizing a four-year college education for all, hasn't been without controversy. Critics fear students who opt early for a vocational approach might limit their options later on, or that disadvantaged students at failing schools would be pushed into technical careers and away from the highly selective colleges where their numbers are already very slim.

"Nobody who spends much time in America's high schools could possibly argue that they are focused on college for all, or ever have been," said Kati Haycock, president of The Education Trust, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank. "Most schools still resist that idea, instead continuing long-standing, unfair practices of sorting and selecting like an educational caste system — directing countless young people, especially low-income students and students of color, away from college-prep courses and from seeing themselves as 'college material.'"

Schwartz said efforts should be intensified to get more low-income and minority students into selective institutions, while also strengthening the capacity of two-year colleges.

"You've got to work on both fronts at once," Schwartz said.

The study recommends that all major occupations be clearly outlined at the start of high school. Students would see directly how their course choices prepare them careers that interest them — but still be able to change their minds. Students should also be given more opportunities for work-based learning, such as job shadowing and internships.

Students, the researchers recommend, should get career counseling and work-related opportunities early on — no later than middle school. In high school, students would have access to educational programs designed with the help of industry leaders, and they'd be able to participate in paid internships.

The report notes that many European countries already have such an approach, and that their youth tend to have a smoother transition into adulthood. And not all separate children into different paths at an early age. Finland and Denmark, for example, provide all students with a comprehensive education through grades 9 or 10. Then they are allowed to decide what type of secondary education they'd like to pursue.

Barney Bishop, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, said he would advocate for an approach that provides more alternatives and greater inclusion of the business community.

"The problem for the business community is where you have kids who don't have the rudimentary skills, and you have to take the time and effort to train them, get them some of the rudimentary skills, plus the special skills," he said.

Sandy Baum, an independent higher education policy analyst, said she think there needs to be more counseling in advising students about how to make the right choices.
 
"I don't think the problem is too many people going to four-year colleges," she said. "The problem is too many people making inappropriate choices.

"What we'd like is a system where people of all backgrounds could choose to be plumbers or to be philosophers," Baum added. "Those options are not open. But we certainly need plumbers so it's wrong to think we should be nervous about directing people in that route."

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Palin trademark application refused -- for now!

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's bid to trademark her name and that of her daughter, Bristol, ran into trouble at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because the application forms were unsigned, government records show.

Applications to trademark the names Sarah Palin and Bristol Palin, both for "motivational speaking services," were filed on November 5 by the Palins' longtime family attorney, Thomas Van Flein, but were quickly slapped down by a trademark examiner.

"Registration is refused because the applied-for mark, SARAH PALIN, consists of a name identifying a particular living individual whose consent to register the mark is not of record," the patent agency said in an office action.

"Please note this refusal will be withdrawn if applicant provides written consent from the individual identified in the applied-for mark," the patent office said.

The office also said Palin's application failed to show that her name had been used in commerce and could also be rejected on those grounds.

Bristol Palin's application also will need to be redone, according to a similar office action filed in her case.

The applications will be fixed, and the trademarks are likely to be granted, said attorney John Tiemessen, now handling the trademark process for Palin.

"We're working on it," Tiemessen told Reuters.

Tiemessen is with the law firm Clapp, Peterson, Tiemessen, Thorsness, Johnson, LLC.

Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008, has become one of the most recognizable names in U.S. politics and a darling of the conservative Tea Party movement that helped sweep Republicans to a majority in the House of Representatives during the 2010 elections.

Her daughter, Bristol, became a fan sensation as a contestant on the popular ABC show "Dancing with the Stars."

An unwed, single mom as a teenager, Bristol has also increasingly made a name for herself giving talks about teen pregnancy and abstinence from sex.

Both women also have staked out careers on the lecture circuit, as their trademark applications attest.

The governor seeks to register her name in conjunction with "providing motivational speaking services in the field of politics, culture, business and values," her application says.

It also cites her services in "providing a website featuring information about political issues."

Her daughter seeks to trademark in connection with her role as a motivational speaker "in the field of life choices."

Legal experts said it is relatively unusual for politicians to formally trademark their names because they are generally not associated with commercially valuable products or services. Trademarking a name is more common for celebrities in the fields of entertainment, fashion or sports.

"There's difference between being famous and being a brand," said Claudia Ray, a partner in the New York-based firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, which specializes in trademark law.

"Sarah is somebody who is now out of government and pursuing other activities, in particular, speaking engagements ... and it looks like she's looking to protect her name with those activities."

Jim Vana, a partner with the Seattle trademark law firm Perkins Coie, said safeguarding exclusive rights to one's own name is just part of the story.

"It helps to turn your fame and recognition into a brand that you can use to promote business services," he said.

*This is a tragedy in all aspects. Sarah "societal gold digger and social terrorist Palin" should fall back and go hide in her Alaska wilderness."

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Sarah Palin files paperwork to trademark her name!

With a reality show and two books under her belt, Sarah Palin has become a one-woman industry, and now she's seeking to protect her brand.

As Politics Daily's Suzi Parker reports, Palin recently filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark her name, as well as the name of her oldest daughter Bristol, who's become something of a celebrity brand in her own right.

Palin's paperwork was filed in November, shortly before the premiere of her TLC show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska." Bristol Palin's application was filed in September, a few days before she began her own reality TV stint on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." The applications are still pending, amid several queries by the Patent office.

It's hard for an individual to trademark their name, but it's not without precedent. Pop singer-songwriter Billy Joel has done it, for example. If Palin's applications are granted, many politicians seeking to keep tighter commercial control of their images may well follow suit.

Since President Obama was elected, the White House has openly grumbled about advertisers using Obama's name and likeness to sell products. Last year, Obama aides publicly complained after the Weatherproof Garment Company installed a billboard in Times Square showing Obama wearing one of its jackets on a trip to China. But there was little the administration could legally do,  since Obama's image and name aren't legally protected. The billboard was eventually removed—though not because of complaints.

*Seriously! This is a crazy!*

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Female circumcision migrating to West: IOM

Female genital mutilation has established itself in Western countries in recent years because of growing migration flows, the head of an international migration agency said on Friday.

"With the growth in migration in recent years, the phenomenon has unfortunately reached Europe (and) the United States," said William Lacy Swing, head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

In an event to mark the international day of "zero tolerance" to female genital mutilation, Swing highlighted European Parliament estimates of 500,000 circumcised women living in Europe.

The IOM estimates that 100-140 million women and girls have suffered from the traditional practice.

Most of the victims are in Africa, with a few cases in Indonesia and Malaysia, according to the Inter Parliamentary Union, an association of world parliaments.

Nonetheless, it is on the wane in "many African countries" including Burkina Faso, Ghana and Ethiopia, according to African anti-circumcision campaign group CIAF.

"It's torture. Knives are used to cut the most sensitive part of the body," said CIAF head Berhane Ras-Work.

Nineteen African and 12 European countries, as well Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, have adopted laws outlawing female genital mutilation.

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MGA files antitrust case against Mattel over Bratz!

Barbie Against Bratz doll!

MGA Entertainment Inc. filed an antitrust lawsuit Thursday against Mattel Inc., its archrival in the world of fashion dolls.

The case is the latest volley in an ongoing dispute over MGA's Bratz dolls. It was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and alleges unfair business practices and anticompetitive conduct.

MGA claims Mattel used a "scorched earth strategy" to infiltrate confidential showrooms at industry events to copy new Bratz products, rearrange Barbie and Bratz displays at retailers, intimidate licensees and pay retailers not to buy MGA products.

MGA claims Mattel uses litigation instead of competition to protect Barbie's monopoly over the fashion doll market and deprive consumers of choices.

The lawsuit also names Mattel CEO Robert Eckert, who it says "embraced the 'litigate MGA to death' strategy — a whatever it takes process Mattel successfully employed to destroy the approximate $1 billion net worth of MGA, as well as the 'Kill Bratz' and 'Operation Cast Doubt on Bratz' battle plan to poison MGA in the marketplace."

The case opens a new front in the battle over the right to make and market Bratz dolls — the sassy, street-wise line that flew off the shelves when it was introduced and gave Barbie a run for her money.

Two years ago, a federal jury awarded Mattel $100 million and found that Bratz designer Carter Bryant had developed the concept for the Bratz dolls while working for Mattel. An appeals court later overturned the verdict and the retrial is under way in Santa Ana.

Since Bratz dolls first hit shelves in 2001, Los Angeles-based MGA has sold $3.3 billion in related products, with $292 million in profits, according to Mattel. The doll also decreased Mattel's Barbie profits by $393 million.

*Barbie is always the Queen of Baby dolls!*

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Challenge Yourself for 24 Hours!

What if it took just 24 hours to make a new addition to your health routine? These small changes bring big, healthy rewards.

Bike to Work Tomorrow
Why wait for Bike to Work Day to jump on a fun, self-powered mode of transportation? Instead, do it tomorrow! You'll fit some exercise into your work week. Challenge yourself today by preparing for tomorrow's ride. Here are some tips:

Download a trusty bike map.
Get your bike tuned at the local bike shop.
Fill your tires with air.
Make sure your lock and key work if you need to keep your bike outside.
If you prefer to change out of your ride clothes, pack a change in a backpack or messenger bag.

Seek Out Resistant Starches

Resistant starch, a lesser-known fiber with some of the benefits of soluble and insoluble fiber, is poised to burst onto the nutrition scene with something like a 21-carb salute. Like other fibers, resistant starches defy digestion until they reach the large intestine, possibly contributing to colon health, satiety, management of bodily sugar levels and the presence of good bacteria. They are found in such carbohydrate-rich foods as potatoes, whole grains and beans. Today, challenge yourself to eat something that contains this nutrient.

Try New Phytonutrients
Many Americans get their beneficial phytonutrient intake from just a few fruits and vegetables. Although some is definitely better than none when it comes to these health-promoting plant compounds, variety is also good. Today, challenge yourself to go for more densely nutritious substitutes. Some examples:
Raspberries instead of strawberries
Kale instead of spinach
Sweet potatoes instead of carrots
Papaya instead of oranges
Watercress instead of mustard

Challenge Your Brain

Research suggests that your brain benefits from intellectual tasks, just like your body benefits from physical exercise. Today, get your mind going by doing something stimulating. Try a crossword puzzle, play some cards, read a book, attend a lecture—anything that gets your mind active and that you might enjoy doing regularly.

Look Carefully at "Low-Fat" Foods
Does "low-fat" automatically mean "good for you"? In a word, no. Low-fat foods can still pack plenty of calories and/or sugar, since the label only means that the food in question is 30 percent lower in fat than the standard product. This is particularly concerning if the original is very high in fat and calories. Furthermore, sugar levels are not considered in applying the low-fat label, so if you're trying to reduce your consumption of ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup, you'll want to give your packaged food labels a thorough read, even if they do say "low-fat." Today, challenge yourself to make smarter choices when it comes to low-fat packaged foods, and read those food labels carefully.

Grab the Green
Yeah, we know you already know the nutritional value of a nice bunch of fresh, leafy greens. But when was the last time you added a new green to your repertoire or prepared familiar ones in a fresh way? Today, challenge yourself to whip up a festival of green flavors, using some of these tips:

Sauté seasonal greens with garlic and pine nuts
Blend exotic summertime greens like mizuna or arugula into salad
Be sure to stock frozen spinach for sprinkling on pizzas, stuffing in omelets or dressing up white-bean soups
Chop swiss chard and sprinkle over homemade Greek tzatziki

Think "Just One More"
From push-ups and crunches to jogging and squats, you can challenge yourself by adopting a "just one more" approach. Today, challenge yourself to do "just one more" of whatever exercise you're doing, whether it's a pull-up, a mile run or a three-minute fast-walking interval.

Capture the Krill
There's a new player in the omega-3 fatty acid market: krill oil. Antarctic krill are small crustaceans whose oil contains substances that reduce LDL cholesterol and might offer other healing properties. Today, challenge yourself to find out more about this promising, shrimp-like creature and its nutritional properties.

Cookie Concerns? Just Bake It
Fragrant, chewy and totally comforting—nothing says "welcome home" like a homemade chocolate chip cookie. If you've got the yen for one and want to indulge without lowering your natural standards, challenge yourself to follow these tips for an all-natural treat.

Cut back slightly on sugar amounts (up to a 1/3 less doesn't affect texture much), and use the least-processed sugar or alternate natural sweetener. (Agave, stevia, honey, maple or rice syrup, date sugar and dried cane juice are options, but read up first on how they impact baking results.)

Stick to whole-wheat flour instead of refined flours. (Some cookies, like backpacker and chocolate chip, are more forgiving with grainier flours than others.)

Exercise Your Right to Take It Easy
Taking it easier, both mentally and physically, can have surprising health benefits. The urge to go longer, stronger and harder is built into modern Western culture, but it can work against the natural cycles of our bodies. Relaxing can lower blood pressure, increase blood flow to muscles, improve concentration and boost confidence, all health helpers that not only improve the way we feel, but also allow us to better enjoy the activities we do choose to pursue. Also, as you get older, make sure your self-care and exercise regimens are still age-appropriate. Today, challenge yourself to examine your lifestyle generally, with an eye to setting aside time for stress reduction and relaxing your approach to strenuous pursuits.

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6 mistakes men make on Valentine's Day!

Memo to men: Valentine’s Day is on February 14. In years past, Yahoo.com has noticed a spike in men searching for an answer to the question: “When is Valentine's Day?” as the day fast approaches. Of all the holidays on the yearly calendar, the one designated for romance never fails to trip guys up. Blame mixed messages: While retailers consider the holiday worthy of diamonds, many women take the stance that it's no big deal.

Don’t fall for any of it. Valentines Day is when a guy’s affection, compatibility, and commitment are put to the test. Forgetting the day is just the first mistake to avoid. There are six other common mistakes men make on February 14. Here's a cheat sheet.

Mistake #1: Getting words of wisdom from your local drug store.There's a time and a place for Hallmark poetry and it's never on Valentine's Day. No matter how cursive, heartfelt, and close-to-home the text, you still didn't write it.
Why it’s bad: Women want to feel special. Giving a card that’s designed to cater to millions of women on Valentine’s Day sends the message that your love is a lot like everyone else's. It also suggests you bought some Rite Guard in the next aisle while you were at it. Nobody wants to feel like one of two birds.
The fix: Cliché as it seems, the thought really does count. More than 75 percent of women claim to want nothing more than a heart-felt love letter on February 14. Relationship psychologist Dr. Terri Orbuch also suggests a personal note trumps even chocolate. "Which says 'I love you' more: a box of candy or a handwritten note telling your partner you'd still choose him/her if you had to do it all over again?" asks Orbuch. "Show your partner why he/she matters so much to you."  

Mistake #2: Letting a bear do your bidding.Stuffed animal tricks are for kids. Giving your special lady a teddy bear holding a balloon with a pun like "I Yearn Fur You" is sweet if you're both in junior high. But in a poll by ShopRunner, a women's shopping site, members claimed teddy bears were the worst gift they had ever received on February 14. Flowers and chocolates (standard accompaniments to the stuffed animal) aren't going to win her over either.
Why it's bad: A stuffed animal not only suggests you don't take your partner seriously, it's also generic. Flowers, candy, and anything that's stamped "buy this for Valentine's Day" suggests limited thought went into the gift.
The fix:  Don't run to your nearest jeweler. It's not about the money—besides, a dozen roses and a build-a-bear don't come cheap. "In fact, depending on where a couple is in their relationship, extravagant gifts like expensive lingerie or fancy chocolates can seem overwhelming," author and etiquette expert Leah Ingram tells Bankrate.com. "If you've just started dating, a big gift can imply more depth to the relationship than is really there. It can also be awkward if the guy splurges on a big Valentine's gift, but the woman doesn't do the same." Instead, find a simple gift that shows you've been listening to your lady, like a DVD of her favorite series, or a book by an author she's mentioned. Dr. Orbuch has a more direct approach: "Think of something your partner really needs," she says. "Get the car detailed. Replace her tattered briefcase. It may not sound romantic, but thoughtfulness is a turn-on and shows you really care about your partner."

Mistake #3: Declaring Valentine’s Day a ploy for consumersNo matter how you rationalize it, the holiday is not going away. Even if your partner trumps your own disdain for the day, the risk of going along with her is too great.
Why it’s bad: It feels like an excuse. Despite all the arguments against the day, it comes down to celebrating your relationship. “In the larger picture, cultural rituals like Valentine’s Day structure opportunities to do good things that we could do any day, but usually do not,” writes social scientist Bill  Doherty in Psychology Today. “The year I took my wife to Subway on February 14 was the low point. Eventually I realized that the cost of minimizing Valentine’s Day—the disappointment and the missed opportunity to connect—is greater than the benefits of maintaining my freedom to be spontaneously romantic on my own timetable.”
The fix: If if really pains you to observe the date, celebrate your valentine the day before. You can also keep it low-key. Dinner is optional. The most important thing is to set aside time to talk about things that aren't "important." "Have a 10-minute conversation with your partner about anything besides kids, work, money, or domestic responsibilities," says Orbuch. "I found that the '10 Minute Rule,' practiced daily, increases intimacy, bonding, and happiness." Take a drive or rent the movie you watched on your first date: external triggers that don't cause stress can help take you back to the way you were before your everyday lives trumped romance.

Mistake #4: Sharing the day with your BlackBerry One in five guys will text their loving message on Valentine’s Day and one in ten will take to email. That doesn't even factor Facebook and Twitter professions of love. As sweet as 140 characters can be, old-school letters are more romantic. One survey found the obvious: women would be disappointed by an electronic gesture of affection.
Why it’s bad: In terms of effort, it’s minimal. It also brings a third party into your affair: your P.D.A. (your Personal Digital Assistant, not public displays of affection). It should be a given to turn it off during your candlelit dinner, but using it to profess love is detached.
The fix: Buy a blank card or take a photo of the two of you and write a message on the back. It doesn't have to be long, it can even be a quote from your favorite song. But in this technological world, handwriting holds a certain intimacy. If words just aren't your thing, make a mix CD and write out the songs in pen. Your music choices will do the talking.

Mistake #5: Expecting her to make the plansIn the United States, 64 percent of men do not make V-day plans in advance. That can be a problem when at least 30 percent of women expect guys to map out the entire evening, according to Women's Health. Who's right? Who cares. To avoid conflict, just make a plan.
Why it’s bad: Making plans is a sign of commitment, even if they're not exactly what your partner had in mind. The task of putting forethought into your time together suggests you see a future together. It may sound like a leap, but on Valentine's Day, it's nothing to take lightly.
The fix: Even if you’re strapped for cash or shut out from overbooked restaurants on what might be the busiest day for reservations, there's still hope. Preparing a meal she’ll love or simply plating a prepared meal on a candle-lit table will do the job. Providing dessert and a little wine will suggest you’ve really put thought into the night, even if you just went to the supermarket.

Mistake #6: Under-dressingDon't wear jeans. No matter how well they fit, denims are not invited to your romantic evening for two.
Why it's bad: It suggests the day isn't as important to you as it it may be to her. Plus, getting a little dressed up adds an element of excitement that breaks the casual routine you may share on a standard date night. And excitement boosts oxytocin, the bonding hormone released during new, exciting activities that brings couples together.
The fix: Whether you're staying in or partying like a rock star, let Daniel Craig, aka James Bond, be your style muse, says men's fashion site Dappered. For a night in, try casual khakis and a crisp white shirt, like Craig wore during a scene in an Italian villa in "Quantum of Solace." For a red carpet look, try a skinny tie, or a slim-lined gray suit, like Craig has donned at premieres.

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