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Top 10 Musical Artists of the Last 50 Years

CJ — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:33:54 +0000

Music, like any art, is a field in which judgment, taste and opinion are very subjective. There is often a disconnect between what music is popular, and what certain people think is good. There have always been songs that one half of the population loves while the other half finds abhorrent.

One of the most basic ways to gauge the success of any given musician is to examine his or her record sales. Certainly some might argue, that this might just mean that a given artist is adept at making catchy yet vapid music. Be that as it may, there are often reasons that certain artists remain so commercially successful for so long, and many would argue that only those who can truly bring talent and marketability together for long periods of time can truly be called “successful.” This an interesting thing to keep in mind when discussing the ten best selling musical artists of all time.

The Beatles
The Beatles are the ultimate musical success. No band before or since has ever reached that level of popularity, commercial success, fan adoration all while evolving slowly from poppy boy-band to one of the more introspective and experimental musical acts in history. It is estimated that The Beatles have sold over a billion records and are still finding new fans among the younger generation for whom their music remains relevant.

Elvis Presley
Close behind the Beatles is rock and roll legend Elvis Presley. His brand of bluesy crooning and his infamous gyrating hips helped him sell over a billion records, to tie with The Beatles Whatever your feelings about Elvis or his music, it is undeniable that his sound, looks and style changed the face of rock music forever.

Michael Jackson
Another artist who’s success both commercially and artistically is relatively inarguable, is Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson’s career spanned several decades and was responsible for some of the most significant popular music in world history. Known as an amazing dancer and entertainer as well as a singer, his videos and concerts were unparalleled events. His fans are around the world and despite the numerous personal problems that plagued his life to the end, he remained a profoundly influential artist.

ABBA
Next on the list are Swedish pop band ABBA whose music is still so relevant today that it was recently made part of hit musical Mamma Mia!

Queen
Who could forget the American rock band Queen? Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions are some instantly recognizable hits from this band who’s popularity endures even years after the death of lead singer Freddy Mercury.

Madonna and Elton John
Madonna and Elton John have both sold an estimated 250 million albums throughout their lengthy careers. Not only that, but their timeless classics will live on and on for generations to come.

The Bee Gees
The 7th best-selling artists of all time are disco legends The Bee Gees who are famous for songs like Night Fever and Stayin’ Alive, featured in the hit movie Saturday Night Fever.

Many More….
AC/DC, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Julio Iglesias, Nana Mouskouri and Celine Dion also hold honors for selling 200 million albums apiece.

Regardless of your feelings about the music or quality of any of these musical artists, it is undeniable that there is something special about being able to create music that moves so many people to want to buy their albums, hear them play shows while on tour and just generally make them a part of their lives.

About the Author
Traveler and blogger on many topics ranging from top travel destinations, top ringtones, to top social media superstars. Follow him on Twitter @VernMarker.

Vitamins and Supplements that the Stars Use

CJ — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:21:36 +0000

Shiny hair, flawless skin, white teeth, tons of energy, sparkly eyes, and all those other beautiful aspects of the human body are what celebrities have in spades. How do they keep themselves looking so good?

Part of it comes from regular and dedicated exercise and good nutrition. Other parts come from great makeup, skin, teeth, hair, and other treatments. And the last part comes from vitamins and supplements, and even chewable vitamins to maintain the exercise, nutrition, and treatments.

Talent alone doesn’t build celebrities, though that’s a huge factor. The other important factor is their looks. If their skin is all crackly, blotched, or scaly, they aren’t going to look good on camera. Yes, they have all those super-skilled stylists, awesome products, and air brushing techniques, but those things will not and cannot do all the work.

If you have any understanding about the hectic and demanding life of a celebrity is really like, then you know that they are very conscious about staying fit and healthy. Without it, they wouldn’t have the stamina to be superstars.

Ellen DeGeneres is endorsing Vitamin Water, George Foreman has his fat-reducing grills, Jillian Michaels has a whole health plan, Proactiv® Solution has all kinds of celebrity endorsements, as does Bowflex, NutriSystem, and Jenny Craig. Many of these products really do work, but some of them are endorsed because of the salary the celebrity collected.

The main point is that most celebrities do follow some kind of health regimen to keep themselves healthy and good-looking, so they can keep making money.

There are all kinds of vitamins, chewable vitamins, and herbal supplements to assist your body’s needs and demands. You can look as good as the stars do. It may take some time for your body to correct damage and restore your body’s natural gleam, but it can be done.

A few things known that the stars use is Vitamin E oil around the eyes to reduce crow’s feet, zinc for enhanced metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, energy, and preserving healthy skin, and collagen for metabolism and maintaining healthy skin and connective tissue

Do it like the stars do. Maintain a healthy diet, get regular exercise, and use those vitamins and supplements to retain your vitality and youth. Then everyone will want to know your secret!

Top 7 Poorest Characters From Pop Culture

CJ — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:55:20 +0000

Whether they be lovable losers or just down on their luck, pop culture is full of characters we can’t help rooting for as they struggle with poverty. Here are the top seven poorest characters from pop culture.

7. The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin)

The immortal Charlie Chaplin set the standard for poor guys with love with his portrayal of the loveable tramp in the early days of motion pictures. The Tramp doesn’t want much out of the world and it breaks are heart when he gets it or loses it at the last moment.

6. Rocky Balboa (Rocky)

Rocky might have heart but he lives in a dive you wouldn’t wish or your worst enemy. Which is why we can’t help pulling for him when he gets a shot at the title. We know that, win or lose, he won’t be going back to that hovel and we couldn’t be happier for him.

5. Ralph Kramden (The Honeymooners)

The King of the loveable losers, Kramden, a bus driver, has dreams bigger than his ability – if not bigger than his waistline. Every episode features some hair-brained scheme he has to make life better for himself and his wife. His heart is in the right place even if his brains aren’t.

4. Willie Loman (Death of a Salesman)

Here’s a guy who has to commit suicide to make a buck and can’t even do that right. And yet, at heart, he is not a bad guy. The world has changed and he refused to change with it. Add to that the blind eye he turns to anyone who could help him and you’ve got the makings of a modern day tragedy to rival Shakespeare.

3. Peter Parker (Spider-Man)

Sure, he’s everyone’s favorite webslinger but as Peter Parker, this character is a bust. He never has any money, can’t pay his rent, bills or buy food. However he’s anything but irresponsible. That’s right, Peter is broke because he’s out day and night keeping the streets safe for you and me. What’s not to love about a guy like that?

2. Jim (The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn)

Poor Jim is a slave when we first meet him in this timeless novel by Mark Twain who has run away because his owner was about to sell him. Seeking his freedom he teams up with Huckleberry Finn and they work together to achieve their goals. Along the way, Jim’s simple wisdom and knowledge of right and wrong keep the pair on track no matter how much trouble they get into.

1. Oliver Twist (Oliver Twist)

The poster boy for poverty whose: “Please, sir, I want some more” summed up the needs of countless poor and destitute on the London streets of Charles Dickens’s time. When it comes to poor pop culture characters, look no further than Oliver Twist. Abandoned and victim to a system that chews up and spits out thousands just like him and you see a character with the deck stacked against him.

This article written by Andrew Salmon from the website Individual Voluntary Arrangement.

The Many Collectible Cars of Simon Cowell

CJ — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:56:28 +0000

Simon Cowell is as well known for his flashy cars as he is for American Idol, The X Factor and his gloriously high wasted trousers. Cowell likes his cars fast, and he knows how to hit the gas – evidenced by his storming performance on the racetrack of BBC Two’s Top Gear, coming third out of all the non-professional drivers in series eight, with a time of just 1 minute 47.1 seconds.

It’s thought that Cowell is worth a massive £120 million thanks to his music and TV industry success, and he has reportedly spent £3 million of that fortune on cars throughout his life[1]. Let’s take a look at some of the more spectacular cars.

The crowning jewel in Cowell’s collection is his Bugatti Veyron, which cost an eye watering £750,000[2]. As the fastest roadworthy car in the world and the most expensive, only a limited amount have been manufactured – making the Bugatti club a pretty exclusive one to join.

Some Photos/Video of Simon Cowell’s Collectible Cars

There aren’t many other British carmakers that are quite as prestigious as Rolls Royce, so it should be no surprise that Cowell owns one of these. Well he doesn’t: he owns three, three Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead’s that is. One for London, one for LA and a coupe version just for fun; all at a total cost over around £810,000. Speaking on Top Gear about it he said: “It’s the most beautiful, most comfortable, best-engineered car ever built. I can hardly bring myself to say it but it’s – oh, sod it! – perfect”[3].

What supercar collection would be complete without a Ferrari? The music mogul owns a Ferrari F430 Spider, capable of doing 193 mph and 0 – 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. To buy one of these beauties new you’d be looking at a price tag of around £130,000[4].

According to Auto Trader, Cowell has also owned quite a number of other cars in his time, including three Aston Martin DB7’s, a Jaguar XKR and the infinitely more modest Mini Cooper[5]. He is also rumoured to have purchased a £65,000 Jaguar XK convertible for fiancée Mezghan Hussainy recently[6] – what a lucky lady!

About the Author
Charlotte Walker writes for MediaVest (Manchester) on a range of motor related topics, including cheap car insurance.

[1] Auto Trader (October 6, 2009). Simon Cowell’s £3 million car history. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/britains_car_talent_simon_cowells_collection.html

[2] Daily Mail (October 13, 2007).What Simon Cowell did on his week off: Spend £1 MILLION on TWO cars. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-487430/What-Simon-Cowell-did-week-Spend-1-MILLION-TWO-cars.html

[3] Daily Mail (March 10, 2008).Now Simon Cowell shows off in his $1million Bugatti Veyron sports car. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-529272/Now-Simon-Cowell-shows-1million-Bugatti-Veyron-sports-car.html

[4] Yahoo! Cars (2009). Ferrari F430 Spider : ALONG CAME A SPIDER. http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/ferrari-f430-spider-1004658.html

[5] Auto Trader (October 6, 2009). Simon Cowell’s £3 million car history. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/britains_car_talent_simon_cowells_collection.html

[6] One India (March 31, 2010). Simon Cowell to gift fiancée a £65k car. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/music/international/2010/cowell-gift-car-fiancee-310310.html

Tiger Woods Comeback- Not So Glorious?

CJ — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:54:22 +0000

Tiger Woods has been subjected to all kinds of scrutiny, speculation, and judgment by golf fans, as well as people that don’t even like the game of golf. With a five-month hiatus from the game, and less than stellar results in the three tournaments this year, he sits at 147th in the PGA standings.

Pulling out of the last tournament due to a neck inflammation has reaped all kinds of scrutiny. Speculation abounds with has he lost his game? Is he really hurt or is he just still emotionally not fit? Is the November accident to blame for all these problems?

Tiger says no. The injury isn’t related to the accident. The doctors have said with rest it will heal and he’ll be good to go again. Tiger himself wants to get back to the game, wants to put in the practice, and regain his status.

But, is he ready emotionally? After all the hubbaloo about his sexual addiction, apologies to his fans and sponsors, and the five-month stint away to spend more time with his family, is it enough?

Many of us don’t understand his addiction, and we aren’t completely convinced that his wife, Elin, can be so gracious as to stand by him. Then again, many women have stood by their philandering husbands for many reasons. But, it isn’t exactly like losing your car keys and having to go get a car key replacement, is it?

The biggest question is not about the past, but the future. Tiger has a ton of stuff to set right. He’s accepted responsibility for his actions, and that speaks of personal strength. He stepped back onto the course just months after a series of traumatic events. That speaks of determination. Fans and sponsors, and his wife, have stood by him despite all the public scrutiny and backlash. That speaks of support.

But, is it going to be enough? Addictions, in whatever form they come in, are lifetime temptations. He’s going to have to relearn many things about his life. Right now, everything is still fresh and sore, and he has many eyes watching him. But, when that goes away, is Tiger going to be able to keep his demons at bay? We hope so because he’s done so much for the game of golf, but time will be the true test.

Celebrity Teeth Transformations

CJ — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:30:01 +0000

Celebrities are notorious for keeping the plastic surgery industry alive, but some of the changes that we mock are extremely desirable for many of us. When you are distracted by a ‘flaw’ of an actor or actress, it hurts their career. Is it their slowly-forming wrinkles, their average-sized lips, or bust size that distract us from enjoying and appreciating their performances in movies and television? Probably not. However, transforming those gnarled yellows into pearly whites is an extremely smart career move.

Tom Cruise

The Top Gun star turned Scientology maniac did wonders for his teeth; too bad he didn’t make the same smart career moves. Before his bout with Katie Holmes-induced insanity on Oprah, Tom gladly showed off his adult braces on a multitude of talk shows, claiming that dental health is important at any age, and it is never too late for braces!

Zac Efron

Nothing like a few adolescent fall into gap jokes to make you self-conscious about your teeth, right? Efron’s current award-winning smile has taken him to the big screen more than once, so it is safe to say that the return on his investment was well worth it.

Miley Cyrus

Speaking of child celebrities, Hannah Montana’s alter ego has a much sweeter smile than the younger counterpart. It is safe to say that her new teeth are going to bring her confidence and a much bigger grin in years to come.

50 Cent

One of the biggest rappers of all time, 50 took the right path by getting veneers instead of a grill like many of his colleagues. With a mike that close to his mouth it may be difficult to see his new additions, but they are nonetheless a beautiful upgrade.

Elliot Yamin

Not the biggest celebrity of all time, but one of the biggest transformations in the last few years. Many stars that hit Hollywood got their because of talent and connections as well as good looks. It’s not to say that Elliot isn’t a stud, but his modified smile looks much nicer to look at than the original.

Steve O

While there is no hope of taming this Jackass survivor and star, his teeth certainly look like they’ve finally gotten back on track. It goes to show you that no matter what kinds of crazy things you may have done, you can always salvage your smile.

Well, there you have it; some of the best, and most-admired recent celebrity teeth transformations!

Amanda is a writer and blogger living in San Diego who loves to write about San Diego Business and the occasional dish on celebrities and San Diego Entertainment. For more in-depth San Diego News coverage, check out the San Diego News Network at www.sdnn.com.

Heidi Montag Has 10 Plastic Surgeries in 24 Hours – The Next Jenny Lee?

CJ — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:50:18 +0000

Many people have compared Heidi Montag, the 23 year old blond star of The Hills and reality shows like “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here!” with Jenny Lee, a plastic surgery addict with body dimorphic disorder!
Although this may appear shocking, the fact that Heidi is only 23 years old and has already had several plastic surgeries performed on her, out of which ten were conducted in the duration of 24 hours leaves her looking very much like Jenny Lee. Let’s consider the similarities.

Montag was recently interviewed by Ryan Seacrest and discussed her plastic surgeries with him. Although it may seem that Montag made lesser trips to the doctor than Jenny Lee, it can be argued that Lee did not have enough funds to have ten surgeries performed in one day. It also must be brought into focus that Montag believed she needed to have ten surgeries performed on her in 24 hours.

Montag on the other hand denies this claim saying: “I’m not addicted; if I were addicted I would have had ten plastic surgeries. Well, ten times. I really had two different plastic surgeries. I had one three years ago and then I had one where I had several procedures done weeks ago. If you’re addicted to something you have to do it all the time, not once every couple years.”

Heidi Montag Plastic Surgery – Pics & Video

While Jenny Lee made the news for having had 44 surgeries and although Montag is nowhere near that count, we cannot help but fear that in a few years she might be and hope that she will not. After all, if she can have ten surgeries on one day, she could easily score up to Jenny in a matter of months.

In terms of looks, the similarity ends there however, since we know that Jenny Lee has more or less ruined her face with the many changes that she has made to it, while Montag is still the darling star on TV.

Montag may also consider her TV shows contracts and may not resort to Lee’s drastic measures to have that many procedures done on her face. Also she is able to pay for better surgeons who may do with one surgery what Jenny needed four for.

So far, both Jenny and Heidi have had rhinoplasties, a breast enlargement procedure and liposuction. Jenny has had large amount of these procedures ands has repeated the surgeries time and time gain.

Another similarity for both Heidi and Jenny is that both of them have had plastic surgery change the way they live their lives. Jenny Lee still finds its difficult to breathe on account of the many rhinoplasties she has had done while Heidi cannot hug anyone anymore on account of the back scoop procedure that she had done which ahs made her very fragile.

The telling difference between Heidi and Jenny will have to be whether Heidi is satisfied with her body now or still believes she needs some surgery.

Mel Gibson Divorce Sets a Hollywood Record

CJ — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:44:12 +0000

Mel Gibson is a well-known and beloved actor of the screen that will be remembered for many years to come. He is probably best known for his genius roles in movies such as Braveheart, Lethal Weapon, and Conspiracy Theory. There is a good chance on any given day that you can turn on your DISH Network and see him in one of his legendary roles. While several of his movies have earned awards for their excellence, he has recently set a record for something entirely different. It is believed that his recent split with his wife, Robyn, ended in the most expensive settlement for divorce in the history of Hollywood.

If this is true, this record is indeed a remarkable one. Hollywood has been known for offering some expensive splits. Among some of the most expensive is the estimated settlement costs between noted director Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving came to about $100 million. Harrison Ford and his X-wife, Melissa Mathison, ended in an estimated $85 million settlement amount. It was also estimated that Kevin Costner and his wife, Cindy Silva, were not far behind the Ford’s with a possible $80 million in settlement costs. Each of these Hollywood splits was undoubtedly strenuous on their bank accounts; however, if the estimates are correct, they do not hold a candle to Mr. Gibson’s divorce conclusion.

At the time of the split about one year ago, (April 2009) Gibson and his wife were worth about $900 million. This sum is no surprise considering the grand success these two had shared in the last three decades together. Gibson has been nominated for various awards as well as taken home his share of honors for numerous achievements on screen. With several awards to his credit for categories such as Favorite Actor and Best Director, it is no wonder Gibson has accumulated so much wealth.

Mel Gibson Divorce -Most Expensive Ever?

Unfortunately, with fame and fortune there often comes heartbreak. After 28 years with his wife, the two called it quits. They have seven children together. Although the exact settlement amount is undisclosed, it is still estimated that this power couple’s divorce settlement is the highest in Hollywood’s history. Gibson’s career will undoubtedly continue as his success in Hollywood has been matched by few. With several honors received from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and People’s Choice, this record for the estimated most expensive divorce will not be the only thing that Gibson is remembered for.

NBC’s “The Apprentice” Gets Back to Its Roots

CJ — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:21:51 +0000

Billionaire Donald Trump has had his fun with celebrities, but now he’s ready to get real again with a Joe (or Jane) Schmoe from the streets. That’s right, after several seasons of ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’, the show has decided to revert back to its original plan, where The Donald will be putting real people through the wringer in order to score a coveted spot working for the Trump Organization, which is the way the show worked when it first debuted.

NBC: The Apprentice starring Donald Trump

While the charitable aspect of ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’ is certainly warm and fuzzy, there’s just nothing like watching someone who could be your neighbor squirm in their big, plush conference chair as they square off with their team members and The Man himself. For some reason, “You’re Fired!” just doesn’t mean as much when the person on the receiving end is a celebrity who will most certainly go home and resume their schtick as though nothing had happened at all. No, it’s far more compelling to watch an Everydayer fight tooth and nail to stay in the game, since their entire future is riding on a split decision. Now that’s drama, people.

This year’s crop of ‘Apprentice’ hopefuls have had the chance to attend open casting calls (the last of which was held in Los Angeles on April 17) to get their face in front of the show’s key decision makers. No worries if you couldn’t make it to a casting call though. If you feel like you’ve got what it takes but you missed your chance to be seen in person, just email your details to apprenticecastingbc@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name, location, occupation history, and a recent photo (no larger than 1 MB). You’re also encouraged to answer the question: “How has the recession affected my life?”

In a time when great (or even good) jobs are hard to come by, Trump swoops in, offering people of all ages the opportunity of a lifetime. Laid off, long term unemployed, or recently graduated, everyone is a candidate. From the mega experienced to fresh-faced Freddies, all candidates have an equal shot to learn from one of the most successful real estate developers ever. Sure, you’ll have to work yourself silly while the show is filming, but the end result would certainly justify the means, right?

If you try out for the show, good luck! If you get accepted, you have better stop back here to give us the lowdown. That’s an order!

Be sure to check http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/ for the newest casting developments and show news.
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Liberty Kontranowski is a freelance writer and blogger with hundreds of articles published online and in print, covering everything from sexual health to parenting to beauty, fashion, entertainment and more. Liberty is the newest writer for eDrugstore.MD, a safe online pharmacy prescribing medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra online.

Farmville Mania – Reasons I never owned a Giga Pet

CJ — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:34:56 +0000

I will admit to not being an avid Facebook user. I keep in contact with friends who do not live close by or who I have not seen since high school. I post a picture or two of my baby niece or myself at the top of a mountain. I have a measly 96 friends (*gasp*) and I am more likely to check Facebook from my iPhone than to ever log in on a computer.

But I have a confession. I HATE Farmville.

For all three of you who are not aware of the Farmville phenomena, Wikipedia describes Farmville as “a real-time farm simulation game developed by Zynga, available as an application on the social networking website Facebook.” In the past, I too have found myself in love with mindless gaming. I’ve played more hours of Tetris and Pong of all things (and I am only 28, not quite ancient yet) on my calculator in high school and had a love affair with Katamari (a game in which a little guy rolls up items to make a bigger ball) a few years back. I almost failed a semester of college because I wasn’t sleeping because of Snood!

Facebook Farmville Game

Facebook's Farmville Game

Even with all of that, I stand by my very strong dislike. Every time I log into Facebook I am attacked by found kittens, lost cows, and oversized potatoes. Sometimes there are so many of them I imagine I am in a room filling with small stuffed representations, like a full claw machine…and like the claw machine, I can never pull the information out of my news stream that I really want. I am drowning in a vat of people helpfully sharing imaginary fuel and watering imaginary plants while the farm owners are away.

Maybe I’m cynical and bitter, but I find Farmville just about as useful as the Tamagotchi Giga Pets that were insanely popular when I was a child. Cute, fuzzy graphics to go with inane and pointless actions. Nonetheless, I have to give mad props to whoever created this monstrosity and whatever gaming schools they went to. They seem to have inspired millions of individuals who would otherwise be hard at work, hanging out with friends, or even playing Snood instead invest their time in participating in online physical labor.

Written by Genevieve, a casual gamer who works in affiliation with Westwood College in their game design colleges.