We had the privilege of attending the ShoeMint event where we brunched alongside actress Rachel Bilson and stylist Nicole Chavez at the Gordon Ramsay restaurant at The London Hotel in West …

myStyle – Style Scene

At times, people may have travel plans that pop up at the very last second. As a result, some find it difficult to get everything in order, particularly where legal documentation is a concern. Fortunately, it’s possible for individuals to get an overnight pasport, providing they meet the necessary requirements and are willing to do what it takes to ensure that their items arrive on time.

Documentation

Individuals can choose to apply for a new book in person or by the mail, providing that they’re able to meet the requirements for mail delivery methods. For example, people may need to fill out a special form and apply for a new book in person. This is usually the case if a person is under 16 or if their items have been lost or damaged previously. A lot can also depend on how much you can afford to spend as well as how much time you have to wait.

Options

Naturally, the least expensive option is standard processing, which can take anywhere from four to six weeks to arrive. The second least expensive option that you can choose to do, providing that you don’t need things in a few days, would be to have the process expedited. This usually entails an additional fee on top of the original standard application fee. Expedited processing can usually take up to two to three weeks by the time it arrives at the facility.

Expedited Processing

Individuals who choose to have their document process expedited may also choose overnight delivery. This usually entails an inexpensive fee that will be in addition to the expedited fee. However, people who need their book in less than two weeks will need to visit the Regional Passport Agency. The same can be said for individuals who require a foreign visa under a 4-week time period. You can do the same if you have a damaged passport.

Exceptions

Several factors may contribute to the way you apply for a passport. For instance, if you were under 16 and your document was issued more than 15 years prior, you will need to apply for your book in person. The same can also be said for those who are currently 16 or if their book was lost or damaged.

Necessary Documents

If you need to process your documents in person, you’ll need to fill out the proper form. This form must be signed in person. A photo ID and two photographs will be needed as well, along with a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.

Quick Delivery

Last-minute travel plans can put many people in a rut, particularly when it comes to getting their book on time. However, there are options that you may potentially be eligible for. For instance, you could use a company that specializes in speedy document processing.

fashionable clothes

Beyoncé, Chris Brown and “The Help” star Emma Stone are among the A-listers who have nabbed NAACP Image Awards nods this year.

New mama Beyoncé — nominated for Best Music Video (“I Was Here”), Outstanding Song (“Best Thing I Never Had”) and Outstanding Album (4) — is also up for Outstanding Female Artist with her “Dreamgirls” co-star Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, Ledisi and Mary J. Blige.

The show aims to “celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.” A full list of nominees can be found on the NAACP Image Awards website. The winners will be announced live February 17 on NBC.

Chris Brown, Common, Cee Lo Green, Bruno Mars and Anthony Hamilton will compete for Outstanding Male Artist. Diggy Simmons and Mindless Behavior are two of the newcomers in the Outstanding New Artist category, alongside Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Wynter Gordon and Committed.

“The Help” is up for Outstanding Motion Picture against “Tower Heist,” “Jumping the Broom,” “Pariah” and “The First Grader.” Eddie Murphy (“Tower Heist”), Laurence Fishburne (“Contagion”), Laz Alonso (“Jumping the Broom”), Oliver Litondo (“The First Grader”) and Vin Diesel (“Fast Five”) will face off for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.

Meanwhile, in the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture category, Emma Stone (“The Help”) is alongside her co-star and Critics’ Choice Movie Awards winner Viola Davis as well as Adepero Oduye (“Pariah”), Paula Patton (“Jumping the Broom”) and Zoe Saldana (“Colombiana”).

Golden Globe winner and GLAAD Awards nominee “Modern Family” will compete for Outstanding Comedy Series with “Reed Between the Lines,” “The Game,” “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” and “Love That Girl!” On the other end of the spectrum, Outstanding Drama Series, nominees include “Boardwalk Empire,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Good Wife” and “Treme.”

Who will you be rooting for? Share your picks below!

BEYONCEWORLD.NET

Kelly Rowland is spilling details on Beyonce and Jay-Z’s newborn daughter Blue Ivy even before her parents get the chance to talk about her to the press.

In an interview with E! Monday night (Jan. 24) at the Hpnotiq Harmonie and Live Louder 2012 Kickoff cocktail party at the W hotel in Hollywood, the former Destiny’s Child songstress revealed that she has witnessed the beauty of baby Blue.

“She’s more precious than a diamond,” Rowland disclosed. “She’s just so stunning. I’m so happy for my sister and her husband. [Blue Ivy] is beautiful.”

The 30-year-old singer, who released her third solo album, ‘Here I Am,’ last summer, explained that she is filling the role of a “good aunt,” by seeing her niece whenever possible. When asked how Beyonce was doing after giving birth to Blue Ivy on Jan. 7, Rowland was careful not to give too many details. “She’s an incredible mother,” the raven-haired entertainer admitted. “I’m so incredibly proud of her. She’s in Mommyville… and her husband is in Daddyville.”

Before Blue was born, the ‘Motivation’ performer slipped and revealed the gender of Bey and Hov’s offspring — the public hadn’t known whether they were expecting a boy or girl.

BEYONCEWORLD.NET

fashionable clothes

One travel requirement that every country has is that one must have a valid passport to enter or leave their borders. In US, passports holders aged 18 years and above can have their passports renewed when they expire. However, if it expired more than 5 years ago, a new one will have to be applied for. Sometimes, the need to travel may be an emergency situation that requires one travels right away yet their travel documents may have expired. In such circumstances, one needs to get expedited USA passport renewal services.

3 Steps

There are three ways one can go about getting accelerated renewal. The first option is by mail and the second is sending an application at a regional office. The third and fastest one is using the services of a private expediting services provider. You can get pass port pages faster too.

Forms

To make the application by mail, one needs to send the requirements as Form DS-82 which has been duly filled in and completed as well as the necessary payment. This needs to be sent in a padded envelope and it should be marked with the word expedite in block letters.

Express

The second alternative is to make an application for expedition to a regional agency. This option is advisable if the document is needed in two weeks, which is the time it takes to get the renewed document if an application is made this way. The first step is to call the national information center and request an appointment.

Travel Seasons

The second option is to have the expedition done by a regional agency. This is the ideal option if renewal is required in less than two weeks. The process is started by making a call to the National Passport Information Center to make an appointment.

Automatic Service

The service is automatic and is on all day every day of the week. It can get busy during holidays when many people are trying to renew their passports to that they can travel. Upon being given an appointment, you need to go with the completed Form DS 82, the fees, the expired document and photos. The document will then be renewed within two weeks. The contacts and locations for the passport centers for every region can be found online.

Private Service

With this expedition option, the process can be accelerated so that the document is available in a few days or even the next day. The shorter the processing time one requests, the higher the fee. It is however worth the extra cost in emergencies.

Earlier today, it was announced that Rep. Lamar Smith has withdrawn SOPA, the highly controversial anti-piracy legislation attempting to be passed in Congress.  Read his statement inside and find out how Swizz Beatz and other celebs play a role in all of this….

It’s been a messy week online for a few a few internet companies and a few top notch celebs.  A while back, Universal Music Group got pissy after a few of its artists (Diddy, Kanye West, Will.i.am, Chris Brown, The Game, Alicia Keys) appeared in an online video for "Megaupload" (a file sharing company for which Swizz Beatx is the acting-CEO). 

So what’s the problem?  Don’t celebs lend their names to upstart companies all the time?  Well….yes.  But this is a file-sharing company and the music industry (not always the celebs themselves) gets pissy about those because "sometimes" folks use them to trade music and movies (for free). Which is also labeled as "piracy."  So the hugely popular file sharing site was totally shut down by the Feds yesterday and also sued for “racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit copyright infringement, conspiring to commit money laundering and two substantive counts of criminal copyright infringement.”

Swizz Beatz was surprisingly revealed to be the ACTING CEO (not the owner), but was not named in the suit–only the German, Hong Kong, and other owners/investors were named.

Watch the video here:

Also, check out the Dept. of Justice statement about Megaupload which names all the people arrested and charged with piracy over at DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD Here.

Simultaneusly, there was also a bill put forth in both the House (SOPA) and the Senate (PIPA) which targets cracking down on online piracy (which folks claim Megaupload would be used for).  The bill was looked at as a slippery slope into censoring ALL internet and social media, as it would vaguely control (meaning SHUT DOWN) any website that has any dealings (whether directly or indirectly) with any unapproved property uploaded/linked to on the site.  Even if commenters/users were the people uploading.  And even if the artist approved.  The debate crossed political, musical and social media platforms.

And Hollywood was not silent about its views on SOPA.  Several celebs tweeted their opinions:

Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) said,

“Please don’t ignore what’s happening here. IMPORTANT MOMENT IN HISTORY! #StopSOPA http://t.co/fgPx2zQH”

Omar Epps (@omarepps) said,

 “Dear Wikipedia, Until you legitimize your sources and hold yourself accountable for falsities and misinformation, you really won’t be missed at all. Sincerely, Me”

MC Hammer also tweeted his opposition to SOPA, in one instance, a fan asked him

@MCHammer Wouldn’t it be nice if the tech & content industries could work together from scratch to find a solution? #stopSOPA.”

MC Hammer responded, “yes.”

And the White House shot down SOPA as well saying,

" While we believe that online piracy by foreign websites is a serious problem that requires a serious legislative response, we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet.”

After a big messy week with blacked out sites, pissy celebs, Hollywood big wigs still attacking the President despite his stance, the bill ended up dying. 

Rep. Lamar Smith, who was the chief sponsor of SOPA, announced earlier today that he’s pulling the bill “until there is wider agreement on a solution.”  He added, “I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy.  It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.”

He released this statement:

“We need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products. “The problem of online piracy is too big to ignore. American intellectual property industries provide 19 million high-paying jobs and account for more than 60% of U.S. exports. The theft of America’s intellectual property costs the U.S. economy more than 0 billion annually and results in the loss of thousands of American jobs. Congress cannot stand by and do nothing while American innovators and job creators are under attack.”

“The online theft of American intellectual property is no different than the theft of products from a store. It is illegal and the law should be enforced both in the store and online.

“The Committee will continue work with copyright owners, Internet companies, financial institutions to develop proposals that combat online piracy and protect America’s intellectual property. We welcome input from all organizations and individuals who have an honest difference of opinion about how best to address this widespread problem. The Committee remains committed to finding a solution to the problem of online piracy that protects American intellectual property and innovation.”

Over in Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) also stopped their bill saying, 

“In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday’s vote on the PROTECT IP Act.”

The internet is a little bit safer from Big Brother…for now. But folks are still watching and the block is hot…

The Young, Black, and Fabulous – Political Fab

PITT boasts skin as smooth as his younger girlfriend Jolie at film awards in Los Angeles
Bizarre – The Sun

fashionable clothes