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His is not the typical path one might associate with a landscape designer -- child music prodigy, UCLA theater student, Latin American pop star -- but it is just that diverse background that makes Eduardo Xol a multi-talented and down-to-earth designer. While it seems an unlikely path, for Xol it makes perfect sense. "If you can bring harmony into someone's life -- by touching an emotional chord through the lyrics of a song or by creating an outdoor space -- then you should share that gift." It has been that need to touch people on an emotional level and his innate creative mind that have allowed Xol to almost seamlessly span multiple disciplines.Xol was spotted by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition through his work with his design company Xol Design and his instincts and charisma have struck a chord with the show's nearly 20 million viewers. Known for his unique approach at marrying indoor and outdoor into his designs, Xol tries to capture a variety of senses. Whether it is the sound of a wind chime, the soft touch of a chair, the smell of a candle -- Xol understands that this attention to detail completes a typically exclusively visual discipline. Xol looks for "the right balance and elements to live with great ease, style and comfort using all five senses. When you honor the senses, design makes sense."As with the way all things start, Xol's design career began with a childhood fondness. Born in East Los Angeles, Xol marveled at his grandmother's roses and his father's beloved bonsai trees. But he would set aside his love of nature for other artist pursuits. First, there was music. He was merely three when he began playing piano, and had mastered several other instruments before he reached adolescence. At age 11 he was scouted to perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Zubin Mehta. Two years later, he gave a series of piano recitals under the auspices of Mexico City's Conservatory of Music.His love of the stage offered an easy segues into other performance arts. During his teens he achieved success in dance (with the Mexican Dance Theater, among others) and film (Zoot Suit), and attended UCLA's theatre program. Upon his relocation to Mexico City, his career began to flourish as the rising pop star Edi Xol. He landed roles on such telenovelas as Sentimientos Ajenos, La Jaula de Oro and Acapulco Cuerpo y Alma; he also produced music for the latter series. With a successful singing career, he quickly scored video hits, press and laurels for his BMG Latin debut album, La Pasi�n. It was when he began working with community outreach programs with the Los Angeles Unified School District -- and took a step back from the stage -- that he regained his love of gardening. He apprenticed with a landscape architecture firm in Venice, California, where he quickly found his myriad of creative outlets weaving into place. He became focused on incorporating all of the senses in every design execution. Most importantly, Xol values the way he is able to use his talents to help people in communities all around the country. "To join an amazingly gifted group of designers that works selflessly to transform the lives of deserving families is a dream come true," he marvels. "I love traveling to new cities every month and experiencing how a community rallies together to complete a project. It gives me the opportunity to meet people of different backgrounds and see the true heart and soul of America." Sometimes he also serves as a bridge between these different backgrounds, as when he translated comic Jeff Foxworthy's jokes for the show's Latin workers during a home makeover in Georgia.It's rare that a successful entertainer forsakes the limelight. But for Eduardo Xol, design, music, theater and other arts are all related, all partaking of the balance and harmony he's employed to delight the senses of families, friends and fans worldwide. He's also currently at work on a how-to book about living through the senses.

Two men and a baby battle

September 29, 2006 - 10:48AM

New York: A former boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith says he is the father of the former Playboy playmate's newborn daughter - and he is seeking a DNA test to prove it.

In an interview on Us magazine's website, Larry Birkhead, a photographer, described as laughable claims by Smith's lawyer, Howard Stern, that he was the father of Dannie Ray Hope, born in the Bahamas on September 7.

"I have asked for a DNA test," Mr Birkhead said. He was confident of the result. "I know I am the father of the child. I look forward to having a relationship with my new daughter."

He said he was not surprised Mr Stern had said he was the father, "but I am laughing at it."

Mr Stern told CNN's Larry King Live on Tuesday that he was the "proud father" of the girl, and he planned to marry Smith "at some point".

"Right now we have to somehow get through what we're going through," Mr Stern said, referring to the death of Smith's son, Daniel Smith, 20, on September 10.

"And I'll tell you, our baby is the one ray of hope."

Star magazine reported today that Stern and Smith were married aboard a yacht in the Bahamas but no representative for Smith was available to confirm or deny the report.

Pathologist Cyril Wecht, hired by the Smith family to investigate the death of Nicole Smith's 20-year-old son Daniel said he had died of an accidental but fatal interaction of three drugs: anti-depressants Lexipro and Zoloft, and methadone, a painkiller used mostly to treat heroin addiction.

Wecht said Nicole Smith did not know her son was taking methadone and had no knowledge of any heroin use by him.

"This is one of the mysteries remaining in this case -- why he was taking methadone. It could have been as a painkiller. It is a legitimate drug for that use. His family is shocked... I am told that Mrs Smith was completely in the dark about Daniel taking it," he said.

Smith had reportedly suffered from depression in the weeks before he went to the Bahamas. Methadone is commonly used by those recovering from drug addictions.

"I have made those inquiries," Dr Wecht said. "No one has suggested anything having to do with drug addiction in this boy."

He said he would share his results with the pathologist who conducted the official autopsy in the Bahamas.

This photo of Anna Nicole Smith being "assisted backstage" at the American Music Awards (AP/Reed Saxon; used without permission) just tickles me. I'm not the only one who finds this funny: fark.com ran a commentary thread entitled "Anna Nicole Smith: drunk or just mildly retarded?"

Anna Nicole's new knockers
we know this is going to come as a tremendous shock to everyone, but it appears that sometime over the last couple months Anna Nicole Smith got GIANT new boobs. Silicone baby!

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Steve's die on Sept. 2006

Ohno Zone
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BRONZE MEDALIST U.S. MEN'S RELAY TEAM!
That race was an incredible thrill to watch and I just can't believe that there were no falls or disqualifications in the end. It was hard to watch the two races taking place at the end -- the head-to-head battle between Korea and Canada and the duel for bronze between the USA and Italy. (What happened to China, by the way? I forgot they were in the race!) I was so wanting Canada to take back the lead and get the gold... it was an epic battle between those two teams with Korea prevailing at the end.
The celebration that broke out on the ice by the three teams afterwards was beautiful to watch. Someone sitting near me threw his flag to Apolo, who carried it for a bit and then handed it to Alex. The Koreans and Canadians were all taking victory laps, all the teams were hugging each other, their coaches, the other teams... it was awesome.
Hugs, hugs and more hugs

Apolo Anton Ohno
Gold on the left, bronze on the right