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Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Top Chef All-Stars Finale: Richard Blais wins the "Top Chef"
"Top Chef All-Stars Finale", the remaining two contestants prepared the best meal of their lives. The final challenge was to create the restaurant of their dreams with a four-course tasting menu.
Richard Blais and Mike Isabella got to be assisted by eliminated chefs in the kitchen. The former had Spike, Angelo and Antonia on his team while the latter got Tiffani, Jamie and Carla. Richard decided to call his restaurant Tongue in Cheek while Mike preferred to call his simply Izz.
Mike created a dish made from beets for his first course, and followed it up with steamed halibut with kumquat, pork shoulder with pepperoni sauce and a flan. Richard amused the judges with hamachi and sweetbreads, black cod and pork belly, beef short rib and foie gras ice cream.
When the judges deliberated, the first and second course went to Richard, while the third went to Mike. The dessert became the determining point but it was apparent that Richard would win because during the tasting, judge Art Smith said about Mike's flan, "I don't like the way it feels in my mouth."
Top Chef All-Stars Finale: Who will be crowned "Top Chef?"
Mike Isabella and Richard Blais headed into the Top Chef: All-Stars finale with grills blazing and blenders whirring, knowing that $200,000 and the title that had eluded them both in previous seasons was on the line.
Their mission if they chose to accept it: Create a four-course tasting menu for the restaurant of their dreams.
So, did Richard find sweet redemption with foie gras ice cream after coming up short in season four? Or did season-six also-ran Mike and his pepperoni sauce finally end up with a real reason to brag?
Who will be crowned "Top Chef?"
Padma and Tom tell Mike and Richard that they will be creating the restaurant of their dreams with a four-course tasting menu. Of course, the voted-off chefs are back as sous chefs (AKA I get to see Angelo)! The chefs have 30 minutes to cook an amuse-bouche for Richard and Mike to taste. Twist! They are blind-folded, so can't tell who made what! Mike admits if he had a choice he would take his friend Jen (no surprise) and no one in their right mind would choose Jamie. Or Marcel. Richard wants Dale, Angelo or Jen.
In the end, Mike picks Tiffani, Jamie (ahh!) and Carla while Richard picks Spike, Angelo and Antonia. Mike acts happy to work with them, but come on. Jamie? Really? Anyway, it seems like they both are very set on what they want and very driven. Mike's obviously going Italian and Richard is doing more of a surf and turf theme. They have five hours before they open! Everything seems to be going great, but I can't even tell what they're cooking because it's all so rushed! This should have been a two-hour finale if you ask me.
Anyway, the judges start filing into the restaurants. Richard's restaurant is called "Tongue & Cheek" while Mike's is called "Restaurant Iz." The first round of judges include Padma, Lidia Bastianich, Alfred Portale and Hurbert Keller. They go to Richard's place first. He starts off with an oyster amuse-bouche, which is well-received. I love Spike. He's creeping on the judges. First course is raw Hamachi, which is also liked by all. His second course is pork belly and black cod, which they love. The third course is a beef short rib. They don't love the creativity, but they love the execution. Richard is crazy and looking at the chefs' leftovers! Richard's last dish is his foie gratis ice cream. "It's a controversial dish," says Spike. Haha!
Tom, Gail, Curtis Stone and Art Smith hit up Mike's restaurant first. Mike's first course is a spiced beet salad and they love it. Uh oh. It takes a little long to get the second course out. He serves Halibut and Tom says it's the best-cooked fish he's had on the show! Wow. His third course is braised ribs, which he calls his "Tom dish" and he's right. They really like it. Mike's last dish, rosemary custard, was the only one they weren't thrilled about it. Still good though.
The other chefs are also dining. The judges then switch and go to the other restaurant. Richard is trying to change his last dish to make it better for the second round of judges. At this point, it's so close. Who knows what will happen?!? The second set of judges really love Mike's dishes. But wait, they love Richard's too! He fixed his dessert too. Yay! I can't stop using exclamation points. Hah. The one thing I will say is that this is the first time there were no sous chef issues. Everyone seemed to pull their weight -- even Jamie!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Capsule Endoscopy Offered by US Hospitals
Nitesh Ratnakar, MD, said capsule endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require sedation or any recovery time. The pill, which is approximately the size of a large vitamin, passes through the body between 24-48 hours. The images from the pill are captured and delivered wirelessly to a data recorder patients wear outside their clothing, according to the news report.
With this technology, patients swallow a pill about the size of a large vitamin and they continue their day in a normal manner.
Dr. Nitesh Ratnakar is a gastroenterologist and endoscopist at Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins. His office recently began using the Pillcam for detection of small intestinal disorders.
"Its non invasive, out patient, and it gives us a lot of information about the diseases of the small bowel," said Ratnakar.
The mini camera capsule contains state of the art technology. Before this technology, doctors had to conduct an X-Ray test. Now patients swallow the camera, and for the next eight hours up to 50,000 pictures are taken of the patients small intestines.
The photos are wirelessly transmitted to a data recorder attached to a belt patients wear on the outside of their clothing.
The technology is used to help diagnose small bowel disorders or conditions such as Crohn's Disease, causes of anemia, and small bowel tumors. Ratnakar calls this procedure helpful because images of the small bowel are difficult to capture.
"This is a leap from that point where we are directly able to visualize the inside lining of the bowel and its quite exciting technology, It's a stepping stone to future robotic medicine," said Ratnakar.
About a dozen procedures have been done so far, and patients are pleased with it.
"Patients love it. They like the convenience, they come to my office in the morning and swallow the capsule and we give them instructions. They go about their daily manner they come back in the evening return our receiver, and we call them a few days later with results, so it's been well accepted," said Ratnakar.
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Marie Osmond Talks About Meeting Elizabeth Taylor: "Those eyes"
Marie Osmond spoke out about the first time she ever met Elizabeth Taylor after she and her brother Donny Osmond did their 500th show at the Flamingo in Las Vegas the other night. She met Elizabeth Taylor at the White House during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
Of the meeting, Marie said, “Those eyes…They were so beautiful just as everyone says.”
Osmond also went on to praise Elizabeth Taylor’s humanitarian efforts saying, “She showed so much courage in her fight against AIDS. She was one of the first celebrities to take up that cause, and I respect her so much for that.”
Marie Osmond admired Elizabeth Taylor so much, that she even used violet colored eyes for her doll collection.Marie Osmond recalled to the Las Vegas Sun about the time she met Elizabeth Taylor.
The setting was an event at the White House, while Ronald Reagan was president. Taylor (who died Wednesday at the age of 79) was there with her husband at the time, then-Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia.
Osmond, talking after she and her brother Donny finished their 500th show at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, remembered her face-to-face meeting with the legendary film beauty.
"Those eyes," Osmond said. "They were so beautiful, just as everyone says.”
Taylor's trademark violet eyes inspired Osmond to create eyes that color for her doll collection.
Osmond called Taylor "an inspiration. She showed so much courage in her fight against AIDS. She was one of the first celebrities to take up that cause, and I respect her so much for that.”
Retrieved from:
Cricket World Cup 2011 Semi Final: India vs Pakistan
The match is no less than a war with both the countries pride at stake and fans on either side of the border anxious about the fate of the match. India will enjoy a little edge over their neighbor but the importance of match is so high that you cannot sit back and relax.
The SWOT analysis before the match will give a picture of the start of the ultimate war.
India’s strength: – Home turf, Powerful Batting Line, 100% win record against Pakistan in World Cup.
India’s weakness: – Unstable Bowling attack, Average fielding standard, not a confident world cup campaign so far excluding the victory over Australia.
Pakistan’s strength: – Best Bowling Attack, Group Topper, Victory Against Sri Lanka and Australia.
Pakistan’s Weakness: – Batting line average, Never won against India in World cup, Playing against host.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 2nd Semi Final
India vs Pakistan
PAK vs IND match at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali.
30 March,2011 09:00 AM GMT
Recent Matches
29 March,2011
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka
1st Semi Final
R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Result: Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets
26 March,2011
Sri Lanka vs England
4th Quarter Final
R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Result: Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets
25 March,2011
New Zealand vs South Africa
3rd Quarter Final
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Result: New Zealand won by 49 runs
Gluten Free Diet: another celebs diet method
If you have went to the store lately I am sure you have seen the plethora of products that can be eaten on the gluten free diet because they are now made without gluten. Many celebs are picking up this diet and running with it as well as many women and men around the world that are looking to drop a few pounds.
When people get on the gluten free diet many times they are going to find that they lose weight and they think it is because they have cut gluten out of their diet. Most times this simply is not true. Gluten is a protein that you will find in product that contain wheat, barley and rye. The reason that you lose weight when getting on the gluten free diet is because you cut out many products that are starchy products that are difficult for your body to digest.
You can lose weight when going on this diet but you can just as easily lose weight by cutting out the foods that are difficult to digest for your body. Your body will be able to tell you what it does not like and what is difficult for it to digest. Just limit those things that are processed and you will see results. If you must go along with the gluten free diet craze it won’t hurt you but it is not the magic bullet.
The gluten free diet consists of eliminating foods that contain gluten, which is a protein found mainly in wheat products. It is hard to digest for many people, and even more detrimental to those who suffer from celiac disease.
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| Elisabeth Hasselbeck |
There are quite a few celebs who stick to a gluten free regime, most notably Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who wrote a book called “The G-Free Diet.” She chose to share her story after battling health problems, which were ultimately diagnosed as celiac disease.
Other stars who are fans of the gluten free diet include Zooey Deschanel and Gwyneth Paltrow. Jenny McCarthy also endorses the diet, and insists it helped her son’s autism.
Fukushima Radioactive Particles Detected in UK
Radioactive fallout from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan has been found in the UK.
Two British laboratories picked up traces of radioactive iodine today — nearly 6,000 MILES from the damaged plant, which has been in meltdown since the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11.
A spokesman for the Health Protection Agency said iodine has now been discovered at labs in Oxfordshire and Glasgow.
Dr Michael Clark said: "Very low levels of radioactivity, traceable to Fukushima, have been detected at monitoring stations in the UK including Chilton, in Oxfordshire, and Glasgow, in Scotland.
"These traces have been found in Europe - Switzerland, Germany and Iceland - and in the USA.
"They're trace levels but of course with radioactivity we can measure very low amounts."
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) also confirmed the find, but stressed it wasn't a danger to the public.
"The fact that such a low concentration of this radionuclide was detected demonstrates how effective the surveillance programme for radioactive substances is in the UK."
There was more bad news from the Fukushima plant today, as scientists confirmed they had found Plutonium in nearby soil.
But Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) insisted the amounts of the cancer-causing chemical element were not a danger to the public.
NISA's deputy director-general Hidehiko Nishiyama said: "It was the same level as normally found in the atmosphere as radioactive fallout after an atmospheric nuclear test, but a test done far away that would not directly affect someone."
The Plutonium is thought to have come from some of the plant's fuel rods found in each of the troubled reactors.
Last week the plant's owners admitted that some of the rods had begun to melt after cooling systems were knocked out by the giant wave.
Nuclear plants use Plutonium-239, which has a chemical half-life of 24,000 years, meaning anything leaked from Fukushima today will still affect the area for thousands of years to come.
Workers at the plant, known as the Fukushima 50, are still battling to save the crippled site and avert a nuclear diaster.
Last week, two were taken to hospital after being exposed to high levels of radiation.
Locals living within 18 miles of the plant have been advised to leave the area entirely, or stay indoors as radiation continues to climb.
Quantcast
Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan told his parliament that the country was grappling with its worst problems since the Second World War.
Mr Kan said: "This quake, tsunami and the nuclear accident are the biggest crises for Japan in decades."
He warned the nuclear disaster remained unpredictable, but added: "From now on, we will continue to handle it in a state of maximum alert."
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Superlist Sunday: Top 20 Britney Songs 10-1
This is where things get very difficult, I've been making changes to the top 10 even after putting up my 20-11 article. What I can say, is that these 10 songs are up there with the best Pop songs of the last decade.
10) My Prerogative - Greatest Hits: My Prerogative - 2004
The only cover to make it onto my top 20, I never think of My Prerogative as anything but a Britney song. The production, courtesy of Bloodshy & Avant yet again is nothing less than perfect, with synth and tribal drums echoing around Britney's crazy vocal. It couldn't have come out at a more perfect time, or have been a more appropriate Greatest Hits single, and it will always be a favourite of mine.
9) Womanizer - Circus - 2008
I remember my reaction when i first heard Womanizer. I thought it sounded like a castoff of previous album Blackout and would never be a hit. How wrong I was. The song was definitely a grower, as I began to love everything about Womanizer, a song designed to be danced to. The original version is great, but maybe the fact that I have an equal amount of listens to the X Factor performance version shows how good the 'Live' version is. A modern Britney classic.
8) I'm A Slave 4 U - Britney - 2003
As the opening to track to her eponymous third album, I'm A Slave 4 U showed that Britney had moved on from her high school sweetheart era for good, and judging by the video for the song, she was talking about a very particular type of Slave. It's her sexiest song ever, and is the sort of tune where you can hear the sweat dripping as Britney does her staple 'heavy breathing'.
7) Born To Make You Happy - ...Baby One More Time - 1999
The only song in the top 10 to come from either of Britney's first two albums, this would be number 1 if it was a list of the song that made me most happy when I hear it. Born To Make You Happy is just an incredible pop song, it has that distinctive 90s mid-tempo but still danceable quality to it, and was the best thing she had done until the next song in this list. BTMYH will always make me smile, a song that lives up to the name.
6) Overprotected - Britney - 2001
It's evident in this list that there are certain Britney songs that may not be considered classics by most, but I think of them highly. Overprotected is everything I would want in a Britney track, blistering production with plenty of moments to really let loose in the dance moves you're obviously already doing. It's another self referential track, which works so well with Britney's voice, the 'Action!' moments helping to make Overprotected one of my personal fave tracks from her career.
5) Circus - Circus - 2008
The fact that Circus has appeared directly after Overprotected is a telling sign. Both were the second singles from their respective albums, each far surpassing the original track in one respect alone, for being as 'Britney' as possible. Whereas Womanizer could have been sung by someone else, the heavy breathing, dance break and screeching production on Circus makes sure you know who is the true 'ringleader' in pop.
4) Piece of Me - Blackout - 2008
I must say that the next 4 songs would probably place in my top 20 of the 21st century, all of them being incredible songs in their own right. Piece of Me is the definitive self referential Britney track. By confidently talking about her troubles over the past year, in one song Britney made us all forget about the VMAs incident and get on with the fact that she was producing the best Pop music the world had ever seen. The fact that it's written by Klas Ahlund and featuring backing vocals from none other than Robyn (ie The Swedish Britney) makes it her best song lyrically.
3) Me Against The Music (Feat. Madonna) - In The Zone - 2003
Including Boys, Britney has only ever released a single featuring another artist twice. The fact that Madonna chose Britney to be the first artist able to say (Feat. Madonna) on their boxart shows just how much faith she had in Me Against The Music. I said before that Gimme More is the second most Danceable hit in Britney's library, well here is the first. It's her best dance video, and you can't help but get up and let go. It was number 1 on this list for a very long time, and has been vying for second position against another track on In The Zone for a very long time.
2) Toxic - In The Zone - 2004
It's crazy to think that after Me Against The Music, In The Zone was able to deliver a second single that was even better than one featuring the Queen of Pop. Toxic was the song that finally replaced Baby One More Time as her most iconic record, and is one of few Britney songs that everyone agrees is phenomenal. I can't actually think of a single negative thing to say about Toxic, it's the definition of the 'Perfect' Britney record. If so, then why is at number 2 in this chart. Number 1 has to be one of the big hits, doesn't it?
1) Break The Ice - Blackout - 2008
If you know me personally, then you already knew what my pick for number 1 was, Break The Ice is undoubtedly my favourite track from Britney's career. The fact that she has never, ever performed it, the video was animated and the single underperformed doesn't bother me; it's the best track on one of my favourite albums. It takes risks, the fact that the bass drop out after her Janet style 'I Like This Part' doesn't return at all and the subdued nature of proceedings just adds to the mystery around the song. The lyrics are hardly special, but the song is constructed effortlessly, with haunting chants from producer Danja and some of the best breathing ever heard on a Britney song. Break The Ice just takes over whenever I hear it, something all 4 of the top tracks do here. I lose myself when I hear Break The Ice, which is why it has to be number 1 on my list of the top 20 Britney Songs.
The only cover to make it onto my top 20, I never think of My Prerogative as anything but a Britney song. The production, courtesy of Bloodshy & Avant yet again is nothing less than perfect, with synth and tribal drums echoing around Britney's crazy vocal. It couldn't have come out at a more perfect time, or have been a more appropriate Greatest Hits single, and it will always be a favourite of mine.
I remember my reaction when i first heard Womanizer. I thought it sounded like a castoff of previous album Blackout and would never be a hit. How wrong I was. The song was definitely a grower, as I began to love everything about Womanizer, a song designed to be danced to. The original version is great, but maybe the fact that I have an equal amount of listens to the X Factor performance version shows how good the 'Live' version is. A modern Britney classic.
As the opening to track to her eponymous third album, I'm A Slave 4 U showed that Britney had moved on from her high school sweetheart era for good, and judging by the video for the song, she was talking about a very particular type of Slave. It's her sexiest song ever, and is the sort of tune where you can hear the sweat dripping as Britney does her staple 'heavy breathing'.
The only song in the top 10 to come from either of Britney's first two albums, this would be number 1 if it was a list of the song that made me most happy when I hear it. Born To Make You Happy is just an incredible pop song, it has that distinctive 90s mid-tempo but still danceable quality to it, and was the best thing she had done until the next song in this list. BTMYH will always make me smile, a song that lives up to the name.
It's evident in this list that there are certain Britney songs that may not be considered classics by most, but I think of them highly. Overprotected is everything I would want in a Britney track, blistering production with plenty of moments to really let loose in the dance moves you're obviously already doing. It's another self referential track, which works so well with Britney's voice, the 'Action!' moments helping to make Overprotected one of my personal fave tracks from her career.
The fact that Circus has appeared directly after Overprotected is a telling sign. Both were the second singles from their respective albums, each far surpassing the original track in one respect alone, for being as 'Britney' as possible. Whereas Womanizer could have been sung by someone else, the heavy breathing, dance break and screeching production on Circus makes sure you know who is the true 'ringleader' in pop.
I must say that the next 4 songs would probably place in my top 20 of the 21st century, all of them being incredible songs in their own right. Piece of Me is the definitive self referential Britney track. By confidently talking about her troubles over the past year, in one song Britney made us all forget about the VMAs incident and get on with the fact that she was producing the best Pop music the world had ever seen. The fact that it's written by Klas Ahlund and featuring backing vocals from none other than Robyn (ie The Swedish Britney) makes it her best song lyrically.
Including Boys, Britney has only ever released a single featuring another artist twice. The fact that Madonna chose Britney to be the first artist able to say (Feat. Madonna) on their boxart shows just how much faith she had in Me Against The Music. I said before that Gimme More is the second most Danceable hit in Britney's library, well here is the first. It's her best dance video, and you can't help but get up and let go. It was number 1 on this list for a very long time, and has been vying for second position against another track on In The Zone for a very long time.
It's crazy to think that after Me Against The Music, In The Zone was able to deliver a second single that was even better than one featuring the Queen of Pop. Toxic was the song that finally replaced Baby One More Time as her most iconic record, and is one of few Britney songs that everyone agrees is phenomenal. I can't actually think of a single negative thing to say about Toxic, it's the definition of the 'Perfect' Britney record. If so, then why is at number 2 in this chart. Number 1 has to be one of the big hits, doesn't it?
If you know me personally, then you already knew what my pick for number 1 was, Break The Ice is undoubtedly my favourite track from Britney's career. The fact that she has never, ever performed it, the video was animated and the single underperformed doesn't bother me; it's the best track on one of my favourite albums. It takes risks, the fact that the bass drop out after her Janet style 'I Like This Part' doesn't return at all and the subdued nature of proceedings just adds to the mystery around the song. The lyrics are hardly special, but the song is constructed effortlessly, with haunting chants from producer Danja and some of the best breathing ever heard on a Britney song. Break The Ice just takes over whenever I hear it, something all 4 of the top tracks do here. I lose myself when I hear Break The Ice, which is why it has to be number 1 on my list of the top 20 Britney Songs.
Superlist Sunday: Top 20 Britney Songs 20-11
Britney is back! I had previously planned to have a week of articles leading up to this post of the 20 best Britney songs (I may still continue into next week if I have time). Here we go then, here's the first half of my Britney Top 20, an artist who deserves an extended list more than any other. You may be surprised by my choices, some obvious omissions may anger the most Hardcore fans.
20) Lucky - Oops...I Did It Again - 2000
Britney's first truly biographical hit, with songs like Piece of Me and Overprotected soon to follow. Lucky is early noughties pop at its most innocent, showing the purer side of Britney that would soon be forgotten a few albums down the line. Lucky was one of my favourites on release, and is the first track in my top 20.
19) Outrageous - In The Zone - 2004
A song that never made it onto the UK singles chart, mainly due to the video shoot being cancelled following Britney's leg injury, Outrageous is one of the standout songs of In The Zone. As dirty as Slave 4 U, but with tribal production, its a song most people wouldn't place on such a Britney countdown. Lyrics that live up the title make this one of her best Dance jams.
18) Everytime - In The Zone - 2004
In stark contrast to the previous song, Everytime is one of only 2 Britney ballads to make it onto my list. She's always seemed much more comfortable with a thumping bassline behind her, but the final track of In The Zone proved that Britney could pull off a record with a simple piano accompaniment. She made it into a hit too, Everytime being her last UK number 1 song.
17) ...Baby One More Time - ...Baby One More Time - 1998
Probably the entry that will surprise most people, I don't consider ...Baby to be Britney's best song. It launched her music career, and is deservedly one of the biggest selling Pop tracks ever, but while I do still enjoy the iconic video it just isn't one of my favourites. It's still the 'perfect' pop song, and without it we wouldn't have a chart full of Pop acts like Katy Perry and Ke$ha, its always a guilty pleasure too.
16) Boys (Co-Ed Mix) (Feat. Pharrel) - Britney - 2002
The first track with a featured artist on this list, the album version of Boys was great to begin with before Pharrel jumped on it. The single version thankfully ditches the key change of the original, but Boys is sis probably the funkiest hit in Britney's collection. It also created one of her most iconic 'talky bits' in the eternally relevant 'Get Nasty'.
15) Stronger - Oops...I Did It Again - 2000
Stronger is one those of those Britney records which could never be sang by anyone else without sounding horrid. Her vocal here is one of my favourites of her career, the nasally 'Hush Just Stop' making it My favourite Britney song to sing on Karaoke. It was a huge step forward for her musically, into a more mature sounding Britney, and I so often forget that it came from her second album (an album that also contained the early 'classic' Dear Diary).
14) Hold It Against Me - Femme Fatale - 2011
The newest song in this chart, Hold It Against Me was the perfect way to introduce Femme Fatale (ie. Britney's second best album) to the world. From the thumping Bassline, the incredible vocal delivery of 'Hazey', to the dubstep breakdown that would on to become the main sound of the album, Hold It Against Me has enough energy to match any of Britney's older hits.
13) Someday (I Will Understand) - Chaotic EP - 2005
The second, and best ballad on this list, Someday is hands down the best vocal of Britney's career. Genuinely heartfelt, and with little to no computer trickery adjusting her voice proves that she does have actual vocal talent. It's also the best writing the star has ever done, written solely by Britney herself as a tribute to her then unborn first child. It may not have made an impact on the charts, but in my books, Someday is the sort of ballad every Britney album deserves.
12) Do Somethin' - Greatest Hits: My Prerogative - 2005
I've listened to various Britney compilations over the weeks leading up to Femme Fatale's release, and Do Somethin' has unexpectedly become the track I most look forward to. Whether it's because I never gave it enough credit upon release, or just that it's a great song I don't know. What I do know is that Do Somethin' is yet another outstanding Bloodshy and Avant production, both intense and frantic throughout, two things that can push Britney to the limit.
11) Gimme More - Blackout - 2007
I really wanted to put this in my top 10, but the song that despite being one of her best is associated with the worst moment of Britney's career finds itself at number 11. I will go on record to say that Gimme More is the 2nd most danceable song in this list, a feat that is highly acclaimed when it comes to Britney. As the opening to her best album, Gimme More gives you that feeling of being in a club, and without this song, we wouldn't have her most iconic phrase since her first song; 'It's Britney Bitch'.
Britney's first truly biographical hit, with songs like Piece of Me and Overprotected soon to follow. Lucky is early noughties pop at its most innocent, showing the purer side of Britney that would soon be forgotten a few albums down the line. Lucky was one of my favourites on release, and is the first track in my top 20.
A song that never made it onto the UK singles chart, mainly due to the video shoot being cancelled following Britney's leg injury, Outrageous is one of the standout songs of In The Zone. As dirty as Slave 4 U, but with tribal production, its a song most people wouldn't place on such a Britney countdown. Lyrics that live up the title make this one of her best Dance jams.
In stark contrast to the previous song, Everytime is one of only 2 Britney ballads to make it onto my list. She's always seemed much more comfortable with a thumping bassline behind her, but the final track of In The Zone proved that Britney could pull off a record with a simple piano accompaniment. She made it into a hit too, Everytime being her last UK number 1 song.
Probably the entry that will surprise most people, I don't consider ...Baby to be Britney's best song. It launched her music career, and is deservedly one of the biggest selling Pop tracks ever, but while I do still enjoy the iconic video it just isn't one of my favourites. It's still the 'perfect' pop song, and without it we wouldn't have a chart full of Pop acts like Katy Perry and Ke$ha, its always a guilty pleasure too.
The first track with a featured artist on this list, the album version of Boys was great to begin with before Pharrel jumped on it. The single version thankfully ditches the key change of the original, but Boys is sis probably the funkiest hit in Britney's collection. It also created one of her most iconic 'talky bits' in the eternally relevant 'Get Nasty'.
Stronger is one those of those Britney records which could never be sang by anyone else without sounding horrid. Her vocal here is one of my favourites of her career, the nasally 'Hush Just Stop' making it My favourite Britney song to sing on Karaoke. It was a huge step forward for her musically, into a more mature sounding Britney, and I so often forget that it came from her second album (an album that also contained the early 'classic' Dear Diary).
The newest song in this chart, Hold It Against Me was the perfect way to introduce Femme Fatale (ie. Britney's second best album) to the world. From the thumping Bassline, the incredible vocal delivery of 'Hazey', to the dubstep breakdown that would on to become the main sound of the album, Hold It Against Me has enough energy to match any of Britney's older hits.
The second, and best ballad on this list, Someday is hands down the best vocal of Britney's career. Genuinely heartfelt, and with little to no computer trickery adjusting her voice proves that she does have actual vocal talent. It's also the best writing the star has ever done, written solely by Britney herself as a tribute to her then unborn first child. It may not have made an impact on the charts, but in my books, Someday is the sort of ballad every Britney album deserves.
I've listened to various Britney compilations over the weeks leading up to Femme Fatale's release, and Do Somethin' has unexpectedly become the track I most look forward to. Whether it's because I never gave it enough credit upon release, or just that it's a great song I don't know. What I do know is that Do Somethin' is yet another outstanding Bloodshy and Avant production, both intense and frantic throughout, two things that can push Britney to the limit.
I really wanted to put this in my top 10, but the song that despite being one of her best is associated with the worst moment of Britney's career finds itself at number 11. I will go on record to say that Gimme More is the 2nd most danceable song in this list, a feat that is highly acclaimed when it comes to Britney. As the opening to her best album, Gimme More gives you that feeling of being in a club, and without this song, we wouldn't have her most iconic phrase since her first song; 'It's Britney Bitch'.
The Mega Millions: New Yorker Wins the Jackpot
The Mega Millions jackpot is growing even larger,and Mega Millions players from coast to coast are the winners! A total of1,243,856 tickets won prizes in the Tuesday, February 21 drawing. Since noticket matched all six numbers to win the jackpot, the excitement continues togrow for the Friday, February 24, 2006 drawing, which will have an estimated jackpot of $203 million.
Tuesday's winning numbers were: 14-23-27-36-45 and the Mega Ball numberwas 36.
You can't come closer to winning the jackpot than the 19 tickets thatmatched the first five numbers and only missed the Mega Ball number. Thosetickets were purchased in California (6), Illinois (2), Michigan (3), New York(4), Ohio (2), Texas (1) and Virginia (1).
This jackpot has been growing since January 6, when Mega Millions had itsmost recent jackpot winner. The jackpot has now rolled 13 times without awinner. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately one in 176 million.The odds of winning any of the Mega Millions prizes are approximately 1 in 40.
Mega Millions is played in 12 states: California, Georgia, Illinois,Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginiaand Washington.
Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 PM EasternTime, 10:00 PM Central Time and 8:00 PM Pacific Time.
The winning ticket was sold at Cousin's News Center Store in Albany. The winner has yet to come forward.
If the winner chooses the cash option, he or she will receive a one-time payment of nearly $203 millions. The jackpot was the sixth largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.
Dixie Chicks: Natalie Maines Releases New Song "God Only Knows"
The Dixie Chicks have been off the radar for a while, which is all the more reason to catch "Shut Up & Sing" (8 p.m. Saturday, Country Music Television), the documentary that trails the country darlings as they recover from the backlash that followed their onstage slam of President George W. Bush and their subsequent album. The criticism may have stung, but it did lead to an armful of Grammys and an instant country classic, "Not Ready to Make Nice."
During a London concert ten days before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, lead vocalist Maines said, "we don't want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States (George W. Bush) is from Texas" (the Dixie Chicks' home state). The statement offended many people, who thought it rude and unpatriotic, and the ensuing controversy cost the band half of their concert audience attendance in the United States and led to accusations of the three women being "un-American", as well as hate mail, a death threat, and the public destruction of their albums in protest.
As of 2009, they have won 13 Grammy Awards, with 5 of them earned in 2007 including the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Taking the Long Way. As of July 2010, with 30.5 million certified albums, and sales of 26,733,000 albums in the U.S., they have become the top selling all-female band in the U.S. during the Nielsen SoundScan era.
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Saturday, March 26, 2011
The Manchurian Candidate: Frank Sinatra vs Denzel Washington Version
The 1962 film the Manchurian Candidate is a certified classic. The political thriller was so good that it earned the best tribute it could get. A remake. In 2004, Denzel Washington took on the role originally played by Frank Sintra.
There was of course some updating in the remake, some new tweets, and lots of color. But the original black and white, still holds it own. So which one is better and what has been said in comparing the two films?Most film fans who were familiar with the original political thriller tend to side with the 1962 version. But under the direction of Johnathan Demme with a cast that included along side Denzel the likes of Meryl Streep and Liev Schreilber, they do a fabulous job. It’s a strong piece of cinema that comes as a fresher, bright version of the dark and foreboding original.
The Manchurian Candidate (1959), by Richard Condon, is a political thriller novel about the son of a prominent US political family who has been brainwashed into being an unwitting assassin for the Communist Party.
Black Eyed Peas Fans: HappyBdayFergie !
Stacy Ann Ferguson (born March 27, 1975), better known by her stage name Fergie, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, fashion designer and actress. She was a member of the children's television series Kids Incorporated, and the girl group Wild Orchid. She is the female vocalist for the hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas with whom she has attained charting success worldwide. Her own debut album spawned four Billboard Hot 100 top five singles, three of which went to number one.
Having left Wild Orchid in 2001, Ferguson joined The Black Eyed Peas. With The Black Eyed Peas, she enjoyed a series of hits and albums before releasing her debut album, The Dutchess, in September 2006 to similar success. The Black Eyed Peas enjoyed further success with the release of their third album with Ferguson; they attained their first string of Billboard Hot 100 number one songs. As Ferguson's five solo singles and six singles with the Black Eyed Peas have reached two million downloads in the United States, Ferguson is the artist with most two-million sellers as of January 2011.Ferguson married actor Josh Duhamel in early 2009 after a five year relationship.
Click to enlarge some of these Fergie pictures we put together as a tribute to the birthday girl Black Eyed Peas.
RIP: Geraldine Anne Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro grew up in New York City and became a teacher and lawyer. She joined the Queens County District Attorney's Office in 1974, where she headed the new Special Victims Bureau that dealt with sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence. She was elected to Congress in 1978, where she rose rapidly in the party hierarchy while focusing on legislation to bring equity for women in the areas of wages, pensions, and retirement plans. In 1984, former Vice President and presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected Ferraro to be his running mate in the upcoming election. In doing so she became the only Italian American to be a major-party national nominee in addition to being the first woman. The positive polling the Mondale-Ferarro ticket received when she joined faded as questions about her and her husband's finances arose. In the general election, Mondale and Ferraro were defeated in a landslide by incumbent President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush.
Ferraro continued to battle multiple myeloma, but died from complications of it on March 26, 2011, at Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to her husband and children, she was survived by eight grandchildren.
President Obama said upon her passing that "Geraldine will forever be remembered as a trailblazer who broke down barriers for women, and Americans of all backgrounds and walks of life," and said that his own two daughters would grow up in a more equal country because of what Ferraro had done. Mondale called her "a remarkable woman and a dear human being .
She was a pioneer in our country for justice for women and a more open society. She broke a lot of molds and it's a better country for what she did." George H. W. Bush said, "Though we were one-time political opponents, I am happy to say Gerry and I became friends in time – a friendship marked by respect and affection. I admired Gerry in many ways, not the least of which was the dignified and principled manner she blazed new trails for women in politics." Palin paid tribute to her on Facebook, saying, "She broke one huge barrier and then went on to break many more. May her example of hard work and dedication to America continue to inspire all women." Bill and Hillary Clinton said in a statement that, "Gerry Ferraro was one of a kind – tough, brilliant, and never afraid to speak her mind or stand up for what she believed in – a New York icon and a true American original."
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