Even though Kim Kardashian now says, “I’m glad I did them,” about the photos for W magazine, the recent episode of her new E! reality show portrayed otherwise. On the latest episode of Kourtney & Kim Take New York, Kim gets teary-eyed about the amount of nudity the magazine showed of her in the November issue.

Even though she doesn’t regret it now, she sure was upset about it when the show taped. A W magazine spokeswoman told New York’s fashion blog, the Cut, about the issue, “In keeping in line with the theme of W Magazine’s November Art Issue, Kim Kardashian’s cover was conceived as an artistic collaboration with well-known artist Barbara Kruger, and was a meditation on the influence that reality TV has on contemporary culture.”

So while Kim originally saw the photos on the pages inside the magazine as borderline porn, W magazine sees it as art. The spokeswoman added, “The inside portfolio documented the career and power of Kim Kardashian as a work of art, using the language of artists like Jeff Koons…and Gilbert & George.”

Even though Kim Kardashian now says, “I’m glad I did them,” about the photos for W magazine, the recent episode of her new E! reality show portrayed otherwise. On the latest episode of Kourtney & Kim Take New York, Kim gets teary-eyed about the amount of nudity the magazine showed of her in the November issue.

Even though she doesn’t regret it now, she sure was upset about it when the show taped. A W magazine spokeswoman told New York’s fashion blog, the Cut, about the issue, “In keeping in line with the theme of W Magazine’s November Art Issue, Kim Kardashian’s cover was conceived as an artistic collaboration with well-known artist Barbara Kruger, and was a meditation on the influence that reality TV has on contemporary culture.”

So while Kim originally saw the photos on the pages inside the magazine as borderline porn, W magazine sees it as art. The spokeswoman added, “The inside portfolio documented the career and power of Kim Kardashian as a work of art, using the language of artists like Jeff Koons…and Gilbert & George.”

Last October, Kim Kardashian had everyone drooling over her assets when she appeared nude on the cover of W magazine, leaving basically nothing to the imagination. On Sunday night's new episode of "Kourtney & Kim Take New York," months after the cover hit stands, fans saw the reality starlet open up about the shoot — and she was not at all happy about it.

"I was naked, but fully covered in silver paint," she said in the episode about the Mark Seliger photos, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "This artist will put images of architecture and buildings and stuff on top of me so you will see my body shape and the outline, but not actually my boobs or anything."

Talking to her sister, Kim, in tears, added, "I'm more naked here than I was in my Playboy (in 2007). I'm so f---ing mad right now. ... She promised I would be covered with artwork . ... This is serious porn ... you can see nipple." She added that she was told "nothing would be seen. I feel so taken advantage of. I've definitely learned my lesson."

After seeing the photos, Kardashian made a pledge: "I'm never taking my clothes off again, even if it's for Vogue."

For those who missed the episode, the reality starlet initially cries over the W mag cover before mom-ager Kris Jenner helps her conclude that she's helping women and that the cover is artful. Despite her claims that she wouldn't go nude again, even for Anna Wintour, she later jokes that she might — if Vogue calls.

While she seemed very upset about the photos, when Kardashian chatted with Ryan Seacrest later on, it seemed that the shock had worn off. "At the end of the day, they are gorgeous photos, and I'm glad I did it, and I love them. But at the time, I was shocked about how they weren't how I thought they would be," she noted.

What did you think of Kim's W cover? Sound off below!

Last October, Kim Kardashian had everyone drooling over her assets when she appeared nude on the cover of W magazine, leaving basically nothing to the imagination. On Sunday night's new episode of "Kourtney & Kim Take New York," months after the cover hit stands, fans saw the reality starlet open up about the shoot — and she was not at all happy about it.

"I was naked, but fully covered in silver paint," she said in the episode about the Mark Seliger photos, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "This artist will put images of architecture and buildings and stuff on top of me so you will see my body shape and the outline, but not actually my boobs or anything."

Talking to her sister, Kim, in tears, added, "I'm more naked here than I was in my Playboy (in 2007). I'm so f---ing mad right now. ... She promised I would be covered with artwork . ... This is serious porn ... you can see nipple." She added that she was told "nothing would be seen. I feel so taken advantage of. I've definitely learned my lesson."

After seeing the photos, Kardashian made a pledge: "I'm never taking my clothes off again, even if it's for Vogue."

For those who missed the episode, the reality starlet initially cries over the W mag cover before mom-ager Kris Jenner helps her conclude that she's helping women and that the cover is artful. Despite her claims that she wouldn't go nude again, even for Anna Wintour, she later jokes that she might — if Vogue calls.

While she seemed very upset about the photos, when Kardashian chatted with Ryan Seacrest later on, it seemed that the shock had worn off. "At the end of the day, they are gorgeous photos, and I'm glad I did it, and I love them. But at the time, I was shocked about how they weren't how I thought they would be," she noted.

What did you think of Kim's W cover? Sound off below!

The famous sexy star. Kim Kardashian known from her reality show is well known for her style that always looks chic and sexy. Do you want to know the secret? Unlike other celebrities who intensively manage the body, Kim’s proud of the curve of her body in a feminine and sensual. Here are some tips to dress the star of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ are:

Highlight asset

Some women assume full buttocks as a curse. But Kim knew the look beautiful buttocks. She also often choose to wear tight dresses or high-waisted jeans, which draw the eye to the view that the best asset. If you have beautiful legs, do not hesitate to show it off in her mini skirt or shorts.

Playing belt

Sexy curve of her body is a separate gift for Kim. But, you can create an effect like an hourglass curves using a belt. The waist is giving you an instant dose of femininity in appearance. Overall, the body appears more slender.

High heels

Kim loves to wear high heels. She even wears it to the pool and while watching a basketball game. You do not need to imitate the habits of the total 30-year-old star. But there’s nothing wrong mastered the art of walking on stilettos, which can inject a feeling sexy instantly.

The famous sexy star. Kim Kardashian known from her reality show is well known for her style that always looks chic and sexy. Do you want to know the secret? Unlike other celebrities who intensively manage the body, Kim’s proud of the curve of her body in a feminine and sensual. Here are some tips to dress the star of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ are:

Highlight asset

Some women assume full buttocks as a curse. But Kim knew the look beautiful buttocks. She also often choose to wear tight dresses or high-waisted jeans, which draw the eye to the view that the best asset. If you have beautiful legs, do not hesitate to show it off in her mini skirt or shorts.

Playing belt

Sexy curve of her body is a separate gift for Kim. But, you can create an effect like an hourglass curves using a belt. The waist is giving you an instant dose of femininity in appearance. Overall, the body appears more slender.

High heels

Kim loves to wear high heels. She even wears it to the pool and while watching a basketball game. You do not need to imitate the habits of the total 30-year-old star. But there’s nothing wrong mastered the art of walking on stilettos, which can inject a feeling sexy instantly.

This time of year, there's no shortage of holiday family portraits, but leave it to the Kardashians to top them all. That's right, the picture below is not ripped from the pages of a glamor magazine (although, we don't blame you for thinking that). It's the Kardashian Christmas card, and we just can't get enough of it.
There are a ton of notable little details worth discussing in the card (which was shot by photographer Nick Saglimbeni), but here are the five things we're obsessed with:


Kim's curves
Kim Kardashian's um, assets, are on full display in this skin tight, long-sleeved white dress...not that anyone's complaining.

Khloe's frock
Khloe Kardashian's pink gown was definitely our favorite of the various fashions in this photo. We love the dramatic yet feminine look and thought the silver accessories were a nice touch.

Kylie the model
We've watched enough episodes of "America's Next Top Model" to know that when you can command the attention of the camera in a crowded room, you've got potential...and Kylie Jenner definitely has potential. She manages to steal the show (which can't be easy next to older sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe) with an intense, camera-ready look, proving those modeling jobs are well-deserved.

Adorable Mason
If Kylie is the most model-esque, then one-year-old Mason Disick is definitely the cutest (sorry Rob, you were a close contender!). Seriously, the kid is so freaking adorable, and we can't get enough of his miniature pin-striped suit. Also, we love how he's totally holding his own in this shot!

Rob's bow tie
Okay, so we couldn't let Mason completely steal Rob Kardashian's thunder! We love Rob's pose and his bow tie. Of course, the fact that he's a handsome guy doesn't hurt either...

This time of year, there's no shortage of holiday family portraits, but leave it to the Kardashians to top them all. That's right, the picture below is not ripped from the pages of a glamor magazine (although, we don't blame you for thinking that). It's the Kardashian Christmas card, and we just can't get enough of it.
There are a ton of notable little details worth discussing in the card (which was shot by photographer Nick Saglimbeni), but here are the five things we're obsessed with:


Kim's curves
Kim Kardashian's um, assets, are on full display in this skin tight, long-sleeved white dress...not that anyone's complaining.

Khloe's frock
Khloe Kardashian's pink gown was definitely our favorite of the various fashions in this photo. We love the dramatic yet feminine look and thought the silver accessories were a nice touch.

Kylie the model
We've watched enough episodes of "America's Next Top Model" to know that when you can command the attention of the camera in a crowded room, you've got potential...and Kylie Jenner definitely has potential. She manages to steal the show (which can't be easy next to older sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe) with an intense, camera-ready look, proving those modeling jobs are well-deserved.

Adorable Mason
If Kylie is the most model-esque, then one-year-old Mason Disick is definitely the cutest (sorry Rob, you were a close contender!). Seriously, the kid is so freaking adorable, and we can't get enough of his miniature pin-striped suit. Also, we love how he's totally holding his own in this shot!

Rob's bow tie
Okay, so we couldn't let Mason completely steal Rob Kardashian's thunder! We love Rob's pose and his bow tie. Of course, the fact that he's a handsome guy doesn't hurt either...

Reality star Kim Kardashian is responding to online rumors that she's pregnant with an emphatic "no."
According to the latest gossip, Kardashian, 30, was carrying the child of Kanye West, allegedly conceived this summer when the two had been sighted together.

But Kadashian has told People magazine that the "rumors are absolutely not sure."

People is also reporting that a source said

Reality star Kim Kardashian is responding to online rumors that she's pregnant with an emphatic "no."
According to the latest gossip, Kardashian, 30, was carrying the child of Kanye West, allegedly conceived this summer when the two had been sighted together.

But Kadashian has told People magazine that the "rumors are absolutely not sure."

People is also reporting that a source said

Everyone ready for World War 3? Not so fast.

The Korean War brewing is a geographic dispute about an island. It doesn’t bode well for two reasons. One, this is how the Gulf War started. Saddam Hussein believed oil-rich Kuwait was originally part of Iraq, whereas the United States felt oil-rich Kuwait was originally part of the United States.

Two, North Korea saying South Korea started the bomb exchange (they didn’t) recalls the Gulf of Tonkin, where natural phenomena were mistaken for missile fire, resulting in LBJ escalating the Vietnam War.

Of course, Americans are freaking out because of captain crazy, Kim Jong Il and his nuclear weapons. Two people were killed in the attack (which is two too many), and we’re using it as evidence that Il is, in fact, a mad man. Yet when Bush arbitrarily bombed Baghdad in 2003, over 6000 civilians were killed just in the initial invasion, according to the Oxford Research Group. We cheered this offensive. In fact, soldiers painted FDNY and PDNY on the bombs as payback for 9/11, which, sure, Saddam condoned, but didn’t have anything to do with. Neither did the Iraqi civilians, especially the dead ones.

We’re supposed to fear anyone with nuclear weapons or who might be planning to create nuclear weapons. Il, Karzai, Ahmadinejad, Putin — the world is a scary place. Yet we’re trying to back out of START to keep ours, two-faced champions of global peace that we are.

And What is North Korea going to do with their nuclear weapons? Throw them at us?

So much for nothing to fear but fear itself.

Everyone ready for World War 3? Not so fast.

The Korean War brewing is a geographic dispute about an island. It doesn’t bode well for two reasons. One, this is how the Gulf War started. Saddam Hussein believed oil-rich Kuwait was originally part of Iraq, whereas the United States felt oil-rich Kuwait was originally part of the United States.

Two, North Korea saying South Korea started the bomb exchange (they didn’t) recalls the Gulf of Tonkin, where natural phenomena were mistaken for missile fire, resulting in LBJ escalating the Vietnam War.

Of course, Americans are freaking out because of captain crazy, Kim Jong Il and his nuclear weapons. Two people were killed in the attack (which is two too many), and we’re using it as evidence that Il is, in fact, a mad man. Yet when Bush arbitrarily bombed Baghdad in 2003, over 6000 civilians were killed just in the initial invasion, according to the Oxford Research Group. We cheered this offensive. In fact, soldiers painted FDNY and PDNY on the bombs as payback for 9/11, which, sure, Saddam condoned, but didn’t have anything to do with. Neither did the Iraqi civilians, especially the dead ones.

We’re supposed to fear anyone with nuclear weapons or who might be planning to create nuclear weapons. Il, Karzai, Ahmadinejad, Putin — the world is a scary place. Yet we’re trying to back out of START to keep ours, two-faced champions of global peace that we are.

And What is North Korea going to do with their nuclear weapons? Throw them at us?

So much for nothing to fear but fear itself.

North Korea’s shelling today of a South Korean island has reminded the world again of the perennial problem of what to do about the nuclear-armed state. This comes just days after we hear that North Korea has shown off an advanced uranium-enrichment facility, a reminder, too, of how dangerously resourceful this regime can be even as its people face another winter of food and electricity shortages.

Finally, it is a reminder that Kim Jong-Il and his brand of “diplomacy” is still very much alive and with us, and may well survive Kim for years to come. American and South Korean governments and envoys and strategies may change, but North Korean ploys and rhetoric have remained remarkably consistent for years: Provoke, recriminate, negotiate for aid and concessions, provoke, rinse, repeat. We should expect no different this time, which means the time for more negotiation is coming again soon.

And of course negotiations will be difficult. There is one other thing North Korea has been remarkably consistent about for decades: Its dogged pursuit of a nuclear weapons program. Have we come to the point where we must reckon with a nuclear-armed North Korea as a permanent condition, and give up the dream of a nuclear-free North Korea? Some might argue we long ago passed that point; South Korea’s former spy chief holds out hope that’s not the case.

Either way, when incidents like today’s shelling happen, it may be all well and good to wag fingers, as some have on Twitter, and suggest North Korea needs to be taught a lesson, perhaps by the U.S. But we have to reckon with North Korea’s long history of “escalation dominance,” which its nuclear program has made even more formidable.

We may be seeing, with Kim’s succession in the works, a limited resurgence this year of North Korea’s badder older self of the 1970’s and 1980’s, with the sinking of the South Korean ship Cheonan as well. But the U.S. and North Korea’s neighbors have been contending with this provocative state for decades of “armistice,” and today’s events have not changed the basic calculus: Kim’s brand of diplomacy poses a daunting challenge, and it is still with us.

North Korea’s shelling today of a South Korean island has reminded the world again of the perennial problem of what to do about the nuclear-armed state. This comes just days after we hear that North Korea has shown off an advanced uranium-enrichment facility, a reminder, too, of how dangerously resourceful this regime can be even as its people face another winter of food and electricity shortages.

Finally, it is a reminder that Kim Jong-Il and his brand of “diplomacy” is still very much alive and with us, and may well survive Kim for years to come. American and South Korean governments and envoys and strategies may change, but North Korean ploys and rhetoric have remained remarkably consistent for years: Provoke, recriminate, negotiate for aid and concessions, provoke, rinse, repeat. We should expect no different this time, which means the time for more negotiation is coming again soon.

And of course negotiations will be difficult. There is one other thing North Korea has been remarkably consistent about for decades: Its dogged pursuit of a nuclear weapons program. Have we come to the point where we must reckon with a nuclear-armed North Korea as a permanent condition, and give up the dream of a nuclear-free North Korea? Some might argue we long ago passed that point; South Korea’s former spy chief holds out hope that’s not the case.

Either way, when incidents like today’s shelling happen, it may be all well and good to wag fingers, as some have on Twitter, and suggest North Korea needs to be taught a lesson, perhaps by the U.S. But we have to reckon with North Korea’s long history of “escalation dominance,” which its nuclear program has made even more formidable.

We may be seeing, with Kim’s succession in the works, a limited resurgence this year of North Korea’s badder older self of the 1970’s and 1980’s, with the sinking of the South Korean ship Cheonan as well. But the U.S. and North Korea’s neighbors have been contending with this provocative state for decades of “armistice,” and today’s events have not changed the basic calculus: Kim’s brand of diplomacy poses a daunting challenge, and it is still with us.

Shrugging off a bad putt on the 72nd hole, Kim parred the first hole of a playoff with Vaughn Taylor to win the Houston Open on Sunday for his third PGA Tour title.
Kim and Taylor were tied at 12-under 276 after Kim missed a 6-foot par putt in regulation on the water-lined 18th hole to settle for a 2-under 70.
Not long ago, Kim said he would've mentally unraveled.
"Two years ago, that bag may have been in the water," Kim said. "I might not have had clubs to go to the playoff. But I just feel calm out there, I feel no sense of urgency. It's something that's happened naturally and not something that's been forced.
"I'm comfortable with who I am out there. I found my identity."
Taylor finished with a 68. He needed a victory to qualify for the Masters next week in his hometown of Augusta, Ga.
"Hugely disappointed," Taylor said. "It's a tough pill to swallow."
Charl Schwartzel (67) and Graham DeLaet (68) finished a stroke back at 11 under. Shaun Micheel (65) was two shots behind and Kevin Stadler (68) and Houston resident Jeff Maggert (70) finished four behind.
The 24-year-old Kim won for the first time since the 2008 AT&T National. He also won the Wachovia Championship in 2008. But after a 2009 highlighted more by injuries than victories, Kim caught himself in a negative spiral that was making things worse.
He finished 39th on the money list after reaching No. 6 in 2008, then re-dedicated himself to his practice routine and worked on his mental approach. And now he heads to the Masters riding four straight top-25 finishes.
"I just look back at last year, after the season was over, I was just complaining about everything," Kim said. "I felt like I deserved to win a golf tournament without trying. That's not how it is.
"I've put in a lot of hard work, so I feel like when I'm out there, I know I'm going to do well. Having that confidence really has propelled my game, I feel like, to a different level."
Kim and Taylor played No. 18 again in the playoff and Kim made a routine 4, two-putting from 30 feet. Taylor hit a bad drive, played out of the greenside bunker and came up short on his 18-foot par putt.
"I was reading it to go just a little left, and I got consumed with the line," Taylor said. "It's a must make. Kind of embarrassing to leave it short."
The event went to a playoff for the second straight year. Paul Casey beat J.B. Holmes last year with a bogey on the first extra hole after Holmes drove into the water.
Taylor played in the group ahead of Kim and forced a playoff with an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. He backpedaled as the ball curved toward the hole and flipped his putter in the air when it dropped.
Kim, who shared the third-round lead with Bryce Molder, birdied the first hole on Sunday and maintained the outright lead until the 18th. He hit his approach into the greenside bunker, blasted out to 6 feet and missed to the right.
He struggled with his tee shots all weekend, but found the fairway on the playoff hole. Taylor hit the bunker on the right off the tee and couldn't recover.
Kim hit only 23 of 56 fairways in four rounds, the fourth-lowest total for a winner since 1983.
"I was in some spots on the golf course I never thought I could possibly see," Kim said. "But I got out of those with pars and birdies and feel very confident going into next week."
Earlier in the day, Phil Mickelson finished 2 under after an eventful 71. He double-bogeyed three of his first 10 holes, then reeled off six straight birdies to match the best streak on tour this year. Matt Every birdied six consecutive holes in Phoenix.
During his hot stretch on the back nine, Mickelson pulled a special guest out of the gallery to carry his bag. Dr. Tom Buchholz, a radiation oncologist at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is treating Mickelson's wife and mother, Amy and Mary, who were both diagnosed with breast cancer last summer.
Buchholz wasn't totally inexperienced. He was working in the pro shop at the Westchester Country Club after college in 1984 when he caddied for Allen Miller in the PGA Tour's Westchester Classic. Miller tied for 10th.
"It was a story we talked about over the many hours and weeks and months we've been together in the hospital," Mickelson said. "We went 3-for-3, three birdies."
Light rain fell in the morning, but the tournament avoided a weather delay for the first time since 2005.

Shrugging off a bad putt on the 72nd hole, Kim parred the first hole of a playoff with Vaughn Taylor to win the Houston Open on Sunday for his third PGA Tour title.
Kim and Taylor were tied at 12-under 276 after Kim missed a 6-foot par putt in regulation on the water-lined 18th hole to settle for a 2-under 70.
Not long ago, Kim said he would've mentally unraveled.
"Two years ago, that bag may have been in the water," Kim said. "I might not have had clubs to go to the playoff. But I just feel calm out there, I feel no sense of urgency. It's something that's happened naturally and not something that's been forced.
"I'm comfortable with who I am out there. I found my identity."
Taylor finished with a 68. He needed a victory to qualify for the Masters next week in his hometown of Augusta, Ga.
"Hugely disappointed," Taylor said. "It's a tough pill to swallow."
Charl Schwartzel (67) and Graham DeLaet (68) finished a stroke back at 11 under. Shaun Micheel (65) was two shots behind and Kevin Stadler (68) and Houston resident Jeff Maggert (70) finished four behind.
The 24-year-old Kim won for the first time since the 2008 AT&T National. He also won the Wachovia Championship in 2008. But after a 2009 highlighted more by injuries than victories, Kim caught himself in a negative spiral that was making things worse.
He finished 39th on the money list after reaching No. 6 in 2008, then re-dedicated himself to his practice routine and worked on his mental approach. And now he heads to the Masters riding four straight top-25 finishes.
"I just look back at last year, after the season was over, I was just complaining about everything," Kim said. "I felt like I deserved to win a golf tournament without trying. That's not how it is.
"I've put in a lot of hard work, so I feel like when I'm out there, I know I'm going to do well. Having that confidence really has propelled my game, I feel like, to a different level."
Kim and Taylor played No. 18 again in the playoff and Kim made a routine 4, two-putting from 30 feet. Taylor hit a bad drive, played out of the greenside bunker and came up short on his 18-foot par putt.
"I was reading it to go just a little left, and I got consumed with the line," Taylor said. "It's a must make. Kind of embarrassing to leave it short."
The event went to a playoff for the second straight year. Paul Casey beat J.B. Holmes last year with a bogey on the first extra hole after Holmes drove into the water.
Taylor played in the group ahead of Kim and forced a playoff with an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. He backpedaled as the ball curved toward the hole and flipped his putter in the air when it dropped.
Kim, who shared the third-round lead with Bryce Molder, birdied the first hole on Sunday and maintained the outright lead until the 18th. He hit his approach into the greenside bunker, blasted out to 6 feet and missed to the right.
He struggled with his tee shots all weekend, but found the fairway on the playoff hole. Taylor hit the bunker on the right off the tee and couldn't recover.
Kim hit only 23 of 56 fairways in four rounds, the fourth-lowest total for a winner since 1983.
"I was in some spots on the golf course I never thought I could possibly see," Kim said. "But I got out of those with pars and birdies and feel very confident going into next week."
Earlier in the day, Phil Mickelson finished 2 under after an eventful 71. He double-bogeyed three of his first 10 holes, then reeled off six straight birdies to match the best streak on tour this year. Matt Every birdied six consecutive holes in Phoenix.
During his hot stretch on the back nine, Mickelson pulled a special guest out of the gallery to carry his bag. Dr. Tom Buchholz, a radiation oncologist at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is treating Mickelson's wife and mother, Amy and Mary, who were both diagnosed with breast cancer last summer.
Buchholz wasn't totally inexperienced. He was working in the pro shop at the Westchester Country Club after college in 1984 when he caddied for Allen Miller in the PGA Tour's Westchester Classic. Miller tied for 10th.
"It was a story we talked about over the many hours and weeks and months we've been together in the hospital," Mickelson said. "We went 3-for-3, three birdies."
Light rain fell in the morning, but the tournament avoided a weather delay for the first time since 2005.

The ladies figure skating short program tonight was probably the best event in the Olympics. The final two flights were full of talent, and grace. But for the top six, they pretty much will hold onto their positions providing they stay on their feet.

In a field where most us of thought placements would be mere tenths of a point, in fact turned into full-point separations among the top three.

There were some surprises, and some not so big surprises. And the night belonged to Joannie Rochette (photo).

Lets talk about the American girls, Rachael Flatt and Mirai Nagasu. They are sitting in fifth and sixth respectively, which is about as good as could be expected. While Flatt has not yet reached the artistic talents of this field, Nagasu has not reach her technical position. Flatt looked like she skated the best short program she had all year with a cleanly landed triple flip/triple toe combination; she had an uncharacteristic shaky landing on her triple lutz, which left her with a deduction on her GOE of 1.0.

Nagasu under-rotated her triple lutz and received a deduction of 1.20 on GOE. The Americans should be proud; many said they would be not be in the coveted final warm-up group. But getting onto that podim will most likely not happen. Both should look to be front-runners in 2014.

Miki Ando of Japan must be kicking herself. She had a choice to make — to either skate completely clean, or take a risk that has not worked out for her once this year. Tonight, her scheduled combination was a triple lutz/double loop, but she tried to put a triple loop on the end. She under-rotated the jump, and had a bad landing. Now she’s sitting out of third place by more then 5 points. She’ll have to have the performance of life Thursday night to medal. It’s too bad that after such a strong Grande Prix season, she literally gave up any chance of becoming Olympic champion.

Mao Asada of Japan learned a valuable lesson — one jump, regardless of how impressive it is to land, will not put you in first place, nor will it win you Olympic gold. Asada thought this whole year that if she landed a triple axel combination in her short program, she would reign supreme. But she forgot about the other stuff, like artistry and grace. This time, she took no deductions in the short, and yet came in second.

Kim Yuna of South Korea skated after Asada. Skating to a cute little “Bond Girl” number, Kim vaulted into a triple lutz/triple toe combination that put the men to shame. She covered so much ice, with so much speed, she commanded the audience and the judges, long enough for them to watch her do an equally impressive triple flip. There was not one arm movement that didn’t belong; every step was so refined, and her spins were faster then they have been in the past. Tonight she broke her own world record in the short program, and leads the field by more than points. The gold is hers to lose.

I’m saving the best for last. Mao landed a triple axel and Yuna posted a new world record. But the night belonged to Canadian Joannie Rochette. Skating for the first time without her mother in the stands, who she lost just three days ago, she had the best short program she had all year, and for that she’s in third.

Rochette was expected to contend for a medal in these games, but many wondered whether she would even skate after the loss of her mom. Finishing her program with a beautiful combination spin, she ended the program in tears, and rightfully so. She has just defined was an athlete is, and what the Olympics are about. She won for herself tonight, and that’s what really matters.

The ladies figure skating short program tonight was probably the best event in the Olympics. The final two flights were full of talent, and grace. But for the top six, they pretty much will hold onto their positions providing they stay on their feet.

In a field where most us of thought placements would be mere tenths of a point, in fact turned into full-point separations among the top three.

There were some surprises, and some not so big surprises. And the night belonged to Joannie Rochette (photo).

Lets talk about the American girls, Rachael Flatt and Mirai Nagasu. They are sitting in fifth and sixth respectively, which is about as good as could be expected. While Flatt has not yet reached the artistic talents of this field, Nagasu has not reach her technical position. Flatt looked like she skated the best short program she had all year with a cleanly landed triple flip/triple toe combination; she had an uncharacteristic shaky landing on her triple lutz, which left her with a deduction on her GOE of 1.0.

Nagasu under-rotated her triple lutz and received a deduction of 1.20 on GOE. The Americans should be proud; many said they would be not be in the coveted final warm-up group. But getting onto that podim will most likely not happen. Both should look to be front-runners in 2014.

Miki Ando of Japan must be kicking herself. She had a choice to make — to either skate completely clean, or take a risk that has not worked out for her once this year. Tonight, her scheduled combination was a triple lutz/double loop, but she tried to put a triple loop on the end. She under-rotated the jump, and had a bad landing. Now she’s sitting out of third place by more then 5 points. She’ll have to have the performance of life Thursday night to medal. It’s too bad that after such a strong Grande Prix season, she literally gave up any chance of becoming Olympic champion.

Mao Asada of Japan learned a valuable lesson — one jump, regardless of how impressive it is to land, will not put you in first place, nor will it win you Olympic gold. Asada thought this whole year that if she landed a triple axel combination in her short program, she would reign supreme. But she forgot about the other stuff, like artistry and grace. This time, she took no deductions in the short, and yet came in second.

Kim Yuna of South Korea skated after Asada. Skating to a cute little “Bond Girl” number, Kim vaulted into a triple lutz/triple toe combination that put the men to shame. She covered so much ice, with so much speed, she commanded the audience and the judges, long enough for them to watch her do an equally impressive triple flip. There was not one arm movement that didn’t belong; every step was so refined, and her spins were faster then they have been in the past. Tonight she broke her own world record in the short program, and leads the field by more than points. The gold is hers to lose.

I’m saving the best for last. Mao landed a triple axel and Yuna posted a new world record. But the night belonged to Canadian Joannie Rochette. Skating for the first time without her mother in the stands, who she lost just three days ago, she had the best short program she had all year, and for that she’s in third.

Rochette was expected to contend for a medal in these games, but many wondered whether she would even skate after the loss of her mom. Finishing her program with a beautiful combination spin, she ended the program in tears, and rightfully so. She has just defined was an athlete is, and what the Olympics are about. She won for herself tonight, and that’s what really matters.