Worst priced cars in 2011

1. Kia Optima
The Korean automaker is coming into its own, as this white-hot sedan's status proves. Although priced low the car scores high marks for both interior fit-and-finish as well as thoughtful exterior touches common to  more expensive competitors, including body-colored side mirrors and chromed out door handles and exhaust tips. Factor in an exciting silhouette and competitors such as Toyota Camry and Chevy Malibu could look staid by comparison.
Base MSRP: $18,995
Average market price: $20,473

2. Nissan Versa
To be blunt, the Versa is a bit of a homely machine, but what it lacks in looks it clearly makes up for in sheer practicality and price. Although the car comes in a half-dozen trim levels (with either 1.4- or 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines) that top out at more than $17,000, this vehicle's average market price indicates that consumers view it as the ultimate in practical econo-boxes.
Base MSRP: $11,240
Average market price: $11,924

3. Toyota Prius
The machine that made small but frugal machines cool is more desirable than ever, and several new models, including a nifty plug-in version, will soon debut. What's more, the recent earthquake in Japan has made the current car scarcer than ever on dealer lots (recent reports indicate only a four-day supply of Prii), adding to the frenzy that's existed for this car since its worldwide debut in 2001.
Base MSRP: $21,650
Average market price: $22,901

4. Scion xD
Toyota's product planning wizards struck gold when they decided to build a luxury car and call it something else (Lexus) to create a new market for its automobiles. They repeated this trick downmarket with Scion, and the xB and tC have scored bulleyes with Gen Y buyers looking for reliable cars that scream hip. The comparatively low-key hatchback in the line-up - the xD - is along for this winning ride.
Base MSRP: $15,845
Average market price: $16,605

5. Scion xB
The xB arguably made Scion's name, a veritable four-wheeled box that in 2004 announced its practical intentions while at the same time somehow redefining what a cool car was all about. Seven years later the xB is taking cues from aftermarket customizers and now comes in a limited-release series featuring an impossible to ignore blue exterior that boasts dramatic front, rear and side skirts. But desirability alone doesn't account for the high prices being paid for both the xB and xD: the earthquake damaged plants that make both cars and production has been halted under further notice.
Base MSRP: $16,950
Average market price: $17,670

Cars best price in 2011

These are strange days for car dealers and consumers alike. On the one hand, a punishing economic climate has caused automakers to do away with incentives such as cash back and rock-bottom financing that drove crowds into showrooms for the past few years. On the other, buyers are showing that if a car is on their personal wish list, they’re willing to pay extra; in some cases, thousands of dollars extra.

Those two factors are instrumental in these two groups of five cars: The first of which are less in-demand vehicles priced well above what people are willing to pay, and the second of which have consumers running for their checkbooks even when that means paying more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).

“The month of May was a perfect example of what’s going on,” says Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends at analyst firm TrueCar.com. “It was a very slow month, with (U.S.) sales falling 3.7% to just over a million units. But at the same time, the average transaction price per car was at an all-time high of $29,900. People are still buying, and when they do they tend to go for smaller but highly contented and desirable cars.”

Toprak says that many buyers are downsizing out of large, well-appointed vehicles “but are insisting that the luxury and safety features they were used to in those cars be retained.” That often translates to heavily optioned cars that boost dealer profits, and aptly describes the five Asian-made cars that make up our list of under-priced cars.

But dealers with hot commodities aren’t the only winners in today’s climate. “Anyone who’s in the market for a large truck or SUV that isn’t that great on mileage is going to do very well,” says Toprak, neatly summarizing the following five vehicles — four American and one Japanese — that are overpriced in the face of slow demand:

1. Chevrolet Impala
Currently in its ninth generation, this legendary American nameplate isn’t moving consumers the way it did when it debuted in 1958 — as a two-door coupe with racy Corvette styling cues. These days, the rather bland-looking Impala is, for better or worse, most often seen in its police cruiser livery.

Base MSRP: $24,495

Average market value: $19,224

2. Ford Ranger
Despite decent gas mileage for a truck (22/27 mpg city/highway) pickup shoppers just aren’t willing to pay full sticker for the Ranger. According to Vincentric's raw data, which analyzes vehicles by trim level, five of the 16 vehicles on the list with the worst MSRP-to-market-value ratio are some form of the Ford Ranger.

Base MSRP: $19,075

Average market value: $15,430

3. Chevrolet Colorado
Four doors and interior space rivaling some small sedans (the LT trim is available with six-passenger seating, thanks to an optional front bench) isn’t enough to entice buyers into a large and capable 4WD truck. Part of the problem may be due to the fact that the Colorado rated "Poor" in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's side impact crash test in 2010.

Base MSRP: $20,650

Average market value: $16,960

4. Chevrolet HHR
The demise of Chrysler's PT Cruiser certainly didn't hurt Chevy's sales. Although the four-door and vaguely hot-rodded version of the HHR (which stands for Heritage High Roof) still draws a cult-like following, that's not the case for its paneled cousin, which faces stiff competition in the form of the new Ford Transit Connect.

Base MSRP (LS two-door panel model): $19,030

Average market price: $15,624

5. Mitsubishi Endeavor
Although the Endeavor is a capable mid-size SUV, its ho-hum gas mileage (15 mpg in the city) may be part of what's keeping folks away. The other part is the Endeavor's competitive set, which includes the highly acclaimed Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-9, as well as the fun, functional, and downright funky new Nissan Juke.

Base MSRP (LS model): $28,299

Average market price: $23,266

Jennifer Lopez will not be a part of American Idol Season 11

Just when we got used to the new team of judges on "American Idol," rumor has it that one of them may be flying the coop.

The ever-so-busy Jennifer Lopez may have too much on her plate to make the "Idol" commitment for Season 11. Lopez, who juggles a plethora of careers (actress, pop star, Most Beautiful Woman in the World) could be kissing her lucrative "Idol" judging position buh-bye.

The reason? J-Lo may be too busy, with several projects in the works in the upcoming year, including a proposed Latin singing competition show with hubby Marc Anthony.

In an interview with BBC radio, Lopez said, ""I haven't been forced to make a decision [about returning to the show] and I'm glad about that. I loved it, but I have a lot of other things happening and it's going to come down to me making a choice of what I want to do for the next year."

The departure of J-Lo could hurt "Idol," as fans may be tiring of the revolving door of judges. Of course, if "Idol's" resident glamor girl was to leave he show, there are plenty of pop divas who could attempt to fill her shoes (Mary J. Blige was extremely entertaining when she stepped in as a judge during the Season 9 auditions. And Shania Twain has been a longtime friend of the show, serving as both a mentor and a judge.)

But when it came to her time at the judges' table, J-Lo we hardly knew ye!

She was just starting to bust out as a judge, after her nice-gal start on the show (fellow judge Steven Tyler never really broke out of the nice-judge mold, calling everything every contestant did last season "beautiful.")

While we hope J-Lo does make a return to "Idol" for Season 11, here's a look back at a few of her most memorable moments on the show:

*Contestant Tim Halperin may have made a faux pas when he asked Lopez her age during the auditions (didn't his mom teach him never to do that?) But while J-Lo didn't give him a definitive answer, she did say, "I'm young enough for you, don't worry!"

*J-Lo seemed a tad stunned when contestant Casey Abrams planted a wet smooch on her after singing the Maroon 5 song, "Harder to Breathe." But she did admit, "Casey got soft lips!"

* She gave this advice to "Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina: "Practice singing in the shower." To Paul McDonald she said, "You're the complete package. All you need is a good producer and you're there." And to contestant Ashthon Jones, Lopez said, "You've got all the makings of a diva," to which Jones replied, "I get it from you."

Francois-Henri Pinault got fatherhood from Linda Evangelista's Son Augustin

Linda Evangelista has repeatedly refused to reveal who fathered her 4-year-old son, Augustin James. However, the New York Post reports that the supermodel's baby's daddy is billionaire Frenchman Francois-Henri Pinault.Smokin' Seventeen: A Stephanie Plum Novel

Evangelista initially said the father was "a New York architect," but Pinault's name started circulating in 2007, thanks to Page Six. At the time, Didier Fernandez of DNA Model Management, told People.com, "Not true. [Evangelista] has never said who the father is."21

However, Page Six, still hot on the trail of the supermodel's personal life, spotted Evangelista heading to court on Thursday to set up a support agreement with Augustin's dad:
One -- Augustin, and the other -- Valentina, Pinault's daughter with wife Salma Hayek. Pinault didn't make it to court; his lawyer, David Aronson explained, "We had understood that it was to be a brief, telephone conference, to bring Magistrate Troy up to date on what the status was."

Apparently no agreement was reached, so there might be a trial come fall. Evangelista was previously linked to Peter Morton, whom she started seeing around late 2006 when she was already pregnant with her son, but the pair split last summer.

Sharapova on Her second wimbledon final after seven years

Three years after major shoulder surgery threatened to end her career, Maria Sharapova overwhelmed her demons and her opponent to earn a place in her first Grand Slam final since she won the Australian Open in 2008. Strangely immobile at the start, the 2004 Wimbledon champion steadied herself to beat the German wild card Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-3 in a disjointed encounter lasting 87 minutes.

For the first three games 24-year-old Sharapova could barely get a point on the board. Her serve, so greatly reduced as a weapon since that surgery, utterly deserted her. It all looked like a horrible repeat of her French Open semi-final against Li Na just a month ago, especially when she began racking up a potentially disastrous double fault tally from the word go.

By contrast it was 62nd ranked Lisicki who appeared the old hand on the Centre Court. Relaxed and smiling, no matter that she was bidding to become the first wild card in Wimbledon history to make the women's final, she reached 3-0 at a stroll.

It was the game after that which seemed to prove crucial. Sharapova got to 40-0 and looked on course for a steadying hold, but a curious lack of confidence took her back to deuce. She then delivered one of her ill-timed double faults for break point. How much rested on the outcome of this single point? Lisicki had control of the rally, yet contrived to put her forehand wide. Somehow Sharapova cobbled together a struggling hold from there, and it made all the difference to find herself at 1-3 instead of 0-4.

This was one of those times when Sharapova's fierce, inward-looking concentration was on full burn. She was working the problem, and dictating the pace. Lisicki still seemed relaxed, even smiling when she conceded a break point for 3-2; but she stopped smiling when a steaming Sharapova return sealed it. The Russian was wearing Lisicki down, regaining ground - and confidence - inch by inch. It was no surprise when at 4-4 the 21-year-old sent the ball long again for the decisive break. Lisicki had started to misfire. Sharapova wrongfooted her on the baseline to bring up two set points. Lisicki rescued the first with drop-shot bravado but Sharapova simply aced the second.

Now it was Lisicki's service which had gone absent without leave. Unforced errors galloped in to give Sharapova three break points, and worse still, Lisicki took a leaf out of the Russian's book and double-faulted to cede the break. Sharapova's own game was knee-deep in doubles, but she was also sending down unreturned serves, and urging herself on with every point. A light drizzle began to fall, and at 0-30 Lisicki asked umpire Louise Engzell if they could stop, but was refused. Once again her serve went awry and in the blink of an eye it was 0-3. Lisicki kept going, returning cleverly to force two break points, and watching as Sharapova duly double-faulted. She had one break back, only to return it next game.

If only Lisicki could have held on to her own serve, she might have been able to make more of Sharapova's horrible double-fault habit. But for one thing Lisicki did not add a single ace to the 44 she had delivered throughout the tournament; and for another, the Russian was in bellowing, fighting mode. Once the ball was in play Sharapova was far less vulnerable, and at 4-1 she rescued two more break points against her. The best Lisicki could do was make her opponent serve it out - and right on cue Sharapova delivered yet another double fault to make it 5-3. But it was only delaying the inevitable. Match point came via a mighty Sharapova forehand, whereupon Lisicki sent the ball long. Sharapova has still not dropped a set this fortnight, and will be the hot favourite against the inexperienced Petra Kvitova in Saturday's final.

'The Three Musketeers' star Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich shows off her assassin skills -- while wearing a killer dress -- in the latest film update of "The Three Musketeers," a novel written by Alexandre Dumas.

Jovovich plays M'lady de Winter, who, alongside Christoph Waltz as Cardinal Richelieu and Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham; plans to engulf Europe in a war. The evil doers in 17th century France face a threat by the infamous three musketeers, Athos (Matthew Macfayden), Porthos (Ray Stevenson) and Aramis.

Logan Lerman of "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" stars as the hot headed D'Artagnan who joins forces with the musketeers. Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland and Chris O'Donnell appeared in a 1993 film adaptation of the popular French story.

The film, directed by Jovovich's husband and "Resident Evil" helmer Paul W.S. Anderson, was shot in 3-D and is set to hit theaters on October 14.

Jovovich had a surprising box office hit last year in the 2010 film "Resident Evil: Afterlife" which debuted at the top of the box office with $27.7 million and went on to gross $296 million worldwide.

Katy Perry's new home at Hollywood Hills

Katy Perry and Russell Brand have purchased a Hollywood Hills mansion for $6.5 million,according to Realtor.com. The couple, who have their former Los Feliz home on the market, bought the 8835 square foot Spanish-style property from disgraced National Lampoon chief executive Daniel Laikin. Their new three story home was built in 1925 and is set on 2.98 acres just above the Sunset Strip, in the Laurel Canyon Blvd. corridor. It features stained-glass windows, carved fireplace mantel in the living room, a pub, a study and a media room. The house has seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, including a four-room master suite, two guest suites and staff quarters.Teenage Dream [Explicit]
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Charlize Theron dosen't give importance to marriage

Charlize Theron has been fighting for marriage equality, but said in a recent interview that marriage has never been something that was important to her.The 35-year-old Oscar winner said in an interview set to air Thursday on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight, that she believes marriage is a "divine right," but has no interest in getting married in the future.

"Marriage was never something that was important, I don't know the reason for that," Theron said. Some would say that it's because I came from a very troubled marriage, my parents did not have a good marriage, but I don't think it's that."Theron dated Irish actor Stuart Townsend for nearly a decade before splitting up in January 2010. The two co-starred together in the 2002 film "Trapped" and the 2004 film "Head in the Clouds."

"I really want for myself a long-term relationship, and I have been in long-term relationships," Theron said. "That's the kind of union that I want. The actual ceremony is not something that is important to me, but I see the importance for other people."

Last week, New York State Senate voted in favor of marriage equality. Reuters did reporte that the marriage equality law is expected to bring an estimated $284 million to New York's economy and an estimated 21,000 gay and lesbian couples from New York would marry within three years and nearly 42,000 gay and lesbian couples would come to New York for destination weddings.19

"When government starts to tell us who can love and what is good love... I do have a problem with that," Theron said. "I do have a problem with the fact that our government hasn't stepped up enough to make this federal, to make [gay marriage] legal. I think everybody has that right."4

Theron grew up in South Africa and rose to fame appearing in movies like "The Devil's Advocate" and "The Cider House Rules." She received an Academy Award for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 film "Monster."The actress recently finished shooting Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," and in August, she begins shooting "Snow White and the Huntsman," in which she'll play the evil queen opposite Kristen Stewart, who stars as Snow White.Revelator

Virginia Police takes extar patrols for long Independence Day weekend

Virginia State Police say they’ll have extra troopers on the highways this Fourth of July weekend.

The increased presence is part of the agency’s annual Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort, known as Operation CARE. Seventy-five percent of the state police uniformed work force will be on patrol Friday through Monday.
During last year’s Fourth of July holiday period, Operation CARE resulted in 152 drunken driving arrests, 10,880 speeding tickets and 2,755 reckless driving citations. State police investigated 744 traffic crashes, and there were six fatalities.Dream With Me
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British Royals at Canada day 2011

Prince William and Kate will launch what is expected to be one of the biggest Canada Day celebrations in history with a citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, where 25 new Canadians will take an oath of citizenship.It'll be a more festive second day of the royal tour than the few brief but well-attended events the couple took part in upon arriving in Canada on Thursday.

The citizenship ceremony is being held Friday morning at the museum, which is just across the bridge from Ottawa in Gatineau, Que.William will present each of them with a folded Canadian flag and Kate will give them a small hand flag, but the Sons of Scotland band also has a gift for the couple — a new composition called the St. Andrews Courtship, a nod to the Scottish university where the world's most famous newlyweds met as undergraduates eight years ago.Smokin' Seventeen: A Stephanie Plum Novel

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his wife, Laureen, and their children, Ben and Rachel, are scheduled to arrive on the Hill around noon. A few minutes later, William and Catherine will arrive in a landau with an RCMP escort, accompanied by the Governor General and his wife.There will be a 21-gun salute, the Governor General will inspect the Guard of Honour, and there'll l be a CF-18 flypast over Parliament Hill.Kindle, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers

The hour-long Canada Day show they'll watch will include performances by Sam Roberts, Great Big Sea and Maria Aragon, the Winnipeg 10-year-old who performed a duet with Lady Gaga in Toronto earlier this year.The prince is then scheduled to give a brief speech and he and Kate will conduct a walkabout on Parliament once the afternoon performance ends.

William and Kate began the day by sending best wishes to Canadian soldiers serving at home and abroad, lauding their "extraordinary commitment and contribution to the cause of peace."In a letter posted by the Governor General, the visiting royals spoke of the soldiers sacrifice with admiration."Because Canadian Forces are always to the fore, the sacrifices have been great," the letter reads.The Hunger Games

"For this, the Canadian Forces are respected around the world, They have made a difference to the lives of many thousands who most need assistance through compassion and humanity. We are honoured to thank you and congratulate you for a job well done."

William himself serves with Britain's Royal Air Force.

The letter was signed William and Catherine.