We are so star struck by celebrities that we sometimes forget that they are real people. They are real people, right?
The truth is, it's kind of hard to tell. We never see them get out of bed in the morning. We never see them making breakfast or some other meal. If they do go out of the house to go shopping then most likely they're so heavily disguised we wouldn't recognize them anyway. We certainly never see them take their kids to school. Most likely they've got servants for that chore. And heaven knows we never see them go to sleep at night. It seems like celebrities are up 24 hours a day, especially since many TV stars spend 16 hour days taping an episode of your favorite show.
No, from what we see, it doesn't really look like celebrities are real people at all. They're some kind of plastic, celluloid hero, immune to tears, hunger, thirst, fear and just about every emotion that we so take for granted. In the 1970s, the Kinks came out with a song called "Celluloid Heroes". Ray Davies sings about these poor souls who suffered and struggled for fame. How some succeeded and some suffered in vain. But Celluloid Heroes, as he so beautifully put it, "never feel any pain. Celluloid Heroes never really die".
That last line is just further evidence that celebrities aren't real people at all. Everyday on our televisions we see shows with stars who are long gone, such as "All In The Family" with Carol O' Conner, who passed away recently. But there he is, still sitting on that chair and still calling Edith a dingbat. Certainly he can't be real anymore, if he ever was. Did you know that Carol O' Conner lost a son because of drugs? He never really got over that.
We also watch "Chico And The Man" reruns with Freddie Prinze. Now that was one talented man who had everything to live for. Maybe he thought he wasn't real too. Or maybe he realized just how real he was when he took his own life at the height of his popularity. Today, his son, Freddie Prinze Junior, is making appearances on "Boston Legal" as Denny Crane's son who's really not his son, just his pretend son. Denny Crane is played by William Shatner. He's still alive but so many of the people who he stared with in "Star Trek" are gone; people like Deforest Kelley who played Dr. McCoy and James Doohan who played "Scottie". Do you think Shatner feels his own mortality with so many of his friends passed on or getting older?
But there they are, still up on our screens, still smiling, still telling jokes, still acting, still singing, or whatever it is they do. To us, it's all they do. No real lives, no heartaches, no joys, no dull days, nothing that we as regular people experience everyday. So obviously celebrities can't be real people.
Or maybe we should just take the time to ask one.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Sunday
Celebrities - 15 Minutes Of Fame
Celebrities, for the most part, stand the test of time. Once they become stars, they remain stars until the day they die and even beyond. But there is another type of celebrity. This kind is known as the "fleeting celebrity". They are said to have their "15 minutes of fame", which was a phrase coined by the late Andy Warhol. Our culture has seen a number of these 15 minute wonders. We're going to take a look at just a few of them here.
Why don't we start off with two for the price of one? Remember quite a few years ago when a 16 year old girl by the name of Amy Fisher had an affair with a guy by the name of Joey Buttafuco? Amy ended up shooting the guy's wife in the head and ended up going to prison for 6 years. Today, nobody gives her or Joey a second thought.
Then of course there was Monica Lewinsky who had sex with President Bill Clinton. Of course Clinton's celebrity status has not diminished since, but Lewinsky has so fallen off the radar map that today nobody even knows where this woman is or what she's doing.
Then there was the big scandal in the late 80s involving Jim Bakker, who began the Praise The Lord Ministry in Fort Hill, South Carolina in 1974. A big sex scandal and some shady business dealings involving the PTL landed Bakker in prison for 45 years. Most people today don't even give him a second thought.
In the world of music, a guy by the name of Carl Douglas gave us the totally ridiculous song "Kung Fu Fighting". While Douglas may have been yesterday's news after that song mercifully fell off the charts, the song itself has been in more Kung Fu movies than you can possibly imagine. But NOBODY remembers who did it.
And then of course there was the novelty song of the 90s, "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred. These bald headed brothers probably grew hair after this total embarrassment of a song. Neither one of them has been heard from since and the song only gets played as a parody. A very bad one.
In the world of comedy, there was probably no greater 15 minute of fame star than the one and only Unknown Comic. Murray Langston, who was so desperately in need of money at the time, didn't want his friends to know so he put a bag over his head and appeared on the "Gong Show". He was an instant hit. He also burned out faster than a speeding nova.
And of course who could ever forget the incomparable Blossom Rock? (who)? She just happened to play the grandmother on the short lived TV show "The Adams Family". Rock was actually the little known sister of the famous actress Jeanette McDonald. Obviously she didn't have quite he luck or he talent.
And the list goes on and on. So many that lasted so briefly. Makes you really appreciate those who have stood the test of time.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Why don't we start off with two for the price of one? Remember quite a few years ago when a 16 year old girl by the name of Amy Fisher had an affair with a guy by the name of Joey Buttafuco? Amy ended up shooting the guy's wife in the head and ended up going to prison for 6 years. Today, nobody gives her or Joey a second thought.
Then of course there was Monica Lewinsky who had sex with President Bill Clinton. Of course Clinton's celebrity status has not diminished since, but Lewinsky has so fallen off the radar map that today nobody even knows where this woman is or what she's doing.
Then there was the big scandal in the late 80s involving Jim Bakker, who began the Praise The Lord Ministry in Fort Hill, South Carolina in 1974. A big sex scandal and some shady business dealings involving the PTL landed Bakker in prison for 45 years. Most people today don't even give him a second thought.
In the world of music, a guy by the name of Carl Douglas gave us the totally ridiculous song "Kung Fu Fighting". While Douglas may have been yesterday's news after that song mercifully fell off the charts, the song itself has been in more Kung Fu movies than you can possibly imagine. But NOBODY remembers who did it.
And then of course there was the novelty song of the 90s, "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred. These bald headed brothers probably grew hair after this total embarrassment of a song. Neither one of them has been heard from since and the song only gets played as a parody. A very bad one.
In the world of comedy, there was probably no greater 15 minute of fame star than the one and only Unknown Comic. Murray Langston, who was so desperately in need of money at the time, didn't want his friends to know so he put a bag over his head and appeared on the "Gong Show". He was an instant hit. He also burned out faster than a speeding nova.
And of course who could ever forget the incomparable Blossom Rock? (who)? She just happened to play the grandmother on the short lived TV show "The Adams Family". Rock was actually the little known sister of the famous actress Jeanette McDonald. Obviously she didn't have quite he luck or he talent.
And the list goes on and on. So many that lasted so briefly. Makes you really appreciate those who have stood the test of time.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Celebrities - Most Popular Real People
You may be thinking to yourself that we're all real people. Well, yes. But this little review is going to focus on the real people who don't normally become celebrities. These aren't the movie stars or recording stars. These are just the everyday folks who go to the supermarket to buy food for their family or go to school or are even unemployed. If you're wondering how these people can become celebrities, you can thank the reality television craze for that.
Yes, reality TV. It is the biggest thing on television since, well, since real TV. You have to give the first person credit who thought even for a moment that anybody would spend a half hour or an hour of their time sitting in front of their television watching a bunch of nobodies doing just about anything and everything, from singing to eating bugs. Most of these people have drifted into obscurity but there have been a few who have become very popular and there names will always be known to millions of people around the world.
One of these such people is a gentleman by the name of Richard Hatch. In case you have been living in a cave and don't recognize the name, which is doubtful, Hatch was the original survivor of the show by that name. He has since gone on to tour the world as a spokesperson and motivational speaker. Ever hear of a show called "Entertainment Tonight?" Of course you have. Well, Hatch has worked as a correspondent for that show. He did this for the "Early Show" as well and if that isn't enough, he appeared as a guest star on the hit comedy "Becker". He still runs his own business as a corporate trainer and a consultant, but he is probably one of the most popular real people celebrities that ever was and will ever be.
But don't think the reality craze ends with Richard Hatch because it doesn't. During the 2004 season of American Idol two singers went into the final round as the two most popular finalists in American Idol history. Their names were Ruben Stoddard and Clay Aiken. Going into the last week it was a toss up as to who was going to actually be the next American Idol. Eventually Stoddard was named the next American Idol. And while he did achieve a level of popularity, he never did match the popularity of clean cut boy Aiken who went on to guest at many events including parades and ultimately at Dick Clark's "Rockin' New Year's Eve". Aiken has since become an ambassador to UNICEF and has pretty much dropped out of the show biz arena. But during his time as an American Idol runner up, nobody was more popular than Clay Aiken.
These are just a couple of the many "stars" who have come about because of reality television. As of this writing another American Idol winner is just a week away. Will this person become the next Richard Hatch or Clay Aiken? Or will the runner up become the more popular? Or will they both just drift into obscurity?
Only time will tell.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Yes, reality TV. It is the biggest thing on television since, well, since real TV. You have to give the first person credit who thought even for a moment that anybody would spend a half hour or an hour of their time sitting in front of their television watching a bunch of nobodies doing just about anything and everything, from singing to eating bugs. Most of these people have drifted into obscurity but there have been a few who have become very popular and there names will always be known to millions of people around the world.
One of these such people is a gentleman by the name of Richard Hatch. In case you have been living in a cave and don't recognize the name, which is doubtful, Hatch was the original survivor of the show by that name. He has since gone on to tour the world as a spokesperson and motivational speaker. Ever hear of a show called "Entertainment Tonight?" Of course you have. Well, Hatch has worked as a correspondent for that show. He did this for the "Early Show" as well and if that isn't enough, he appeared as a guest star on the hit comedy "Becker". He still runs his own business as a corporate trainer and a consultant, but he is probably one of the most popular real people celebrities that ever was and will ever be.
But don't think the reality craze ends with Richard Hatch because it doesn't. During the 2004 season of American Idol two singers went into the final round as the two most popular finalists in American Idol history. Their names were Ruben Stoddard and Clay Aiken. Going into the last week it was a toss up as to who was going to actually be the next American Idol. Eventually Stoddard was named the next American Idol. And while he did achieve a level of popularity, he never did match the popularity of clean cut boy Aiken who went on to guest at many events including parades and ultimately at Dick Clark's "Rockin' New Year's Eve". Aiken has since become an ambassador to UNICEF and has pretty much dropped out of the show biz arena. But during his time as an American Idol runner up, nobody was more popular than Clay Aiken.
These are just a couple of the many "stars" who have come about because of reality television. As of this writing another American Idol winner is just a week away. Will this person become the next Richard Hatch or Clay Aiken? Or will the runner up become the more popular? Or will they both just drift into obscurity?
Only time will tell.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Celebrities - Most Popular Radio Announcers
Remember the days when you used to be able to turn on the radio and not have to worry about what was going to come out of the announcer's mouth? Those days are long gone. Today, with celebrities link Howard Stern, nobody is safe from the trash talk dancing through the air waves. But there was a time when radio was really a class act and the announcers were as popular as the music they played.
There was probably no greater DJ team than the group put together by WABC Radio in New York. The station ultimately lost out to the AM-FM wars of the 1980s, but during its prime, WABC was the most popular radio station in the country and the jocks were household names that eventually went on to other things when the station changed over to talk radio.
The morning started with Harry Harrison. Coffee and music was his trademark. Harry had a pleasant voice and was very easy to listen to. He wasn't the most interesting of the WABC jocks but he always made you feel at home. Harrison could be heard from 6 to 10 every morning for over 15 years. His spot in the lineup was the springboard for what was to follow.
From 10 AM to 2 PM was Ron Lundy. Lundy was the fat jolly fellow who always started his broadcast day with a "good morning love" to his audience. Lundy had a more bubbly personality and voice than Harrison, but was still rather reserved in comparison to the man who would follow him at 2 PM.
At 2 PM everyday nobody knew what to expect. The man behind the mic was as unpredictable as the weather. His name was Dan Ingram, who also did many voice-overs for TV commercials and many of the WABC commercials as well. Ingram was without a doubt the most colorful DJ that WABC ever had. He was as outrageous as you could get without having to resort to off color humor. One afternoon he would preface each record he played with the intro to a James Brown song, "Make It Funky" where the song starts out with Brown asking his friend, "Bobby, what you wanna play now?" The answer was, "Whatever we play, we got to make it funky". And then they would count off and just at the end of the count off Ingram would put on whatever song he decided to play. Dan Ingram was so far ahead of his time. And he was the perfect lead in for the man who counted down the top 20 every Tuesday.
Bruce Morrow was called Cousin Brucie. He WAS the voice of WABC radio and his shows, which ran for almost 20 years were the highlight of the WABC broadcast day. He had the largest listening audience of any show in the New York area. The advertising spent during his 4 hours from 6 PM to 10 PM was astronomical for the time. Bruce Morrow was the dessert after a main course that was the best that radio had to offer.
Today, WABC is just a memory. But if you look it up on the Internet, you will see many sites dedicated to this once great radio station and the great DJs who graced their air waves.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
There was probably no greater DJ team than the group put together by WABC Radio in New York. The station ultimately lost out to the AM-FM wars of the 1980s, but during its prime, WABC was the most popular radio station in the country and the jocks were household names that eventually went on to other things when the station changed over to talk radio.
The morning started with Harry Harrison. Coffee and music was his trademark. Harry had a pleasant voice and was very easy to listen to. He wasn't the most interesting of the WABC jocks but he always made you feel at home. Harrison could be heard from 6 to 10 every morning for over 15 years. His spot in the lineup was the springboard for what was to follow.
From 10 AM to 2 PM was Ron Lundy. Lundy was the fat jolly fellow who always started his broadcast day with a "good morning love" to his audience. Lundy had a more bubbly personality and voice than Harrison, but was still rather reserved in comparison to the man who would follow him at 2 PM.
At 2 PM everyday nobody knew what to expect. The man behind the mic was as unpredictable as the weather. His name was Dan Ingram, who also did many voice-overs for TV commercials and many of the WABC commercials as well. Ingram was without a doubt the most colorful DJ that WABC ever had. He was as outrageous as you could get without having to resort to off color humor. One afternoon he would preface each record he played with the intro to a James Brown song, "Make It Funky" where the song starts out with Brown asking his friend, "Bobby, what you wanna play now?" The answer was, "Whatever we play, we got to make it funky". And then they would count off and just at the end of the count off Ingram would put on whatever song he decided to play. Dan Ingram was so far ahead of his time. And he was the perfect lead in for the man who counted down the top 20 every Tuesday.
Bruce Morrow was called Cousin Brucie. He WAS the voice of WABC radio and his shows, which ran for almost 20 years were the highlight of the WABC broadcast day. He had the largest listening audience of any show in the New York area. The advertising spent during his 4 hours from 6 PM to 10 PM was astronomical for the time. Bruce Morrow was the dessert after a main course that was the best that radio had to offer.
Today, WABC is just a memory. But if you look it up on the Internet, you will see many sites dedicated to this once great radio station and the great DJs who graced their air waves.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Celebrities - All Time Greatest Singers
Anybody can argue about who's the best at any particular occupation. The all time "best" lists are in no way either right or wrong. But they sure are a lot of fun to come up with. People love lists. They love to see what other people think so that they can send in letters and emails arguing with those lists.
Well, according to almost every list ever made, from TV Guide, to Entertainment Weekly, to you name it, the most popular, if not the greatest singer of all time, was Bing Crosby. Crosby had no less that 383 songs in the top 30 during his lifetime, including 41 number 1 hits. Crosby had a one of a kind voice that simply dominated the music scene from 1931 to 1954. His biggest hit of all time was "White Christmas", which radio stations still play today when Christmas time comes around. Not only was it Crosby's biggest hit but it was the biggest selling single of all time. It was number one on the charts for an amazing 14 weeks. There is no artist that has come even close to Crosby's popularity, not even the man most lists have at number 2.
That would be the great Elvis Presley, who was the most popular singer of the last half of the 20th century. Presley is given credit for almost single handedly starting the rock and roll revolution. His style completely changed the look and feel of popular music. His popularity ran from 1956 to 1981. He had 85 songs in the top 30 and a total of 18 number 1 hits. His biggest hit of all was "All Shook Up" which was number 1 on the charts for a solid 9 weeks.
Surprisingly, at least as far as popularity goes, no other stars even come close to the popularity of Crosby and Presley. However, there have been other great singers during the 20th century and certainly somebody, even if he or she is far from the front runners, has to come in at number 3. Unfortunately, this is where most lists usually go off in their different directions. Many are split between pre 1950s singers and post 1950s singers and the top 10 in many lists is so varied that it is hard to get a sense of who the majority of the people feel should be in that top 10.
For example. Many lists have Al Jolson at number 3 because of his 91 charted hits and 23 number 1 hits. But other lists don't even have Jolson listed, probably because he was in an era that has long been forgotten. Certainly Jolson had one of the most unique voices of all time. Some lists have Elton John coming in at the third position because of his 47 top 30 hits and 8 number 1 hits. Much of John's appeal must be credited to his ties to many other people as well as his tributes to Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana. And yet, there are lists that don't even have Elton John in the top 30.
Much of the problem probably can be attributed to who you ask. Younger people will lean more towards the post 1950s era while older folks will go for the old time standards. That's why to find Crosby and Presley at the top of most lists is truly a tribute to these two great singers.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Well, according to almost every list ever made, from TV Guide, to Entertainment Weekly, to you name it, the most popular, if not the greatest singer of all time, was Bing Crosby. Crosby had no less that 383 songs in the top 30 during his lifetime, including 41 number 1 hits. Crosby had a one of a kind voice that simply dominated the music scene from 1931 to 1954. His biggest hit of all time was "White Christmas", which radio stations still play today when Christmas time comes around. Not only was it Crosby's biggest hit but it was the biggest selling single of all time. It was number one on the charts for an amazing 14 weeks. There is no artist that has come even close to Crosby's popularity, not even the man most lists have at number 2.
That would be the great Elvis Presley, who was the most popular singer of the last half of the 20th century. Presley is given credit for almost single handedly starting the rock and roll revolution. His style completely changed the look and feel of popular music. His popularity ran from 1956 to 1981. He had 85 songs in the top 30 and a total of 18 number 1 hits. His biggest hit of all was "All Shook Up" which was number 1 on the charts for a solid 9 weeks.
Surprisingly, at least as far as popularity goes, no other stars even come close to the popularity of Crosby and Presley. However, there have been other great singers during the 20th century and certainly somebody, even if he or she is far from the front runners, has to come in at number 3. Unfortunately, this is where most lists usually go off in their different directions. Many are split between pre 1950s singers and post 1950s singers and the top 10 in many lists is so varied that it is hard to get a sense of who the majority of the people feel should be in that top 10.
For example. Many lists have Al Jolson at number 3 because of his 91 charted hits and 23 number 1 hits. But other lists don't even have Jolson listed, probably because he was in an era that has long been forgotten. Certainly Jolson had one of the most unique voices of all time. Some lists have Elton John coming in at the third position because of his 47 top 30 hits and 8 number 1 hits. Much of John's appeal must be credited to his ties to many other people as well as his tributes to Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana. And yet, there are lists that don't even have Elton John in the top 30.
Much of the problem probably can be attributed to who you ask. Younger people will lean more towards the post 1950s era while older folks will go for the old time standards. That's why to find Crosby and Presley at the top of most lists is truly a tribute to these two great singers.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Celebrities - Most Popular Broadway Stars
Broadway is unique. In most venues, TV, movies, radio, etc., we never really get to see our favorite celebrities up close and personal. But Broadway is different. Depending on how much money you dished out for tickets, you may end up just a few feet away from your favorite Broadway star. This is something that can't be equaled by any other medium of entertainment, excluding of course sports events. But to get a courtside seat to a Knicks game is going to cost you thousands of dollars. Few real people can afford that.
In the meantime, Broadway has certainly given us our share of popular stars. One needs to look no farther than Julie Andrews who originated the role of Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady." Many people felt it was strange that she wasn't picked to do the movie version, especially since Audrey Hepburn couldn't even sing and had to have her vocals dubbed in. Certainly one of the strangest casting jobs in all of movie history.
If you're looking for a more recent example, there is always Michael Crawford who originated the role of "The Phantom Of The Opera" in the early 80s. Crawford's portrayal was so incredible that he was actually named a living legend because of it. Nobody has since sung "Music Of The Night" like Crawford, a song that has been literally linked with him for all eternity.
If you need an even more recent example of two people who will forever be linked with a show, you need look no farther than Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel who portrayed the good witch and the wicked witch respectively in the Broadway production of "Wicked." When it came time to hand out the Tony Awards for that year it was literally a toss up as to who was going to win between the two of them. Menzel ultimately ended up winning. It was said that these two were so perfect for their roles that there may never be anyone who comes close to pulling off a performance as great as the ones these two gave us.
And then of course there are the Broadway stars that transcend Broadway and grace just about every corner of stage and screen. There is no better example of this than Hugh Jackman who was simply brilliant in "The Boy From Oz" and "Oklahoma." Many of us also know him as Wolverine in the "X-Men" series of movies. Jackman is probably one of the most popular performers on stage today.
The list, of course goes on and on. There's currently Sara Ramirez and Christopher Sieber of "Spamalot," a Monty Python goof that is probably one of the funniest plays to come out in a very long time that mixes comedy with some of the best, and most hysterical, music around. Just one listen to "The Song That Goes Like This" is all you need to realize that Ramirez and Sieber are pure comic and musical geniuses.
And just think of it. These are people who you can actually see live.
It doesn't get any better than that.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
In the meantime, Broadway has certainly given us our share of popular stars. One needs to look no farther than Julie Andrews who originated the role of Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady." Many people felt it was strange that she wasn't picked to do the movie version, especially since Audrey Hepburn couldn't even sing and had to have her vocals dubbed in. Certainly one of the strangest casting jobs in all of movie history.
If you're looking for a more recent example, there is always Michael Crawford who originated the role of "The Phantom Of The Opera" in the early 80s. Crawford's portrayal was so incredible that he was actually named a living legend because of it. Nobody has since sung "Music Of The Night" like Crawford, a song that has been literally linked with him for all eternity.
If you need an even more recent example of two people who will forever be linked with a show, you need look no farther than Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel who portrayed the good witch and the wicked witch respectively in the Broadway production of "Wicked." When it came time to hand out the Tony Awards for that year it was literally a toss up as to who was going to win between the two of them. Menzel ultimately ended up winning. It was said that these two were so perfect for their roles that there may never be anyone who comes close to pulling off a performance as great as the ones these two gave us.
And then of course there are the Broadway stars that transcend Broadway and grace just about every corner of stage and screen. There is no better example of this than Hugh Jackman who was simply brilliant in "The Boy From Oz" and "Oklahoma." Many of us also know him as Wolverine in the "X-Men" series of movies. Jackman is probably one of the most popular performers on stage today.
The list, of course goes on and on. There's currently Sara Ramirez and Christopher Sieber of "Spamalot," a Monty Python goof that is probably one of the funniest plays to come out in a very long time that mixes comedy with some of the best, and most hysterical, music around. Just one listen to "The Song That Goes Like This" is all you need to realize that Ramirez and Sieber are pure comic and musical geniuses.
And just think of it. These are people who you can actually see live.
It doesn't get any better than that.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Celebrities - Elvis Presley, From Birth to "Heartbreak Hotel"
The Presleys were a family of modest means. They lived near family and Elvis was close to his Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents. While attending the Assembly of God Church, he was exposed to his first taste of music. In 1945 at the age of 10, his first performance was at the Mississippi and Alabama Fair in a talent contest. Within a year Elvis got his very first guitar.
As with many, the Presley family were struggling money-wise and decided to move to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, hoping for a better life. Things were still hard, both Gladys and Vernon worked as much as they could but they still struggled. Things were so hard Elvis also worked, while attending LC Humes High School to help his family.
Elvis began to develop his own style while in high school. He slicked back his hair and grew his famous sideburns. He won the high school talent competition and even played an encore.
In June 1953, Elvis graduated high school and began working at a mechanics shop. During the summer he made his first demo at The Memphis Recording Service. He recorded "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" and "My Happiness". He changed jobs frequently and started to go to night school to be an electrician.
The owners of the recording studio in which Elvis had been making demos, paired him up with some other local artists. While working at Crown Electric Presley had his first recording, contracted with the recording service, released and started to perform at local events and bars. Elvis was even booked on The Grand Ole Opry, although it was dubbed a disaster. He was told not to quit his day job.
Late in 1954 Elvis signed on with KWKH radio for a year. This is when Elvis met 'Colonel' Tom Parker. Tom Parker was known to manage other artists including Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow.
Bob Neal became Presley's manager in January of 1955. This union did not last long. By August Hank Snow Attractions was in control of Elvis' career. Hank Snow Attractions was owned equally by Snow and Tom Parker. Soon after ,Colonel Parker became in complete control of Elvis, Snow and Neal are no longer connected to Presley.
The new management seemed to work as a benefit for Presley. Colonel Parker sold Elvis' Sun contract (The Memphis Recording Service) to RCA. Hill and Range Publishing company also got in on the action of the rising star and helped create Elvis Presley Music Inc. Elvis and the publishing company shared ownership of his songs.
Only one year after his first manager signed him on, Elvis began recording "Heartbreak Hotel" with RCA and teamed up with the Jordanaires, a gospel quartet. Presley and the Jordanaires worked together well into the late 1960s.
"Heartbreak Hotel" was released on January 27, 1956. It went to number one on Billboard's pop singles chart for eight weeks and hit number one on the country chart and number five on the R&B chart.
"Heartbreak Hotel" began Elvis' road to stardom and fame. The next 20 years were filled with music, movies, military marriage and divorce. Elvis Presley died August 16 1977 due to heart failure. He was only 42 years old.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
As with many, the Presley family were struggling money-wise and decided to move to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, hoping for a better life. Things were still hard, both Gladys and Vernon worked as much as they could but they still struggled. Things were so hard Elvis also worked, while attending LC Humes High School to help his family.
Elvis began to develop his own style while in high school. He slicked back his hair and grew his famous sideburns. He won the high school talent competition and even played an encore.
In June 1953, Elvis graduated high school and began working at a mechanics shop. During the summer he made his first demo at The Memphis Recording Service. He recorded "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" and "My Happiness". He changed jobs frequently and started to go to night school to be an electrician.
The owners of the recording studio in which Elvis had been making demos, paired him up with some other local artists. While working at Crown Electric Presley had his first recording, contracted with the recording service, released and started to perform at local events and bars. Elvis was even booked on The Grand Ole Opry, although it was dubbed a disaster. He was told not to quit his day job.
Late in 1954 Elvis signed on with KWKH radio for a year. This is when Elvis met 'Colonel' Tom Parker. Tom Parker was known to manage other artists including Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow.
Bob Neal became Presley's manager in January of 1955. This union did not last long. By August Hank Snow Attractions was in control of Elvis' career. Hank Snow Attractions was owned equally by Snow and Tom Parker. Soon after ,Colonel Parker became in complete control of Elvis, Snow and Neal are no longer connected to Presley.
The new management seemed to work as a benefit for Presley. Colonel Parker sold Elvis' Sun contract (The Memphis Recording Service) to RCA. Hill and Range Publishing company also got in on the action of the rising star and helped create Elvis Presley Music Inc. Elvis and the publishing company shared ownership of his songs.
Only one year after his first manager signed him on, Elvis began recording "Heartbreak Hotel" with RCA and teamed up with the Jordanaires, a gospel quartet. Presley and the Jordanaires worked together well into the late 1960s.
"Heartbreak Hotel" was released on January 27, 1956. It went to number one on Billboard's pop singles chart for eight weeks and hit number one on the country chart and number five on the R&B chart.
"Heartbreak Hotel" began Elvis' road to stardom and fame. The next 20 years were filled with music, movies, military marriage and divorce. Elvis Presley died August 16 1977 due to heart failure. He was only 42 years old.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Celebrities and Their Diamond Engagement Rings
What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving a diamond engagement ring? With many actresses and other famous women sporting bigger and sparklier diamond rings, celebrity engagements have become a delight for the jewelry lover. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so famous and recognizable, rather it seems to be a combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous lady it is associated with.
The history of diamond engagement rings
Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.
The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.
Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.
Famous ladies and their engagement rings
Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:
Royalty:
Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.
Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.
Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.
Actresses:
Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.
Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.
Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.
Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at amost $2 million.
Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.
Pop stars:
Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.
In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.
Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.
Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.
Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.
Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.
Replica diamond engagement rings
Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.
Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.
Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.
Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.
Tim Richardson is your guide in the world of diamond engagement rings at http://www.loveanddiamonds.com where you can find tips on choosing the diamond and the setting for the perfect ring. You'll learn about diamond shape, cut, clarity, weight, color, how to read a diamond certificate and how to avoid scams.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Richardson
The history of diamond engagement rings
Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.
The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.
Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.
Famous ladies and their engagement rings
Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:
Royalty:
Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara.
Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.
Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.
Actresses:
Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.
Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.
Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.
Catherine Zeta-Jones' promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at amost $2 million.
Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.
Pop stars:
Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.
In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.
Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.
Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.
Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.
Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.
Replica diamond engagement rings
Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.
Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.
Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.
Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.
Tim Richardson is your guide in the world of diamond engagement rings at http://www.loveanddiamonds.com where you can find tips on choosing the diamond and the setting for the perfect ring. You'll learn about diamond shape, cut, clarity, weight, color, how to read a diamond certificate and how to avoid scams.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Richardson
Saturday
Vegetarian Movie Stars - Who Came First?
It seems that every second Hollywood star is a vegetarian, giving up meat for health or moral reasons. Vegetarian societies can now provide long lists of entertainers who don't eat meat, including vegetarians like Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman, Kate Winslet and Natalie Portman, and pescatarians like Hillary Swank (who eat fish, but no other animals).
With the list of notable vegetarians reading like an invitation list for Oscars night, it is not unusual for someone to ask "How did it all start?" Perhaps surprisingly, it is not a recent trend, but something that goes back some 90 years, to when the movie business was still new.
In the early days of the movies, Mary Pickford was the biggest star in Hollywood - even more popular than her friend and business partner, Charlie Chaplin. Specialising in playing cute children like Little Lord Fauntleroy and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (she was only five feet tall and had a young face), she was known as "America's Sweetheart" - and later, due to her global fame, "The World's Sweetheart".
Mary gave up meat and fish after reading "The Jungle", Upton Sinclair's disturbing expose of the meat industry in New York, with vivid descriptions of the assembly-line slaughterhouses. "It was too much for some of the visitors," wrote Sinclair (who himself became a vegetarian), "and the women would stand with hands clenched and the blood rushing to their faces, and the tears starting in their eyes."
Pickford, however, was not the only vegetarian Hollywood star of the early days. English actor George Arliss, already a popular star of the American theatre, entered movies in the 1921. At a time when vegetarianism in the West seemed peculiar and eccentric, he was a pioneer. "Doesn't it seem probable that many of our diseases are the result of meat eating?" he once asked. "It's an unpleasant habit... eating kidneys and liver and picking the bones... We shudder at the very thought of cannibals, but is there really any difference?"
Another great silent film star, Gloria Swanson, would also follow her rival Mary Pickford into a vegetarian diet. Other early stars dabbled in it. Marion Davies, one of the top comediennes of the 1920s, temporarily became a vegetarian after playing hostess to visiting Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, an outspoken member of the London Vegetarian Society.
However, though they might have been the first, these stars were not as outspoken about their vegetarianism as current stars. Unlike Woody Harrelson or Toni Collette, they did not campaign for animal rights, or publicly extol the virtues of a vegetarian diet to stay young and slim. Stars of 80 or 90 years ago were not encouraged to speak their minds in such a way.
However, as Pickford was Hollywood's most popular hostess, her meat-free diet would have been known to the fanzines and industry figures of the day (though it might have been considered eccentric). Today's stars, able to choose from a number of chic vegetarian cafés and restaurants around Hollywood, can salute her. In this way (along with many others), she was a pioneer among celebrities.
Noivedya Juddery is a writer and journalist based in Australia. A member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, he is inspired by personal meditation and spirituality in his growing number of creative activities. He can be contacted via his website: http://www.markjuddery.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Juddery
With the list of notable vegetarians reading like an invitation list for Oscars night, it is not unusual for someone to ask "How did it all start?" Perhaps surprisingly, it is not a recent trend, but something that goes back some 90 years, to when the movie business was still new.
In the early days of the movies, Mary Pickford was the biggest star in Hollywood - even more popular than her friend and business partner, Charlie Chaplin. Specialising in playing cute children like Little Lord Fauntleroy and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (she was only five feet tall and had a young face), she was known as "America's Sweetheart" - and later, due to her global fame, "The World's Sweetheart".
Mary gave up meat and fish after reading "The Jungle", Upton Sinclair's disturbing expose of the meat industry in New York, with vivid descriptions of the assembly-line slaughterhouses. "It was too much for some of the visitors," wrote Sinclair (who himself became a vegetarian), "and the women would stand with hands clenched and the blood rushing to their faces, and the tears starting in their eyes."
Pickford, however, was not the only vegetarian Hollywood star of the early days. English actor George Arliss, already a popular star of the American theatre, entered movies in the 1921. At a time when vegetarianism in the West seemed peculiar and eccentric, he was a pioneer. "Doesn't it seem probable that many of our diseases are the result of meat eating?" he once asked. "It's an unpleasant habit... eating kidneys and liver and picking the bones... We shudder at the very thought of cannibals, but is there really any difference?"
Another great silent film star, Gloria Swanson, would also follow her rival Mary Pickford into a vegetarian diet. Other early stars dabbled in it. Marion Davies, one of the top comediennes of the 1920s, temporarily became a vegetarian after playing hostess to visiting Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, an outspoken member of the London Vegetarian Society.
However, though they might have been the first, these stars were not as outspoken about their vegetarianism as current stars. Unlike Woody Harrelson or Toni Collette, they did not campaign for animal rights, or publicly extol the virtues of a vegetarian diet to stay young and slim. Stars of 80 or 90 years ago were not encouraged to speak their minds in such a way.
However, as Pickford was Hollywood's most popular hostess, her meat-free diet would have been known to the fanzines and industry figures of the day (though it might have been considered eccentric). Today's stars, able to choose from a number of chic vegetarian cafés and restaurants around Hollywood, can salute her. In this way (along with many others), she was a pioneer among celebrities.
Noivedya Juddery is a writer and journalist based in Australia. A member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, he is inspired by personal meditation and spirituality in his growing number of creative activities. He can be contacted via his website: http://www.markjuddery.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Juddery
Rap Tattoo: The Tattoos of Rap Artists and Rap Stars! This is a Huge Trend!
Rap tattoos or rap artist tattoos are very popular. This phenomena has lead to a strange mix of cultures. You everyone is into celebrities, movie stars, signers, and rappers. Even those of us like myself who like to say we are not sometimes get caught up in what is hot with different celebrities. Well rap artists have created a whole new type of celebrity. It is almost the anti hero of sorts. Rap artists often like to play the gangster become big time star role and in fact many of them have achieved this lifestyle.
The rich gangster living the big life being a player is the immortalized dream that we see 247 on television in rap videos from MTV to VH1 to all sorts of other things. You know what I am talking about the rap artists with the gold chains, pimped out Hummer, or Lincoln Navigator with some hot babes wearing tongs on either side of his arm. What guy in their right mind wouldn't want that dream. Even guys that don't listen to rap or claim that it is not their dream would be pretty hard pressed to turn away from that life! Pimped out house, cars and fancy women and food!
Well, this whole dream has lead to many new trends in tattoo art. Now there are more and more people getting tattoos of their favorite rap artists. Either a 50 cent tattoo, Nelly tattoo, or Tupac they all have great tattoos and their tattoo gallery pages are some of the most visited pages on our site. In fact we even get quit a few jobs posted by people wanting a similar tattoo. Right now someone posted for a copy of a Nelly tattoo. You know the one Nelly has with the cards and it says his name on each card N-E-L-L-Y. We also have a job posted on the website for some wanting a Tupac "Thug Life" tattoo. What a great way to memorialize the guy!
These items are very popular and it has created a strange mix of a celebrity gangster who is all tatted up. People normally think of tattoos on a white hells angel biker dude. However those days are over and the a new age of tattoos and tattoo design is upon us and tattoo and now the great universal and no longer a separator.
Chris runs Design My Tattoos website. Check out the site and post a job to get your own custom tattoo design. If you are a tattoo artist and would like to earn some extra income sign up as an artists. You can read this article about rap star tattoos here. We also have an extensive Celebrity Rap Star tattoo galleries and design galleries on the site. Check out our Nelly Tattoo Gallery, 50 Cent Tattoo Gallery
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Ryerson
The rich gangster living the big life being a player is the immortalized dream that we see 247 on television in rap videos from MTV to VH1 to all sorts of other things. You know what I am talking about the rap artists with the gold chains, pimped out Hummer, or Lincoln Navigator with some hot babes wearing tongs on either side of his arm. What guy in their right mind wouldn't want that dream. Even guys that don't listen to rap or claim that it is not their dream would be pretty hard pressed to turn away from that life! Pimped out house, cars and fancy women and food!
Well, this whole dream has lead to many new trends in tattoo art. Now there are more and more people getting tattoos of their favorite rap artists. Either a 50 cent tattoo, Nelly tattoo, or Tupac they all have great tattoos and their tattoo gallery pages are some of the most visited pages on our site. In fact we even get quit a few jobs posted by people wanting a similar tattoo. Right now someone posted for a copy of a Nelly tattoo. You know the one Nelly has with the cards and it says his name on each card N-E-L-L-Y. We also have a job posted on the website for some wanting a Tupac "Thug Life" tattoo. What a great way to memorialize the guy!
These items are very popular and it has created a strange mix of a celebrity gangster who is all tatted up. People normally think of tattoos on a white hells angel biker dude. However those days are over and the a new age of tattoos and tattoo design is upon us and tattoo and now the great universal and no longer a separator.
Chris runs Design My Tattoos website. Check out the site and post a job to get your own custom tattoo design. If you are a tattoo artist and would like to earn some extra income sign up as an artists. You can read this article about rap star tattoos here. We also have an extensive Celebrity Rap Star tattoo galleries and design galleries on the site. Check out our Nelly Tattoo Gallery, 50 Cent Tattoo Gallery
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Ryerson
Paparazzi Chase Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie on a Rickshaw Ride?
The paparazzi are absolutely out of control and now we have them chasing Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who were cruising along minding their own business while in India. In India? The paparazzi followed them to India? Well I’ll be curried? It appears that the two super Movie Stars were in a rickshaw with their 5-year old son, when the paparazzi chased them down the street. What were they doing in India? They were there filming a movie about Daniel Pearl the journalist killed by terrorists.
Can you imagine being in India working on a movie and having the Paparazzi follow you around? And take pictures everywhere you go? No need to take a digital camera on vacation, just pick up the National Inquirer and cut out the pictures for your scrapbook I guess? Go figure? It is simply unbelievable these days that we have people who follow other people half way around the world spending tens of thousands of dollars in travel just to take a picture of their every move? My gosh one has to ask; what is the world coming too?
Now then isn’t it truly ironic that Daniel Pearl the subject of the movie was a journalist killed by terrorists and now we have the Paparazzi chasing down Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt like terrorists to get their pictures? Well it seems to me that maybe these paparazzi folks are getting the movie stars in the right frame of mind for the movie without even knowing it. I mean it would make sense that when stalkers are out to get you like this that you should understand exactly how Daniel Pearl might have felt at times while trying to get the scoop? Interesting isn’t it?
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
Can you imagine being in India working on a movie and having the Paparazzi follow you around? And take pictures everywhere you go? No need to take a digital camera on vacation, just pick up the National Inquirer and cut out the pictures for your scrapbook I guess? Go figure? It is simply unbelievable these days that we have people who follow other people half way around the world spending tens of thousands of dollars in travel just to take a picture of their every move? My gosh one has to ask; what is the world coming too?
Now then isn’t it truly ironic that Daniel Pearl the subject of the movie was a journalist killed by terrorists and now we have the Paparazzi chasing down Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt like terrorists to get their pictures? Well it seems to me that maybe these paparazzi folks are getting the movie stars in the right frame of mind for the movie without even knowing it. I mean it would make sense that when stalkers are out to get you like this that you should understand exactly how Daniel Pearl might have felt at times while trying to get the scoop? Interesting isn’t it?
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
How Celebrity is Celebrity
What really makes a celebrity a true celebrity? Is it the news coverage? The pursuit of tabloids? Perhaps sheer popularity is what drives us to call movie stars, musicians, and politicians celebrities. If that is the case, are the non-traditional stars celebrities as well?
In order to find a satisfactory answer to this dilemma, one must look for a celebrity index. CelebrityContest.net has developed an algorithm to assign a value to a celebrity, much as stocks are assigned a monetary value in order for site visitors or members to build celebrity portfolio. The algorithm takes into consideration the amount and timing of news items pertaining to celebrities as well as the popularity of the celebrity as a portion of online portfolios. But does this adequately measure the amount of celebrity status an individual has achieved?
CelebrityTo determine this, we need to consider what celebrity actually means. The American Heritage Dictionary defines celebrity as “a famous person,” or “renown, fame.” That definition is very broad indeed. To be renown is to simply be well-known. Osama Bin Laden is well-known, but does not necessarily have the same following as Jessica Alba. By this definition, however, they are both celebrities.
Thus, to be a celebrity, one must be either famous or infamous, and the distinction is not relevant. By this same token, individuals who have developed a following in unconventional ways such as the internet or reality programming are certainly celebrities as well – albeit some have more global coverage than others. So to measure the amount of celebrity an individual has obtained, one would simply need to measure his or her popularity.
Measuring PopularityBefore the information age, to measure popularity would involve countless newspaper and magazine searches. Print resources as well as television and radio contained any and all celebrity news and gossip. With the advent of the internet, this changed, of course. In present times, the internet has not only opened countless doors to those aspiring to stardom, but has developed a multitude of news and gossip outlets as well.
Most of the conventional media outlets – magazines, newspapers, radio, and television have developed an online presence. Often these websites contain more information pertaining to celebrities than the original medium. Those interested in entertainment news now have almost countless methods to find the information they seek.
The fastest way to find information online, however, is through the search engines. Major search engines index all web pages and online news items as they are developed, and offer users a chance to hone in on the desired material. Searching for celebrities will pull up thousands, if not millions, of relevant results. It follows that by simply counting the number of searches and articles for each celebrity, one could understand the popularity of that individual.
Celebrity ContestIt seems the algorithm developed by CelebrityContest.net holds true. The algorithm assigns value to a celebrity based on the number and age of news items and searches, which is the best indicator of popularity. Of course, the algorithm also includes results from CelebrityContest.net, which are a valid indicator as well.
If a celebrity is popular, he or she will be included in many portfolios. If he is becoming blas̩, he will be dropped from portfolios in favor of more popular individuals. If a celebrity is looking for a gauge of her own value, she can perform a complicated web analysis, or simply track her price changes on CelebrityContest.net to understand how her fan base is feeling. Of course, fans can search for the value of their favorite celebrity, and even cash in on the details only devoted fans are privy to Рinsider trading if you will.
celebrity. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved October 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/celebrity
For additional gossip, news, and the opportunity to buy and sell the most popular celebrities in the world today, visit CelebrityContest.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Garland
In order to find a satisfactory answer to this dilemma, one must look for a celebrity index. CelebrityContest.net has developed an algorithm to assign a value to a celebrity, much as stocks are assigned a monetary value in order for site visitors or members to build celebrity portfolio. The algorithm takes into consideration the amount and timing of news items pertaining to celebrities as well as the popularity of the celebrity as a portion of online portfolios. But does this adequately measure the amount of celebrity status an individual has achieved?
CelebrityTo determine this, we need to consider what celebrity actually means. The American Heritage Dictionary defines celebrity as “a famous person,” or “renown, fame.” That definition is very broad indeed. To be renown is to simply be well-known. Osama Bin Laden is well-known, but does not necessarily have the same following as Jessica Alba. By this definition, however, they are both celebrities.
Thus, to be a celebrity, one must be either famous or infamous, and the distinction is not relevant. By this same token, individuals who have developed a following in unconventional ways such as the internet or reality programming are certainly celebrities as well – albeit some have more global coverage than others. So to measure the amount of celebrity an individual has obtained, one would simply need to measure his or her popularity.
Measuring PopularityBefore the information age, to measure popularity would involve countless newspaper and magazine searches. Print resources as well as television and radio contained any and all celebrity news and gossip. With the advent of the internet, this changed, of course. In present times, the internet has not only opened countless doors to those aspiring to stardom, but has developed a multitude of news and gossip outlets as well.
Most of the conventional media outlets – magazines, newspapers, radio, and television have developed an online presence. Often these websites contain more information pertaining to celebrities than the original medium. Those interested in entertainment news now have almost countless methods to find the information they seek.
The fastest way to find information online, however, is through the search engines. Major search engines index all web pages and online news items as they are developed, and offer users a chance to hone in on the desired material. Searching for celebrities will pull up thousands, if not millions, of relevant results. It follows that by simply counting the number of searches and articles for each celebrity, one could understand the popularity of that individual.
Celebrity ContestIt seems the algorithm developed by CelebrityContest.net holds true. The algorithm assigns value to a celebrity based on the number and age of news items and searches, which is the best indicator of popularity. Of course, the algorithm also includes results from CelebrityContest.net, which are a valid indicator as well.
If a celebrity is popular, he or she will be included in many portfolios. If he is becoming blas̩, he will be dropped from portfolios in favor of more popular individuals. If a celebrity is looking for a gauge of her own value, she can perform a complicated web analysis, or simply track her price changes on CelebrityContest.net to understand how her fan base is feeling. Of course, fans can search for the value of their favorite celebrity, and even cash in on the details only devoted fans are privy to Рinsider trading if you will.
celebrity. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved October 29, 2006, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/celebrity
For additional gossip, news, and the opportunity to buy and sell the most popular celebrities in the world today, visit CelebrityContest.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Garland
A True Celebrity
What is a true celebrity? Andy Warhol must have been right about everyone’s fifteen minutes of fame. It seems, over time, that traditional celebrities are competing with average citizens for headlines and publicity. This means movie stars, musicians, and other prominent figures in the news are no longer safe when they reach the top of their pedestal – they can be knocked off by an amateur at seemingly anytime. While there are many factors to blame, the two primary mediums which have rocketed the seemingly nobodies of the world to fame are reality programming and the internet.
Reality ProgrammingWhen reality programming was first introduced, television audiences sat up and took notice. Watching people as normal as the next guy fascinated us, and made us wonder about our own potential stardom. Prompted or not, characters on shows such as The Real World, Survivor and The Apprentice are discussed around lockers and water coolers on an almost daily basis.
The stars of these shows might have started filming as the boy or girl-next-door, but once the premiere hits airwaves, they are famous – at least for a little while. Millions watch their every decision or mistake with bated breath, and develop the same emotional relationship with these average citizens that used to be exclusively reserved for major celebrity fan clubs.
InternetOn the internet, websites such as YouTube and MySpace are offering even more “normal” individuals a chance to have a staring role. Clever videos or marketing schemes propel internet users to the virtual spotlight and make them a sort of online icon. Email forwards and popular videos offer folks a chance to share their talents or humorous moments with the world. Thousands or millions of viewers watch the short video or read the blog and another celebrity is born.
Pop CultureThe trends and bursts of popularity we call pop culture are beginning to replace traditional entertainment media. Entertainment news features major musicians and actors at roughly the same rate as reality stars of the moment. Traditional celebrities anxious to hang on to the spotlight are beginning to follow the new wave of popularity and produce online videos, create interesting online fan sites, and some stars even engage in reality shows specifically for celebrities. More mainstream celebrities have also begun engaging in rather extreme publicity stunts which are becoming almost transparent as they feel the spotlight beginning to shift to others.
Celebrity ContestWebsites, such as CelebrityContest.net, offer the public an opportunity to express their opinion of all forms of celebrity. Individuals now have the opportunity to build portfolios of celebrities, much like online stock portfolios. Buy celebrities when they are hot, and drop them when they are not. Available forums offer trading advice and gossip to help make investment decisions. Help your favorite celebrities regain popularity by adding them to your portfolio, and send a quiet message to others as you sell them off.
The concept of a celebrity’s value is simple. Celebrities exist only because the public allows them to. Those who enjoy being in the spotlight now have a means to get there thanks to reality programming and the internet. This is true for mainstream as well as local celebrities. The tricky part, as the one-hit-wonders and child-stars over the years can tell you, is staying on top once you get there, or at least keeping a toe in that desirable limelight.
For additional gossip, news, and the opportunity to buy and sell the most popular celebrities in the world today, visit CelebrityContest.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Garland
Reality ProgrammingWhen reality programming was first introduced, television audiences sat up and took notice. Watching people as normal as the next guy fascinated us, and made us wonder about our own potential stardom. Prompted or not, characters on shows such as The Real World, Survivor and The Apprentice are discussed around lockers and water coolers on an almost daily basis.
The stars of these shows might have started filming as the boy or girl-next-door, but once the premiere hits airwaves, they are famous – at least for a little while. Millions watch their every decision or mistake with bated breath, and develop the same emotional relationship with these average citizens that used to be exclusively reserved for major celebrity fan clubs.
InternetOn the internet, websites such as YouTube and MySpace are offering even more “normal” individuals a chance to have a staring role. Clever videos or marketing schemes propel internet users to the virtual spotlight and make them a sort of online icon. Email forwards and popular videos offer folks a chance to share their talents or humorous moments with the world. Thousands or millions of viewers watch the short video or read the blog and another celebrity is born.
Pop CultureThe trends and bursts of popularity we call pop culture are beginning to replace traditional entertainment media. Entertainment news features major musicians and actors at roughly the same rate as reality stars of the moment. Traditional celebrities anxious to hang on to the spotlight are beginning to follow the new wave of popularity and produce online videos, create interesting online fan sites, and some stars even engage in reality shows specifically for celebrities. More mainstream celebrities have also begun engaging in rather extreme publicity stunts which are becoming almost transparent as they feel the spotlight beginning to shift to others.
Celebrity ContestWebsites, such as CelebrityContest.net, offer the public an opportunity to express their opinion of all forms of celebrity. Individuals now have the opportunity to build portfolios of celebrities, much like online stock portfolios. Buy celebrities when they are hot, and drop them when they are not. Available forums offer trading advice and gossip to help make investment decisions. Help your favorite celebrities regain popularity by adding them to your portfolio, and send a quiet message to others as you sell them off.
The concept of a celebrity’s value is simple. Celebrities exist only because the public allows them to. Those who enjoy being in the spotlight now have a means to get there thanks to reality programming and the internet. This is true for mainstream as well as local celebrities. The tricky part, as the one-hit-wonders and child-stars over the years can tell you, is staying on top once you get there, or at least keeping a toe in that desirable limelight.
For additional gossip, news, and the opportunity to buy and sell the most popular celebrities in the world today, visit CelebrityContest.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Garland
Who Really Owns Celebrities?
Celebrities today seem to be up for grabs. Photographers and tabloid writers feel free to spy on celebrities and follow them constantly. Celebrities seem to have different feeling about this. Some celebrities play along with the paparazzi and seem to tolerate the intrusion in exchange for good publicity. Others are constantly embroiled in battles with the relentless photographers and often end up in court. The question undercutting all of this however is who, in fact, actually owns these celebrities?
Celebrity OwnershipDespite the pleas on some tearful celebrities, the answer is the people. The same individuals who made ordinary actors, singers, and politicians into celebrities in the first place actually hold the deed on celebrities. So long as celebrities stay in favor with the public, they continue to live a blessed existence of fame and fortune. But if a celebrity loses favor and begins to fade away, they simply cease to exist for much of the world. In some cases they might retain some of the fortune, but the fame is certainly gone.
An audience creates a celebrity. Many individuals have starred in movies or performed at concerts without gaining celebrity status. It is only when the world begins to sit up and take notice of an individual that true star status is obtained. This is how stars are born overnight. If people care about the comings and goings of an individual and the media picks up on this interest, news and tabloid coverage will increase. This creates a celebrity. If nobody cares about a singer’s shopping trips or political message, it is a safe bet that individual will not be stalked by paparazzi and won’t be gracing the covers of magazines. Simply, celebrities are selected.
The Fickle WorldHuman beings are fickle creatures. The general population may hold a singer in great esteem one year and have moved on completely by the next. In fact, certain television stations and websites have a made a market out of finding these former celebrities and marveling at their now “normal” lives. Other websites offer members the opportunity to demonstrate their flightiest tendencies on a daily basis.
Celebrity WebsitesCertain websites have constructed an algorithm to demonstrate the popularity of celebrities. This algorithm and the celebrity’s popularity equate to a market price, much like a stock price. Members of the site are able to buy and sell celebrities for their personal portfolios and if the celebrity increases in value – both popularity and price, the portfolio value increases. If a celebrity begins to lose value, he is undesirable and dumped.
There can be no clearer message about not only the value of celebrities, but also the ownership of celebrities. Just as celebrities in a portfolio can create a return for investors, those same investors take the time to research the celebrities in forums, news articles, and blogs. This research and drive for information increases the celebrity’s popularity and price. When a celebrity fails to generate news, or generates too much bad publicity, the public will simply lose interest, the celebrity loses value, and stardom begins to fade.
For additional gossip, news, and the opportunity to buy and sell the most popular celebrities in the world today, visit CelebrityContest.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Garland
Celebrity OwnershipDespite the pleas on some tearful celebrities, the answer is the people. The same individuals who made ordinary actors, singers, and politicians into celebrities in the first place actually hold the deed on celebrities. So long as celebrities stay in favor with the public, they continue to live a blessed existence of fame and fortune. But if a celebrity loses favor and begins to fade away, they simply cease to exist for much of the world. In some cases they might retain some of the fortune, but the fame is certainly gone.
An audience creates a celebrity. Many individuals have starred in movies or performed at concerts without gaining celebrity status. It is only when the world begins to sit up and take notice of an individual that true star status is obtained. This is how stars are born overnight. If people care about the comings and goings of an individual and the media picks up on this interest, news and tabloid coverage will increase. This creates a celebrity. If nobody cares about a singer’s shopping trips or political message, it is a safe bet that individual will not be stalked by paparazzi and won’t be gracing the covers of magazines. Simply, celebrities are selected.
The Fickle WorldHuman beings are fickle creatures. The general population may hold a singer in great esteem one year and have moved on completely by the next. In fact, certain television stations and websites have a made a market out of finding these former celebrities and marveling at their now “normal” lives. Other websites offer members the opportunity to demonstrate their flightiest tendencies on a daily basis.
Celebrity WebsitesCertain websites have constructed an algorithm to demonstrate the popularity of celebrities. This algorithm and the celebrity’s popularity equate to a market price, much like a stock price. Members of the site are able to buy and sell celebrities for their personal portfolios and if the celebrity increases in value – both popularity and price, the portfolio value increases. If a celebrity begins to lose value, he is undesirable and dumped.
There can be no clearer message about not only the value of celebrities, but also the ownership of celebrities. Just as celebrities in a portfolio can create a return for investors, those same investors take the time to research the celebrities in forums, news articles, and blogs. This research and drive for information increases the celebrity’s popularity and price. When a celebrity fails to generate news, or generates too much bad publicity, the public will simply lose interest, the celebrity loses value, and stardom begins to fade.
For additional gossip, news, and the opportunity to buy and sell the most popular celebrities in the world today, visit CelebrityContest.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Garland
Movie Stars and The Best In Aspen Hotels
If you are planning to travel any time soon it would be worth your while to look into visiting Colorado and staying at any one of many fine Aspen hotels. Perhaps you are getting away from home for awhile or perhaps you are heading out with a group of business associates, it doesn't matter, Aspen is place you just have to visit!
Think about it! From one of the Aspen hotels tucked up in the mountains you can head out on a hiking excursion in the morning, come back for lunch and a change of clothes and go golfing in the afternoon. After that you can find some fine dining and sit out on the patio and watch the sun dip behind the mountains. There aren't many places you can do all that without even having to drive anywhere.
Or maybe outdoor sports aren't your thing. Booking Aspen hotels also avails you of unique shopping and entertainment opportunities. Spend the day looking through quaint shops for the most interesting gifts and searching the coffee shops for the perfect moccha. Visit in the winter and there is a good chance you can take in some of the HBO Comedy Festival, held in Aspen every year. Not many people would pass up the opportunity to have a good laugh.
Laughter is something Aspen has become somewhat famous for, and the Comedy festival isn't the only reason. In 1994 the movie "Dumb and Dumber" brought Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels to the area playing Harry and Floyd, two wandering souls from Rhode Island who set out for Aspen Colorado to find the girl of their dreams. Stumbling across a briefcase of cash, Harry and Floyd decided to live it up and made Aspen hotels a key part of their misadventures. Don't worry, you can be fairly sure things have been cleaned up since they left!
Of course, these aren't the only stars who have been known to frequent the Aspen area. Actors and actresses such as Jack Nicholson, Kevin Costner and Goldie Hawn, to name a few, have all taken up residence in this mountain town. Star-gazing could be considered another one of the activities on your itinerary.
Whatever you decide to do in Aspen you'll enjoy the fact that it has all the amenities of home but its rugged surroundings remind you that you are anywhere but! Named for the trees which are so prevalent in the area, Aspen is a place where you can enjoy golfing, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, hiking, shopping, fine dining, mountain biking, and even Alpine touring. Aspen hotels put all these opportunities right out your front door.
So next time you are planning for your next trip and you think a stop in Colorado might be on the horizon, be sure to remember that Aspen hotels may be just the thing.
The beautiful Rocky Mountains, skiing and much more in this mountain town. Going to Aspen Colorado hotels and skiing can be quite an experience. At http://www.AspenColoradoMountainVacation.com you'll get all the information you need about the Aspen nightlife, recreation and Aspen Hotels.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Rougeaux
Think about it! From one of the Aspen hotels tucked up in the mountains you can head out on a hiking excursion in the morning, come back for lunch and a change of clothes and go golfing in the afternoon. After that you can find some fine dining and sit out on the patio and watch the sun dip behind the mountains. There aren't many places you can do all that without even having to drive anywhere.
Or maybe outdoor sports aren't your thing. Booking Aspen hotels also avails you of unique shopping and entertainment opportunities. Spend the day looking through quaint shops for the most interesting gifts and searching the coffee shops for the perfect moccha. Visit in the winter and there is a good chance you can take in some of the HBO Comedy Festival, held in Aspen every year. Not many people would pass up the opportunity to have a good laugh.
Laughter is something Aspen has become somewhat famous for, and the Comedy festival isn't the only reason. In 1994 the movie "Dumb and Dumber" brought Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels to the area playing Harry and Floyd, two wandering souls from Rhode Island who set out for Aspen Colorado to find the girl of their dreams. Stumbling across a briefcase of cash, Harry and Floyd decided to live it up and made Aspen hotels a key part of their misadventures. Don't worry, you can be fairly sure things have been cleaned up since they left!
Of course, these aren't the only stars who have been known to frequent the Aspen area. Actors and actresses such as Jack Nicholson, Kevin Costner and Goldie Hawn, to name a few, have all taken up residence in this mountain town. Star-gazing could be considered another one of the activities on your itinerary.
Whatever you decide to do in Aspen you'll enjoy the fact that it has all the amenities of home but its rugged surroundings remind you that you are anywhere but! Named for the trees which are so prevalent in the area, Aspen is a place where you can enjoy golfing, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, hiking, shopping, fine dining, mountain biking, and even Alpine touring. Aspen hotels put all these opportunities right out your front door.
So next time you are planning for your next trip and you think a stop in Colorado might be on the horizon, be sure to remember that Aspen hotels may be just the thing.
The beautiful Rocky Mountains, skiing and much more in this mountain town. Going to Aspen Colorado hotels and skiing can be quite an experience. At http://www.AspenColoradoMountainVacation.com you'll get all the information you need about the Aspen nightlife, recreation and Aspen Hotels.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Rougeaux
How Much Movie Stars Make? A Before-After Comparison
Becoming a movie star is a tough deal. Even if you are a talented professional actor, you probably have more chances of getting hit by a meteor while walking to your car on a beautiful sunny afternoon than becoming a “star.”
However, for the very very few who make it, the monetary rewards can be “substantial,” to say the least.
Here is a Before-After picture of how much some famous stars made in the first movies and where they ended up a few Oscars later.
Julia Roberts
$50,000 for Mystic Pizza (1988) $25 Million for Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Tom Cruise
$75,000 for Risky Business (1983) $70 Million (includes a percentage of gross) for Mission: Impossible (1996) $75 Million (includes a percentage of gross) for Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Denzel Washington
$10 Million for Courage Under Fire (1996) $20 Million for The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Halle Berry
$600,000 for Monster's Ball (2001) $14 Million for Catwoman (2004)
Jack Nicholson
$12,500 for On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) $60 Million for Batman (1989) $10 Million for About Schmidt (2002)
Paul Newman
$17,000 for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) $1,000,000 + 10% of gross for The Towering Inferno (1974)
Dustin Hoffman
$17,000 for The Graduate (1967) $5,800,000 plus a percentage of gross for Rain Man (1988)
Elizabeth Taylor
$200 a week for There's One Born Every Minute (1942) $1,000,000 plus 10% of the gross for Cleopatra (1963) $1,100,000 plus 10% of the gross for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Sean Connery
$100,000 for Dr. No (1962) $17 Million for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
--------------------------------------------------------
Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation.
He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years.
In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).
You can reach him at writer111@gmail.com for a FREE consultation on all your copywriting needs.
You are most welcomed to visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.
While at it, you might also want to check the latest book he has edited:http://www.lulu.com/content/263630
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci
However, for the very very few who make it, the monetary rewards can be “substantial,” to say the least.
Here is a Before-After picture of how much some famous stars made in the first movies and where they ended up a few Oscars later.
Julia Roberts
$50,000 for Mystic Pizza (1988) $25 Million for Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Tom Cruise
$75,000 for Risky Business (1983) $70 Million (includes a percentage of gross) for Mission: Impossible (1996) $75 Million (includes a percentage of gross) for Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Denzel Washington
$10 Million for Courage Under Fire (1996) $20 Million for The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Halle Berry
$600,000 for Monster's Ball (2001) $14 Million for Catwoman (2004)
Jack Nicholson
$12,500 for On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) $60 Million for Batman (1989) $10 Million for About Schmidt (2002)
Paul Newman
$17,000 for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) $1,000,000 + 10% of gross for The Towering Inferno (1974)
Dustin Hoffman
$17,000 for The Graduate (1967) $5,800,000 plus a percentage of gross for Rain Man (1988)
Elizabeth Taylor
$200 a week for There's One Born Every Minute (1942) $1,000,000 plus 10% of the gross for Cleopatra (1963) $1,100,000 plus 10% of the gross for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Sean Connery
$100,000 for Dr. No (1962) $17 Million for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
--------------------------------------------------------
Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation.
He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years.
In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).
You can reach him at writer111@gmail.com for a FREE consultation on all your copywriting needs.
You are most welcomed to visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.
While at it, you might also want to check the latest book he has edited:http://www.lulu.com/content/263630
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci
Hip-hop Jewelry and Today's Stars
Watch any of the major movie, television, and music award shows on television today and one of the first things you’ll notice about the celebrities on the red carpet, aside from their extravagant (and sometimes outlandish) attire, are the amount and size of the jewelry they are wearing. Hip-hop jewelry, more commonly known as bling-bling, is definitely not understated fashion. The bigger and the flashier it is, the better. Preferred by many of today’s celebrities, hip-hop jewelry adorns the fingers, necks, arms, even the teeth of many stars.
Oversized studs and chains are the trademarks of hip-hop jewelry and are preferred by celebrities such as Sean Combs, or P. Diddy. At the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, he sported a diamond ring, bracelet, and watch from Jacob and Company. Rapper 50 Cent is another celebrity who is hardly ever seen without his hip-hop jewelry. On his web site, 50 Cent offers more affordable, though just as flashy, bling-bling for those of us who do not earn the megabucks that he and his fellow celebrities rake in. There are also many other web sites that offer low-priced hip-hop jewelry inspired by popular rap artists.
Hip-hop jewelry comes in many shapes and sizes, all of them meant to catch the eye and attract attention. Heavy chains of silver or gold (or both) can oftentimes be seen on celebrities such as LL Cool J and Ja Rule in their music videos. Hip-hop jewelry web sites offer fully ‘iced-out’ bling-bling, or watches, rings, bracelets and earrings that are heavily decorated with real or faux diamonds. So-called ‘spinner’ watches and rings are big best sellers in the hip-hop jewelry category. Also available are customized, removable gold, silver and platinum teeth which may be studded with jewels and gemstones, so even the pearly whites can have their share of hip-hop jewelry.
Women celebrities are keeping pace with their male counterparts when it comes to wearing hip-hop jewelry. Stars such as Beyonce, Lil’ Kim, Ashanti and Missy Elliott are regularly seen in pictures wearing large diamond jewelry items of various colors. Even young female celebrities are getting on the bling-bling bandwagon. Teen stars like Jo Jo and Hilary Duff are said to be avid hip-hop jewelry enthusiasts and count themselves among the large number of bejeweled stars today.
Large, ostentatious pieces of jewelry did not start becoming popular only because of the hip-hop cultural phenomenon (think Elvis Presley and Tom Jones), but hip-hop has altered the jewelry market in a big way. Fans see what their favorite celebrities are wearing, and there are numerous options for them to emulate their idols – at least in terms of fashion. Jewelry has always been a part of popular culture, and today’s hip-hop jewelry and the celebrities who wear them are even more so in this age of instant information.
Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Serio
Oversized studs and chains are the trademarks of hip-hop jewelry and are preferred by celebrities such as Sean Combs, or P. Diddy. At the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, he sported a diamond ring, bracelet, and watch from Jacob and Company. Rapper 50 Cent is another celebrity who is hardly ever seen without his hip-hop jewelry. On his web site, 50 Cent offers more affordable, though just as flashy, bling-bling for those of us who do not earn the megabucks that he and his fellow celebrities rake in. There are also many other web sites that offer low-priced hip-hop jewelry inspired by popular rap artists.
Hip-hop jewelry comes in many shapes and sizes, all of them meant to catch the eye and attract attention. Heavy chains of silver or gold (or both) can oftentimes be seen on celebrities such as LL Cool J and Ja Rule in their music videos. Hip-hop jewelry web sites offer fully ‘iced-out’ bling-bling, or watches, rings, bracelets and earrings that are heavily decorated with real or faux diamonds. So-called ‘spinner’ watches and rings are big best sellers in the hip-hop jewelry category. Also available are customized, removable gold, silver and platinum teeth which may be studded with jewels and gemstones, so even the pearly whites can have their share of hip-hop jewelry.
Women celebrities are keeping pace with their male counterparts when it comes to wearing hip-hop jewelry. Stars such as Beyonce, Lil’ Kim, Ashanti and Missy Elliott are regularly seen in pictures wearing large diamond jewelry items of various colors. Even young female celebrities are getting on the bling-bling bandwagon. Teen stars like Jo Jo and Hilary Duff are said to be avid hip-hop jewelry enthusiasts and count themselves among the large number of bejeweled stars today.
Large, ostentatious pieces of jewelry did not start becoming popular only because of the hip-hop cultural phenomenon (think Elvis Presley and Tom Jones), but hip-hop has altered the jewelry market in a big way. Fans see what their favorite celebrities are wearing, and there are numerous options for them to emulate their idols – at least in terms of fashion. Jewelry has always been a part of popular culture, and today’s hip-hop jewelry and the celebrities who wear them are even more so in this age of instant information.
Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Serio
Vegetarian Celebrities Opt for Cruelty-Free Living
As it turns out, some of your favorite celebrities may also be vegetarians. Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney, Alicia Silverstone, Moby and Andre 3000 of Outkast are among the many vegetarian celebrities who decided to stop eating meat because of the harm that factory farming does to animals, our health and the planet.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney said he was first turned on to animal rights as a child. Disney movies like Bambi and Dumbo instilled in him a belief that animal cruelty is a bad idea. He once said, "If you think of Bambi, its mum gets killed by a hunter and I think that made me grow up thinking hunting isn't cool".
McCartney decided to finally make the move to vegetarianism when he and his wife Linda were eating a meal of lamb and happened to see lambs frolicking in a field. This experience helped him make the connection between the food on his plate and living, sentient animals.
Supermodel and former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has been a vegetarian since the age of 16. In high school, she used to donate rolls of quarters to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the popular nonprofit animal rights organization. Since then this vegetarian celebrity has become an outspoken activist for PETA, participating in many of their campaigns including ones against fur, seal hunting and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Alicia Silverstone, the young actress who made her debut in the movie Clueless, went vegan in 1998 for moral and political reasons. She once said to talk show host Rosie O'Donnell that she went vegan because she "was not going to contribute to the violence in the world anymore". She said that going vegan meant putting food back into the mouths of starving children, since crops grown to feed cows could otherwise be used to feed villages.
Silverstone also has her own vegetable garden, where she grows vegetables like lettuce, kale and pumpkins. "To make your salad from your own garden is just amazing", she once said to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
Singer Moby first exposed his veganism in an angsty punk rock album titled Animal Rights, arguably the most controversial album of his career. Since then, he has taken a more utilitarian approach in order to make his message more accessible to the masses.
Moby encourages vegetarians and vegans to become salesmen for what they believe. He himself does this by aggressively championing vegetarianism in the public eye. Moby also promotes vegetarianism in his vegetarian tea shop, Teany.
Outkast star Andre 3000 is also a vegetarian celebrity. In 2004, he won PETA's award for Sexiest Male Vegetarian. When Andre was asked what he would do on his last day on Earth, he said, "I'd probably go for a great meal-some broccoli probably, because I'm a vegetarian".
Other notable vegetarian celebrities include Coldplay's Steve Martin, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Avril Lavigne, Fall Out Boy's Andy Hurley, Natalie Portman, Good Charlotte's Benji and Joel Madden, Alec Baldwin, Anne Hathaway, Joaquin Phoenix, Tobey Maguire, Shania Twain and Weird Al Yankovic.
Michael Russell Your Independent Vegetarian guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Former Beatle Paul McCartney said he was first turned on to animal rights as a child. Disney movies like Bambi and Dumbo instilled in him a belief that animal cruelty is a bad idea. He once said, "If you think of Bambi, its mum gets killed by a hunter and I think that made me grow up thinking hunting isn't cool".
McCartney decided to finally make the move to vegetarianism when he and his wife Linda were eating a meal of lamb and happened to see lambs frolicking in a field. This experience helped him make the connection between the food on his plate and living, sentient animals.
Supermodel and former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has been a vegetarian since the age of 16. In high school, she used to donate rolls of quarters to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the popular nonprofit animal rights organization. Since then this vegetarian celebrity has become an outspoken activist for PETA, participating in many of their campaigns including ones against fur, seal hunting and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Alicia Silverstone, the young actress who made her debut in the movie Clueless, went vegan in 1998 for moral and political reasons. She once said to talk show host Rosie O'Donnell that she went vegan because she "was not going to contribute to the violence in the world anymore". She said that going vegan meant putting food back into the mouths of starving children, since crops grown to feed cows could otherwise be used to feed villages.
Silverstone also has her own vegetable garden, where she grows vegetables like lettuce, kale and pumpkins. "To make your salad from your own garden is just amazing", she once said to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
Singer Moby first exposed his veganism in an angsty punk rock album titled Animal Rights, arguably the most controversial album of his career. Since then, he has taken a more utilitarian approach in order to make his message more accessible to the masses.
Moby encourages vegetarians and vegans to become salesmen for what they believe. He himself does this by aggressively championing vegetarianism in the public eye. Moby also promotes vegetarianism in his vegetarian tea shop, Teany.
Outkast star Andre 3000 is also a vegetarian celebrity. In 2004, he won PETA's award for Sexiest Male Vegetarian. When Andre was asked what he would do on his last day on Earth, he said, "I'd probably go for a great meal-some broccoli probably, because I'm a vegetarian".
Other notable vegetarian celebrities include Coldplay's Steve Martin, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Avril Lavigne, Fall Out Boy's Andy Hurley, Natalie Portman, Good Charlotte's Benji and Joel Madden, Alec Baldwin, Anne Hathaway, Joaquin Phoenix, Tobey Maguire, Shania Twain and Weird Al Yankovic.
Michael Russell Your Independent Vegetarian guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Trends for the Season: Celebrity Inspired Jewelry
When they walk the red carpet, celebrities make a statement. After each awards gala, popular magazines showcase the best- and worst-dressed stars, and ready-to-wear clothing designers quickly copy the best of the couture gowns and styles so the rest of us can feel like princesses. It's no surprise, then, that the latest trend in accessories is celebrity inspired jewelry. The Most Sought After Celebrity Inspired Jewelry When it comes to celebrity inspired jewelry, replicas of Jessica Simpson's engagement ring and wedding band are extremely popular. Regardless of the status of her marriage to Nick Lachey, the popular engagement ring replicas are gold or rhodium plated on sterling silver with a cubic zirconia pear shaped center stone and two cubic zirconia side stones. The stones come in a variety of colors, including white or clear, light blue, tanzanite, pink, yellow, and red. The replica wedding bands are available in rhodium plated, yellow gold plated, or rose gold plated, encircled with over 20 cubic zirconia stones. When she became engaged to Kevin Federline, Britney Spears chose a five-carat ring. The celebrity inspired jewelry replica may be made from 18k gold filled or sterling sliver with a cubic zirconia center stone available in clear, pink, amethyst, and blue topaz. There's no doubt that Jennifer Lopez has exquisite taste, so replicas inspired by the engagement ring she received when she was engaged to Ben Affleck are extremely popular. In addition to the engagement ring with a square center stone, matching pendants and earrings are also the rage. Other Jewelry Trends In addition to celebrity inspired jewelry, three other jewelry trends stand out this season: interchangeables, pearls, and turquoise. Interchangeable jewelry is popular because of its versatility. If, for example, you have a pendant, you can switch out one gemstone for another so that the pendant complements every outfit. You might, for example, interchange black onyx for tiger-eye, mother of pearl for rose quartz, and so forth. Interchangeables not only make a fashion statement, but because of their versatility, they are an exceptionally good value. Pearls, of course, are a staple for every season. These classic beauties are a must-have. Freshwater pearls are both affordable and a wonderful heirloom to pass on to your children and grandchildren. Pearl bracelets, pearl earrings, and pearl necklaces are timeless, and should be a part of every woman's jewelry collection. Turquoise goes in and out of fashion, but this season, it's definitely in. Turquoise comes in such a variety of shades and shapes that you're bound to find a necklace or earrings that complement the shape of your face and your skin tone. Jewelry designers are also mixing it up this season, pairing turquoise with another gemstone (or several gemstones) to provide you with the style statement you're looking for. So, if you've seen photos of a celebrity's knockout ring, don't hesitate to explore celebrity inspired jewelry. It's definitely in fashion this season, and is very affordable. While you're at it though, don't pass up the opportunity to pick up interchangeables, pearls, and turquoise. You can't go wrong with these gems!
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Celebrity Inspired Jewelry or Majon's Jewelry directory.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Celebrity Inspired Jewelry or Majon's Jewelry directory.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson
Friday
Celebrities - Child Stars
Many of us grew up watching young children make names for themselves on the nightly sitcoms. Whether it was Lucile Ball, Ron Howard or Gary Coleman every era had its share of child actors. We all wondered how great it could be to have such astonishing successes and wealth at quite an early age. The sky was the limit for these child celebrities because for the most part they weren't gaining fame solely based off of their age and stature, these children were really good actors. If they were that good at such a young age they would surely be masters of their crafts by time they hit their adulthood. Unfortunately except for certain rare cases many of the stories of the once prosperous child celebrities are rather tragic ones. From poverty to drug addiction, these celebrities rarely turn out the way one would expect them to. So why is it that for the most part child celebrities don't succeed in the long run?
When we were young children our parents use to tell us to enjoy it while it lasted! We would wonder what they were talking about as to us childhood wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. In fact many of us couldn't wait to grow up. What we didn't understand was the fact that, for at least 16 years of our lives we weren't going to be called upon to work, nor were we expected to be overly responsible. On the flip side of that we also weren't given everything we asked for nor did we expect anyone to bow down or constantly stroke our egos. All this is what constitutes being a child. You don't get much but you're not expected to do much either. Sadly child celebrities never had an opportunity to experience these things. Their childhood in a sense was non existent. They lived in a world where they were expected to be the sole bread winners of their families and their immediate nucleus of society would cater to their every need. To say that was a far cry from the real society is an understatement. Child celebrities have an extremely hard time adjusting to the real world after their initial success wares off. There are so many factors at work here that it's hard to blame them. The fact that they were the cute lovable child on television is the very thing that stunts their ability to get any serious work after they outgrow this stage. All most of society remembers and wants to see from these child celebrities is the cute lovable role they made famous.
Some of you might be saying that there should be life after acting especially since they made a considerable amount of money. This should be the truth but in a lot of cases these child celebrities' parents quit their own jobs and used the child's income to support the rest of the family. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that at this rate the money doesn't last long. Anyone who has ever taken the stage or field and felt the admiration of a crowd will tell you that this feeling is as addictive as any drug. Grown adults have a hard time dealing with no longer being in the limelight so you can only imagine the effect it would have on these child celebrities. They say your most impressionable years are when you're between 4 and 8 years of age. Many of these child celebrities were already working during those years. Acting is all they know and it is quite hard to adapt to anything else. What was once a euphoric feeling from a crowd of admirers is usually replaced with drugs and alcohol! There are many child celebrities that have made great careers from themselves in the adult age but when the comparison of the amount of failures and the magnitude of these failures is made its clear to see that creating a child celebrity might not be in the best interest of most parents.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
When we were young children our parents use to tell us to enjoy it while it lasted! We would wonder what they were talking about as to us childhood wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. In fact many of us couldn't wait to grow up. What we didn't understand was the fact that, for at least 16 years of our lives we weren't going to be called upon to work, nor were we expected to be overly responsible. On the flip side of that we also weren't given everything we asked for nor did we expect anyone to bow down or constantly stroke our egos. All this is what constitutes being a child. You don't get much but you're not expected to do much either. Sadly child celebrities never had an opportunity to experience these things. Their childhood in a sense was non existent. They lived in a world where they were expected to be the sole bread winners of their families and their immediate nucleus of society would cater to their every need. To say that was a far cry from the real society is an understatement. Child celebrities have an extremely hard time adjusting to the real world after their initial success wares off. There are so many factors at work here that it's hard to blame them. The fact that they were the cute lovable child on television is the very thing that stunts their ability to get any serious work after they outgrow this stage. All most of society remembers and wants to see from these child celebrities is the cute lovable role they made famous.
Some of you might be saying that there should be life after acting especially since they made a considerable amount of money. This should be the truth but in a lot of cases these child celebrities' parents quit their own jobs and used the child's income to support the rest of the family. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that at this rate the money doesn't last long. Anyone who has ever taken the stage or field and felt the admiration of a crowd will tell you that this feeling is as addictive as any drug. Grown adults have a hard time dealing with no longer being in the limelight so you can only imagine the effect it would have on these child celebrities. They say your most impressionable years are when you're between 4 and 8 years of age. Many of these child celebrities were already working during those years. Acting is all they know and it is quite hard to adapt to anything else. What was once a euphoric feeling from a crowd of admirers is usually replaced with drugs and alcohol! There are many child celebrities that have made great careers from themselves in the adult age but when the comparison of the amount of failures and the magnitude of these failures is made its clear to see that creating a child celebrity might not be in the best interest of most parents.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Celebrities
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
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