An Impressive Web-based App for Photos Editing

30 Apr 2013 Tech Blog » Internet » Image Editing » Websites » An Impressive Web-based App for Photos Editing Picozu is an impressive web-based image editing app that offers dozes of filters and image effects, support Photoshop layers and is completely free.

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I was a big fan of Picnik image editor until Google merged it with Google+ and the standalone editor was shut down. Since then I have switched to PicMonkey which is an equally awesome online photo editing tool though some of the image effects and photo touching tools are only available to premium customers.

An impressive web-based image editing tool

Today I chanced upon another interesting web-based image editor that’s fast, the UI is beautiful with several useful features. It’s called Picozu.

While Picnik and PicMonkey are purely photo editing apps meaning you can use them to edit your existing images, Picozu lets you both edit and create new images from scratch. Picozu is written in pure HTML5 and CSS3 and requires no Flash or other plugins.

To get started, you can upload load images from your computer or you can directly import photos from your other cloud-based accounts like SkyDrive, Google Drive, Facebook or Dropbox. Alternatively, you may fire your webcam and capture images direclty inside Picozu.

The app offers a layer-based editing workflow seen in editing software like Photoshop or GIMP. There are dozens of filters and image-effects to give your photos a distinct look. Or you can use the regular tools and brushes to manually touch your photos.

Their Firefox add-on takes screen captures and imports them into Picozu for editing. There are also built-in tools for creating photo collages and posters.

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'The 20/20 Experience' Tracklist: Justin Timberlake Releases Song List and Album Cover (PHOTOS)

With just over a month until "The 20/20 Experience" drops, Justin Timberlake has released new details about his upcoming album.

Timberlake took to Twitter on Wednesday night to post both the album cover and the tracklist for "The 20/20 Experience."

The album cover shows JT rocking his now-famous suit and tie, and looking into a phoropter - a nod to the album's name. He recently explained that the inspiration for the album's name came from a friend listening to the tracks and calling it "music that you can see."

The singer also posted a handwritten tracklisting of the ten songs on "The 20/20 Experience": "Pusher Love Girl," "Suit & Tie," "Don't Hold the Wall," "Strawberry Bubblegum," "Tunnel Vision," "Spaceship Coupe," "That Girl," "Let the Groove Get In," "Mirrors," and "Blue Ocean Floor."

Timberlake debuted "Pusher Love Girl" and "That Girl" during his comeback concert last weekend. The New Orleans show was his first in almost five years. The album's first single, "Suit & Tie," has been a huge success for Timberlake. The song's high number of first-week plays made Billboard history, giving Timberlake the record for the highest-debuting song by a male artist.

"The 20/20 Experience" is set for a March 19 release.

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Justin Timberlake of the pop music group 'N Sync performs in concert during the group's 2000 world tour.

'N Sync band member Justin Timberlake talks to the media during a press conference July 28, 2000 at New York City's Planet Hollywood to announce the band's second annual Challenge for Children II charity basketball game.

Pop band 'N Sync and the MSN network of internet services pose at the L''Ermitage hotel to announced their new co-branded internet access service November 28, 2000 in Los Angeles, Calif.

'N Sync's Justin Timberlake at The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards at The Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA., Feb. 21, 2001.

Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync takes aim at a 3-pointer during the pop band''s 'Challenge for the Children III' charity event at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas July 28, 2001.

Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync attends the 29th Annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium January 9, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.

US singer/actress Britney Spears arrives at the premiere of her film 'Crossroads,' with her boyfriend, singer Justin Timberlake of the group *NSYNC, in Los Angeles, CA, 11 February 2002.

Singers Janet Jackson and surprise guest Justin Timberlake perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas. At the end of the performance, Timberlake tore away a piece of Jackson's outfit.

Singer Justin Timberlake poses with his Grammys poses backstage in the Pressroom at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2004 at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California.

Singer Justin Timberlake on stage at the 'Brit Awards 2004' at Earls Court 2 on February 17, 2004 in London.

Singer Justin Timberlake attends the 'Vanity Fair Amped' pre-Oscar party to benefit the Justin Timberlake Foundation, February 26, 2004 at the Continental Hyatt House in Los Angeles, California.

Justin Timberlake answers questions at a press conference for his new movie 'Edison' on September 17, 2005 in Toronto, Canada.

Singer Justin Timberlake attends the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall August 31, 2006 in New York City.

Singer Justin Timberlake appears onstage during MTV's Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on September 12, 2006 in New York City.

Justin Timberlake performs on stage at the 13th annual MTV Europe Music Awards 2006 at the Bella Center on November 2, 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Singer Justin Timberlake arrives at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on February 11, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.

Justin Timberlake arrives to the premiere of 'Shrek The Third' on June 8, 2007 in Berlin, Germany. 'Shrek The Third' will be on German screens on June 21.

Justin Timberlake performs on stage at the closing night of his FutureSex/LoveShow World Tour in the grounds of Emirates Palace Hotel on December 6, 2007 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Actor/singer Justin Timberlake arrives at the premiere of Paramount Picture's 'The Love Guru' at the Chinese Theater on June 11, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Justin Timberlake walks up to the sixth green during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at the Spyglass Hill Golf Course on February 12, 2009 in Pebble Beach, California.

Singer Justin Timberlake arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Singer/actor Justin Timberlake poses during the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards nomination announcement held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 15, 2009 in Los Angeles , California.

Justin Timberlake presents the Audi A1 during the first press day at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show on March 2, 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland. The show features World and European premieres of cars and will be open to the public from March 4th to 14th.

Justin Timberlake attends the premiere of 'The Social Network' during the 48th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on September 24, 2010 in New York City.

Actor/musician Justin Timberlake attends the premiere of Warner Bros. 'Yogi Bear 3-D' at the Mann Village Theatre on December 11, 2010 in Westwood, California.

Actor/Musician Justin Timberlake arrives at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.

Justin Timberlake attends the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on May 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Actor Justin Timberlake attends the 'Friends with Benefits' premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater on July 18, 2011 in New York City.

Actor/Singer Justin Timberlake arrives at the Premiere of Regency Enterprises' 'In Time' at the Regency Village Theater on October 20, 2011 in Westwood, California.

Justin Timberlake attends the 'Time Out' Photocall at Hotel Bristol on November 4, 2011 in Paris, France.

Justin Timberlake attends the UK Premiere for 'In Time' at The Curzon Mayfair on October 31, 2011 in London, England.

Justin Timberlake attends the UK Premiere for 'In Time' at The Curzon Mayfair on October 31, 2011 in London, England.

Actor Justin Timberlake poses as he arrives for the UK premiere of 'In Time' at the Curzon on October 31, 2011 in London.

Actor Justin Timberlake arrives at the premiere of Regency Enterprises' 'In Time' on October 20, 2011 in Westwood, California.

US actor, Justin Timberlake poses during a photocall as part of the presentation of the movie 'Time out' in which he is starred. 'Time Out', directed by US Andrew Niccol will be released on French screens on november 23, 2011.

Singer Justin Timberlake attends the GQ 'Men of the year' party at the Chateau Marmont, in Hollywood, California, on November 17, 2011.

Recording artist/actor Justin Timberlake appears during a Panasonic press event to announce Myspace TV, a social TV service that will be available on Panasonic connected televisions, at The Venetian for the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) January 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs from January 10-13 and is expected to feature 2,700 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 140,000 attendees.

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Best Dumplings In LA: Under-The-Radar Chinese Dim Sum Restaurants (PHOTOS)

This story comes courtesy of Discover Los Angeles.

By Dylan Ho

Known in China as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is one of the most anticipated and celebrated times of year for Chinese throughout the world. Tradition calls for the gathering of families and friends, which usually leads to the distribution of red envelopes stuffed with cash, firecrackers to ward off evil spirits, endless bouts of bad karaoke, and of course, plenty of eating. The Chinese are deeply superstitious and continuously seek wealth and prosperity in their lives, a symbolism that extends to their cuisine. The dumpling (jiao zi, ??) was historically shaped into a gold or silver ingot, which symbolizes wealth in Chinese culture. In China, America and throughout the Chinese diaspora, it is tradition to gather around a table with members of the family to make dumplings during New Year's Eve. The consumption of the "edible ingots" symbolizes the gathering of money and future prosperity.

The dumpling can be made into different forms with different fillings and prepared through pan-frying, deep-frying, boiling and steaming. This list expands into the steamed buns (man tou) / soup dumplings (xiao long bao) category as well, because in America, the definition of a “dumpling” has seemingly expanded to include “any flour wrapper with meat/vegetable filling." The usual suspects in the San Gabriel Valley (SGV) dumpling scene include Luscious Dumpling, Din Tai Fung and Dean Sin World (Mama's Lu, Lu Dumpling House). And while those places do have tasty offerings, the large influx of Mainland Chinese in the area since 2000 has opened up a plethora of amazing dining options, particularly in the xiao chi category (??, literally meaning "dim sum" or "little snack"). The constant turnover in the area's kitchens means there's always something new and exciting happening in the SGV. Here’s a selection of the numerous restaurants that are worth checking out, and many will appeal to the most adventurous foodies.

Photos by Dylan Ho.

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When the Chinese say "three-flavor dumplings" (? ? ? ?), they are referring to a "surf and turf" filling made typically of pork, shrimp and a third ingredient. At Flavor Garden, the mystery ingredient is finely chopped sea cucumber. Speaking of good luck, if you order the three-flavor boiled dumplings, you might be served an off-menu pan-fried version. Order the three-flavor dumplings and request them to be fried. They are simply awesome and juicy. Flavor Garden 1269 E. Valley Blvd. Alhambra, CA 91801 626.284.3549 Pictured: Pan-fried three flavor dumplings at Flavor Garden.

Little Taipei in Arcadia is well known for being the home of Din Tai Fung, but there are several other dumpling houses worth checking out. The chef at Go Go Cafe offers an impressive list of Mainland "dim sum" such as dumplings, bun and pancakes. When ordering any sort of seafood-based dumpling, you definitely don't want it fried although it can be delicious. Steaming is still the best way to retain flavor. The fish used in the dumplings is probably sole, and it's amazingly moist and flavorful. Go Go Cafe 838 S Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626.254.9926 Pictured: Steamed fish dumplings at Go Go Cafe

In Chinese culinary terms, hui tou ( ? ? ) means "to return to the pan/wok." At Hui Tou Xiang, this refers to a dumpling that is fried on both sides, not just on one side. The result is a rectangular pork potsticker that bizarrely resembles a Snicker bar. At Hui Tou Xiang, the texture of the double-sided potsticker is nice and crisp, with warm pork-flavored juices filling your mouth. You almost don't need dipping sauce for these dumplings, because they are indeed that delicious. Hui Tou Xiang 704 W Las Tunas Dr. Suite 5 San Gabriel, CA 91776 626.281.9888 Pictured: Double-sided potsticker at Hui Tou Xiang.

How to Eat Xiao Long Bao (one of many ways): 1. Gently pick up the dumpling by the "head" by using the sides of your chopsticks, not the points, so you don’t puncture the wrapper. 2. Place it on a flat-bottomed Chinese soup spoon. Raise the spoon to your mouth and take a tiny bite of the wrapper with your teeth, or use your chopsticks to tear a small hole. Let some steam out and even cool it by blowing air into it. 3. Dip into black Chin Kiang vinegar provided. Usually has slices of ginger in the dish as well. 4. Pour the juice into your spoon to drink. And consume the entire dumpling. 5. Eat and savor the wrapper and the meaty filling all in one bite. Hui Tou Xiang 704 W Las Tunas Dr. Suite 5 San Gabriel, CA 91776 626.281.9888 Pictured: Xiao long bao at Hui Tou Xiang.

At Fortune Dumpling, your fortune comes in a perplexing array of colored dumplings. They may resemble a new ravioli dish at Buca di Beppo, but the colored dumplings are actually Chinese dumplings with some very unique fillings. The colors correspond to the flavors: green for spinach, orange for carrot and red for red beets. The red dumpling consists of a chicken and goji berry filling that has an amazing bite and flavor to it. The green dumpling is your standard Chinese cabbage filling but with spinach skin. And the orange dumpling, made with seaweed in carrot skin, for some reason actually does taste Italian in a good way. Fortune Dumpling 500 N. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 149 Monterey Park, CA 91754 626.293.8181 Pictured: Colored dumplings at Fortune Dumpling.

In addition to the multi-colored dumplings, the xiao long bao at Fortune Dumpling are worth mentioning. The skins are thin, the pork filling has a nice bite to it and the juice is substantial and flavorful. Fortune strikes again when you spend at least $10 here. The xiao long bao are sold for $3.99, versus the $6.50. Fortune Dumpling 500 N. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 149 Monterey Park, CA 91754 626.293.8181 Pictured: Xiao long bao at Fortune Dumpling.

In addition to xiao long bao, Shanghai is known for its shen jian bao (pan-fried buns), a heftier, meatier and sometimes juicier cousin. At Shanghai Restaurant, the buns are not steamed or pan-fried/steamed but simply cooked in a large skillet with a ton of oil and covered immediately with a large lid. The result is an enjoyable bun that has a slight stickiness to the dough. You can also sample the many other delicious dishes that Shanghai Restaurant has to offer, like the Yellow Croaker with Seaweed dish. Shanghai Restaurant 140 W Valley Blvd # 211 San Gabriel, CA 91776 626.288.0991 Pictured: Pan-fried buns at Shanghai Restaurant.

I've been a fan of Mr. and Mrs. Ho's Chongqing-style food for many years, since their days at Chuan Yu Noodle Village. At Lucky Noodle King, they make an amazing hot pot with their perfect house-made spicy, mouth-numbing chili sauce. Traditionally, the "red chili oil wonton" dish is prepared by boiling pork-only wontons and served with a heaping spoonful of chili sauce/oil and scallions. Mrs. Ho suggested that I try it Yunnan-style. Instead of inside a bowl, the wontons are served in a clear broth with a whole rice bowl full of the house-made red peppercorn/prickly ash chili. Simply scoop a few wontons into a separate bowl, add your desired amount of chili sauce and add a few scoops of the broth to dilute the sauce. The result is your own mini bowl of "wonton soup." It is unbelievably comforting and tasty. Lucky Noodle King 534 E Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776 626.573.5668 Pictured: Red chili oil wontons at Lucky Noodle King.

Formerly known as Tasty Garden, Shang Ming serves some of my favorite potstickers. Oblong-shaped and sometimes nearly 6" long, these potstickers have a slightly sticky and crispy wrapper. The technique here is to bite off one end, hold a soup spoon and carefully pour out the pork juice. There are times during the cooking process where pork juice leaks out of the potsticker due to poor wrapping, which results in a nice bonus of a caramelized web of reduced sauce that's stuck to the bottom of the potstickers. For lamb fans, try the lamb version which is tasty, though not as juicy as the pork. Shang Ming Restaurant 301 W Valley Blvd. Suite 110 San Gabriel, CA 91776 626.282.5953 Potstickers at Shang Ming.

Over the last year, xiao long bao were added to a number of dim sum menus. When Shanghai No.1 Seafood Village appeared, I gained a new found respect for Northern Chinese dim sum. At Shanghai No. 1 Seafood Village, the dim sum is stellar. If you want to sample xiao long bao that is closest to the Shanghai/Nanxiang style, you can find it here. The broth in Shanghai-style xiao long bao is much richer and more unctuous than the familiar, lighter xiao long bao broths. Shanghai No. 1 Seafood Village 250 W Valley Blvd. #M San Gabriel, CA 91776 626.282.1777 Pictured: Xiao long bao at Shanghai No.1 Seafood Village.

Never mind the freakishly large xiao long bao, that's as big as a softball and served with a straw. Wang Xing Ji is the place is for Wuxi cuisine, a sweeter version of Chinese food. Upon puncturing the soup dumpling, a golden yellow broth spills out on the spoon - not the usual light brown. It has a sustaining sweetness on the palate due to the usage of yellow rock sugar – the same sugar used for Vietnamese pho. Even alone with just vinegar, it still has a sweet taste. But a little shot of soy sauce for salinity makes this quite unique. Wang Xing Ji 140 W Valley Blvd. #211 San Gabriel, CA 91776 626.307.1188 Pictured: Soup dumpling at Wang Xing Ji.

The red chili oil wonton soup at Wang Xing Ji is very different than what I've had elsewhere. It is served as a soup and it already comes spicy. The shreds of seaweed and eggs are nice. But the dumpling itself has a unique taste. Instead of just pork, the wontons are spiked with small threads of dried scallops for that extra oceanic umami. It's reminiscent of the dried flounder/shrimp shell taste found in Hong Kong-style wontons. These were fun to eat with a little bit of black vinegar. Wang Xing Ji 140 W Valley Blvd. #211 San Gabriel, CA 91776 626.307.1188 Pictured: Red chili oil wonton soup at Wang Xing Ji.

Dylan Ho is a travel photographer based in Los Angeles. Follow him on Twitter at @eeddbbmm. Discover Los Angeles is the website of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. For more Discover Los Angeles guides, click here.

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Tonik, Dog With 'Human' Face, Available For Adoption (PHOTOS)

It's just one of those things that are like, "Whoa, dude."

Gawker pointed out that Tonik, a poodle-Shih Tzu mix available for adoption from an Indiana animal welfare agency, actually has an "eerily humanoid" face.

Petfinder notes that the dog came to the Homeward Bound Animal Welfare Group from a kill shelter in Kentucky. The personable photos were taken by Renny Mills, a professional pet photographer.

In an email to The Huffington Post, Jen Schwartz, the owner of Homeward Bound, said the shelter had recently taken in dogs that required dental work and had illnesses that required expensive treatments.

It's totally horrible that any animals -- whether they have human faces or not -- have to die because nobody wants them. Here's hoping that Tonik finds an awesome home.

For more information about adopting a pet, visit the ASPCA website.

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Meet Tonik, a poodle-shih tzu mix that is up for adoption at Homeward Bound Pet Rescue in Mishawaka, Ind. (Credit: Renny Mills Photography)

Tonik is a poodle-shih tzu mix that is up for adoption at Homeward Bound Pet Rescue in Mishawaka, Ind. (Credit: Renny Mills Photography)

Tonik is a poodle-shih tzu mix that is up for adoption at Homeward Bound Pet Rescue in Mishawaka, Ind. Credit: Renny Mills Photography

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The 2013 Nail Olympics Bring Out Some Pretty Scary Manicures (PHOTOS)

In today's "the more you know" news, we were tipped off (ha!) by our friends at HuffPost Weird News that a major manicure competition was going down in Rome. Manicurists from all over the world descended upon the Eternal City to go talon-to-talon in the Nail Olympics.

The two-day nail art competition (which started in Las Vegas back in 2001) brings out some of the most shocking designs we've seen since Flo-Jo. From dip-dyed, icicle-shaped fingernails to pirate-inspired 3D nail art complete with treasure, there are no limits for the technicians behind these creations.

An international panel consisting of eight judges will decide which competitors nailed it in seven different categories. And we say, good luck, because the competition is pretty sharp!

Click through our slideshow below for the most stunning, yet scary manicures from the Nail Olympics in Rome. And tell us in the comments section which manicure design you think deserves top honors.

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Lisa Sim learns about Japanese 3D nail art done in the Harajuku style from nail artist Tamara Di Lullo.

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SAG Awards 2013 Red Carpet Photos: See The Fashion & Glittering Gowns! (PHOTOS)

The Golden Globes are over and the Oscars are still a few weeks away, which can mean just one thing...

SAG Awards!

OK, fine. Maybe the Screen Actors Guild Awards aren't the sexiest, most exciting of the awards shows. But the A-list actors still dutifully don their designer gowns, spikey heels and million-dollar jewels and walk the red carpet, providing us all with a pre-Oscars fashion parade. And for that we are eternally grateful.

Below, check out our continuously-updated slideshow of all the best red carpet looks from the 2013 SAG Awards! Who had your favorite dress?

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Penguin Civic Classic Book Covers And Inspiration Behind Design (PHOTOS)

We recently interviewed the Penguin Civics Classics book cover series designer about his design choices and inspiration.

In your own words, what is this series about?

In my opinion it's about democracy and freedom, and that's it, really. I'm the worst design b.s.-er of all time, by the way.

What was the mood, theme or specific moment from the texts you depicted with these covers?

They're drawn from American history and there is so much graphic influence from all those early eras, specifically from ephemera. Common Sense, as a pamphlet, was the jumping off point for me for the series design.

I was always attracted to the general style of ephemera, and it seemed to make sense for this series. It's about democracy, and these early American designs were created by the people, very DIY, a lot like street art, that's what Common Sense is.

What inspires your design?

Peter Saville has always been a big influence. It's not a completely straight forward influence as far as imagery goes but I think that a lot of what he did was draw from little pieces of the past and bring it to the present to make it feel modern. All his Factory Records work, anything for New Order and Joy Division, the posters and album covers, there is an elegance to those pieces that is hard to grasp in a way. You look at them on the surface and then look at them for awhile and realize the way imagery and type are so well put together, so dynamic.

For Penguin Civic Classics, it was also about digging back and looking at what was around from these specific historic times. Posters from the Civil War are incredible; the typography used, obviously, the Declaration of Independence itself. The "Join, or Die" snake was designed by Ben Franklin, which goes to show how talented he was. It appeared about 20 years before the revolution but it was in a newspaper that he printed and he's credited as the designer for it.

What was the biggest challenge in designing these covers?

Supreme Court Decisions was the last one to include in the series and at that point, I was wondering how it was going to work and keep going. I had a lot of imagery, old 18th and 19th century political art work and ephemera from pamphlets and ads that were all very patriotic and pulling pieces from that and somehow making six individual pieces of art all work together was the biggest challenge.

Did you consider different ideas or directions for this cover?

I originally was going to do red, white and blue and it seemed too obvious. The fact that these are classic books, it made sense to make them black and white.

While I started to familiarize myself with the texts I came across different images associated with them over and over and I put them in a folder along with patriotic images of American history, which are so rich and varied. I suppose in a subliminal way I channeled some of my early design influences into it, which are punk posters and album covers.

Do you have a favorite amongst them?

Common Sense. It's very punk rock and I always liked Jamie Reid's work for the Sex Pistols. Thinking about "God Save the Queen," ripped over her eyes, in a weird way our Common Sense is almost a tip of the hat to Reid. Also, out of all of the volumes, Common Sense is the one with the most Peter Saville influence too. The spirit of the revolution is very rock n' roll in a way. Common Sense is rock and roll all the way.

What is your previous design experience, with books and otherwise?

I am currently Art Director of Blue Rider Press where I have designed covers for books such as Neil Young's memoir Waging Heavy Peace and Damien Echols' Life After Death. Prior to that I was a designer with
Penguin/Viking and Harper Collins where I have designed covers for Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and Jim Carroll's The Petting Zoo and many more titles.

Are you happy with the final decisions as it ran?

Yes, very much. I got to do uncoated, debossed, covers and had a completely blank canvas for all of them; it's kind of rare to have that.

What is the most important element of a successful book cover?

Getting people to pick it up.

What are some of your favorite book covers?

1. The classic Jan Tschichold Penguin designs
2. All of Rodrigo Corral's covers for Chuck Palahniuk
3. K by Roberto Calasso designed by Peter Mendelsund
4. Hello World, A Life of Ham Radio designed by Paul Sahre

Do you judge books by their covers?

Yes. I shouldn't. But I do.

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Las Vegas Launches Gay Travel Campaign (PHOTOS)

Las Vegas hopes to broaden its appeal to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travelers with a sizzling new ad campaign.

The tongue-in-cheek ads, which were reportedly produced by R&R Partners in Las Vegas, show dowdy-looking straight couples snapping photos and acting generally out of place amidst pairs of glammed-up lesbians and chiseled gay men in Sin City.

"Everyone's welcome," the taglines read. "Even straight people.”

Photos of the campaign are making the rounds on Buzzfeed, Towleroad, New Now Next and a number of other media outlets.

Read more about LGBT travel options in Las Vegas, or check out LGBT travel experts' picks for 2013's top destinations.

Check out images from the campaign below:

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Europe Snow Storm: Despite The Travel Chaos, We Wish We Could Be There Right Now (PHOTOS)

While we love Paris, London and Amsterdam any time of year, there's something incredibly romantic about the notion of those famed European cities blanketed in snow.

The snow has caused massive travel headaches at Heathrow (with 262 flights canceled on Sunday and 130 on Monday), Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports (where 40% of flights were canceled), Frankfurt's airport (180 flights canceled due to ice on Monday), and Munich (200 flights were canceled Monday), but no matter--the snow is beautiful.

Herewith, some of our favorite European spots covered in crisp white snow.

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Parking Lot Art? Indianapolis' Hotel Commissions Graffiti Artist Nick Walker To 'Vandalize' Garage (PHOTOS)

This week in the world of outrageous art, a swanky hotel in Indianapolis has commissioned British street artist Nick Walker to decorate the walls of its parking garage with pre-ordered graffiti designs. Yes, unlike other businesses, the Alexander Hotel welcomed a man with a can of spray paint to "vandalize" it's property, all in the name of contemporary art.

Photo by John Bragg

The graffiti murals are located on the concrete walls of the hotel guest parking lot, featuring familiar urban art themes like masked figures and bubble lettering. Another design simply reveals the word "vandalism" plastered on one of the lot's columns, only the letter "v" has been replaced with a heart à la the "I Love New York" emblem. Unsurprisingly, the hotel then proclaimed itself "one of the most controversial, yet inspiring parking garages in the nation."

If you were thinking these images are a little too Banksy-esque for comfort, you're not alone. Walker is described in a press release from the hotel as a contemporary of the famed UK street artist (whose own work is now more often seen in the confines of a gallery or art fair than on any city streets). But don't worry, the graffiti is real. A press representative from the hotel even told The Huffington Post in an e-mail exchange that Walker opted for nocturnal work hours, going as far as to say it was as if "he didn't want to 'be caught.'"

What can you expect from a $44 million, boutique style art hotel, though? Of course they would hire an artist to creep around in their garage at night to fake-evade authorities in order to create an "authentic" yet palatable graffiti art experience. Our thoughts? Maybe the hotel should focus more on its pricey interior artworks, curated by the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and less on its "lowbrow" basement art, made to look like it didn't cost just as much.

What do you think, readers? Scroll through a slideshow of images from the Alexander's new parking garage and let us know what you think of the work in the comments section below.

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AVN Awards Ceremony 2013: Porn Stars Win Big, Hit Red Carpet In Las Vegas (NSFW PHOTOS)

Thousands of fanboys and porn stars flooded the halls of the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday night to celebrate the AVN Awards, in which dozens of scantily-clad hopefuls won titles ranging from best girl-on-girl scene to best romance.

HuffPost Weird News documented all the action, including the red carpet event before the show. All the A-listers were there, including Natasha Nice, who was nominated for the best actress award. If deemed the winner, Nice said she'd place her award in her bathroom near the tub.

"I spend a lot of time there, especially in my scenes," she said at the red carpet event. "I like lesbian scenes a lot, and we find ourselves in the bathroom regularly."

GALLERY: AVN Awards Red Carpet

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Alas, by the end of the night, Nice didn't take home the prize. Lily Carter, a 22-year-old with less than three years of experience in the business, won best actress for a slew of titles she appeared in over 2012.

James Deen, who has made headlines for his role in an upcoming film that includes a sex scene with Lindsay Lohan, won male performer of the year. He told HuffPost Weird News before the ceremony that he didn't expect to win anything this year, though several of his competitors said he was likely to clinch at least one of his nominations.

View more of the winners below. AVN will make a full list of awards available on Sunday.

WINNERS:

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Garry Winogrand's Photography Retrospective Brings 250,000 Unknown Images To SFMOMA (PHOTOS)

When street photographer Garry Winogrand passed away unexpectedly at 56 years old, he left behind approximately 250,000 images he'd never even seen. Because the extremely prolific photographer delayed editing his images, his oeuvre remained largely unexamined for years. For his first retrospective in 25 years, SFMOMA will present 300 photographs from the American icon, over 100 of which have never before been printed.

SFMOMA's assistant curator of photography Erin O'Toole explained in a statement:

"In the absence of explicit instructions from him regarding how he wanted his work to be handled after he was gone, its posthumous treatment has been the subject of ongoing debate and raises provocative questions about the creative process and its relationship to issues specific to the medium."

Winogrand, born in the Bronx in 1928, studied painting before turning to photography. The state of photography in America was somewhere between a budding artistic medium and journalistic technique, and Winogrand expressed American truths with a poetic eye. Whether capturing the overcrowded, amorphous New York streets or a lone sailor hitchhiking on the highway, Winogrand possessed an eye for that funny sense of isolation that lies beneath the American way.

With visual puns, odd personas and absurd juxtapositions, Winogrand turns ordinary American moments into extraordinary photographs. The photography addict insisted that "photography is not about the thing photographed. It is about how that thing looks photographed," an adage which proves true in his retrospective.

Whether in his native New York or Miami, Los Angeles, Albuquerque or Dallas, whether capturing clowns, construction workers, airports or beautiful women... Winogrand captured the complex fabric of American life, somewhere between ugliness and beauty.

Garry Winogrand will show at SFMOMA from March 9 until June 2, 2013 before travelling to Washington, D.C., New York, Paris, and Madrid. A catalogue of 400 images will accompany the exhibition. See a preview of Winogrand's extensive collection below:

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Garry Winogrand, New York, 1969; gelatin silver print; Collection SFMOMA, gift of Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Untitled, 1977; gelatin silver print; Collection SFMOMA, gift of Dr. Paul Getz; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Sailor, 1950; gelatin silver print; Collection SFMOMA, fractional and promised gift of Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Los Angeles International Airport, 1964; gelatin silver print; Collection National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Patrons’ Permanent Fund; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, New York World’s Fair, 1964; gelatin silver print; Collection SFMOMA, gift of Dr. L. F. Peede, Jr.; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Los Angeles, 1964; gelatin silver print; collection SFMOMA, gift of Jeffrey Fraenkel; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Coney Island, New York, ca. 1952; gelatin silver print; collection The Museum of Modern Art, New York, purchase and gift of Barbara Schwartz in memory of Eugene M. Schwartz; digital image © The Museum of Modern Art/ Licensed by SCALA / Art Resource, NY

Garry Winogrand, White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, 1964; gelatin silver print; collection of Randi and Bob Fisher; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Albuquerque, 1957; gelatin silver print; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, purchase; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Fort Worth, Texas, 1974–77. Gelatin silver print. Garry Winogrand Archive, Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Park Avenue, New York, 1959; gelatin silver print; collection National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Patrons' Permanent Fund; image courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, 1968; gelatin silver print; collection of John and Lisa Pritzker; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, New York, ca. 1982–83; Gelatin silver print. Garry Winogrand Archive, Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, New York, ca. 1982–83; Gelatin silver print. Garry Winogrand Archive, Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Los Angeles, ca.1980–83; gelatin silver print; Garry Winogrand Archive, Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Los Angeles International Airport, 1964; gelatin silver print; Garry Winogrand Archive, Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, John F. Kennedy, Democratic National Convention, Los Angeles, 1960; posthumous digital reproduction from original negative; Garry Winogrand Archive, Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Garry Winogrand, Fort Worth, Texas, 1974; gelatin silver print; collection SFMOMA, Accessions Committee Fund: gift of Doris and Donald Fisher and Marion E. Greene; © The Estate of Garry Winogrand, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

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'Young Adult' Art Exhibition: Hello Giggles And Gallery 1988 Team Up For Teen Lit (PHOTOS)

Did you dream of having a secret identical twin so your life would more closely resemble that of Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield of the "Sweet Valley High" series? A new exhibition, organized by pop culture-crazed Gallery 1988 and crafty website Hello Giggles, will honor the golden days of teen lit and fill that hole in your heart.

"Young Adult" is the newest exhibition from Gallery 1988, which tackles YA lit's most beloved characters; it will channel the "aesthetic and the nostalgic nature" of Hello Giggles, according to Gallery 1988 co-owner Jensen Karp. In case you are unfamiliar with this nostalgia-heavy style, the buzzy website is co-founded by Zooey Deschanel, the wonder woman behind one of the best quotes of 2013: "I want to be a fucking feminist and wear a fucking Peter Pan collar." We cannot wait to whip out the butterfly clips, chokers and gel pens and whine about how "Twilight" pales in comparison to the classics.

"Young Adult" will run from February 2 until February 23 at Gallery 1988 Melrose in Los Angeles.

Check out the works below and let us know which teen read is your guilty pleasure.

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Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew

Harriet The Spy

Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew

Sweet Valley High

Goosebumps

Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew

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The Ugly Truth: Rut Mackel Creates Disfigured Portraits Via Glass Panes (PHOTOS)

How often do you cringe when looking at photographs of yourself? It's a feeling London-based photographer Rut Mackel seems to relish, evidenced by her latest project, "The Ugly Truth." In the striking portrait series, Mackel puts her subjects in poses that are anything but beautiful, showing an array of contorted and artificially disfigured faces.

Mackel creates her photos by asking models to press their faces against a glass pane. While the subject, artist and viewer are aware that the contortions are only momentary, the images raise questions of identity and visual perception. How would our emotional responses to these pictures change if the disfigurement was permanent?

Here's how the artist explains "The Ugly Truth" on her website:

”[The] face is a symbol of personal identity. It’s the mirror, or the mask of the self...Thus, facial disfigurement can be particularly distressing.”

Mackel's work reminds us of both photographer Wes Naman's "Scotch Tape" series as well as Tadas Cerniauskas's "Blow Job" project. Scroll through the slideshow below for more images from "The Ugly Truth." What do you think, readers? Is there beauty in these distorted portraits?

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h/t Visual News

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Kids' Letters About Gun Control Read At White House [PHOTOS]

(Reuters) - "Dear President Obama," began a letter from 8-year-old Grant Fritz, with the shaky printing -- missed words, spelling errors -- of someone just learning how to put thoughts down on paper.

"I think there should be some changes in the law with guns," Fritz said in the December 17 letter he sent to the president days after the Newtown school shootings.

Invited to the White House on Wednesday, Fritz and three other children in their Sunday best sat on stage as Obama read out parts of their letters to illustrate why he wants to tighten gun laws.

The children's' presence at Obama's announcement aimed to keep kids at the heart of the often emotional battle over gun control, which reignited with the murder of 20 first-graders in Newtown, Connecticut, last month.

The president's own young daughters were dragged into the fray on Tuesday when the National Rifle Association put out an ad accusing Obama of hypocrisy by giving the girls armed Secret Service protection.

That broke a long-held taboo against using a president's children in political attacks and outraged the White House, which described the ad as "repugnant."

A-GRADE VS FIRST GRADE

With the letter-writing children looking on, Obama announced wide-ranging plans for gun control, including bringing an assault weapon ban to Congress. He challenged Americans to ask their lawmakers to support his plan despite objections from groups who believe the measures will infringe on gun ownership rights.

"Ask them what's more important: doing whatever it takes to get a 'A' grade from the gun lobby that funds their campaigns, or giving parents some peace of mind when they drop their child off for first grade?" Obama said to applause from a crowd of interest groups, Democratic lawmakers and law enforcement officials who agree with his plan.

Anger and pain over the December 14 Newtown shooting has been a common topic in the stacks of letters from Americans that flood into the White House. Obama says he reads 10 letters a day from the public.

Julia Stokes, 11, wrote that she "may not (be) that into politics but my opinion is that it should be very hard for people to buy guns."

"I know that laws have to be passed by congress but I beg you to try very hard to make guns not allowed," wrote Julia, who dotted her 'i' with a heart.

Hinna Zeejah, 8, whose patent-leather Mary Jane shoes didn't reach the floor as she sat on the White House stage, wrote, "I feel terrible for the parents who lost their children."

In the front row of the event sat Chris and Lynn McDonald, whose 7-year-old daughter, Grace, was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

"I'm told she loved pink. She loved the beach. She dreamed of becoming a painter," Obama said. Her parents looked at each other and smiled as the president spoke of how one of Grace's paintings now hangs in his private study.

The horror of the Newtown school shooting made a significant difference in the debate over gun violence, said Annette Nance-Holt, who lost her only child, Blair, in a shooting on a city bus, when he was coming home from school in 2007.

"In Chicago, we've been waiting for a long time. I don't just represent Blair - that was my baby - but there are so many other babies in the city of Chicago that have been gunned down innocently," Nance-Holt told reporters, wearing a picture of her son on her lapel.

"Now we have a groundswell of movement. We have 20 babies, and people are looking at this totally different."

Obama was criticized by conservative pundits and bloggers as using children as political "props."

"I don't even know what to say about the White House publishing letters from children for political purposes. It's just so disgusting," tweeted Michelle Clouthier, a libertarian blogger.

In its ad, the NRA accused Obama of being "just another elitist hypocrite" for allowing armed Secret Service protection for his daughters but turning down the lobby group's proposal after the Newtown shooting to put armed guards in all schools.

That drew fire from White House spokesman Jay Carney.

"Most Americans agree that a president's children should not be used as pawns in a political fight. But to go so far as to make the safety of the president's children the subject of an attack ad is repugnant and cowardly," Carney said.

(Editing by Alistair Bell and Doina Chiacu)

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

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Latino Is Not A Race, Despite The Census Debate (PHOTOS)

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More people of African descent live in Brazil than any country in the world except Nigeria.

Peru's authoritarian ex-President Alberto Fujimori is one of the 80,000 Peruvians of Japanese descent.

A massive wave of Italians, Spaniards, Germans and other Europeans immigrated to Argentina, where the population is largely white.

Ever wonder why Shakira belly dances? It's because her paternal side emigrated from Lebanon.

A majority of the people of Bolivia are indigenous, with 30 percent identifying as Quechua and 25 percent as Aymara.

About a quarter of Cuba's population is of mixed-race descent, according to government figures, generally of both European and African ancestry.

Most of the population of Mexico identify as mestizo, people of both indigenous and European heritage.

The Census Bureau has sparked debate with a proposal to redefine Latinos as a racial category. The agency’s exploration into a new classification system stems from concern over the fact that some 18 million Latinos declined to identify their race in 2010.

But whatever new system emerges from the debate won’t change one key fact: "Latino" is not a race.

The term “Latino” refers to people of Latin American origin, and the countries of Latin America are diverse, multiracial and generally racially mixed. Most social scientists agree that race doesn't actually exist -- it's a social category invented to keep people apart. The diversity of Latin America makes it clear how hard it is to neatly classify people.

From Mexico to Patagonia you’ll find white people, black people and indigenous people, and all the possible combinations -- not to mention many people of Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds. More than 67 languages are spoken in Mexico alone. More people of African descent live in Brazil than any country in the world, except Nigeria.

To understand why so many Latinos have trouble identifying a race on the Census, it helps to take a look at the restrictive options available: white, black, Asian, Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native.

Most Latin Americans, however, come from a mixed-race background -- most commonly mestizo (a person of both indigenous and European descent) or mulato (a person of both European and African descent, more commonly referred to in the United States as “biracial.”) So it’s not surprising that 37 percent of Latino respondents ticked off “some other race” -- making the category the third largest in the country, according to Fronteras Desk.

To cite one example, people of Mexican descent are by far the largest group of Latinos in the United States. And yet, most Mexicans do not clearly fit any of these racial categories.

According to the CIA World Factbook, some 60 percent of Mexicans identify as “mestizo” -- a person of both indigenous and European descent -- and another 30 percent as either “Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian.” The same is true of most Central Americans and many South Americans.

But while race may be a more fluid concept for Latinos than it is for many Americans, racism against people with darker-skin undeniably continues to exist across the Americas. In Latin America as well as the United States, those with lighter skin hold a disproportionate amount of the wealth and political power.

As columnist Esther Cepeda writes:

Now, you need only look at pictures of my Ecuadorian father and grandparents to see there's probably some indigenous Quitu in my blood -- and hooray for that. But to claim myself as Native American on the census -- the main tool used by the government to set policy and determine investments in infrastructure -- wouldn't be very helpful or particularly accurate.

Lumping all Latinos together in the U.S. Census, however, won't make it easier to identify socioeconomic injustice. Instead, it will paper over the ethnic and racial divisions within the Latino community by cramming everyone into one category.

Get to know the Latino mosaic in the slideshow above.

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Kelly Ripa And Mark Consuelos Selling New York City Loft For $24.5 Million (PHOTOS)

Lately we’ve noticed that many celebs are on the move and looking for new homes. We can officially add Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos to that list. But, we're also questioning why they would leave such a beautiful place behind?

According to the New York Daily News, the two have put their New York City loft on the market for a cool $24.5 million. The gorgeous home, located at 76 Crosby Street in the high-end Soho neighborhood, has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and an outdoor kitchen. Not to mention a skylight, amazing dark-oak floors and a magnificent floating staircase against a Balinese feature wall, which extends between the home's two floors.

Ripa herself decorated the home with low clean-lined furnishings, which highlight the soaring height and paneled ceilings. And with three kids in the house, she made sure there was plenty of seating in the kitchen with lots of built-in storage. The island, a dark contrast to the mostly white kitchen, has a vintage aesthetic that resembles a card catalog. (To learn how-to make your own island, head over to Apartment Therapy). There are also two Elextrolux dishwashers, which is only natural considering Ripa is a spokeswoman for the company.

Curbed reports the couple bought the home in 2005 for a mere $9.5 million and have been trying to sell it secretly since 2010. The listing is with Modling Group and one of the brokers is Douglas Elliman's Raphael De Niro, whose father is actor Robert De Niro -- just a fun fact we thought we’d throw in there.

Click through our slideshow to see the home and head over to the New York Daily News and Curbed for more information.

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Robin Rhode Is ON OUR RADAR: South African Street Artist Is Serious About His Work (PHOTOS)

Anyone can tell you who's already made it, but HuffPost Arts & Culture's On Our Radar series is here to tell you who's about to blow up -- and, in some cases, go pop.

Throwing street art conventions to the wind, visual phenomenon Robin Rhode is an international force to be reckoned with. He has the mentality of a performance artist and the determined execution of an Old Master, creating urban dreamscapes that involve just as much two-dimensional imagery as they do choreographed movements.

This month, the South African-born, Berlin-based artist is taking his multi-media creations across the pond, presenting two exhibitions at NYC’s Lehman Maupin Gallery. One part photography survey (“Take Your Mind Off The Street”) and one part site-specific installation (“Paries Pictus”), the project also involves the participation of a local youth education program. Read on for what Rhode had to say about his US invasion...

HP: Why does this project matter?

RR: It matters because it brings contemporary art and the process of making contemporary art to young people, in this case the youth at Time In. Through this project, the art becomes accessible to a group of children who are from a disadvantaged community. This is really why it matters. We have young people having a chance to engage with art, to become part of a greater process, and part of an exhibition.

HP: Who or what was an early influence on your work?

RR: I would say, in terms of appreciating or understanding performance art, I would go with Vito Acconci. His work allowed me to understand the presence of the body in the urban realm. That the art could not only be painting or sculpture -- static objects -- but it could also be the presence of the body in the environment and the dynamics of that environment on the body. In early performances where he follows strangers around the city, he’s engaging in the urban experience and the documentative nature of it was really, really great. I could somewhat align my self with that in terms of placing myself in the framework of performance and adding aspects of drawing later. Vito was a trigger to understanding this.

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HP: What were the lowest/highest points in your career so far?

RR: I would say that a high point was my collaboration with the pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. I designed the stage and the visual component of his solo performance, creating around the music of Mussorgsky. It is probably the intention of most artists not to be pigeonholed into one particular mold, and being a part of this world tour I took my art into a new audience. It was extremely intense to see my body of work unravel, and to collaborate like this was probably the highlight of my career.

But it was also the low point. It was a project that I believe received very limited exposure. It was almost as if this massive world tour was invisible within the context of the contemporary art world. Part of the intensity of the experience was not having the art world support me in that moment. And it received scathing reviews from the classical world. I was thrown to the deep end of the classical music world and to receive this negative criticism from people who don’t visit art exhibits. It's just like asking a contemporary art critic to write on classical music.

HP: What are you obsessed with right now?

RR: Right now I am obsessed with preparing for my exhibitions. Every corner of the gallery space. I study them before the installation. Lighting, height, tonality, color. I even package and wrap my own art when I am sending it to a gallery because I am fascinated with how the pacakge looks when it arrives. Maybe it's because I have lived in Germany for so long, and I'm used to German analytical thought and the idea of absolute preparation. Or maybe it's because my father is an engineer and his planning and drafting is beginning to influence me in some way. But that is my obsession at the moment.

HP: How would your childhood art teacher describe you?

RR: I never had one. I think with my parents, I drove them crazy. I tried to convince them that being an artist was the only the thing that I wanted to do. I was willing to sacrifice and willing to go to extremes, so eventually the people had no choice but to support me. And I gave my high school teachers a very hard time. I struggled so much academically because I didn't have the creative balance. I became out of control because I didn't have arts and culture available. This was South Africa in the 1990s and there was a high level of corporal punishment. So I would be beaten, yet the same teachers that did that were later the same ones to give me drawing pads and tracing paper, because they knew that this kid was obsessing over this drawing thing. We can beat him as much as we want, but he's going to keep making art.

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Winter Scenes That Make The Cold Weather Seem Not So Bad (PHOTOS)

The cold is really settling in and it’s been really hard to appreciate the winter, especially when we wake up in the morning and it still looks like midnight out. But when we take a moment to take it all in, we really do love the snowy, crisp weather. There are so many fun activities we can do during the season and we secretly love the fact that we can spend a Friday night cuddled up on the couch without feeling like we should be out and about. So we’ve rounded up photos of
beautiful winter scenes to remind us just how wonderful the ice and snow

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Celebrities Kissing: Best & Worst Celebrity Kisses Of 2012 (PHOTOS)

Pucker up!

While many celebs get camera shy when they are on their own time, others are more than happy to engage in a little PDA -- knowing full well all eyes are on them.

In 2012, photographers caught plenty of celebs smooching on the streets -- some embraces were the stuff of movie magic, while others left us cringing.

Which kisses were the best or the worst? We'll let you decide that for yourselves.

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Cast member Ozzy Osbourne, right, and Sharon Osbourne kiss as they arrive at the premiere of "Total Recall", Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

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MORE CELEBRITIES KISSING

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