Hundreds of high heeled women sprint for world record in Sydney

Women wear stiletto heels in a race for a prize of 5,000 Australian dollars (4,250 U.S. dollars) at Circular Quay in Sydney Sept. 2, 2008. Over 260 women broke the world record for the most runners in a high heels sprint, said organisers.

CANBERRA, Sept. 2-- With three-inch high-heel shoes on feet, 265 ladies tore up an 80-meter race track at Sydney's Circular Quay on Tuesday to break the world record for the most people running in a "stiletto sprint".

Four hundred meter hurdler Brittney McGlone, 18, was first across the line, winning the 5,000 Aus dollar (4,250 U.S. dollars) award.

She was closely followed by dozens of leggy blondes and brunettes in green shorts, some of whom came off second best with scratches and scrapes from a few spills, according to a report of Australian Associated Press.

Former Australian sprinter Melinda Gainsford-Taylor had the job of inspecting the athletes and ensuring they were wearing three-inch heals and had the customary smooth legs.

An event spokeswoman said the current world record topped the previous world record of 150 ladies.

"It looks like Australia has smashed the current world record and should now hold the title for the most number of people ever to participate in a stiletto sprint," Australian representative for Guinness World Records Chris Sheedy said. 　

Brittney McGlone, 18, of Braidwood near Canberra runs to victory in a stiletto sprint race for a prize of 5,000 Australian dollars (4,250 U.S. dollars) at Circular Quay in Sydney Sept. 2, 2008. Over 260 women broke the world record for the most runners in a high heels sprint, said organisers.

Brittney McGlone, 18, of Braidwood near Canberra kisses her trophy after winning a stiletto sprint race for a prize of 5,000 Australian dollars (4,250 U.S. dollars) at Circular Quay in Sydney Sept. 2, 2008. Over 260 women broke the world record for the most runners in a high heels sprint, said organisers.

"The Guitar Man," singer Jerry Reed dies at 71

Singer and actor Jerry Reed, best known as "The Guitar Man" of country music, is seen in this undated handout

Sept. 3 -- "The Guitar Man" actor and singer Jerry Reed died from complications from emphysema at the age of 71, according to media reports Wednesday.

Called a larger-than-life personality by Sony BMG Nashville Chairman Joe Galante, Reed died in Nashville, Tennessee, Monday.

Reed was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and released more than 40 albums over a long career. He switched his career from writing hit songs like "When You're Hot, You're Hot" to major acting roles in Hollywood.

At age 8 Reed learned to play guitar and he dropped out of high school to tour with Ernest Tubb and Faron Young.

At 17, he signed his first recording contract with Capitol Records.

Reed first established himself as a songwriter. Elvis Presley recorded two of his songs in 1968, "U.S. Male" and "Guitar Man."

As a singer in the 1970s and early 1980s, Reed's hits included "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," "East Bound and Down," "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)" and "The Bird."

In the mid-1970s, Reed teamed up with friend and actor Burt Reynolds and appeared in the three "Smokey and the Bandit" movies as Reynolds' truck-driving sidekick "The Snowman." He also wrote the hit song "East Bound and Down" from the first movie.

Reed later played Coach Red Beaulieu in the 1998 movie "The Waterboy" with Adam Sandler.

Reed won two Grammys in the early 1970s and another in 1992 for the album "Sneakin' Around."

(Agencies)

Oscar winner Helen Mirren: "I was date-raped"

Sept. 2 -- Dame Helen Mirren was date-raped twice when she was younger, but never reported the crimes. The 63-year-old actress - who won an Oscar for her performance in "The Queen" - revealed she was too scared to say no and forced to have sex. Helen said: "I was date-raped, yes.

A couple of times. Not with excessive violence, but rather being locked in a room and made to have sex against my will. If a woman voluntarily ends up in a man's bedroom with her clothes off? It's such a tricky area, isn't it?

Helen Mirren poses with her Oscar for Best Actress for her work in "The Queen" backstage at the 79th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, Feb. 25, 2007.Dame Helen Mirren was date-raped twice when she was younger, but never reported the crimes.

Especially if there is no violence. I think she has the right to say no at the last second. But I don't think she can have that man in court under those circumstances. "I guess it is one of the many subtle parts of the men/women relationship that has to be negotiated and worked out between them. "I was polite and didn't have the courage to say that to men who wouldn't accept 'no' for an answer. I was very innocent when I went to college in London. I went to a convent school and had never spent a night away from home or gone to parties or any of that.

Helen, who is married to American director Taylor Hackford, also revealed she used to regularly take the class A drug cocaine when she was in her 30s.

She decided to quit when Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie was uncovered as a drugs baron. When she was asked if she had ever taken any illegal substances, Helen added to GQ magazine: "A bit of dope when I was younger.

A bit of cocaine. I loved coke. I never did a lot, just a little bit at parties. "But what ended it for me was when they caught Klaus Barbie, the Butcher of Lyon, in the early 80s. He was hiding in South America and living off the proceeds of being a cocaine baron.

And I read that in the paper, and all the cards fell into place and I saw how my little sniff of cocaine at a party had an absolute direct route to this f***ing horrible man in South America. "And from that day I never touched cocaine again. Until that moment I had never grasped the full horrifying structure of what brings coke to our parties in Britain."

(Agencies)

Guy Ritchie bans wife Madonna from driving fast

U.S. singer Madonna performs during her 'Sticky & Sweet' tour in Berlin August 28, 2008.

Sept. 3 -- Guy Ritchie has banned his wife Madonna from driving a fast car. The "RocknRolla" director, who turns 40 on September 10, doesn't want his 50-year-old spouse to buy him a sports car for his birthday because she is "appalling" behind the wheel.

He said: "If she buys a fast car, she will not be a driver in it. No way will Madonna drive a fast car! She is an appalling driver." Guy also admits he doesn't share Madonna's interest in horses and is actually terrified of them.

He said: "The missus loves horses, but actually I'm scared of horses. I run away, I've never been able to get over that horse thing." When asked if the couple, who are already raising three children together, are planning to expand their brood further, Guy answered: "You will have to speak to her about that. She makes those decisions."

He added: "I listen to what my wife has to say. I don't sniff at her creative opinions. I value them." Guy and Madonna have two sons - eight-year-old Rocco and David, two, who was adopted from Malawi.

Madonna also has an 11-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship. Earlier this month, it was claimed the couple were planning to adopt a two-year-old girl from Malawi.

(Agencies)

Lindsay Lohan in love

Actress Lindsay Lohan poses at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles June 1, 2008

Sept. 3 -- Lindsay Lohan has confessed she "loves" Samantha Ronson. The 'Mean Girls' actress - who has so far refused to confirm she is dating the New York DJ - declared she is "smitten" with the blonde star.

Writing on her official MySpace blog, Lindsay puts her mood as "smitten". She then went on to dedicate Ray LaMontagne's touching ballad 'Trouble' to "sr" (Samantha Ronson) before adding "ILY" (I love you). Lindsay also revealed she is desperate to track down a dessert she and Samantha used to enjoy at school as a surprise for the DJ.

The blog reads: "So, Samantha and I are looking for Dixie cups - does anyone remember them??? They were given in school as a desert.

They are half vanilla/half chocolate. I have to have them before she gets back - so anyone that can help me find them - please, please, please, post it for me to see!!!! "Take care xoxo "This song is for sr... ILY "Currently listening: "'Trouble' "By Ray LaMontagne."

Ray's romantic track includes lyrics such as: "She gave me love and affection/I said I love her/She's good to me" and "I've been saved by a woman/She won't let me go/She won't let me go now".

(Agencies)

People posts photos of Jolie-Pitt twins on website

People magazine scored a coup by posting the cover of its upcoming issue feature Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon on the Internet Sunday. Price tag for a peek at the world's most famous twins: 14 million U.S. dollars, according to an unsourced report

People magazine scored a coup by posting the cover of its upcoming issue feature Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon on the Internet Sunday. Price tag for a peek at the world's most famous twins: 14 million U.S. dollars, according to an unsourced report.

That's more than three times the rumored 4.1 million-dollar deal for big sister Shiloh's baby photos in 2006. People has said the rumored numbers for both deals, as well as those for other famous babies that have adorned its pages, are excessive. But it has declined to elaborate.

The sum involved has developed into an international guessing game. Rumored price tags for Hollywood baby photos are often wildly inaccurate, and Radar magazine recently reported that celebrity publications are not above stoking the hype in order to boost newsstand sales and website traffic.

The Internet debut is a teaser for a 19-page spread that will hit newsstands on Monday.

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon on HELLO! magazine.

The proud mamma papa and twins were dressed in white, and the babies had no distinguishing characteristics. A smaller photo in the corner showed Shiloh holding her new sister.

In a blurb that accompanied the cover photo, Jolie was quoted as saying the couple's family life at a sprawling French chateau was "chaos, but we are managing it and having a wonderful time."

In addition to the twins and Shiloh, the couple has three adopted children. Jolie, 33, and Pitt, 44, are one of Hollywood's most glamorous couples, dubbed "Brangelina" by the celebrity press.

The shoot was conducted by photo agency Getty Images, with People acquiring North American rights to the photos, and British gossip magazine Hello! all other territories. The Pitts have said they will donate the proceeds to charity.

(Agencies)

Hilary Duff's dad to spend 10 days in Texas jail

Actress Hilary Duff addresses the crowd at the 20-year anniversary of Kentucky Harvest at the Open Hand Kitchen at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Louisville, Kentucky Aug. 25, 2007. A judge in Texas has ordered the father of actress and singer Hilary Duff to spend 10 days in jail for contempt of court.

Sept. 2 -- A judge in Texas has ordered the father of actress and singer Hilary Duff to spend 10 days in jail for contempt of court.

Bob Duff was led away in handcuffs Wednesday during a court hearing after Judge Thomas Stansbury in Houston determined he violated an injunction against selling assets without court approval.

The Houston Chronicle reported in its online edition that Bob Duff must pay into a court repository 367,537 U.S. dollars he earned from selling stocks last month.

Bob Duff's attorney Robert Piro said his client would post bond and file an appeal.

Bob and Susan Duff are in the midst of a bitter divorce.

Stansbury determined Bob Duff should pay Susan 12,500 dollars for Hilary's birthday party, which was the subject of the hearing. Her mother wanted 25,000 dollars to pay for a present and party.

Neither Hilary, whose 21st birthday is Sept. 28, nor her sister Haylie were in court.

(Agencies)